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Runtime: 12:35
0:00 Honda Makes $11 Billion EV Investment in Canada
1:18 Honda Introduces Two New EVs In China
2:04 Toyota To Build 3-Row Electric SUV In Indiana
2:54 U.S. April Sales Expected to Slightly Dip
4:14 NHTSA Opens Investigation into Tesla Autopilot Recall
5:15 Mazda Unveils Two New NEVs For China
6:06 Nissan Reveals Four Electrified Concepts
7:18 Ram Shows Off New RHO Performance Truck
8:35 Republican Governors Likely to Ramp Up Anti-UAW Efforts
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HONDA MAKES $11 BILLION EV INVESTMENT IN CANADA
There’s some big-time investments going into North America for future EVs. First, Honda confirmed that it, along with its joint venture partners, are going to invest $11 billion to create an EV and battery manufacturing hub in Ontario, Canada. Those partners include Asahi Kasei, who Honda joined forces with to make battery separators, and it partnered with POSCO to produce battery cathode materials. Each operation will have its own stand-alone plant that is not connected to the other and Honda expects production to start in 2028. Once at full line speed it will be able to make 240,000 EVs and 36-GWh of batteries a year and will create, at least, 1,000 new jobs. So, this gives us a clearer picture of Honda’s path as it tries to reach 100% sales of electric and fuel cell vehicles by 2040. It’s currently building another EV hub in the U.S. in Ohio, which is scheduled to be up and running by late next year, then its Canadian hub will come on-line a couple of years later and it’s also releasing new EVs in China as well.
HONDA INTRODUCES TWO NEW EVs IN CHINA
Honda is expanding its e:N lineup of electric vehicles in the country, which first launched in 2022. Now on sale is the e:NP2, which rides on a dedicated platform that provides up to 545 kilometers or 388 miles of range on the Chinese test cycle. The e:NP2 is made with Honda’s joint venture partner GAC, while another version called the e:NS2, which will probably have slightly different styling, will be produced with its other joint venture partner Dongfeng. These two EVs along with the other two e:N vehicles it already has on sale, Honda plans to have 10 Honda-branded EVs in China by 2027.
TOYOTA TO BUILD 3-ROW ELECTRIC SUV IN INDIANA
But now let’s move back to EV investments in North America, where Toyota is pouring $1.5 billion to make an all-new BEV. It says the investment at its Indiana plant in the U.S. will allow it to build an all-new 3-row electric SUV and to add a new battery pack assembly line, which will be supplied by its battery plant in South Carolina that’s supposed to start production sometime next year. We recently reported that Toyota is converting the Highlander to EV-only and that it would be made in Kentucky. But it’s possible it’s actually going to Indiana, which would make some sense because that’s where the Highlander is currently made. However, we’ll have to wait a little bit to find out for sure. We should also note that there will be a Lexus version of the Highlander EV as well.
U.S. APRIL SALES EXPECTED TO SLIGHTLY DIP
Car sales in the U.S. are expected to decline slightly this month. JD Power is forecasting that a little more than 1.3 million vehicles will be sold in April, a drop of nearly 1% compared to a year ago. But last April did have one more selling day than this year. The new April numbers include both retail and fleet sales. But if you take out fleet sales, retail sales are expected to increase 2.1% to over 1 million units, while fleet sales are expected to drop 13.6%. And thanks to higher inventory and increased incentive spending, the average transaction price of new vehicles is expected to come in at just over $45,000, which is a drop of nearly $1,200 compared to a year ago. Used-vehicle prices are also on the decline. The average price is about $28,500, or about $1,350 less than last April.
NHTSA OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO TESLA AUTOPILOT RECALL
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA announced it’s opening an investigation into Tesla’s recall of over 2 million vehicles last December involving Autopilot. But it wasn’t a traditional recall to fix a component, instead Tesla issued an over-the-air update to address concerns about driver’s misusing Autopilot. The OTA made alerts more noticeable, simplified how the system is turned on and off and implemented a policy to penalize drivers that ignore the warnings. But NHTSA says it’s investigating that recall because there have been additional crashes involving Autopilot since the software update was issued. The agency also said that Tesla has stated that owners can decide if they want to opt into parts of the recall remedy and allow them to reverse some of it. NHTSA says the investigation will evaluate if the updates address the misuse, confusion and use in areas where Autopilot wasn’t designed to be used.
MAZDA UNVEILS TWO NEW NEVs FOR CHINA
Mazda unveiled two new electrified vehicles at the Beijing show. The first is called the EZ-6, which was developed with Changan, Mazda’s joint venture partner in China. The automaker didn’t share details about its powertrain but it will be available as both a BEV and a plug-in hybrid. The BEV is expected to deliver 600 kilometers or 372 miles of range, while the PHEV is estimated to achieve 1,000 kilometers or 621 miles of range. The EZ-6 will launch in China by the end of the year. The other model Mazda revealed is the Arata crossover. The automaker didn’t reveal many details but it will also be offered as a BEV and PHEV as well. The Arata will go into production by the end of next year.
NISSAN REVEALS FOUR ELECTRIFIED CONCEPTS
Nissan also introduced new electrified concepts at the Beijing show, two EVs and two plug-in hybrids that were jointly developed with its Chinese joint venture partner, Dongfeng. Nissan didn’t share any powertrain details about the models but it did reveal some of their technology. The first model is the Epoch, an EV sedan that features a virtual personal assistant. The next concept is an all-electric SUV called the Epic that Nissan says will feature autonomous driving for both the city and highway and it can function as a mobile power source. The third vehicle it revealed is the Era Concept, a plug-in hybrid SUV. It features an advanced version of Nissan’s e-4orce electric all-wheel control system and an active air suspension setup. And last is a PHEV sedan called the Evo that comes with an AI-enhanced virtual personal assistant. Nissan also announced that it is planning to introduce one more NEV for China than it previously disclosed, which means it will have 5 new NEVs in China by the 2026 fiscal year.
RAM SHOWS OFF NEW RHO PERFORMANCE TRUCK
Production of Ram’s high-performance off-road truck the TRX came to an end at the end of last year, so now it’s coming out with another high-flying off-roader called the RHO. But instead of a Hellcat under the hood, the RHO features the high-output version of Stellantis’ Hurricane engine, which makes 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. The setup is 150 pounds lighter than the Hellcat powertrain in the TRX, which helps the RHO do 0-60 in 4.6 seconds, only a tenth of a second slower than the TRX. All that power is sent through a BorgWarner full-time active transfer and Dana 60 rear axle with an electronic locking differential. The front suspension is an independent system with forged aluminum upper and lower control arms and adaptive Bilstein shocks, while the rear features the same adaptive shocks and a five-link coil system, which offers a lot more wheel travel. Orders for the RHO are open now. Pricing starts just under $72,000, including destination charges and sales kick off in the third quarter of this year.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS LIKELY TO RAMP UP ANTI-UAW EFFORTS
The UAW won a historic victory by getting a 70% majority of workers at Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee to vote in favor of the union. This happened despite 5 Republican governors from Southern states speaking out against the union just days before the workers voted. On Autoline After Hours yesterday, Marick Masters, a labor expert from Wayne State University, predicted that the governors are going to ramp up their efforts against the union as it now moves to have workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama vote on whether they want the union.
“What you will see is these anti-union forces become much more aggressive in terms of what they do on the ground and mobilizing at the grass roots level among the work sites themselves, the surrounding community and their lawmakers. Georgia, I think is interesting. It just passed a law that the governor signed, and this is a Republican governor, although he’s not President Trump’s favorite governor I might say, Kemp, he signed a law that said ‘You cannot continue to get the incentives of the state that they gave the auto industry for investing in the state, you will relinquish those if you voluntarily recognize the union.’ So I think one thing that’s interesting is that Volkswagen never voluntarily recognized the union. They could always do that. And I think that what the UAW has done with Volkswagen and Mercedes, by filing unfair labor practice charges, and the other companies as well, is that if they don’t win the election they’re going to ask for the National Labor Relations board to issue a mandatory bargaining order that says you have to bargain with them because you interfered with the election and there’s no sense in having another election.”
There’s a lot of great insight into the UAW’s organizing efforts and the impact it could have on the U.S. auto industry and we’ll provide a link to that show if you’d like to watch more.
But that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for tuning in and I hope that you have a great weekend.
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Also in EV news Hertz is hurting as the depreciation of all those Tesla EVs cost them 195 Million dollar loss in the first quarter.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/hertz-is-done-gambling-with-evs-it-took-a-first-quarter-195-million-hit-on-teslas-that-just-keep-losing-value-and-can-t-sell-them-fast-enough/ar-AA1nFQCL?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=48af624eff4c4ab49ba6eae50a3dbfca&ei=74
Almost seems illegal for Governors to withhold state funds from a company that goes union. I don’t think any of them voluntarily welcome the union but there are laws preventing management from discouraging workers from organizing. These governors may find themselves on the wrong side of a lawsuit.
Product positioning is everything. TRX fans will say the RHO is not nearly as good as the blown Hemi equipped TRX was. However, RAM is saying that it is not a replacement for the TRX. RAM has done a good job at positioning the new RHO. Its down on power but also down in price. The Ram RHO starts at $71,990, with destination. To put that into perspective, the final 2024 TRX starts at $98,335. The base EcoBoost V-6 Ford F-150 Raptor is down on performance compared to the RHO and costs about 10 grand more. In this halo market segment I predict the new RAM RHO will do quite well.
Hertz should have leased those Teslas with a predetermined residual. I’ve never leased a car, but if getting an EV, I might be tempted to lease, given all of the unknowns involved.
They should make a regular cab RWD short bed RHO, like the original SVT Lightning. There would be a real market for that.
As much as people love politicians I would think the 5 governors might have shot themselves in the collective foot by coming out against the unions, people hate being told by politicians what is good for them.
Lambo2015 — At a time when schools in a number of states are having struggling with issues of gun violence, with no clear answers, these five governors get together to pressure multibillion dollar companies to not allow unions into their establishments? Especially if the employees of that company, who lives in those same states, who also case votes to elect their governors, are the ones that say they want to unionize?! So, these governors are putting these companies between them and their employees, while at the same time putting those employees between them and the UAW! Enacting these laws may just cost the state, the very jobs these governors claim to be protecting. If the governors when this fight, might it cost them their next election? I would imagine that these governors may have much more important things to do, then involving/inserting themselves into the inter workings of international companies that know how to speak for themselves!
I didn’t get a chance to comment on it yesterday, but that VW ID.CODE concept looks great and, call me crazy, makes me think that this is what the next generation Model X might have looked like. It also brings to mind the Lucid Gravity, in the lower front spoiler, to my eye.
The first Nissan concept, the gold sedan, which looks nice, reminds me of the Sony-Honda Afeela sedan. The Nissan is a little more appealing, while the Afeela seems more appliance like.
That Mazda CUV EV looks niiiice! I hope that they build a version in other markets!
Those southern governors are safe, politically, unless they get “primaried” for not being sufficiently anti-sexual minority, anti-Muslim, anti-abortion, anti-immigrant, anti-environment, or pro guns everywhere. While the US south is generally anti-union, that is not a major issue, either way.
Heck yeah Kit, those southern hillbillies should emulate stalwartly liberal northern companies like Starbucks to properly foster the unionization of their employees. Oh wait, Starbucks is actively trying to quash any unionization efforts for their employees but I’m sure they totally support it anywhere else! Just, you know, not there.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens at VW. After their diesel cheating scandal and apology tour they promised to have a completely EV line up, or close to it, by now I think. Don’t hear much about that anymore. I think the union will push hard to stop and or slow the EV crusade at VW just as they did with success at the domestic OEMs since they actually forced Biden to retreat on those emissions deadlines as well as what mix of of LEV power plant combos will be allowable. They know that EVs mean union job losses. And with AI’s rapid rise, even “learn to code” will not be a viable alternative soon. Learn to weld or learn to plumb would be better suggestions.
Daily, as I said in my post, those other things, not unions, are what people vote on in Mississippi. Their votes have little to do with unions.
Lambo, from what I gather Hertz left customers pretty much alone with their Teslas, when a little hand-holding would be appropriate. The depreciation is a financial consideration they might have taken into account before buying.
On a related note, I suspect the better way to charge EVs (or plug-in hybrids) is inductive. Efficiency has improved, and safety considerations for wide-scale adoption would make this a preferred choice, I think. Cars are sufficiently smart nowadays that positioning could be done automatically.
Charging stations may still prove useful by providing the electrical plumbing. But having a unified standard on both ends… it’s not a technical challenge, but an organisational one.
DailyDriver
‘And with AI’s rapid rise, even “learn to code” will not be a viable alternative soon. Learn to weld or learn to plumb would be better suggestions.’
Yup.
I’m amazed at the push for EV’s when the “majority” either can’t afford nor have a way to charge a vehicle in a timely manner. Nothing against ownership for those that have them but … Common sense is lacking along with infrastructure.
EVs are great, as commuter cars for those with home charging, but are a long way from being a total replacement for ICErs and hybrids.
Sean, is there any chance that inductive charging will ever be close to as efficient as plug-in charging? It would be great, for convenience, but from what I’ve read about small scale inductive charging for phones, it is horribly inefficient. Maybe a system for cars can be developed which would have reasonable efficiency, given consistent, accurate positioning. Then, there would need to be a standard system if there was inductive public charging. Time will tell.
If Hertz sends people on their way in the Teslas without a some introduction, no wonder renters crash them a lot, as they try to figure out how to change the temperature, turn on the wipers, etc. Also, the cars’ being fast compared to what most people are used to could contribute to crashes.
Sean, what is your opinion on how the UAW rank and file will actually vote even though the union itself sold its endorsement to Biden in exchange for the emission rule concessions I mentioned above? They have to know that with Trump would come much better job protection for them in the form of massive tariffs on any Chinese autos – if they are even allowed in at all – and very friendly EPA rules. I know it’s anecdotal, but anytime Trump is in front of a UAW crowd, they love him.
Kit, inductive charging solutions for cars have made a lot of progress. They could make PHEVs a lot more useful too.
Saw and heard a flat-four Porsche this week!
Sean, did you see and hear a recent, 718 flat four Porsche, or an older one of some type, like a 356?
The recent one. Glad there are still some modern cars that can be distinguished by their engine sound.
People are still whining about the sound of the turbo fours in the 718 Boxter/Cayman, compared to the earlier flat sixes. You can still get a flat six in those cars for an extra $30K or so. To me, the fours sound ok, and more importantly, they work well. My Cayman is the base car, with a 300hp 2.0 turbo, and it’s quick, has a very flat torque curve, and generally works great. I rarely use the “extra loud” button that was standard on the car.
Typical Tesla owner response of poor craftmanship. Staying positive with lots of cybertruck issues.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/month-of-hell-tesla-cybertruck-owner-frustrated-by-quality-issues/ar-AA1nOvfE?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=0939feac8c734e1f8e8f1e042a929b65&ei=28