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The Fight For A Tesla Gigafactory In Poland

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Published on November 18th, 2018 |

by Jacek Fior

The Fight For A Tesla Gigafactory In Poland

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November 18th, 2018 by Jacek Fior

When writing my letter to Elon Musk a few weeks ago, little did I know about the real actions undertaken by so few for so many. Tesla is a dream — a dream of an extraordinary electric vehicle everybody wants to own, a dream of an out-of-the-universe leader, Elon Musk, who everybody wants to follow, and a dream of a gigafactory every nation wants to attract. It seems now that Poles around the world are joining forces to save Elon from making a terrible mistake by going some other place than Poland. 🙂 Here is the story.

There is a Polish woman in America who is strongly involved in the space industry and rocket science. Ewa is a passionate investor in new technologies and a space adventurer. She apparently has “access” to Elon when attending SpaceX rocket launches and has become quite determined to help Poland make the right pitch.

There is a Polish man in Poland who runs the most popular Facebook fan page here, called Tesla Klub Polska. Mariusz is passionate about Tesla and runs the fan page as a hobby. He knows more about Tesla than most other people I know. So, Mariusz is in touch with Ewa and chat after chat he suggests he could help connect the US team with our government authorities. He has prepared a huge portfolio of information about Tesla, its operations, its CEO, its investment plans, and its gigafactories. The file has gone to the Polish Minister of Investment and Economic Development, Jerzy Kwieciński.

What happens next is … not much. Kind of classic, as it boils down to mutual talks between the American supporter, Ewa, and the ministry about the terms and conditions of cooperation. Being a patriot is one thing. Doing significant work for the country is another and needs to be remunerated, and I mean remunerated well. The state of affairs a month ago, when I first learnt about it, was that Poland had never been in the cards for Elon and Tesla (something I find difficult to believe after my persuasive letter to Elon) and it would take a lot of effort and wit to be allowed at the table. As far as we could learn, nobody from Poland, apart from crazy enthusiasts like myself or Mariusz, had ever reached out to Tesla before the joint efforts of Mariusz and Ewa. Somehow disappointing. [Editor’s note: It was near the top of my list of question during the past two Tesla conference calls]

The good thing is that the Polish government has finally understood what scale of investment we are talking about here and has braced itself to join the race. As we have reportedly reached the Prime Minster level of involvement, chances are Poland will at least have an opportunity to pitch directly to Tesla. Not a place nor time to repeat all the arguments I have quoted before (hint, hint). I do believe we are the best choice for Tesla for many reasons. However, what our government must realize is that the competition is fierce – Germany is in the game as a country and various individual German states are making their own pitches, with Berlin on top of them in its recent bid. Can we beat other competitors and prevail? Yes! Influential advocates in the USA and determined authorities here in Poland need to believe it, too. I’m here to help, by the way.

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About the Author

Jacek Fior Jacek is an entrepreneurial type who sees opportunities all around. He runs his own corporate language training company and international translation agency, Better Horizons. One of his many passions, besides card tricks and mixology, is electric cars and their introduction on the market. He is currently working on launching the Polish platform of CleanTechnica — cleantechnica.pl — in the hopes of helping people to understand the revolution we are witnessing. Jacek is also a founding partner of Tesla Shuttle.

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Ford hits the road in Miami, in a big bet on autonomous vehicles, ride sharing and delivery services

Ford's autonomous vehicle fleet
10:04 AM ET Fri, 16 Nov 2018 | 02:45

Ford is road testing its autonomous vehicles in partnership with the city of Miami, as the legacy automaker hopes to capitalize on the emerging technology in ride-share and business delivery.

The automaker has been testing a Ford Fusion equipped with autonomous vehicle tech, or AV, in Miami since February. It chose the city because of its congestion and the unpredictability of the traffic there. Tests are also being done in three other cities: Pittsburgh, Detroit and Washington, D.C.

Ford has said it plans to begin selling self-driving cars by 2021, but it is also testing out ways it can use these vehicles to carry people and things. Sherif Marakby, CEO of Ford Autonomous Vehicles, told CNBC the company is focused on profitability and scalability.

“We're laser focused on profitability,” said Marakby, who said autonomous vehicles provide transportation at a lower cost than current vehicles. “While the vehicle is expensive, initially we're deploying it in service so the cost per mile for transportation for a person or a business is going to be lower and will be profitable for us,” he said.

Ford has said it plans to invest a total of $4 billion into AV technology through 2023.

On Wednesday, the company announced a partnership with Walmart and Postmates to collaborate on a delivery service that will one day use autonomous vehicles.

During a test ride with CNBC, Ford used a car that was autonomous, however, it did travel along a predetermined and pre-programmed route. Ford also manned the vehicle with a safety driver, whose hands hovered over the wheel, which the company said was a “precaution.”

Source: Ford
Ford AV Argo autonomous vehicle test car

Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Alphabet, will launch its first AV service by the end of the year and expects to attract business customers. General Motors' Cruise says it will have an autonomous ride-share service by next year.

Some analysts have said Ford is lagging behind in self-driving technology, but Marakby pushed back on that notion.

“I want investors and I want everyone to know that we are developing an autonomous vehicle service that means a whole lot more than the car,” Marakby said. “What that means is … when we launch these cars it's not just going to be the car. It's going to be an app. It's going to be the cloud … The autonomous car will know where to go when someone orders it.”

Ford is phasing out its manufacturing of most cars and increasing production of trucks and SUVs. Marakby said Ford's ride-share vehicle will be designed for that business.

“We feel that what we're building is an autonomous vehicle mobility service and we think the future is going to continue to have more and more of these transportation methods,” he said.

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Ford is using bionic suits to help employees work safer
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Original Article

American Greg Kelly called 'mastermind' of alleged Ghosn abuses at Nissan

American Greg Kelly called 'mastermind' of alleged Ghosn abuses at NissanA Nissan Motor Co. executive who was arrested Monday along with the company's chairman has been with the company for 30 years.
Nissan representative director Greg Kelly was also the first American to sit on the Japanese carmaker's board of directors.
Company officials said Monday chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested and will be dismissed for alleged under-reporting of his income and misuse of company funds.
Officials also said Kelly was the “mastermind” of the alleged abuses.
Kelly joined the company's American subsidiary, Nissan North America Inc. in March 1988 as a senior manager and associate legal counsel, according to the company.
He was named director of human resources at the company five years later.
Kelly held various positions at the company until he became representative director, senior vice president in June 2012. He's been a Nissan representative director since February 2015.
He earned a bachelor's degree in public administration from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He also has a law degree from the Loyola University School of Law, according to Nissan.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez
Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2018/11/19/nissan-exec-kelly-arrested-along-chairman/2055839002/

Mahindra extends boundaries of Electric Mobility industry with +ME, Inaugurates new technology plant and launches Treo

Facility in Karnataka to manufacture Electric Vehicle Technology, developed under +ME brand
Based on Mahindra’s Future of Mobility theme based on 3Cs – Clean, Connected & Convenient
Rolls out its first electric 3 wheeler range Treo and Treo Yaari, to be priced attractively, starting at Rs. 1.36 lakhs (ex-showroom Bengaluru)

Bengaluru, 15 November, 2018: Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd, part of the USD 20.7 billion Mahindra Group, today dedicated to the country its first ever Electric Technology Manufacturing Hub in Karnataka. This new hub aligns with Mahindra’s strong belief in an all-electric future and is based on its Future of Mobility vision of producing Clean, Connected & Convenient vehicles. Mahindra is the pioneer of EV technology in India, and is gearing up to realise this vision with its new, futuristic EV products, concepts and solutions.

The new facility, located in Bengaluru, Karnataka is set to revolutionise the way electric vehicle technology would be used in India, under Mahindra’s +ME brand. The Government of Karnataka has played a very proactive role during the development of this facility. The facility was inaugurated by Shri KJ George, Honourable Minister for Large & Medium Scale Industries, IT & BT, Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, along with Shri RV Deshpande, Honourable Minister for Revenue, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka, Shri Priyank M Kharge, Honourable Minister for Social Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd and Chairman, Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd.

This first of its kind, electric vehicle technology manufacturing facility in the EV capital of the country, has been set up with a total investment of Rs. 100 crore. Branded under the umbrella of +ME technologies, the facility will manufacture battery packs, power electronics and motor assembly which are integral part of an electric power train. The plant uses global standards of manufacturing processes and will increase the manufacturing of Mahindra Electric to 25,000 units per annum. The facility will create additional direct employment of around 200 people and some more through the allied services, in the state of Karnataka.

This is the first such project to be cleared by the Department of Industries & Commerce’s SLSWCC since the announcement of Karnataka State Electric Vehicle & Energy Storage Policy in 2017.

The company also rolled out its first lithium ion electric 3 wheeler range Treo and Treo Yaari and announced its price, starting at an attractive Rs. 1.36 lakhs ex-showroom Bengaluru, including FAME subsidy.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd and Chairman Mahindra Electric said “As the pioneers of electric mobility in India, Mahindra is poised to be at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution while spearheading the endeavour through its range of clean mobility solutions. The manufacturing hub inaugurated today is the next step by Mahindra in the Electric Technology space to increase local value addition and bring affordable EV technology to redefine mobility in India. We are proud to launch Treo, the first Li-ion 3-wheeler auto developed in India. The Government of Karnataka has been very supportive in this initiative with their progressive policy framework for EVs. It has always supported accelerated adoption of EVs in the state.”

According to Mahesh Babu, CEO Mahindra Electric “At Mahindra Electric, our aim is to bring about a monumental change in the way India moves by enabling more EV products on the road through our +ME technology solutions. Reiterating our strong faith in EVs we have now invested in technologies that are core to EVs and have set up manufacturing of battery packs, motors, power electronics etc. in our new facility at Bengaluru. The government of Karnataka has been extremely supportive of this initiative.”

Mr. Babu further added, “Driven by the same +ME technology, we are also proud to roll out the first Treo. Built on India’s first Lithium-ion three wheeler platform, we are confident that Treo will transform the way urban India travels.”

The Treo range of electric three wheelers use Mahindra Electric’s home grown powertrain and maintenance free Lithium ion battery. The variants include Treo electric auto and Treo Yaari electric rickshaw, both available in the industry first hard top weather proof variants. With the use of exceptional light weighting technologies and composite body panels, the Treo boasts of a certified* range of 170 km (eAuto), directly addressing range anxiety in the market. It also offers the best in class comfort for passengers with one of the most spacious interiors in the segment and for the driver through its clutch-less, noiseless and vibration free drive, thereby reducing the overall fatigue of the journey. The Treo range is built on an indigenously developed common platform with a view to serve market demands as they scale up.

During the first phase of its launch, the vehicles will be available at select dealerships across Bengaluru and Hyderabad and later in other cities in a phased manner.

Please use the following hashtags/handles for social media updates:

#GoElectricWithME
#MahindraElctrc
#MahindraTreo
#FOM
@MahindraRise

For more details visit www.mahindraelectric.com

About Mahindra Electric

Mahindra Electric, a part of the USD 20.7 billion Mahindra Group is a global pioneer in the development and production of electric vehicles. Mahindra Electric is India’s only EV manufacturer with indigenously developed EV technologies that have won global accolades. The Mahindra Group has one of the most diversified portfolios of electric vehicles with the e2oPlus hatch, the eVerito sedan and the eSupro mini-van and panel vans.

Pushing the limits of technology and innovation, Mahindra has acknowledged the need to redefine mobility at every step. This has led to a vision with a desire to transform; a vision which provides an imagination which is more sustainable and more dependable. Venturing into the paradigm of alternative technology has helped Mahindra enable a clean, green and a smarter tomorrow.

About Mahindra

The Mahindra Group is a USD 20.7 billion federation of companies that enables people to rise through innovative mobility solutions, driving rural prosperity, enhancing urban living, nurturing new businesses and fostering communities. It enjoys a leadership position in utility vehicles, information technology, financial services and vacation ownership in India and is the world’s largest tractor company, by volume. It also enjoys a strong presence in agribusiness, aerospace, commercial vehicles, components, defense, logistics, real estate, renewable energy, speedboats and steel, amongst other businesses. Headquartered in India, Mahindra employs over 2,40,000 people across 100 countries.

Learn more about Mahindra on www.mahindra.com / Twitter and Facebook: @MahindraRise

Media contact information

Mohan Nair
Vice President (Communications)
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Landline – + 91 22 28468510
Email – nair.mohan@mahindra.com

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