Right here at InsideEVs, not a day goes by that we do not cowl information about some upcoming electrical automobile that we’re enthusiastic about. However a bizarre factor has occurred as of late: apart from imprecise hints at newer and extra reasonably priced fashions, nearly not one of the thrilling new stuff on the horizon is from Tesla.
That is as a result of the corporate is, by the admission of CEO Elon Musk, laser-focused on AI and robotics initiatives, not the comparatively boring work of competing with Hyundai or Ford. Key to that may be a long-gestating plan for an autonomous Tesla “robotaxi” enterprise that might contain homeowners’ personal autos.
However that is a lot simpler stated than completed, and never even on the AI and autonomy aspect. Simply ask a man who is aware of what he is speaking about: Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.
Khosrowshahi’s remarks about Tesla’s plans kick off this Monday version of Crucial Supplies, our morning roundup of the newest tech, auto trade and mobility information. Additionally on faucet: a long-awaited Volkswagen EV remains to be set to debut this yr, and South Korea is genuinely spooked about that Mercedes EV hearth in a parking storage. Let’s dig in.
30%: A ‘Very, Very Completely different Enterprise’
Tesla Cybercab Render Inside
Musk has staked Tesla’s future on AI and autonomy. As he is lengthy stated, it is the distinction between the corporate being essentially the most precious one on earth and value nearly nothing. And new upgrades to its Full Self-Driving software program have been rolling out all yr.
Whereas it is all the time unwise to rely Tesla out, it is value noting that this newest transfer is mainly tripling down on a few of Musk’s most long-undelivered guarantees. In any case, the vehicles had been supposed to have the ability to drive from LA to New York autonomously by the tip of 2017, and also you had been supposed to have the ability to earn as much as $30,000 in passive earnings renting out your Tesla as a robotaxi 4 years in the past. (Simply so we’re clear: neither occurred.)
It can take an incredible collection of breakthroughs in autonomy and AI to get even near delivering on such guarantees in 2025 and past. Nonetheless, Uber’s Khosrowshahi—introduced in as a reformer on the long-troubled ride-hailing big and somebody who has largely delivered on that promise—says that the AI stuff is simply a part of the issue.
The opposite is designing a sturdy, versatile software program and app community for ride-hailing. Uber’s community is much extra complicated than individuals assume and it has been in growth since 2010. Tesla cannot give you one thing that good in a single day.
On an episode of The Logan Bartlett Present podcast, and transcribed right here by Enterprise Insider, Khosrowshahi explains:
Khosrowshahi stated it “wasn’t clear” to him that the typical Tesla proprietor would need “to have that automobile be ridden in by an entire stranger.”
He additionally doubts that Tesla’s taxis may meet demand throughout peak instances.
“Most likely the instances at which you are going to need your Tesla are most likely going to be the identical instances that ridership goes to be at a peak,” he stated. Comparatively, Khosrowshahi stated Uber can rapidly regulate the variety of part-time drivers to fulfill demand throughout rush hour or massive occasions.
Khosrowshahi additionally stated Musk is likely to be underestimating a key a part of the enterprise. He stated constructing a $50,000 piece of {hardware} is a “very, very completely different enterprise” than driving over 30 million transactions day by day. There’s additionally the customer support aspect of issues, like when somebody will get sick throughout a experience or loses an merchandise in a automobile, he stated.
That’s, until the plan is for Tesla to companion with an organization like Uber if it may well pull off such know-how (which, to be clear, stays a huge if.) Khosrowshahi stated he is hopeful that might occur. Then once more, Tesla additionally has an extended historical past of alienating companions, from Mobileye to the varied automakers who had been hoping for Supercharger entry by now.
60%: Sure, The Volkswagen ID.Buzz Is Nonetheless Coming To The U.S. In 2024
US-spec 2024 Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB with the unique Volkswagen Microbus
However long-delayed and deferred guarantees definitely aren’t distinctive to Tesla. This is some information a few automobile that is been pushed again thus far, it makes the Cybertruck look immediate.
Automotive Information reiterates what it, InsideEVs and different shops have been reporting this yr: that the Volkswagen ID.Buzz van remains to be on observe for a U.S. launch on the finish of this yr. It has been out in Europe since 2022, and whereas VW is at present reevaluating its EV plans amid a slew of troubles and uneven gross sales, the electrical Microbus successor is outwardly nonetheless headed our means quickly:
The German model as a substitute will add simply the long-awaited ID Buzz electrical minivan. In Might, VW delayed the U.S. launch of the ID7, an electrical sedan that will have doubtless had a sticker value between $50,000 and $60,000.
Volkswagen Group of America CEO Pablo Di Si has all however confirmed that hybrids are certain for the model’s U.S. lineup, which at present has none. The VW model launched a plug-in hybrid Tiguan in Europe, and Di Si has stated the powertrain has potential right here.
The ID.4 crossover bought some upgrades for the 2024 mannequin yr that we actually like, however the ID.7 sedan has been “delayed indefinitely” within the U.S. My considering is it will not come right here in any respect, given VW’s personal poor gross sales observe file with costly European-style sedans just like the Arteon and even the Phaeton earlier than that.
Past that, it is deeply unclear what VW’s fast EV plans are for the U.S., aside from an anticipated transfer to electrical fashions which might be extra conventional-looking and fewer aggressively future-forward just like the ID vehicles have been.
90%: Mercedes, Kia EV6 Fires Have South Korea On Edge
First, a Mercedes-Benz EQE hearth in a South Korean parking storage torches about 140 vehicles and injures greater than 20 individuals. Now, a Kia EV6 (uh-oh!) hearth breaks out in the identical nation, fortunately with far much less harm and no accidents that I’ve seen reported.
However each incidents have Korea—whose native automakers have planted their flags with EVs in an enormous means—in freakout mode. This is Reuters with the newest:
South Korean officers met on Monday to debate electrical automobile security and whether or not to require automobile companies to reveal battery manufacturers amid rising shopper concern after an EV blaze in an underground storage extensively broken an condo block.
On Tuesday, transport ministry officers will maintain talks with automakers, together with Hyundai Motor Group, Mercedes-Benz Korea and Volkswagen Group Korea, to debate the proposal to reveal battery manufacturers utilized in EVs, media stories stated.
The Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported final week that South Korea deliberate to require EV makers to disclose the model of batteries in vehicles.
Automakers at present want to offer sure details about autos, comparable to gasoline effectivity, however solely restricted particulars on batteries and don’t have to call the producers, the newspaper stated.
A couple of issues of word: first, EV fires are statically much less widespread than gas-car fires (at the same time as they make up fewer vehicles on the street.) However after they do occur, it is a fairly day on the workplace for firefighters and rescue employees. Particularly in tight, closed areas, like these underground storage fires.
Second, we’ve got not acquired any details about what triggered the Mercedes and Kia fires, or whether or not any U.S. fashions is likely to be affected; no remembers have been ordered and it is not instantly clear if these vehicles get the identical batteries as our variations do.
That is additionally why I help battery sourcing disclosures for EVs, like this story signifies the Korean authorities could power. That info could be extremely helpful to customers, to not point out reporters like us who cowl the area.
In lots of instances, lithium-ion fires like those which have been a persistent drawback in New York Metropolis have been tied to not vehicles however to e-bikes and scooters. Lots of these have used low-quality Chinese language batteries, not the higher-grade automotive stuff. However any assets that may assist individuals perceive widespread hyperlinks between fires could be extraordinarily helpful.
After which the automakers must hurry up with solid-state batteries, already.
100%: Will The ID.Buzz Be The Shot In The Arm Volkswagen Wants?
I’ve to confess that Volkswagen’s U.S. product roadmap is not precisely essentially the most thrilling factor I’ve ever learn. It is undoubtedly taking the long-game method to EVs, however it appears to be “wait and see” mode on a number of fronts—together with flirting with bringing hybrids to the U.S. market, which it most likely ought to decide to already.
On the identical time, I’ve pushed the ID.Buzz in Europe and it is an actual charmer. What is going to that do for the EV discipline in America? If VW’s good, it’s going to blow that factor out everywhere in the morning discuss reveals and anyplace else it may well attain mainstream, normie car-buyers.
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