AD #3491 – VW Developing Ranger Based EV Pickup; Tesla Expands Nevada Gigafactory; BMW Launches New M3
January 25th, 2023 at 12:00pm
Listen to “AD #3491 – VW Developing Ranger Based EV Pickup; Tesla Expands Nevada Gigafactory; BMW Launches New M3″ on Spreaker.
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Runtime: 9:28
0:08 Tesla Expands Nevada Gigafactory
0:51 Tesla Now Qualifies for Full German EV Incentives
1:32 VW Developing Ford Ranger Based EV Pickup
3:02 Adient Slashes Environmental Impact
3:46 BMW Launches New High-Performance M3
5:11 Lucid Supplying Formula E with Electric Drive Units
6:33 Ford May Sell German Plant to BYD
7:22 Tire Rack: Aftermarket EV Tires Better Than Factory Tires
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TESLA EXPANDS NEVADA GIGAFACTORY
Tesla is planning a significant expansion to its Gigafactory in Nevada. The EV maker is investing $3.6 billion to build two new facilities at the site. One will be to produce the Semi in volume production but it did not say what the capacity will be. And the other is a 100 GWh, 4680 battery cell factory, which will be able to produce enough batteries for 1.5 million light-duty vehicles annually. The expansion will add around 3,000 new jobs. Since 2014, Tesla has invested $6.2 billion in the Nevada Gigafactory, and that doesn’t include the new investment.
TESLA NOW QUALIFIES FOR FULL GERMAN EV INCENTIVES
And in other Tesla news, this should help out with sales. Thanks to its price cuts, all variations of the Model 3 and Y now qualify for maximum tax incentives in Germany, 6,750 euros or about $7,000. Like the U.S., Germany has price caps on EVs to qualify for incentives. Factoring in both the cuts and credits, the Model 3 now costs just over 40,000 euros and the Model Y is just over 41,000 euros. Tesla is currently building 3,000 Model Ys a week at its Berlin factory and it’s aiming to boost that to 5,000 soon.
VW DEVELOPING FORD RANGER BASED EV PICKUP
Instead of Ford using Volkswagen’s MEB platform for EVs, it looks like it could be the other way around. The head of VW’s Commercial division says an EV pickup, like the ID.Ruggedzz Concept, is “still on the agenda.” But instead of being MEB-based, it would share a platform with the current Ford Ranger, which is also the base for the Volkswagen Amarok. Although, it will need a fair amount of modification to go electric. It sounds like Ford will handle most of that work and would require at least a 110-kWh battery pack to provide enough towing and range. VW likely won’t bring its version of this truck to the U.S. It’s got Scout for that. But as we reported yesterday, Nissan is likely developing a mid-size electric pickup and we’ve got to believe so are the other major truck makers.
ADIENT SLASHES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The auto industry is doing a good job of reducing greenhouse gasses that goes beyond just making electric vehicles. Take the seat supplier Adient, for example. Last year it slashed its use of water by 16 million liters. It cut 25 kilowatts hour-equivalent of fuel, it got rid of 5,363 metric tons of waste, and cut its electricity waste by 42 million kilowatt hours. It also cut over 6,000 metric tons of CO2e. So what the heck is CO2e? We had to look that up. It stands for CO2 equivalent and includes other greenhouse gasses.
BMW LAUNCHES NEW HIGH-PERFORMANCE M3
BMW is launching the high-performance version of the M3, the CS, which stands for Competition Sport. It comes with a similar engine as the M3, a twin-turbo 3.0L in-line 6-cylinder, but thanks to higher boost pressure and a software tune, it produces 543 horsepower, an increase of 40 horsepower. That’s fed through an 8-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive, which helps get the M3 CS from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. One of the upgrades we’d like to highlight is the brace over the engine. It’s more elaborate than your typical strut tower brace, also extending forward to the radiator surround, and is meant to help improve handling and responsiveness. As will specially tuned electronic dampers and roll bars, carbon ceramic brakes, unique alignment settings and steering ratio as well as high performance tires. The CS has its own unique look too, including special treatment to the grille, aero accessories and sport seats backed in carbon fiber, which is also picked up on other parts of the interior. Production of the M3 CS, which kicks off in March, will be limited and prices start at a shade under $120,000, including destination charges.
LUCID SUPPLYING FORMULA E WITH ELECTRIC DRIVE UNITS
If you didn’t know Lucid, the maker of the all-electric Air sedan, also provides the battery pack for the all-electric Formula E racing series. And now it’s supplying the electric drive units as well. Mounted in the front of every Formula E car this season is the new Lucid unit, which combines the motor, inverter, differential and transmission all into one. It’s said to have 469 horsepower and can spin up to 19,500 RPM, despite weighing just 70.5 pounds or 32 kilos. Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson says “some of the technical advancements introduced may in turn make their way to future Lucid road cars.”
FORD MAY SELL GERMAN PLANT TO BYD
As we reported yesterday, Ford is planning to shrink its footprint in Europe by cutting 3,200 jobs, mostly in Germany. And now the Wall Street Journal reports that Ford could sell one of its plants in Germany to Chinese automaker BYD. Ford executives will travel to China this month to discuss a potential deal. But it’s not known how much Ford is seeking for the plant. BYD has been slowly ramping up its presence in Europe and last year it said it is considering a plant in the region, so it makes sense why it would be interested in the Ford plant. Other companies are also reportedly interested in acquiring the plant. The factory, which opened in 1970, currently only builds the Focus and Ford plans to end production there in 2025.
TIRE RACK: AFTERMARKET EV TIRES BETTER THAN FACTORY TIRES
Aftermarket EV tires are better than the ones from the factory. It’s typically the other way around but according to tests done Tire Rack, which sells and tests tires among other things, aftermarket tires for the Long-Range version of the Tesla Model 3 outperformed the ones that originally came on the car. Specifically, it tested the Continental and Michelin tires that come on the EV and compared them to aftermarket alternatives from the same manufacturers. And in both cases the aftermarket tires provide better traction, braking, and lateral grip. The braking improvements were especially impressive, reducing braking distance by one to two car lengths. It goes to show that tires can make a huge difference on EVs. As we reported in the past, switching from aggressive tires, like the ones that come on the Rivian from the factory, to less aggressive tires can have a big impact on range.
Could automakers ever develop new cars and trucks without ever making a prototype? That’s the goal of a company called VI-grade–zero prototypes. They make driving simulators that allow engineers to test out cars and components in the virtual world before they ever have to make any hardware. And this approach is slashing the time it takes to develop new vehicles. That’s the topic on Autoline After Hours tomorrow. Michael Hoffmann from VI-grade will be on the show. So join John and Gary when the show goes live at 3 pm eastern time.
But that wraps up today’s show, thanks for watching and please like and subscribe if you enjoyed the video.
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Comments (25)
January 25th, 2023 at 12:10 pm
Isn’t the main difference between Tesla OEM tires, and other tires, that the Tesla ones are lined with some kind of foam to reduce road noise? It sounds like they also have different, lower performance compound.
January 25th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Seems odd that Tire Rack would only compare tires of the same brands as the factory ones… Hmmmmmmmm
January 25th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Sean, you reported the handling and braking differences in the Tire Rack test, but not the “fuel” efficiency difference. I suspect the OEM spec tires are biased to low rolling resistance to aid in driving range. Yet, low rolling resistant tires typically don’t corner or brake as well. Bottom line, it frequently comes down to attribute trade-offs.
January 25th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
1 – looks like a combination of low rolling resistance construction and hard compound in an effort to improve range. Tire Rack saw about a 10% drop in range between the OEM and aftermarket tires. Those types of tires are notoriously poor in handling and braking performance, so those results aren’t too surprising.
January 25th, 2023 at 12:31 pm
Not really surprising that an aftermarket tire can outperform the OE. The original tire is the tire that offered the best performance for the price including any OE specifications.
If the OE’s main criteria was range they may have sacrificed some of the performance parameters to increase range. It really comes down to what they valued most. Certainly most performance cars can and need to buy a better tire for the track but they’ll sacrifice maybe wet performance. Its all a matter of what the OE was after and if Toyo provides a better price than Goodyear for an almost equivilant tire I’m sure price wins out. Remember on those 50K vehicles thats 200K tires and a dollar savings is 200K a year.
January 25th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
3,4 Yep, after reading the linked article, I see that the estimated range was substantially higher with the OEM tires, indicating lower rolling resistance. I posted #1 before reading the INSIDEEVs article.
January 25th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Funny. By the time I finished my post 4 other had added almost the same exact comments. I dont think anyone found it surprising.
January 25th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
5 I’ve heard for years that Tesla OEM tires were lined with foam, to decrease road/tire noise, but they are also low rolling resistance. I don’t know how they do on tread life.
January 25th, 2023 at 1:33 pm
Didn’t realize we had so many tire enthusiasts here. Good to know.
I’m thinking that the VW EV pickup story also means that a Ford Ranger EV will be developed using the same engineering work that will be done for the VW truck. Midsize EV pickups, in some ways, make even more sense than full size pickups.
January 25th, 2023 at 1:35 pm
If the InsideEVs article is correct, the Michelin tires compared with the OEMs are almost snow tires, “severe snow service rated,” and they still performed better than the OEMs.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?message=singleSize&tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=CrossClimate2&cameFrom=selectOE&partnum=345VR8CC2XL
January 25th, 2023 at 1:48 pm
After watching the cool Lucid engineering videos with Peter R, I was very impressed with their electric drivetrain, they are borderline teasing how crude other motors are in comparison. Glad to see they’re finding ways to use it in other applications, spreading goodness.
January 25th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
@TESLA: at EUR 40,000 for the Model 3 and EUR 41,000 for the Model Y in Europe I am expecting big successes for TRESLA in Western and Northern Europe.
January 25th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
12 Models 3 and Y are much closer to the same price in Europe than in the US, where the Y is $9K more expensive. Maybe they sell an RWD Model Y in Europe, which could explain the big difference. The Y is sold only 4WD in the US, while an RWD 3 is sold.
January 25th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
Wow, who would have thought that, instead of complaining about the US IRA, if leaders of other countries did the same think, the citizens in their own countries would be incentivized to make similar EV purchases in their home market?! I don’t get the rationale of those leaders, complaining about what other leaders are doing in their own country, which is benefiting their people, calling it unfair to the multi billion dollar companies in their home market! It’s one thing if something in the US is unfair and having a negative impact on the citizens in the country that they represent. But, these are multi billion dollar in dollar companies and most of those complaining, the product they are selling wouldn’t qualify anyway.
BMW is reeaallly leaning into that face that the have on the 4 and now the 3 Series! There next styling design can’t come fast enough, IMHO!
If Ford could include the work force along with the sell of the German plant, that would be a best case solution for everyone involved. Whom ever the new owner is, I’m sure would value a skilled work force, ready to move the assembly plant into whatever direction the new stewardship would be willing to go into!
January 25th, 2023 at 2:58 pm
Brexit may not have been good for Ford in Europe. Ford had been the top selling brand in the UK for decades, and had been shipping parts and cars back and forth to the continent. They are still a close #2 in the UK, after VW, but are a very distant #8 in Europe as a whole, with sales dropping substantially between 2020 and 2021. Maybe BYD would want to buy all of what’s left of Ford Europe, as PSA did with Opel/Vauxhall, before Stellantis was formed.
January 25th, 2023 at 3:08 pm
@15 since VW produces outside of the U.K. and leads in sales in the U.K., what is your rationale that Brexit has been bad for Ford, Kit?
January 25th, 2023 at 3:14 pm
I recently went from Continental tires which were oe on my car,to a Michelin. I noticed the change immediately once behind the wheel. I much prefer the Continentals for my application/driving style. Once these are done,I’ll be switching back.
January 25th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
11 Lucid has been building batteries and powertrains for other manufacturers since 2007 as well as battery packs for Formula E racing. They have a lot of experience at this.
January 25th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
16 My thought was the large amount of “back and forth” of parts and cars with Ford, which got more complex with Brexit. VW just sells cars in the UK, with no manufacturing there, except Bentley. There, presumably, would be extra tax on the VWs going to the UK, but I’d think that would be simple, compared to what Ford would deal with. Maybe that’s not a big factor, though.
January 25th, 2023 at 3:33 pm
17 Generally, Michelin tires are quiet, ride well, and have long tread life, while comparable Continentals have better performance. At least that’s how it seems with their “mainstream” all season tires.
All tire companies have so many different models that it’s hard to really compare. I know my Camry hybrid handled and generally “felt better” with Continentals than with the Firestones that came on it, but it got worse mpg with the Continentals.
January 26th, 2023 at 12:52 am
Adoption of existing ICE architecture often means keeping legacy design rules that limit EV performance. For examples, see F150 and Rivian, The Ford/VW joint effort is already doomed to under perform as EVs really need a ‘clean sheet’ design.
A past Prius owner, both Sumitomo and Bridgestone replacement tires provided lower rolling resistance than the initial tires. Often these replacements came with significant improved +40%, tire range. But it looks like Bridgestone has ended their ECOPIA series and Sumitomo wandered off years ago.
January 26th, 2023 at 7:18 am
I have found that my replacement tires (different brand) significantly out preformed the OEM tires. But I’m usually comparing apples to oranges because in most cases I went with separate summer and winter tires with the focus on traction not mileage. My summer tire choices were a “plus one”, one size wider and one size lower profile. The difference in wet and dry traction was significant.
January 26th, 2023 at 7:29 am
The biggest difference in tires today from years ago when I started driving is the tires are designed to cover a designated mileage and still have tread left on them. Todays tires will have internal belt separation and uneven wear when they have been driven too long and still have tread left on them. I had a set of Michelin’s that I got 80k miles on them before they started to have problems and they still had tread but needed replaced. You dont often see people on bald tires anymore unless its an alignment problem. It is amazing the difference a good set of tires can make.
January 26th, 2023 at 9:59 am
21 Tire Rack still list Bridgestone Ecopia, at least in sizes for Prius and Camry LE hybrid.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Ecopia+EP422+Plus&partnum=065HR6EP422PL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Toyota&autoYear=2020&autoModel=Camry%20Hybrid&autoModClar=LE
January 26th, 2023 at 10:03 am
23 When I started driving in the early 1960s, the bias ply tires of the time would barely last 20,000 miles. My 1974 Plymouth Duster came with Goodyear Polyglass bias belted tires, which lasted about 30K, very good for the time. Today’s all season radials normally last at least 60K, unless the alignment is off.