AD #4209 - Lucid to Offer L4 in 2029; Ford EU Cuts Spare Parts Prices 25%; BMW EVs Outsell Mercedes by 273,000 Cars
About this episode
Ford is shaking up the spare parts market in Europe with a 25% price cut on parts for vehicles made in 2019 or earlier, aiming to address repair costs. Meanwhile, BMW outsold Mercedes in EVs by a staggering 273,000 units, highlighting a shift in the electric vehicle landscape. Lucid Motors is set to launch Level 4 autonomous vehicles by 2029, while the new Chevy Bolt returns with significant upgrades, including a longer range and faster charging. Other highlights include Nissan's Nismo Aura and ZF's innovative noise-canceling technology for EVs.
spare parts
"...automakers can make a fortune selling spare parts to their dealers."
Spare parts are the pieces you can buy to fix or replace broken parts on a car.
Spare parts are replacement components used to repair or maintain a vehicle, ensuring it continues to operate effectively.
EBIT profits
"...can make several billion dollars a year in ebit profits just from selling spare parts."
EBIT profits show how much money a company makes before paying interest and taxes, helping to understand its financial health.
EBIT stands for Earnings Before Interest and Taxes, a measure of a company's profitability that excludes interest and tax expenses.
Ford
"...surprising to us that Ford is cutting the retail price of spare parts in Europe by up to twenty five percent."
Ford is a well-known car company that makes many types of vehicles, like trucks and cars.
Ford is an American multinational automaker known for producing a wide range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and SUVs.
BMW
"...last year, BMW including Mini, sold more than four hundred and forty two thousand bvs globally..."
BMW is a German car company that makes luxury cars and is known for its sporty models.
BMW is a German automaker known for its luxury vehicles and performance-oriented cars, including the Mini brand.
Mercedes
"...clabboring Mercedes in sales of fully electric vehicles."
Mercedes is a luxury car brand from Germany that makes high-end vehicles known for their quality and technology.
Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury automotive brand known for its high-quality vehicles and innovations in automotive technology.
fully electric vehicles
"...sales of fully electric vehicles. Last year, BMW including Mini, sold more than four hundred and forty two thousand bvs globally..."
Fully electric vehicles are cars that run only on electricity and do not use any gasoline.
Fully electric vehicles (EVs) are cars powered entirely by electricity, using batteries instead of gasoline or diesel.
Chevy Bolt
"The new Chevy Bolt is now being delivered to dealerships in the US. General Motors stopped selling the model in twenty twenty three, but it's back with a few upgrades."
The Chevy Bolt is a budget-friendly electric car from Chevrolet. It's designed to be affordable and has a good range for everyday driving.
The Chevy Bolt is an electric vehicle produced by Chevrolet, known for its affordability and decent driving range. The latest model features upgrades including a new battery pack and improved charging capabilities.
LFP battery pack
"now it features a sixty five kilowatt hour LFP battery pack from CATL and has a driving range of up to two hundred and sixty two miles."
An LFP battery pack is a type of battery used in electric cars that is safe and lasts a long time. It's made from lithium iron phosphate, which helps keep the car running smoothly.
LFP stands for Lithium Iron Phosphate, a type of battery technology known for its safety, stability, and longevity. It's commonly used in electric vehicles for its thermal stability and cost-effectiveness.
driving range
"now it features a sixty five kilowatt hour LFP battery pack from CATL and has a driving range of up to two hundred and sixty two miles."
Driving range is how far an electric car can go before it needs to be charged again. It's important to know so you can plan your trips.
Driving range is the distance an electric vehicle can travel on a single charge. It is an important factor for potential buyers as it affects the vehicle's usability for daily commutes and long trips.
peak charging speed
"The new Bolt has a peak charging speed of one hundred and fifty kilowatts, up from just fifty kilowatts, which allows it to charge from ten to eighty percent in twenty six minutes."
Peak charging speed is how fast an electric car can charge its battery. The faster it charges, the less time you spend waiting to drive again.
Peak charging speed refers to the maximum rate at which an electric vehicle can charge its battery. A higher peak charging speed allows for quicker recharging times, making EVs more convenient for users.
autonomous car
"Well Lucid CEO says they'll have them on the road in twenty twenty nine, and we're not talking about the robotaxi that had just unveiled with Uber and Neuro."
An autonomous car is a self-driving car that can operate without a person controlling it. It uses technology to see and understand the road.
An autonomous car is a vehicle capable of driving itself without human intervention, using a combination of sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence to navigate and respond to its environment.
Lucid
"Lucid has three new products in the pipeline based on this new platform, and winner Off says none of them will be a sedan."
Lucid is a car company that makes electric cars, like the Lucid Air, which is a fancy and high-tech vehicle. They are working on new models that will use advanced technology.
Lucid is an American automotive company that specializes in electric vehicles, known for its luxury electric sedan, the Lucid Air. They focus on advanced technology and high performance in their vehicles.
Level four technology
"says their next gen platform will have Level four technology for city driving with an AV stack that uses Nvidios four chips. Lucid has three new products in the pipeline"
Level four technology means that a car can drive itself in certain situations, like in a city, without needing a driver to take over. It's a step towards fully self-driving cars.
Level four technology refers to a level of automation in autonomous vehicles where the vehicle can handle all driving tasks in specific conditions without human intervention. This includes navigating city driving scenarios and responding to various traffic situations.
semi-active dampers
"it uses that input to make micro adjustments to the valves in its semi-active dampers without affecting their damping functions."
Semi-active dampers are parts of a car's suspension that can change how stiff or soft they are while driving. This helps the car handle better and feel more comfortable on different types of roads.
Semi-active dampers are suspension components that can adjust their damping characteristics in response to road conditions and driving dynamics. This allows for improved ride comfort and handling without the complexity of fully active systems.
active noise cancellation
"It says this kind of active noise cancellation can cut tire noise by three decibels..."
Active noise cancellation is a method that helps reduce unwanted sounds in a car by using special technology to create sounds that cancel out the noise, making the ride quieter.
Active noise cancellation is a technology that uses microphones and speakers to detect and counteract unwanted sounds, improving the overall acoustic environment inside a vehicle.
horsepower
"an impressive three-cylinder engine that makes a hundred horsepower per cylinder."
Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful a car's engine is. The more horsepower, the faster and stronger the car can be.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement for power, commonly used to describe the output of engines. It indicates how much work an engine can perform over time.
Toyota GR Yaris
"when you're the chairman of the company and you're racing alter ego gets its own special edition version of the GR Yaris."
The Toyota GR Yaris Marizo R is a special version of the GR Yaris made for racing fans. It has extra features to make it even better for driving fast.
The Toyota GR Yaris Marizo R is a special edition of the GR Yaris, named after Toyota's chairman Akio Toyoda, who has a racing persona known as 'Morizo'. This version typically includes performance upgrades and enhancements.
Saturn Aura
"...med into performance models, Nissan is giving the Aura hatchback, which is based on the same platform as..."
The Saturn Aura is a type of car that is a bit bigger than a compact car, designed to be comfortable for families and everyday driving. It was made by a company called Saturn, which was part of General Motors, and it was known for being stylish and getting good gas mileage. People talk about it because it was a popular choice when it was available.
The Saturn Aura is a mid-size sedan that was produced by General Motors under the Saturn brand from 2006 to 2009. It is significant for its blend of style, comfort, and fuel efficiency, and it was designed to compete with other mid-size sedans in the market. The Aura is often discussed for its unique position as a domestic alternative to imports during its production years.
Nismo
"But speaking of Japanese economy cars transformed into performance models, Nissan is giving the Aura hatchback... the Nismo treatment."
Nismo is a special performance brand from Nissan that makes cars faster and more exciting to drive. They add features that improve speed and handling.
Nismo is Nissan's performance division that enhances the performance and styling of their vehicles. It focuses on motorsport-inspired modifications and tuning for better handling and power.
Nissan Aura
"Nissan is giving the Aura hatchback, which is based on the same platform as the Kicks crossover, the Nismo treatment."
The Nissan Aura is a small hatchback car that is designed to be affordable and efficient. There is a special version called Nismo that makes it faster and sportier.
The Nissan Aura is a hatchback model that is part of Nissan's lineup, known for its economy and practicality. The Nismo version enhances its performance characteristics.
lowered suspension
"The Nismo Aura also features wider fenders, lowered suspension, bigger brakes, and a number of aero upgrades."
Lowered suspension means the car is closer to the ground. This helps the car handle better when turning and makes it look sportier.
A lowered suspension refers to a modification where the height of a vehicle's suspension system is reduced. This can improve handling and stability, especially during high-speed cornering.
aero upgrades
"The Nismo Aura also features wider fenders, lowered suspension, bigger brakes, and a number of aero upgrades."
Aero upgrades are changes made to a car to help it move through the air better. This can make the car faster and use less fuel.
Aero upgrades refer to modifications made to a vehicle to improve its aerodynamics, which can enhance performance and fuel efficiency. These upgrades often include features like spoilers, diffusers, and modified body shapes.
BYD
"BYD has created a new brand called Lin Qui that will feature rebadge models that are popular with fleet operators and ride hailing services."
BYD is a big car company from China that makes electric cars. They are known for creating affordable and efficient vehicles.
BYD is a Chinese automotive company known for manufacturing electric vehicles and batteries. They are one of the largest electric vehicle manufacturers in the world and are expanding their offerings in various markets.
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