AD #3175 – GM Thinks Cruise Will Make $50 Billion/Year; Tesla Gains Share Despite New EVs; Maverick Better Than Expected
October 5th, 2021 at 11:50am
Listen to “AD #3175 – GM Thinks Cruise Will Make $50 Billion/Year; Tesla Gains Share Despite New EVs; Maverick Better Than Expected” on Spreaker.
Follow us on social media:
Runtime: 10:33
0:07 Tesla Ramps Up Legal Battle with Rivian
0:54 Tesla Opens 1st Superchargers in Africa
1:28 GM Thinks Cruise Will Generate $50 Billion a Year
2:21 Tesla Gains Market Share Despite New EVs
3:46 U.S. Battery Shortage Could Last Until 2025
4:47 Mahle Develops Fast Charging Lithium-Carbon Battery
5:59 NASA Needs Help with New Astronaut Transportation Shuttle
7:19 New Ford Maverick Better Than Expected
9:07 India Could Ban Honking Horns for Musical Horns
Visit our sponsors to thank them for their support of Autoline Daily: Bridgestone, Intrepid Control Systems, and Schaeffler.
This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
TESLA RAMPS UP LEGAL BATTLE WITH RIVIAN
It’s the battle of the EV startups. Tesla is ramping up its legal battle with Rivian. Last year, Tesla filed a lawsuit against Rivian claiming it stole employees and trade secrets. Now, Tesla is adding new allegations. It says Rivian is continuing to poach employees and that some of those workers were “caught red-handed” stealing proprietary technology of its next-gen batteries. Rivian denies the claims. But we do know Rivian isn’t shy about poaching workers. It also nabbed a number of its designers from the Jeep studio and other companies in the Detroit area have grumbled to us about Rivian poaching people, too.
TESLA OPENS FIRST SUPERCHARGERS IN AFRICA
But there’s no stopping Tesla. It just opened its first supercharger stations in Africa. Yes, Africa. They’re in Tangier and Casablanca, in Morocco. Inside EVs reports it’s not clear if Tesla is expanding there or if the chargers are there to support travelers along a popular tourist route. But Tesla does plan to expand to Africa in the future. And that probably leaves Antarctica as the last continent Tesla has to conquer.
GM SAYS CRUISE CAN MAKE $50 BILLION A YEAR
Can AVs make a lot of money? GM certainly thinks so. General Motors is making an investor presentation this week that says Cruise will hit $50 billion a year in revenue. Bloomberg reports that if the company gets regulatory approval, Cruise will start charging for rides next year in autonomous Chevy Bolts and offer shared rides in its Origin shuttle in 2023 in California and in Dubai. GM will also give an update on how its Super Cruise hands free driving technology can bring in ongoing subscription revenue and how it will use its new Ultifi software platform to generate revenue from app-based services in cars. As we’ve been saying, automakers see data monetization as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
TESLA GAINS MARKET SHARE DESPITE NEW EVs
Over the last year traditional automakers launched a number of competitive electric cars in the American market, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Audi e-tron Sport, the Volkswagen ID.4, the Volvo C-40 Recharge and the Polestar 2. Well guess what? Despite all those new EVs hitting the market, Tesla actually increased its market share. Last September it had 76% of the EV segment. This September it had 77%. One reason is that GM stopped selling the Bolt EV because of battery fires. But it’s also because, on a percentage basis, Tesla increased its sales more than any other automaker, including their ICE vehicles. Here’s our Autoline Insight. At some point Tesla is likely going to start losing market share. But that won’t matter as long as it keeps growing sales because that means revenue and profits will keep growing, too.
U.S. BATTERY SHORTAGE COULD LAST UNTIL 2025
Automakers have grand plans to electrify their lineups within the next 10 years, but right now there’s not enough batteries to power all those EVs. In fact SK Innovation, which is the battery manufacturer that Ford is partnering with, has an order backlog of 1,600 GWh. That’s enough to power 27 million EVs. So it’s no wonder we’re seeing so much investment in new battery plants and automakers are even thinking of producing their own cells. But the CEO of SK Innovation sees the battery shortage in the U.S. lasting at least until 2025. That’s because there’s not enough batteries being made in the U.S. and building a factory to meet demand takes 30 months. On the other hand, Europe’s supply is expected to meet market needs, while China will likely have a battery oversupply by the middle of the decade.
MAHLE DEVELOPS FAST CHARGING LITHIUM-CARBON BATTERY
And speaking of batteries, as we reported the other day, EV buyers are more concerned about charge time than they are about range. Remember, time anxiety is the new range anxiety? Well, the supplier Mahle developed a new battery that takes only 90 seconds to recharge. It’s a lithium-carbon battery that combines the advantages of supercapacitors and traditional lithium-ion batteries. It features a battery-type anode and capacitor-style cathode that’s separated by an organic electrolyte. The advantages to this type of chemistry include no rare earth materials, stability at high temperatures, no thermal degradation, high current delivery, fast charging, lifetime of over 100,000 cycles and no need for complex cooling or elaborate battery management systems. Mahle envisions the battery being used in lightweight 2-wheeled and small vehicles with battery sizes of roughly 500 Wh that provide 25 km or 15.5 miles of range.
NASA NEEDS HELP WITH NEW ASTRONAUT TRANSPORT SHUTTLE
NASA is looking for a little help from the automotive community. It’s asking companies to submit proposals for a new shuttle to take astronauts to the launch pad for its upcoming Artemis II mission. It says proposals “should be unique, embrace new technology… and need to seat eight, including four fully suited crew members.” In the past, NASA has taken astronauts to the launch pad in an Airstream camper and says it would even be open to restoring and updating one of these vehicles. We think one of those new electric commercial operators, like Arrival or Volta Trucks, could also come up with something that’s pretty unique.
NEW FORD MAVERICK BETTER THAN EXPECTED
Ford stunned the auto industry when it announced that the new Maverick pickup truck would start around $20,000 and get 40 miles to the gallon. It’s cheaper than a Honda Civic and gets better fuel economy too. No one saw that coming. But it gets better than that. After an extensive test drive, we’d say that Ford nailed it. The truck drives beautifully. The steering is precise and direct. The throttle response on the 2-liter turbo is instantaneous. The ride is pleasantly comfortable, and the cabin is surprisingly quiet.
The hybrid version doesn’t have quite the throttle response of the turbo, but it makes up for that with stunningly good fuel economy. Ford still doesn’t have the official EPA numbers, but we got 42 MPG while driving on secondary roads in rush hour traffic. We got 38 miles to the gallon while hauling 1,000 pounds of mulch in the back, and 23 MPG while towing a 1,600 pound trailer. And we had no trouble at all accelerating onto the highway or keeping up with traffic.
Despite being a garden variety pickup, the all-wheel-drive version handled well off-road, able to clamber up relatively steep, rocky grades. The all-wheel-drive turbo costs around $30,000. And a fully loaded truck tops out around $38,000. But we think a lot of people will be interested in the base truck because it offers so much value for the money. The Maverick is on sale right now, but only the turbo version. Ford says it can’t sell the hybrid until it gets the official EPA numbers which should be out any day now.
INDIA COULD BAN HONKING HORNS IN FAVOR OF MUSICAL HORNS
The auto industry has done an amazing job over the last 40 years. It reduced tailpipe emissions by 99%. It boosted fuel efficiency by 50%. And it cut traffic fatalities by 66%. But noise pollution from cars and trucks is the same as it ever was. So in India, they’re looking at banning honking horns and replacing them with horns that play the sounds of musical instruments. Specifically they want the instruments used in Indian music, including the flute, tabla, violin, and the harmonium, which is like an accordion. Instead of a cacophony of honking horns blaring in traffic- jammed cities everyday, they want the pleasant sound of musical instruments. So that makes us wonder. If you had to choose what kind of instrument your horn should sound like, what would it be?
But that’s the end of today’s show. Thanks for tuning in.
Thanks to our partner for embedding Autoline Daily on its website: WardsAuto.com
Share
Permalink
Comments (27)
October 5th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Haven’t companies always “stolen” employees from each other? I saw it happening, in both directions, when I worked for GM. I don’t really think Tesla has to worry much about Rivian anyway.
October 5th, 2021 at 12:38 pm
I agree Kit. Tesla and Apple stole quite a few employees from each other a few years back when Apple was serious about their Project Titan and Tesla was struggling to fix issues with the Model X and pushing hard on development of the Model 3.
For me, perhaps the Bass Saxophone.
October 5th, 2021 at 12:42 pm
My enthusiasm was really building quickly as you listed off the positive attributes of the Mahle battery, and then came to a screeching halt as you mentioned the usage they envision.
So, this won’t work for passenger vehicles, trucks and commercial vehicles? Is there a problem in scaling up the size and capacity of the battery? Also, cost was not mentioned, so maybe that precludes use in vehicles where longer range and higher power output is required?
October 5th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
How would “la cucuracha ” sound with an Indian flute.
Looks like Fords Maverick hit a homerun with the base Mav,lets hope the Dealers dont gouge, it is $26,000 base in Canada one vlogger was loaned one, for the same price as a Civic or a Corolla Ford has a winner, and if t
Hey can keep the Lightning 150 price down they will have takers, atleast for Ford fans, lets see what GM offers..
October 5th, 2021 at 1:05 pm
How would “la cucuracha ” sound with an Indian flute. With preprogramed and digital software any sound can be made, from V2 Harleys to screaming V12s , where allowed of course, so for BEV converts with addiction to Fossil sounds they can be satisfied, hopefully, and a massaging seat can complete the thumpa- thumpa feel of a lumpy V8.
Looks like Fords Maverick hit a homerun with the base Mav,lets hope the Dealers dont gouge, it is $26,000 base in Canada one vlogger was loaned one, for the same price as a Civic or a Corolla Ford has a winner, and if t
Hey can keep the Lightning 150 price down they will have takers, atleast for Ford fans, lets see what GM offers..
October 5th, 2021 at 1:18 pm
I just took a look at the Maverick “build and price” tool, and it looks like to get cruise control, you need to get an XLT. While the base version has only one color, blue, other than black, white, and 4 shades of grey, the XLT has a little more color choice. There is red, blue, orange, and 5 shades of grey. The bottom line for the cheapest one with cruise control is $24,810. This is copied and pasted from the Ford site. It may be jumbled. I’m not sure what “acquisition fee” is. That sounds like a dealer add on, but this is from the Ford site. The $390 is red paint.
BASE MSRPS1
$22,280
OPTIONSS4 & ACCESSORIESS8
+ $390
DESTINATION CHARGESS17
+ $1,495
ACQUISITION FEES18
+ $645
TOTAL MSRPS16
= $24,810
ESTIMATED NET PRICES5
= $24,810
October 5th, 2021 at 1:22 pm
6 I meant the cheapest Maverick with cruise control and color is $24,810. It would be $390 less in black, white, or some of the shades of grey.
October 5th, 2021 at 1:27 pm
Base Maverick plus 7.5% (on base) destination charge; wow! Like John says; they really need to incorporate that delivery charge into the final price as there’s no getting around it.
October 5th, 2021 at 1:28 pm
3 I, too, was wondering about the limited usefulness of the batteries. Maybe it’s because charging a car-size battery in 90 seconds would mean a charge rate of about 8000 amps at 500 volts, which might be practical.
October 5th, 2021 at 1:30 pm
Here in the US, I don’t think we use our horns anywhere near as much as they do in India, but it is an interesting idea. I think I’d want the sad tuba sound from “The Price is Right” for mine.
October 5th, 2021 at 1:32 pm
I want my horn to sound like a swarm of stinging and bitting insects … in stereo with left-right fade.
October 5th, 2021 at 1:36 pm
Sean mentioned supercapacitor in the Mahle segment, hence the fast recharge and low capacity limit. I think it’s a good idea when prices come down to match batteries with supercapacitors. Allow the supercapacitor to absorb a charge quickly and less quickly recharge the battery. Might get you on your way sooner.
October 5th, 2021 at 1:40 pm
I like the idea of rebuilding an original Airstream camper. Keep the history and nostalgia of earlier space times but update it with electric motor etc. I don’t think range is an issue with its job.
October 5th, 2021 at 1:44 pm
9 Missing word in my post. Charging at 8000 amps, 500 volts might NOT be practical.
October 5th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
12 I think they still have an Airstream or two. I remember seeing one at KSC not too long ago. Maybe it, or they need some work, though.
October 5th, 2021 at 1:55 pm
#10. I want my horn to sound like screeching tires with full brake lock-up.
October 5th, 2021 at 3:01 pm
Kit, I think the $645 acquisition fee is a back end charge to a lease… when you turn in your lease, but do lease another vehicle from that OEM.
I’m a cash buyer, so that fee does not apply to me. It is completely insane that Ford lists that fee up-front as it makes their vehicles look more expensive than other OEMs.
October 5th, 2021 at 3:27 pm
There is a very small icon you can click on at the top of the Build It screen that details the various fees. This is what Ford says the acquisition fee is.
Acquisition Fee is a charge paid by the lessee to Ford Credit to help cover the cost of acquiring and servicing the account.
October 5th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
17,18 Thanks for the info. I didn’t read the “fine print.” That’s strange, though, that they would show that in the “build and price” tool.
October 5th, 2021 at 4:36 pm
17-19 – We paid cash for my wife’s Mustang last year (a consolation prize for our COVID-canceled Italy/Greece trip) and did not pat the $645 acquisition fee.
Between goofy front end or back end lease fees AND dealer doc fees (we paid $200, but over $900 is common in Florida), it’s no wonder people hate the car purchase/lease experience.
October 5th, 2021 at 5:15 pm
20) TESLA has proven that people just want a consistent price. It can be a very high price with zero discounts as all TESLAs are, but they want it to be consistent more than cost effective for their wallet. GM was starting to catch on to that with their Saturn division and no haggle pricing, but then they went typical GM and abandoned the elements that made Saturn special and what people liked most.
October 5th, 2021 at 5:45 pm
My mother had a 1953 Studebaker that was originally sold overseas (Sweden I think). It had a horn and a bell. As I understood it, the bell was supposed to be used in the city. It also had Marchal headlights and a kph speedometer that went to 180kph which I used to convince my friends that it was a fast car. It was anything but, with that anemic Studebaker Champion six cylinder engine. It sure was a pretty car though.
I would be worried that the cacophony of all of those tunes competing with each other would be worse than horns.
October 5th, 2021 at 6:32 pm
The Indian horn idea is silly, will do nothing to mitigate noise pollution. People there use horns to warn their neighboring vehicles of their position, the tone may change but the noise level won’t.
October 6th, 2021 at 6:36 am
The Indian experiment might yield a cacophony of sound that might be interpreted as an avantgarde orchestra (probably more like an orchestra when it tuning-up); still thinking, it will be just as annoying.
October 6th, 2021 at 9:09 am
20 Not only is a $900 doc fee common in Florida, but with Toyota, there is a ~$700 extra charge on the sticker in Florida and some other states “served” by the crooks of Southeast Toyota Distributors.
October 8th, 2021 at 12:13 pm
My horn would play Lou Bega’s “Baby Keep Smiling”
October 9th, 2021 at 1:48 am
The new Maverick sounds like a good buy, particularly compared to the mid-size trucks as a daily driver. I wonder if Ford considered calling it the F100?
The horns I would like to order is the introduction to “Promises, Promises” by Dionne Warwick.