AD #4378 – Stellantis, JLR Team Up on Pickup; Auto Jobs Drop Despite Tariffs; VW ID.3 GTI Is Most Powerful Ever

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

CATL LAUNCHES DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER CELL STORE
We’ve heard of start-ups like Tesla and Rivian selling cars directly to consumers. So why not batteries? CATL is now selling 587 amp-hour LFP cells at its website called CATL Mall for as little as $65 per kilowatt-hour. Or you can buy lower amp-hour cells for $58 bucks per kilowatt-hour. But there is a catch. Car News China reports that you have to buy a minimum of $39,500 worth of cells. And buyers need a valid Chinese business license, though that’s supposedly not too hard to get. These cells are meant for energy storage, not for EVs. But we have a link to CATL Mall if you want to check them out.

DENZA CLAIMS LONGEST-RANGE EV RECORD
BYD’s Denza brand is bragging it has the longest range EV you can buy. The Z9S offers 1,100 kilometers of range with a 122-kWh battery pack. But that’s on China’s CLTC test cycle, which is rather generous. Converting that to Europe’s WLTP test, the range is 891 kilometers. And we estimate that using the EPA test it would come out to 792 kilometers, or 492 miles. That’s a pretty good range, especially considering the Denza Z9S Flagship starts at $51,400, but not a record.

MCLAREN INVESTS £500M IN UK
McLaren is making a big investment to expand its operations in the UK. The company will invest £500 million or $675 million to open a new facility to produce an all-new performance SUV. For the first time in its history, McLaren’s powertrains will be designed and built in-house, starting with two new engines and transmissions. The investment will also expand operations at an existing production facility as well as its carbon-fiber manufacturing and research center. McLaren says the investment will create at least 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in the UK by 2032.

    

MCLAREN DROPPING ARTURA HYBRID IN 2028
And speaking of McLaren, Automotive News reports that it will drop the Artura from its line-up in 2028. The hybrid launched in 2022 and was positioned as the automaker’s entry-level model but it never caught on due to launch delays and quality issues. While sales of the Artura increased 15% last year in the U.S., through the first half of this year sales are down 18%. It’s not surprising that the Artura wasn’t popular with customers. We got a chance to drive it a few years back and found that the NVH was terrible driving around town.

AUTO JOBS DROP DESPITE VEHICLE TARIFFS
All those U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles, components and raw materials have not created a net increase in factory jobs for auto workers. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that automotive factory jobs are down slightly from January of last year through August of this year. There are now about 963,000 people involved in making vehicles and components, which is 12,700 fewer jobs than before the tariffs started. 

STELLANTIS, JLR TEAM UP ON PICKUP
The first vehicle from the partnership between Stellantis and JLR in the U.S. is going to be a pickup truck, according to The Times in London. All of the models the two develop together will be launched under the Defender brand name and built at Stellantis plants in the U.S. That will help fill up unused capacity and allow JLR to avoid import tariffs. While a flat-bed version of the Defender is part of its new military lineup, Automotive News previously reported that JLR wouldn’t shift production of Defender models to Stellantis plants. So that suggests they will come off a Stellantis platform. Maybe from the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler or Grand Wagoneer? Or maybe even from one of the all-new trucks, like the Rampage or Dakota? Let us know in the comments what you think they’ll use.

GM REVERSES COURSE ON APPLE CARPLAY, ANDROID AUTO
A few years back, General Motors started phasing out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its electric vehicles. And it also planned to do the same with its gas-powered models. But after receiving backlash from customers, GM has reversed course. The automaker revealed that it will integrate the features in its new user interface that debuts in the 2027 Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks. The new system allows drivers to use CarPlay or Android Auto on a split screen that also shows gauges such as fuel, tire pressure, Super Cruise and towing information. While the features are back for its gas-powered models, GM wouldn’t confirm if it will bring them back for its EVs.

 

NYC ADDING 700 CURBSIDE EV CHARGERS
To help make EV charging easier, New York City has chosen Brooklyn-based startup, It’s Electric, to install 700 curbside chargers across the city over the next three years. Each station will have at least 2 charger posts with two plugs. But the posts are unique because they don’t have cords. Instead those are provided by It’s Electric to customers who must bring it when they want to charge their car. This new curbside EV charger initiative is part of New York’s goal for all ride-share vehicles in the city to be electric-only by 2030.

VW ID.3 GTI IS MOST POWERFUL EVER
VW is coming out with its most powerful GTI production model ever. The drive unit in the new ID.3 GTI puts out 240 kW or roughly 325 horsepower, which is delivered exclusively to the rear wheels. That moves the EV from 0-100 km/h, which is similar to 0-60 MPH, in 5.6 seconds and when combined with its nearly 80 kWh battery pack, it’s able go up to 600 kilometers or just over 370 miles on a single charge. Other highlights include a sports-tuned chassis, more direct steering, 20-inch wheels and unique touches inside and out. No word on pricing, but pre-sales of the ID.3 GTI kick off at the beginning of next year. 

But that’s a wrap for today’s show. Thanks for tuning in.