EVs

[MrH]

Looks like Sony and Honda are partnering to make EVs.  That's a really interesting combination.  Honda felt a bit behind in the EV game compared to other OEMs.  I like a lot of totally unrelated things Sony makes.  Could be cool

[CaminoRacer]

Looks like Sony and Honda are partnering to make EVs.  That's a really interesting combination.  Honda felt a bit behind in the EV game compared to other OEMs.  I like a lot of totally unrelated things Sony makes.  Could be cool

Potentially a better partner than LG...

[veeman]

My guess is it's an attempt to create a clean sheet corporate culture to attract the talent they need: CS people, software engineers, hardware engineers, EE people. Still plenty of room for skills they have in abundance: body, suspension, interior, assembly etc., but the brain, heart, lungs & guts are totally different.

Yeah, I agree.  I think this is strictly for attracting talent and culture perspective.  It's not a big change to the end customer at all.

Let's hope it works out better for Ford than Saturn did for GM.

[Morris Minor]

The middlemen continue to fight. You are going to need that sparkplug change and transmission flush on your EV.

https://kfor.com/news/local/bill-to-be-potential-road-block-for-tesla-in-oklahoma/

[CaminoRacer]

The middlemen continue to fight. You are going to need that sparkplug change and transmission flush on your EV.

https://kfor.com/news/local/bill-to-be-potential-road-block-for-tesla-in-oklahoma/

Gotta protect the negative-value-added middlemen!

[Morris Minor]

My understanding is that states prohibited manufacturers from selling & servicing direct to customers as an anti-trust measure against the mega automotive manufacturers; small local franchisees could stay in business & compete with each other on prices.
What has happened in this state (GA), as far as I can see, is that these franchises, at least the ones in the metro areas, have been snapped up by huge operations that have deep pockets and sophisticated lobbying operations. They're going in hard to protect their turf.

[Soup DeVille]

My understanding is that states prohibited manufacturers from selling & servicing direct to customers as an anti-trust measure against the mega automotive manufacturers; small local franchisees could stay in business & compete with each other on prices.
What has happened in this state (GA), as far as I can see, is that these franchises, at least the ones in the metro areas, have been snapped up by huge operations that have deep pockets and sophisticated lobbying operations. They're going in hard to protect their turf.

I was always told it was a measure to keep horsemongers from going hungry.

[AutobahnSHO]

The history of how things end up where they are is always interesting. Time for some big shake ups!!!

[SJ_GTI]

VW's EV van has been "unofficially" revealed. Looks pretty good IMHO even if it isn't the type of vehicle I would want.

[Morris Minor]

Add Porsche to VW's production woes: they've had to stop production of the Taycan because of the Ukraine War. 

https://insideevs.com/news/572348/porsche-taycan-production-halted-components/

[NomisR]

The VW EV Bus would be interesting.  Something I definitely would be interested in if I had the space for it.

[SJ_GTI]

Official details are that it won't come to the US until 2024 (which could mean end of 2024, so possibly 2.5 years from now). The model I posted above is the short wheel base version which will be released in Europe this year. The US version will be a long wheel base version, presumably to better compete with minivans?

The SWB version is ~185 inches long, so pretty compact. The ID.4 is ~180 inches I think. My Golf is ~170 inches. A Honda Civic is ~183 inches.

[Rich]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4JraQ6KrVM

[Galaxy]

Add Porsche to VW's production woes: they've had to stop production of the Taycan because of the Ukraine War. 

https://insideevs.com/news/572348/porsche-taycan-production-halted-components/

What were the VW Group's contingency planners doing these last few month?

[Morris Minor]

Porsche is halting all production.

[MrH]

What were the VW Group's contingency planners doing these last few month?

You think you can validate and swap suppliers in a few months?  On something as big and as complicated as wiring harnesses?  It's not just one supplier either.  There are multiple wiring harness factories across multiple companies that are located in Ukraine.

[Morris Minor]

Those things are a 4D chess nightmare.

[Soup DeVille]

You think you can validate and swap suppliers in a few months?  On something as big and as complicated as wiring harnesses?  It's not just one supplier either.  There are multiple wiring harness factories across multiple companies that are located in Ukraine.

And VWAG is more hidebound and selective than- well anybody else I've ever dealt with (including Toyota).

[NomisR]

They could change their business model and be flexible like Chrysler. 

[Galaxy]

You think you can validate and swap suppliers in a few months?  On something as big and as complicated as wiring harnesses?  It's not just one supplier either.  There are multiple wiring harness factories across multiple companies that are located in Ukraine.

The wiring harness supplier that is affected is Leoni, that is a German company with a global presence. Do I expect this to work without any snags? No. But VW's was forced to shut down some productions on day 4 of the Ukraine invasion.

[Galaxy]

I did not see light truck EVs as a realistic towing proposition. You need a diesel torque beast to do that.

Apparently the electric Ram truck will will have a range extender option. That seems to be the best of both worlds for towing.

[Galaxy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxuB4H6uCq8&t=6s

When Cammisa left (was fired?) Motortrend a few years ago, he initially fell into a hole, however he has really picked himself up again.

[Soup DeVille]

They could change their business model and be flexible like Chrysler. 

I don't know exactly how to put this, but the difference between being a Stellantis supplier versus a VWAG supplier is like the difference between running a middle school shop class's mock business team versus running an actual precision machine shop.

[GoCougs]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxuB4H6uCq8&t=6s

When Cammisa left (was fired?) Motortrend a few years ago, he initially fell into a hole, however he has really picked himself up again.

He is watchable and has great vids. He was toned done in this one though.

Good car, nobody will buy it though.

[Laconian]

Apparently the electric Ram truck will will have a range extender option. That seems to be the best of both worlds for towing.

That would be nice. I'm guessing the range extender would be a small unit, recharging the battery slowly over longer periods of time?

[NomisR]

I don't know exactly how to put this, but the difference between being a Stellantis supplier versus a VWAG supplier is like the difference between running a middle school shop class's mock business team versus running an actual precision machine shop.

So you're saying it's doable right?

[SJ_GTI]

Good car, nobody will buy it though.

I think in a different type of market this might be true, but right now it seems like every automaker can sell every car they make, and could sell more if they could make more. If companies like Rivian and Lucid could make more cars faster they will do well. If they struggle to ramp up production they will of course have trouble staying in business. I don't think demand will be the underlying problem though.

[Soup DeVille]

I think in a different type of market this might be true, but right now it seems like every automaker can sell every car they make, and could sell more if they could make more. If companies like Rivian and Lucid could make more cars faster they will do well. If they struggle to ramp up production they will of course have trouble staying in business. I don't think demand will be the underlying problem though.

Except the reason cars are in such demand now is precisely because companies are struggling with production.

[Soup DeVille]

So you're saying it's doable right?

In one sense, yes; because there are literally hundreds of companies that would like to be suppliers to VWAG. In another sense, no; because VWAG will not buy from suppliers that don't meet their standards and have gone through their validation process.

[SJ_GTI]

Except the reason cars are in such demand now is precisely because companies are struggling with production.

Understood, my post was just clarifying that if they don't sell any (or really as many as they need to to stay in business) it will be the production that is the issue, not demand.