Briefly | 23 May 2023

 It’s EV News Briefly for Tuesday 23rd May. I’ll be back as usual at 5pm UK time, that’s Midday Eastern, for the full podcast.  Patreon supporters get the episodes as soon as they’re ready AND ad free. You can be like them by clicking here

Ford unveils a second-generation of EVs, including a full-size pickup and three-row SUV EV, and plans to produce 2 million EVs annually by 2026. It also announces mineral deals with several companies to secure the supply of lithium products supporting the EVs production. 

General Motors is set to launch an all-electric Cadillac Escalade called the Escalade iQ, with specifications and production details yet to be confirmed. This addition to Cadillac's EV lineup is expected to play a significant role in GM's long-term strategy. 

Texas imposes a new tax on electric vehicles, requiring owners to pay $400 registration and $200 renewal fees, in a bid to generate revenue for the state's highway expenses. The new tax is expected to add about $350 to the cost of owning an EV for Texans. 

Tesla is shipping more vehicles from its Shanghai plant to the North American market, likely driven by tax credit rules and the incentives offered through Canada's iZEV program. This strategy signifies Tesla's potential to expand its shipping operations to Canada. 

Three abandoned Tesla Roadsters from 2008, stored in sealed sea containers, have reached a bid of $750,000 in an ongoing auction. Despite having no knowledge of their exact condition, the vehicles are expected to have zero miles on their odometers. 

Tesla slashes prices on its new inventory with RWD Model 3s starting at $39,030, an attempt to clear out existing units ahead of upcoming model facelifts. This is part of Tesla's strategy to capitalize on economies of scale as it increases production in its global Gigafactories. 

The US government initiates two programs aimed at establishing a national network of 500,000 public EV charging ports. This involves funding testing and validation of charging equipment and creating a centralized data platform for EV charger data reporting. 

Panasonic announces plans to quadruple its EV battery production by 2031 by focusing on North American production. The strategy includes building at least two new factories to produce 4680 battery cells. 

Jeep seeks to expand its presence in the UK market by concentrating on electrification. After admitting past failures in the UK, Jeep's boss believes the excitement around electric 4x4s can help the company's growth in the country. 

China has overtaken Japan as the world's top auto exporter, spurred by a 58% increase in automobile exports and a 93% rise in new energy vehicle exports. This surge was supported by the Chinese government's backing for domestic EV growth. 

Lucid Motors announces pricing for two more Lucid Air variants in Europe, the Air Pure AWD and Air Touring, set to be delivered in Q3 and Q4 2023 respectively. Both models use a smaller 92 kWh battery pack, providing up to 725 kilometers of range. 

Rolls-Royce plans to start production of its Spectre electric coupé in September, with an estimated price of over half a million euros. Orders placed today are expected to be delivered in 2025, showing high demand for the company's first all-electric car. 

Gotion unveils its Astroinno L600 LMFP battery cell and pack, a cobalt-free solution that achieves a 1000km range. Set to start mass production in 2024, the battery tech will be available to Volkswagen, Gotion's largest shareholder. 

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