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After over a million pre-orders, Amazon’s Echo Auto has begun to ship

At Amazon’s event in September, the company announced the Echo Auto, an aftermarket product designed to bring Alexa to cars. But the device has remained in pre-order status, even as other products also unveiled at the same event — like the Fire TV Recast, AmazonBasics microwave and various Echo devices for the home — went… Continue reading After over a million pre-orders, Amazon’s Echo Auto has begun to ship

Report: Self-driving car startup Aurora is raising capital at a $2B valuation

Early last year, LinkedIn co-founder and prolific venture capital investor Reid Hoffman called Chris Urmson “the Henry Ford of autonomous vehicles (AV).” The vote of confidence and big check from Hoffman, coupled with a team of deeply knowledgable AV entrepreneurs, has catapulted his company, Aurora Innovation, squarely into “unicorn” territory. Aurora, the developer of a full-stack… Continue reading Report: Self-driving car startup Aurora is raising capital at a $2B valuation

Wiesmann Sports Cars GmbH to procure engines from BMW – BMWBLOG

The comeback of Wiesmann is taking more and more concrete steps, and today’s announcement confirms its upcoming return: BMW will be providing the engines for sports cars from Dülmen. In a brief press release, Wiesmann Sports Cars GmbH confirms an agreement on the delivery of engines from BMW AG. Following successful completion of the pre-development phase,… Continue reading Wiesmann Sports Cars GmbH to procure engines from BMW – BMWBLOG

New 2019 Lamborghini Huracán previewed ahead of unveiling – Autocar

Lamborghini has pulled the covers off its updated and more powerful Huracán, following a number of preview images posted in the past few days. The new-for-2019 Ferrari 488 rival now adopts the Huracán Evo nameplate, reflecting its changes. The images reveal a number of styling changes designed to offer “aerodynamic superiority”, with a new front bumper bringing enlarged… Continue reading New 2019 Lamborghini Huracán previewed ahead of unveiling – Autocar

What effect will lower tax credits on Tesla and GM plug-ins have? Twitter poll results

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric cars outside dealership [photo: Patrick Reid]
For a bunch of electric-car owning acolytes, our readers are surprisingly sanguine about the reduction and eventual expiration of plug-in tax credits on electric-car sales.

We've reported extensively on the expiring tax credits, which will affect models from Tesla and GM in 2019. When Congress set up the tax credits in 2007, it scheduled them to sunset individually by automaker, after each automaker sold its first 200,000 plug-in cars.

DON'T MISS: Opinion: Expiring tax credits hurt U.S. automakers, favor imports

Tesla reached that milestone last July. General Motors hasn't specified exactly when it crossed the threshold, but it happened in the fourth quarter. After an automaker sells 200,000 plug-in cars, the $7,500 credits remain through the end of the quarter when it reaches the marker, and for the following quarter. After that the tax credit is cut in half for six months, in half again for another six months, and then disappears entirely. GM's cars get one more quarter of full credits before they begin winding down. Tesla's were cut in half Jan. 1.

Electric cars from every other automaker are still eligible for the full tax credit.

In our Twitter poll last week, we asked, “What effect will lower tax credits on Tesla and GM plug-ins have in the new year?”

Almost half our respondents, 46 percent, said they thought it would have “No effect.” Tesla buyers are a loyal bunch, and for the most part those who plunk $44,000 down on a car that can't be leased—or more for a Model S or X—can generally afford it with or without a tax credit.

The second largest group, 29 percent, said the lower tax credits will result in fewer Tesla sales. Even with a $2,000 price cut across the board, the reduction in the tax credits amounts to a $1,750 price increase for Teslas.

Relatively few readers thought the credit reduction, hitting only America's two largest electric-car makers, would result in more sales of imported electric cars in 2019. Only 15 percent chose “More import sales.”

READ THIS: Tesla Model 3 Mid Range misses $35,000 target by $9,000 even after price cut

Just 10 percent of our respondents thought that the three month window, until April 1, before tax credits on the Chevy Bolt EV and Volt begin winding down would result in a rush to Chevrolet dealerships to buy before the full tax credit gets reduced.

We're not sure what effect winding down the tax credits will have, but perhaps sales reports for the first and second quarters will show.

In the meantime, remember that our Twitter polls are not scientific, because our respondents are self-selected and our sample size is too small.

No more rumble: Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle arrives in August, costs more than $30,000

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Tesla sales, VW tech, electric Harley-Davidson: Today’s Car News

Toyota Research Institute simulation of actual 3-car crash, to test Guardian active-safety system
With final sales reports out from the whole auto industry, we built some context around Tesla's end-of-the-year sales numbers. The Model 3 is setting the pace among luxury cars. Volkswagen buys wireless tech from Volvo. Harley-Davidson announces pricing and a date for buyers interested in purchasing its LiveWire electric motorcycle. And our readers are sanguine about falling electric-car tax credits in our latest Twitter poll. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

The Tesla Model 3 outsold every direct competitor and most competing brands in the fourth quarter. Annual numbers reflect the model's slow production ramp-up early in the year.

Volkswagen bought a wireless vehicle connectivity subsidiary from Volvo in an effort to bring over-the-air updates to its cars.

Harley-Davidson aims to win its freedom-loving bikers over to electric power with its new LiveWire electric motorcycle. The company has now revealed more specs, as well as when it will go on sale and how much it will cost.

Our Twitter followers weigh in on what effect they think the reduction in tax credits will have on GM and Tesla vehicles in 2019.

Toyota reveals its first self-driving vehicle technology at the CES show in Las Vegas. The company says it doesn't replace human control, however, only amplifies it.

Finally, just in time for the roll-out of the electric Audi e-tron quattro SUV, Audi announced it will end European delivery for its U.S. customers.

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Highlights From Elon Musk’s Visit To Shanghai For #Tesla Gigafactory 3 Groundbreaking Ceremony

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Published on January 7th, 2019 |

by Steve Hanley

Highlights From Elon Musk’s Visit To Shanghai For #Tesla Gigafactory 3 Groundbreaking Ceremony

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January 7th, 2019 by Steve Hanley

Elon Musk was in Shanghai on January 7 to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for Gigafactory 3, Tesla’s first gigafactory outside the US. Not surprisingly, Elon took to Twitter to celebrate the event … just a couple of hours after we published about the news. But there are a few things you might have missed if you caught our early coverage and didn’t keep refreshing for updates throughout the past 24 hours..

After the ceremony, Musk spoke to the local press and said that he is very impressed with the speed and quality of work possible in Shanghai. He made particular reference to the fact that a large multi-bay Supercharger location was completed in just 12 days last year, the quickest of anywhere in the world. He indicated the factory building would be finished by mid-year and would start producing cars by the end of 2019 if everything goes according to plan. (When has that ever happened?)

He was at pains to explain that Tesla is absorbing the tariffs imposed by China on US-built cars. Gigafactory 3 — which will have a capacity of 500,000 cars a year — will focus on manufacturing the more affordable versions of the Model 3 and later the Model Y so that Chinese customers can begin driving sustainable cars as soon as possible. The factory will also build cars for export to other Asian markets.

The more expensive versions of the Model 3 — Long Range, All Wheel Drive, Performance upgrade — will continue to be manufactured in America. Those are higher profit vehicles and Musk says the company will need to sell lots of them to help pay for the new factory. He encouraged people in China to place their orders for the US-made cars to help fund the Shanghai facility.

Tesla has learned much from building Model 3 production lines in the United States, and those lessons will be applied to bring the new Shanghai factory online as soon as possible. Musk also called upon local engineering talent to join the Tesla team, saying a junior engineer today could wind up taking his job someday, as the possibilities for advancement within the company are virtually unlimited. For more on Musk’s remarks, check out the video below.

About the Author

Steve Hanley Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Rhode Island and anywhere else the Singularity may take him. His motto is “Democracy is socialism.” You got a problem with that?

You can follow him on Google + and on Twitter.

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GM did not heed call to keep Oshawa, Ontario plant open – union boss

DETROIT (Reuters) – The head of Canada’s auto union blasted General Motors Co (GM.N) on Tuesday for pushing ahead with plans to phase out work at its Oshawa, Ontario, assembly plant despite calls by workers and politicians in Canada to find a new vehicle to build there. FILE PHOTO: Unifor President, Jerry Dias, helps launch… Continue reading GM did not heed call to keep Oshawa, Ontario plant open – union boss

Exclusive: Fiat Chrysler nearing U.S. diesel emissions settlement – source

FILE PHOTO: A Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) sign is seen at its U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCHA.MI) is nearing a settlement to resolve the U.S. Justice Department’s allegations that the Italian-American automaker used illegal software to allow 104,000 U.S. diesel… Continue reading Exclusive: Fiat Chrysler nearing U.S. diesel emissions settlement – source