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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.

  • Elon Musk Reaffirms 1.1 Second kmph Time For Telsa Roadster EV Is Possible

    Elon Musk Reaffirms 1.1 Second kmph Time For Telsa Roadster EV Is Possible

    The second-generation Tesla Roadster was revealed about three years ago but the EV maker took quite a while to materialize it. Finally, it is expected to arrive later this year or early in 2022 but one production-ready version is already on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum with some details of its specifications. The most interesting of all is that the readout at the museum claims a 0-100 kmph sprint in an earth-staggering 1.1 seconds when the Roadster is equipped with the SpaceX package.

    Now what’s even more interesting is that Elon Musk took to Twitter to confirm the specifications. Replying to one of the tweets he reaffirmed it’s possible with “the SpaceX rocket thruster option package. The Roadster will possibly be equipped with cold air thrusters, supplied by compressed air tanks with the thrusters hidden behind the license plate, that’ll help propel the all-wheel-drive sports to manic speeds. Now without the SpaceX package, the EV maker is claiming 1.9 seconds to triple-digit speeds, which still is fast enough to give something like the mighty Bugatti Chiron with a W16 engine, a sweat.

    Now going with what Musk has claimed earlier, the Tesla Roadster is not just about speed. It will deliver quite an impressive electric range of 998 km with a tri-motor configuration. One of them will be positioned in the front and the remaining two at the rear that will power all four wheels. It will get its juices from a 250 kWh battery pack and it will put out an unbelievable 10,000 Nm of peak torque helping it to clock 160 kmph in just 4.2 seconds. Now that’s quicker than what many sportscars take to clock triple-digit speeds.

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  • Renault-Nissan Workers In India To Strike Over COVID Fears

    Renault-Nissan Workers In India To Strike Over COVID Fears

    Workers at Renault-Nissan’s car plant in southern India will go on strike on Wednesday as their COVID-related safety demands have not been met, a union representing the workers told the company in a letter on Monday. The strike threat at the plant in Tamil Nadu, jointly owned by Nissan Motor and alliance partner Renault, comes ahead of a court hearing over allegations from workers that social distancing norms were being flouted and factory health policies did not sufficiently address the risk to lives.

    “Due to unsafe working conditions and as the union demands have not been met … members of this union will not report to work from the first shift on Wednesday,” the union said in a letter dated May 24. The letter added that workers would not return until they felt safe.

    The union represents around 3,500 workers at the plant.

    Nissan, which owns a majority stake in the plant, declined to comment, saying the matter was in court.

    Renault-Nissan told an Indian court last week it rejected claims that COVID-19 safety protocols were being ignored at the factory, adding it needed to continue production to meet orders.

    The legal battle highlights the challenges companies face in India amid a huge wave of COVID-19 infections.

    Several Hyundai Motor Co employees, fearing for their health, have halted work at the automaker’s plant in Tamil Nadu state and are staging a sit-in protest, two sources at the Hyundai Motor India Employees Union told Reuters.

    Hyundai Motor India did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The legal battle highlights the challenges companies face in India amid a huge wave of COVID-19 infections.

    It was not immediately clear how long the protest would continue and the extent of production disruption for Hyundai.

    Tamil Nadu is one of the worst-hit states of India’s surge in COVID-19 infections, with more than 30,000 cases a day.

    The state, an auto hub known as India’s Detroit, has imposed a lockdown until May 31 but has allowed some factories, including auto plants, to continue operating.

    Hyundai’s union told the company on May 15 its workers feared for their lives and should be given fully paid leave while the state lockdown is in place.

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  • BYD Rolls Out 1 Millionth Electric Passenger Car In China

    BYD Rolls Out 1 Millionth Electric Passenger Car In China

    Chinese automaker BYD is celebrating the rollout of its one-millionth electric passenger car, becoming the first automaker globally to do so. The one-millionth car is the Han EV that rolled off the production line at BYD’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, in China. The occasion marked the presence of officials from the Chinese government, industry heads, media guests, and about 100 BYD vehicle owners. With no Covid cases reported, China is able to host public events.

    Speaking about the rollout, Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD Co., Ltd. said, “BYD shoulders the responsibility and mission of upward development for China’s new energy vehicle brands. From zero to one million vehicles, this is BYD’s response to the call for global auto industry transformation. It also sets a benchmark in the journey of the new energy vehicle industry in China starting from nothing, alongside the greater national journey for a country dominated by traditional automobiles to one that is a leader in the field of sustainability.”

    He added, “The journey to one million vehicles would not be possible without the support of car owners every step of the way, and BYD recognizes that the ‘green dream’ can only be achieved hand-in-hand with all our customers.”

    Beginning operations in China in 2003, BYD’s new energy vehicle (NEV) journey commenced in 2004 with the ET electric concept car at the Beijing Auto Show. This was followed up with the F3DM – the world’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid NEV model unveiled in 2008. The BYD Han was launched in 2020 and the automaker says it’s a top-selling model in China, competing with the German luxury sedans.

    Rolf Petter Almklov, Commercial Counsellor, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing, and Wang Chuanfu, Chairman & President – BYD at the rollout ceremony

    BYD says the one million EV production milestone coincides with the first batch of 100 fully-electric BYD Tang SUVs being readied for Norway. The Scandinavian country will be at the center of the automaker’s ambitious plans for the European market, it says. A total of 1500 Tang SUVs will be delivered to Norway before the end of the year as part of BYD’s European and global strategy. The first batch will be delivered to customers in Norway in the third quarter of the year.

    The BYD Tang SUV promises a range of 505 km (NEDC) and can sprint from 0-100 kmph in 4.6 seconds. The battery capacity stands at 86.4 kWh. BYD will be bringing only electric cars to the European market and the company already retails its electric bus product range in Europe.

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  • Mercedes-Benz India Extends Warranty And Service Plans To Support Customers languagedropdown

    Mercedes-Benz India Extends Warranty And Service Plans To Support Customers languagedropdown

    Mercedes-Benz India has announced a host of warranty and service initiatives to support its customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the ongoing lockdown, the carmaker is offering an extension on timelines to honor warranty claims and warranty protection against lapsed service. This means Mercedes-Benz car owners, whose warranty or free service plans have or will expire between April 15 and May 31, 2021, will now get an extension on these benefits until June 30, 2021. The announcement comes just a day after rival Audi India announced a similar initiative.

    These benefits are for Mercedes-Benz car owners, whose warranty or free service plans have or will expire between April 15 and May 31, 2021

    In addition to the extension on standard warranty package and protection against lapsed service, Mercedes-Benz India will also support claims related to extended warranty and motor vehicle insurance (Daimler Financial Services Insurance), until June 30, 2021. This is for customers whose extended warranty or motor insurance has lapsed between April 15 and May 31, 2021. Also, if the vehicle’s standard warranty is expiring during the aforementioned dates and the customers wish to purchase an extended warranty, they will get an extension till June 30. Mercedes-Benz India says that it will also continue to support its customers with the Road-Side Assistance program with special permissions, wherever required.

    Talking about the initiative, Martin Schwenk, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, commented, “In the current challenging situation it remains our endeavor to assure our customers of complete peace of mind when it comes to their vehicles. Through these specially crafted service initiatives along with our service teams’ ongoing support working remotely, our customers will continue to enjoy a hassle-free vehicle ownership.”

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  • Vietnam sees 480 pct surge in cars imported from China

    Vietnam sees 480 pct surge in cars imported from China

    Vietnam imported 6,633 completely built-up (CBU) cars from China in the first four months, a 480 percent surge over the same period last year.

    Industry insiders explain the increasing popularity of cars imported from China to good designs and modern features.

    Despite the major increase, however, China remained the third-largest CBU car supplier for Vietnam in the first four months behind Thailand and Indonesia.

    Thailand dominated auto imports with 25,732 vehicles, a 74 percent year-on-year increase, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. It was followed by Indonesia with 13,873 units, up 4.7 percent.

    The two countries together accounted for 79 percent of April’s CBU imports.

    Thailand and Indonesia have led the list of Vietnam’s car suppliers ever since the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) took effect in 2018, owing to the zero import tariffs.

    Vietnam’s total car imports in the first four months marked a 56.5 percent year-on-year growth at 50,161 vehicles.

    The nation’s auto sales in the first four months surged 58 percent year-on-year to 101,309 units, signaling a recovery from last year’s pandemic blows.

  • Vietnamese automaker acquires South Korean retail chain

    Vietnamese automaker acquires South Korean retail chain

    A THACO spokesperson said that the agreement will be signed this week. South Korean retail giant E-mart, owned by the Shinsegae Group, will stop operating its outlets in the country. Under the buyout deal, THACO will operate the chain as a franchisee and pay a royalty to E-mart.

    The South Korean established the E-mart Vietnam Co. in 2014 after three years of doing market research in the country.

    It opened its first megamarket in HCMC’s Go Vap District at the end of 2015, covering an area of 12,000 square meters. The megamarket consists of a shopping area, restaurants and a kids’ playground.

    It hiked its charter capital by 62.5 percent to VND2.7 trillion ($117.8 million) in 2018.

    The E-mart Vietnam management board said 95 percent of products it sold were domestically produced.

    Rumors had surfaced at the end of last year that E-mart will exit the Vietnam retail market, but the company denied them.

    South Korean newspaper The Korea Times cited the retail giant as saying it was selling its Vietnam operations due to difficulties in expanding the business. It had planned to open a second megamarket in HCMC’s Tan Phu District in mid-2018, but the plan was not realized.

    THACO has announced plans to open 10 supermarkets in Vietnam by 2025.

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  • Burry Of ‘Big Short’ Fame Reveals $530 Million Bet Against Tesla

    Burry Of ‘Big Short’ Fame Reveals $530 Million Bet Against Tesla

    The family office run by “Big Short” investor Michael Burry has disclosed a short position against Tesla Inc worth more than half a billion. Scion Asset Management said in a regulatory filing on Monday that it had bearish put options on 800,100 shares in Tesla as of the end of the first quarter that was worth $534 million. Put options give investors the right to sell shares at certain price in the future.

    One of the investors profiled in the book “The Big Short’ and the film of the same name for betting more than a billion dollars against the U.S. housing bubble, Burry has been skeptical of Tesla’s sky-high valuations.

    In February, he tweeted “my last Big Short got bigger and Bigger and BIGGER,” referring to Tesla’s surge in market capitalization. “Enjoy it while it lasts,” he said.

    Powered by strong sales and its first annual profit, Tesla shares jumped more than eight times last year and hit a record high of $883 per share in January. But they have since fallen as hedge fund managers raise concerns that it is overvalued.

    The shares closed at $576 per share on Monday, valuing the electric car maker at around $555 billion.

    Burry also said last year that the green regulatory credits which Tesla has relied on to generate profits will dwindle as Fiat Chrysler increases sales.

    Stellantis, formed through the merger of Italy’s FCA and France’s PSA, said this month it expects to achieve its European carbon dioxide emissions targets this year without environmental credits bought from Tesla.

    Scion, which does not hold external capital, also lifted its exposure to energy last quarter, adding 530,000 shares in Golden Ocean Group, 323,823 shares in SunCoke Energy and 225,000 shares in Occidental Petroleum.

  • Android Automotive Will Be In 10 Cars By End Of 2021

    Android Automotive Will Be In 10 Cars By End Of 2021

    Google has already announced at wireless Android Auto is soon going to be going to a legion of cars by mainstream manufacturers. At Google IO 2021, it also announced a new digital car key feature that works via NFC and ultra-wideband. It is also saying that we will see 10 new models based on its Android Automotive operating system by the end of the year. Android Auto and Automotive are different. Android Auto is a technology that basically allows the user to beam and mirror the smartphone interface and features using the infotainment system onto the car, while Android Automotive is a full car operating system based on Android.

    Google has partnered with GM and Renault in addition to its existing partnership with Volvo and its electric subsidiary Polestar. It has also added Nissan and Ford to the list. Overall there will be more than 10 car models. This means the new GM Hummer EV — yes, it will be based on Google’s new car operating system.

    After facing a strict fine in Italy, Google is also making it easier for third-party app developers to bring their navigation, EV charging, parking and media apps directly to the car interface. Android for Cars App Library is being extended to support the Automotive OS. This way developers can make one app that works both with the core Android OS for gadgets like phones and tablets and Android Auto. It also means that one app can work across different makes and models. This wasn’t possible earlier which added friction to the process of bringing new apps to Android Automotive.

    Google is working with a bunch of  Early Access Partners — Parkwhiz, Plugshare, Sygic, Chargepoint, Flitsmeister, SpotHero and many more to bring their apps to Android Automotive. Already third-party apps like Spotify support Cars App Library for Android Auto, now with that being extended to Automotive, that app should be presumably coming to cars using Android Automotive.

    Android itself is based on Linux and 2 years ago, Google modified it further to work on cars as an alternative and more scalable option to Android Auto which was running on the phone but the interface of the phone was being beamed on to the car using a USB connection or a combination of wifi and Bluetooth. This mean core Google features like Maps, and Assistant were embedded inside the car on a system level.

    The first cars based on this system were the Polestar 2 and the Volvo XC40 Recharge which is also coming to India later this year.

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  • 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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