TESLA WON’T BRING CYBERTRUCK TO CHINA
Tesla has said that it will not sell the Cybertruck in China despite talk of it earlier this year when the vehicle arrived on show.
Tesla previewed the Cybertruck a few months ago in some Chinese cities using the term crossover in lieu of pickup truck. On January 14, Elon Musk said on his social media that it would be difficult to make the Cybertruck legal to drive in China.
In China, pickup trucks are considered light trucks, and they have more regulations than passenger vehicles like sedans and SUVs. Pickups are also a much smaller market because of this. Between January and October of this year, China sold 427,000 pickup trucks, but 17.84 million passenger cars.
Passenger cars can go 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph) on highways, pickup trucks can only go 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph). Pickup trucks must also be retired after 15 years.
Many Chinese cities have restrictions on pickup truck use, although certain rules have been relaxed in recent years. Tough rules on safety and limits on the size of the Chinese market would mean Tesla would have to invest heavily to adapt the Cybertruck to meet Chinese standards, potentially denting its sales and profit.
The novel design and materials of the Cybertruck make it difficult to conform to the regulations for pedestrian safety, said Cui Dongshu, a leader of the China Passenger Car Association.
Currently, Tesla sells the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X in China, with Model 3 and Model Y being produced in Shanghai. The Model Y has proven hugely popular, to the point where China is Tesla’s second-biggest market, after the U.S.
Tesla China deliveries January and October this year were 500,685 cars, an increase of 8.29% compared to the previous year, and 373,852 of the vehicles sold were Model Y. Tesla ranked seventh among new energy vehicle companies in China with a 3.4% share during the month of October, while BYD ranked first with a 36.1% share.
Source: CNEVPost
https://evne.ws/3ZCUzwb
TESLA HALTS CYBERTRUCK PRODUCTION – LOW SALES COULD BE A REASON
Tesla told employees at its Austin factory to stay home between Dec. 3 and Dec. 5 earlier this wee. These are the workers responsible for building the Cybertruck. Even though they will not work, they will still be paid their regular salary. Tesla has not clarified whether it is demand, a seasonal shutdown for retooling, production line maintenance or any combination of these.
The memo was obtained by Business Insider. Some employees were individually notified if they failed to comply with the new schedule.
Workers on the Cybertruck assembly line have had their schedules upended since late October. Workers were sent back home or assigned other responsibilities, such as training and cleaning, instead of doing their regular work.
One Tesla employee said, “When I started at Tesla you could count on getting over time, now it feels like I am lucky to work 40 hours,” indicating a shift in workplace expectations.
Tesla cut shift lengths on the Cybertruck line in Austin back in April. Starting in October, the company was shipping out non-Foundation Series and starting prices that were $20,000 lower than the original models.
Sales data reveals that less than 30,000 Cybertrucks were sold and registered in the United States in the first three quarters of the year. According to Cox Automotive and Kelley Blue Book, 11,558 units were sold in the first two quarters, and 16,692 in the third quarter.
Having produced at significantly higher levels the previous three months, Tesla could be adjusting its assembly pace in line with demand now that production has outstripped deliveries and avoided a growing stockpile in its delivery centers. The fourth quarter trend still remains to be seen.
Source: via InsideEVs
https://evne.ws/3OCSJVt
NISSAN ARIYA TO USE TESLA SUPERCHARGERS STARTING DEC 10
Starting December 10, Nissan ARIYA electric vehicle owners will have the ability to use Tesla’s Supercharger network. With the addition of 17,800 Superchargers to Nissan’s Energy Charge Network (NECN), the total number of chargers in the United States has surpassed 100,000 (and over 25,000 in Canada).
The Superchargers can initially only be used by ARIYA drivers, as older Nissan Leaf models use CHAdeMO.
To connect, owners of the ARIYA will have to purchase a CCS to North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter for $235 from either their local Nissan dealer or Nissan’s U.S. website.
There are also well-known 3rd party suppliers such as A2Z.
The ARIYA has its charging port located on the front passenger side, so it’s easier to park it at Supercharger stations without blocking other vehicles from accessing charging stations.
And, next year, the NACS connector will be standard equipment for all Nissan electric vehicles sold in North America, the company also shared.
Source: via Electrek
MERCEDES-BENZ INTRODUCES 2025 ELECTRIC POPEMOBILE
Mercedes-Benz launched the first electric Popemobile, based on the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580.
Its design has been dramatically changed. The roof encroaching on the front door was removed and a center anchor point of a height-adjustable swiveling chair. The setup allows him to face crowds from any angle.
The powertrain also offers a 360-degree spin on low-friction surfaces, the so-called tank turn features, though it’s uncertain whether the Pope will avail himself of this feature. But if his swivel chair ever breaks, at least they can just spin the G-Wagen so that everyone gets a good look at the Pope (at least until he gets dizzy).
Other features of the Popemobile include two smaller passenger seats in the rear, plus an additional hardtop roof to protect the Pope from rain.
The rear passenger door has been redesigned to match the unique shape of the vehicle and opens from the rear.
With a classic pearl white color, the electric Popemobile will be used for the 2025 Jubilee in Rome, where millions of pilgrims arrive every 25 years to celebrate. The electric Popemobile was developed by Mercedes-Benz in conjunction with the Vatican last year to ensure the popemobile had certain papal specifications.
Source: via Car and Driver
https://evne.ws/3Zkpa05
MERCEDES REPLACES EQC WITH UPDATED GLC ELECTRIC CROSSOVER
Mercedes-Benz is transitioning from the EQ branding back to its traditional naming for electric vehicles. A new generation of the Mercedes GLC EV was recently observed in Stuttgart, where a spy camera captured the vehicle during testing while it was wrapped in camouflage.
Since the second-generation electric GLC was first seen in August last year, several modifications have been introduced. Key updates include a redesigned hoodline and a taller, more upright grille, which may suggest space for a hybrid powertrain.
The new grille design brings the updated GLC in line with other Mercedes-Benz SUVs, while the modified hoodline gives the model a unique look. However, the noticeable bulge on the hood is not expected to appear in the final version. It might be used to hide test equipment or to deceive onlookers.
Mercedes-Benz is developing the new GLC EV using the MB.EA Medium electric architecture. This platform includes an 800-volt electrical system with advanced silicon carbide inverters, similar to those used in the Vision EQXX. The system also incorporates more efficient electric motors, with power outputs expected to range from 250 to 500 horsepower. The vehicle is anticipated to offer rear-wheel drive in some markets and all-wheel drive elsewhere.
The new platform allows for better battery technology with energy densities up to 50% higher than the EQS. This improvement could enable smaller batteries while still providing a significant range. Sources indicate that the GLC EV might achieve a range of up to 600 miles (966 kilometers) on the WLTP cycle.
Mercedes-Benz plans to launch the GLC EV in late 2025, likely as a 2026 model year vehicle. It will share its platform and many components with the electric C-Class sedan, which is also expected to debut around the same time.
Source: via CarBuzz
https://evne.ws/4il5oKx
JEEP UK SLASHES AVENGER ELECTRIC PRICES BY £5,000
Jeep’s Avenger Electric SUV now has a lower price than rivals like the Mini Aceman, Smart #1 and Volvo EX30. This sees the entry level Longitude grade now priced from £29,999 — £5,000 less than before.
That makes the new price £1,801 cheaper than the Mini Aceman, £1,951 cheaper than the Smart #1 and £2,850 cheaper than the Volvo EX30. The starting price is also comparable to the new Ford Puma Gen-E, priced from £29,995.
Price cuts mean the mid-level Altitude trim of the Avenger can be yours from £31,999, a £4,700 saving.
The range-topping Summit trim has been reduced by £4,900 to £33,999. Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, said the price drop is being deployed to make the Avenger Electric more affordable and to reduce the gulf in price between it and its internal combustion engine (ICE) counterpart, which starts from £24,949.
The pricing strategy is also aimed at driving demand ahead of the government’s 2025 targets for electric vehicle sales.
Source: via Autocar RSS Feed
https://evne.ws/4ilTyQm
GERMANY’S CAR PRODUCTION SLIGHTLY INCREASES IN NOVEMBER
Germany manufactured 404,800 cars in November 2024 – a slight increase of 1% year on year.
Total production for the first eleven months of the year thus stood just below 3.9 million cars, also up 1%. Even with this increase, production is still at 12% less than in 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
143,200 electric cars were built in Germany in October, an all-time high. This is a 38% increase over October 2023 and consists of 109,400 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and 33,800 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) alone.
From January to November, production of electric cars rose by 5% to 1.1 million units.
FRENCH EV MARKET SEES SALES DECLINE IN NOVEMBER
November EV sales as a share of all cars in France was 26.2%, compared to 29.7% during the same month last year. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) represented 17.4% of sales, down from 20.1%, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) made up 8.8%, down from 9.4%.
The drop in BEV sales can be attributed in part to record sales at the end of 2023. This boost was due to an expected end to incentives for China-made BEVs in mid-March and a temporary government leasing initiative introduced in spring 2024.
The program accelerated BEV sales prior to the September cut-off for lease deliveries. Sales of PHEVs also fell, but less than in recent months
Source: via CleanTechnica
https://evne.ws/3BoGPLW
ELECTROGENIC LAUNCHES ELECTRIC CONVERSION FOR MAZDA MX-5
British company Electrogenic has expanded its electric vehicle (EV) conversion offerings by introducing a plug-and-play kit for the classic Mazda MX-5, a model that is now over 35 years old. The conversion adds only 100 kilograms (220 pounds) to the car’s weight, preserving its lightweight design.
This new kit joins Electrogenic’s existing range, which includes conversions for vehicles like the DeLorean DMC-12, original MINI, Porsche 911 Classic, and Land Rover Defender. Available globally through Electrogenic’s installation partners, the kit can be installed by a qualified mechanic within a few days. The conversion is fully reversible and does not require any cutting or drilling of the car’s parts.
The converted MX-5 features a 42 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack located in both the boot and under the front bonnet where the engine was originally housed. It offers an estimated range of approximately 150 miles (241 kilometers). The battery supports rapid charging, enabling a full recharge in about one hour. The electric motor delivers 160 hp surpassing the vehicle’s original petrol engine. This improvement enhances the power-to-weight ratio, allowing the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour (0 to 97 kilometers per hour) in six seconds.
Source: via ElectricDrives
VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCHES NEW TRANSPORTER PRICES IN UK
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles today released UK details and pricing for the new Transporter Panel Van. Pricing for the fully electric BEV version is from £41,965 ($55,009). Customer orders will begin in January 2025.
The Transporter will initially be available with three diesels and two electric versions, with a plug-in hybrid due in 2026. UK variants are one of the Panel Van, Kombi, Shuttle and double-cab chassis and comes in short or long wheelbase to meet various business needs.
Source: via Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
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