NEW DELHI, July (Reuters) – Two senior Tesla executives discussed the company’s plans to enter India with officials from the country’s investment promotion arm in New Delhi, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said, the latest in a series of high-level talks.

The U.S. carmaker has expressed an interest in building a factory in India that would produce a low-cost electric vehicle (EV) priced at $24,000, around 25% cheaper than Tesla’s current entry model, for both the Indian market and export. Continue reading “Tesla executives hold market entry talks with India investment agency”

Source : PTI | The experience of taking the Formula E to India was “mind-blowing”, says sustainability director Julia Palle, who feels that the Asian country can play a pivotal role in the electric vehicle revolution that the world is witnessing. The city of Hyderabad had played host to two races in Round 4 of the ongoing ninth season of the series in February this year.

India’s automobile industry is the fifth largest globally and is expected to become the third largest by 2030. The size of India’s electric vehicle market is also growing each year with surging fuel prices also providing a push to the sales of EVs. Continue reading “India could play a pivotal role in EV revolution: Julia Palle”

NEW DELHI, July 28 (Reuters) – Two senior Tesla executives discussed the company’s plans to enter India with officials from the country’s investment promotion arm in New Delhi, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said, the latest in a series of high-level talks.

The U.S. carmaker has expressed an interest in building a factory in India that would produce a low-cost electric vehicle (EV) priced at $24,000, around 25% cheaper than Tesla’s current entry model, for both the Indian market and export. Continue reading “Tesla executives hold market entry talks with India investment agency”

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) – More than half of the Senate’s Democrats are backing the United Auto Workers’ push for higher wages and benefits for workers at Detroit Three automakers’ joint venture battery plants, they said in a letter released on Friday.

The 28 senators said the workers are critical to the United States reaching clean vehicle goals, offering the union a boost as it works to secure new contracts before its four-year deals with General Motors (GM.N), Ford Motor (F.N) and Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) expire Sept. 14. Continue reading “UAW wins Democratic senators’ support for joint venture battery workers”

July 28 (Reuters) – The backup safety driver behind the wheel of a self-driving Uber Technologies (UBER.N) test vehicle that struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona, in 2018 pleaded guilty on Friday and was sentenced to probation, prosecutors said.

Rafaela Vasquez, who was charged with negligent homicide in 2020, pleaded guilty to endangerment, a reduced charge, and was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, the Maricopa County Attorney’s office said. Uber and a lawyer for Vasquez did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Continue reading “Backup driver in 2018 Uber self-driving crash pleads guilty”

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) – Ford Motor (F.N) said Friday it is recalling 870,000 F-150 trucks in the United States because of the risk of an unexpected activation of the electric parking brake due to a potential wiring issue.

The recall covers 2021 through 2023 model year F-150 trucks, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It covers trucks equipped with a single exhaust system. Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly, the automaker said. Continue reading “Ford recalls 870,000 F-150 trucks over unexpected parking brake activation”

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) – The Biden administration on Friday proposed to hike fuel economy standards by 2032 to a fleet-wide average of 58 miles per gallon as it seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce fuel use.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposal, which covers the 2027 through 2032 model years, would boost Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements by 2% per year for passenger cars and 4% per year for light trucks. Continue reading “US proposes raising vehicle fuel economy standards to 58 miles per gallon by 2032”

NEW DELHI, July 28 (Reuters) – China’s BYD (002594.SZ) has told its India joint-venture partner it would shelve plans for a new $1-billion investment to build electric cars after its investment proposal faced scrutiny from New Delhi, two people with knowledge of the discussions said.

BYD and its partner, privately held Megha Engineering and Infrastructures submitted a proposal to the Indian government in April to jointly build electric cars in India, Reuters reported earlier this month. Continue reading “Exclusive: BYD tells India partner it wants to drop $1 billion EV investment plan, sources say”

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) – Ford Motor (F.N) said Friday it is recalling 870,000 F-150 trucks in the United States because of the risk of an unexpected activation of the electric parking brake due to a potential wiring issue.

The recall covers 2021 through 2023 model year F-150 trucks, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It covers trucks equipped with a single exhaust system. Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly, the automaker said. Continue reading “Ford recalls 870,000 F-150 trucks over unexpected parking brake activation”

TOKYO, July 28 (Reuters) – Japanese automaker Toyota Motor (7203.T) said on Friday it sold 5.1% more vehicles in the first half of 2023 compared with the same period a year earlier, helped by an easing of semiconductor supply constraints and especially stronger demand in Japan.

The company sold some 4.9 million vehicles globally in the six months through June, including of its luxury Lexus brand, compared with about 4.7 million vehicles during the same period in 2022. Continue reading “Toyota’s global sales rise 5.1% to 4.9 million in first half of 2023”

TOKYO, July 28 (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Friday it will sell a stake worth about 250 billion yen ($1.80 billion) in telecoms company KDDI Corp (9433.T) as part of an effort to raise funds to accelerate vehicle electrification.

The world’s largest automaker by sales last month unveiled sweeping plans to improve the driving range and cut costs of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), including through development of solid-state batteries, as it seeks to catch up on rivals. Continue reading “Toyota says to sell $1.8 billion worth of KDDI shares”

WASHINGTON, July  (Reuters) – General Motors (GM.N) warned the Biden administration’s planned changes to vehicle emissions rules could cost the auto industry hundreds of billions of dollars in penalties by 2031, which the Biden administration said on Thursday was wrong.

GM executive David Strickland met on July 17 with White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials about the administration’s vehicle fuel economy proposal, according to a slide on a White House website. Continue reading “Biden administration rejects GM’s warning that US emissions rules will be costly”

Source : PTI | Tata Motors achieved a significant milestone on Friday as it proudly presented the prototype of its homegrown electric bus to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). The occasion marks the commencement of a groundbreaking project as BMTC has placed an impressive order for 921 state-of-the-art e-buses with Tata Motors.

The momentous deal was inked between BMTC and TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Motors. Under this agreement, Tata Motors will not only deliver the 921 units of 12-meter low-floor electric buses but also be responsible for their operation and maintenance for a remarkable span of 12 years. Continue reading “Tata Motors delivers prototype of indigenous e-bus to BMTC”

LOS ANGELES/AMSTERDAM, July (Reuters) – Electric vehicles are crisscrossing the globe to reach their eager buyers, but the battery technology involved in the zero- emission automobiles is exposing under-prepared maritime shippers to the risk of hard-to-control fires, industry, insurance and emergency response officials said.

That risk has been put under the spotlight by the burning car carrier drifting off the Dutch coast. The Dutch coastguard said the fire’s cause was unknown, but Dutch broadcaster RTL released a recording in which an emergency responder is heard saying “the fire started in the battery of an electric car.” Continue reading “Focus: Ocean shippers playing catch up to electric vehicle fire risk”

July  (Reuters) – Ford Motor (F.N) Chief Executive Jim Farley on Thursday outlined a significant change in the automaker’s product strategy, slowing the ramp-up of money-losing EVs, shifting investment to Ford’s commercial vehicle unit and citing plans to quadruple sales of gas electric hybrids over the next five years.

He described the company’s high-margin Ford Pro commercial business as a “powerhouse” and said the company now expects to launch more gas-electric hybrids. Continue reading “Ford slows EV ramp as Q2 commercial vehicle profit booms”

WASHINGTON, July  (Reuters) – General Motors (GM.N) warned the Biden administration’s planned changes to vehicle emissions rules could cost the auto industry hundreds of billions of dollars in penalties by 2031, which the Biden administration said on Thursday was wrong.

GM executive David Strickland met on July 17 with White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials about the administration’s vehicle fuel economy proposal, according to a slide on a White House website. Continue reading “Biden admin rejects GM’s warning that US emissions rules will be costly”

SHANGHAI, July 28 (Reuters) – For foreign automakers in China, it is time to double down on a turnaround or cut losses after ceding their leadership of the world’s biggest auto market to local, upstart brands.

Announcements from some of the world’s largest automakers in recent days show they are taking a divergent path: some German brands and General Motors (GM.N) are betting on new electric vehicles, while Toyota (7203.T) and others have shifted to cost-cutting mode. Continue reading “Global automakers scramble to reset China strategies as sales slow”

WASHINGTON, July  (Reuters) – Ford Motor (F.N) CEO Jim Farley and Executive Chairman Bill Ford held meetings this week with U.S. lawmakers in Washington amid Republican criticism of the automaker’s licensing deal with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL (300750.SZ) to build a Michigan battery plant.

Last week, the chairs of two U.S. House of Representatives committees said they were investigating Ford’s partnership with CATL. Continue reading “Ford execs met with US lawmakers amid criticism of China battery maker CATL”

Source : PTI | The government informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that it would introduce bamboo-made “Bahu Balli” fences along expressways and national highways and a pilot project would be undertaken in Chhattisgarh. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the House that this is an alternative to the use of steel and will be eco-friendly too. The move would also help provide a boost to rural economy, and villagers and tribals would benefit from it, he said.

“This type of ‘Bahu Balli’ fencing is being experimented for the first time and it is eco-friendly too. All testing has been done and instead of steel, cross-barriers of bamboo are being developed. All approvals have been received,” Gadkari said in response to supplementary queries of MPs during the Question Hour. Continue reading “Govt to use bamboo-made ‘Bahu Balli’ fences along highways: Nitin Gadkari”

Source : PTI | India is on track to becoming a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain in the next decade with USD 10 billion of incentives and assistance provided to encourage local chip manufacturing, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Thursday.

The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme last year attracted firms like Vedanta and Taiwan’s Foxconn, who promised multi-billion dollar investment in setting up units to manufacture chips, which are used in products ranging from mobile phones to cars. Continue reading “Semiconductor PLI worth USD 10 bn to help India do in a decade what China did in 25-30 years: Rajeev Chandrasekhar”

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MG Motor India looks to raise its women workforce to 50% CNBC

Volkswagen India strengthens its footprint with the inauguration of three new touchpoints in Delhi NCR WAF

Made-in-Brazil Volkswagen Virtus scores 5 stars in Latin NCAP crash test HTAuto Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (28th July 2023)”

• Increasing brand accessibility in Delhi NCR with the inauguration of three new sales touchpoints strategically located in Dwarka, Paschim Vihar and Gurugram
• Volkswagen India is witnessing an enhanced demand for its products and services across Delhi NCR; the brand increases network strength in the region to 12 sales and 08 service touchpoints
• Network offensive strategy: Volkswagen India is increasing its network touchpoints across the country, taking it national network presence to 175 sales and 130 service touchpoints across 129 cities
• The sales touchpoints will encompass India’s safest product portfolio comprising of the Taigun, Virtus and Tiguan

Mumbai/Delhi NCR: Volkswagen India’s network offensive strategy continues with the inauguration of three new touchpoints in Delhi NCR. Strategically located in Dwarka, Paschim Vihar and Gurugram, the new touchpoints make Volkswagen brand more accessible to customers in the National capital region. Continue reading “Volkswagen India strengthens its footprint with the inauguration of three new touchpoints in Delhi NCR”

REUTERS SPECIAL REPORT | In March, Alexandre Ponsin set out on a family road trip from Colorado to California in his newly purchased Tesla, a used 2021 Model 3. He expected to get something close to the electric sport sedan’s advertised driving range: 353 miles on a fully charged battery.

He soon realized he was sometimes getting less than half that much range, particularly in cold weather – such severe underperformance that he was convinced the car had a serious defect. Continue reading “Tesla created secret team to suppress thousands of driving range complaints”

PARIS, July 27 (Reuters) – Western automakers are fretting about an “invasion” of cheap Chinese electric cars in Europe, prompting France’s Renault (RENA.PA) to say on Thursday it was aiming to slash production costs for its electric models by 40%.

Finance chief Thierry Pieton said the best way to fend off price competition was for Renault to cut its own development and manufacturing costs. Continue reading “Western car makers look to slash EV costs to fight Chinese ‘invasion’”

Summary

• Q2 cash flow sank 71%
• Shares down 3.6%, bottom of Germany’s blue-chip index
• VW sees deliveries between 9-9.5 mln this year
• Outlook contrasts with European rivals

BERLIN, July 27 (Reuters) – Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) said on Thursday it will aim to improve its cash flow in the second half as the German carmaker hikes prices and cuts costs, even after it lowered its 2023 outlook for deliveries.

The company’s shares were down 3.5% at 0805 GMT, the biggest faller on Germany’s blue-chip DAX 30 (.GDAXI) index. Continue reading “VW cuts 2023 deliveries outlook, aims to boost cash flow”

Summary

• H1 EBIT margin at 7.6% close to 2025 target of 8%
• H1 net profit at 2.12 bln euros vs loss of 1.68 bln last year
• Sales of electric cars seen as promising

July 27 (Reuters) – French car maker Renault (RENA.PA) on Thursday posted an operating margin of 7.6% for the first half year, its highest ever and already close to its 2025 target, helped by higher prices for new cars and by cost reductions. Continue reading “Renault posts record H1 operating margin helped by higher priced new cars”

Source : PTI | Renault Nissan Automotive on Thursday said it has crossed 25 lakh unit production milestone at its Chennai-based manufacturing plant. The plant is spread over 600 acres and caters to both domestic and export market requirements for Renault and Nissan.

Over the past 13 years, the plant has rolled out around 20 Renault and Nissan models from the facility. Continue reading “Renault Nissan Automotive crosses 25 lakh production mark”

LONDON, July 27 (Reuters) – It could take five more years for Britain to return to producing 1 million or more cars a year, the industry body said on Thursday, as figures showed car manufacturing still remained a third below pre-pandemic levels.

UK factories are expected to produce 860,000 cars this year, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Chief Executive Mike Hawes told reporters at a media briefing. Continue reading “UK car production could take five years to return to 1 million units, says industry”

BERLIN, July (Reuters) – Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) is partnering with Chinese EV startup Xpeng and joint venture partner SAIC to build new models and potentially co-create platforms, it said on Wednesday, as it attempts to use local expertise to protect market share.

The Volkswagen brand will partner with Xpeng Inc (9868.HK) to produce two models targeting the middle-class segment which will carry the VW logo but feature Xpeng know-how on software and autonomous driving, a win for the EV startup that is less than a decade old. Continue reading “Volkswagen buys Xpeng stake, partners with SAIC to boost China EV lineup”

WASHINGTON, July (Reuters) – Four Republican U.S. senators on Wednesday sought to reverse a Biden administration decision to waive “Buy America” requirements for government-funded electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Senators Marco Rubio, Roger Marshall, Rick Scott and Kevin Cramer said the Federal Highway Administration waiver of U.S. content requirements for steel, iron and construction materials would result in U.S. taxpayers subsidizing Chinese-made products. “It hurts American companies and empowers foreign adversaries, like China, to control our energy infrastructure,” Rubio said. Continue reading “US senators seek to reverse ‘Buy America’ waiver for EV charging stations”

WASHINGTON, July  (Reuters) – Congress still faces serious hurdles to winning approval for long-stalled legislation to speed the adoption of self-driving cars.

“China is currently moving ahead with ambitious plans to lead the development and deployment of this technology,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers at a hearing Wednesday. Continue reading “US lawmakers struggle to find deal on self-driving cars”

July (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Waymo is focusing on its ride-hailing service, Waymo One, while pushing back its efforts to develop commercial autonomous trucking technology, the self-driving unit said on Wednesday.

Autonomous driving software has come under strong regulatory scrutiny at a time when investors are concerned about heavy investments in the technology amid protracted development timelines. Continue reading “Waymo to focus on ride-hailing services, pushes back autonomous trucking efforts”

July (Reuters) – Seven major automakers on Wednesday said they were forming a new company to provide electric vehicle charging in the U.S., in a challenge to Tesla (TSLA.O) and a bid to take advantage of Biden administration subsidies.

The group includes General Motors (GM.N), Stellantis (STLAM.MI), Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and its Kia affiliate, Honda (7267.T), BMW (BMWG.DE) and Mercedes Benz (MBGn.DE) – brands representing about half of U.S. vehicle sales but a small share of the EV market dominated by Tesla. Continue reading “In challenge to Tesla, automakers launch US EV charging network”

July (Reuters) – A tentative labor deal reached between United Parcel Service (UPS.N) and the Teamsters union on Tuesday, if ratified, could pressure full-year outlook for the world’s largest parcel delivery firm, according to analysts.

The five-year contract, which the head of the union claims to be worth $30 billion in new money, covers about 340,000 U.S. employees and provides wage increases, and one more paid holiday among other benefits. Continue reading “UPS labor deal could pressure delivery firm’s annual outlook, say analysts”

Source : PTI | Indian lubes market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3%, with the country likely to see continued demand for lubricants notwithstanding the emergence of the electric vehicle segment, according to a report. On the contrary, the other key markets of the US, China, Japan and Russia, may witness a decline or slowdown in demand, as per the ‘Kline’s Global Lubricants 2022: Market Analysis and Assessment’ report shared at an industry event here on Wednesday.

The factors that will drive this progression include a growing digital economy, industrialization, urbanization, increasing discretionary spending, and increased investments in infrastructure development, it said. Continue reading “Lubes market to grow a 3% CAGR in India: Report”

Source : PTI | Industries should come forward to build and support the electric vehicle segment, as Tamil Nadu is engaged in the creation of a comprehensive EV sector roadmap, a government official said here on Wednesday.

A government facilitation centre is being launched in Coimbatore in association with 25 companies to boost the EV industry, Thiru Srinivasan, Senior advisor (EV sector) of the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, FaMe TN, said. “Tamil Nadu is one of the early movers in the EV space domain. Continue reading “TN govt creating comprehensive EV sector roadmap: official”

Source : PTI |Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland on Wednesday launched ‘Manzil ka Safar’ Stallion drive from Kanyakumari to Leh commemorating Kargil Vijay Diwas and to mark the company’s 75th year anniversary celebrations. The ‘Manzil ka Safar’ is a tribute to Ashok Leyland’s Stallion range of vehicles and its association with the armed forces.

The expedition from Kanyakumari to Leh would cover 4,000 kilometres and traverse through diverse terrains, mountain passes before reaching Leh. Continue reading “Ashok Leyland embarks on ‘Manzil ka Safar’ drive”

Summary

• Investment ends months of talks over structure of alliance
• Renault to lower Nissan stake to 15%
• Ampere valued at up to 10 bln euros – sources

TOKYO/PARIS, July 26 (Reuters) – Nissan (7201.T) will invest up to $663 million in Renault’s (RENA.PA) new electric vehicle unit, the automakers said on Wednesday, as they finalised terms of their restructured partnership after months of negotiation clouded by tension. Continue reading “Nissan seals Renault deal, now faces hard yards in China”

LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) – Porsche (P911_p.DE) has a plan to gradually electrify its car lineup so that electric vehicles make up 80% of sales by 2030, and it aims to make its iconic 911 the only internal-combustion engine model left standing, a top executive said.

The German luxury automaker’s plans have been closely watched, including by environmentalists, because of its investment in e-fuels and push for the EU to allow sales of such vehicles after 2035. Continue reading “Porsche’s iconic 911 to be sole survivor of automaker’s combustion models”

Summary

• 2023 outlook unchanged
• Says Valour demand ‘unprecedented’, waiting list ‘growing’
• Shares rise 6% in morning trade

July 26 (Reuters) – British luxury carmaker Aston Martin’s (AML.L) second-quarter results beat market expectations on Wednesday, powered by higher prices and demand for its DBX707 sports utility vehicle and limited edition V12 Vantage Roadster, sending shares 6% higher. Continue reading “Aston Martin races past second quarter expectations”