Volvo publicly cuts ties with Luminar over unmet contractual obligations, jeopardizing Luminar's financial stability. European automakers push the EU for more flexible CO2 emission targets. Chinese EV maker Xiaomi reports strong vehicle deliveries and its first EV profit despite stock struggles. Nissan introduces a rebadged Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to the US market. Ford unveils a new dealership design focused on customer comfort and partners with Amazon for online used car sales. Renault launches its first software-defined electric van with advanced battery options and Android Automotive OS. RAM returns to NASCAR with a unique rotating driver program.
Topics:volvo luminar disputeeu co2 emission targetsxiaomi ev growthnissan plug-in hybridford dealership redesignford amazon used car salesrenault electric vansoftware-defined vehiclesram nascar truck seriesautomotive industry trends
- Volvo Throws Luminar Under the Bus - Elkann Proposes CO2 Emission Easing - Xiaomi's EVs Now Profitable, Stock Takes a Beating - Nissan Adds a Mitsubishi to Its Lineup - The Think Behind Ford's Dealership Design - Ford to Sell CPO Cars on Amazon - Next-Gen Ford Bronco and Ranger - Trafic Van is Renault's 1st SDV - Ram Offers 'Free-Agent' Rides in NASCAR Truck
"...on doesn't start until late next year. Speaker 2: RAM is taking a unique. Speaker 1: Approach in its re..."
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Speaker 1: This is out Aligned Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
Speaker 2: It's very rare.
Speaker 1: To see an automaker publicly criticize one of its suppliers, but Volvo just through Luminar under the bus. Valvo originally
announced that Luminar's light Ar would be standard equipment on its ES ninety and EX ninety models last year, but last week it said the technology would become an option because supplies were limited, and now Volvo is cutting off Luminar altogether. It says Luminar failed to meet its contractual obligations,
which is a big blow to Luminar because Volvo is its biggest customer. Luminar was already struggling financially before this
all blew up, and now it's warning investors that it could become insolvent. Automakers in Europe have been getting the
EU to ease off at CO two emission targets, and Staalantis chairman John Elcan has a suggestion on how.
Speaker 2: To do it.
Speaker 1: He's urging the EU to allow automakers to meet twenty thirty emission goals over a five year period between twenty twenty eight and twenty thirty two. The proposal is similar
to a deal automakers and the EU reached earlier this year that allows companies to average twenty twenty five CO two targets over the next three years. Elcan's idea is
to extend that and come up with a different standard for like commercial vehicles.
Speaker 2: The EU is planning.
Speaker 1: To review its automotive CO two regulations later this year.
Chinese EV startup Shaomi is seeing really impressive growth. This week,
the company will have delivered three hundred and fifty thousand vehicles, which is more than a month I had a schedule, and its EV business posted a profit for the first time last quarter. While it was a modest ninety eight
million dollar profit, it is impressive for a company that just started selling vehicles in March of last year. Even so,
Shaomi has become one of the worst perform forming Chinese tech stocks over the past few months, and that's because rising chip prices are expected to cut into the company's margins on smartphones, which is its main business, and some investors are concerned about its long term EV growth due to intense competition in China and production delays that are holding back deliveries Nissan is adding a plug in hybrid to its US lineup, But don't get too excited. While
Nissan calls it the Roague, phev's actually a rebadge Mitsubishi Outlander, and it's going to be interesting to see how sales go.
Through the third quarter of this year, Mitsubishi sold fewer than fifty five hundred Outlander PHEVs. Nissan has more than
three times as many dealers as Mitsubishi does, so maybe it can do better.
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Speaker 1: Last week we showed you Ford's new design for its dealerships, and thanks to a personal tour we've got some info on the thinking that went into it. The entrance way
is open and welcoming. There are no receptionists at the door.
You can just walk in, help yourself to a cup of coffee or a snack bar, and wait for the salesperson.
Speaker 2: There are no cubicles or offices.
Speaker 1: You'll sit in comfortable chairs in partitioned areas. The only
time you'll sit in an office with the door closed is with the F and I person, since you'll be talking about your personal finances. There's what they call a
tech table where you can learn from an expert on how to use the technology inside of your car. Like
Blue Crewise, there's a display area that shows all the accessories available for specific vehicles. Ford also carefully chose the
construction materials and lighting to lower the stress levels of shoppers and make the showrooms more inviting. It wants all
of its global dealers to adopt these features, and says that one US dealership all already saw a thirty percent increase in sales thanks to the new design. Let's stick
with Ford in retail sales for a moment, because the automaker just signed a deal with Amazon to sell certified pre owned cars on Amazon Autos.
Speaker 2: The program involves four.
Speaker 1: Dealers who want to display their used car inventory, and shoppers can complete the entire buying process online via Amazon Autos.
Four dealers can even sell models from other automakers that they took in as trade ins. Best of all, you
get a money back guarantee which allows you to bring the car back for a full refund within fourteen days in one thousand miles. And as long as we're talking
about Ford, we've got some future product intel from Auto four cast Solutions. The next generation of the Bronco and
Ranger will go into production at the Michigan assembly plant in mid twenty twenty nine. Those models will ride on
the T six platform under the code name U eight to five for the Bronco in P eight two five for the Ranger. A commercial van will be the first
vehicle to ride on Renault's new software to find vehicle architecture developed by its smart ev division Ampier. The skateboard
chassis will debut under the new all electric traffic Van and here's what the production version looks like.
Speaker 2: There will be two battery packs available.
Speaker 1: One features in NMC chemistry for longer range and the other is an LFP pack that provides shorter range but is also cheaper. The NMC battery provides an estimated WLTP
range of four hundred and fifty kilometers or about two hundred and eighty miles, while the LFP pack returns three hundred and fifty kilometers or roughly two hundred and fifteen miles of range. While Renault says all the battery cells
will be produced in Europe, only the NMC pack will be available at launch. Thanks to eight hundred volte fast
charging technology, the battery will be able to go from fifteen to eighty percent in twenty minutes a charging. A
new generation electric motor produces one hundred and fifty kilowatts or about two hundred horse power, and as part of the reason the new traffic van can tow up to two tons or forty four hundred pounds. Another new feature
for Renault's new software to find vehicles is a brand new operating system that runs on Android Automotive. Along with
this comes better conductivity and things like OTA updates, but it's even able to offer tailored navigation that takes into account the vehicle's dimensions and how much weight is in the back.
Speaker 2: The new electric traffic.
Speaker 1: Van will be made alongside the IC version in France, and it will likely hit the market in early twenty twenty seven since production doesn't start until late next year.
Speaker 2: RAM is taking a unique.
Speaker 1: Approach in its return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
It looks like it will have five trucks that raise.
Three of those driver seats have already been filled, one is yet to be determined, but the last.
Speaker 2: Will be for what it calls a free agent.
Speaker 1: These free agents will come from all across Motorsports as a way to keep things fresh and allow drivers to feel what it's like to get behind the wheel. However,
it sounds like these drivers will change each race and they won't be racing for teen points. Instead, RAM is
creating a price program based on the best performers. Interested
drivers can contact Motorsports at Ramtrucks dot com and the first free agent will be announced in February. But that
brings us to the end of today's show. Thanks for
making autoline a part of your day.
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