May 20, 2016 - 08:31 am

Tesla, Hyundai, Genesis, Paice, Energica.

Tesla to raise billions in capital: To speed up production of the Model 3, the California EV maker is looking to sell stock options worth 1.4bn dollars and CEO Elon Musk will sell 2.8m of his own options to raise another 600m dollars. That money will be used to “cover tax obligations” associated with selling stock options.
forbes.com, electrek.co, insideevs.com

Model 3 update: Meanwhile, Tesla corrected the number of Model 3 reservations, saying that there are still 373,000 potential buyers. About 8,000 reservations have already been cancelled by customers and Tesla cancelled another 4,200 reservations that it believed to be duplicates from speculators.
electrek.co, greencarreports.com

Hyundai’s European schedule: The Korean carmaker says it will launch its Ioniq in Europe in the second half of 2016. It will first offer the all-electric version, followed by the two hybrid variants with and without a plug.
koreaherald.com

New Genesis models by 2020: A roadmap for new Genesis models has been leaked, for which plug-in hybrid technology will play a central role (we reported). The G90 and G80 will thus be followed a sedan (G70), as well as two unnamed SUVs and one sports coupé by the end of the decade.
carscoops.com

Hybrid patent battle: The U.S. trade panel will look into whether the Volkswagen AG has infringed patents owned by Baltimore-based Paice LLC. The latter wants to stop all sales of hybrid vehicles by VW, Audi and Porsche in the U.S. (we reported).
greencarcongress.com, reuters.com

Italian engineering goes on sale: Italian electric motorcycle manufacturer Energica will open its first flagship store in San Francisco this summer. It is not just its first store in the U.S., but worldwide, and highlights the companies intend to expand globally.
prnewswire.com

Apr 20, 2016 - 08:58 am

Paice, Mini, Buick, Future Mobility, VW.

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

— Text Ad —
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