Today the Chinese electric car startup Byton confirmed that their Chairperson and CTO, former BMW manager Dr Carsten Breitfeld is leaving to “start a new adventure within the startup industry”. Byton said they will announce a new CTO soon and are on track with the pre-series production of M-Byte starting this summer.
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Honda hurries electrification: The Japanese carmaker is just as eager to fulfil China’s upcoming EV quotas as is VW and so Honda announced a pure BEV for China as early as next year. While China COO Yasuhide Mizuno had no details, he also promised a plug-in hybrid SUV for 2018 in Shanghai, two years earlier than initially planned. An FCV was mentioned too, hence it is likely to see the Clarity in all its new energy vehicle variants making an entry into China rather sooner than later. For now, Honda debuted the CR-V Hybrid at the Auto Shanghai. Regular market entry is scheduled for later this year.
asia.nikkei.com, automotiveworld.com (CR-V Hybrid)
Porsche will not stay a stranger to electrification either it appears as CEO Oliver Blume spoke of expansion beyond the Mission E in Shanghai. Next to more all-electric models, the PHEV line-up could be extended as well – all in a bid to obey Chinese regulators, although Blume insisted to “find the technology as such interesting” for Porsche’s sporty drive.
autonews.com
K is for Koenigsegg that delivers the power for Qoros four-door supercar which has taken its place among the Shanghai debutantes. The Qoros K-EV utilises four electric drives that add up to 640 kW. A small series may be produced by 2019.
autocar.co.uk, caranddriver.com
Two turbine SUVs: The Hybrid Kinetic Group makes use of its EV concept with a micro turbine range extender it only recently presented in Geneva. The latest two models can now be seen in Shanghai and both SUV, the K550 as well as the K750, were designed by Pininfarina. As with the H600, both boast a 1,000 km range thanks to their revolving extra power source.
autocar.co.uk, carscoops.com
Chevy plug-in concept: Two years after GM’s attempt to Find New Roads (FNR) in hybrid technology, Chevrolet brings the FNR-X to Shanghai. The SUV features scissor doors and a plug-in hybrid drive but is again just a concept.
motor1.com, motorauthority.com
Electric mini-van: If the Iconiq 7 will become what its name suggests remains to be seen but the Iconiq Motors manufacturer has concrete production plans for its six-seater EV. Starting with 15,000 units in 2019, production is to scale up rapidly with 110,000 MPVs planned in 2025. The design was developed by W Motors with the platform and driveline coming from Magna in large parts. Plus, the electric van shall be autonomous by 2023.
carnewschina.com
Electric Maybach concept: Mercedes has presented its luxury coupé Mercedes-Maybach 6 at the Monterey Car Week in California. Designed to be driven solely by electric power, it features four electric motors with a total of 550 kWh and an 80 kWh battery pack that allows the vehicle to go 500 km on one charge. Moreover, it has the ability to charge with 350 kW.
greencarcongress.com, electriccarsreport.com, autocar.co.uk
Electric seven-seater: At the same event but with a different clientele in mind, Chinese start-up Iconiq Motors and Dubai-based W Motors took the wraps off its concept called Seven. No technical details about the electric seven-seater minivan have been released but it is said to the road soon.
motorauthority.com, carscoops.com
Focus Electric gets battery upgrade: Getting in line with competitors, Ford will increase battery capacity for its electric model in 2017. The then 33,5 kWh battery (now 23 kWh) can be charged using CCS. Moreover, the Ford C-Max Energi will get a small makeover.
insideevs.com
Ampera-e to top Chevy Bolt? According to Opel’s head of marketing Tina Müller, the Opel Ampera-e will have more range than the Chevy Bolt that it is based on. The latter is said to have a range of 330 km. What Opel is aiming for, is still unknown. The secret will be revealed mid-September.
wiwo.de (in German)
BAIC kicks off production: The all-electric sedan EH400 is now going into serial production. It will be built by BAIC’s subsidiary BJEV and is said to have a range of 400 km.
carnewschina.com
Employee snatching: According to The Detroit Bureau, Faraday Future has snatched Apple’s Bart Nabbe, who has worked on the latter’s project Titan. He will assume the position of director of strategic partnerships, after working as a key researcher for Apple.
thedetroitbureau.com
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