Automakers are bracing for potential 25% tariffs by stockpiling parts and adjusting production, with companies like Ford, Stilantis, Audi, and Nissan taking proactive steps. Mercedes and other automakers are investing in humanoid robots for factory tasks, aiming for broader use by 2030. Advanced AI and digital twin technologies from GM and Nvidia promise improved production efficiency and safety. Meanwhile, Chinese automakers plan to introduce Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities soon, pending regulatory approval. Innovations in 3D metal printing by Bosch and challenges in EV battery recycling due to longer battery life are also highlighted.
Topics:tariffs impacthumanoid robotsai in manufacturingautonomous driving levelsdigital twins3d metal printingev battery recyclingchina automotivegm nvidia partnership
- Automakers Prepare for Trump Tariffs - China Delays Approval for BYD Mexico Plant - Humanoid Robots Could Be in Mercedes Plants By 2030 - BAIC Testing Humanoid Robots - Volvo Using AI to Improve Hands-Free Driving - California Grants Tesla Ride-Hailing Permit - Zeekr, Xpeng and GAC To Launch L3 Cars This Year - GM to Use NVIDIA Tech to Improve Production and ADAS - Bosch Wants to Use Metal 3D Printing in Volume Production - Longer Lasting EV Batteries Delay Recycling Plans
"...around. However, note that I did not use the word cybercab, robotaxi, FSD, autopilot, or self driving. This ..."
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Speaker 1: This Zotolne Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry. Automakers are preparing for the twenty five
percent terrafs President Trump has promised to go into effect on April second. As we reported last week, Ford is
stockpiling parts ahead of the terrace, and now Stilantis is doing the same thing by moving some parts from Canada and Mexico to the US sooner than usual. The automaker
is also working with dealers to expedite orders of vehicles that could be impacted by the terrafs. In Europe, the
German luxury brands Audi, BMW and Mercedes are considering strategies that include passing the cost of the terrace onto customers and lowering or shifting production. Audi will especially be impacted
by the terrafs because it doesn't have a plant in the US and its best selling model, the Q five, is built in Mexico and over in Japan, the japan Automobile Manufacturers Association is warning that US TERRAF could lead to significant production cutbacks in Japan because of the disruption to the supply chain. Nissan is already getting ahead of
the tariffs and says it has boosted production at its plant in Mexico and is aiming to get that extra output to the US before the terraffs go into effect.
BYD has big expansion plants, but its new plant in Mexico could be in jeopardy. The Financial Times reports that
Chinese officials have delayed approval for construction to start because they're concerned about BYD's intellectual property and technology leaking to the US. That's all we know, and we'll be sure
to update the story with any new information. But since
BYD is private and not state owned like some Chinese automakers, we wonder how long officials can really delay construction. More
automakers are getting involved in humanoid way robots. Mercedes announced
it's making a low double digit million euro investment into Aptronic, a US based robotics company, and the automaker has already started testing aptronics Apollo robot at its Berlin factory. It's
using Apollo for repetitive tasks like transporting vehicle parts to the production line, and believes robots could have real factory jobs before twenty thirty. Mercedes is also making AI in
digital enhancements at its production sites to improve their efficiency.
And now we shift over to China, where Baic announced a partnership with robot maker Ubtech. Baic deployed the Walker
S one to do parts inspections at a plant where it makes anyvs repetitive tasks. Seem like the best applications
for humanoid robots right now, with ubi Tech claiming accuracy rates of ninety nine percent, so it feels like it's going to be a while before human line where start losing their jobs to robots. But most major automakers are
testing humanoids, including Tesla, BMW, the Hyundai Group, Neo, Japung, Toyota, and Honda. Valvo says it's using a technique called gauzy
and splatting to improve its hands free and driver assistance technology.
It allows users to create realistic three D environments from real pictures and video, and then manipulate that environment anyway they want. It sounds like this is particularly useful for
edge cases or unlikely driving scenarios like a dog running into the road, but maybe instead of just one dog, you want a whole pack of dogs running from both sides of the street, or a million other cases. Volvo
can then train its system to handle all those situations which will help make it better. And in somewhat related news,
we reported late last month that Tesla applied for a ride hailing permit in California in November of last year.
Now the California Public Utilities Commission has officially approved that application, which allows Tesla to own and operate a fleet of vehicles that transport employees around. However, note that I did
not use the word cybercab, robotaxi, FSD, autopilot, or self driving.
This permit is only for a taxi like service with human drivers. While Weimo also has the same permit, Tesla
has not applied for an autonomous driving permit yet.
Speaker 2: There's nothing wrong with heavy metal hy light enough, but with world class composite material taging automotive technologies makes vehicles lighter, safer, and more eco friendly.
Speaker 1: Hands free driving is also taking a step forward in China.
Three automakers Japang, GAC and Zeker. Gile's premium brand revealed
plans to introduce Level three capable vehicles this year, which means eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, but still being in a position to take over if needed.
Zeker announced that its upcoming nine x SUV, which launches in the second half of the year, will have that capability.
Japung says it will also have vehicles with L three in the second half and that it will start producing vehicles with Level four capabilities next year, and GAC says it will have L three models for sale this year and that it's also working on L four vehicles. But
while the vehicles have Level three capabilities, the three automakers still need regulatory approval before owners can use the features.
General Motors and chip maker and Nvidia announced plans to use AI software and simulation to develop vehicle technology and to improve the efficiency of the automaker's plans. GM will
use the Nvidia Omniverse platform to create digital twins of its assembly lines, allowing for virtual testing and production simulations.
The technology will also be used to train robotics platforms that are already in use, which it expects to increase safety and efficiency at plants. GM will also use an
Nvidia operating system in its next gen vehicles for advanced driver assistant systems. Bosch is expanding the metal three D
printing capabilities at one of its plants in Germany, with the goal of producing car parts in volume. The supplier
has invested six million euros in the center and it just installed a new printer that's five times faster than previous metal three D printers that will help speed up the development of parts, especially metal parts, which can take a long time to make with older methods. One example
is with engine blocks. Using conventional methods, it can take
up to three years to develop an engine block from the first draft of volume production, which includes up to eighteen months just to make the casting mold for the block.
A three D printer, on the other hand, can create a prototype engine block in just a few days, and Bosch claims it's the only Tier one supplier in Europe with this type of three D printing capability. In addition
to mining, recycling old EV batteries is seen as a way to help supply materials needed to make new batteries.
But there's just one problem. Batteries are lasting longer than expected.
Hydro Volt, a battery recycler in Norway, opened its first production line last year with the goal of processing twelve thousand metric tons of batteries from twenty five thousand evs a year, but because batteries are lasting longer, hydro volt only expects to process about a third of that this year.
While the number of evs scrapped last year in Norway was up fifty percent, EV's only a punted for four point four percent of passenger vehicles sent to the scrapyard.
So while battery recycling is promising, it could take longer to fully ramp up. And that brings us to the
end of today's show. Thanks for making autoline a part
of your day.
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