AD #3070 – Dacia Reveals Low-Cost EV; Ford Considers 2nd MEB Car; Williams & ItalDesign Create Modular EV Platform

This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.

GM INVESTS $1 BILLION TO BUILD EVs IN MEXICO
General Motors announced a 5th site for manufacturing EVs. It’s going to invest more than $1 billion in its Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico to start building EVs in 2023. GM currently makes the Equinox and Blazer as well as engines and transmissions at its plants in Mexico, but did not say what electric vehicle it will be producing in the country. But the UAW sure isn’t happy with the news. Its Vice President called it a ‘slap in the face.’ We understand where the UAW is coming from, but three of GM’s five sites that will make EVs are in the U.S., while the other is in Canada. Our guess is, whatever vehicle GM makes in Mexico will be sold globally, including China. And that means it won’t face the same import tariff that it would if it were made in the U.S.

SEC PROBES VW’S “VOLTSWAGEN” STUNT
VW could be in some hot water over its “Voltswagen” marketing stunt. The automaker put out a press release days before April Fool’s Day, claiming it was changing its name in the U.S. to “Voltswagen.” But a day later it admitted the name change wasn’t true and was meant to highlight its transition to an electric car company. VW later apologized after receiving backlash. But now Reuters reports that the Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into the stunt. Both the SEC and VW declined to comment. While the company did receive a lot of media attention over the gag, it probably should have waited until April Fool’s Day to pull the prank.

DACIA INTRODUCES LOW-COST EV IN FRANCE
Not long ago we talked about how moving upscale could be a mistake for some automakers because it leaves the door open for someone to take over the bottom of the market, especially when it comes to EVs. We’ve seen China’s Hong Guang MINI EV, which starts at about $4,300, have great sales success because just about anybody can afford it. Now buyers in France have access to an affordable EV. The new Dacia Spring electric starts at 12,400 euro, including a 5,000-euro incentive. And like the MINI EV, it keeps things simple. No fancy materials or big wheels and tires. The battery pack is small at 26.8 kWh, which will probably provide a little more than 100 miles of range in the real world. And it’s not trying to set any acceleration records with a 33 kW or roughly 44 horsepower electric motor. But those things keep the price down and we think we’re going to see a lot more EVs like this. 

FORD CONSIDERS 2ND VEHICLE OFF OF VW’S MEB PLATFORM
Last year, Ford and Volkswagen announced a deal to allow Ford to build an electric vehicle off of VW’s MEB platform. Ford will begin producing that model at its factory in Cologne, Germany in 2023. And now Bloomberg reports that the companies are in talks to allow Ford to build a second EV off of VW’s architecture. A formal announcement could happen in the coming weeks. After the initial deal, Ford said it expected to build 600,000 EVs off the MEB platform but it didn’t provide a time frame. But adding a second MEB electric to its portfolio will make it a lot easier to hit that target.

JEEP OFFERS LIFT KIT FOR WRANGLER 4xe
Jeep is making sure its plug-in version of the Wrangler, the 4xe, is as off-road ready as the gasoline and diesel-powered versions. With the help of Mopar, it just introduced a 2-inch lift kit for the model. The company claims it’s the first lift kit available for a plug-in hybrid vehicle. It includes four springs, four FOX shocks, front lower control arms, front and rear stabilizer links, front and rear bump stops, all of which all come in a custom, reusable crate with the Jeep Performance Parts logo. The setup costs $2,310. Mopar created even more accessories for the Wrangler 4xe and you can check those out by clicking the link in the transcript or description box.

WILLIAMS & ITALDESIGN CREATE MODULAR EV PLATFORM
Here’s an interesting EV partnership. Williams Advanced Engineering is teaming up with ItalDesign to offer high-performance EVs to anyone that wants them. The idea is that Williams supplies the chassis and then ItalDesign comes in and does the design. The composite chassis has a flexible wheelbase and was specifically designed to accommodate a number of body types, including sedans, convertibles, crossovers and grand tourers. It can be equipped with up to 1,000 kW of power and thanks to a structural battery pack, which has a capacity up to 160 kWh, it provides up to 1,000 kilometers or about 620 miles of range. The two companies say they’ll be able to support production runs of up to 10,000 units a year. 

SAUDI ARABIA WANTS TO CREATE LOCAL EV BRAND
It seems like everyone wants to get in on the EV revolution and now you can add Saudi Arabia to the list. Bloomberg reports that the country is looking into creating its own electric car maker and has hired Boston Consulting to advise it. It’s part of a broader effort to build up an automotive infrastructure and increase local manufacturing. The country’s Public Investment Fund has also invested in EV makers like Tesla and Lucid. It’s not too surprising it’s interested in establishing its own EV brand since it’s so reliant on oil and many countries are moving forward with ICE bans.

BMW LAUNCHES STARTUP SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE
BMW is launching a competition for startups to help increase sustainability. Called the Open Call 360-degree Sustainability Challenge, startups can submit products and solutions in seven areas, including recyclable materials, sustainable supply chain, energy-efficient production, mobile intelligence, intelligent building management, customer centric mobility and sustainable technologies. There’s also a “wild card” option if a startup has an idea that doesn’t fit in those categories. Registration is now open and applications must be received by the end of June. Winners will be announced at the IAA Mobility in Munich in September and will gain access to BMW’s Startup Garage, which will help them develop their ideas.

FREE2MOVE EXPANDS U.S. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
Free2Move, which is Stellantis’ mobility brand, announced its expanding its subscription service in the U.S. to six states this year. It currently operates in LA. Automakers have had mixed results with subscription services, which allows customers to pay for a vehicle on a month to month basis. While it’s more expensive than leasing, it typically includes insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance. Volvo and Porsche have had success but others like Ford and Cadillac have had to “pause” or sell their services. But what makes Free2Move different is that it not only offers vehicles from Stellantis’ brands but also ones from competitors. It will be interesting to see if it has more success doing it this way.

But that’s it for today, thanks for watching.