- Tesla Cybertruck could face regulatory hurdles in Europe – Automotive News
- Tesla Berlin to suspend most production for two weeks over Red Sea supply gap – Reuters
- UAW President calls Tesla pay raise for its factory workers the ‘UAW bump’ – Freep
- Elon Musk’s SpaceX Is Not in Violation of Workplace Drug Rules, NASA Says – Bloomberg
- Detroit auto show to return to its January roots, organizers say – Freep
- CES 2024: Futuristic car concepts bet the future of transportation on AI – Axios
- Subaru WRX Long-Term Test Introduction: It’s time for some boost – Autoblog
- Hot new Lexus LBX uses 300bhp GR Yaris engine – Autocar
- Stellantis eyes cheaper EVs with sodium ion battery partnership – Autocar
- Polestar: Former CEO of VW China joins board – Just-Auto
Friday Morning Auto News, Jan 12, 2024: Cybertruck to face regulatory hurdles in EU. Tesla Grünheide shuts down plant for 2 weeks. More.
Thursday Morning Auto News, Jan 11, 2024: BYD builds its own car-carrier ships. Cummins to repair 600,000 cheater Ram trucks. Musk to increase X creator rewards. More
- BYD is now using purpose-built EV cargo ships to send its cars to Europe. – Fortune
- Cummins to repair 600,000 Ram trucks in emissions scandal – LATimes
- Elon Musk Says X Will Increase Creator Rewards After MrBeast Rejection – Businessinsider
- ‘We don’t have a say’: workers join push to unionize flagship Volkswagen plant – Guardian
- VW still has flexibility on EV Push, CFO Antlitz says – Automotive News
- BYD Reveals 1,000-HP-Plus Porsche Taycan Sedan Rival – Wardsauto
- 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Review: A fun compact SUV with a green spin – Autoblog
- Renault cuts Megane EV price by 10% to compete with Tesla, MG – Automotive News
- Tesla Closes Gap With Germany’s Audi in Global Vehicle Sales – Bnnbloomberg
- Volkswagen CFO Touts EV Flexibility as Tesla Closes in on Audi – Bloomberglaw
- Tesla Closes Gap With Audi in Global Vehicle Sales – Bloomberg
- Subaru plans to leapfrog ahead in EV race with new R&D and design center – Automotive News
- Honda’s Two New EVs Join Tesla’s Cybertruck in Futuristic Design – Businessinsider
- Hong Kong’s Cash-Loving Taxis to Accept Chinese E-Payment Apps – Bloomberg
- Vietnam sales rebound in December – Just-Auto
Wednesday Morning Auto News, Jan 10, 2024: VW and GM lose ground to Chinese EV makers. SEC account ‘hack’ amplifies concerns over security at Musk’s X. Tesla launches updated Model 3 in NA. More.
- SEC Account Hack Amplifies Concerns Over Security at Musk’s X – Bloomberg
- Tesla launches updated Model 3 in North America – Reuters
- VW and GM lose ground to Chinese EV makers as petrol-heavy line-ups fall out of favour – SCMP
- Classic BMW, Ford, Ferrari Cars Poised for Gains in 2024 – Bloomberg
- Kia Unveils Global Modular EV Lineup – Wardsauto
- How Uber and Lyft Driving Can Help Loneliness – Businessinsider
- 2024 CES show report: all the latest cars revealed – Autocar
- Hungary invests in area hosting BMW and CATL battery plant – Automotive News
- Vauxhall Corsa hybrid to launch from £22,890 – Autocar
- Volkswagen Up to return in 2027 as low cost EV – Autocar
- Elon Musk doesn’t understand Sweden’s unions. If he did, he’d work with them – Guardian [ There is more … ]
Tuesday Morning Auto News, Jan 09, 2024: Musk says banning Hamas “was a tough call.” GM’s China sales drop in 2023. BMW hits record sales in 2023. More.
- Elon Musk Says Banning Hamas’ X Account “Was a Tough Call” – Businessinsider
- GM’s China sales drop in 2023; U.S. biggest market once again – Automotive News
- BMW hits record sales in 2023 on EV demand – Automotive News
- BMW hits 2023 sales target, on track for EV goals in 2024 – Reuters
- ‘Free speech absolutist’ Elon Musk explains his decision to ban Hamas’ X account – Businessinsider
- CES 2024: Hyundai lays out full-scale hydrogen ambitions – Automotive News
- Elon Musk’s drug use is latest headache for Tesla’s board – LATimes
- Elon Musk Criticizes WSJ Reporting on His Use of Illegal Drugs – Wall Street Journal
- Intel Unveils Plan to Bring the AI Personal Computer to Your Next Car – Barrons
- Renault seeks regulatory discipline in India as it plans new investments – Reuters
- Alumina price panic a sign of future aluminium volatility – Reuters
- Volkswagen brand sales up 6.7% in 2023 – Reuters
- Red Bull RB17 confirmed for 2024 reveal – Autocar
How is Tesla doing in the Fatherland? Don’t ask.
It’s the new year, so let’s have a look back at the Fatherland I abandoned some 40 years ago, and let’s do that with a heavy emphasis on electric cars. Why? Germany is Europe’s largest car market, Germany is home of world’s second-largest automaker, and it is where Elon Musk built his second overseas factory, in bucolic Grünheide near (but not in) Berlin.
A look at the chart above shows us that Tesla isn’t doing so well in the Fatherland. These are the numbers for December, last month of the quarter and last month of the year, when Tesla usually pulls all-nighters to ship anything that is not nailed down. Not this time.