Category: Automotive

Tesla plans to begin Model 3 deliveries to China in March

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2018 Tesla Model 3
Tesla has confirmed that it plans to start making deliveries of its Model 3 sedan to China in March.

That will complement an export strategy that’s ramping up in multiple ways. With the volume of U.S. deliveries potentially falling due to the reduced federal plug-in tax credit on Teslas in 2019, and the following a strong sales push through the end of 2018, Tesla will be focusing efforts in 2019 toward Europe as well as China. European deliveries, Tesla has said, will start in February.

DON'T MISS: Tesla ekes 4 more miles out of Model 3 Mid Range

Tesla has initially priced Model 3 for China at 499,000 yuan for the Dual Motor Long Range version and 560,000 yuan for the Performance version. That equates to about $72,600 and $81,500, respectively. Both are currently available for reservation in the automaker’s configurator for the Chinese market, and both will arrive in March.

In November Tesla cut its prices in China for the Model S and Model X by 12 to 26 percent in order to make the model more “affordable”—in reaction to the additional tariffs that were levied on U.S imports that made the cars much harder to sell. These official prices for Model 3 likely too reflect such an adjustment, as they're lower than the unconfirmed/projected prices leaked last fall.

CHECK OUT: Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2019: Tesla Model 3

Tesla then said that it was absorbing a significant part of the tariff, and said that the matter would force it to speed up investment in its China Gigafactory, to be located near Shanghai.

That facility, which will build the Model 3, upcoming Model Y crossover, and potentially other models, is expected to make up to 500,000 vehicles per year, with a potential production ramp-up starting late in 2020.

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Tesla allows people in Europe and China to start configuring Model 3s

Tesla started taking reservations for the Model 3 in Europe and China at the end of 2018, which meant that interested buyers were able play around with the company’s online configurator after plunking down a $1,000 deposit. But now anyone in those markets can tinker with the company’s “design studio,” as Tesla announced on Friday… Continue reading Tesla allows people in Europe and China to start configuring Model 3s

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Ford recalls over 953K vehicles to replace inflators

Ford recalls over 953K vehicles to replace inflatorsFord is recalling more than 953,000 vehicles worldwide to replace Takata passenger air bag inflators that can explode and hurl shrapnel.
The move includes over 782,000 vehicles in the U.S. and is part of the largest series of recalls in U.S. history.
Included are the 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, the 2010 and 2011 Ford Ranger, the 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, the 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan, and the 2010 to 2014 Ford Mustang.
Some of the recalls may be limited to specific geographic areas of the U.S.
Takata used the chemical ammonium nitrate to create an explosion to inflate air bags. But it can deteriorate over time due to heat and humidity and explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister designed to contain the explosion. At least 23 people have been killed worldwide and hundreds injured by the inflators.
Ford says it doesn’t know of any injuries in vehicles included in this recall. Dealers will replace the inflators.
Ford will notify owners about the recall starting on Feb. 18, and the company has replacement parts available for dealers to order, said spokeswoman Monique Brentley. In previous Takata recalls, parts availability had been an issue.
Owners can go to owner.ford.com and key in their vehicle identification number to see if their cars and SUVs are being recalled. The same information will be available soon at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
More than three years after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration took over management of recalls involving Takata inflators, one third of the recalled inflators still have not been replaced, according to an annual report from the government and a court-appointed monitor.
The report says 16.7 million faulty inflators out of 50 million under recall have yet to be replaced. And 10 million more inflators are scheduled to be recalled this month, including the Ford vehicles.
Safety advocates said the completion rate should be far higher given the danger associated with the inflators.
The recalls forced Takata of Japan to seek bankruptcy protection and sell most of its assets to pay for the fixes.
The inflators grow more dangerous as they get older because ammonium nitrate deteriorates due to high humidity and cycles from hot temperatures to cold. The most dangerous inflators are in areas of the South along the Gulf of Mexico that have high humidity.
Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2019/01/04/ford-recall-takata-passenger-air-bag-inflators/38841835/

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Tesla opens up Model 3 configuration to left-hand drive European countries

Here's what Tesla analysts are missing, bear warns
20 Hours Ago | 01:47

The electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has announced that some customers in left-hand drive European countries can now configure and buy its Model 3 car.

The U.S. firm announced the change via its Twitter handle:

The cheapest Model 3 option in Germany is priced at 60,000 euros ($68,000.)

Deliveries in right-hand drive markets, such as the United Kingdom, are set to start in the second half of 2019. U.K. customers can already reserve a Model 3 but cannot yet configure the specifications.

Earlier on Friday, Tesla also opened its Model 3 configurator for the Chinese market, offering customers to choose between the long range all-wheel drive and the Performance version.

“We're excited to bring Model 3 to Europe and China early next year, given that the market for midsize premium sedans in those regions is even larger than in North America,” Musk said during an earnings call in October 2018.

The cost of a Tesla Model 3 Performance car will now set back a Chinese customer around 560,000 RMB ($81,000). This reflects a discount of about $25,000 after Beijing suspended the extra 25 percent tariff on cars and parts imported from the U.S.

The cheaper mid-range Model remains unavailable to configure for either Europe or China.

Tesla is currently building a factory 3 in Shanghai which is expected to produce battery packs and electric vehicles at some point this year.