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Tesla Inc. founder Elon Musk speaks at the unveiling event by “The Boring Company” for the test tunnel of a proposed underground transportation network across Los Angeles County, in Hawthorne, California, U.S. December 18, 2018. Robyn Beck/Pool via REUTERS (Reuters) – Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) chief executive Elon Musk said the electric car company will reimburse… Continue reading Elon Musk says Tesla to pay customers for missed tax credits
Wang Zhao | AFP | Getty Images
People visit a Tesla showroom in Beijing.
A Tesla senior sales executive, Dan Kim, has left the company, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Kim, who joined Tesla in January, left for online travel site Airbnb, Bloomberg News first reported Tuesday. The job change was also reflected on a LinkedIn page that appears to belong to Kim, who was listed as the former head of global sales, marketing and delivery operations at Tesla.
Kim departed last month and his duties at the electric automaker are being handled by other people on his team, according to the person. Kim was a senior director in global sales and marketing under Robin Ren, the vice president of worldwide sales at Tesla.
Tesla declined to comment. Airbnb didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Prior to joining Tesla, Kim held executive roles in marketing at Solera, a company that makes vehicle analytics, according to his Wikipedia and LinkedIn pages. Before that Kim founded a chain of frozen yogurt stores called Red Mango.
Tesla has experienced intense turnover at several levels in its ranks. In September, short seller Jim Chanos compiled a list that showed the company had lost more than 40 executives in 2018. In late November, CNBC reported that Tesla's global head of security left after 11 months on the job and the company's head of digital product confirmed in December he has left the company.
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2018 Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf with a roughly 60-kilowatt-hour battery was expected to make its public debut at the LA Auto Show earlier this month. It didn’t.
That car is expected to appear “very soon,” perhaps at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show to be held in Las Vegas next month.
DON'T MISS: Long-range Nissan Leaf missing from LA Auto Show
But we didn't arrive back entirely empty-handed on new insights about where the Leaf is headed. With that plus a fully electric compact crossover utility vehicle on the horizon—and more electric cars close behind it—we sat down with Dan Mohnke, Nissan’s senior vice president for sales and marketing, to find out what Nissan had learned about how to market plug-in vehicles, and how that might evolve once new products arrive.
We spoke with Chevrolet more than two years ago on the same topic. That brand’s answer at the time was that it would continue to look for Bolt EV and Volt buyers who were similar to those who had already bought its cars—hardly a recipe for growing volumes.
READ THIS: How GM plans to market Chevy Bolt EV electric car
Nissan’s Mohnke said the company had taken away several lessons from its seven-plus years of selling the Leaf in North America.
Range anxiety is real. A 74-mile range may suit Japanese or European drivers who travel shorter distances and have access to a comprehensive, reliable, safe, affordable network of mass transit options. It is not enough for U.S. drivers in dispersed suburbs, who probably need something like 200 miles or possibly a bit less.
The entire “customer journey” needs to be addressed. Not the routes driven, but the process of marketing to, educating, and partnering with buyers from their first Internet search through visits to the dealership, delivery of the car, education on how it works and how charging is done, and follow-up contacts. Nissan is now focusing heavily on the “customer journey” for all shoppers, but electric cars add several specific requirements that gasoline vehicles don’t, such as education about charging options.
2017 Nissan Leaf showing battery pack (Source: Nissan)
Different buyers want different vehicles. This should be obvious, but over the last seven years, the U.S. market has swung decisively away from passenger cars (sedans, hatchbacks) toward utility vehicles of all sizes. The Leaf, for all its advantages, is visually a compact five-door hatchback, and that segment is a non-starter for many buyers. Bring on the all-electric compact crossover with optional all-wheel drive!
Each market is different, and the pace of adoption varies a lot. California is known to be the nation’s friendliest market for electric cars. Marketing and dealer communications are very different there than in, say, the central states where trucks predominate and dealers may only have a single Leaf in stock—if that.
All that said, Mohnke expects the company to start to market the advantages of electric cars as cars more confidently than it has in the past.
ALSO SEE: Documents: 60-kwh Nissan Leaf pricing aligned with Chevy Bolt EV
Those include “taking the stress out of driving” through both electric cars’ quieter, smoother travel and power delivery and the company’s suite of active-safety systems that it calls “intelligent driving.”
Another is the pure “exhilaration” of driving an electric car. When pressed as to what exactly that meant, Mohnke noted drivers definitely see an electric car’s strong, smooth maximum torque from a standstill—and at legal speeds—as a benefit they enjoy. Which is to say, power. That can be stressed in ads, he suggested.
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Daimler is expanding its “electric offensive”: The car maker has concluded supply contracts for battery cells by 2030. Even before, a large part of the fleet should be powered by electricity. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche introduces the E-car EQC (archive image) Tuesday, 11.12.2018 16:17 The automobile company Daimler has announced that it will spend more… Continue reading Daimler is investing 20 billion euros in battery cells
The bosses of VW, Daimler and BMW are indeed optimistic after their meeting with the US president. Donald Trump made it clear that the German business bosses have no reason to do so. Wednesday, 05.12.2018 11:31 clock Location policy is usually this: Politicians woo potential investors, serving canapes and sparkling wine, and promising subsidies if… Continue reading Demoted to petitioners
Montreal & Paris- May 16th, 2017 – The RATP Group announces that it has acquired a stake in Communauto Paris. The RATP group is investing in the Paris subsidiary of Communauto, a long-standing carsharing player, through its new subsidiary, RATP Capital Innovation, dedicated to investing in start-ups.
This first acquisition demonstrates the RATP Group’s desire to strengthen its links with start-ups to encourage innovation and the development of new services. It is above all a way for the company to adapt to the new needs of both travelers and communities, in an evolving mobility market.
Elizabeth Borne, RATP’s CEO and Benoit Robert, Communauto’s CEO
A positive association for both parties
A new form of sustainable mobility, carsharing offers a reliable alternative to the individual car and is complementary to the traditional offer of public transport. It also improves the quality of life in the city by reducing car congestion and freeing up public space so far dedicated to parking.
The Ile-de-France region, the historic territory of the RATP group, is particularly conducive to the development of station-based carsharing, given the population density and the exceptional level of public transport.
For Elisabeth Borne, President and CEO of the RATP group, “This stake allow us to add carsharing, a mobility option with a bright future, to our range of services. Since 2012, Communauto has allowed Parisians to discover the virtues of station-based carsharing and now wishes to extend its services on a regional scale” . She continues: “The RATP Group is proud to accompany Communauto in this new phase of its development. “
For his part, Benoît Robert, CEO of Communauto, says : “This association represents an important milestone. In all markets where we operate, we have always wanted to integrate our offer with public transport in order to create synergies between the two services. This underlines a paradigm shift. Our common objective is to replace as many personal cars as possible with quality mobility services. “
About RATP group
With 16 million passengers transported daily around the world, the RATP Group is the fifth largest urban transport operator in the world. With its 14 metro lines (including two automatic lines), its two RER lines, its 7 tram lines, its 350 bus lines and its shuttle services to the two airports in the Paris region, the multimodal network operated by RATP in the Paris area is the largest multimodal network in the world to be managed by a single company. The RATP Group is able to imagine, design and carry out infrastructure development projects, operate and maintain networks, regardless of the mode of transport (metro, regional train, tramway, bus) , Or to develop innovative mobility services (passenger information, tele-ticketing, pricing, customer marketing).
About Communauto
Communauto was founded in Québec City in 1994. The company has a social, environmental and urbanistic mission. It is not only the oldest carsharing company in North America but also the first North American carsharing organisation to offer a large fleet of 100% electric vehicles as well as both station-based and free-floating carsharing services. It service relies on more than 2000 vehicles. Its network is in full expansion, present in 7 canadian cities : Kingston, Ottawa, Gatineau, Montreal (Laval and Longueuil), Québec, Sherbrooke, Halifax and, since 2012, in Paris, France.
Informations :
Groupe RATP : 01 58 78 37 37 / servicedepresse@ratp.fr
Communauto :
Brigitte Geoffroy / T +1 514 499-2956 bgeoffroy@communauto.ca
www.communauto.ca
Federica Campina
Agency Chief Officer, Communauto Paris
+33 1 72 09 07 75/ +33 6 31 75 80 27 fcampina@communauto.paris<
17.
December 2018
Stuttgart/Las Vegas
World première of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA Two US premières: Mercedes-Benz EQC and Vision URBANETIC Daimler Trucks at CES with significant news about the strategy for automated driving Follow the Daimler Trucks press conference live at daimler.com/live/ Experience the Mercedes-Benz Cars press conference and talks live at Mercedes me media: media.mercedes-benz.com/ces2019 Stuttgart/Las Vegas. Daimler's trade fair exhibition at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (CES; 8 to 11 January 2019) will be focusing fully on the outlook on the future of mobility. Highlights include the world première of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA, US premières of the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz EQC (combined power consumption: 2 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, provisional figures)[1] as well as the revolutionary Vision URBANETIC mobility concept plus essential news about the Daimler Trucks' strategy for automated trucks. After the Mercedes-Benz press conference, Sajjad Khan, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, CASE and Vice President Digital Vehicle & Mobility, will be giving an insight into the current developments within the context of the Daimler-wide CASE digitalisation strategy – Connected, Autonomous, Shared & Service and Electric Drive. In the afternoon, Wilfried Porth, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Human Resources and Director of Labour Relations at Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz Vans, will be explaining the future of mobility using Vision URBANETIC as an example.
On the day before (Monday, 7 January), Daimler Trucks will be providing an overview of the most recent company and technology developments at the Keep Memory Alive Center (KMAC) and will be announcing the company's next steps within the context of automated driving. Media representatives will subsequently be given the opportunity to experience the most recent products from the North American truck and bus/coach portfolio at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The new Mercedes-Benz CLA will be showcased to the global public for the very first time, featuring its evolved MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system, a technological innovation that premièred at CES in 2018. New functions have already been added a mere 12 months later. As a result, the new Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupé is not only the most emotional vehicle of its class, it is also a highly intelligent automotive specimen: the new CLA offers a number of clever solutions, from the MBUX Interior Assistant that identifies operation requests on the basis of movements to lend the vehicle interior a certain level of intelligence, to augmented reality for navigation and the ability to understand indirect voice commands as well as ENERGIZING COACH featuring individual fitness recommendations.
The Mercedes-Benz EQC will be celebrating its US première – the first purely battery-electric Mercedes-Benz EQ series production model as a symbol for the start of a new mobility era at Daimler. Visually the crossover SUV is a pioneer of avant-garde electric aesthetics, representing an impressive combination of convenience, quality and everyday suitability. These elements are accompanied by dynamic performance, thanks to two electric motors at the front and rear axles with a combined output of 300 kW. Thanks to a sophisticated operating strategy, the EQC delivers an electric range of over 450 km according to NEDC (provisional figures).
The Vision URBANETIC will also be celebrating its US première – a completely new mobility concept for demand-based, efficient and sustainable mobility. The visionary concept is based on an autonomously driving, electrically driven chassis suitable for bodies intended to transport passengers or cargo. The fully network-compatible Vision URBANETIC forms part of an ecosystem in which logistics companies, local public transport companies as well as private individuals can digitally send their transport requests across urban environments. The concept reduces traffic volume, relieves inner-city infrastructure and contributes to a new, urban quality of life. The show car also demonstrates how an innovative and intelligent UI/UX design can also maintain the smooth functioning of mobility even without a driver.
The Daimler Trucks press conference will start on Monday, 7 January, at 9 am (CET -9 hours) at the Keep Memory Alive Center (KMAC). Afterwards media representatives will have the opportunity to exchange ideas about current trends and innovations with Daimler Trucks experts. You can also watch the live stream of the Daimler Trucks press conference at daimler.com/live/.
The Mercedes-Benz Cars press conference will start on the first press day, 8 January, at 11 am (CET -9 hours) at the Mercedes-Benz exhibition stand. The press conference, subsequent insight into CASE with Sajjad Khan (8 January, 2 pm (CET -9 hours) and Wilfried Porth's presentation about the future of mobility (8 January, 3.30 am (CET -9 hours) can also be viewed as part of multi-angle live streams on Mercedes me media at mercedes-benz.com/ces2019. This is where you will also find press materials, images and video clips relating to Daimler Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans at CES via the continously updated Mediahub.
[1] Figures for fuel consumption/power consumption and CO2 emissions are provisional and were determined by the technical service for the certification procedure in accordance with the WLTP test procedure and correlated in NEDC values. EC type approval and a certificate of conformity with official figures are not yet available. Differences between the stated figures and the official figures are possible.
Press Contact
Katja Bott
Head of Global Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars
katja.bott@daimler.com
Tel: +49 711 17 75841
Fax: –
Florian Martens
Head of Global Communications Trucks & Buses
florian.martens@daimler.com
Tel: +49 711 17-41525
Fax: +49 711 17-52006
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florian-martens/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/florian_martens
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SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Self-driving car startup Zoox Inc has become the first company to receive approval from California regulators to operate an autonomous ride service for public passengers, state regulators said on Friday. The California Public Utilities Commission said Silicon Valley-based Zoox is the first company to join a state pilot program in which… Continue reading UPDATE 1-Self-driving startup Zoox gets OK to offer autonomous rides to the public – Reuters
2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC
Which upcoming electric car has a battery pack engineered to be upgraded to 800 volts?
What company plans to do more serious marketing of electric cars' strengths?
This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending December 21, 2018.
This week contained a mix of news about upcoming faster electric-car charging and the effects of more automakers getting more serious about selling electric cars. The green car world was not without political and business setbacks, however.
EVgo 350-kw DC fast-charge station, Baker, Calif.
Two of the biggest charging networks in the U.S. announced plans and actions to open new ultra-fast 350-kilowatt DC fast chargers. Electrify America got plans approved in California to start the second phase of building out its nationwide fast charge network, as required under the Volkswagen legal settlement.
Competitor EVgo announced that it has opened its first ultra-fast 350-kilowatt charging station between LA and Las Vegas. Such 350-kw charging stations can refill up to about 200 miles of range in a long-range electric car in 20 minutes or less.
Rivian R1T electric pickup concept
The cars capable of charging that fast aren't yet on the market, but a wide-ranging interview with the founder and CEO of Michigan-based electric-car startup Rivian revealed that the company has engineered its upcoming trucks to be upgraded to the 800-volt battery pack that 350-kw charging will require.
2019 Nio ES6
Those new electric cars are coming, though. The first 800-volt electric cars, the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron GT, and Aston Martin Rapide-E, are expected to arrive late next year.
Chinese electric startup Nio introduced its second, more affordable, electric SUV, the ES6 this week. It's not clear, however, whether it will have an 800-volt battery capable of charging at 350-kw.
Another Chinese automaker, Qiantu, announced plans to bring its new sports car to the U.S. through Mullen, the California company that holds the rights to sell Coda electric cars here.
2020 Volkswagen ID Neo spy shots
In all, electric-car sales have taken off, and hit a milestone, reaching 1 million sales in the U.S. in November, with half of those in California.
Nissan, the original electric-car leader, aims to get even more electric cars on the road by amping up its marketing of electric advantages: smooth, silent power and low operating costs. The company also renewed plans to introduce a new electric crossover SUV that may be more attractive to American car buyers.
Kia released prices for its upcoming Kona electric crossover vehicle. And VW released video of its upcoming ID hatchback testing in South Africa and hinted it might build a new electric beach buggy.
Donald Trump
Not all was rosy on the plug-in car sales front, though. After GM announced that it would kill the Chevy Volt, and lay off 15,000 workers, it announced 50 additional layoffs at the factory that builds battery packs for the Volt, throwing hope for a successor to the car into doubt. Still, GM maintains that it is committed to building electric cars. For that, President Trump took to Twitter to excoriate the company. “All-electric is not going to work,” he tweeted.
MWI microwave ignition module
Perhaps President Trump would be happier with a plan by former Porsche CEO to promote a new technology to make gas cars cleaner and almost as efficient as diesel, microwave ignition to replace spark plugs.
Meanwhile, German automakers are dramatically ramping up their purchases of battery supplies for electric cars.
And a new analysis of Trump's proposal to freeze fuel-economy increases by the Consumer Federation of America shows that rolling back the standards will make driving less affordable for the citizens who can least afford it and who depend on it the most.
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