On today’s show… Tesla unveils upgrades to the Model 3 that push the price sky high… Toyota says solid state batteries for EVs are a long way off… and FCA is in hot water over diesel emissions. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily the show for enthusiasts of the automotive industry.
PERFORMANCE VERSION OF MODEL 3 IS PLENTY PRICEY
Elon Musk is touting Tesla’s performance version of the Model 3 on Twitter. It includes dual motors, where one can drive the car even if the other gives out, and together provide all-wheel drive. It features 20-inch wheels, a carbon fiber spoiler and a black and white interior. It can hit 60 MPH in just 3.5-seconds, has a top speed of 155 miles-per-hour and has 310-miles of range. All that will set you back $78,000, which is well above its highly-touted $35,000 starting price and still does not include AutoPilot. If you just want AWD on your Model 3, it costs an additional $5,000.
TOYOTA SAYS SOLID STATE BATTERIES A DECADE AWAY
Toyota threw cold water on the idea that solid state batteries are going to be ready for electric cars by 2020. In an interview with Wards Auto, Shinzuo Abe, the head of powertrain for Toyota, said they will not be ready for mass production until around 2030. He said they will begin trial production in 2020, but that 2030 is a more realistic time frame for when they will be ready. EV enthusiasts have been hoping that solid state batteries would help bring down the cost of electric cars much sooner than that.
MERRILL LYNCH ISSUES INDUSTRY WARNING
Merrill Lynch issued a warning that the auto industry in the American market has “entered the early innings of a downturn.” It says the industry faces headwinds from rising interest rates and fuel and raw material prices. It also cites a tsunami of vehicles coming off lease that will flood the used car market, dragging down prices of new and used cars. Merrill Lynch says investors are leery that automakers can sustain their earnings going into this kind of environment.
Raj Nair, the former Ford executive who got fired earlier this year, popped up as the COO of a supplier company and that’s coming up next.
FCA IN HOT WATER OVER DIESEL EMISSIONS
Fiat Chrysler looks to be in big trouble over diesel emissions. First, let’s back it up a bit. By rule, diesels are allowed to exceed emission levels, but only in certain situations, and you have to tell regulators about it. FCA is being accused of installing software in the 3.0L diesel for Jeep Grand Cherokees and Ram pickups that would allow excess emissions beyond those certain situations, but it did not report them. FCA denies using a defeat device, but according to Bloomberg, email records show FCA had concerns over the engine’s software as early as 2010. VM Motori, the diesel supplier owned by FCA, wrote that the software was capable of cycle detection, which means it could know when it was being tested for emissions and could change calibrations.
RAJ NAIR LANDS AT MULTIMATIC
Raj Nair, the former president of Ford North America who was fired earlier this year for inappropriate behavior, was named the chief operating officer of the Canadian supplier Multimatic. The company is famous for its racing expertise, and for making an innovative shock absorber using spool valves that are used in the hard-core, off-road Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 and other applications. The company also manufactures Ford’s GT sports car.
ED CARPENTER TAKES INDY 500 POLE
Qualification for the Indianapolis 500 took place over the weekend and produced a number of surprises. Ed Carpenter qualified fastest with a speed over 229 miles an hour. That’s about 370 kilometers per hour. Carpenter is from Indianapolis and runs his own team. But for this race, he’s driving one of his own cars. Chevrolet powered cars dominated qualifying, taking 8 of the top 10 positions. Danica Patrick, supposedly making her last race appearance qualified seventh. I say supposedly, because if she does well in the race we’d expect her to get other offers to drive. And in a stunning development, James Hinchcliffe, the popular Canadian driver, who sits 5th in the driver’s championship failed to quality.
Coming up next, a look at how 3D printing is being used by automakers.
3D PRINTING REDUCES COMPLEXITY
On last week’s Autoline After Hours we were joined by Jon Walker from 3D printing company EOS North America. And he talked about how EOS helped GM create a seat bracket, that not only reduces its size but also the complexity of manufacturing the part.
(Clip from AAH #421 can only be viewed in the video version of today’s show.)
A programming note here. There will not be an Autoline After Hours this week as the crew is tied up with another video production.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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Comments (18)
May 21st, 2018 at 12:06 pm
With tongue firmly inserted in cheek: Tesla can’t meet production, raises prices of entry model, the rest of auto producers facing off-lease flooding of supply (still make great stuff), industry warning hovers; Tesla stock splits with remaining stock priced at 35% rise (while GM, Ford and FCA devalued to junk). You just can’t make this stuff up; oh, yeah, I just did.
May 21st, 2018 at 12:20 pm
J. P. Morgan thinks it’s a great idea for Ford to quit making cars.
https://www.thestreet.com/investing/the-time-to-invest-in-ford-is-now-says-j-p-morgan-14594141
May 21st, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Raj Nair being named the COO at Multimatic shows the Old Boy CEO/COO network is alive and well. Multimatic should be ashamed to have hired this slimy person. What is wrong with them? Tesla sure has the auto critics/writers snowed with their products and prices. I guess there are suckers out there for every car he makes…just don’t take your eyes off the road and hands off the steering wheel. A glut of off lease cars coming to the used car market is great. Makes buying a very close to new vehicle affordable for many people.
May 21st, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Will even one of these off-lease cars have a manual transmission, though?
May 21st, 2018 at 1:01 pm
John,
Can anyone really believe anything that Elon says? Tesla production is far below what we were told and now the cost of the Model 3 is far higher than what all those who put down their deposits. He reminds me of our governmental leadership promising far more than what’s produced.
Barry Rector
Indy
May 21st, 2018 at 1:06 pm
I am really disappointed by the news on the solid state batteries. Despite the obvious power density advantage, I would think they would be less prone to fire than the current cells. Tesla has been getting some undeserved bad exclusive press by their cars catching on fire after a crash.
Does anyone else think $5000 for an extra motor in a Tesla sound a bit pricey? It is nice of Elon to let us know that if one of the motors fails, you have a backup? Who says these crazy things?
Great job for Ed Carpenter, his 3rd pole position. If his pit crew can keep him in contention, he might finally pull an Indy 500 off. A special mention to Danica. I think Indycar is where she really belonged, not NASCAR. I’m not expecting her to win, but I don’t think we’ll see her get caught up in someone else’s wreck like happened many times in stock cars.
4) Kit, I doubt you’ll see many manuals come off lease. The hit to the residual when you start the lease is pretty big, making many “unleaseable”.
May 21st, 2018 at 1:19 pm
I wonder how many years Tesla can go around touting a $35,000 car while never making one. I understand why they are doing it; I just don’t understand how so many people keep saying they make a $35,000 car.
No surprise about solid state batteries. EVs have turned out to be evolutionary, not revolutionary and that’s ok. It’s an opportunity for great engineering like in the Bolt EV. And it’s an opportunity for society to get a handle on their pros and cons.
May 21st, 2018 at 2:53 pm
7…they did make ONE! Its locked in garage never to be seen again. Tesla gets a pass on many things and that should stop. Bait and switch or some sort of deception…they used to crucify car dealers for this kind of sales tactic.
May 21st, 2018 at 2:56 pm
$5000 for an extra motor in the Tesla is a bargain, compared to the $2500-3000 that people pay for 4wd on any number of vehicles. They don’t get an extra motor, just worse gas mileage, with little benefit, especially in places where there is never ice or snow on the roads. If the Tesla needs an extra motor for reliability, though, they need to find a different source of motors, Electric motors, with one moving part, should be very reliable.
At least Tesla is getting Model 3 production ramped up, at least somewhat. Bloomberg estimates they are now building 2900/week. If that is correct, they have come a long way over the last couple months. I’m wondering about the quality, though.
May 21st, 2018 at 3:19 pm
that 3d printed part comparison was an eye opener for me. Amazing what just that 1 item represents in terms of costs and complexity vs 3d printing. Makes me wonder whats next?
May 21st, 2018 at 4:13 pm
A half ton of batts in the belly makes no sense at all. if Nissan ever brings their 48v , eng/gen to US market, it’ll blow every other EV right out of that market–again—KISS RULES !@
May 21st, 2018 at 4:31 pm
11 The Note E-Power uses a Leaf traction motor, which means the ~1.5 kWh battery is 300+ volts, not 48 volts. You must be thinking of mild hybrid Ram trucks, or something like that, re. 48 volts.
May 21st, 2018 at 6:21 pm
Another fatal accident with a Tesla model S. Wound up in a lake submerged. Reason at this time unknown. http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2018/05/21/tesla-driver-found-dead-in-car-submerged-in-pond.html
May 21st, 2018 at 6:58 pm
Does anyone know fatality rates of Teslas, relative to other cars? John or Sean?
May 21st, 2018 at 7:06 pm
I thought the Model 3 was supposed to be affordable to the mainstream buyers. Elon Musk can never tell the truth about anything!!
May 21st, 2018 at 8:03 pm
Toyota may put solid state batteries out to 2030 but leave it the Chinese and it will be much sooner.
May 21st, 2018 at 8:18 pm
…or maybe a Massachusetts company.
https://futurism.com/massachusetts-solid-state-battery-company/
May 23rd, 2018 at 6:35 pm
Nissan has bet big on current battery tech. Remember much of the research on Li-ION battery innovation was done in US federal labs. Its also Samsung/LG (korean) who are the leading battery tech manufacturers even if Nissan is building its own. Anyway if 3D printing cuts weight-cost as expected- we may not need solid-state to come to the rescue