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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.

  • Electric Cars Expected To Be Launched In India In 2021

    Electric Cars Expected To Be Launched In India In 2021

    Electric cars are the future, and the year 2021 will offer the slightest glimpse of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. Though EVs represent a very small percentage of global car sales, several automakers have already made massive investments in electric mobility foreseeing the demand it could create in the coming years. As India is moving towards e-mobility, there has been substantial investment in electric vehicles (EVs) by domestic and global auto majors. The models like the Tata Nexon EV and MG ZS EV have received a decent amount of success in the Indian EV market. Other automakers too are planning to enter into the electric vehicle space in India. On that note, we list down the EVs that are expected to go on sale in the Indian market this year.

    Tesla Model 3:

    Tesla is all set to roll out its first electric car, the Model S, in the country this year. The EV maker will set up India headquarters in Mumbai’s Lower Parel location while the production base will be established in Karnataka. The American EV maker will start its sales operations with the Model 3 which is the most affordable offering in its line-up. The Tesla Model 3 will come to India as a completely built unit (CBU) model. The car is rumored to be priced somewhere ₹ 55 lakh in the country. The Tesla Model 3 has a range of up to 500 kilometers and a top speed of 162 kmph. It can even do 0-100 kmph in 3.1 seconds.

    Volvo XC40 Recharge:

    Volvo Car India revealed the new XC40 Recharge electric SUV in the country a couple of months ago. It will be the first all-electric offering from a Chinese-owned Swedish carmaker. The company will start accepting pre-bookings for the electric SUV next month, while deliveries will commence in October 2021. The Volvo XC40 Recharge will come to India as a completely built unit (CBU) model. The electric SUV comes with a dual-motor powertrain with 150 kW electric motors on each axle that converts to 402 bhp and 660 Nm of peak torque. The electric motors are powered by a 78 kWh battery pack that offers an approximate range of up to 418 km. It can achieve 0-100 kmph in 4.9 seconds.

    Audi e-Tron:

    Audi India has confirmed the arrival of the e-Tron alongside the e-Tron Sportback in the country this year. It will be the German carmaker’s first all-electric offering in India. The electric SUV was previously slated to go on sale last year, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the Audi e-Tron and the e-Tron Sportback share the same underpinnings, but the latter gets the coupe-like sloping roofline and a redesigned rear profile. Both the EVs come with two electric motors that develop 355 bhp and 561 Nm of peak torque. In the boost mode, the power output increases up to 408 bhp and 664 Nm. The EVs use a 95 kWh battery pack that offers a range of about 452 km on a single charge and can be fully charged in eight and a half hours using a regular charger.

    Mahindra eKUV100:

    Mahindra is all set to launch the eKUV100 in the Indian market in the coming months. The Indian carmaker has already announced prices of the EV at the 2020 Auto Expo, which costs ₹ 8.25 lakh (ex-showroom, India). While the eKUV100 will be targeted at fleet operators, the EV will also be offered for private buyers. Visually, the car looks identical to its petrol counterpart. However, we expect minimal changes on the production-spec version including possibly a revised grille, along with reworked headlamps and taillights. The Mahindra eKUV100 will use a 40 kW electric that belts out about 53 bhp and 120 Nm of peak torque. A single-speed transmission will be sending power to the front wheels. The car will come with a 15.9 kWh lithium-ion battery and is expected to offer a range of 120 km on a single charge.

    Porsche Taycan:

    The all-new Porsche Taycan electric sports car will be introduced in India this year. It is the first fully-electric sedan from the Stuttgart-based luxury carmaker, which will be based on the Porsche Mission E Concept that was showcased in 2015. The new Porsche Taycan will sport two permanently excited synchronous electric motors that can churn out a maximum of 600 bhp and will a range of over 500 km thanks to its high voltage lithium-ion batteries. The EV will get 800-volt chargers with fast charging capability, which can offer a 400 km range in 15 minutes of charge time. The carmaker claims that the EV can sprint from 0-100 kmph in under 3.5 seconds.

    Tata Altroz EV:

    The Altroz EV will be the next electric vehicle from the Indian automaker’s stable, which was showcased at the 2019 Geneve Motor Show. The fully electric version of the premium hatchback is expected to go on sale in India this year. Like its ICE derivative, the EV version will also be built on the all-new Agile Light Flexible Advanced (ALFA) Architecture. Tata Motors has already confirmed that all its future electric vehicles will use the Ziptron powertrain technology. So, the Altroz EV will get a Lithium-ion battery with IP67 certification.

    Mercedes-Benz EQS:

    It was last month that Mercedes-Benz revealed the EQS electric sedan in the global market. The electric sedan has been listed on the official India website, suggesting it could be launched in our market later this year. The luxury electric sedan will be available in two trims – EQS 450+ and EQS 580 4MATIC. The EQS 450+ is the base variant that features a single electric motor on the rear axle for a total of 328 bhp and 568 Nm of peak torque. The EQS 580 4MATIC is an all-wheel-drive (AWD) range-topping trim and gets an electric motor on both front and rear axles. Total output in combination here is 516 bhp and a whopping 855 Nm of peak torque, good for a 4.1 seconds sprint to 100 kmph from a standstill.

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  • Tesla Crash Victim Lauded ‘Full Self-Driving’ In Videos On Tiktok

    Tesla Crash Victim Lauded ‘Full Self-Driving’ In Videos On Tiktok

    A Tesla car driver killed in a recent accident in California praised the automaker’s “full self-driving” features, and posted videos on his apparent Tiktok account, in which he appeared to drive with his hands off the wheel. On May 5, a Tesla Model 3 crashed into an overturned truck on a highway in Fontana, killing the Tesla driver and injuring the truck driver and a motorist who had stopped to help him.

    The Associated Press news agency cited police as saying a preliminary investigation had determined the Tesla’s driver assistant system Autopilot was engaged prior to the crash.

    But in a correction issued late on Friday, police said, “There has not been a final determination made as to what driving mode the Tesla was in.”

    Since 2016 at least three Tesla vehicles operating on Autopilot have been in fatal crashes, two involving a Tesla car driving beneath a semi-truck in Florida.

    Two videos of a man driving with his hands off the wheel were posted on the alleged Tiktok account of the victim, 35-year-old Steven Hendrickson of Running Springs in California.

    “What would do I do without my full self-driving Tesla after a long day at work,” said a message on one. “Coming home from LA after work, thank god, self-drive,” said a comment on another video, adding, “Best car ever!”

    Tesla dubbed its driver assistant features “Autopilot” or “Full Self-driving,” which experts say could mislead consumers into believing the car can drive by itself.

    On its website, Tesla said its Autopilot feature does not make the vehicle autonomous, however.

    On his Facebook account, Hendrickson was shooting a video while driving on autopilot, saying, “Don’t worry. I am on autopilot.”

    Family members were not available for comment and Tesla, which has disbanded its public relations teams, was not immediately available for comment.

    Tesla Club-SoCal, a group of Tesla owners in Southern California, said on social media that he was an active member who “loved his Tesla.” He is survived by his wife and two children, it added.

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been investigating more than two dozen crashes of Tesla vehicles, including the Fontana crash and a high-profile one in Texas last month that killed two men.

    Since 2016 at least three Tesla vehicles operating on Autopilot have been in fatal crashes, two involving a Tesla car driving beneath a semi-truck in Florida.

    The U.S. transport safety board said Tesla’s autopilot system failed to properly detect a truck as it crossed the car’s path, contributing to the accidents also caused

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  • Mahindra Rolls Out M-Protect COVID Plan For Farmers

    Mahindra Rolls Out M-Protect COVID Plan For Farmers

    Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector on Sunday officially announced the rollout of the ‘M-Protect Covid Plan’ for the Indian farmers. With this new customer-centric initiative, the company intends to support Indian farmers in these testing times as the entire nation battles with the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan aims to safeguard new Mahindra tractor customers and their families against the possibility of contracting COVID-19. This plan will be available on Mahindra’s entire range of tractors purchased in May 2021.

    Under the M-Protect covid plan, Mahindra will provide its customers with a health cover of ₹ 1 lakh through a unique COVID Mediclaim policy covering the customer in case they contract COVID-19 with home quarantine benefits. It will also offer financial support by providing pre-approved loans to support medical expenses incurred during COVID-19 treatment. Moreover, customers’ loan with insured under ‘Mahindra Loan Suraksha’ in case of loss of life.

    Commenting on the development, Hemant Sikka, President, Farm Equipment Sector, M&M Ltd., “At Mahindra, we care about our customers and the community at large and have taken a series of initiatives to help those most in need to overcome the challenges related to COVID. Our new ‘M–Protect Covid Plan’ is a new initiative in that direction targeted at farmers, as we stand by them to drive positive change even in these tough times. With M-Protect we are privileged to serve and support them to reduce the impact of a COVID-related eventuality. With M-Protect we hope our farmers continue to have a healthy life.”

    Shubhabrata Saha, Chief Executive Officer, Farm Division, M&M Ltd. said, “May and June are important months for the livelihood of the farming community and COVID-19 has brought in several challenges. Our new M-Protect Covid Plan is intended to ease farmers’ worries as we support them in these crucial farming-related months. Through M-Protect we will offer health, financial and insurance-related protection to bring relief to the farmer during these challenging times, safeguarding them and more so their families. I would like to thank our channel partners for the immense support they’ve extended to our farmer customers.”

  • Honda PCX Electric Scooter Patented In India

    Honda PCX Electric Scooter Patented In India

    Honda has filed patent registrations for the PCX electric scooter in India, and rumors are abuzz about the possibility of the PCX electric scooter being considered for an India launch. Now, Honda did showcase the PCX electric scooter at the Auto Expo 2018, but filing a patent doesn’t necessarily mean the product is being considered for launch. What is of importance is perhaps the content of the patent filings, which shows a removable battery, which can be taken off the scooter and plugged conveniently at home, or at the workplace.

    The scooter comes with a 4.2 kW motor and a removable 50.4 V lithium-ion battery pack. And the battery can be charged without removing it as well, through a charging cable, but being removable just offers the added convenience. The Honda PCX offered in global markets, come with an internal combustion engine hybrid, as well as full-electric powertrains. In India though, reports suggest that the PCX electric is the one being patented.

    The PCX has an aggressive design, with neat lines, with twin-pod headlamps up front, and a tall windscreen, giving it a mini-maxi look. The scooter comes with a split floorboard, black alloy wheels, telescopic front forks, twin rear shocks, and disc brakes, with single-channel ABS. On the feature list, there’s a full digital LCD panel, remote start key, and others. Under the seat are twin battery packs, which offer a range of 40 km, while the controller unit is positioned under the floorboard.

    While the filing of the patent for the PCX electric may sound like exciting news, it’s not certain that Honda will go on to launch it. In the past, HMSI has patented several models, including the Honda Grom and others, and according to sources, sometimes these patents are used for Honda’s ongoing R&D efforts for future products in India, rather than indicate that the patented product will be launched in India. It’s early days yet to predict anything, or if HMSI is indeed working on an electric project, or planning to start working on an electric two-wheeler project for India. And that may not be the PCX electric scooter as we know it in its current form.

  • Porsche Expands Customisation Project Division For One-Off Model Requests

    Porsche Expands Customisation Project Division For One-Off Model Requests

    It’s not the first time we are seeing Porsche offering customization options and it’s also a common trend among premium car buyers. But now Porsche is expanding its Exclusive Manufaktur program along with the Tequipment and Classic divisions. Now this will give the chance to its customers who want to make their Porsches exclusive and one-off. This service will be offered across range and not just for sports cars or SUVs or any specific model. And there is something for classic Porsches as well, but we’ll come to it in a bit.

    Porsche has extended the range of products and services in the divisions in a way that customers can modify their vehicles to bespoke one-off units. This is an interpretation of the Sonderwunsch program, which literally translates to “special request,” Porsche’s customization from the 1970s. To be precise, it is offering exterior wrap options, individual starting numbers, prints on the floor mats, illuminated door entry guards, and logo projectors in the vehicle doors among others. The unique part about this program is that the option is not limited to just new models. Yes! The personalization also extends to used vehicles and also on the table is customizations for off-road use.

    The Tequipment division in Porsche’s gallery also offers a range of accessories and retrofit options for individual customer vehicles. Now coming to classic vehicles, Porsche is currently focusing on spare parts supply and factory restorations in a bid to keep them in working condition. Now obviously, handling projects which are too radical are best for aftermarket, but the carmaker will be accepting all those projects that it finds sensible and feasible. Also, Porsche will archive every one-off request and keep them in the database.

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  • Elon Musk Says Tesla Will Stop Accepting BitCoin Because Of Environmental Impact

    Elon Musk Says Tesla Will Stop Accepting BitCoin Because Of Environmental Impact

    Elon Musk’s tweets can be devastating. They have the ability to reshape markets, because of his staunch following. Now, the Tesla supremo has tweeted that Tesla will stop accepting Bitcoin payments because of its environmental impact.  This also comes at a time when Musk himself is promoting cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin and has even set out a Twitter poll asking users if they are open to Tesla accepting the currency.

    The controversial move comes as Musk has been promoting Dogecoin, acting as a catalyst behind its rise, and also has announced a rideshare mission to the Moon via SpaceX funded by Dogecoin.

    There is further criticism of the move because most EVs are still sourcing their electricity from fossil fuels as most homes are powered by the grid. Tesla however has said that its supercharger network will go fully renewable in 2021.

    Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are very power-intensive as crypto mining involves having racks and racks of GPUs and big data computing capabilities stacked together which consume a lot of power, which is more often than not sourced via a fossil-fuel-powered grid. Almost, the same logic applies to electric cars, critics claim, which makes this move even more controversial.

    The value of Dogecoin has skyrocketed since January 2021 ever since Musk started promoting the currency. Around about this time Musk became a proponent of Cryptocurrencies and opened up to the idea of Tesla accepting Bitcoin. Musk even had Tesla buy a tranche of Bitcoin and then sold it back, improving Tesla’s financial cash flow, showcasing a new form of liquidity.

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  • Tesla Puts Brake On Shanghai Land Buy As U.S.-China Tensions Weigh

    Tesla Puts Brake On Shanghai Land Buy As U.S.-China Tensions Weigh

    U.S. electric car maker Tesla Inc has halted plans to buy land to expand its Shanghai plant and make it a global export hub, people familiar with the matter said, due to uncertainty created by U.S.-China tensions. With 25% tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles imposed on top of existing levies under former U.S. President Donald Trump still in place, Tesla now intends to limit the proportion of China output in its global production, two of the four people said.

    Tesla had earlier considered expanding exports of its China-made entry-level Model 3 to more markets, including the United States, sources told Reuters, a plan that had not previously been reported.

    Tesla currently ships China-made Model 3s to Europe, where it is building a factory in Germany.

    Shares of Tesla fell as much as 5.3% early on Thursday.

    Tesla sold 25,845 China-made vehicles in China and overseas in April, down from 35,478 in March, according to data from China Passenger Car Association.

    Tesla’s Shanghai factory is designed to make up to 500,000 cars per year and has the capacity to produce Model 3 and Model Y vehicles at a rate of 450,000 total units per year.

    In March, Tesla refrained from bidding on a plot of land across the road from the plant as it no longer aimed to boost China production capacity significantly, at least for now, three of the people said, declining to be named as the discussions were private.

    In a statement to Reuters, Tesla said it’s Shanghai factory was “developing as planned.”

    The Shanghai city government, a key supporter in Tesla’s establishment of a wholly-owned factory in China – the first and only foreign passenger car plant not required to form a joint venture – did not respond to a request for comment.

    Tesla had never declared an intention to acquire the land, which is about half the size of the 200-acre (80 hectares) plot housing Tesla’s current facility and would enable the company to lift capacity by another 200,000 to 300,000 cars, said two of the people.

    Tesla’s China sales are surging despite mounting regulatory pressure in the country after consumer disputes over product safety and scrutiny over how it handles data.

    It generated $3 billion in revenue in China in the first three months of this year, more than tripling year-earlier sales and accounting for 30% of total revenue.

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  • Royal Enfield Begins Operations In Singapore With New Store

    Royal Enfield Begins Operations In Singapore With New Store

    Royal Enfield has started operations in Singapore by setting up a new flagship store in the city’s Ubi Road. The new Royal Enfield Singapore store showcases the entire range of Royal Enfield motorcycles, including the RE Interceptor 650, Continental GT 650, Himalayan, and the Classic. The Royal Enfield Singapore store also has a complete range of Royal Enfield’s genuine accessories for its motorcycles, as well as apparel and riding gear range. While the 650 Twins spearheaded the brand’s global aspirations, the updated Himalayan and the new Meteor 350 have also been positioned as global products, and will likely suit the requirements of Asian motorcyclists.

    The Royal Enfield Singapore store expands the Indian motorcycle brand’s footprint across South East Asia

    Royal Enfield has ambitious plans to establish itself as a global leader in the mid-size motorcycle segment and is expanding aggressively across Asia, as it aims to tap into the world’s biggest motorcycle market, after India. With a focus on increasing sales across India, Royal Enfield now has operations across Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, with plans to open a new factory in Thailand, which will be a hub for exports to other countries in the region, including the motorcycle-intensive markets of Vietnam and Indonesia. The Thailand factory is the second overseas plant for Royal Enfield, after its factory in Argentina.

    Royal Enfield has 36 showrooms in Thailand and has started operations in other ASEAN (Association of southeast Asian Nations) countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia over the last few years. With the brand’s lion’s share of sales coming from the domestic market, which is the world’s biggest market for motorcycles sales, Royal Enfield will be increasingly looking to expand its presence in other strong motorcycle markets in the region.

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  • Ministry says no to cuts in auto registration fees

    Ministry says no to cuts in auto registration fees

    The Ministry of Finance has rejected a proposal to reduce auto registration fees by half, saying it is not necessary for the current setting.

    The proposal was made by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA), seeking support for manufacturers amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

    However, the Ministry of Finance said that the government had already implemented different measures to support businesses and citizens last year, including extending the deadline for payment of taxes and land use fees and incentives on special consumption tax for cars manufactured or assembled locally.

    “After reviewing the proposal, the Ministry of Finance sees that lowering registration fee is not suitable with the current setting,” it said.

    Last year, the government had provided a 50 percent discount on the registration fees for cars produced domestically.

    The move lowered the government’s revenues by VND6 trillion ($260 million).

    The Ministry of Finance also denied VAMA’s request to lower the production of cars under an import tax incentive program.

  • Ferrari Vietnam recalls cars over faulty airbags

    Ferrari Vietnam recalls cars over faulty airbags

    Ferrari Vietnam is recalling 24 cars for airbag faults that can cause severe damage in the event of a crash.

    The recall covers five models: 458 Speciale, 488 GTB, 488 Spider, California T, and F12 Berlinetta. The recalled cars were produced between March 2014 and July 2017, according to a statement submitted by the automaker to the Vietnam Register.

    The front passenger airbags in these vehicles are produced by Japanese auto parts producer Takata Corporation. It has been found that humidity can penetrate and damage them. In some crashes, activation of the airbag can break the inflator inside into pieces and push them through the inflated airbag, causing serious damage to users

    Customers can bring their vehicles for a free replacement of the faulty parts at Ferrari’s only showroom and service center in HCMC. The replacement should take one to three hours. The recall will run in one year from May 7, 2021.

    Ferrari opened its first showroom in HCMC’s District 7 in 2019 to sell old cars and provide maintenance service. Recently, it started to sell new Ferraris in Vietnam, but is yet to make a sale.

  • Renault Introduces New Nouvelle Vague Brand Strategy

    Renault Introduces New Nouvelle Vague Brand Strategy

    Renault is gearing up to give it’s brand a new direction. The French carmaker has adopted “Nouvelle Vague” strategy targeting to maximize its number of electrified vehicles by 2030 in a bid to move towards sustainable development. More than 2000 engineers from five companies will work on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data processing, software, and microelectronics. Then, Renault’s Re factory in Europe will recycle or upcycle up to 1.20 lakh units every year. Nearly 80 percent of those recycled materials will be reused in new batteries.

    By 2030, Renault is targeting to become world’s best automotive manufacturer when it comes to the percentage of recycled materials in new vehicles. The company will also introduce seven electrified models in C and D segments. It has also unveiled the new Arkana coupe SUV that marks and the new-generation Megane E-TECH Electric. The company has also announced that the E-TECH Hybrid technology will continue to power upcoming C and D segment vehicles. Renault has been leading in the EV segment in Europe with almost 4 lakh vehicles sold to date. In Europe, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom – will continue to be its key markets. The company will also try and increase local dominance in Brazil, Russia, Turkey, and India.

    The brand has also unveiled its new logo and the Megane will be the first model to wear it. The latest iteration was created in 1992 and Renault felt that it began to look a little dated, even though it was reworked in 2015. The new brand logo adores a streamlined design, with neither typogram nor brand signature. The new logo is an open-ended shape and Renault says that it reflects the brand’s openness and transparency. It was co-designed with Landor & Fitch consultants and will be phased in on all Renault brand vehicles and across the Renault network. By 2024, the entire Renault range will sport the new logo.

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  • Julian Thomson Steps Down As Jaguar’s Director Of Design

    Julian Thomson Steps Down As Jaguar’s Director Of Design

    Julian Thomson, Design Director at Jaguar, has resigned and will be leaving the company at the end of this month. An internal memo revealed that he will leave Jaguar for exploring other exciting opportunities. He took over the reins at Jaguar Design after Ian Callum’s departure in 2019 and was tasked with establishing the future strategic design direction for the brand. He worked on production models, updated models and concepts cars as well. He was responsible for the design of various cars from Jaguar such as XK, XF, XJ, F-TYPE, XE, F-Pace, E-Pace, and Jaguar’s first-ever electric vehicle – the I-Pace as well. We have reached out to Jaguar Land Rover for a comment on the same, and the company is yet to respond.

    Thomson also served as the head of design at Lotus and was the brains behind the design of the famous Lotus Elise. He was appointed as Chief of Exteriors at the Volkswagen Group’s Concept Design Centre in Barcelona in 1998 and worked on production and concept vehicle design for various brands under the Volkswagen umbrella such as Audi, Bentley, Seat, and VW itself. Julian joined Jaguar in 2000 as Advanced Design Director and also served as Advanced Design Director for Land Rover between 2006 and 2008.

    Thomson studied Mechanical Engineering at Hatfield University before completing an MA in Automotive Design at the Royal College of Art. He began his automotive industry career in 1984 as a designer at Ford in Dunton, England, before moving to Lotus Design in Norwich in 1986. In the recent past, Former JLR CEO, Professor Ralf Speth moved to TVS Motor Company as the chairman while Wayne Burgess, yet another designer who had worked with Jaguar before was appointed as the Head of Vehicle Design at Ola Electric.

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  • EV Owners Shifting Back To Gas Power In The U

    EV Owners Shifting Back To Gas Power In The U

    A study by the University of California, Davis, which has been published by the Nature Energy Journal has shown some disturbing signs for EVs. While the world makes this tectonic shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles, between 2015-2019, 18 percent of EV owners in California shifted back to gasoline while 20 percent of the plug-in hybrid owners also did the same. The study reveals the primary culprit for the switch was the lack of reliable level 2 charging, particularly at home. While EVs, despite being more expensive than gasoline-powered vehicles, are considered more affordable because of the more affordable nature of charging and almost no after-sale cost which makes these vehicles more reliable, the limitations of range and the time that it takes to charge a vehicle offset these benefits.

    According to the research paper, almost half of the respondents who bought an EV had access to level 2 charging. 30 percent of them also had proper plugin charging at home and they still dumped their EVs. Interestingly, 54 percent of the respondents were less likely to buy an EV if they didn’t have access to convenient at-home charging.

    In the US particularly, things have moved along quite a bit in the last two years. EVs have become more ubiquitous because of the Tesla Model 3 which has become the best selling executive sedan in the world. Tesla also has a rather affordable SUV in the Tesla Model Y and there is a legion of new vehicles coming to the US mostly from traditional automakers.

    While all of this has happened, the charging technology has moved along. Tesla’s supercharger network has grown while also Volkswagen’s Electrify America has become the biggest charging network in North America. But more players are entering the space like Rivian which is highly capitalized and also pouring its cash into developing its charging network. GM has now partnered with 7 networks via a super app for charging its vehicles.

    The government has also changed in the US. Under Biden, EVs are getting a huge push and if tax credits come back, then things will be even more lucrative for EV adoption. The data from the report is also likely skewed slightly from the current trends because it takes broad 4 year period when EVs and their infrastructure weren’t as developed or refined.

  • Volvo’s Global Sales Increase By 97.3% In April

    Volvo’s Global Sales Increase By 97.3% In April

    Volvo Cars achieved its 10th consecutive month of sales growth, as the company’s global sales increased by 97.5 percent in April compared with the same month last year. In April, Volvo Cars sold a total of 62,724 cars, up from 31,760 cars in the same period last year. The growth was mainly driven by strong demand in the US and Europe, in combination with a recovery from a sales drop in April last year related to the Covid-19 pandemic. In China, where sales returned to growth around this time last year, the company reported a steady increase of 11.6 percent.

    Sales in the January-April period landed at 248,422 cars, up 51.8 percent compared with the same period last year. Sales of Volvo Cars’ Recharge line-up of chargeable models, with a fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain, remained strong in Europe during the month of April, representing 42.0 percent of the company’s overall sales in Europe. Globally, Recharge cars accounted for 24.3 percent of the total sales volume.

    In the US, sales increased by 185.5 percent in April compared with the same month last year, mainly driven by strong demand for the XC90 and XC60. Total sales reached 11,036 cars, an increase from 3,866 in the same period in 2020, when many states implemented stay-at-home orders due to the pandemic.

    European sales grew to 25,816 cars for the month of April, up 178.0 percent compared with the same period last year. The increase was mainly driven by markets that have started to recover after last year’s pandemic-related shutdowns, as well as strong sales increases in the UK, Sweden and Germany.

    China, Volvo Cars’ biggest market, reported solid sales growth in April, with total sales reaching 16,435 cars. The increase was led by high demand for the locally assembled XC60 and S90 models.

    In April, the XC40 was the top-selling model, with sales of 19,833 cars (2020: 5,708), followed by the XC60 with total sales of 17,925 cars (10,908 units) and the XC90 with 9,371 cars (4,425 units).

  • Honda Vietnam to recall cars over fuel pump issue

    Honda Vietnam to recall cars over fuel pump issue

    Honda Vietnam has announced it would recall 27,640 locally assembled and imported vehicles to resolve a fuel pump malfunction.

    The affected models are City (8,626 units), Civic (3,624 units), CR-V (10,687 units), HR-V (3,630 units), Jazz (630 units) and Accord (442 units) made in 2019. Out of nearly 28,000 defective vehicles, 19,014 were locally assembled, with the rest imported from Thailand. The recall will start this Wednesday.

    Faults related to the fuel pump installed in these vehicles may involve defective impellers. Over time, the pump may crack, deform and prevent the engine from starting or stalling.

    At present, there is no record of safety threats due to the fuel pump error in the Vietnamese market. Vehicle owners are advised to visit authorized dealerships to have their engines checked.

    Replacements will be made when spare parts become available. Spare parts and related services would be completely free of charge. For vehicles imported through non-genuine import dealerships, in case customers request, Honda Vietnam would still provide relevant information.

    Honda was the fourth best-selling auto brand in Vietnam in the first quarter of this year with 6,782 units sold, up 24.7 percent year-on-year.