BEIJING (Reuters) – U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) has held talks with China’s Tianjin Lishen to supply batteries for its new Shanghai factory, and two people with direct knowledge of the matter said the pair signed a preliminary agreement. FILE PHOTO: Visitors are seen at the booth of Lishen Battery at a… Continue reading Exclusive: Tesla holds battery supply talks with China’s Lishen
Tag: Manufacturing
Exclusive: Tesla says it received battery quotes from China’s Lishen but no deal agreed
BEIJING (Reuters) – Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) said on Tuesday it had received quotes from Tianjin Lishen to supply batteries for its new Shanghai electric car factory but had not signed any agreement with the Chinese firm. FILE PHOTO: Visitors are seen at the booth of Lishen Battery at a new energy expo in Beijing, China… Continue reading Exclusive: Tesla says it received battery quotes from China’s Lishen but no deal agreed
Tesla says it has no agreement with Chinese battery maker Lishen
FILE PHOTO: A Tesla logo is painted on a wall inside of a Tesla dealership in New York, U.S., April 29, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) denied on Tuesday that it had signed a preliminary agreement with Tianjin Lishen to supply batteries for its new Shanghai car factory, saying it had… Continue reading Tesla says it has no agreement with Chinese battery maker Lishen
Toyota brings back the Supra sports car after almost two decades
Toyota reveals the first new Supra in the US in 21 years
9:48 AM ET Mon, 14 Jan 2019 | 01:22
With the new Supra sports car, Toyota is bringing back a car that is probably one of the Japanese automaker's most beloved names.
But don't expect it to be a huge seller, say analysts.
That is not because the car is a dud. It is expected to be a higher-end product and has been reported to have engines sourced from German manufacturer BMW.
But production is expected to be lower volume, and the car is likely to cater to enthusiasts and serve as a halo vehicle to create buzz for the rest of Toyota's lineup.
Source: Toyota
2020 Toyota Supra
The Supra is a resurrection of a car Toyota has not made since 2002. It began as a variant of Toyota's now also defunct Celica in 1978, but was spun off as its own model in 1986. It became known as one of the most famous Japanese tuner cars of the '80s and '90s.
Apart from the reputation it earned on its own, the Supra also was famous for being featured in “The Fast and the Furious” movie franchise, in which it was driven by the late actor Paul Walker.
The car will go on sale this summer. It will have a 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder 335-horsepower engine and an automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Toyota says the car should be able to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds. It will have an electronically limited speed of 155 mph.
Buyers will have their choice of two trim levels, the base 3.0 model and a 3.0 Premium.
Toyota's President Akio Toyoda tested the car himself on the famed Nurburgring track in Germany, as well as elsewhere around the world.
The car will likely not come cheap, and it is not meant to be a high-volume car, said LMC Automotive President of Global Forecasting Jeff Schuster.
“It's absolutely for enthusiasts,” he said. “The name is one of those names that has some history to it. Obviously, not as much as a Mustang or a Challenger, but in its space of more of the super-tuner type of vehicle it carries a lot of weight. There is no question it will get a lot of buzz around it. But for all intents and purposes it is meant to be a small volume vehicle, at least from our expectation.”
Disclosure: “The Fast and the Furious” movies were produced by Universal Studios, which like CNBC is owned by Comcast.
CORRECTION: This article was updated to correct the car's history. It was last produced 17 years ago.
BMW plans to tone down styling of its electric cars
BMW i Vision Dynamics concept, 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show
To stand out, or not to stand out. That is the question many electric automakers are asking as electric cars transition from being something new and different to being just another drive system for all types of cars.
Among the most recognizable electric-car designs are those that stand out from the crowd: The original Nissan Leaf, the Toyota Prius Prime, the BMW i3.
CHECK OUT: 2019 BMW i3 to get bigger battery with 153-mile range
Now electric cars are going more mainstream, according to an October interview with BMW styling director Adrian van Hooydonk in the British publication Autocar, so there's no reason to make them look so different.
“BMW customers want a dynamic car, whether it is a battery-electric vehicle or not,” van Hooydonk told Autocar. “So there’s is increasingly less reason to make these kinds of cars look different.”
READ THIS: BMW Vision iNext electric concept redefines German luxury flagship
It has been a long-running debate among designers of hybrid and electric vehicles. People buy cars to make a statement, just as they might buy a jacket or shoes. Early hybrid and electric car buyers wanted their support for the environment, or at least their reduced petroleum consumption.
Driving an ordinary-looking car didn't accomplish that. Onlookers had no reason to strike up a conversation to ask why they were driving it.
BMW Vision iNext concept
BMW's change of heart is another sign that electric cars are moving beyond early adopters to more mainstream buyers—known as the “early majority,” among marketers. The early majority accepts that early adopters have proven a technology, and wants to establish that it is now mainstream.
Building good-looking, but mainstream, cars with electric powertrains accomplishes that goal.
DON'T MISS: All-electric BMW i4 to be production version of i Vision Dynamics concept
BMW executives have announced that instead of building completely separate designs for electric cars—such as the i3 and i8 with their carbon-fiber chassis and aluminum floor pans—the brand will work to develop electric versions of all of its primary cars, such as the upcoming 2020 iX3 SUV, which is an electric version of the X3, and the 2019 Mini Cooper S E, an electric version of the standard Mini hatchback.
Other upcoming BMW electric-car concepts show a mixed approach. The luxurious and nominally self-driving Vision iNext luxury SUV, which could inspire a production model in about 2022, is all harsh angles, with odd wings and big pillarless glass. It will definitely stand out on the road.
BMW's Vision Dynamics concept is a sleek four-door sedan that previews the company's next electric car (after the iX3 and the Mini Cooper S E), an electric version of the elegant-looking but relatively mainstream 4-series. It will also stand out on the road—but for its elegance, not just its brash, indifferent, difference.
Toyota and Panasonic to jointly make electric-car batteries, explore solid-state tech
Panasonic Li-Ion EV battery
Toyota has been a laggard in the race to transition to electric cars. The company was an early leader in fuel-efficient hybrids, but has since focused on developing fuel-cell vehicles, and executives have expressed skepticism about electric cars and lithium-ion batteries.
Now in an effort to accelerate its move to electric cars, the company may be pairing up with the largest manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells in the world for electric cars, Panasonic. Panasonic also supplies batteries for Tesla, built at the giant Nevada Gigafactory that the two jointly own.
CHECK OUT: Lithium-ion vs. nickel-metal hydride: Toyota still likes both for its hybrids
The Nikkei Asian Review reported Sunday that the two companies plan to set up a joint battery manufacturing plant in 2020 to produce batteries for more than 5.5 million electric cars. Reuters followed with another report of the venture, citing a source of its own.
Under the venture as it's been reported so far, Toyota will own 51 percent of the factory, and Panasonic will own the rest. Batteries produced at the factory will supply not only Toyota but also companies that have signed on as partners with Toyota to develop electric cars. These include Mazda and Subaru.
Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota and Kazuhiro Tsuga, President, Panasonic
Honda also sources electric-car batteries from Panasonic, and Nikkei reports that the companies hope that they can also sell the new batteries to Honda.
READ THIS: Panasonic says solid-state batteries are still 10 years off
Toyota and Panasonic will also reportedly work together to develop next-generation solid-state lithium-ion batteries, which are expected to provide increased range with less weight and cost for electric cars. They could also be less flammable to improve safety.
Toyota has been working to find other chemistries that would be useful for electric cars. It announced in 2017 that it plans to put solid-state battery tech into a production vehicle in the early part of the next decade.
DON'T MISS: VW is planning to build 15 million electric vehicles
The two companies signed an agreement in 2017 to explore the tie-up that Nikkei reported this week.
Toyota has set a goal to sell 5.5 million electric cars by 2030. That still lags behind Volkswagen, the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota. Volkswagen has announced plans to build 10 million vehicles a year by 2027.
Press release / January 7, 2019 LeddarTech Signs Nagase & Co. Ltd as Its Exclusive Distributor for Japan LeddarTech selects Nagase as distributor of its mobility LiDAR products in Japan. A first collaborative event will take place at CAR-ELE-JAPAN in Tokyo on January 16-18, 2019, where they will showcase LeddarTech’s technology to the automotive industry.
Leddartech/Press release/LeddarTech Signs Nagase & Co. Ltd as Its Exclusive Distributor for Japan
LeddarTech Signs Nagase & Co. Ltd as Its Exclusive Distributor for Japan
LeddarTech selects Nagase & Co. Ltd. as distributor of its mobility LiDAR products in Japan, effective now. A first collaborative event will take place at CAR-ELE-JAPAN in Tokyo on January 16-18, 2019, where they will showcase LeddarTech’s solid-state LiDAR technology to the automotive industry.
QUEBEC CITY, January 7, 2019 — LeddarTech, an industry leader providing the most versatile and scalable auto and mobility LiDAR platform, today announced that it has selected Nagase & Co. Ltd. as the distributor of its solid-state LiDAR solutions for ADAS and autonomous vehicles in Japan.
“We are honored to represent LeddarTech’s visionary LiDAR technology in Japan,” stated Koichi Kawahito, Division Manager of the Automotive Electronics division at Nagase. He added: “LeddarTech’s LiDAR mobility platform brings to Tier-1 suppliers a differentiated, compelling automotive LiDAR offering that is in line with Nagase’s mission to expand its automotive business to distributing components and systems as well as offering software and design services for advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), electrical vehicle and human-machine interfaces.”
A memorandum of understanding between the two parties was signed at the beginning of December. Nagase will be responsible for the promotion and sales in Japan of LeddarTech’s LCA2 LeddarEngine and LCA3 LeddarEngine, which are highly integrated solid-state LiDAR cores that are comprised of a LeddarCore system on chip (SoCs) and coupled with the LeddarSP signal processing software. In addition, Nagase will provide high-quality, first-line product support to local customers.
“LeddarTech is truly committed to providing the best technology and support to our worldwide customers. We are proud to be associated with such a reputable distributor as Nagase & Co., Ltd.,” stated Adrian Pierce, Vice-President of Global Sales and Business Development at LeddarTech.
Charles Boulanger, LeddarTech’s CEO, added: “We intend to bring great value to our mobility customers in Japan with our distinctive business model that is based on a comprehensive LiDAR development platform. This platform provides Tier-1 suppliers with the ability to design and mass produce customized automotive-grade, high-performance, and cost-efficient LiDAR solutions for the most demanding automotive use cases.”
Presence at CAR-ELE-JAPAN – January 2019
LeddarTech’s and Nagase’s close collaboration will be showcased at CAR-ELE-JAPAN, from January 16 to 18, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Together, at booth number E47-002, they will present and demonstrate 3D Flash solid-state LiDAR solutions based on the LCA2 LeddarEngine.
The CAR-ELE JAPAN show brings together automotive electronics technologies, such as components, materials, software, manufacturing equipment and testing technologies, etc. It attracts automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers and has become a must-attend event for automotive industry professionals.
About Nagase
Nagase & Co., Ltd. is a chemical trading firm, founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1832. The Nagase Group began as a specialized sales agent securing exclusive contracts to sell industry-leading products from around the world in Japan. Over the years, the company has leveraged its technology and information gathering expertise—as well as its global network—to transform its business into a hybrid model offering superior manufacturing, processing and R&D functions as well as trading company services. The Automotive Solutions department has been providing high functional material and parts into the automotive industry for a long time and is now focusing on delivering state-of-the-art technologies into the market to realize a safer and more comfortable mobility society.
More information is accessible at www.nagase.co.jp/english
About LeddarTech
LeddarTech is an industry leader providing the most versatile, scalable auto and mobility LiDAR platform based on the unique LeddarEngine, which consists of a suite of automotive-grade, functional safety certified SoCs working in tandem with LeddarSP signal processing software. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge mobility remote-sensing applications, its patented technologies enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities for automobiles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, robotaxis, shuttles, and more. Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com, and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
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PJSC AVTOVAZ announces the signature of a Special Investment contract
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21.01.19
PJSC AVTOVAZ announces the signature of a Special Investment contract
PJSC AVTOVAZ today announced the signature of a Special Investment contract (SPIC) with the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, to support the development of Alliance brands in Russia – LADA, Nissan, Datsun, Renault and Mitsubishi and modernize facilities for their production.
Within the scope of the agreement, PJSC AVTOVAZ serves as the main investor within the group of Alliance partners that involves LLC LADA Izhevsk (part of AVTOVAZ Group), CJSC Renault Russia, LLC Nissan Motor Manufacturing Russia, and LLC Mitsubishi Motors Rus. This contract also involves the Government of Samara Region, the Government of the Udmurt Republic, the Government of Moscow, the Government of Saint Petersburg and the Government of Kaluga Region.
During the 10-year contract PJSC AVTOVAZ will invest more than 70 B-RUB, create 2,300 jobs, and together with its Alliance partners, expand localization of materials, parts and components, introduce new technologies, develop R&D activities in Russia and increase export volumes.
The President of PJSC AVTOVAZ Yves Caracatzanis said that the SPIC will greatly help the Company in the implementation of its ambitious mid-term plan. “In coming years AVTOVAZ Group is going to completely renew its LADA product range. In this situation, SPIC is providing the long-term visibility which is critical for our activities and it will also contribute to the development of the whole Russian auto components industry,” – stressed Mr. Caracatzanis.
Nicolas Maure, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, noted that the Russian market is key to the success of Groupe Renault, including AVTOVAZ. “I’m glad that the Russian Federation government extended to AVTOVAZ and all Alliance partners in Russia the possibility to sign this SPIC which materializes our commitment to develop our activities in Russia”, – stated Mr. Maure.
Sergey Skvortsov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, confirmed that the SPIC has been approved through an extraordinary Board meeting on December 24th. “This SPIC is a great opportunity for AVTOVAZ and its Alliance partners to continue investing in new projects and increase localization and exports which are critical for the future of the automotive industry in the country”, – stated Mr. Skvortsov.
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21.01.19
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Tesla will need to make cheaper Model 3s by the second half of 2019
James Glover II | Reuters
Elon Musk
Tesla needs to get cracking on a cheaper car.
The electric vehicle maker said Friday it plans to cut about 7 percent of its workforce, which by the last company headcount would equal about 3,100 jobs. The plan is to cut costs and get closer to making the $35,000 Model 3 the company has been promising since it first unveiled the car in 2016.
Right now the cheapest Model 3 available is the midrange rear-wheel-drive model, which starts at $44,000. A long-range all-wheel-drive model starts at $51,000, and the performance model starts at $63,000.
The sales boost from the $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit is running out, and that stands to hurt demand in the United States.
One of the primary reasons for the job cuts is the fact that the cars Tesla makes are still “too expensive for most people,” CEO Elon Musk said in an email to employees announcing the reductions.
For now, Tesla has Europe to lean on, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives told CNBC. The company began allowing European reservation holders to configure their Model 3 orders in early December and plans to begin delivering some versions to the region by next month.
Tesla was not available for comment.
“If you think about the trajectory, the first half of 2019 is really Europe coming onboard,” said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. That strength in demand will likely offset relative weakness in demand in the U.S., in large part to the waning tax credit and Tesla's relatively high prices. “But then ultimately in the second half you need the mid-range Model 3 to really start to kick in.”
Toward the end of 2018, Tesla finally seemed to have pulled itself out of the “production hell” it had been submersed in since it began Model 3 production in the summer of 2017.
With the company clearing Musk's stated goal of producing 5,000 Model 3s per week, Tesla began focusing on reducing costs and improving efficiency. Tesla's third-quarter results were surprisingly strong, making good on Musk's expectation that Tesla would be profitable and cash flow positive from the second half of 2018 onward.
There is still debate on Wall Street over whether Tesla will need to raise capital in the next 12-18 months, Ives said, adding that he thinks there is about a 30 to 35 percent chance the company will need to return to markets for cash. Tesla does have about $1.5 billion in debt due in 2019 — one tranche due in March and another in September.
Read more: Here's what every major Tesla analyst had to say about the cuts.
WATCH: How taxpayers have boosted Elon Musk and Tesla
How taxpayers have boosted Elon Musk and Tesla
10:06 AM ET Mon, 22 Oct 2018 | 07:43
Electric cars from Volkswagen: “Small cars will be considerably more expensive”
Volkswagen Volkswagen I.D. Neo: “Today’s price level is unstoppable” Volkswagen Supervisory Board boss Hans Dieter Pötsch expects because of the necessary switch to electric cars with sharply rising prices for small cars. “Today’s price level can not be maintained if these cars are equipped with electric motors,” he told the “Welt am Sonntag”. “Therefore, it… Continue reading Electric cars from Volkswagen: “Small cars will be considerably more expensive”