AD #3382 – Ralph Nader Attacks Tesla FSD; Tesla Goes to 2-Shifts in Berlin; Used Car Prices Still Soaring

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

RALPH NADER ATTACKS TESLA FSD
Uh-oh, now even Ralph Nader is attacking Tesla’s full self driving system. The famous safety expert says that using owners to beta test FSD is, and I quote, “one of the most dangerous and irresponsible actions by a car company in decades.” Nader claims FSD malfunctions every 8 minutes. We’re pretty sure most Tesla owners do not agree with him. So if you have a Tesla with FSD we’d love to hear about your experience.

TESLA GOES TO 2-SHIFTS IN BERLIN
And speaking of Tesla, it’s really making progress at its Berlin Gigafactory. It’s moving to a two-shift schedule this month, after recently halting production for two weeks to upgrade the plant with new casting machines and other equipment. The plant is currently producing about 1,000 vehicles a week but Tesla’s targeting 3,000 EVs a week by the end of October and 5,000 by the end of the year. Tesla plans to eventually run a three shift schedule to reach that goal.

USED CAR PRICES STILL SOARING
Just when we thought that sky high used car prices were as bad as they could get, it looks like they’re getting even worse. According to iSeeCars, the average used car, 1-5 years old, went up nearly 11% in July compared to last year and now sits at over $34,000. And it’s even worse for used electric vehicles. They’ve gone up by nearly 57%. And hybrids were up over 30%. So, what’s going on? With inventory low and gas prices high, demand for fuel efficient vehicles is going through the roof.

SANDY MUNRO ON AAH
Be sure to tune in to Autoline After Hours later today when Sandy Munro will be back on the show. He’s got some controversial predictions he’s going to drop. And we’ve got some questions of our own. Like, how did Sandy go from picking tomatoes to becoming a YouTube star? You heard that right, picking tomatoes. And if you want to know what that’s all about, join John and Gary when the show goes live at 3 pm eastern time.

MAHLE & SIEMENS DEVELOPING INDUCTIVE CHARGING FOR EVS
If you don’t like the hassle of plugging in your electric car or maybe you have disabilities, Mahle and Siemens have a solution for you. They’re teaming up to develop wireless EV chargers, and focus on promoting standards for inductive charging technology. All you do is pull your car over a charging pad and never have to hassle with any cables again.

GEELY’S EV PICKUP, THE RADAR RD6
Pickup trucks are not a big segment in China, but maybe that’s about to change. Back in July, Geely announced a new EV brand, called Radar, and revealed its first model, an electric truck, called the RD6. Now here’s its interior. It’s highlighted by large, digital displays, but note the blocky accents in the dash, doors and center console, which we think is meant to give it a more trucky appearance. The RD6 will have both single and dual motor setups and an estimated range of up to 600 kilometers or 370 miles. While it’s a little surprising Radar’s first model will be a truck since they’re banned from most Chinese cities, it also has plans to make SUVs and ATVs.

HAVAL COOL DOG SURE LOOKS LIKE BRONCO SPORT
China has some of the most interesting vehicle names, like Punk Cat or Ballet Cat. Now I get to introduce you to the Cool Dog, a new SUV from Haval that officially just hit the market with a starting price between $18,000 and $22,000. You may notice some influence from Haval’s large SUV, called the Big Dog, but we think it bears a strong resemblance to the Ford Bronco Sport and the two vehicles are pretty darn close in size as well.

DETROIT AUTO SHOW TO FEATURE VTOLs
The Detroit auto show, which returns next month, is becoming a lot more than an auto show. It’s adding a new “Air Mobility Experience” to showcase VTOLs or vertical take-off and landing aircraft, as well as amphibious sport planes, hoverbikes, hoverboards and jet suits. There will be flight demonstrations taking place over the Detroit River and inside the convention center, there will be displays from six air mobility companies. Quite a few automakers are developing VTOLs as well, and maybe they’re going to become a new fixture at auto shows.

CHEVY BUILDS EV GARAGE FOR BOLT OWNER
After buying a Chevy Bolt and charging it at home, Pamela Talley realized she was missing out on her favorite gas station snacks. So, Chevy stepped in to help turn her garage into an at-home convenience store that includes a frozen drink machine, hotdog warmer and more. We’ll probably see more stuff like this as people fit EVs into their lifestyles, but I’m just glad to see that Pamela Talley wasn’t interested in getting any of that gas station sushi.

VOLVO & UVEYE AUTOMATE DEALER INSPECTION
Volvo is partnering with an Israeli startup called UVeye to automate vehicle inspections at its dealerships. As a car comes into the service area it’s automatically scanned to see if there are any fluid leaks, rust, damage, or missing components. It checks the tires for tread depth and uneven wear. And it scans the body for dents, dings, scratches, rust, paint defects, and broken glass. Then it generates an appraisal within minutes. Volvo is encouraging its dealers to buy this equipment and will even pay for part of it. Interestingly, UVeye developed this technology at checkpoints in Israel to detect explosives in cars that might be used by terrorists.

A CARDBOARD BOX? YES, A CARDBOARD BOX
Whenever we report on new technology it’s almost always about some new digital development, or some clever battery chemistry, or a new kind of lightweight material. So, whoever thought we’d be reporting about cardboard boxes? A company called P2 Packaging came up with a design for a cardboard box that caught our eye. A standard cardboard box used in the auto industry might have 6 slots or cells to carry components. But P2’s box doubles that to 12 cells. It’s constructed stronger so it doesn’t need air gaps for crush space. And the boxes can be reused up to 10 times. Ford, General Motors, Tesla, Volkswagen, and BMW already use these boxes and P2 says they cut millions of dollars in expenses, reduce inventory space, save thousands of trees and reduce a company’s carbon footprint by hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. Not bad for a cardboard box!

LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL!
One of the design trends these days is to create a bit of theater when the driver gets in the car. So check out what Genesis did on the GV60. They call it the Crystal Sphere. When the driver pushes the start button, the sphere rotates 180 degrees to reveal the gear selector and when a gear is selected it provides haptic feedback to confirm it’s engaged. The sphere has a jewel-like look and even features ambient lighting. Not only is it a cool design element, it also acts as a safety feature. The Crystal Sphere can’t be rotated when the car is charging and it glows red when it’s in reverse. The GV60 is currently available in Europe with a starting price of $57,500.

But that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for tuning in.