Archives for September 2020

• Ex-Audi CEO facing court over ‘dieselgate’ – Just-Auto: Ex-Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has become the first top VW executive to be put on trial in Germany.
• Volkswagen CEO says will announce important strategic steps this year – Reuters: Volkswagen CEO says will announce important strategic steps this year
• Volvo Parent to Bring Car-Sharing Subscription Service to Europe – Bloomberg: Volvo Parent to Bring Car-Sharing Subscription Service to Europe
• VW reviewing high performance brands – Just-Auto: Volkswagen is reviewing the future of high performance brands Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati as part of a broader quest for more economies of scale as it shifts to mass producing electric cars, senior executives have told Reuters.
• Tesla to roll out China-made Model 3 cars with cobalt-free LFP batteries: sources – Reuters: Tesla to roll out China-made Model 3 cars with cobalt-free LFP batteries: sources
• Citroen boss wants to sell quirky Ami two-seater in the UK – Autocar: Electric quadricycle is leased with a £2200 deposit and payments of £17 per month
• Ford cuts price of 2021 Mustang Mach-E: Here’s the breakdown – Freep: It is not typical to cut prices on a new vehicle a company has touted for its strong demand. Ford alerted dealers to lower prices in a memo Tuesday

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• ‘Make yourself invaluable’: Carlos Ghosn offers executive training in troubled Lebanon – Reuters: ‘Make yourself invaluable’: Carlos Ghosn offers executive training in troubled Lebanon
• Mitsubishi to offer early retirement to over 45s in Japan – Just-Auto: Mitsubishi Motors is said to be planning to offer early retirement to some 500 to 600 workers in mid November as part of plans to cut costs and restructure its operations, according to local reports citing sources close to the matter.
• Tesla Is Trying to Mine Its Own Lithium After Dropping M&A Plan – Bloomberg: The automaker held discussions in recent months with Cypress Development Corp., which is seeking to extract lithium from clay deposits
• Fiat agrees to pay $9.5 million penalty for misleading on emissions audit – U.S. SEC – Reuters: Fiat agrees to pay $9.5 million penalty for misleading on emissions audit – U.S. SEC
• BMW X8: Munich readies new luxury flagship SUV for launch – Autocar: First images of mysterious new prototype suggest the X8 will be larger than the X7
• Nio could be the ‘next iconic auto brand,’ says Deutsche Bank – CNBC: Nio could be the ‘next iconic auto brand,’ says Deutsche Bank

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• China’s biggest automaker SAIC to have nearly 100 new EV models by 2025 – Reuters: China’s biggest automaker SAIC to have nearly 100 new EV models by 2025
• Volkswagen, Chinese ventures to invest 15 billion euros in electric vehicles – Reuters: Volkswagen, Chinese ventures to invest 15 billion euros in electric vehicles
• Uber says winning back London licence is recognition of safety commitment – Reuters: – Uber said on Monday that a British judge’s decision to grant it an 18-month operating licence in London, following a successful court appeal, was recognition of its work on safety.
• Analysis: Polestar lifts the lid on lifetime EV emissions – Autocar: It takes 24 tonnes of CO2 equivalents to make a Polestar 2
• Nikola Founder Milton’s Fall Reveals What His Backers Feared – Bloomberg:  “His brash visionary talk and Twitter braggadocio, lacked the ability that Elon Musk possesses to deliver these sorts of newfangled products to market.”
• China’s SVOLT to supply cobalt-free EV batteries to Great Wall – Reuters: Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery maker SVOLT Energy Technology will supply a new, cobalt-free battery

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• Porsche’s first electric car becomes its best seller in Europe – Autocar: Porsche is among the marques to boast not only impressive sales rebound figures globally, but also outright numbers that compare neatly with previous years.
• Nikola cannot succeed on Elon Musk-style bluster alone – FT: That’s a quality Elon Musk certainly has in spades. The Tesla chief executive was at it again this week,
• More Silicon, Less Cobalt Is Musk’s Recipe for Cheaper Batteries – Bloomberg:
• Audi R8 Green Hell is limited-run special of 611bhp supercar – Autocar: Audi R8 Green Hell Special edition of Audi’s flagship gains new styling tweaks,
• Ex-PSA man to lead Hyundai powertrain tech – Just-Auto: Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) has announced it has appointed Alain Raposo as Executive Vice President in charge of its Powertrain Tech Unit at the Group’s Research and Development Division. Prior to joining HMG, he was in charge of developing powertrain, battery and chassis at Groupe PSA.
• Hyundai Motor builds second plant in Vietnam – Just-Auto: Hyundai Motor broke ground on its second vehicle assembly plant in Vietnam this week, according to local reports, as the carmaker looks to strengthen its presence in one of south east Asia’s most promising markets.

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• German court opens criminal proceeedings against former Volkswagen CEO – Reuters: German court opens criminal proceeedings against former Volkswagen CEO
• BMW Group Plant Leipzig to start battery module production in 2021 – Just-Auto: BMW Group Plant Leipzig to start battery module production in 2021
• Tesla seeks to build battery cells in Berlin – Reuters: Tesla seeks to build battery cells in Berlin
• Geely launches open-source EV architecture – Just-Auto: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has announced the launch of its Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), claimed to be the world’s first open-source electric vehicle architecture, that promises to ‘transform the availability of zero-emission cars and trucks in the world’s largest auto markets’.
• Tesla, Volvo, Ford and Mercedes sue US over ‘unlawful’ tariffs on Chinese parts – Guardian: Tesla, Volvo, Ford and Mercedes sue US over ‘unlawful’ tariffs on Chinese parts
• 5 cheap electric cars to buy until Tesla delivers on its $25,000 promise – Fortune: 5 cheap electric cars to buy until Tesla delivers on its $25,000 promise
• Tesla could struggle to implement some of its battery advances, experts say – Reuters: Tesla could struggle to implement some of its battery advances, experts say

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• Tesla disappoints investors with big ‘reveal’ – Just-Auto: Investors reported cut US$50bn from Tesla market value on Tuesday despite CEO Elon Musk’s promise to cut electric vehicle costs so much a US$25,000 car that drives itself would be possible, but not for at least three years.
• Panasonic weighs options over Tesla new battery production – Reuters: Panasonic weighs options over Tesla new battery production
• Israel’s Mobileye, Dubai’s Habtoor partner on self-driving cars – Reuters: Israel’s Mobileye, Dubai’s Habtoor partner on self-driving cars
• Exclusive: Hyundai in talks with EU on concessions over Daewoo deal – sources – Reuters: Exclusive: Hyundai in talks with EU on concessions over Daewoo deal – sources
• Kia Covid plants resume work – Just-Auto: Kia Motors said on Wednesday two of its eight domestic plants returned to normal operations following days of suspension due to coronavirus cases.
• Cupra boss Wayne Griffiths named as new Seat president – Autocar: Seat president Wayne Griffiths Management shake-up sees performance brand CEO fill the gap [ There is more … ]

• EV maker Polestar plans to double showrooms and move into new markets – CEO – Reuters: EV maker Polestar plans to double showrooms and move into new markets – CEO
• Tesla warns on challenges of scaling up production – Reuters: Tesla warns on challenges of scaling up production
• Baidu-backed Chinese EV startup WM Motor raises $1.5 billion – Reuters: Baidu-backed BIDU.O Chinese electric vehicle (EV) startup WM Motor said on Tuesday it has raised 10 billion yuan ($1.47 billion) …
• Musk says ‘Battery Day’ unveil will not reach high-volume production until 2022 – Reuters: Musk says ‘Battery Day’ unveil will not reach high-volume production until 2022
• Tesla shares fall in premarket as Musk dampens ‘battery day’ expectations – CNBC: Tesla is expected to announce details about a new type of battery cell it has developed.
• BYD sells electric buses to Finland – Just-Auto: BYD has made its first Finnish sales to Nobina, a public transport operator.
• Elon Musk expected to use Tesla ‘Battery Day’ to argue for the end of combustion engines – Reuters: Elon Musk expected to use Tesla ‘Battery Day’ to argue for the end of combustion engines

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