Category: Automotive News

Leasing a Nissan Leaf just got cheaper

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Nissan was an early proponent of local sourcing for the Leaf, when it constructed a dedicated battery plant next to its Smyrna vehicle assembly that produced its own battery cells. Japanese supplier Envision AESC now operates that battery production center on the Smyrna site. But now, to qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit, at least 40 percent of the value of the EV battery’s critical minerals must be extracted or processed in the US or in a country where the US has a free-trade agreement, or from materials recycled in North America. In addition, at least half of…
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$200 million GM EV parts plant slated for Auburn Hills, Mich.

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GM plans to begin making the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV at its Factory Zero in Detroit this year before adding the Orion plant as a second assembly site in 2024. Together, the two plants will give GM the ability to make 600,000 electric pickups a year. “General Motors has identified the former Palace of Auburn Hills site as a potential location for a supplier park to support its Orion Assembly Plant, which will be expanded to produce electric pickup trucks,” GM said in a statement. “The company is still determining the scope of work and which supplier…
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VW battery plant gets up to $13B in federal money

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Still, the size of the incentives is striking. The production support alone is expected to range from $8 billion to $13 billion over 10 years, depending on how much the plant produces and what happens with US policy. The contract is written so that Canada’s production subsidies will stay in place only as long as the Inflation Reduction Act is in force. If the US reduces its incentives for clean manufacturing, Canada’s will go down proportionally. On top of that, Canada is offering about $700 million in capital expense grants to Volkswagen through its Strategic Innovation Fund. And there may…
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JLR’s new identities: Range Rover, Discovery, Defender, Jaguar

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JLR announced Wednesday that Jaguar’s first car under its new strategy will be a four-door electric GT priced at more than £100,000 ($124,200) with a range of up to 700 kilometers (435 miles). The absence of the Land Rover name in the rebrand created controversy on social media within the UK, with some commentators assuming JLR had dropped the storied name. However, JLR confirmed the name would continue as a badge on its SUVs to serve as a “trust mark.” “Land Rover will remain. It is strong, well known, and we will use that collective strength to give our brands…
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What Happens if ADAS Calibration Isn’t Done?

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Automotive design and technology are constantly evolving; each year, vehicles become increasingly advanced and reliable on electronic and computerized features to deliver better safety, performance, and comfort.Windshields are no exception. Although the windshields of newer vehicles may look like they’re just a piece of glass, most of them contain sensors, cameras, and other advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) equipment that play a large role in how your car functions. Unfortunately, this makes the process of replacing windshields more complex—and costly. Understanding ADAS Calibration ADAS refers to a wide range of automated features that assist or alert drivers while they’re…
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New Toyota CEO touts a three-step plan to EV profits and productivity

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From now on, Toyota enters the second phase, when it will quickly incorporate learnings and improvements from those EVs into forthcoming model introductions. That stage will last until around 2026, when Toyota will have built up enough capacity to sell some 1.5 million EVs globally. The third phase kicks off in 2026, when Toyota introduces a completely new EV platform along with its Arene software system for cars. That will allow Toyota to leverage a new vehicle software system to unlock new revenue streams, business models and hyper-efficient product development cycles. The new setup being developed will enable Toyota’s future…
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Maserati updated the lineup with a choice of EVs, hybrids, combustion

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Peffer said Maserati’s sales last year and so far in 2023 are primarily utility vehicles. Early data shows that around 80 percent of Grecale sales are conquests. The Grecale starts at $64,995 with shipping, a price point that may surprise some consumers. Houston Maserati dealer Steven Wolf said the brand’s image can make people assume its products are out of their reach, but the Grecale is more accessible. “I think that there’s a lot of people who don’t know you can get a Maserati in the $60,000 range, and I think that’s something [where] the word needs to get out,”…
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Polestar will take over part of the old Saab plant to expand R&D

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Polestar will take over part of Saab’s former car plant in Sweden to extend its R&D operations in Europe. The EV maker will conduct powertrain development for the Polestar 5, a Tesla Model S rival, and the Polestar 6 roadster at a 15,000-square-meter building in Trollhattan, Automotive News Europe sister publication Automobilwoche reported. Polestar will also test powertrains, electric motors and batteries for the upcoming models at the new R&D center. Polestar will rent the building from the city of Trollhattan, Automobilwoche said. The site was previously used for powertrain development by Saab and then by National Electric Vehicle Sweden…
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