Plus, stay tuned because later in the show I’ll tell you which country just put the Ford F-150 Lightning on sale for buyers outside of the US
But first…
2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Sees Major Price Drop
– 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6’s base SE Standard Range now priced at $38,615, a reduction of $4,100 from 2023 model.
– This model features a single-motor rear-wheel drive, along with a 53-kwh battery, allowing for 240 miles of range. The SE’s longer range price is set at $43,565 for 2024, which is $3,050 less that today.
– The SE model comes equipped with a 77.4-kwh battery pack – consistent across other Ioniq 6 trim delivering a range of 361 miles. The Ioniq 6 positions itself as a competitor to the Tesla Model 3, especially in terms of price. The current U.S. starting price for the Model 3 is $40,630, but it qualifies for a $7,500 EV tax credit.
Musk Drops More Cybertruck Insights on Rogan’s Show
– Elon Musk showcased the Tesla Cybertruck on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Rogan tested the truck’s durability by shooting it with his compound bow. Here’s what they said about the weight and performance.
This acceleration target was previously set for the tri-motor variant during its 2019 launch. Musk revised the annual production aim to 200,000 Cybertrucks, down from an earlier target of 250,000 he mentioned on the recent earning call.
Official specs are to be unveiled at the delivery event on November 30th.
Tesla Triumphs in Autopilot Fatality Case
– A recent jury verdict sided with Tesla, dismissing claims that the Autopilot system caused a fatal accident. The lawsuit was initiated in the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, by two crash survivors from a 2019 incident.
– The plaintiffs had claimed Tesla’s product was flawed and sought $400 million for the loss of life and injuries. Tesla maintained that human error, not the Autopilot system, led to the death of the driver.
– The company’s defense is consistent with its position in similar lawsuits related to Autopilot. Several other lawsuits concerning Autopilot are still pending in California. Tesla is under investigation by both state and federal authorities concerning the safety of Autopilot and its enhanced version, Full Self-Driving.
UAW Eyes Tesla’s Fremont Plant for Unionization
– UAW President Shawn Fain is setting his sights on Tesla’s Fremont facility, which employs around 20,000 workers. An active UAW organizing committee at the Fremont plant is discussing collective bargaining benefits with fellow employees.
– The union is determined to allocate whatever resources needed for this campaign. Bringing Tesla under UAW would not only boost membership but would also enhance the union’s influence in the electric vehicle transition. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, is known for his anti-union stance. The UAW President envisions workers at Tesla, as well as Toyota and Honda, as potential “UAW members of the future.”
– Public sentiment is increasingly pro-union, with approval ratings for labor unions jumping from just over 50% in 2016 to two-thirds presently. The trend toward unionization has grown, with companies like Amazon, Apple, and Starbucks seeing increased organizing efforts. Workers often cite inflation, subpar work environments, and income disparity as reasons to unionize.
Stellantis Expects Minor Strike Impact Compared to Detroit Rivals
– Stellantis anticipates the North America strikes over pay hikes to impact its profitability by less than 750 million euros ($795 million).
– Among the Detroit Three automakers, Stellantis foresees the least financial impact from the strikes. In the third quarter, from July to September, the company’s net revenue increased by 7%, reaching 45.1 billion euros. This surpasses the anticipated 43.7 billion euros predicted by Reuters analysts.
-Stellantis has recently unveiled a new commercial vehicle strategy to tackle Ford Pro and shown off their forthcoming cheaper city cars for Europe under $20,000.
F-150 Lightning Expands to Switzerland
– The F-150 Lightning is prepping for its launch at the end of November.
– This electric truck is no longer just for US market but, after a launch in Norway earlier this year, we’ll now see some of Ford’s electric trucks climbing up the Alps. Orders for the F-150 Lightning will open in November in Switzerland.
– Available in the upscale Lariat variant, and features the spacious “Super Crew Cab” double cab body. All-wheel drive, 20-inch wheels and painted in “Antimatter Blue Metallic”. Priced at 127,000 Swiss francs.
StoreDot’s Fast-Charging Cells Show No Extra Wear
– StoreDot achieved 1,000 cycles at 80% original capacity with its production-ready pouch cells in October 2022. This was independently verified in December 2022.
– While previous tests were under standard lab conditions, the recent ones aimed to replicate real-world scenarios. Cells were charged at varying rates: slow from 0-10%, rapid from 10-80% (in just 10 minutes), and back to slow from 80-100%. Even when 70% of the cell was charged rapidly within ten minutes, there was no extra wear compared to the slower-charged cells.
– StoreDot collaborates with companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Volvo Cars, Polestar, Ola Electric.
BMW Inaugurates Battery Cell Pilot Facility Near Munich
– BMW has unveiled the Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre (CMCC) in Parsdorf, close to Munich, Germany. The CMCC will produce cylindrical cells for BMW’s Gen6 batteries, set to power the upcoming *Neue Klasse* EVs from 2025.
– BMW’s present generation uses prismatic cells; the shift to cylindrical cells requires a special mix of engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing knowledge. At the Battery Cell Competence Centre, the battery chemistry “recipe” is formulated, then transferred to CMCC for production testing. The CMCC also collaborates with suppliers to standardize cell production, optimizing performance, cost, quality, and eco-friendliness. Instead of establishing their own gigafactories, BMW collaborates with battery cell providers for tailored production capacity. These cells then go to BMW’s battery pack assembly units, usually situated near vehicle production plants. The upcoming *Neue Klasse* models promise a technological breakthrough with batteries boasting 20% more energy density, 30% faster charging, and 30% extended range.
– BMW partners with prominent Asian battery providers like CATL (China) and Samsung SDI (South Korea). However, it’s boosting battery cell sourcing in places like Germany, the US, Hungary, and Mexico.
– For the *Neue Klasse*, BMW inked a deal with CATL, constructing a new gigafactory in Hungary near BMW’s factory where the cars will be assembled.
– Gen6’s battery pack manufacturing will be escalated at a new plant in Lower Bavaria, with a 600,000 batteries/year capacity, set to begin construction soon.
– Additionally, BMW has an agreement with AESC for a gigafactory in Florence, South Carolina, to support BMW’s new battery assembly in Woodruff, adjacent to its Spartanburg assembly plant.
Toyota Boosts North Carolina Plant with $8B Battery Push
– Toyota has admitted that their current EV investment strategy simply isn’t enough when compared to the rest of the industry, and just announced an additional $8 billion into its Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina facility.
– This infusion brings the total investment to a much more comparable $13.9 billion when you look at their competitors. The funds will bolster capacity for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Eight more BEV/PHEV battery production lines are joining the initial two, summing up to ten lines for BEVs/PHEVs.
– The plant will maintain its initially announced four battery lines dedicated to Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs). Toyota’s phased production increase will span until 2030, targeting an annual production exceeding 30GWh.
Android Auto Debuts Fastned App for EV Charge Points with Maps Integration
– Android Auto introduces “Fastned”, a new app dedicated to locating EV charging stations, seamlessly integrated with Google Maps and Waze
.
– Fastned boasts over 1,500 EV charging stations across Europe, predominantly in Belgium, the Netherlands, and extending to regions like Germany, the UK, and Brussels. The Android Auto Fastned app assists EV drivers in finding charging points and provides insights into pricing, charger availability, and other relevant details.
Fastned had previously rolled out an app with similar features on Apple’s CarPlay platform earlier in the year. While both Google Maps and Waze have functionalities for indicating and guiding to EV charging spots, Fastned’s specialized app promises to furnish users with more precise data on cost and spot availability.
GreenPower Introduces Mega Beast Electric Bus
– GreenPower’s latest electric Type D school bus, the ‘Mega Beast’, offers double the range compared to its predecessor, the ‘Beast’.
– A single charge provides a range of up to 300 miles, powered by a 387 kWh battery pack. V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology, combined with the Mega Beast’s larger battery, can foster a more dependable electric grid, support clean energy, and lower costs.
– The Mega Beast follows two prior models: the Nano Beast introduced in early 2022 and the original Type D Beast. Both are set to enter production in California and South Charleston, West Virginia, come 2024.
Porsche to Incorporate Low-CO₂ Steel in Sports Cars by 2026
– H2 Green Steel, based in Boden, Sweden, is set to produce steel using renewable energy, starting from the end of 2025.
– Their innovative steel production method involves hydrogen and renewable electricity, rendering the process virtually carbon-neutral. This approach to steel production results in a staggering 95% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to the traditional coking coal method.
– Porsche has committed to utilizing 35,000 tons of this eco-friendly Swedish steel annually in their car production.
– For perspective, in 2022, Porsche incorporated 220,000 tons of steel into their vehicles. While Porsche is leaning more towards aluminium for its lightweight properties, steel remains an indispensable component in crafting sports cars.
Mercedes-Benz S580e PHEV Outperforms EQS in Range Test
– The S-class PHEV features a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine with an electric motor, but it’s another Mercedes-Benz with CCS and the ability to DC fast charge.
– Impressively, it managed 58 miles using only electric power in a 75-mph range test, surpassing the EPA’s estimated 46 miles. Mercedes offers an upgrade: for $500, the 60-kW charging equipment can juice up the 22.7-kWh battery from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes.
– Taking into account faster charging and other enhancements, the tested S580e model came with a price tag close to $140,000.
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