Category: Automotive

Waymo is selling its sensors — but not to autos (GOOGL, GM, MS)

This is an excerpt from a story delivered exclusively to Business Insider Intelligence Transportation & Logistics Briefing subscribers. To receive the full story plus other insights each morning, click here. Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle (AV) technology spinoff, revealed that it’ll begin selling one of its 3D LiDAR sensors — known as Laser Bear Honeycomb —… Continue reading Waymo is selling its sensors — but not to autos (GOOGL, GM, MS)

Porsche is ramping up production of its sleek-looking Tesla rival because of high demand (TSLA)

Porsche is increasing production of its upcoming Taycan electric vehicle due to high demand, the automaker said on Friday. Over 20,000 people have made a reservation of around $2,800 for the vehicle, Porsche said, which will arrive by the end of 2019. Porsche had previously planned to make 20,000 Taycan vehicles per year. A Porsche… Continue reading Porsche is ramping up production of its sleek-looking Tesla rival because of high demand (TSLA)

Tesla made a drastic change to its bonus structure before deciding to cut costs by closing stores, salespeople say (TSLA)

Ahead of Elon Musk’s surprise announcement that Tesla will close most of its 378 retail stores, the company shifted the roles of its salespeople and changed bonus structures in a way that employees say was a bid to cut costs. In the third quarter of 2018 — the first of two consecutive quarterly profits reported… Continue reading Tesla made a drastic change to its bonus structure before deciding to cut costs by closing stores, salespeople say (TSLA)

Tesla is reportedly sending hourly employees home early and asking them to take time off as the company cuts costs (TSLA)

Tesla’s significant cost-cutting effort has affected employee work schedules and the supply of some small parts used to make vehicles, CNBC reported on Thursday. CNBC described three cost-reduction measures that Tesla had not made public: Asking employees to work remotely and keep travel to a minimum. Telling hourly employees at the Gigafactory — the factory… Continue reading Tesla is reportedly sending hourly employees home early and asking them to take time off as the company cuts costs (TSLA)

Nissan Leaf crosses 400,000 cumulative global sales

2019 Nissan Leaf
With Tesla looming in its rearview mirrors, the little Nissan Leaf is chuffing ahead in the global electric-car sales race.

The company that built the original modern electric car announced on Tuesday that it sold its 400,000th copy of the Leaf worldwide, just as the longer-range Leaf Plus version goes on sale to spar with Tesla's new Short Range Model 3. (The Leaf Plus is rated at 226 miles of range from its 62-kwh battery.)

MUST READ: Tesla Model 3 owns the EV market, outsells all other plug-ins combined in the fourth quarter race

Over its now seven-year lifespan, the Model S has sold more than 260,000 globally. (The Model X doesn't come close, at a little less than 90,000 sales since 2015.)

Although the Tesla Model 3 sells almost twice as many cars per month as the Leaf globally, it may take a long time for it to catch up with the Leaf's six-year head start.

Bloomberg estimates that Tesla has sold 215,000 Model 3s so far.

CHECK OUT: Was 2018 the peak for internal-combustion car sales?

It's a different story in the U.S., where Nissan sells only a small fraction of the number of Model 3s that Tesla sells every month. In the U.S., Tesla sold 77,000 Model 3s to the Leaf's 19,455. Even with the Leaf's head start, going on sale in 2011, Tesla sold more model 3s last year than the 129,000 plus Leafs that Nissan has sold in the U.S. since the car went on sale.

Regardless of who's winning the sales race, it's worth celebrating that so many people are buying efficient electric cars in a few short years.

Lyft lays off up to 50 in bikes and scooters as it gears up for another wave of launches

As Lyft continues to prepare for its IPO, the on-demand transportation startup is trimming staff to cut costs ahead of another wave of expansion. TechCrunch has learned and confirmed that Lyft has laid off around 50 staff in its bike and scooter division, mainly people who had joined the company when it acquired the electric… Continue reading Lyft lays off up to 50 in bikes and scooters as it gears up for another wave of launches

McLaren Senna GTR: the ultimate racetrack driving experience

8 Mar 2019 McLaren Automotive’s most extreme track car yet revealed in final form Evolution of 2018 McLaren Senna GTR Concept takes acknowledged McLaren Senna dynamism into new realms of performance as the quickest track McLaren outside of Formula 1 Faster, lighter, more powerful and race-bred with focus on accessibility for drivers of all abilities… Continue reading McLaren Senna GTR: the ultimate racetrack driving experience