Retail News CRM

Category: Automotive

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Auto and Car news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Zeekr’s 001 EV Goes Into Production

    Zeekr’s 001 EV Goes Into Production

    Chinese EV startup Zeekr has announced that its new 001 sedan is now in production. Zeekr is part of the Geely Holding Group which also owns Volvo and Polestar. The first deliveries of the Zeekr 001 will start in China this weekend. Zeekr is a more luxury-focused EV brand, unlike Polestar which is more mass market.

    This launch comes on the back of the announcement of the sustainable experience architecture which is an open-source chassis base. There are more EV brands under the Geely umbrella including Lynk & Co, Geometry will still be upon the same chassis

    Zeekr intends to compete with Tesla in China. While it is part of the Geely holding group in July, Geely pulled out as a majority shareholder in the brand, though it still has control of other subsidiaries. It even features Intel Capital CATL as investors.

    There was a ceremony at Zeekr’s intelligent factory which even features a 5G network, 300 automated welding robots, and other production systems which are being continuously self optimized using AI.

    The 001 EV features 400 kW of power with 768 nm of torque with a dual-motor system. It can do 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and can halt from the same speed in 34/5 meters. The impressive bit is that Zeekr is saying its Z-Battery architecture can charge from 0-80 percent in 30 minutes and can deliver 526-712 km of NEDC range.

    It also shared its first set of over-the-air updates to further improve Zeekr assisted drive system after the first deliveries. It has an approximate cost of between $44,000-$56,500.

    10 Zeekr Spaces planned in China that will join two already opened facilities in Hangzhou and Tianjin. Zeekr is also planning on opening 360 kW charging stations across 10 Chinese cities this year.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Ducati To Become Official MotoE Supplier From 2023

    Ducati To Become Official MotoE Supplier From 2023

    Ducati will be the official motorcycle supplier for the FIM MotoE World Cup, the all-electric racing class at select rounds of the MotoGP World Championship, alongside Moto2 and Moto3. Ducati’s partnership with MotoE is set to begin from the 2023 racing season and will continue through 2026. The news of Ducati supplying MotoE machines has important implications and will be seen as one of the first step towards developing all-electric production machines from the iconic Italian brand. As with the MotoGP and World SBK projects, MotoE is largely expected to prove to be the perfect laboratory to take technology and innovation from the track to the showroom.

    The news comes just after Modena-based Energica announced that it will not renew its contract with Dorna Sports, which expired in 2022, after a four-year partnership. Energica is one of the few manufacturers of high-performance electric motorcycles, and the Energica Ego Corsa racebike used by all MotoE race teams is based directly on its street-legal electric superbike, the Energica Ego.

    Ducati Motor Holding CEO Claudio Domenicali and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta announced the partnership at a press conference held at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The MotoE World Cup came into existence in 2019 as part of MotoGP promoter Dorna Sports and the FIM’s push for greener motorcycle racing.

    “We are very proud of this agreement because, like every first, it represents a historic moment for our company. Ducati is always focused towards the future and every time it enters a new world it does so aiming to create the best-performing product possible. This agreement comes at the right time for Ducati, which has been studying electric powertrains for years, as it will allow us to develop within a controlled field: that of competition. We will work to give every participant in the FIM MotoE World Cup a high-performance, electric motorcycle and one made to exemplify being lightweight. It’s in the area of weight, which is a fundamental element of sports bikes, which will prove the greatest challenge. Lightweight machinery has always been in Ducati’s DNA and thanks to the technology and chemistry of the batteries that are evolving quickly, we are sure that we can achieve excellent results.

    “We test our innovations and future-focused technological solutions on circuits all over the world and then create exciting and desirable products for Ducatisti. I am convinced that, once again, we will treasure the experience we gain in the world of competition in order to transfer and apply it to production motorcycles,” said Claudio Domenicali, CEO, Ducati Motor Holding.

    According to Ducati, the new MotoE machine will be purpose built from the principles of Ducati’s racing DNA, with focus on creating a lightweight motorcycle “that unites tradition, passion and innovation for a new era of electric competition in the MotoGP paddock.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Xiaomi CEO Says It Will Be Mass Producing Its EV By 2024

    Xiaomi CEO Says It Will Be Mass Producing Its EV By 2024

    Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun has revealed that the world’s third-largest smartphone maker is ahead of schedule for making its foray into the automotive sector and will start mass-producing its EVs in the first half of 2024. These comments were made at an investor event. But then the Chinese billionaire tweeted his thoughts as well. “Xiaomi EV is ahead of schedule. Aiming for mass production in 2024 H1,” he said on the social media platform. His executives also went to Chinese social media platforms to confirm the news. Zang Ziyuan who is a director for marketing at Xiaomi also posted this news on his verified Weibo account.

    In March, Xiaomi had announced that it would be investing $10 billion in the new electric car division over the next 10 years. The company finished the registration of its electric car business in August and already it has ramped up hiring for the unit – though it hasn’t revealed whether it is going to make the car or will partner with someone.

    Its close partner for the manufacturing of smartphones, Foxconn, has already announced its own electric car venture, and considering manufacturing isn’t Xiaomi’s forte, this would be a partnership that’s likely to happen.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Land Rover Range Rover Teased Ahead Of Debut

    Land Rover Range Rover Teased Ahead Of Debut

    The Land Rover Range Rover is no ordinary SUV and the arrival of the new-generation model is always special. It’s one of the oldest brands in the full-size luxury SUV segment and the next-generation model will rival the likes of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS and BMW X7 and other premium SUVs like the Aston Martin DBX, Porsche Cayenne, and even the Lamborghini Urus gave its pricing. Land Rover has released the first teaser of the 2022 Range Rover which is a new-generation model and is all set to make its official debut on October 26, 2021.

    Now the teaser image doesn’t give us much insight of the design but we get a sense that the overall silhouette has been retained. That said, expect to see some significant updates made to the front end and even at the rear. The bronze color SUV in the teaser image also gives us an idea that Land Rover might introduce some new body colors on the new Range Rover. Then, it is also expected to be an all-new model by transitioning to Jaguar Land Rover’s new MLA platform. Then, the 2022 Range Rover will be offered with a variety of powertrain options which will include plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as well, and of course in both configurations. The latter is probably scheduled to arrive later in the model’s life cycle. And finally, expect a performance version as well with the 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine sourced from BMW.

    Switching to the new platform should bring some significant updates as well like more room on the inside where a potential increase in the vehicle’s size is expected. Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment system is one of the safest guesses on the inside, given its flagship status and some variants are also rumored to get rear-wheel steering offering tighter turning radius at lower speeds and better agility at higher speeds

  • Tesla Q3 2021 Results Out; Meets Expectations After Sublime Quarter

    Tesla Q3 2021 Results Out; Meets Expectations After Sublime Quarter

    Tesla has delivered the goods in its Q3 2021 earning report with it reporting revenues of $13.76 billion which is slightly below the lofty expectations of the analysts at Wall Street which expected revenues of $14 billion.

    “The third quarter of 2021 was a record quarter in many respects. We achieved our best-ever net income, operating profit, and gross profit. Additionally, we reached an operating margin of 14.6%, exceeding our medium-term guidance of “operating margin in low-teens,” said the electric car maker in its announcement.

    Notably, Tesla’s automotive gross margins improved by 30 percent in this quarter despite cost pressure from the supply chain as the world continues to suffer from a global semiconductor crisis. Tesla’s engineers were swift to rewrite code for new parts which helped the company navigate the crisis well.

    But despite these improving margins, Tesla’s cash in hand actually went down due to debt repayment.

    “Quarter-end cash and cash equivalents decreased to $16.1B in Q3, driven mainly by net debt and finance lease repayments of $1.5B, partially offset by the free cash flow of $1.3B. Our total debt excluding vehicle and energy product financing has fallen to just $2.1B at the end of Q3,” said the company in its shareholder letter.

    This quarter Tesla has started sales of the Model S Plaid which has been a success, apart from it opening its Berlin Gigafactory which has started rolling out Tesla Model Y units. Earlier in the year, the Model 3 became the best-selling executive sedan in the world, but Tesla estimates, the Model Y will overtake its sales at some point.

    Lees ook:

  • Volvo’s OTA Update Optimises EV Range With New App

    Volvo’s OTA Update Optimises EV Range With New App

    Swedish automaker Volvo has started to deploy an OTA update which also comes with a new app called “Range Assistant” which optimizes the range of its electric cars. It features a smart battery management tool that has a preconditioning timer, and the assistant app itself. This update is also coming to Volvo’s subsidiary Polestar which exclusively makes electric vehicles.

    “Through in-house development of software and over-the-air updates, we can constantly improve our cars and make sure that your electric Volvo stays fresh. The Range Assistant app is a great example of how quick development and deployment of new features can improve the Volvo customer experience every day,” said Sanela Ibrovic, the head of connected car experience at Volvo.

    The app gives the driver an accurate indication of the estimated range remaining on a trip and offers real-time energy consumption data which helps the driver also understand the factors that impact range. The range optimizer app right now is being launched in a beta stage which can also automatically adjust the climate control system.

    Volvo drivers could see increased range improvements from smart battery management and regeneration performance and a smarter timer to precondition the EV battery. Currently, the first car to receive the update is the Volvo XC40 Recharge and this update will also come to the C40 Recharge.

    The update will also come to the Polestar branded cars which will also get the Range Assistant app which includes a new eco climate mode that enhances efficiency and reduces demand on the battery from the climate system.

    The battery preconditioning system is also now linked to the Google Maps app which is embedded in the car as it is based on Android Automotive enabling the driver to know where public charging stations are, destinations, or waypoints – allowing them to optimize for the fastest possible charge times on the road.

  • Renault India Announces Special Offers Across Range For The Festive Season

    Renault India Announces Special Offers Across Range For The Festive Season

    Renault India has announced special offers across its product range right in time for the festive season. These offers include maximum benefits of up to ₹ 1.30 lakh on select variants across the line-up. The company said that the offers can be availed while purchasing a new Renault vehicle during the festive period. The company has introduced the new RXT (O) variant on the Renault Kiger as part of the special offers as well, which is priced from ₹ 7.37 lakh onwards. (ex-showroom).

    The offers also arrive as part of Renault India’s 10th-anniversary celebrations. The automaker will be offering loyalty benefits of up to ₹ 1.10 lakh, which will be over and above the festive offers and benefits. Furthermore, the brand has rolled out 10 unique loyalty rewards to mark its 10 years in India. Other offers include gift vouchers worth ₹ 49,999, which are up for grabs every day.

    The entry-level Renault Kwid comes with benefits up to ₹ 40,000 along with special loyalty benefits of up to ₹   65,000. Customers also get an additional ₹ 10,000 cash offer on select 2020 made cars, and an exchange bonus of ₹ 10,000 under the relive scrappage program.

    The new Renault Kiger, on the other hand, comes with a special loyalty benefit of up to ₹ 95,000, along with a corporate discount of up to ₹ 10,000 or a special offer for rural customers. The popular-selling Renault Triber comes with benefits of up to ₹ 60,000, special loyalty benefits of up to ₹ 75,000, and a ₹ 10,000 bonus under the relive scrappage program. The Renault Duster gets maximum benefits of up to ₹ 1.30 lakh along with special loyalty benefits of up to ₹ 1.10 lakh and ₹ 10,000 worth of exchange benefits under the relive program. All models across the line-up get the buy now, pay in 2022 offer as well.

    More recently, Renault also announced that the Kiger subcompact SUV is the most fuel-efficient offering in its class with an ARAI-certified figure of 20.5 kmpl. This is for the 1.0-liter turbocharged petrol version of the car that packs 99 bhp and 160 Nm of peak torque. The motor is paired with a 5-speed manual and CVT options.

    Lees ook:

  • Mercedes dealer reports record loss in Q3

    Mercedes dealer reports record loss in Q3

    Hang Xanh Motors Service JSC (Haxaco), a major Mercedes-Benz dealer in Vietnam, reported a record loss, more than VND33 billion ($1.4 million) in Q3, due to social distancing orders.

    Revenue in Q3 was VND700 billion, down 59 percent compared to the same period last year.

    Social distancing measures applied in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities in this quarter have seriously affected Haxaco and the automobile industry. The company’s two branches in HCMC had to temporarily close in Q3 while another in Hanoi was closed until Sept. 12.

    “This has caused a decline in our sales and services during this period,” the company noted.

    Between January and September, the auto dealer’s revenue was VND3.4 trillion, down 9 percent over the same period, equivalent to 35 percent of this year’s business plan.

    However, profit dropped by 45 percent to VND44 billion.

    Despite the revenue decline, the company retains a positive forecast for the last quarter of this year. It has thoroughly prepared to resume operations in the new normalcy, with all employees fully vaccinated to ensure operational safety.

    Previously, in the annual meeting at the beginning of the year, the company set a business plan for 2021 with a net profit of VND126 billion.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Czech Car Sector To Make 250,000 Fewer Vehicles This Year Due To Chip Shortage

    Czech Car Sector To Make 250,000 Fewer Vehicles This Year Due To Chip Shortage

    Czech car makers will produce a quarter a million fewer cars than expected this year due to the global shortage of chips and the automotive sector will lose 200 billion crowns ($9.14 billion) in sales, the Auto Industry Association (AutoSAP) said on Sunday. AutoSAP said domestic passenger car production dropped by 53.1% in September year-on-year, to 56,157 cars. It said the chip shortage impact would exceed that of pandemic shutdowns last year, and called on the government to activate an aid program created amid the coronavirus pandemic last year to compensate firms for wages of idled workers.

    AutoSAP said production rose 2.9% year-on-year cumulatively in the January-September period to 831,653 cars. “Already since August, production has been significantly affected by output curbs and the September statistic confirms the negative trend,” AutoSAP said.

    The country’s biggest producer, Volkswagen’s Skoda Auto, has said it would significantly limit or shut production at its Czech plants from next week, possibly until the end of the year. The car sector is the backbone of the highly industrialized Czech economy, employing 180,000 workers, and makes up a quarter of industrial output.

    SAP said 120 billion crowns in revenue would be lost at carmakers and a further 80 billion at parts suppliers. The 200 billion crowns in revenue equal to about 3.3% of the country’s expected nominal gross domestic product this year.

    The other car makers with assembly plants in the Czech Republic are Hyundai — which has been the least affected by the chip shortage — and Toyota.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Hyundai Motor Aims To Develop Chips

    Hyundai Motor Aims To Develop Chips

    Hyundai Motor’s global chief operating officer said on Wednesday the South Korean automaker wants to develop its own chips to reduce reliance on chipmakers. A global shortage of semiconductors, triggered partly by surging demand for laptops and other electronic products during the pandemic, has shuttered some auto production lines globally this year. Hyundai temporarily suspended some factories, but the company’s global COO Jose Munoz told reporters the worst has passed for the industry chip shortage, adding Hyundai had the “toughest months” in August and September.

    “The (chip) industry is reacting very, very fast,” Munoz said, adding Intel is investing a lot of money to expand capacity. “But also in our case, we want to be able to develop our own chips within the group, so we are a little bit less dependent in a potential situation like this,” he said. “This takes a lot of investment and time, but this is something we’re working on.”

    He said the company’s parts affiliate Hyundai Mobis would play a key role in the in-house development plan. He also said Hyundai Motor aims to deliver vehicles at the level of its original business plan in the fourth quarter, and offset some of its production losses next year.

    Along with Toyota and Tesla, Hyundai is among a handful of automakers that increased global sales despite the chip shortage. Hyundai decided not to cut orders during the pandemic, after seeing the Asian markets recover more strongly than expected, Munoz said. Munoz, president of Hyundai Motor North America, said the company is on track to produce electric cars in the United States in 2022, and is looking into both enhancing its existing factory in Alabama and increasing its production capacity.

    He said the U.S. government needs to extend a proposed $4,500 tax credit incentive to U.S. electric vehicles made at non-union factories as well as union ones. “American workers are the same,” he said. “We would like this to be equal for all.” U.S. factories of Tesla and foreign automakers such as Hyundai and Toyota Motor are not unionized.

    Lees ook:

  • Honda To Launch New EV Brand In China Next Year

    Honda To Launch New EV Brand In China Next Year

    Japan’s Honda Motor will launch a new electric vehicle brand in China next year, it said on Wednesday, and will only launch battery-electric, hydrogen fuel-cell or petrol-electric hybrid vehicles therefrom 2030. Known for its fuel-efficient internal combustion engines, Honda sold over 1.6 million vehicles in China last year. The new brand will be called “e:N Series” and it plans to roll out 10 models with partners GAC and Dongfeng Motor over the next five years, Honda said.

    Its two joint ventures, GAC-Honda and Dongfeng-Honda, plan to build new EV-only assembly plants that are expected to begin production in 2024. The planned new models will use a new vehicle operating system and are being developed based on an auto product platform designed for electric vehicles.

    Honda will set up an e:N Series section in all its existing retail stores. Over time, Honda also plans to set up dedicated e:N Series retail stores but did not provide detail on that plan. Honda has roughly 1,200 Honda brand stores currently.

    China’s sales for electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are expected to reach three million this year, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said on Tuesday.

    Honda will continue to sell existing gasoline-powered models even after 2030, it said.

  • September auto sales plunge

    September auto sales plunge

    Auto sales in Vietnam plunged 50 percent year-on-year to 13,537 units in September as Covid-19-triggered social distancing forced dealers to close.

    This is the second monthly lowest figure this year behind August with 8,884 units sold, according to Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA).

    In the first nine months, sales rose 5 percent year-on-year, compared to 40 percent in the first half, showing a decline in sales in the third quarter when strict social distancing measures were imposed in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

    Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco) led in sales in the first nine months with 65,764 units sold, up 10 percent year-on-year.

    The remaining four companies in the top five saw sales decline.

    Toyota came in second with 38,055 units sold, down 7 percent.

    It was followed by Mitsubishi, Ford and Honda.

    The hatchback VinFast Fadil was the best-selling car in September, followed by the sedan Hyundai Accent and SUV Kia Seltos.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Jaguar Land Rover Trials World-First Digital Supply Chain For Leather

    Jaguar Land Rover Trials World-First Digital Supply Chain For Leather

    Jaguar Land Rover has trialed the use of secure blockchain technology to ensure full transparency within a sustainable leather supply chain. In a world-first, Jaguar Land Rover partnered with supply chain traceability provider Circular, leading UK leather manufacturer Bridge of Weir Leather Company and the University of Nottingham to trial the use of traceability technology in the leather supply chain. As well as tracking compliance, the digital process enabled Jaguar Land Rover to assess the carbon footprint of its leather supply network, working with UK-based Bridge of Weir Leather Company to trace its lowest carbon leather from farm to the finished article – all part of Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to reducing the environmental and ethical impact of its products across their lifecycle.

    Jaguar Land Rover is committed to offering customers more sustainable and responsible material choices for their vehicle interiors, such as the premium natural fibre Eucalyptus textile interior available on Range Rover Evoque, and Kvadrat – a refined high-quality wool blend textile that’s paired with a suede cloth made from 53 recycled plastic bottles per vehicle – available on Evoque, Range Rover Velar and Jaguar’s all-electric I-Pace

    As part of the Innovate UK-funded research, a ‘digital twin’ of the raw material was created, allowing its progress to be tracked through the leather supply chain simultaneously in the real world and digitally. A combination of GPS data, biometrics and QR codes was used to digitally verify the movement of leather at every step of the process using blockchain technology.

    Defining the verification process has created a repeatable blueprint for tracing a single piece of leather at every stage. It can be used across Jaguar Land Rover’s global supply chain and by other industries that rely on leather, such as fashion and footwear.

    The project is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Reimagine strategy: a sustainability-rich combination of modern luxury, unique customer experiences, and positive societal impact.

    Reimagine aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039. Jaguar Land Rover will work with industry experts to improve sustainability, reduce emissions and collaborate on next-generation technology, data and software development leadership.

    Dave Owen, Jaguar Land Rover Executive Director of Supply Chain, said: “We are currently restructuring our supply chain as part of Reimagine, with a focus on transparency and sustainability. The outcome from this world-first trial will allow us to further improve the sustainability of the leather supply chain around the globe, ensuring the complete traceability of raw materials from origin to vehicle.

    Through InMotion, its venture capital and mobility services arm, Jaguar Land Rover previously announced an investment in Circulor, allowing the company to source premium materials with greater transparency as to the provenance, welfare, and compliance of suppliers throughout its networks.

    The technology could be deployed to trace other commodities. Circulor is already using blockchain to improve the traceability of minerals used for electric vehicle batteries. Blockchain technology is impossible to modify or tamper with, giving customers greater confidence that the sustainable supply chain is authentic, and all materials have been sustainably sourced.

    Lees ook:

  • Volvo Car India Announces Lifetime Parts Warranty Scheme

    Volvo Car India Announces Lifetime Parts Warranty Scheme

    Volvo Car India announced a new “customer lifetime parts warranty” scheme across its model range. Under the new scheme, parts bought after the standard period of warranty and installed at an authorized workshop will carry a lifetime warranty and will be applicable on genuine parts bought from October 1, 2021. The coverage period begins on the date of purchase of the part and remains till the time the ownership of the car does not change. However, the scheme will lapse when the ownership changes. Under this scheme, both parts and the labor costs are covered. The initiative has been taken to provide customers reassurance on aftersales services given the high spare parts and replacement cost in luxury cars.

    Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director, Volvo Car India said, “It is for the first time in India that such an initiative has been offered to the luxury customers. This is a unique offer in the automotive industry that gives the customer carefree and secure car ownership. In the unlikely event of customers requiring a part changed for their car, the company will give a lifetime warranty on the part. The warranty commences on the date of purchase of the part and will follow the combination of car and car owner. If the car has a new registered owner, the warranty will end.”

    Moreover, the company also reaffirmed that any genuine Volvo part which will require repair or replacement because of material or manufacturing defect will be repaired or replaced free of charge by an authorized dealer. However, the scheme is not applicable of normal wear and tear of parts, consumables, batteries, accessories, and Software which is not associated with a hardware replacement. Also, parts replaced under new car warranty or extended warranty or goodwill warranty would not be covered under this scheme.

  • Mercedes-Benz Vietnam recalls 1,700 cars

    Mercedes-Benz Vietnam recalls 1,700 cars

    Mercedes-Benz Vietnam is recalling more than 1,700 C200 cars locally assembled from 2014 -2018 to remove a generator-related software bug.

    The recalled cars were produced between Dec. 2014 to Feb. 2018. Short-circuited diodes in their generator were making coils overheat, leading to fire risks, the carmaker said. The recall will run from Sept. 25, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2025.

    The solution is to update the engine control software to optimize generator operation. The free update would take about 30 minutes at authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers in Vietnam.

    These vehicles were manufactured from Nov. 2016 to Feb. 2017. The solution is to replace the entire steering shaft, a procedure lasting about 1.5 hours.The German carmaker also made two other recalls in Vietnam from Oct. 1-7. These relate to several different models, including 49 A-class cars, CLA, and the imported GLA that have an error in the steering shaft mechanism.

    Mercedes-Benz sold 2,558 units in Vietnam in 2020.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: