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Runtime: 9:31
0:00 GM Had a Good 1st Quarter
0:59 Most Americans Open to Chinese EVs
1:57 Tesla Gets New Nav System in China
2:48 Tesla Has Lowest Repair Costs
3:57 Kia Reveals All-New Global Pickup
4:36 Our Best Look Yet at 1st Range Rover BEV
5:19 All-New Opel Grandland Migrates to STLA Medium Platform
6:17 smart Shows Biggest Model Yet
7:05 Chery Forms New EV Van JV in EU
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This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
GM HAD A GOOD FIRST QUARTER
Thanks to a boost in sales and cost cutting measures, General Motors had an impressive first quarter. The automaker sold 895,000 vehicles globally in the first three months of the year, which is a 3.5% increase. That helped boost revenue to $43 billion, a gain of more than 7%. Its adjusted earnings before interest and taxes hit $3.9 billion, up 2%. And it posted a net profit of $2.9 billion, which was a 24% increase. GM said it cut fixed costs by $300 million in the first quarter, mainly in marketing and engineering. But it wants to cut fixed costs by a total of $2 billion by the end of the year. And thanks to its strong results, GM raised its profit forecast for the year.
MOST AMERICANS WOULD BUY CHINESE EVs
While there’s a lot of concern from the U.S. government about Chinese EVs entering the market, American car buyers are open to purchasing one. According to a new consumer survey from AlixPartners, 58% of buyers in the U.S. are aware of Chinese brands and 73% would consider purchasing a Chinese BEV if it was priced 20% below a non-Chinese brand. The survey also found that the percentage of buyers that are “very” or “moderately” likely to buy an EV in both the U.S. and Europe remained flat compared to three years ago, 35% for the U.S. and 43% for Europe. Meanwhile in China, that number jumped to 97%. AlixPartners says the long-term outlook for EVs remains favorable but in the short term buyers in the U.S. are pivoting to plug-in hybrids as a substitute.
TESLA GETS NEW NAV SYSTEM FOR CHINA
Tesla is getting a new mapping system in China. While the EV maker pretty famously builds many of its own components in-house, it has always outsourced its maps and navigation system. In most parts of the world, Tesla uses Google Maps for some of the visuals on its screen and another company, called Mapbox for its navigation. But in China it has a partnership with tech company Baidu and it’s about to start rolling out the new Version 20 of Baidu Maps. The system offers better in-car navigation, 3D graphics and is compatible with autonomous vehicles as well as a number of different operating systems. New and existing Tesla owners will be the first to get Baidu Maps V20 this May, but Baidu says 4 other automakers will also use the system.
TESLA HAS THE LOWEST REPAIR COSTS
Tesla has the lowest maintenance costs of any car brand in the U.S. That’s according to a new survey from Consumer Reports, which asked its members how much they paid out of pocket for maintenance and repairs during the previous 12 months. And when comparing costs by brand over a ten-year period, Tesla had the lowest maintenance costs at just over $4,000. It was followed by Buick and Toyota at $4,900. Meanwhile at the other end of the spectrum, Land Rover owners paid a whopping $19,250 in repair costs over a ten-year period, which is easily the most of any brand. It’s even $5,000 more than Porsche owners, which is the next highest.
KIA REVEALS ALL-NEW GLOBAL PICKUP
Kia is coming out with its first pickup truck, called the Tasman, next year and like we thought, it’s a more traditional looking truck. It’s hard to tell if it’s a body-on-frame truck, like the Ford Ranger or Toyota Tacoma, or if it’s uni-body, like the Honda Ridgeline or Hyundai Santa Cruz. I would note that it doesn’t have the normal separation between the cab and the bed like a traditional truck, but Kia also says it will easily fill the role of both a work truck as well as a personal truck. The Tasman will be fully revealed next year and will be sold in Korea, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East.
RANGE ROVER TAKES 1ST EV COLD WEATHER TESTING
Now let’s shift our focus over to EVs. And we’ll start with winter testing of the new Range Rover Electric in the Arctic Circle at temps as low as -40 degrees. This is the best look yet we’ve had at Range Rover’s first electric vehicle and the design stays mostly the same with a bit of EV-specific styling thrown in. The model will feature at least two electric drive units and because it can distribute power to each one individually, Range Rover says its traction control system can react even faster and will improve its capabilities in all situations. Next, the Range Rover Electric is off to the searing heat of desserts in the Middle East.
ALL-NEW OPEL GRANDLAND MIGRATES TO STLA MEDIUM PLATFORM
Our next new EV is the all-new Opel Grandland SUV. It now sits on Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform, which offers a number of powertrain options. As a BEV it will be available with a 98 kWh battery pack that will return an estimated 700 kilometers or 435 miles of range. There’s a plug-in version as well and while there’s no info on that setup right now, Opel did say it offers up to 85 kilometers or 52 miles of all-electric range. And lastly, there will also be a 48-volt mild hybrid setup. But, again, no details on that powertrain. All three versions will roll down the same assembly line in Germany, but the plant required a 130 million euro investment that includes a new area for battery pack assembly. But no word on when the new Grandland will launch yet.
SMART SHOWS BIGGEST MODEL YET
It looks like smart wants to come out with bigger models because it just pulled the wraps off the massive Concept #5. Well, at least, massive for the brand, which is known for its tiny cars. It’s actually a mid-size SUV that sits on parent company Geely’s SEA platform, which is used for various Geely, smart, Volvo and Zeekr vehicles of all different sizes. Smart says it’s been adapted to an 800-volt architecture and features its biggest battery yet at over 100 kWh, which will allow for faster charging and over 550 kilometers or 341 miles of range. No word on market launch, but the production version of the #5 will be shown off in the second half of this year.
CHERY FORMS NEW EV VAN JV IN EUROPE
Chinese automaker Chery continues to expand in Europe. Last week it formed a joint venture with EV Motors to build vehicles in Spain. And now it has formed another joint venture with commercial electric van startup B-ON, which is based in Europe. Chery is an investor in B-ON and will provide capital to fund the JV as well as offer engineering support. Earlier today, the two companies unveiled their first model called the Pelkan. Two battery sizes are available, 43 or 54-kWh, which provide a range of 226-279 kilometers or 140-173 miles. The companies plan to start delivering the Pelkan to customers in Europe in the middle of the year.
But that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for tuning in.
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That Smart #5 is a handsome concept. I like it.
Consumer reports is consistent with my experiences with Tesla although with some of the stories out there of out of sight costs I thought maybe I was an outlier, perhaps someone should have got the Dragnet squad “Just the facts mam just the facts”
Shouldn’t that headline have been “Tesla has lowest maintenance costs” rather than “Tesla has lowest repair costs”? They have low maintenance costs, because they sell only EVs, which don’t need oil changes.
Not sure if Smart Car Co. is still a joint venture between Geely and Mercedes Benz but I always thought they were overpriced for what it was. So tiny and still only got fuel economy numbers that you can get with a Camary and have room for 4 and a trunk. I didn’t see much use for them here in the states, but I really like the looks of the Smart#5. Too bad it’s an EV. Thats an attractive vehicle and I like the rear suicide doors. Maybe they’ll offer a hybrid version.
The people that are open to Chinese vehicles are the same people that would cut off their nose in spite of their face. It’s all about the $$$. Save a few bucks and wonder why we are losing good paying jobs. I like free market and competition makes everyone better. However, when you don’t play by the same rules and your government is subsidizing production then it’s not actually a free market but a manipulation of that market. We have failed to prepare for their presence in the automotive industry and will lose dearly, realizing our mistakes when it’s far too late. History does repeat itself and this is US/Japan 1979 all over again.
I thought the Smart vehicles went like the way of the dodo’s after all the bad press it had (rightfully) gotten; I guess they were just under the radar (and hung on).
There were some rumors that Chevrolet was going to offer the Montana in the U.S. (small pickup); I would be interested but wondering how many buyers there would be (and the segment is ‘starting’ to get full). An S-10 sized pickup would appeal to those that, even now think, that the mid-sizer’s are getting too big.
Chuck- I believe a small truck would do well if they provided it with a decent powertrain. The Colorado and Ranger are about the same size as a full-size truck was in 1970. Look at the desire for the Mavrick. They can’t make enough, and GM is missing out. If they would design a small truck that could be had in a (2 door with a short and long bed) and a (4 door with a short bed) they could appeal to a large market. They should also offer 2wd and 4wd options. Engines like a 2.0L turbo and a hybrid version that offers at least 100 miles of EV range.
Then bring back the Typhoon with the twin turbo V6 from the Cadillac CT5-V.
@SMART Echoing MJB and Lambo: looking great.
@Lambo: in full agreement with free market competition and penalizing Chinese government subsidies. The issue is that we have done that, too, with our OEMs: we have doled out huge government subsidies in 2008 and 2020.
Just like we propped up our oil companies to the tune of $60 billion in 2008/9 and $60 billion in 2020.
Lambo I agree. They are the same people that bought all the low priced junk that flooded our shores before . Back when Yugo and Hyundai were trying to get a foothold just like the Japanese brands did in the late 60s and early 70s and VW before them. They’ ll come in flood the market with garbage that you can’t get parts for . I remember when Pontiac was importing Daewoos as the Le Mans . My insurance man bought one and it sat at the dealership for months waiting on parts.
Kit, I was wondering the same, since the headline says REPAIR Costs and the story says MAINTENANCE Costs, but in the quoted CR report, it is the combined Repair and Maintenance costs. While I would expect the maintenance to be low for Tesla, I suppose it bodes well for them that the repairs are not high either.
Wim I don’t consider a bail-out loan that is paid back the same as a subsidy. On-going funds funneled into a corporation to make their products cost lower than anyone else is federal funding. Beyond that I don’t have near a problem with governments doing that for domestic products. If the government needs people working and needs to throw some money at an industry, then fine but when that product is being exported and peddled as equal free trade its simply not. China is already great about positioning themselves to hold the corner on a market of raw materials. They see an opportunity to monopolize something they pursue it. Meanwhile we sit back try and play fair and they will take our lunch money and watch us starve.
The heightened danger with China is not only that the scales for commercial success are tilted (we do that too, here and there), but that the intrusion of a harnessed, unfree market comes with the very inimical influence of a totalitarian heavyweight.
One that has created a very real thought police across the free world.
As lambo says, once you’re cought in the trap of being completely dependent, I doubt that there’s an easy escape. For some goods, domestic production is not the way to go, but there are plenty of alternatives to mainland China for sourcing.
Btw, Cadillac is the legacy manufacturer with the highest percentage of EV sales in the US now. This is the best way for the marque to make inroads with the competition and attract new buyers. Hope Ultium gathers steam – Tesla has shown that EVs can make money if the volume and right products are there.
Thanks for the heads up on “Mapbox.” I signed up for an account and will see if they can confirm the speed limit faults at “phantom brake” locations. For example Monday approaching Murfreesboro from the south, I had a sudden, unexplained speed limit change to 20 mph that was not posted. But several years ago, there was heavy road work on that stretch.
I suspect a Google survey car recorded the construction zone speed limit and Mapbox continues to use that long since gone construction zone speed limit.
I want to know who paid for the consumer survey of possible purchasers of Chinese EVs? Many times the questions can be skewed to provide the results that the survey purchaser is looking for.