Magna loses CEO to Rivian
Contract manufacturer Magna Steyr is losing its CEO. According to media reports, Frank Klein is moving to the US electric car manufacturer Rivian as the new COO to get the struggling production back on track.
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Sony presents their own concept EV at CES
Sony has surprisingly presented their very own prototype of an electric car at the CES, though the electronics giant has been keeping any production plans to themselves. Sony’s electric limousine named Vision-S is based on a specially developed electric car platform for which international suppliers were involved.
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Magna developing EV architecture for BAIC
Austrian supplier Magna has signed a cooperation agreement with China’s BAIC. Their first joint project will be the development of an intelligent electric vehicle architecture for the Chinese market in order to support BAIC’s electrification strategy.
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Volkswagen, Magna Steyr, Mercedes, Honda, Jeep, Buick.
Volkswagen’s future plans: VW announced that it will build a pilot battery factory in Salzgitter, Germany, while extending EV production from its facility in Wolfsburg to Dresden and Zwickau. Electric motors will be built in Kassel. At the same time, the carmaker says it will cut 30,000 jobs, but agreed with labour unions to create 9,000 new ones in the field of electric mobility.
greencarcongress.com, autonews.com
Magna to build I-Pace: Last week, it was all speculation. Now Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth confirmed that the Graz production specialist Magna Steyr will manufacture the recently unveiled electric SUV I-Pace. Those looking to own one, need to plan with a price tag of 70,000 to 80,000 euros.
autonews.com
Next C-class with 100 km electric range? The next generation of Daimler’s mid-range sedan could get a plug-in hybrid drivetrain from 2020, Auto, Motor und Sport reports. An all-electric variant is reserved for the EQ line-up, but the PHEV version should allow for 100 km of electric range.
auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German)
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Honda FCV starts at 369 dollars/month: The Japanese announced the leasing price for its Clarity Fuel Cell, which will become available in California at the end of the year. With a three-year contract and 2,499 dollars down payment, the FCV will cost 369 dollars per month. That includes 20,000 miles per year, 15,000 dollars worth of hydrogen fuel, and other goodies.
greencarcongress.com
Jeep electrifies two SUVs: The new edition of the 2018 Grand Wagoneer could be available as a plug-in hybrid, as well as share some components with the next Jeep Wrangler, which will also be electrified. Car and Driver even speculates that the vehicles could be fitted with the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV drivetrain.
caranddriver.com
Velite with Volt technology? The especially for China designed Buick Velite Concept with plug-in hybrid technology was now unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show. While technical data about the drivetrain was kept under wraps, it is possible that it will share its drivetrain technology with the Chevy Volt.
hybridcars.com, gmauthority.com, motorauthority.com
Lucid Motors, EV noise, Faraday Future, Magna Steyr, Chrysler.
Camouflaged Tesla-fighter: Lucid Motors (formerly Atieva) has released a first official image of its still camouflaged electric sedan Atvus. The EV is said to debut in some form at the Los Angeles Motor Show and boasts an output of 100 kW and 300+ km of range, going head to head with the Tesla Model S when it hits the road in 2018.
carscoops.com, electrek.co
Make some noise: The U.S. now requires all electric and hybrid vehicles produced after September 1st, 2019, to emit a warning sound when driving under 30 kph. As automakers will need to implement waterproof speakers to comply, they will be stuck with a 39m dollar bill per year. However, and more importantly, it will prevent some 2,400 injuries annually by warning pedestrians and bikers.
reuters.com, insideevs.com
Construction stop: Contractor AECOM told Jalopnik that it has stopped working on the Faraday Future plant in Nevada, apparently because of unpaid bills. But the company is certain to be able to continue early 2017. Meanwhile, LeEco, itself a FF investor, has collected 600m dollars – half of which have been earmarked for the automotive branch.
jalopnik.com (AECOM), forbes.com (LeEco)
Will Magna Steyr build the I-Pace? Jaguar just unveiled its first electric model, but the question about its production site remains. According to German Automobil Production, everything points to Magna Steyr in Austria. The company is already constructing two production halls for the Brits, where two models will roll off the lines from 2017.
automobil-produktion.de (in German)
Pacifica PHEV priced and tested: Chrysler will offer the new plug-in family van from 41,995 dollars in the U.S., where the car is eligible for 7,500 dollars in subsidies. Its 16 kWh battery pack allows for an all-electric range of 50 km, and following a short test drive – pricing and technology seem to be on point.
cnet.com, digitaltrends.com
CT6 PHEV arrives earls 2017: Chrysler will also kick off production of its CT6 premium sedan with plug-in technology. Here, too, the battery allows for 50 km of electric driving, while the car is propelled forward by a total of 250 kW. With a 75,095-dollar price tag, it will however have to compete with Tesla and co.
automotiveworld.com, detroitnews.com
Audi, Magna Steyr, Global Electric Transportation, Formula E, Chevrolet.
New E-Audi to arrive in 2018: According to Audi design chief Ulrich Hackenberg, the new all-electric Sports Activity Vehicle will debut in early 2018 and have a range of more than 500 kilometres. The name for this Tesla fighter has yet to be announced. Autocar is putting its money on “Q6 e-tron.”
autocar.co.uk, insideevs.com
E-Jag by Magna Steyr: Yesterday we reported that Jaguar Land Rover plans to build its first EV in Austria, though “having it built” could be more fitting: According to a local newspaper, Magna Steyr will develop and build the all-electric model. Neither Magna nor Jaguar have officially commented.
kleinezeitung.at (in German)
American EV from Africa? U.S.-based company Global Electric Transportation announced that it will kick off construction of an EV production facility in Ethiopia in September. Once completed, as many as 10,000 electric vehicles could roll of production line there per quarter.
ena.gov.et, therakyatpost.com
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www.eehe.de
New investors for Formula E: Liberty Global and Discovery Communications will be investing in the electric racing series. While the official amount has not been disclosed, Hollywood Reporter says the two companies could be paying some 55 million dollars for a one third stake.
reuters.com, hollywoodreporter.com, fiaformulae.com
Audi diesel-hybrid for EU only: Audi’s plug-in Q7 e-tron will only be available as a diesel-hybrid in Europe. In the U.S. and in China, the PHEV will be offered with a two-litre petrol engine instead.
europe.autonews.com
Chevy Spark teaser image: Chevrolet has released the first pictures of its 2016 Spark. The hatchback will simultaneously be unveiled at the auto shows in New York and Seoul in April. Whether the next-generation will also be available as an electric variant has not been announced.
hybridcars.com, latimes.com
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Mahindra Reva, Magna Steyr, Quick Charge Power, GKN.
Mahindra Reva tech kit: The Indian carmaker announced that it will license its technology to other companies. In order to cut development costs, the proposed “kits” will include the know-how for developing drivetrain, battery pack, HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) and telematics for remote diagnostics.
thehindubusinessline.com
MILA Plus to be unveiled: As we previously reported, Magna Steyr will take the wraps off its new plug-in hybrid sports car this week. The drivetrain combines a three cylinder and two electric motors, the latter allowing for an all-electric range of 75 kilometres. More information is now available in English.
greencarcongress.com, autoblog.com, electriccarsreport.com
Retrofit CHAdeMO option: Starting this summer, Quick Charge Power will begin selling its JdeMO kit, allowing for the Toyota RAV4EV to be retrofitted with CHAdeMO fast charging technology. The EVSE company believes the same system will work on other EVs from Tesla, Mercedes, and BMW.
chargedevs.com
GKN struts its stuff: The British maker of drivelines for i.e. the BMW i8 and Porsche 918 Spyder, invited “unsuspecting journalists” to the snowy climates of Sweden to test its engineering on a track on a frozen lake. First driving the i8, Sam Sheehan from evo Car Technology was clearly impressed when he learned that it was the car’s eAxle that made the car slide around with “such precision.”
evo.co.uk
