Listen to “AD #3427 – Lucid Rolls Out OTA Update; VW Group BEV Sales Keep Growing; ZF's New Electric Axle for Pickup Trucks” on Spreaker.
Raise the bar on just how good car entertainment can sound. With greater details, clarity, and depth —Dolby Atmos is the future of car entertainment. Click here to learn more.
Follow us on social media:
Runtime: 8:40
0:08 German Automakers Reluctant to Aid Supplier Energy Costs
1:07 EU Expected to Reach Deal on U.S. EV Incentives
1:55 Renault Creates New Recycling Brand
3:31 Audi Develops Particulate Filter For EVs
4:17 Lucid Rolls Out New OTA Update
4:56 VW Group BEV Sales Keep Growing
6:06 ZF Launches New Electric Axle for Pickup Trucks
7:10 Nio To Use ZF Steer-By-Wire System
Visit our sponsors to thank them for their support of Autoline Daily: Bridgestone, Dolby Atmos, Intrepid Control Systems, and Schaeffler.
This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
GERMAN AUTOMAKERS RELUCTANT TO AID SUPPLIER ENERGY COSTS
As we’ve reported, the German auto industry is facing potential production disruptions because of energy supply shortages. And while the top automakers, like BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes say they have secured supplies for the time being, their suppliers are sounding the alarm bells over rising energy costs. They want to renegotiate contracts to have carmakers cover some of the higher costs but so far, they’re reluctant to do so, even though that means suppliers won’t be able to keep their production lines running. It’s getting so bad that one supplier says they’ll cancel contracts if the automakers don’t contribute. The German government is expected to offer a relief package but it would only be for a limited time. Some automakers are looking to source parts outside of Germany but it can take at least six months to establish a new supplier.
EU EXPECTED TO REACH DEAL ON U.S. EV INCENTIVES
Many foreign automakers and countries are ticked off over the recent Inflation Reduction Act, since it only gives EV subsidies to vehicles and batteries produced in the U.S. or approved regions. But now Reuters reports that the European Union and the U.S. are negotiating and are expected to reach a deal to allow EVs made in Europe to qualify for the same tax breaks. The EU points out that it provides subsidies for the purchase of EVs made in the U.S. and says its discriminatory for the U.S. to not provide the same assistance. South Korea has also been very vocal about its opposition to the IRA, so it wouldn’t surprise us if it negotiates a similar deal to qualify for the tax breaks.
RENAULT CREATES NEW RECYCLING BRAND
Today, about 85% of a vehicle can be recycled at the end of its life, but a new vehicle is only made with 20-30% recycled materials. Renault wants to change that. So, it created a new brand, called The Future is Neutral, whose aim is to “significantly increase the proportion of recycled materials from the automotive industry in the production of new vehicles.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t say by how much it expects to increase that percentage. But it will utilize all of the Group’s assets as well as those from outside partners to increase the amount of material that’s recycled and it says it wants to expand this beyond the Renault Group.
AUDI DEVELOPS PARTICULATE FILTER FOR EVs
What if your car could clean up its own emissions? That’s essentially what Audi is testing. It’s been running a project since 2020 with an all-electric e-tron model fitted with a special filter in front of the radiator and A/C condenser. So, as the vehicle drives around it picks up harmful fine particulates from the air. It can even operate as the car is charging since a small cooling fan is used to suck in outside air to keep the battery at an optimal temperature. The filter would have to be changed at regular service intervals, but Audi estimates the system could remove the equivalent of nearly 15 kilograms or about 33 pounds of CO2 over its lifetime.
LUCID ROLLS OUT NEW OTA UPDATE
EV startup Lucid is rolling out a new over-the-air update for its Air sedan that it says is the most extensive so far. Some of the highlights include, “Instant On” displays, so the car is ready to go as soon as the driver sits down and buckles up. It also redesigned screen layouts so they’re more ergonomic, updated navigation and maps, and improved its Highway Assist feature with active lane centering and adaptive cruise control. Lucid has already rolled out the free OTA update to some customers and will continue to do so over the next couple of weeks.
VW GROUP BEV SALES KEEP GROWING
The Volkswagen Group continues to grow sales of electric vehicles. Through the first nine months of the year, it sold 366,400 BEVs worldwide, up 25% compared to a year ago. That total includes models from VW, Audi, Skoda, Porsche, SEAT and even some of its commercial brands, but those numbers are pretty small. BEVs now account for 6% of the Group’s overall sales, up from just over 4% in 2021.
ZF LAUNCHES NEW ELECTRIC AXLE FOR PICKUP TRUCKS
According to the supplier ZF, one out of every four vehicles sold in the U.S. last year was a medium- or full-size pickup. So, it’s launching a new electric axle, specifically to help electrify the truck segment in the American market. The eBeam Axle, as it’s called, combines the motor, inverter and transmission into one solid axle. It will work with 400- or 800-volt systems, it can generate up to 350 kW or about 470 horsepower and makes 16,000 Nm or about 11,500 lb-ft of torque. But you must remember that last figure includes the actual torque of the motor, which ZF didn’t provide, multiplied by the gear ratio. Other benefits of the electric axle include the ability to work with rear wheel steering and it’s a drop-in application, so little modification would have to be done, even if it was used on an ICE platform.
NIO TO USE ZF STEER-BY-WIRE SYSTEM
Speaking of ZF, it signed a deal with NIO to supply it with a steer-by-wire system. There’s not a lot of details, including what region it plans to launch the technology in, but NIO has a hands-free driving system, which requires steer-by-wire. I know there are still some people that are averse to knowing there’s no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the tires, but there are other benefits as well. The steering ratio or how many times you have to turn the steering wheel before it locks can easily be changed. That’s a nice feature when you’re trying to fit into a tight parking spot or you hit a nice section of road where you want to drive more sporty.
But that brings us to the end of today’s show, thanks for tuning in and have a great weekend.
Thanks to our partner for embedding Autoline Daily on its website: WardsAuto.com
Seamus and Sean McElroy cover the latest news in the automotive industry for Autoline Daily.