Archive for the ‘Electrified Vehicles’ Category
Order by end of month, get by end of year, Musk tweets.
by Michael Strong on Nov.16, 2018
Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the company would deliver any Model 3 ordered by the end of November by Dec. 31.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims that Model 3s ordered in the U.S. by the end of November will be delivered by Dec. 31 — a delivery rate that is much faster than for earlier Model 3 sedans.
The edict, issued by Musk via Twitter, is designed to push sales to get them completed in time to take advantage of tax breaks for buyers. The move comes as Tesla and General Motors are lobbying government officials to extend tax incentives for EV buyers.
Business News!
“Tesla just acquired trucking capacity to ensure Model 3 can be delivered in U.S. by Dec 31 if ordered by Nov 30,” Musk tweeted on Thursday. He late clarified how they’re going to get this done. (more…)
Tags: Model 3 tax incentive, Musk Model 3 production, Musk promises Model 3s by end of year, Musk tweets Model 3 guarantee, Tesla China sales, Tesla Model 3 sales China, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, michael strong, tesla model 3 production, tesla news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Events, Executives, Markets, Personalities, Sales, Sales, Sedans, Technology, Tesla, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Compact sedan gets new look, broad range of new, standard features.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.16, 2018
Brand boss Jack Hollis introduced the 12th-generation, 2020 Toyota Corolla.
It may be an SUV-crazed market, but Toyota is not going to cede ground in the compact sedan market without a fight, or so brand boss Jack Hollis declared during the unveiling of the all-new, 2020 Corolla Thursday night.
It’s no surprise that Toyota is intent on proving its prowess with the new sedan. Over the past half century, Corolla has been one of the cars instrumental in building the Japanese automaker’s reputation for quality, reliability and durability. But with other manufacturers, like Korea’s Hyundai and Kia, breathing down its neck, Toyota will have to show it can deliver more than the classic, plain vanilla design, Corolla has also long been known for.
Product News!
It hinted at a more expressive direction earlier this year with the launch of a new, and decidedly more sporty , Corolla Hatchback. Now, the mainstay sedan gets a complete makeover. And it is not only more stylish, but boasts more power and lots more features, including the latest version of the Toyota Safety Sense package which now will be standard on all Corolla grades. Key competitors, such as Honda, have chosen not to package these advanced driver assistance systems on many of their base models.
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Tags: 2018 la auto show, 2020 toyota corolla, Toyota Corolla, auto news, car news, jack hollis, new Corolla, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, sedan sales, thedetroitbureau, toyota corolla la auto show, toyota news
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, First Look, Honda, Hybrids, Infortainment, Los Angeles, Markets, Monthly Results, Personalities, Product Reveals, Safety, Safety, Sales, Sales, Sedans, Technology, Technology, Toyota, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
First project could be announced before year-end.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.15, 2018
Ford CEO Jim Hackett described the talks with Volkswagen as a "delicate dance."
A deal between Ford and Volkswagen focusing on joint efforts in the light commercial vehicle market could come together quickly, but in his first official acknowledgement that the two carmakers are exploring a wide range of additional options, Ford CEO Jim Hackett said those negotiations involve a “delicate dance.”
Like a growing number of competitors, Ford has opened up to the possibility of teaming up with erstwhile rivals on a variety of projects. And, in recent weeks, sources have indicated it is discussing deals that also could see them team up on everything from autonomous and electrified vehicles to joint production and marketing efforts in markets such as Europe and Latin America.
Insight!
“(VW CEO) Herbert (Diess) and I had a great discussion” about a possible alliance on commercial trucks, Hackett said in an interview with the Reuters news service, noting that things are “going better than we thought it would.” (more…)
Tags: Autolatina, Ford CEO Jim Hackett, Ford VW CEOs negotiating, Ford VW negotiations, Hackett and Diess talks, Hackett delicate dance, TheDetroitBureau.com., VW CEO Herbert Diess, auto news, ford news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, volkswagen news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Business, China, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Ford, Infotainment, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Safety, Semi-autonomous Driving, South America, Technology, U.S./North America, V2V, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Fleshed-out SUV coming to Los Angeles – and could feature new Transparent Hood technology.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.15, 2018
Land Rover created full-size, wireframe versions of the second-generation Range Rover Evoque.
Land Rover took a dramatic turn with the 2011 launch of the Range Rover Evoque, moving away from its traditionally boxy SUVs to deliver something far more sleek and sinuous. With its distinctive, sloping roofline, it quickly became the brand’s big seller, attracting a wide range of new buyers that might otherwise have ignored the British brand.
Eight years in, the automaker is getting ready to roll out a new version of the Evoque at the Los Angeles Auto Show, with a sneak peek coming a week earlier. To give us a hint of what’s coming, Land Rover has released a group of unusual teaser images.
Auto Show News!
Unlike the usual teasers that cross our desk, these aren’t carefully cropped or shadowed images but, rather, wireframe renderings that clearly lay out the exterior dimensions of the new 2019 Range Rover Evoque. And, we’re hearing, there very well could be a secondary meaning to this approach, hinting at a major new feature that could debut on the new SUV.
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Tags: 2018 la auto show, 2019 range rover evoque, LA Auto Show, Range Rover Evoque, auto news, car news, evoque teaser, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, range rover evoque pics, range rover evoque teaser, range rover la auto show, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Crossovers/CUVs, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, First Look, Geneva, Hybrids, Infotainment, Jaguar, Land Rover, Los Angeles, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, SUVs, Sales, Technology, Trends | No Comments »
New plan calls for leaner management, second product, even an IPO – if it can stay in business long enough.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.14, 2018
In better days: Jia Yueting and Nick Sampson, helped unveil the FF91 at the 2016 CES.
Only a matter of weeks ago, battery-carmaker Faraday Future seemed ready to turn out the lights, co-founder Nick Sampson resigning and then declaring in a blog post that the company was “effectively insolvent.” But, despite a seemingly endless series of crises, including one that forced it to cancel a planned assembly plant in Nevada, Faraday’s new management team continue to project a surprisingly bullish take on their future.
Late Tuesday, in fact, the California-based company released a statement outlining its plans for the future, which included a new, “lean management” structure, and “fortified product plans” that not only include the original FF91 supercar but a second, more mainstream crossover.
Breaking News!
Of course, there is the minor issue of finding the necessary cash. Faraday’s latest crisis was kicked off when China’s Evergrande Health Industry Group backed out of a deal that was supposed to generate as much as $2 billion in capital. For the moment, the automaker says it is on the hunt for $500 million to get it back on track.
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Tags: EV maker bankruptcy, EV maker insolvent, Faraday investors, Faraday looking for investors, Faraday planning for return, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, faraday future, faraday news, jia Yueting, nick sampson, paul a. eisenstein, plans for Faraday, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, Faraday Future, Financials, Investors, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, Personalities, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
New model gets a combined range of 300 miles.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.13, 2018
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell combines two technologies to help mitigate worries about running out fuel.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell is designed to help motorists address one of the biggest problems facing alternative powertrain technology: a lack of infrastructure.
The new crossover is the world’s first production vehicle to combine fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid technology in the same vehicle. That means a motorist will be less likely to be stuck somewhere without a source of power.
Product News!
“The innovative plug-in fuel cell drive combines the advantages of both zero-emission drive technologies and, thanks to its intelligent operating strategy, continuously optimizes the use of both energy sources in line with the current operating situation,” Mercedes said in a statement announcing the launch of the new F-Cell, which will officially go on sale in Germany next spring. (more…)
Tags: Mercedes fuel cell hybrid combo, Mercedes hybrid technology, Merceds debuts new GLC F-Cell, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, mercedes fuel cell, mercedes news, new Mercedes "hybrid, new Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, China, Designers, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Fuel Cell, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
German automaker expects to spend nearly $60 bil on batteries alone.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.12, 2018
VW's CEO Herbert Diess said the company made arrangements to buy 50 million electric vehicle batteries.
Even though it won’t launch its first long-range battery-electric vehicle, or BEV, until next year, Volkswagen’s CEO is forecasting massive growth in the sector, the German automaker already having “booked” plans to build 50 million BEVs.
Precisely how long it will take to hit that target Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess didn’t say during an interview with German trade publication Automobilwoche. But the VW Group is expected to sell 10.7 million vehicles this year, a figure that includes a broad range of powertrain technologies, primarily diesel and gasoline.
Dig Deeper!
The launch of a Golf-sized all-electric model next year will put Volkswagen in direct competition with Tesla, and the Germans are preparing to roll out an array of other BEVs, including a reborn Microbus set to be called the I.D. Buzz. Sibling brand Audi, meanwhile, just introduced its first BEV, the e-tron SUV. All told, the various VW Group brands, ranging from entry-level Seat and Skoda to high-line Bentley and Lamborghini, plan to have at least 40 all-electric models in showrooms by 2025. (more…)
Tags: TheDetroitBureau.com., VW 50 million EVs, VW CEO Herbert Diess, VW buys 50 million EV batteries, VW's electric vehicle plans, Volkswagen's Herbert Riess, auto news, ev news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, vw news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Hybrids, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, South America, Technology, Tesla, Trends, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Entry model could come in around $23,000, according to report.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.09, 2018
VW plans to have two dozen fully electric vehicles, like this I.D. Crozz concept, in production.
Volkswagen is set to launch a base-model, long-range electric vehicle for less than $23,000, according to a report by Reuters, a price that would undercut the long-awaited entry-level Tesla Model 3 by more than a third.
Initially reluctant to enter the electrified vehicle market, the Volkswagen Group has now laid out an aggressive strategy that will include more than 40 all-electric models, as well as dozens of hybrids and plug-ins, for sale through its dozen different passenger vehicle brands. Meanwhile, the Wolfsburg-based carmaker is in discussions with Ford Motor Co. that could see them cooperate on EV development.
Plug In!
The VW brand itself will cover a wide range of model segments with pure battery-electric vehicles through a new sub-brand dubbed I.D. These will include a reborn version of its legendary Microbus set to be marketed as the I.D. Buzz, as well as mid-sized and smaller offerings. The base model, TheDetroitBureau.com confirmed, is being referred to internally as the “MEB entry.” (more…)
Tags: I.D. Aero, I.D. Aero verses Model 3, TheDetroitBureau.com., VW MEB, VW versus Tesla, Volkswagen EV plans, auto news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, vw electric vehicles, vw news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, South America, Technology, Tesla, Trends, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | No Comments »
VCNA chief acknowledges reliability concerns but says problems, warranty costs, are tumbling.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.08, 2018
Volvo Cars North America CEO Anders Gustafsson with images of some of the first workers at the automaker's new Charleston plant.
U.S. new vehicle sales are on course to post their second consecutive decline as 2018 draws to a close, but you’d have a hard time telling that if you were just looking at Volvo’s numbers.
The Swedish automaker has posted a 27% jump in demand through the end of October and, with more products ready to land in U.S. showrooms, Volvo Cars USA CEO Anders Gustafsson said Thursday he is optimistic the company can keep its momentum growing.
Brand News!
Several factors could give meaning to his forecast, including not just the launch of the new Volvo S60, but the start of production at the Chinese-owned automaker’s first U.S. assembly plant in Charleston, South Carolina. Then there’s Care by Volvo, the subscription program the carmaker launched late last year.
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Tags: Care by Volvo, Volvo Cars, Volvo Charleston plant, Volvo US plant, anders gustafsson, auto news, auto subscription program, car news, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, volvo charleston, volvo news, volvo quality, volvo reliability, volvo sales, volvo subscription, volvo xc40
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Crossovers/CUVs, Earnings, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Los Angeles, Markets, Monthly Results, Personalities, Quality and Reliability, SUVs, Safety, Sales, Sales, Sedans, Technology, Trade, Trends, U.S./North America, Volvo | No Comments »
Plans call for growing into 100 cities.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.08, 2018
Ford Smart Mobility, LLC acquired Spin, a San Francisco-based electric scooter-sharing company .
Ford is putting a new spin on its push into mobility services – quite literally, with the acquisition of the San Francisco electric scooter start-up Spin.
The move comes as the auto industry attempts to cope with the explosive growth of alternative transportation businesses, ranging from ride-sharing services Lyft and Uber to the growing availability of bicycle and e-scooter rentals in major cities in the U.S. and abroad.
Business News!
“Everywhere you look around the U.S., people’s mobility choices are changing,” Sundeep Madra, head of Ford X, the company’s mobility incubator, wrote in a post about the acquisition. “In crowded and congested cities, especially, many are reconsidering their transportation options. From ride-hailing to dedicated bicycle lanes, people and cities are considering alternatives to personal vehicles, but some are also taking more novel approaches — including scooter sharing.” (more…)
Tags: Ford Spin, Ford acquires scooter company, Ford buys Spin, Ford growing Spin, Ford mobility plans, Ford scooter company, Spin competes with Lime and Bird, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Electrified Vehicles, Ford, Markets, Sales, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
