+++ While the future of the long-awaited APPLE car remains uncertain, it has been revealed that the technology giant ramped up its testing of self-driving vehicles in 2020. A report filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles reveals Apple’s fleet of autonomous prototypes drove 18.805 miles in the state last year, up from 7.544 miles in 2019. Throughout the year, Apple reported 130 disengagements where a human safety driver had to take control of the vehicle, or one disengagement every 145 miles on average. This is an improvement over 2019’s 64 disengagements, or one every 118 miles. Apple reported its most extensive year of testing in 2018, when its vehicles covered 79,745 miles, but the systems were more rudimentary, with a disengagement being reported almost every mile. Apple’s system lags behind its competitors. In 2020, the General Motors-owned Cruise autonomous-vehicle startup reported 770.000 miles of testing to the California DMV and encountered 27 disengagements, an average of one disengagement every 28.520 miles; a significant improvement from over 12.221 miles last year. Waymo’s autonomous fleet covered 628.839 miles of testing in California in 2020. While that is less than half of what it reported in 2019, it encountered just 21 disengagements, one approximately every 30.000 miles. News related to Apple’s autonomous vehicle testing program comes just a few days after Hyundai and sister brand Kia revealed its talks about collaborating with Apple on its electric car ended without a deal being reached. +++
+++ The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has determined that South Korean BATTERY manufacturer SK Innovation misappropriated the trade secrets of rival LG Chem. SK Innovation has been hit with a limited 10-year exclusion order that will prohibit it from importing some of its batteries to the United States but will allow the company to import components for the domestic production of lithium-ion batteries for Ford’s electric F-150 program for 4 years and for Volkswagen of America’s MEB electric vehicle line for 2 years. The ITC added that the company can also replace or repair the batteries in Kia vehicles sold in the U.S. SK Innovation noted that president Joe Biden has 60 days to review the ruling and could reverse it. “We have serious concerns about the commercial and operational implications of this decision for the future of our EV-battery facility in Commerce, Georgia”, the company said in a statement, adding that the “ruling could have a serious adverse impact on President Biden’s policies to combat climate change and expand the electrification of the US auto fleet in coming years”. LG Chem and SK Innovation began butting heads in 2019, with LG Chem claiming that SK had misappropriated its trade secrets by hiring over 100 former LG employees, including 70 engineers. LG alleged these employees downloaded 1.900 confidential documents from its database and were asked to disclose confidential information during the recruitment process with SK Innovation. “With the ITC’s final ruling, SK Innovation is now facing scenarios that they would not be able to operate their business in the United States, which will likely accelerate settlement talks between LG and SK”, stated Daishin Securities analyst Han Sang-won. +++
+++ When the iX was unveiled in November last year, BMW said it would enter production at its Dingolfing plant in Germany during the second half of 2021. That date now seems to have been pushed back. Word from insiders is that production of the iX won’t begin until March 2022. No explanation has been given for this delay, but one possibility is that it could be related to the ongoing global semiconductor shortage. While it may take a little longer for the iX to hit the market than originally intended, it will still prove to be a very important vehicle for BMW as it is its first bespoke electric SUV. The iX features BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive technology that features 2 electric motors which combine to produce more than 500 hp. These motors receive their power from a battery pack with a capacity exceeding 100 kWh that allows the SUV to have a range of more than 480 km under EPA standards. BMW expects the iX to hit 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds. The technology used by the iX enables DC fast charging at up to 200 kW, allowing the battery to be charged from 10 to 80 % of its capacity in under 40 minutes. The German automaker has also equipped the iX with a new toolkit that means its computing power can process 20 times the data volume of other BMW models. +++
+++ The dot-com BUBBLE of the late 90s was an expensive lesson in rampant speculation and unrealistic expectations. 2 decades later, the same pattern may have emerged within the EV landscape, or so says a report in Harvard International Review. There’s no denying the surging optimism surrounding electric vehicles. Whether it be the fact that Tesla turned a profit in 2020, or the pledge to build at least 500.000 US charging stations over the next 10 years, EVs are (almost) universally heralded as the future. Both consumers and investors are betting on EVs. But with a new breed of investor emerging, enabled by the likes of Robinhood and r/Wallstreetbets, there are growing concerns that a bubble has formed. The author of the study points out that, just like the overinflated dot-com companies that couldn’t make true on their promises, analysts see the same kind of stock over-inflation with unproven EV startups. Examples include the electric truck company Nikola and diesel-electric truck maker Hyliion, both of which have seen large losses off their value. While it’s hard to pinpoint precisely why shares in EV companies are garnering so much attention, the writer points out two possible explanations: firstly, the accessibility of micro-investment thanks to apps like the aforementioned Robinhood, and secondly, the money that has been injected into the economy in the form of stimulus and unemployment checks. If amateurs are to blame for putting money into risky investments, then the bubble may indeed burst. But even with the US Federal Reserve doing its best to ensure markets stay afloat, the jury is still out on how long it’ll last, or whether the wave can be ridden successfully. +++
+++ It’s fair to say that CHRYSLER has definitely seen better days, as its current lineup consists of the aging 300, the value-focused Voyager and the recently facelifted Pacifica. While there has been speculation that, following the PSA – FCA merger, the brand could be dropped, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares attempted to squash those rumors by calling Chrysler a “pillar” of the company. Little is known about Chrysler’s future at this point, as Tavares said the company needs a few more months to determine the brand’s “vision destination”. However, Tavares stated that Chrysler used to be the expression of “automotive American technology” and suggested they could work on that by “using other ideas like autonomous vehicles, zero-emission vehicles or highly connected vehicles”. While Chrysler’s future is still unclear, it’s starting to look less bleak. The same can’t be said about plans to bring Peugeot to the United States. Tavares noted that “I think it’s better that we funnel the talent, the capital, and the engineering capability to the existing brands to improve what needs to be improved and to accelerate where we need to accelerate, because we already have a very strong presence in this market”. In essence, it’s a lot easier to rebuild Chrysler than trying to start from scratch with Peugeot. That’s probably a wise idea as the French automaker pulled out of the U.S. market in 1991 and it would take a lot of money and effort to bring them back. While a lot of questions remain, it sounds like we’ll learn more about Chrysler’s future later this year. +++
+++ The CORVETTE C8 is a hot commodity and it will reportedly be joined by 5 additional variants in the next few years. The first to arrive will be the Z06. It’s slated to feature a 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 similar to the one used in the C8.R. It will produce between 624-634 hp and have approximately 651 Nm. They go on to say the naturally aspirated engine will rev to 9.000 rpm. Pricing could start around €200.000 in The Netherlands and the model is slated to be offered with optional carbon fiber wheels. One year later, Chevrolet will reportedly introduce the new ZR1. It’s slated to have a twin-turbo version of the aforementioned 5.5-liter V8. This will reportedly enable the roughly €295.000 sports car to produce around 836–862 hp. The 2023 model year is also expected to see the introduction of a plug-in hybrid Corvette that could be called the E-Ray. It will reportedly have 2 front-mounted electric motors and possibly a third one sandwiched between the engine and transmission. Additional information is limited, but speculation suggests the all-wheel drive E-Ray will slot between the Z06 and ZR1. If that’s the case, we can expect performance specs and pricing to mirror its positioning. In other words, around 710 hp and €200.000. Roughly one year later, Chevrolet will reportedly introduce an electric Corvette. It’s expected to be based on the plug-in hybrid variant, but feature a larger battery pack and a rear-mounted electric motor or motors. Last but not least is the long-rumored Corvette Zora. It’s slated to have the twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 from the ZR1 as well as the plug-in hybrid system from the E-Ray. This could give the model a combined output of 1.014 hp. Despite producing four figures, the Zora could be a relative bargain as the publication suggests pricing could start around €375.000. +++
+++ FORD has decided to terminate plans to launch electric vehicle joint ventures with China’s Zotye Automobile, the U.S. auto giant said. It said that China’s electric vehicle industry and government policies had undergone major changes since the agreements were signed in 2017 and 2018, prompting Ford’s decision. Ford didn’t specify which changes triggered its move. Last week, Ford said its China joint venture with Chongqing Changan Automobile would start making all-electric Mustang Mach-E vehicles. In a statement, Ford said it would pursue a more “flexible business model in China” that would see it utilise its existing operations in the country and elsewhere, and build related business centres. Zotye did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In 2017, during a visit by former U.S. president Donald Trump to China, Ford and Zotye said that they would invest a combined $756 million to set up a 50-50 joint venture in China to build small electric passenger vehicles. A year later, the 2 companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding for another venture that would make electric vehicles for ride-hailing fleets. EV makers from home-grown Nio Inc to U.S. leader Tesla Inc have been expanding manufacturing capacity in the world’s largest auto market, where the government is heavily promoting greener vehicles as a means of reducing chronic air pollution. Sales of electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles in China are forecast to rise to 20 % of new car sales by 2025 from just 5 % now, the State Council said in November. +++
+++ Like many others in his industry, GEELY chairman Li Shufu has been irked by skyrocketing valuations for electric car manufacturers such as Tesla and Nio, sources at the Chinese automaker say. Getting Geely, which owns Volvo Cars and 9.7 % of Daimler, to a place where it too may claim a sizeable chunk of China’s burgeoning electric car market and burnish its share price at the same time, has preoccupied Li for much of the past year, they added. The result: a flurry of tie-ups unveiled last month that lay bare Geely’s intention to position itself as the go-to contract manufacturer for electric vehicles in China and beyond – assembly services that will also offer up its engineering and development expertise. “The chairman’s attitude towards contract manufacturing is clear: he is embracing it and actively pursuing it”, a Geely executive told. Outsourcing production of some models through original equipment manufacturing (OEM) deals is common in the auto industry, but Geely’s plans represent the most aggressive attempt yet by an automaker to build up a contract manufacturing business. Of the 4 deals announced, a venture with Taiwan’s Foxconn to provide electric vehicle (EV) contract manufacturing, is the most important, said the sources, who were not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified. A subsequent agreement to build mass-market electric vehicles for embattled Los Angeles-based startup Faraday Future would be handled by the venture with Foxconn. Geely, which is China’s largest privately owned automaker, has also made a separate pact to make smart electric cars for internet giant Baidu, with the first model due to be launched next year. In addition, it is joining hands with Tencent Holdings on smart car control and autonomous driving technology. Geely declined to comment for this article or make Li available for comment. Geely has several electric car models on the market and in September launched a brand new EV-focused platform, developed at a cost of 18 billion yuan ($2.8 billion). But amid a 2-year slump in sales, Li became convinced Geely was being too conventional in its approach and began pushing for an aggressive adoption of “Big Tech” partnerships, sources said. In doing so, Li returned to a more active running of the group after stepping back somewhat in 2017 and 2018. The shift did not come without some opposition. At management meetings, some people raised concerns that any big shift to contract manufacturing could make Geely a lesser partner in its relationships with tech firms and cause it to lose its edge as an independent automaker, senior sources said. Caution was also expressed about picking Faraday Future as the first client for the venture with Foxconn, as the startup has a track record of over-promising and slow progress in development. Li dismissed those concerns, they added. The deal with Faraday was not well received by the market with shares in its main unit, Geely Automobile, sliding some 16 % over 4 days in the wake of the news. On the plus side, however, the deals could address chronic under-utilisation at Geely plants. For example, Geely Automobile, which houses its Geely brand cars, is capable of building more than 2 million vehicles a year but sold only some 1.3 million in 2020. The deals could also help Geely get the most out of the EV-focused platform, which is now open-sourced and can be used for small to large cars and even light commercial vehicles. That said, just how big contract manufacturing will become for Geely is uncertain and the company has no internal numerical targets to meet at the moment, the sources said. “Basically, it’s unclear now how many clients we will have in the coming years”, said one source. Li is also planning to shore up Geely’s financial base with a secondary listing for Geely Automobile on the mainland’s STAR board this year. Its Hong Kong listing values the unit at $37 billion, with shares having risen over 12 % so far this year. That, sources say, has been a deeply unsatisfactory state of affairs for Li who compares it to the $800 billion-plus valuation for Tesla and the $98 billion valuation for Nio, which sold less than 44.000 cars last year. Geely had looked at investing in Nio previously, sources have said. Analysts describe the rush of new deals as bold, potentially allowing Geely to save much time and money in developing and launching electric cars. At the same time, there are risks. “Integrating one major partner is challenging enough for any company’s management regardless of the sector, so asking the management team to successfully launch all of them seemingly all at once is a pretty big ask”, said Tu Le, analyst at Sino Auto Insights. +++
+++ A month after announcing that it will invest $75 Million in their Toledo transmission facility, GENERAL MOTORS has revealed that it will make a further investment of $100 million in 2 other plants. The plants in question, Romulus and Bedford, will receive $93 million and $7 million, respectively. Like the Toledo investment, the cash injection to these plants is to boost production of General Motor’s 10-speed automatic transmission. General Motors, who are also investing heavily in their EV future, says the decision has been taken to increase the availability of the trucks that use the transmission, including the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Just weeks ago, demand for the Silverado and Sierra was also cited as the reason for the investment in the Toledo, Ohio plant. In 2020 General Motors also made the decision to pump in a separate $39 million to the same plant in order to increase production of its 8-speed, rear-wheel-drive transmission. In addition to 10-speed transmissions, the Romulus facility currently builds V6 engines for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles. The $93 million investment will add machining capability to the plant. Meanwhile, the Bedford, Indiana casting operation will receive $7 million aimed at increasing its die casting capacity. The plant is one of the world’s leading aluminum die casting facilities and is responsible for transmission casings and converter housings. “Demand for our Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups continues to be very strong”, said Phil Kienle, GM vice president, North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations. “We appreciate the commitment and hard work our teams display every day at work in Romulus and Bedford, and these investments reflect the importance of their efforts”. +++
+++ The LOS ANGELES MOTOR SHOW will take place in November. After previously rescheduling the 2020 show for May, organizers confirmed that those plans have been scrapped, and the show will return to its regular slot this fall, taking place November 17-18. Since every auto show organizing body in the country seems allergic to the “C” word, we’ll use it for them: The 2020 Los Angeles Auto Show has finally, formally, for-real been canceled. In other words, the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show will be the only Los Angeles Auto Show to be held in 2021. Confused yet? Welcome to the club. Keeping track of the American auto show schedule was nearly impossible in 2020, during which each major show after Chicago (held in February, just prior to Covid gaining a strong foothold in the United States) was “postponed” at least once. The short version is that we expect the scheduling shenanigans to continue until some semblance of normality can be restored, but if you’re the masochistic sort, here’s the long version. Strap in. At this point, the rest of the 2021 schedule remains firmly in the “TBD” column. The 2021 Chicago Auto Show, originally slated for early-mid February, has been postponed indefinitely. Even now, with warmer weather looming on the horizon, Chicago’s organizers are holding to a “Spring 2021” timeframe. Automotive News last reported that anything from March to May is still on the table. We’re skeptical, to say the least. Next up would be the New York Auto International Auto Show, which is typically held just before Easter. Organizers announced in October that its 2021 show dates have been pushed back to August 20-29, but we have every reason to suspect those dates remain tentative. Finally, the Detroit Auto Show, which was held in January for more than a decade, has effectively been merged this year with the Motor Bella event, outdoors September 21-26 at M1 Concourse in Pontiac. The public days will be September 23-26. Of the schedule changes, only Detroit’s move to the fall slot appears to be permanent. Key word being “appears.” The 2020 North American International Auto Show was slated to be held in June 2020 for the first time, moving back from its previous January slot. It now appears that a springtime Detroit Auto Show was simply not meant to be. What form it takes in fall 2022, we shall see. +++
+++ LEXUS is working to update its mostly dormant portfolio with new cars to populate currently unfilled segments. These will include a full electric vehicle, a true 3-row crossover, and a flagship SUV. Many existing models will be getting updates as well, along with a new infotainment system. The agenda was outlined by the chairman of the Lexus National Dealer Advisory Council, John Iacono. It very much reads like someone trying to show how much they know by spilling the beans on random bits of info they’ve heard (it’s definitely not anything approaching official information from a company executive), so I’ll take most of it with a fistfull of salt. Still, there’s plenty here that certainly makes sense given the state of the current Lexus lineup. Iacono says that Lexus has not been quick enough to fill new segments in the last 2 years. It was “only the service that kept people coming back”, he says. Customers turned elsewhere because they couldn’t find what they wanted in the Lexus lineup, even though the cars are “bulletproof”. What those customers wanted, he says, included a 3-row crossover. A couple of year ago, dealers rejoiced when the RX was stretched to accommodate a third row, but it was only a stopgap to keep dealers happy. Iacono said this people-mover will arrive “relatively soon,” likely referring to the luxury crossover set to be introduced this year. Lexus doesn’t want to deviate from RX’s philosophy because it’s the brand’s most successful product. In North America, Lexus does sell 2 other 3-row vehicles, but the GX and LX are traditional body-on-frame SUVs derived from off-road-oriented Toyotas. Speaking of the LX, Lexus will soon be producing an SUV that Iacono believes will become the marque’s flagship. The halo car crown will no longer be worn by the luxurious LS sedan or flashy LC grand tourer coupe. Instead, Iacono described this SUV as a niche off-roader that won’t sell at high volumes, but will serve as a must-have item that makes the brand cool. To us, that sounds a lot like the previously reported Lexus-badged version of the next-generation Land Cruiser. Curiously, Iacono later refers to upcoming refreshes of the GX and LX, so perhaps the new flag-bearer will be called something else. Or, again, perhaps the chairman of the Lexus National Dealer Advisory Council just doesn’t know as much as he lets on in this lengthy interview. That said, he notes that Lexus will finally commit to the EV market. It was a pioneer with hybrids, but Lexus dealers have been clamoring for a true electric to siphon customers from Tesla. Iacono described the luxury EV landscape as “one player out there that is absorbing all of the opportunities.” That aligns with previous reporting that indicated a mid-size AWD crossover on a platform shared with Toyota and Subaru that’s said to generate a combined 408 hp and 600 Nm from its dual motors. Finally, Lexus’s much-maligned infotainment system is apparently getting a significant rework. He hopes it will help attract younger buyers to the showroom, and we hope it will be more than just adding touchscreen capability to the Remote Touch system as we recently sampled in the 2021 LS. Speaking of the LS, he says that it too will receive a makeover. “Not too many people really understand where we’re going with the LS, which will be a true benchmark for the brand”, Iacono said. It sounds like the LS will be sticking around, even though it will no longer be the crown jewel of the brand. Finally, Iacono estimated it will take Lexus 2 to 3 years to roll out theses changes and replenish its lineup. +++
+++ LUCID is gearing up to begin deliveries of its all-electric Air in the U.S. this year, but recently there was a mix-up concerning the timeframe of European deliveries. It was assumed that the Air wouldn’t launch in Europe until 2022, but when asked on Twitter when the Lucid Air will be available in Norway, the car manufacturer responded that “European deliveries will begin in late 2021”. But this statement has been retracted since. According to a company spokesperson, “Lucid Motors will start customer deliveries in Europe in the first half of 2022. The recent social media response of ‘late 2021’ is inaccurate, but all future communications will reflect the correct timing”. The electric vehicle startup took off the covers to the production-spec Air in September last year and confirmed it will reach the hands of U.S. customers this spring in flagship Dream Edition guise. The slightly less expensive Air Grand Touring will also be available in spring, while the Air Touring, starting at $87,500 after the federal tax credit, will land in the States in the 4th quarter 2021, and the entry level model, which is priced at $69,900 after incentives, will launch in 2022. The Lucid Air Dream Edition comes with a 113 kWh battery pack coupled to a pair of electric motors that combine to deliver 1.080 hp. This model can sprint to 96 km/h in just 2.5 seconds and do the quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds at 231.7 km/h, while it maxes out at 270 km/h. Lucid is also developing a tri-motor version of the Air but has yet to confirm technical specifications. +++
+++ The Nettuno engine developed for the MC20 will only be used by the mid-engined supercar and will not be offered in other MASERATI models moving forward. Maserati developed the MC20’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 in-house and will build it by hand at its Engine Lab in Modena, Italy. It churns out 621 hp / 790 Nm and few would have been surprised if it were offered in other models. However, during a recent interview, Maserati’s chief engineer for high-performance petrol engines, Matteo Valentini, said that won’t be the case. “The Nettuno is built only for the MC20, so you will see it only on that car”, he said. “But the plan is that the technology from it, particularly the twin-combustion system, will be used on many other engines in the future”. The twin-combustion system of the Nettuno engine means that each of the cylinders has an extra pre-chamber with a second spark plug and a dual-direct-injection system. This technology is derived from Formula 1 and means fuel can be fed into both chambers while the twin spark plugs allow each to be fired separately. “When we set the performance parameters of the engine, our first choice was to increase the size of the turbocharger and introduce some e-booster to get rid of the lag”, Valentini said of the system. “When we analyzed it, we decided that was expensive, not very reliable and very complicated. With the pre-chamber technology, we could generate the performance and efficiency we wanted but keep the same size of conventional turbocharger”. Valentini did not state what other engines from its family will be updated with the twin-combustion system, but Autocar speculates it could be used by high-performance versions of the brand’s forthcoming Grecale small SUV as well the new GranTurismo and GranCabrio. +++
+++ The long-awaited hybrid-powered MCLAREN Artura will be revealed February 16. There’s a special showcase video that McLaren is putting on from Woking, England, that will come online at 7:01 p.m. ET that day. McLaren promises folks from its team and “brand personalities” (i.e. celebrities) will be introducing the car. To catch the event, McLaren says you’ll want to visit this site that will be streaming the video live at reveal time. I don’t have all the information as it concerns the Artura, but we do know some vitals. McLaren says it will be powered by a hybrid powertrain that features a completely new V6 engine. This will be the first McLaren since the brand’s road car reinvention with the MP4-12C that isn’t powered by a twin-turbo V8. It’s unclear how many electric motors will supplement the gas engine, but a previous report predicted at least 2 with power going to the rear wheels exclusively. The Artura will also use McLaren’s new Carbon Lightweight Architecture that is specifically designed for electrified models. +++
+++ The MERCEDES brand has achieved an important milestone, as car number 50 million in 75 years recently rolled off the assembly line at the Sindelfingen plant, Germany, in their global production network. The milestone model happens to be the very first new Mercedes Maybach S-Class, which comes to life at ‘Factory 56’, along with the regular new-gen S-Class in standard and long wheelbase variants. The same facility will also build the EQS electric flagship sedan in the future. “50 million vehicles produced is a significant milestone in the history of our company, and an exceptional achievement by the team”, said Mercedes’ Member of the Board of Management for Production and Supply Chain, Jorg Burzer. “I would like to thank the colleagues in the plants around the world for their work and commitment. Their expertise and passion in the production of our stars make the wishes of customers all over the world come true day after day”. Focused on implementing the electric mobility offensive, the automaker will have a total of six new EQ models integrated into the series production operations by 2022. Their batteries are supplied by a global production network with plants on 3 continents. Furthermore, from 2022 and on-wards, production at the company’s facilities all over the world will be carbon-neutral. Presented late last year, the new-generation Maybach S-class is longer than the regular flagship sedan, with extra space between the 2 axles. It comes loaded with amenities such as the active noise compensation system, seats with massage function for the calves, ambient lighting, gesture control, and a selection of the finest materials available inside. The engine lineup varies from market to market and includes a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, rated at 500 hp, with a 48 Volt system that brings another 21 hp for the S580 4Matic. The S650 has a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12, with 630 hp, and select countries will also get a PHEV, combining a 3.0-liter straight-6 with an electric motor, for a total system output of 510 hp. +++
+++ The time is near for MERCEDES-AMG to reveal the most potent of the GT 4-Door Coupe, which will be fitted with a monstrous plug-in hybrid powertrain producing over 800 hp. I already know the core details of AMG’s new plug-in hybrid powertrain: under the bonnet, you’ll find the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine with 612 hp paired to a 204 hp electric motor and a battery pack for a combined output of up to 816 hp. The charging port is located on the rear end of the vehicle and more specifically, under the right taillight. I still don’t know any details on the GT 73e’s battery pack capacity but expect it to feature a very usable EV-only driving range, covering around 50 km on electric power alone. The new flagship version of the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is going to be revealed as part of the model’s mid-life update, which will include subtle design revisions focused mostly on the front and rear bumpers, as well as an updated infotainment system and new trim and color options. The upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT 73e is going to become a direct rival to models like Porsche’s plug-in Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which offers 690 hp. Despite the weight penalty of the hybrid components, the new AMG GT 73e is expected to become one of the fastest-accelerating 4-door coupes in the market, possibly dipping under the 3-second barrier for the 0-100 kph sprint. +++
+++ Hyundai and Kia may have backed away with a potential partnership with Apple, but there appears to be no shortage of legacy automakers willing to work with the technology giant. In a recent press conference related to the quarterly results of NISSAN , the automaker’s chief executive officer Makoto Uchida was asked about his willingness to potentially work with Apple on its car endeavors. Uchida acknowledged that “we need to take new initiatives” and “work with companies that are knowledgeable, with good experience, through partnership and collaboration”. Of course, this does not mean Nissan is engaging with talks with Apple, but they’re not ruling it either. One can’t blame Nissan for being open to the possibility of a partnership with Apple given the challenges it has faced in recent years and its current push to revitalize and renew its aging range of vehicles. Apple is holding discussions with multiple Japanese automakers about a partnership, without specifying who these automakers are. It was only in the third week of December 2020 that word about Apple’s car project being restarted first came to light after been previously scrapped in 2016. Soon afterwards word about the project being back on surfaced, it was revealed that Apple and Hyundai had held discussions to collaborate on the development of self-driving vehicles. Before long, it was understood that Hyundai could transfer the partnership to Kia, but a few days ago, things unraveled when Hyundai and Kia confirmed talks with Apple were called off. +++
+++ The years-old promise of a PEUGEOT return in the U.S. is looking bleaker by the second. Peugeot said the French brand would come back to sell cars in the U.S. 5 years ago, but now that FCA and PSA have transitioned to one Stellantis, that promise is looking a lot shakier. When queried about Peugeot, Carlos Tavares, Stellantic CEO, offered this in response: “For the time being, I don’t think that is part of the things that we want to prioritize for the next time window”, Tavares said. “I think it’s better that we funnel the talent, the capital, and the engineering capability of our Stellantis company to the existing brands to improve what needs to be improved and to accelerate where we need to accelerate, because we already have a very strong presence in this market”. Tavares hasn’t ruled it out entirely, but any kind of a Peugeot American renaissance is being pushed onto the backburner. In good news for American brands, though, Tavares expressed great interest in keeping them all. Chrysler was the most worrisome of the bunch, as it only sells the aging 300 sedan and Pacifica minivan variants. Nevertheless, Tavares sees Chrysler as 1 of the “3 historical pillars of Stellantis” and is eager “to give this brand a future”. Specifically, Tavares sees a high-tech future for the once-great American car company. “It needs to rebound”, Tavares said. “We could think about what could be the next technologies in the automotive industry”. The obvious hint here is electrification and greater autonomy. Chrysler could theoretically become Stellantis’ electric showcase brand. It’s partway there with the Pacifica Hybrid PHEV minivan, but there’s still a long way to go for it to become the conglomerate’s tech pillar. And then there’s Dodge and its powerful but emissions-heavy lineup. “We have the technology to deliver the torque, dynamics, and acceleration feeling, while also dramatically reducing the emissions”, Tavares said. The Hellcat can’t have a window-shattering 6.2-liter supercharged V8 forever, but it looks like Stellantis is at least committed to keeping the performance of Dodge’s current lineup. +++
+++ The European Union should set binding targets for 1 million PUBLIC CHARGING POINTS for electric vehicles by 2024, and 3 million by 2029, to give consumers the confidence to switch to the new technology, the region’s car lobby said. In a joint letter with consumer and sustainable transport groups, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) told Brussels that firm targets would also help carmakers and power grid operators plan ahead. “The EU Commission quickly needs to take action and set binding targets for the ramp-up of charging infrastructure in the member states”, said ACEA president Oliver Zipse, who is also chief executive of German carmaker BMW. “Otherwise, even the current reduction targets in fighting climate change are at risk”. he said. Electric vehicle (EV) sales have recently gained momentum as those of combustion engine cars fell during lockdowns in the coronavirus crisis. Carmakers are launching new EV models to meet tougher EU emissions rules and several governments have introduced EV subsidies as part of pandemic recovery programs. However, the rollout of public charging stations, to complement workplace and home charging, has been slow and there are multiple tariffs and payment methods. Industry figures show the EU had 224.538 public charging points in 2020. The letter, also signed by consumer lobby BEUC and the Transport & Environment (T&E) caucus, urged the Commission to create common standards. It should also set a target for around 1.000 hydrogen stations by 2029, the letter said. The German government agreed a draft law to aim for 1.000 fast charging stations alongside motorways by the end of 2023. It expects to spend €2 billion. +++
+++ SUBARU and Toyota may be teaming up on another set of twins. This time, the partnership could result in a pair of new AWD hot hatches. Subaru and Toyota are jointly developing a new “WRC machine” that will debut in fall 2022. It will have a body size similar to that of the Impreza. Subaru’s hatch will have a (you guessed it) horizontally opposed engine installed longitudinally. Whether or not that engine will go under the hood of another Toyota product remains to be seen. Toyota, though, did promise in May of 2020 that it would bring a GR (compact) hot hatch to the USA. The speculation at the time was that the automaker would simply create a GR Corolla, which would be sensible. There is a chance, though, that this Subaru will be related to that GR hot hatch. The first inklings of this project came when Toyota took a 20 % stake in Subaru in 2019. “We will bring together the strengths of both companies and jointly develop the most comfortable AWD model”, the companies said in a press release. The new Subaru will have symmetrical AWD. The system is a Subaru staple but it would mean that any Toyota based on it would be distinct from other AWD vehicles in the automaker’s stable. After partnering with Subaru on the BRZ / GT86 and with BMW on the Z4 / Supra, though, it’s clear that Toyota doesn’t mind having cars at its dealerships that are a little different. Unfortunately, whatever comes of these rumors, we’ll have to wait a while before we get any official details. +++
+++ TESLA must recall around 12,300 Model X cars worldwide due to car body mouldings problems, Germany’s motor vehicle authority (KBA) said on its website. KBA said the recall affects cars built in 2015 and 2016, adding there was a risk that the moulding could fall off the vehicle. +++
+++ With new EV launches seemingly happening every week, TOYOTA has so far shied away from a meaningful commitment to battery electric vehicles. It’s a stance that may seem odd to the casual observer, as Toyota has been known for pioneering partly-electrified cars, such as the ubiquitous hybrid Prius and the hydrogen-powered Mirai. Now though, Toyota seems to be coming around, albeit slowly, as they today announced the introduction of three new electrified vehicles for the U.S. market, 2 of which will be battery-electric (aka pure EVs), and the third a plug-in hybrid. Of the 3 new vehicles entering the U.S lineup, one BEV is destined for Lexus, while the other two will remain under the Toyota umbrella. The site also reports that of the new EVs, one will be an SUV or Crossover, with production taking place in Japan. While the move may seem like the first step towards largescale BEV production, the word from the Toyota camp is that they are still committed to offering multiple drivetrain options rather than going all-in with battery electric vehicles. They reason that between a BEV and a PHEV, both yield similar environmental benefits but that the cost of long-range BEV ownership is “much higher” than that of a PHEV. Highlighting their findings, Toyota has shared the tool used to come to this conclusion, which can be found here. This tool is said to analyze the trade-off between greenhouse gas emissions and the total cost of ownership. Toyota’s approach to offering consumers BEVs will be to provide a range of options, targeting the individual needs of a customer, as well as taking into account their circumstances. “We believe the fastest way to lower greenhouse gases in the transportation sector is to offer drivers lower carbon choices that meet their needs”, says Gill Pratt, chief scientist of Toyota Motor Corporation and CEO of Toyota Research Institute. “At every price point and with multiple powertrains, we can put more people in cleaner automobiles across North America to have the greatest near-term impact on total carbon emissions”. These statements seem to echo the words of Toyota president Akio Toyoda, who late last year called upon governments and politicians to reconsider their approach to blanket bans on ICE vehicles. However, Toyota is said to be well into developing a game-changing solid-state battery, which could be unveiled in the coming years. The approach of the Japanese carmaker, as with many others, to new EV tech will no doubt be an exciting space to watch. +++
+++ VOLKSWAGEN late Friday called itself an “unintended victim” in a battle between 2 battery suppliers and urged the U.S. government to extend a reprieve to buy batteries key to its planned U.S. electric vehicle production. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) sided with LG Chem in a trade secrets case, but permitted SK Innovation to import components for domestic production of lithium ion batteries for Ford’s F-150 Electric program for 4 years, and for Volkswagen of America’s electric vehicle line for 2 years. VW said it will request its carve out be “extended to at least 4 years to give an adequate transition period. Ultimately, however, it is our hope the 2 suppliers will settle this dispute outside of the courtroom”. The German automaker has invested $800 million to build electric vehicles in Tennessee and hiring hundreds of employees. “Volkswagen will take all necessary steps to allow us to fulfill our commitment to provide skilled jobs to proud Tennessee workers”, the automaker said. Ford chief executive Jim Farley publicly encouraged LG Chem and SK Innovation to reach a settlement. Volkswagen and Ford previously warned the dispute could disrupt supplies of the key EV parts and cost U.S. jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp called on President Joe Biden to overturn the ITC ruling, warning the long-term prospects for the $2.6 billion SK Innovation battery plant in Jackson County, Georgia, would be “harmed significantly”. The plant will eventually build batteries for Volkswagen and Ford. The White House and SK Innovation declined comment. LG Energy Solution counsel Dave Callahan said the company “remains committed to negotiating a fair settlement for the theft of its trade secrets” and said the Georgia plant will be able to operate. “The only obstacle to resolving this matter and securing the plant’s long-term future is (SK Innovation’s) refusal to acknowledge its wrongdoing and make amends”, he added. +++