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Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily, your trusted source of EV information. It’s Monday 10th July it’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don’t have to.
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2024 Lotus Eletre: Performance, Innovation, and Electric Power
The 2024 Lotus Eletre is the brand’s first electric SUV, signalling a major move into electrification and a crucial market for the British automaker.
It features a dual motor drivetrain and a large battery pack with an estimated range of 373 miles. However, some traditional Lotus enthusiasts may be disappointed by the Eletre’s handling and lack of classic Lotus traits.
The Eletre will be available in base, S, and R trims, all of which use a 112.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that can charge at speeds up to 350 kilowatts.
The base and S versions have two electric motors that produce 603 horsepower, the R version boosts this to 905 hp and 0-62mph 2.9s.
The Eletre has four levels of regeneration to choose from, which can be adjusted using the left paddle shifter. The right paddle shifter controls the drive modes – Sport, Tour, and Range.
The Eletre is equipped with a lidar system for future autonomous driving capabilities. Currently, it supports driver-assistance technologies like blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
The Eletre’s infotainment setup includes a 15.1-inch central screen that uses Epic Games’ Unreal Engine processor. It also has dual 12.7-inch driver and passenger dashboard displays.
The Eletre is not as light as traditional Lotus cars, but it’s not particularly heavy for an electric car of its size. The base model weighs just under 2,500 kg, while the S and R models weigh 2,520 kg and 2,640 kg, respectively.
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3NKN6nC
Audi Explores External EV Platform in China amid SSP Delays
Audi is considering buying a platform from a competitor in China to speed up its vehicle development process. This information comes from inside sources at Audi.
This move is being considered for discussion at an extraordinary board meeting next week. VW Group CEO Oliver Blume has reportedly already approved the plan.
The need for an electric platform is urgent for Audi, as its own developments, such as the Trinity project, are significantly delayed. The company is under pressure to remain capable of delivering vehicles until the expected start of Trinity in 2029.
Electric vehicles already account for 25% of the market in China. However, Audi only sold 3,237 electric vehicles there in the first quarter. In 2022, Chinese brands reached a market share of over 50% in their home country for the first time.
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3pASuBH
Audi’s Localization Push in China to Realize Ambitions
Faster localization is essential for Audi to achieve its ambitions in the Chinese market, according to Hildegard Wortmann, a member of Audi’s board of management for sales and marketing.
Wortmann emphasized the importance of China to the Audi brand and its potential for growth. Audi’s strategy in China is focused on local research and development and market understanding. However, Wortmann highlighted the need to speed up the localization process to keep up with the
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3PRlksf
Tesla Breaks Records with China-Made Vehicle Sales in June
Tesla sold a record 93,680 vehicles made in China in June 2023, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This is Tesla’s best performance for the first half of the year.
The Model Y was the star performer, with 63,043 units sold, making it the most popular passenger vehicle model in China for June. The Model 3 also did well, with 30,637 units sold.
Tesla also exported 19,468 vehicles made in Shanghai to overseas markets in June, which is about 20.78% of the company’s total monthly sales.
In the first half of 2023, Tesla sold a total of 476,539 vehicles made in China, a 61.68% increase from the same period last year. Of these, 182,434 were exported.
In June, Chinese automakers exported about 70,000 locally-produced NEVs to overseas markets, a 185.3% increase year-on-year. Most of these (89%) were pure-electric models.
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3PMbZSp
Tesla Updates US Referral Program: Discounts and Incentives
Tesla has made updates to its US referral program to increase sales of the Model 3 and Model Y.
Referred buyers of these models now receive a $500 discount on their purchase price as well as three months of free Full-Self Driving (FSD).
Referrers, on the other hand, earn 10,000 Tesla credit points to use for free Supercharging or Tesla accessories/upgrades. This update comes as Tesla aims to sell as many “old” Model 3 and Model Y units as possible before the release of facelifted versions.
The referral program for the Model S and Model X remains unchanged, offering a $1,000 discount and three months of free FSD, with referrers earning 20,000 Tesla credit points. The Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) and FSD rewards have been removed from the program,.
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3O6jCBU
Fisker Ocean Production Challenges Delay Deliveries
Fisker has been experiencing a slow production ramp-up of its Ocean electric SUV, which it attributes to supplier issues.
In the second quarter, only 1,022 Oceans were produced at Magna’s facility in Austria. This number includes both customer cars and vehicles intended for marketing and engineering purposes.
While production began as scheduled in November 2022, deliveries didn’t start until six months later. The first cars were delivered to Europe, with U.S. deliveries starting on June 19.
Fisker stated that some suppliers had difficulties ramping up to the targeted Q2 levels because they didn’t receive components from sub-suppliers on time. The company is now working with all suppliers to increase the required volumes.
Fisker managed to exceed its targeted assembly rate of 80 units per day and expects the number of vehicles produced to surpass 1,400 in early July.
The company also plans to invest in additional battery-pack capacity to support higher volumes than originally anticipated next year.
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3O4EI3v
SAIC Motor Plans Electric Car Factory in Europe
SAIC Motor, China’s largest state-owned automaker, is planning to build an electric vehicle factory in Europe as part of its strategy for overseas expansion. The company sold 530,000 autos overseas in the first quarter, a 40% increase from the previous year. SAIC is currently seeking a site in Europe for the factory, but no specific details have been provided. SAIC had previously set a target of considering local production in Europe if annual sales reached 100,000 vehicles, a milestone they achieved last year.
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3D7XIb3
France Optimistic about Tesla’s Investment Plans
Bruno Le Maire, the French Economy Minister, is hopeful about Tesla making a significant investment in France. This comes as various European countries are vying for a potential large-scale investment related to electric vehicles from Tesla.
Le Maire, in an interview on the TF1 TV channel, said that they have “good hopes” about what Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla’s owner, will decide. He mentioned that there are several options being considered.
The Economy Minister believes that France has created all the necessary conditions to be the most attractive country for capital. He stated that they have radically transformed the economic image of France globally, making it an attractive destination for foreign investors.
Elon Musk is expected to announce a new battery plant by the end of the year, and France has been actively pursuing him. French President Emmanuel Macron has met with Musk twice in June and May.
One of the challenges France faces, according to Le Maire, is the ability to “offer viable land with rail or sea outlet to transport energy infrastructure assets with sufficient power.”
Original Source: https://evne.ws/44iVCRP
China’s EV Price War: CAAM Pledge Ends Amid Competition
The China Association of Auto Manufacturers (CAAM) has withdrawn a pledge it had arranged among 16 automakers, including Tesla, to avoid “abnormal pricing”. This move ends a temporary ceasefire in a fierce price war over electric vehicles (EVs) in China.
The pledge was seen as a violation of China’s antitrust law. Since Tesla reduced its prices in China in January, about two dozen automakers have also cut their prices to stay competitive and stimulate demand.
The Chinese auto market, the largest in the world, is expected to reach nearly 25 million vehicle sales this year. The share of EVs and plug-in hybrids is increasing rapidly, leading to intense competition over price and features.
The CAAM had previously called for automakers and local authorities to temper the “price-cut hype” to ensure the stable development of the industry. However, consumers were waiting for larger discounts before buying, and some auto suppliers have been forced to accept payment cuts.
The pricing pledge was signed by executives from 16 automakers, including Tesla and BYD, as well as EV-focused Chinese brands NIO, Li Auto, and Xpeng, among others. The pledge was seen as a truce in the price war.
However, the truce seemed uncertain when Tesla announced a referral payout of about $500 on its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, including in China. Volkswagen’s joint ventures with SAIC and FAW also announced price cuts in China on their ID-series EVs.
International automakers are under intense pressure to restructure operations in China, and there are signs that the pressure on consumer pricing is leading to worker furloughs and lower margins for suppliers. Some expansion plans are on hold, such as Tesla’s plan to increase output at its Shanghai plant.
The consultancy AlixPartners predicts that while China’s EV market will continue to grow rapidly, the increasing competition and excess capacity will also lead to a shakeout. It forecasts that only 25 to 30 out of the 167 companies registered to produce EVs or plug-in hybrids in China will survive by 2030
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3XOh7rh
GM Slashes Cadillac Lyriq EV Price in China
General Motors (GM) has reduced the starting price of the Cadillac Lyriq electric vehicle (EV) in China by nearly 14% following price cuts by Volkswagen (VW). The luxury crossover, based on GM’s Ultium EV architecture, is now priced at 379,700 yuan ($52,466) compared to the previous price of 439,700 yuan ($60,784). GM also offers an additional discount of almost $2,500 for Lyriq buyers who place a deposit before the end of August.
GM’s Chief Financial Officer, Paul Jacobson, said last month that the Lyriq represented an opportunity for the company in China. Despite Cadillac sales in China falling by nearly 8% last year, the Lyriq has had a slow rollout since its introduction last year.
In the first half of the year, GM sold 2,326 Lyriqs in the United States and 918 in China in the first quarter.
Original Source: https://evne.ws/44i0O8h
Tamiya Wild One Max: A Full-Size RC Dream
The Little Car Company in the UK is creating a full-sized, drivable version of the Tamiya Wild One RC car, a popular remote control car from the 1980s. Wild One Max will be able to reach speeds of up to 62 mph and will be street legal in Europe. However, it won’t be street legal in the US.
The car will be powered by a single motor that can deliver a peak of 37 horsepower, with a “continuous” rating of 19 horsepower.
The car’s battery system will consist of eight individually swappable packs with a total capacity of 14.4 kWh. This is expected to provide up to 124 miles of range.
The car will have a revised front suspension, with double wishbones replacing trailing arms and long-travel Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers at each corner.
The car will be able to be used off-road, with 10.6 inches of ground clearance, a 34.1-degree approach angle, and a 50.8-degree departure angle.
The car will be priced at around $45,000.
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3XNmF5d
Behind the Scenes: Prototyping the All-Electric Renault 5
Renault’s Global Production Engineering Center is a secret facility that operates a prototype plant to imitate the manufacturing process and develop representative prototypes of future Renault production models. The facility is currently producing prototypes of the all-electric Renault 5, starting with the “mules” that are tested in Lapland. The facility then moves on to producing “vehicle check” prototypes, which closely resemble the final production version and undergo road tests. The prototyping phase allows for testing, validation, and refinement.
Original Source: https://evne.ws/3NPcybm
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