OEMs – Page 4530 – I wish I had more to offer

@GM: Capital Markets Day and Q4 2019 Earnings Details Announced

Capital Markets Day and Q4 2019 Earnings Details Announced 2020-01-09 DETROIT — General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) will announce its fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 financial results and 2020 guidance on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. Materials, including a press release and financial highlights, and Capital Markets Day presentation slides will be available on the company’s investor… Continue reading @GM: Capital Markets Day and Q4 2019 Earnings Details Announced

Mercedes/BMW Ride-Hailing Group “Free Now” Buys 60 Tesla Automobiles

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Published on January 9th, 2020 |

by Steve Hanley

Mercedes/BMW Ride-Hailing Group “Free Now” Buys 60 Tesla Automobiles

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January 9th, 2020 by Steve Hanley

Free Now is a mobility service owned jointly by Mercedes and BMW. What we call a mobility service today used to be known as a taxi company. The difference is that a mobility service uses a smartphone app to match up taxis with riders and handle payment. (There are also now taxi apps that do that.)

Credit: Free Now via Facebook

What is called Free Now today is a conglomeration of two prior app-based ride-hailing companies –mytaxi and Hailo. According to Wikipedia, mytaxi was founded in 2009 in Germany. In 2014, it was acquired by Mercedes-Benz. Hailo began in London in 2011 and merged with mytaxi in 2016, making mytaxi the largest licensed taxi e-hailing service in Europe and the UK. In February 2019, BMW became a partner with Mercedes and the name of the company was changed to Free Now.

According to a report by Handlesblatt, Free Now has decided to expand its fleet of electric taxis in Germany and will begin by adding 60 Teslas to its inventory of cars in Hamburg, which is where Free Now has its headquarters. The news report does not specify which Tesla models will be added to the fleet, but it’s a good bet that most if not all of them will be Model 3s.

Free Now is big business. It has about 28,000 drivers throughout Europe and the UK and experienced a 20% increase in ridership in Germany last year. It grossed over €2 billion in revenues in 2019 from 300 million trips by 39 million passengers. In all, it has 1,800 employees in 35 cities.

It is laudable that the company wants to expand its electric car fleet but sad that neither Mercedes nor BMW has electric cars of their own they consider up to the task. So, the score in the electric taxi revolution stands at Tesla 60, Mercedes and BMW 0. There’s no clearer indication of who is leading the charge toward an electric car future than that.

GM & LG Chem’s 30+ GWh Ohio Battery Gigafactory Highlights Rapid EV Industry Progress

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Published on January 9th, 2020 |

by Zachary Shahan

GM & LG Chem’s 30+ GWh Ohio Battery Gigafactory Highlights Rapid EV Industry Progress

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January 9th, 2020 by Zachary Shahan

“Gigafactory” isn’t yet in a Merriam-Webster dictionary, as far as I’ve seen, but it’s a fun term that Tesla CEO Elon Musk coined years ago for a large battery factory producing many gigawatt-hours worth of batteries a year. The original plan for Tesla’s first gigafactory, located in Nevada, was 35 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of annual production capacity, which was seen as a wild goal at the time — and many critics thought it would never come about. The market has changed much since then, and just one month ago GM and LG Chem announced a joint venture to build a 30+ GWh battery factory in Ohio, and drive down battery costs in the process. From the press release, it’s noted that the partnership aims to “drive cost per kilowatt hours to industry-leading levels.”

The two companies will equally own the joint venture, 50–50. Together, they’re putting in $2.3 billion to develop the gigafactory. (By the way, they don’t use the term gigafactory, just calling it a manufacturing facility or complex.)

The batteries will be used in GM electric vehicles, demonstrating that GM has more significant plans for vehicle electrification output than is probably presumed based on what’s on the market right now and the models expected to come to market in the next few years. Though, GM has indicated an intention to electrify more rapidly from the top down, starting with its Cadillac brand, which could be 100% electric by 2030. The images that came along with this press release implicitly reference the Cadillac plans.

“The joint venture between GM and LG Chem will create a battery cell assembly plant in the Lordstown area that will create more than 1,100 new jobs in support of GM’s next-generation battery-electric vehicle portfolio.” Photo courtesy GM.

Approximately 4 new fully electric Cadillac models will be coming out within the next two years. GM has hinted at an electric XT6 crossover, Escalade SUV, and high-performance sedan.

As noted in the headline, GM and LG Chem expect to directly produce 1,100 jobs in Ohio with this gigafactory. “With this investment, Ohio and its highly capable workforce will play a key role in our journey toward a world with zero emissions,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “Combining our manufacturing expertise with LG Chem’s leading battery-cell technology will help accelerate our pursuit of an all-electric future. We look forward to collaborating with LG Chem on future cell technologies that will continue to improve the value we deliver to our customers.”

This partnership goes on top of GM’s previous $28 million investment in a battery lab in Warren, Michigan, which was revealed in late 2018. Ground is supposed to be broken on the new battery gigafactory in the Lordstown area of Northeast Ohio in the middle of this year, 2020.

GM and LG Chem have worked together for years, most notably collaborating to get the Chevy Bolt EV onto the US market before any other long-range, basically affordable electric vehicle. The new partnership indicates that the companies have worked together well in the past and appreciated what each partner contributed.

LG Chem is seen as an EV battery leader around the world and has contracts with many of the world’s automakers. However, it is a big step further to fully partner on an EV battery factory.

Overall, a takeaway from this story that I think stands out the most is how much the EV industry has changed in a handful of years. When Tesla announced its Gigafactory 1 plan in 2014, it was seen by many as a shocking, idealistic dream. (Some saw it as a logical, necessary step in the electrification of transport and assumed other automakers would need to do the same thing.) In the past year, Tesla has built the first phase of a second gigafactory, Tesla has announced a third gigafactory (in Germany) that it will break ground on soon, and GM and LG Chem have announced this Ohio gigafactory, the industry response to which seems to be “duh” rather than “wow.” That said, I think this is another major moment or milestone in the industry, as it’s one of a few recent announcements that have shown conventional automakers are increasingly acting like Tesla and showing an intention to genuinely mass produce electric vehicles and try to be leaders in this world in the 2020s and beyond.

Do I think GM and LG Chem should have run with the fun and called this Ohio complex a gigafactory? Naturally, I do, but much more important than terminology is putting the money down, building the factories, and putting zero-emissions electric vehicles onto the road as soon as possible.

I’ll end on a quote that is sure to ruffle some feathers and fill others with pride:

“Our joint venture with the No. 1 American automaker will further prepare us for the anticipated growth of the North American EV market, while giving us insights into the broader EV ecosystem,” said LG Chem Vice Chairman & CEO Hak-Cheol Shin.

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About the Author

Zachary Shahan is tryin' to help society help itself one word at a time. He spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as its director and chief editor. He's also the CEO of Important Media. Zach is recognized globally as an electric vehicle, solar energy, and energy storage expert. He has presented about cleantech at conferences in India, the UAE, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Canada, and Curaçao.

Zach has long-term investments in Tesla [TSLA] — after years of covering solar and EVs, he simply has a lot of faith in this company and feels like it is a good cleantech company to invest in. But he offers no investment advice and does not recommend investing in Tesla or any other company.

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@VW Group: SEAT sales grow 10.9 percent in 2019 and set the best year ever

The company delivers 574,100 cars and surpasses the figure sold in 2018 SEAT repeats its sales leadership in Spain and reaches third position in Austria Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Poland, Israel, Sweden and Denmark post record volume growth CUPRA sales shoot up more than 70% SEAT sells 11,000 electric EXS kickscooters in 2019 and will… Continue reading @VW Group: SEAT sales grow 10.9 percent in 2019 and set the best year ever

@VW Group: Audi closes 2019 with a growth in deliveries of 1.8 percent

Despite challenging conditions, Audi can report a positive performance of deliveries to customers for 2019: Approximately 1,845,550 cars represent an increase of 1.8 percent. In all three core markets, the Four Rings delivered more automobiles in 2019 than in the previous year. In China, the company set a new record with a total of 690,083… Continue reading @VW Group: Audi closes 2019 with a growth in deliveries of 1.8 percent

@Tata-JLR: JAGUAR LAND ROVER ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Fiona Pargeter, Customer Experience Director, to leave Jaguar Land Rover after 10 years Finbar McFall, Product Marketing Director, will take immediate responsibility for the Customer Experience function Andre Oosthuizen is appointed Jaguar Communications Director Coventry, UK, 9 January 2020 – Fiona Pargeter, Customer Experience Director, has announced her intention to leave Jaguar Land Rover. Fiona… Continue reading @Tata-JLR: JAGUAR LAND ROVER ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP TEAM

For Police Departments, The Tesla Cybertruck Is A Must-Have Vehicle

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Published on January 8th, 2020 |

by Carolyn Fortuna

For Police Departments, The Tesla Cybertruck Is A Must-Have Vehicle

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January 8th, 2020 by Carolyn Fortuna

What police force wouldn’t want a flame-and-water-resistant, amazingly fast, sleek, dominant, and long-range electric vehicle that can also pull water pipes and garbage containers? The Tesla Cybertruck has stirred up lots of chatter due to its futuristic vibe and big electric range, but the huge towing capacity and brutal acceleration are making it especially appealing to police departments around the world.

The vehicle, which has a starting price of $39,900, looks like a metallic trapezoid. Its exterior is made from newly developed stainless steel, the same metal kind that’s used for SpaceX rockets, according to Musk. “It is literally bulletproof to a nine millimeter handgun,” Musk said onstage during the Cybertruck unveiling. “That’s how strong the skin is — it’s ultra-hard, cold-rolled stainless steel alloy that we’ve developed. We’re going to be using the same alloy in the Starship rocket and in the Cybertruck.” The material is both tough and resistant to corrosion.

Its dimensions are also appealing to law enforcement officials. The Cybertruck is 231.7 inches long, 79.8 inches wide, and 75 inches tall, with seating for 6 adults. Off-road performance offers a 35-degree approach angle, a 28-degree departure angle, and up to 16 inches of ground clearance.

Cuidad Valles, Mexico Mayor Says Cybertrucks are a Matter of “Common Sense”
The Tesla Cybertruck is starting to have some interesting suitors due to its appealing price point and its practicality. One of the more recent municipalities to step up and reserve Cybertrucks is Cuidad Valles, in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Mayor Adrián Esper Cárdenas told El Imparcial that the 15 Cybertrucks he ordered will primarily be used by the municipality’s police force. The vehicles will also be put into use for burdensome tasks such as pulling “water pipes and garbage containers” due to the trucks’ strength and speed.

Cárdenas concluded that making the reservation for 15 of the Tesla Cybertrucks was a matter of “common sense,” noting that the vehicle is capable of providing many benefits to the municipality.

Mayor Cárdenas ordered 10 units of the dual motor AWD variant and an additional 5 units of the tri-motor AWD version. It is uncertain which units will be delegated to the municipality’s police force. The mayor figures that the total Cybertruck tab will amount to about $20 million pesos/ $1 million, with upfront costs expected to be offset by savings offered by the vehicles due to their low operating costs.

The mayor also offered members of the media a primer on the comparative costs of owning the Cybertrucks vs. traditional fossil-fuel vehicles. He explained how few repairs are needed with all-electric vehicles, and any components that might break, he advised, can be replaced by warranty.

Couple this with the Cybertrucks’ tough build and near-armored frame, he concluded, and the vehicles will likely pay for themselves in savings within years of their service.

“We took a picture, I am going to send it to Elon Musk, to see if they make us a discount, “Adrián Esper Cárdenas concluded. (Editor’s note: We’ll see if we can help him get the message to Elon. That said, Tesla doesn’t offer discounts.)

For Dubai Police Departments, The Tesla Cybertruck is All About Luxury
The United Arab Emirates’ Dubai Police Force is recognized by foreigners for its high-end luxury sports cars — like Ferraris and Lamborghinis — being used as police patrol vehicles. In November, the Dubai Police announced the addition of a new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S to its fleet of luxury patrol cars, which increased the number of luxury patrol vehicles in the Dubai Police fleet to 15.

And now the force wants to add the Cybertruck to its fleet — and the sooner, the better.

Commander-in-Chief Maj Gen. Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri explained that the Tesla Cybertruck would help “enhance security presence” in tourist spots like the Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and La Mer. But the Cybertruck is more than show to Khalifa, as the dual-motor version — expected to be first released in 2021 — is likely to be quicker off the line than most cars, and its extra-tough steel exoskeleton is suited for extra wear and tear, both on- and off-road.

“2020—Dubai Police #CyberTruck,” the police force’s official Twitter account posted, tagging both Musk and Tesla and attaching a photo of a Cybertruck photoshopped with Dubai Police patterns all over.

Kansas Highway Patrol
Law enforcement agencies in the US, too, have cast their eyes on the Tesla Cybertruck. A fun Twitter post from Kansas Highway Patrol announced that it is looking forward to using the all-electric pickup for its fleet of police vehicles.

The Kansas Highway Patrol Tweet and the creative proposed design inspired lots of others to imagine what different municipalities could do to showcase a Tesla Cybertruck in their regions.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that around 250,000 reservations had been logged for the Tesla Cybertruck. For police departments and others interested in the Cybertruck, it will be interesting to watch Tesla roll out this new concept and to see another demographic embrace and invest in all-electric trucks.

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About the Author

Carolyn Fortuna Carolyn Fortuna, Ph.D. is a writer, researcher, and educator with a lifelong dedication to ecojustice. She's won awards from the Anti-Defamation League, The International Literacy Association, and The Leavy Foundation.

As part of her portfolio divestment, she purchased 5 shares of Tesla stock.

Please follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

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