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☆ Ford Slows Its Push Into Electric Vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Neal E. Boudette | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ford Motor on Thursday delayed the production of at least two new electric cars and said it would pivot to making more hybrids. Its decision was the latest sign that large automakers have been forced to rethink their strategy for electric vehicles because sales for those models are slowing. The shift by Ford and automakers like General Motors and Mercedes-Benz, which have also pushed back their electric car plans, has been prompted largely by the companies’ difficulties in making and selling enough electric cars and doing so profitably. Because they are still learning how to make the cars and their batteries at lower cost, the companies have not been able to bring out more affordable models. “That’s made it a lot tougher to sell those vehicles.”

Persons: ” Sam Abuelsamid, “ That’s Organizations: Ford, General Motors, Mercedes, Benz

☆ How BYD grew from battery maker to electric vehicle juggernaut, overtaking Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Andrew Evers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In the U.S., Tesla may be at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution, but abroad, the carmaker has some serious competition. In the fourth quarter of 2023, BYD dethroned Tesla as the world's top EV maker, selling more battery-powered vehicles than its U.S. rival. "BYD has grown into this powerhouse in the new energy vehicle industry," CNBC's Beijing correspondent Evelyn Cheng said. By 2003, the company had pivoted to autos and has since become the top car brand in China, as well as a major producer of EV batteries. Watch the video to learn how BYD grew from battery maker to EV giant and what's next for the company.

Persons: Tesla, Warren, BYD, Evelyn Cheng, they're, Wang Chuanfu, Sam Abuelsamid, Michael Dunne, Dunne, They're Organizations: EV, Guidehouse, CNBC, U.S Locations: U.S, China, Beijing, Munich, United States, Europe, Hungary, Mexico

Those more concerned with the climate crisis are asking a bigger question: what does this all mean for the planet? Gas-powered cars, hybrids and EVs all emit roughly the same amount of pollution to manufacture, until you get to producing the battery. Fully electric cars use large batteries made of materials that require heavy mining. And that would still mean less climate pollution on the road overall. And fully electric cars won’t be truly “green” until the energy that charges them comes from renewable sources, like wind and solar.

Persons: Akio Toyoda, EVs, Joe Biden’s, Toyota’s, Daniel Sperling, —, ”, Sam Abuelsamid, Abuelsamid, InfluenceMap, Biden, Kelley, Albert Gore, Gore, I’m, “, ” Monica Nagashima, Lia, Kena, Stephen Ciccone, ” Ciccone, BEV, ” UC’s Sperling Organizations: CNN, Toyota, Auto, US, Toyota Prius Prime, Toyota Toyota, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Ford, EPA, Gas, American Council for, Prius, EV, InfluenceMap, United, Lexus, Cox Automotive, Zero Emission Transportation Association, Getty, Toyota Motor North America, ” Toyota Locations: California, West Virginia, Canada, Australia, United States, EVs, InfluenceMap’s, Japan, Rockland, Blauvelt , New York

☆ How Hyundai Motor Group became the world's third-largest automaker
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Robert Ferris | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hyundai Motor Group is the world's third-largest automaker in the world by volume — but it wasn't always so. The three auto brands in the automaker's stable — Hyundai, Kia and Genesis — are nipping at the heels of well-established competitors, and winning an ever-growing list of industry awards. Tesla still dominates the electric vehicle industry, but Hyundai Motor Group is the second best-selling EV manufacturer in the U.S."On the electrification side, Hyundai has done a really great job," said Sam Abuelsamid, principal research analyst at Guidehouse Insights. "I think Hyundai Motor Group isn't a car company," said Jose Munoz, the global president and chief operating officer at Hyundai. Watch the video to learn more about how Hyundai became the third-largest global automaker.

Persons: William Barnett, Tesla, Sam Abuelsamid, They've, Jose Munoz Organizations: Hyundai Motor, Hyundai, Kia, American, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Guidehouse, United Auto Workers Locations: America, U.S, Singapore

It’s still not clear which vehicles would be eligible for the full $7,500 tax credit under the new rules because the government has yet to publish any lists. But they are still years away from being able to produce an electric vehicle without materials and components from China. Sam Abuelsamid, a mobility analyst for Guidehouse Insights, expects many EVs now eligible for the full $7,500 U.S. tax credit will see that cut in half next year when the new regulations take effect. Getting the tax credit upfront — rather than waiting until filing tax returns next year — “will actually reduce your monthly payment, which is a major stumbling block for consumers,” he said. Adeyemo and other officials declined to say whether batteries from the Ford plant would qualify for tax credits.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden's, It’s, Wally Adeyemo, David Turk, Adeyemo, Turk, John Bozzella, Sam Abuelsamid, EVs, Abuelsamid, — “, ”, Joe Manchin, Manchin, Janet Yellen, Ford, Tom Krisher Organizations: WASHINGTON, Treasury, Energy, EV, Administration, “, Motors, Hyundai, Ford, GM, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Guidehouse, Democratic, Natural Resources Committee, Ford Motor Co, Amperex Technology, Associated Press Locations: U.S, China, United States, North Korea, Russia, Iran, North America, Michigan, Detroit

A Cruise self-driving car, which is owned by General Motors Corp, is seen outside the company?s headquarters in San Francisco, California, U.S., September 26, 2018. In an email to staff seen by Reuters, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt said the company will re-evaluate the employee equity program in light of the suspension, which "pushed out our commercialization and revenue generation timelines." The regulator said Cruise had not initially disclosed all video footage of an Oct. 2 accident where Cruise's car dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco. The unlisted Cruise unit last year introduced the equity program under which current and former employees can sell their vested equity to GM and other investors every quarter. Asked about the Thursday's email from Vogt, a Cruise spokesperson said, "GM and Cruise are working together on what competitive compensation packages at Cruise will look like going forward."

Persons: Heather Somerville, Kyle Vogt, Cruise, Sam Abuelsamid, Vogt, Hyunjoo Jin, Greg Bensinger, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis, Matthew Lewis, Daniel Wallis Organizations: General Motors Corp, REUTERS, General Motors, GM, Reuters, Cruise, California Department of Motor Vehicles, United Auto Workers, UAW, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California, U.S, California, San Francisco, California , Arizona, Washington

The outcome in civil court shows Tesla arguments are gaining traction: when something goes wrong on the road, the ultimate responsibility rests with drivers. The electric-vehicle maker also argued it was unclear whether Autopilot was engaged at the time of the crash. During the Riverside trial, an attorney for the plaintiffs showed jurors a 2017 internal Tesla safety analysis identifying "incorrect steering command" as a defect, involving an "excessive" steering wheel angle. The automaker subsequently engineered a system that prevents Autopilot from executing the turn which caused the crash. "I think that anyone is going to have a hard time beating Tesla in court on a liability claim," he said.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk, Micah Lee's, Lee, Bryant Walker Smith, Matthew Wansley, Wansley, Eloy Rubio Blanco, Rubio, Sam Abuelsamid, Dan Levine, Hyunjoo Jin, Jonathan Oatis, Richard Chang Organizations: Tesla, Tuesday, Court, Reuters, University of South, Cardozo School of Law, U.S . Department of Justice, Traffic, Administration, Thomson Locations: Riverside County, Los Angeles, University of South Carolina, Riverside

Fain also wants workers at the plants to make top UAW assembly plant wages, which now are $32 per hour. Political Cartoons View All 1205 Images“The battery plants are going to be the make-or-break issue,” said Sam Abuelsamid, a mobility analyst for Guidehouse Insights. And if lower-paying battery plants aren't union, workers won't have anywhere to get the same wages and benefits. But they also see a future where buyers could switch, and they think wages at the battery plants should match what they make. The UAW, he said, will use this to try to organize other Korean-owned battery plants.

Persons: WAYNE, Shawn Fain's, Stellantis, they'll, Fain, ”, Sam Abuelsamid, It’s, festering, Ford, Jim Farley, “, ” Fain, Farley, Mary Barra, Chris Jedrzejek, Jedrzejek, Todd Lauerman, “ it’s, ” It's, Abuelsamid, let's, Harry Katz, Katz, Marick, Masters Organizations: Ford, United Auto Workers, EV, General Motors, Detroit, UAW, Korean, Guidehouse, GM, Carnegie Mellon University, Bronco, Toyota, Cornell University, “, Wayne State University Locations: Mich, Detroit, U.S, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Ford, Korean, Wayne , Michigan, Ohio, South Bend , Indiana

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. said Monday that it's pausing construction of a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan until it is confident it can run the factory competitively. The move comes as the company is in the midst of national contract talks with the United Auto Workers union, which wants to represent workers at battery factories and win them top wages. In February, Ford announced plans to build the plant in Marshall, Michigan, employing about 2,500 workers to make lower-cost batteries for a variety of new and existing vehicles. But Ford spokesman TR Reid confirmed Monday that plant construction has been paused and spending has been limited on it. Earlier this year Virginia dropped out of the race for the same Ford plant after Republican Gov.

Persons: —, Ford, Marshall, TR Reid, ”, Shawn Fain, Sarah Lightner, Ford “, “, ” Lightner, Sam Abuelsamid, Abuelsamid, Biden, Glenn Youngkin, Joey Cappelletti, David Koenig Organizations: DETROIT, — Ford Motor, United Auto Workers union, UAW, Ford, Detroit, General Motors, EV, Amperex Technology, . Ltd, Republican State Rep, Guidehouse, Republican Gov, Chinese Communist Party, ____ Associated Press Locations: Michigan, Marshall , Michigan, Detroit, Marshall, China, U.S, Virginia, Lansing , Michigan, Dallas

Even after escalating its strike against Detroit automakers on Friday, the United Auto Workers union still has plenty of leverage in its effort to force the companies to agree to significant increases in pay and benefits. The UAW could, if it chose to, vastly expand the number of workers who could strike assembly plants and parts facilities of General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, the owner of the Jeep and Ram brands. All three companies said that talks with the union continued on Saturday, though officials said they expected no major announcements. In expanding the strike on Friday, the UAW struck only the parts-distribution centers of GM and Stellantis. Ford was spared from the latest walkouts because of progress that company has made in negotiations with the union, said UAW President Shawn Fain.

Persons: “, ”, Daniel Ives, Sam Abuelsamid, Abuelsamid, Ford, Shawn Fain, Wheaton, ’, Fain, —, “ It's, AutoNation, Mike Stanton, David Barnas, Jodi Tinson, Alexandra Olson Organizations: Detroit, United Auto Workers, UAW, General Motors, Ford, Jeep, GM, Wedbush Securities, Guidehouse, Fiat Chrysler . Service, Cornell University, National Automobile Dealers Association, Associated Press Locations: Detroit, Flint , Michigan, Sterling Heights , Michigan, Canada, United States, New York

☆ What EV owners need to know about Tesla's charging partnership with Ford and GM
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla's Supercharger Network will open up to Ford and GM EV owners in 2024. As part of their move, both Detroit-area automakers have decided to adopt Tesla's EV charging connector, the plug that links an electric vehicle to a charging station. With GM and Ford joining Tesla's charging system, the rest of the auto industry may be forced to follow suit. At present, two main types of EV charging plugs exist: Tesla's North American Charging Standard and CCS, used by nearly all other automakers. GM and Ford EV owners also win because they will gain access to double the number of chargers that they had before.

Persons: Tesla, Here's, Gary Silberg, you'd, Sam Abuelsamid, Ford, Abuelsamid, Silberg, Stellantis, it's Organizations: Ford, GM EV, General Motors, GM, CCS, EV, KPMG, Associated, Energy Department, Tesla, North America, Guidehouse Insights, Ford EV, Kia, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, VW Locations: DETROIT, Detroit, United States, U.S, North America, North, America

☆ Tesla stock charges upwards on deal with GM
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Both Ford and GM EV drivers will, for now, need special adapters to allow their vehicles to use Tesla chargers. Tesla’s charging system had been proprietary and only usable by Teslas – although Teslas could use CCS chargers with an adapter. But CEO Elon Musk announced in late 2022 that he was inviting other automakers and charging companies to use Tesla’s charging system and design standards. Tesla’s NACS chargers outnumber CCS chargers in the United States by a factor of two to one, according to Tesla. Other automakers, such as KIa, Hyundai, BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen, still use the CCS charging standard and have not announced any plans to change.

Persons: CNN — Tesla, ”, Gary Silberg, –, Elon Musk, Mary Barra, Sam Abuelsamid, Tesla, Justin Sullivan, Guidehouse’s, KPMG’s Silberg, Abuelsamid, Musk, GM’s Organizations: CNN, General Motors, Ford, GM EV, Tesla, KPMG, GM EVs, Guidehouse, CCS, GM, GM’s Chevrolet, Cox Automotive, KIa, Hyundai, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen Locations: United States, CALIFORNIA, San Rafael , California, North America

☆ Why GM is killing the Chevy Bolt — America's cheapest EV — amid record sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

In this article GM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA Chevrolet Bolt EUV on display at the New York Auto Show, April 13, 2022. Scott Mlyn | CNBCDETROIT — After years of lackluster performance and a fire-provoked recall, the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV was finally gaining traction for General Motors . The Bolt EV would start at $26,595, followed by the Bolt EUV at $28,195. A 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV caught fire at a home in Cherokee County, Georgia on Sept. 13, 2021, according to the local fire department. Cherokee County Fire DepartmentStill, GM touted the Bolt EV as proof of the concept for its electric-powered future.

☆ Musk says Tesla likely to launch full self-drive technology 'this year'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his security detail depart the company’s local office in Washington, U.S. January 27, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstSAN FRANCISCO, April 19 (Reuters) - Elon Musk said on Wednesday that electric vehicle (EV) giant Tesla (TSLA.O) likely will launch full self-drive technology this year and generate significant profits that offset some of the margin pressure it's facing due to aggressive price cuts. "I hesitate to say this but I think we'll do it this year," said Tesla CEO Musk, speaking on a conference call. Tesla sells FSD software as an option for as much as $15,000. Tesla reported a lower-than-expected quarterly margin on Wednesday but Musk said he would prioritize sales growth over profits in a weak economy.

☆ I charged a Kia at a Tesla Supercharger and saw how Elon Musk can make EV charging suck less for everybody
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I tested out the experience in a Kia Niro EV that Kia lent me. Charging a non-Tesla at a Tesla charging station was notably smooth and convenient. The Kia Niro EV charges at a Tesla Supercharger in Brewster, NY. The Kia Niro EV charges at a Tesla Supercharger in Brewster, NY. The Kia Niro EV charges at an EVgo charging station.

☆ How Ford and VW's multibillion-dollar self-driving car project failed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Robert Ferris | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ford Motor bet a billion dollars on a startup called Argo AI to catch up to flashy tech companies like Google , Uber and Tesla . Volkswagen , the second-largest automaker in the world, signed on as a backer in 2019, investing $2.6 billion Argo AI at a valuation of more than $7 billion. By 2021, Argo AI was valued at $12.4 billion and counted 2,000 employees, with offices on two continents and self-driving tests underway in seven cities. There were plans to bring a self-driving taxi service to market by 2021, rivaling those by Waymo and Ford's larger Detroit rival, General Motors . But in October 2022, Argo AI shut down.

☆ Tesla opening its Supercharger network to rivals could be a brilliant marketing move from a company that famously doesn't advertise — with one big risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla plans to open 3,500 of its fast-charging plugs to all electric-car owners by the end of 2024. Until now, Tesla's Supercharger network was only for Tesla owners in the US. According to Loren McDonald, CEO of EV industry consultancy EVAdoption, the Supercharger network serves as Tesla's single biggest marketing tactic. Sam Abuelsamid, an auto industry analyst at Guidehouse Insights, agrees that expanding Supercharger access could help Tesla sell more cars. Analysts see another risk: A boom in demand for limited charging stalls could frustrate Tesla owners by crowding popular stations.

☆ Musk's plan for a cheap Tesla car is what fans hope to hear this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

This week, fans hope, he will explain what he has in mind - and perhaps how he can afford to build it. A recent Tesla engineering video showed a small car with typical Tesla curves that was assumed by company watchers to be a Model 2 sketch. Battery production also is an issue. Batteries are also likely to figure in Musk's plans for a "fully sustainable energy future" outside the car. He may also discuss solar power generation and battery energy storage - which he has said are two other pillars to a sustainable energy future.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) will open part of its U.S. charging network to electric vehicles (EVs) made by rivals as part of a $7.5 billion federal program to electrify the nation's highways to cut carbon emissions, the Biden administration said on Wednesday. There are also nearly 10,000 "destination" chargers with Tesla plugs that can recharge a vehicle overnight. Opening up access to Tesla's network would be a quick win for an ambitious federal program to build 500,000 EV chargers by 2030, up from 130,000 currently. Administration officials did not say whether a contract has been signed, but federal officials will control disbursement of about a third of the $7.5 billion federal program. Chris Harto, a senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports, said, "There is no doubt the $7.5 billion in federal charging investment threatens Tesla's competitive advantage.

☆ I drove hundreds of miles 'hands-free' in GM, Ford and Tesla cars – here's how it went
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

It aims to make Super Cruise available on 22 cars, trucks and SUVs globally by the end of 2023. When the steering-wheel light bar illuminates in green with GM's Super Cruise, drivers may remove their hands from the steering wheel. When Super Cruise did disengage, it would typically be available again minutes, if not seconds, later. Both Ford and GM systems would have likely hit a temporary concrete construction barrier if I hadn't taken over and disengaged on a large S-curve roadway near Detroit. Super Cruise and BlueCruise both disengaged several times for what seemed like no reason, only to reengage quickly after.

☆ Ford vs. GM: Same Industry, two increasingly different companies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this article FGM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTJim Farley, CEO, Ford, left, and Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors Reuters; General MotorsDETROIT — "Same industry. GM has gained an edge in recent years on the back of better financials and early moves into electric and autonomous vehicles. GM most recently reported third-quarter results that, compared to Ford, knocked it out of the park. The investment cases for America's largest automakers are increasingly diverging as the companies — separated by just $1 billion in market value — have taken different tacks around electric and autonomous vehicles. Ford expects at least 40% of its sales globally to be electric vehicles by the end of this decade.

☆ Tesla's California EV market share slips as rivals step up
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Tesla vehicles are shown at a sales and service center in Vista, California, U.S., June 3, 2022. REUTERS/Mike BlakeSAN FRANCISCO, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Tesla's (TSLA.O) dominant market share of the electric vehicle market in California slipped again this year, according to Reuters' calculations based on government data from January to September, as rivals up their game. Tesla controlled 73% of the battery electric market in California from January to September, the lowest level since 2018, according to new vehicle registration data from the California Energy Commission. "We are reaching a saturation point for Tesla market share in California," said Ed Kim, president of AutoPacific. He expected rivals to continue to take away market share, while also expecting Tesla sales would still grow.

☆ Elon Musk faces skeptics as Tesla gets ready to unveil ‘Optimus’ robot
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Humanoid robots have been in development for decades by Honda Motor Co and Hyundai Motor‘s Boston Dynamics unit. And it’s the same way with humanoid robots to some extent,” the lead of NASA’s Dexterous Robotics Team, Shaun Azimi, told Reuters. Musk acknowledged that humanoid robots do not have enough intelligence to navigate the real world without being explicitly instructed. But he said Tesla can leverage its expertise in AI and key components to develop and produce smart, yet less expensive, humanoid robots at scale. Jonathan Hurst, chief technology officer at Agility Robotics, a humanoid robot firm founded in 2015 said the technology “is right now starting to turn the corner.”“Certainly, an important measure of success is do they make money from it,” he told Reuters, referring to Tesla’s humanoid robot efforts.

☆ Elon Musk faces skeptics as Tesla gets ready to unveil 'Optimus' robot
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A humanoid robot developed by Tesla, known as Tesla Bot or Optimus, is shown in a frame grab from the live video of Tesla's AI Day streamed on August 20, 2022. Humanoid robots have been in development for decades by Honda Motor Co (7267.T) and Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS)'s Boston Dynamics unit. And it's the same way with humanoid robots to some extent," the lead of NASA's Dexterous Robotics Team, Shaun Azimi, told Reuters. Musk acknowledged that humanoid robots do not have enough intelligence to navigate the real world without being explicitly instructed. "Certainly, an important measure of success is do they make money from it," he told Reuters, referring to Tesla's humanoid robot efforts.

read moreThe COVID-19 related suspension of Tesla's Shanghai factory, the costs of ramping up new factories in Berlin and Texas and rising supply chain costs are likely to have weighed on its first-quarter earnings, analysts said. read moreTesla navigated the global supply chain crisis better than other rivals, posting record deliveries and earnings for several quarters. But its factory in Shanghai was shut for more than three weeks, after the city rolled out lockdown measures to combat a surge in COVID-19 cases. Tesla resumed production at its Shanghai plant on Tuesday, according to a news report, but a source said this may not mean a return to full production. Reuters GraphicsMusk delivered Tesla's first Texas-made Model Y vehicles at a glitzy event earlier this month, but no Texas vehicles are listed on Tesla's order website yet.

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