A former General Motors car factory in the South Korean city of Gunsan is to become a production site for electric cars. The Korean component manufacturer MS Autotech bought the plant for the equivalent of almost 100 million dollars to manufacture on behalf of several OEMs.
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Ford has come up with what seems to be a bit of a double-edged plan as they want to turn the Michigan Central Station located in Detroit into a hub for the automaker’s electric- and self-driving car activities.
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The electric startup Byton has hired two new managers, and opened a new factory in the USA. After the completion of the company HQ in Santa Clara, the EV brand owned by Future Mobility set up a new location in Los Angeles called the “LA Future Lab”.
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The Foxconn and Tencent funded start-up led by former BMWi manager Carsten Breitfeld presents the first model of its Byton brand. On sale is set for 2019, first in China and a year later in Europe and the States.
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Ahead of its debut at CES, EV brand Byton has published photos of its upcoming electric-powered SUV, showing among others the cockpit. Byton is a brand of Future Mobility, a Chinese start-up supported by Foxconn and Tencent and led by former BMW i manager Carsten Breitfeld.
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Future Mobility’s EV brand Byton is now present in the United States, as planned. The Chinese start-up’s new American office is situated in Santa Clara, California. Moreover, the company entered into partnerships with Bosch and Faurencia.
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Hyundai’s new FCV: The Koreans have presented their latest fuel cell SUV in Seoul, which will hit the shelves by 2018. The FCV comes with 120kW while range is given at 580 kilometres. In total, Hyundai and Kia have lined up 31 electrified models until 2020 – eight all-electric ones, eleven PHEV, two FCV as well as ten simple hybrids.
koreaherald.com, koreatimes.co.kr, paultan.org
Audi is running the e-Tron for real as these first spy shots from testing reveal. Launch is set for 2018 and the electric SUV will be the German carmakers first attempt to compete with the likes of the Tesla Model X or Jaguar I-Pace. The e-Tron range is said to be 500 kilometres.
autocar.co.uk
200m dollars for Future Mobility: A start-up led by former BMWi Manager Carsten Breitfeld and already backed by Foxconn and Tencent has generated another 200m dollars in a new round of funding. Future Mobility Corp (FMC) wants to use the money for R&D mainly and has scheduled its first model, an SUV, for next year’s CES. Once it launches by 2019, it is to cost 300,000 Yuan (45.000 dollars) and FMC plans two more models until 2022.
reuters.com
Mercedes’ diesel scrappage scheme is now available to buyers in the UK. Those willing to swap their old diesel guzzler for a hybrid or even the new electric Smart will receive a 1,000 (Smart) or 2,000 pounds throughout 2017.
autocar.co.uk
Mazda cleans its act: Mazda is working on new petrol engines labelled Skyactiv-X, which are supposedly more fuel efficient. Comes 2021, the motor may also work in combination with an electric drive, Autocar learnt. An all-electric Mazda model may hit the road even sooner though, 2019 that is, and it may include a range extender too.
autocar.co.uk
The New Smart ED is off to a rough start in the States as the EPA gave it a range of a combined 58 miles only. That is 10 miles less than the previous Smart Fortwo Electric Drive despite the battery having stayed the same. So it must be an issue related to weight and/or aerodynamics.
insideevs.com
Nissan sells battery business to GSR: What has been widely expected, is about to be realised: Nissan officially confirms that it will sell its complete battery business to Chinese financial investor GSR Capital in order to focus solely on EV designing and production. The package includes the battery unit AESC with its plants in Smyrna (Tennessee) and Sunderland (UK) as well as parts of the carmaker’s Japan-based battery production in Oppama, Atsugi and Zama. According to Nissan, the deal could be signed before the year’s end.
europe.autonews.com, newsroom.nissan-global.com
VW introduces premiums to buyers trading in an older diesel model – the step is part of the deal agreed on with German politicians at the “diesel summit” last week. Thus, buyers of VW cars trading in diesel models with Euro 1 to Euro 4 standards are benefiting from an environmental bonus of up to 10,000 euros. Parallel, Volkswagen offers so-called “future premiums” between 1,000 and 2,380 euros to buyers of alternatively powered cars. Both incentives are going to be granted solely in Germany and until the year’s end. Who trades in a VW Golf and buys an e-Golf, benefits for example of 11,760 euros – consisting of 5,000 euros environmental bonus, 2,380 euros future premium and the usual state subsidy, in this case 4,380 euros.
autoblog.com, volkswagen-media-services.com
Also Audi offers trade-in incentives: Similar to VW’s bonus system, Audi introduces a premium of 3,000 to 10,000 euros for buyers of new Audi cars trading in their old diesels in 2017 within Germany. Who buys a PHEV benefits also from Audi’s decision to double its share of the state subsidy programme from 1,500 to 3,000 euros.
audi-mediacenter.com
Toyota to launch more hybrids in Europe: The Japanese carmaker seeks to extend its hybrid vehicle line-up in order to benefit from the current diesel anxiety in Europe, reports Nikkei referring to Toyota Europe CEO Johan van Zyl. Thus, at the latest 2020, Toyota wants to offer every model in minimum two hybrid versions, pushing the share of hybrid cars towards 50 percent of its overall sales in this region.
asia.nikkei.com
Mercedes-AMG to show CLS hybrid: Mid-2018, the Daimler subsidiary intends to launch its next-gen CLS, the first model of a new series of AMG hybrid models, according to Autocar. It will be powered by AMG’s 3.0-litre straight-six engine and a 50kW electric motor and could be presented at the L.A. Auto Show in November. Further models with hybrid drive are to follow step-by-step.
autocar.co.uk
Fresh money for Future Mobility: The Chinese start-up has raised additional 200m dollars in its latest funding round. Supported by Foxconn, Tencent as well as Harmony Auto and led by former BMW i manager Carsten Breitfeld, the company seeks to present its first concepts before the year’s end and to kick-off serial EV production by 2019.
chinamoneynetwork.com
Fisker unveils luxury sedan in August: Henrik Fisker published first pictures of his EV Fisker EMotion at the end of last year, saying it would rely on graphene-based batteries with a range of 400 miles. Now the company has specified the date for presentation, namely the 17th of August.
carscoops.com, electrek.co
Another Tesla challenger comes from Chinese EV start-up Future Mobility, which is supported by Foxconn as well as Tencent and led by former BMW-i-Manager Carsten Breitfeld. It has set the launch of its first concept vehicle for the second half of 2017. The mid-size SUV with a range of 500 km is to roll off the lines in 2019 and be priced between 300,000 and 400,000 Yuan (40,000 to 53,000 euros).
scmp.com
GM presents Chinese Volt: The Buick Velite 5, basically a version of the Chevy Volt with range extender for the Chinese market, has found the spotlights of the Shanghai show. The electric range is 116 km according to local standards and prices start at 265,800 Yuan (38,600 dollars).
greencarcongress.com, carscoops.com
Tesla with risky production strategy: In order to win time, Tesla intends to skip the limited production phase using lower grade equipment, Reuters has learnt. Instead, CEO Elon Musk intends to start mass production of its Model 3 directly with final equipment, ignoring approved car industry standards.
reuters.com
Conti to invest in EV tech: Until 2021, the car supplier wants to boost its electric drive division with additional 300m euros. With this strategy the company hopes to increase the turnover in this unit from today 130m to then 1bn euros and to further push to up to 2bn by 2025. This anticipated sales growth shall “more than compensate” the expected decrease of business for conventional cars.
europe.autonews.com, continental-corporation.com
Daimler energy storage for homeowners: The car manufacturer sold its first energy storage units for residential use and still has a long list of pre-orders to handle. As reported, Daimler subsidiary Accumotive is currently installing a second battery production facility at its site in Kamenz.
electriccarsreport.com, media.daimler.com
Detroit Electric to produce in China: Emperor Electric Car is a new Joint Venture between the Chinese CSE, ES&TP and Detroit Electric that will have its HQ in Hongkong. Together, they want to produce EVs and their components in China. Construction of a first facility in Yixing will start in 2017 and the JV hopes to make 100,000 electric cars a year comes 2020. This excludes Detroit Electric’s SP:01 roadster though. Instead EEC plans to build an electric SUV.
forbes.com
An electric SUV made in China is also the plan of Future Mobility Corp (FMC). The start-up funded by Foxconn and Tencent and led by former BMWi manager Carsten Breitfeld wants to launch its first EV by 2019 and aims at prices from 40,000 dollars. A sedan and mini van shall follow later. However, first the Najing facility with planned production capacity of 150,000 EV needs to be completed and receive its manufacturing license. If not, executives said they would look to outsource production.
greencarcongress.com, bloomberg.com
The Sinclair C5 is as quirky an invention as it is British. Now, a remake of the 1980 electric trike is due. The Iris eTrike is pedal-assist, comes covered and does look more modern than its predecessor. Grant Sinclair, Clive Sinclair’s nephew, is behind it and will offer the e-trike from 3,000 GBP.
futureentech.com, bikeradar.com, bbc.com (video)
World’s first low floor e-bus? Mellor Coachcraft will bring an electric low floor bus to the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham this April. The Orion E sits 16 passengers and shall have a range of 160 km. Deliveries are planned for July.
transportengineer.org.uk
FF clings to life in USA: Just as Faraday Future seemed to have given up its ambitions to make it in the States (we reported), officials in Nevada refute. The EV start-up has poured 160m dollars into its desert facility and wants to break ground this spring. But the factory will be much smaller, at least during what FF calls the first phase. If completed, 12,000 electric cars may roll off the lines from next year.
recordcourier.com, electrek.co
Modular reviews: Hyundai’s Ionic comes in all shades of green that is as hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric. As it arrived in the States, test reports reach us, comparing apples with apples for once.
jalopnik.com (HEV vs EV), autoblog.com (HEV vs PHEV)
Hyundai to launch electric SUV: The Korean manufacturer is working on an all-electric SUV said to hit the road in 2018 in South Korea. A still seriously camouflaged prototype has already been spotted. The unnamed SUV will most likely feature a 64 kWh battery back and go 320 km on one charge.
etnews.com, electrek.co
Future Mobility get serious: Future Mobility’s still undefined plans to set up an EV factory (we reported) are getting more concrete. According to Bloomberg, the Chinese start-up has signed an agreement with the city of Nanjing. The production site is said to have an initial capacity of 150,000 per year, which could double at a later date. Future Mobility plans to launch its first serial production car, an electric SUV, in 2020.
bloombergquint.com
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New Golf GTE can be ordered: The plug-in hybrid variant of the recently facelifted VW Golf can now be ordered. The Golf GTE’s drivetrain remains the same as for the previous model – as does the price tag of 36,900 euros.
autoevolution.com, volkswagen-media-services.com
FF 91 pricier than initially though: Faraday Future’s just recently unveiled FF 91 (we reported) will most likely cost more than many initially expected. LeEco CEO and FF financier recently spoke of “less than 2m yuan,” which is the equivalent of roughly 291,000 dollars. So the car will not cost more than that – but probably not much less either.
electrek.co
BYD with plans to expand: In two to three years, the Chinese manufacturer wants to begin selling its electric cars to individuals in the U.S. Until now, BYD is only selling its buses and EV to fleet operators there. And the company is planning to conquer India’s bus market and is planning a joint venture with company Goldstone Infratech there.
todayonline.com (USA), telanganatoday.news (India)
Fisker reloaded: EMotion is the name Henrik Fisker chose for his new electric model. It has been unveiled in full and is said to feature graphene-based batteries with a 400 mile range. They have been developed by Nanotech, Fisker Inc’s power pack division. The electric car is aggressively styled from the outside but the designer promises the interior to provide legroom comparable to that of a luxury sedan – like Tesla. Launch is set for 2017.
autocar.co.uk, electrek.co, insideevs.com
Future Mobility to come true: Tencent’s EV unit will invest 1.9bn dollars into a facility in China to make 300,000 electric cars and batteries a year. A schedule has not been given but with Foxconn as a backer as well as BMW i8 designer Carsten Breitfeld it is likely Future Mobility will succeed.
scmp.com
Further future mobility: Guangzhou Auto plans to invest in its new energy vehicle business and thus seeks to sell up to 15bn yuan (2.2bn dollars) worth of shares. State-owned GAC said the proceeds would be used in 10 projects, with nearly 1/3 of the funds to be spent on R&D.
reuters.com
New Zoe for UK: Renault’s best-selling electric car and its latest 41 kWh battery can be ordered on the Isles now. Prices start at 17,845 GBP after incentives and deliveries will begin in January.
autoexpress.co.uk
Next-gen Bentley: Two Bentley Continental prototypes were caught on camera cruising around the Nurburgring. The new model will also be introduced as plug-in hybrid variant reportedly.
carscoops.com
Tuning Teslas Model X: There is a tuning kit for Tesla’s SUV on display at SEMA. It comes from Unplugged Performance, which already restyled the Model S inside-out.
carscoops.com
Autonomous EVs from China: Future Mobility, a start-up funded by Foxconn and Tencent, wants to kick off serial production of its self-driving cars before 2020, and offer different models based on the same platform from the get-go. Some 250,000 to 400,000 autonomous EVs could roll off production lines every year.
reuters.com
Bad news for Tesla: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking into whether Tesla breached securities laws when it failed to immediately inform investors about the fatal crash involving the Autopilot system. The carmaker defended its action, saying the investigation had not concluded until May. Meanwhile, another Tesla crashed in Montana. No one was hurt, but the driver claims the Autopilot was activated at the time.
wsj.com (SEC), electrek.co (crash)
BMW i3 on fire: A BMW i3 police car caught on fire in Rome. It was an i3 with range extender. What exactly caused the incident is still not clear.
insideevs.com, youtube.com (Video)
New solar van: Munich-based start-up Sono Motors will present its electric van Sion at the end of the month. The EV is said to charge itself using solar panels mounted on the car roof. The development and production will be paid for with crowdfunding.
autonotizen.de (in German)
Protectionism backfires: Chinese JAC Motors has stopped the production of it all-electric SUV iEV6s, because China no longer subsidises Samsung SDI (we reported). The Korean battery maker had been chosen as the exclusive supplier for the EV.
pulsenews.co.kr
Toyota Down Under: The Japanese carmaker has delivered three of its fuel cell Mirai to Australia. They will serve as demonstrator vehicles to show how the technology works. A mobile hydrogen filling station is planned as well.
themotorreport.com.au, themanufacturer.com
VW Group sued over patent rights: After already going after Ford and Hyundai-Kia for patent rights for hybrid technologies, Baltimore-based company Paice is suing VW, Audi, and Porsche for patent infringement. According to Bloomberg, Paice wants to stop all imports of the group’s hybrid cars to the U.S. and pocket a licence fee.
bloomberg.com
Mini to plug in? The in 2011 presented Mini Rocketman concept could make it to serial production as an EV after all, Autocar reports, quoting Mini product chief Ralph Mahler. So far, the production platform has been missing, but could be developed relatively cheaply, as EV components need less space than those for cars with combustion engines.
autocar.co.uk
Hybrid strategy in China: SAIC-GM presented the Buick LaCrosse Hybrid. The hybrid drivetrain in based on the Chevy Malibu Hybrid. Moreover, the joint venture will from now on market all electrified Buick models under the name “Buick Blue.” A total of ten hybrid Buick vehicles are said to hit the road in China in the next five years.
greencarcongress.com, gmauthority.com
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Baden-Württemberg Pavilion shows success factor e-mobility: During the Hannover Messe / MobiliTec the Baden-Württemberg Pavilion and its 43 exhibitors showcase the diversity of the e-mobility landscape in the southwest of Germany. With “Automated. Connected. Electrified.” as its guiding theme, the whole spectrum – from development and production to road tests of partially automated electric vehicles – will be covered. Visit us in hall 27.
www.e-mobilbw.de (PDF)
Personnel turnover: According to Bloomberg, EV start-up Future Mobility, which is financially supported by Chinese company Foxconn, has snatched Dirk Abendroth, Benoit Jacob and Henrik Wenders from BMW i. Meanwhile, Electrek reports that Apple poached Chris Porritt, previously Tesla’s head of development.
bloomberg.com (Future Mobility), electrek.co (Apple)
Crossblue spotted: The seven-seater was spotted testing in Arizona, USA. The SUV will most likely go on sale in the U.S. at the end of 2017 and will also be available as a hybrid. Other than the concept car presented three years ago, the hybrid drive will not feature a diesel, but a petrol motor.
worldcarfans.com
Next-gen Lexus preview: Lexus is teasing the new generation of its IS series, which it will officially unveil at the Beijing Auto Show next week. Though no details have been given, we expect another hybrid version. After all, the current model also comes partially electrified.
carscoops.com, worldcarfans.com