Archives for August 2020

• New Volkswagen ID 4 electric SUV production begins – Autocar: Volkswagen ID 4 First examples of second model in ID line-up roll off production lines
• VW Chairman Poetsch Settles Another Market-Manipulation Case – Bloomberg: VW Chairman Poetsch Settles Another Market-Manipulation Case
• Toyota snubs electric vehicle trend with plug-in hybrid 2021 RAV4 Prime, but will it work? – Freep: As automakers like GM and VW switch to all-electric vehicles, Toyota’s best-selling RAV4 swims against the current with a plug-in hybrid
• Indian car maker in pact with premier management institute to incubate start-ups in mobility space – Xinhuanet: India’s largest car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki announced its partnership with India premier management institute
• Chinese EV maker Nio launches battery leasing service, eyes global market – Reuters: Chinese electric vehicle (EV) … more customers of gasoline cars will consider electric vehicles,” Nio’s chief …
• GM sets out electrification push for China – Just-Auto: General Motors has set out its technology rollout plan for electrification, intelligent driving and connectivity in China and said that over 40% of new product launches in China will be electrified over the next five years.

[ There is more … ]

• Elon Musk’s SpaceX gets a stratospheric valuation in its latest funding – Fortune: The company, founded by Elon Musk, sold the bulk of its planned $2.07 billion offering to investors starting Aug. 4, according to a regulatory filing …
• Nokia Wins Ruling in Daimler Lawsuit Over Mobile Technology – Bloomberg: Nokia Wins Ruling in Daimler Lawsuit Over Mobile Technology
• 2021 Porsche Taycan gains wireless upgrades and new options – Autocar: Electric performance saloon gets simpler public charging, battery preservation tech and more exte…
• The evolution of Porsche: new 911 vs legendary 959 – Autocar: Does the new 911 owe its five-star status to its be-winged grandfather? The iconic Porsche 959…
• Germany and Detroit Already Have Their Own Teslas – Bloomberg: Tesla has impressive software and battery technology, but others know how to build a decent electric vehicle now. Established carmakers are …
• Exclusive: GM bets on electric Cadillacs and micro-vans to reverse China slide – Reuters: Exclusive: GM bets on electric Cadillacs and micro-vans to reverse China slide

[ There is more … ]

• Fewer China-Built Teslas Registered as Competition Builds – Bloomberg: its first outside the U.S. — have made up the vast majority of Tesla registrations in China since opening.
• Why Hertz landed in bankruptcy court when its rivals didn’t – CNBC: Hertz was a pioneer in car rental and a highly recognized brand. But the company’s attempts to address its challenges left it unprepared for the Covid-19 pandemic, unlike its rivals. Now it is in bankruptcy court and struggling to survive.
• Tata Motors denies it plans to sell stake in Jaguar Land Rover – Guardian: Jaguar Land Rover is and remains a key pillar of Tata Motors and the wider Tata Group.
• Police Scale Back Purchases of $50,000 SUVs in Setback for Ford – Bloomberg: Police Scale Back Purchases of $50,000 SUVs in Setback for Ford
• Digital Motors Wants to Bring Tesla’s Internet Chops to Every Auto Brand – Bloomberg: Digital Motors Wants to Bring Tesla”s Internet Chops to Every Auto Brand
• JAC Motors sales increased by 33.6% in July to achieve consecutive 4 months positive year-on-year growth – Just-Auto: JAC Motors sales increased by 33.6% in July to achieve consecutive 4 months positive year-on-year growth

[ There is more … ]

• 2021 Porsche Panamera is fastest executive car to lap the Nurburgring – Autocar: Upcoming Panamera lapped the “Ring in 7min 29.81sec, beating the Mercedes-AMG GT
• Audi quattro sets standards in the age of electric mobility – Just-Auto: Audi quattro sets standards in the age of electric mobility
• Bank of America upgrades Tesla, the second bearish analyst in 24 hours to capitulate – CNBC: Bank of America upgrades Tesla, the second bearish analyst in 24 hours to capitulate
• Daimler US diesel settlement to cost $1.5bn – Just-Auto: Daimler said it had agreed a settlement with US authorities over diesel emissions that would cost it about US$1.5bn.
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class A350e – Autocar: Plug-in A-Class broadens Mercedes” extensive hybrid line-up, but will it top the class?
• No shortfall in U.S. supply of ventilators as GM, Ventec end contract – Freep: GM will lease part of its Indiana plant to Ventec to continue production, but for how long is anybody’s guess since demand for ventilators is murky.
• Ridecell selected by Toyota Sweden for new mobility service – Just-Auto: Ridecell says shared mobility programme for Toyota Sweden, Kinto Share has selected its High-yield Mobility Platform.
• Toyota and Mazda to pour additional $830m into new US auto plant – Nikkei:
• Uber, Lyft are denied a delay in treating California drivers as employees – LATimes: Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. failed to persuade a judge to put an extended hold on his order
• VW invests in battery pack engineering at Chattanooga – Just-Auto: Volkswagen in the US says it has begun expanding its Chattanooga factory to build a North American centre for electric vehicles – not only for assembly

• Ride-hailing’s collapsing house of cards – FT: Recent decision in Californian courts to classify ride-hailing workers as employees raises existential questions for Lyft,
• German prosecutors probe possible death of suspended Volkswagen employee – Reuters: German prosecutors probe possible death of suspended Volkswagen employee
• Porsche driver Richard Pusey wants public decency charge dropped over Melbourne crash – Guardian: Porsche driver Richard Pusey wants public decency charge dropped over Melbourne crash
• Departure of GM CFO Dhivya Suryadevara highlights ongoing ‘brain drain’ problem for auto industry – CNBC: As the automotive and tech sectors have collided in the past decade with the rise of connected, electric and autonomous vehicles, the competitive landscape for top talent has increasingly become more challenging.
• Kia Stinger updated with refreshed looks and upgraded cabin – Autocar: Performance saloon receives exterior styling tweaks, more exterior options and cabin upgrades
• Leasing a Tesla Is a Lousy Deal. That’s Good News For Tesla Stock. – Barrons: That is why residual values-or used-car prices-are such a big deal for car buyers, leasing companies, and even auto makers.

[ There is more … ]

• Tesla sets 5-1 stock split and its high-flying stock soars again – Reuters: Tesla’s stock split follows a four-for-one split announced by Apple Inc in late July
• VW’s Finance Arm Takes $590 Million Hit and Braces for More Pain – Bloomberg: VW”s Finance Arm Takes $590 Million Hit and Braces for More Pain
• GM’s future in military vehicles could mean billions in profit for automaker – Freep: GM’s future in military vehicles could mean billions in profit for automaker
• Hyundai ready for Covid-19 restrictions once again – Autocar: Hyundai New Zealand says its dealer network is ready to support any customer needs
• Jaguar details recreated E-Type to mark icon’s 60th anniversary – Autocar: Exclusive E-Type 60 Edition will pay homage to the early cars that appeared at Geneva in 1961
• Bentley Bentayga Speed: world’s fastest SUV updated for 2021 – Autocar: Top-rung SUV adopts new styling and tech, but keeps its W12 motor and won’t come to Europe
• Tesla Splits Stock to Make Richly Valued Shares Reachable Again – Bloomberg: Tesla’s move follows a similar split by Apple Inc., which Ives said other tech giants are likely to emulate.
• Artificial intelligence – not so difficult after all – Volkswagenag: Image recognition and artificial intelligence make production at Volkswagen even more efficient. The key term: Industrial Computer Vision.

• California wins ruling against Uber, Lyft: Judge says drivers are employees – LATimes: Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. were ordered Monday to convert their California drivers from independent contractors to employees with benefits
• FCA fires back on GM lawsuit – Just-Auto: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) reportedly has asked a US federal judge to dismiss a request from General Motors to reinstate a racketeering lawsuit against its smaller rival, comparing a recent GM filing to a “third rate spy movie, full of preposterous allegations”.
• Updated: Ford Kuga PHEV deliveries halted due to battery fires – Autocar: Ford confirms temporary suspension of sales and issues recall; owners told not to charge
• Hertz Seeks Bankruptcy Loan as Car Rental Volume Slowly Recovers – Bloomberg: The bankrupt rental-car giant said in a regulatory filing Monday it is looking for new sources of cash with the travel business in a deep slump and proceeds from the sale of its cars going to pay off creditors.
• Hyundai, Aptiv name self-driving joint venture Motional – Reuters: Hyundai, Aptiv name self-driving joint venture Motional
• New Audi S3 Sportback and Saloon: hot hatch arrives with 306bhp – Autocar: Audi reveals hatchback and saloon S3 models, available to order from this week

[ There is more … ]