- Volkswagen’s electric and combustion-engined cars will adopt the same styling – Autocar
- NHTSA opens probe into over 35,000 Ford vehicles over rear-camera failure – Reuters
- Hyundai India starts $3.3 billion IPO in country’s largest ever share sale – Reuters
- Four dead after Tesla car catches fire in France – SCMP
- Stellantis boss warns longer EV shift poses cost ‘trap’ for carmakers – FT
- GM, Barclays sign long-term credit card partnership agreement – Reuters
- This Week in Chancery Court: Amazon’s Robotaxi Acquisition – Bloomberglaw
- China’s BYD warns EU tariffs will raise prices and deter buyers – Reuters
- Renault ceo: europe’s ev market needs china cooperation – Bloomberg
- Renault, Stellantis See EV Sales Bouncing Back on Lower Prices – Bloomberg
- Renault CEO: Europe’s EV Market Needs China Cooperation – Bloomberg
- Elon Musk was not barred from UK investment summit, says cabinet minister – Guardian
- Mini reveals 255bhp hot versions of Cooper and Aceman hatches – Autocar
Monday Morning Auto News, Oct 14, 2024: NHTSA opens probe into over 35,000 Ford vehicles. Hyundai India starts $3.3 billion IPO. 4 die in burning Tesla. More.
October 14, 2024 By
Friday Morning Auto News, Oct 11, 2024: Tesla Robotaxi Event Fails to Deliver, shares dive. Volkswagen Q3 deliveries down. Swedish court upholds ruling against Tesla. More.
October 11, 2024 By
- Tesla Robotaxi Event Fails to Deliver Critical Details – Barrons
- Volkswagen Q3 deliveries down, confirming challenges to European auto sector – Reuters
- Swedish court upholds ruling against Tesla in labour dispute – Reuters
- Elon Musk’s Robotaxi ambitions have ‘nothing to do with Tesla’: Ross Gerber – CNBC
- Tesla’s Self-Driving Cybercab Prototypes Greeted With Skepticism – Bloomberglaw
- Elon Musk Is Going All In to Elect Donald Trump – New York Times
- Tesla robotaxi event was long on promises, but investors wanted more details – Reuters
- Tesla shares drop 6% in premarket after Cybercab robotaxi reveal fails to impress – CNBC
- Porsche’s nine-month China sales plunge by third – Reuters
- Elon Musk unveils Tesla’s Cybercab with elusive production timeline – Washington Post
- Musk’s Robotaxi Fairy Tale Is Still Searching for a Happy Ending – Bloomberg
- Tesla robotaxi event comes after a decade of unfulfilled promises from Elon Musk – CNBC
- EV firm Polestar expects positive fourth-quarter gross margin despite slow demand – Reuters
- Lynk & CO unveils 02, its first EV for Europe – Automotive News
- Elon Musk Unveils Tesla Cybercab, Production to Start 2026 – Bloomberg
- French Markets Digest Barnier’s Budget, Elon Musk Unveils Tesla Robotaxi – Bloomberg
- Polestar CEO Says EV Maker Must Start ‘Actively Selling Cars ‘ – Bloomberg
Thursday Morning Auto News, Oct 10, 2024: Brazil unblocks X after Musk backs down. Stellantis strike could start ‘within weeks.’ BYD, peers take discounting to new lows. More.
October 10, 2024 By
- Brazil Unblocks X After Musk Backs Down – New York Times
- UAW: Stellantis strike could start ‘within weeks’ – Freep
- China’s EV war: BYD, peers take discounting to new lows at expense of margins – SCMP
- Baidu eyes Hong Kong, overseas for self – driving cars as Tesla gears up for robotaxi launch – SCMP
- BMW and Mercedes quarterly sales drop on weak China – Reuters
- Stellantis is struggling. Here’s why – CNBC
- Mercedes-Benz cars sales dips in Q3 on weaker demand – Reuters
- Tesla set to unveil ‘Cybercab’ robotaxi after long wait amid doubts about its self-driving technology – Fortune
- GM says simplifying gasoline vehicles has made them more profitable – Automotive News
- Why U.S. automakers are so worried about China’s BYD – Freep
- Stellantis to export Ram 1500 electric pickup to Europe as a Ford F-150 Lightning rival – Automotive News
- Tesla’s ‘Dream Premium’ Faces Moment of Truth at Robotaxi Reveal – Bnnbloomberg
- Goodbye Jaguar I-Pace: Last drive in an EV game-changer – Autocar
- China-EU team to continue talks after bloc’s ruling on Chinese EVs, state media reports – Reuters
- Elon Musk promised a robotaxi again. Will he deliver this time? – Washington Post
- Tesla gambles on ‘black box’ AI tech for robotaxis – Reuters
How to save Volkswagen. By a VW exec (name withheld)
October 9, 2024 By
A Volkswagen exec who – understandably – would prefer to remain anonymous, sent me this turn-around plan for his embattled employer. Submitted without further comment.
- Stop the single-minded focus on headcount alone.
- Dissolve Cariad. Move responsibilities back to the brand groups.
- Source state-of-the-art mobility and connectivity solutions from suppliers.
- Outside of core competency areas, cooperate with suppliers in early phases of development, abandon expensive and non-functioning do-it-yourself.
- Immediately stop in-house development and production of batteries. Volkswagen Group builds cars, not batteries.
- Completely revamp vehicle production (unboxing-concepts.) Dump our old fashioned methods.
- Start-Of-Production (SOP) planning must become reliable again, not a moving target.
- Set drastically higher standards for quality and features of on-board software, especially ADAS.
- R&D engineers must research and develop again, must stop playing coordinator for suppliers (double costing.)
- Shorter development cycles, especially for software. Software does not follow multi-year cycles.
- Reduce involvement of consultants.
- Cancel investment into marginal companies like Northvolt, Rivian, Varta, or Xpeng.
- Lobby governments to end CO2 penalties, stop technological bias, be open to new ideas.
Wednesday Morning Auto News, Oct 09, 2024: Musk’s direct reports bail. Baidu robotaxis go global. X returns to Brazil after Musk folds. Big Honda recall. More.
October 9, 2024 By
- In the past week, 4 of Elon’s direct reports have announced they are leaving Tesla – Businessinsider
- Baidu plans Apollo Go global expansion as Tesla prepares to unveil robotaxi – Nikkei
- Honda to recall about 1.7 mln US vehicles over steering gearbox concern – Reuters
- X returns to Brazil after Elon Musk complies with court orders – FT
- Giggling Elon Musk revisits ‘joke’ about Kamala Harris assassination – Guardian
- A driver’s test for autonomous vehicles? A leading expert says US should have one – The Detroit News
- Stellantis gets $146 million subsidy for Spanish battery plant – Automotive News
- Honda autonomous system to allow car drivers to take eyes off road – Mainichi
- Gen Z, millennials prefer a new generation of collectible cars – Automotive News
- Cybertruck owners share their likes and dislikes as Tesla’s pickup approaches its first birthday – Businessinsider
- Tesla Is Behind in the Robotaxi Race. Why Musk Must Overtake Rivals and 5 Other Things … – Barrons
- Tesla’s China-made EV sales grow 19.2% y/y in Sept – Reuters