Foxconn Unveils First Electric Vehicles | 18 Oct 2021

Show #1248

If you get any value from this podcast please consider supporting my work on Patreon. Plus all Patreon supporters get their own unique ad-free podcast feed.

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Monday 18th October. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.

Thank you to MYEV.com for helping make this show, they’ve built the first marketplace specifically for Electric Vehicles. It’s a totally free marketplace that simplifies the buying and selling process, and help you learn about EVs along the way too.

"Tesla delivered its redesigned Tesla Model S interior in early 2021, and now Model X buyers are finally getting their turn. Electrek and TMC forum member Sunnyvaletree report that Tesla has started delivering the revised Model X to customers, holding at least one event to mark the occasion." reports engadget: "As you might guess, this effectively drags the electric crossover into the modern era with a landscape touchscreen display up front, a smaller display in the back and overall interior quality improvements that are more befitting a nearly $94,000 vehicle. Order a Model X Plaid as of this writing and you'll have to wait until July 2022; spring for the lower-cost Long Range variant and you'll wait until September 2022. It could be a long, long while before you can simply buy the current Model X design and expect to receive it in a timely fashion."

Read more: https://www.engadget.com/tesla-model-x-refresh-delivery-date-173928922.html

"In 2008, Mate Rimac replaced the broken engine of his ageing BMW race car with an electric motor from a forklift truck. Today, the Croatian is the founder and chief executive of Rimac Automobili, a producer of electric hypercars and electric vehicle (EV) drivetrains sold to some of the world’s most prestigious carmakers. He is also about to become the CEO of Bugatti, at the age of 33." says Wired: "Once the takeover of Bugatti is complete, Rimac Automobili will share ownership of the historic French brand in a 55/45 split with Porsche. Mate will become CEO of the newly formed Bugatti Rimac.  Despite taking on such a healthy brand, Rimac wants to shake things up “by developing cars that are very different.” As well as a hybrid successor to the mighty Chiron, Rimac has plans to expand Bugatti’s vehicle lineup for the first time in generations."

Mate says: "I picture it in a way that we have the campus built, that we ship cars every week to customers all around the world, are a leader in high-performance cars, and have truck-loads of batteries and powertrains going to OEMs every day. That’s when I see ‘chapter one’ closed.”"

Read more: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/mate-rimac-bugatti

"Ford will boost Britain’s automative industry by making electric car components at its factory in Halewood. The car company selected the Merseyside site over one of its plants in Germany for a £200m investment into its e-Drive transmission systems. The systems control power from batteries used to run a vehicle’s wheels." reports City AM: "The deal secures the future of the 500 staff members working at the site. They currently make transmissions for petrol Ford vehicles including the Fiesta and Focus, which are then exported to manufacturing plants in Europe."

Read more: https://www.cityam.com/ford-chooses-uk-factory-for-200m-electric-car-transmission-plans/

"Foxconn Technology Group unveiled its first electric vehicles, a milestone that could boost the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer’s credentials as a serious bidder for Apple Inc.’s secretive automotive project." writes Bloomberg: "The SUV and sedan models introduced on Monday are concept vehicles that the manufacturer plans to build for automotive customers rather than sell under its own brand. Executives including Young Liu, chairman of Foxconn’s flagship unit Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., unveiled the vehicles at the company’s Technology Day event in Taipei. Taiwan’s Yulon Motor Co. will be Foxconn’s first electric-car customer, Lilian Chen, Yulon’s chairwoman, said at the Taipei event. Yulon’s electric sedan built by Foxconn is set to retail for less than NT$1 million ($35,700,) Liu said"

Reuters said: " Autos could ring in roughly $35 billion in sales for Foxconn in five years, executives boldly predicted, and the company has already set a lofty target of supplying components or services to 10% of the world's battery-powered vehicles by 2027. Yesterday's new models, including an electric bus, are expected to hit the market in Taiwan as early as 2022. The aim is to be able to service auto customers and partners, which already include U.S.-based Fisker (FSR.N) and China's Geely, closer to their end users. Foxconn still has a long way to go, but it’s a promising start so far."

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-18/apple-s-iphone-partner-foxconn-unveils-first-electric-vehicles

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/foxconn-cars-powered-by-both-hype-substance-2021-10-19/

"Rivian R1T spotted on John Kilpatrick turnpike in Oklahoma City on October 15, 2021 at 4:41pm. The first Rivian R1T was blue and the second was white. I was unable to tell the interior colors." - SirIceberg on Youtube

"The maker of Jeep SUVs and Ram pickup trucks on Monday said it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with LG Energy Solution to create a joint venture for the production of electric-vehicle battery cells and modules in North America." according to The Detroit News: "The joint venture between Stellantis NV and the Korean battery maker intends to break ground in the second quarter of 2022 on a battery plant for hybrids and EVs assembled in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 40 gigawatt hours with the goal of starting production by the first quarter of 2024."

The report adds: "In Europe, Stellantis has partnered with French oil and gas company TotalEnergies SE and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz for its Automotive Cells Co. joint venture. A total of three battery plants are planned in France by 2023, Germany by 2025 and Italy by 2030. Altogether, they represent 120 gigawatt hours in annual capacity."

CNBC points out: “The batteries produced at the new facility will be supplied to Stellantis’ electric vehicle plants in the United States, Canada and Mexico, to support Stellantis’ goal of having more than 40% of its U.S. sales consist of e-vehicles by 2030. The plant is targeted to start by the first quarter of 2024 and aims to have an annual production capacity of 40 gigawatt hours."

Read more: https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/chrysler/2021/10/18/stellantis-lg-energy-solution-joint-venture-electric-vehicle-batteries-north-america/8503651002/

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/18/stellantis-lg-energy-solution-to-form-battery-production-jv-for-us-market.html

"About a year from now, Mercedes-Benz is expected to launch the battery-electric EQE crossover, to be built at its Alabama plant. It will be slightly smaller than the EQS SUV, also coming next year." says Automotive News Europe: "The EQE crossover and sedan, which is due in 2022 as well, are similar in size and market segment as Mercedes' E-Class cars and crossovers, while the EQS SUV and sedan, launching this fall, slot above and are intended to be the electric equivalent of the company's flagship S-Class vehicles. The EQE vehicles are built on a Mercedes-Benz scalable and flexible EVA platform and are expected to spawn several models, including rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive dual-motor variants that will offer at least two battery pack options."

Read more: https://www.autonews.com/cars-concepts/mercedes-benz-eqe-crossover-styling-glimpsed-germany

When buying a used electric car, how do you feel about servicing? Do you want the previous person to have been back to a dealer every year? Do you care? Some manufacturers like Tesla don’t even have a service schedule so how do you feel about buying a used EV and it’s service history, or lack of.

Email me your thoughts and I’ll read them out on Sunday – hello@evnewsdaily.com

It would mean a lot if you could take 2mins to leave a quick review on whichever platform you download the podcast.

And  if you have an Amazon Echo, download our Alexa Skill, search for EV News Daily and add it as a flash briefing.

Come and say hi on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter just search EV News Daily, have a wonderful day, I’ll catch you tomorrow and remember…there’s no such thing as a self-charging hybrid.

PREMIUM PARTNERS

PHIL ROBERTS / ELECTRIC FUTURE

BRAD CROSBY

PORSCHE OF THE VILLAGE CINCINNATI

VOLVO CARS CINCINNATI EAST

NATIONAL CAR CHARGING ON THE US MAINLAND AND ALOHA CHARGE IN HAWAII

DEREK REILLY FROM THE EV REVIEW IRELAND YOUTUBE CHANNEL

RICHARD AT RSEV.CO.UK – FOR BUYING AND SELLING EVS IN THE UK