Good morning! It’s Tuesday, June 20, 2023 and that is The Morning Shift, your each day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from around the globe, in a single place. Here are the vital tales it’s essential know.
1st Gear: Hyundai Is Considering Following Ford And GM
You wait all 12 months for an thrilling bit of electrical car charging information after which three come alongside directly. After Ford and GM introduced their ambitions to undertake Tesla’s North American charging port on their EVs from subsequent 12 months, Hyundai has teased its personal plans to pursue to port.
According to Automotive News, Jaehoon Chang, Hyundai’s CEO, mentioned that the automaker is “consider making its vehicles more readily compatible” with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) that Tesla is pushing right here within the U.S. According to the positioning:
“Jaehoon Chang, who is also Hyundai’s president, said the company would consider joining the alliance of automakers shifting to Tesla’s standard, but that it would have to determine that was in the interest of its customers.
“One issue, he said, is that Tesla’s current network of Superchargers does not allow for the faster charging Hyundai’s electric vehicles can achieve on other chargers.”
The Tesla port presently permits autos to cost as much as 250kW at 17,000 websites throughout the U.S. However, there are charging stations on supply from the likes of ABB that supply as much as 360kW of energy for 4 vehicles concurrently. These stations use the CCS port, which has been deemed the usual for EVs throughout Europe.
The different distinction Hyundai should navigate comes all the way down to the best way its EVs work. According to Automotive News, vehicles just like the Ioniq 5 use an 800-volt electrical structure to permit for sooner charging, whereas “Tesla’s Superchargers operate at a lower voltage.” As such, Chang mentioned Hyundai would “consult with Tesla” to see if the automaker might tweak its charging methods for “Hyundai customers so they could charge faster.”
Interestingly, Hyundai isn’t the one automaker making strikes in direction of Tesla’s charging commonplace this morning. EV startup Rivian announced it has “signed an agreement” with Tesla to undertake the NACS connector. From 2024, the automaker will supply adapters with its autos to permit homeowners to plug in at Tesla’s Superchargers. Then, from 2025, the port shall be totally integrated into its vehicles.
2nd Gear: Ex-Nissan Boss Carlos Ghosn Is Suing The Carmaker
Remember when ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn fled Japan in a guitar case whereas on the run from Japanese authorities? Well now, the previous automaker exec is suing the very firm that he used to go up for $1 billion.
Ghosn was arrested in Japan in 2018 and charged with monetary misconduct. He denied the cost and claimed that his arrest was a part of a ploy by his fellow Nissan bosses to dam a merger. He fled Japan to Lebanon, the place he has now filed a billion greenback lawsuit in opposition to Nissan. Reuters stories:
“The lawsuit filed on May 18 accuses Nissan along with two other companies and 12 named individuals of crimes including defamation, slander, libel and the fabrication of material evidence.”
A supply near the case advised Reuters {that a} courtroom session has been scheduled for September 18 to start proceedings. However, when approached for remark, Nissan mentioned “said the company will not be commenting on the matter.
After Ghosn fled Japan, three people involved in his escape were sentenced to four years and two months in prison by a Turkish court. But earlier this year, the case was retried, and all three were acquitted.
3rd Gear: Tesla Slashes $8,000 Off Its Cars
Electric car maker Tesla seems intent on winning the pricing war that it started when it began slashing the cost of its models. Now, the U.S. automaker is continuing the trend and has cut a further $8,000 off the cost of some of its cars.
According to Electrek, the company has slashed an extra $8,000 off its Model S and X cars across its inventory. The site reports:
“It results in brand-new Model S vehicles going for as low as $82,790 ($1,113 monthly for a lease or $1,307 loan payments).
“On top of that, Tesla is giving three years of free Supercharging for buyers who take delivery by June 30.”
The value minimize means that is the bottom worth Tesla has offered its Model S at in fairly a while. Electrek suggests it is because stock of the flagship EV has “more than doubled over the last three weeks.”
As nicely as quite a few worth cuts from Tesla, the continuing EV worth warfare has additionally seen legacy automakers like Ford minimize the value of its Mustang Mach-E EV, and startup Lucid even dropped the worth of its Air sedan.
4th Gear: Suzuki Wants Into The Flying Car Game
If there’s one innovation within the automotive world that’s nicely overdue, it’s flying vehicles. TV reveals and films have lengthy promised us these autos as a transparent imaginative and prescient of the longer term, and now, there are numerous startups promising to convey them into the true world. Even Suzuki is getting in on the motion.
Reuters stories that the producer of the right automotive has “reached an agreement” with electrical vertical take-off and touchdown (eVTOL) car builder SkyDrive Inc to make “flying cars.” According to the positioning, the 2 corporations will use a Suzuki Group manufacturing unit in central Japan to make electrical plane, with the goal of kicking off manufacturing in 2024. Reuters stories:
“SkyDrive will establish a wholly owned subsidiary to make the aircraft and Suzuki will help with preparations for the manufacturing, including securing talent, the automaker said.”
The transfer to enter manufacturing for the 2 corporations follows the signing of a deal final 12 months that noticed them crew up on the analysis and improvement of such craft. With Suzuki and SkyDrive now trying to kick off their aerial ambitions, they be part of the lengthy record of corporations promising that “flying cars” would possibly lastly be right here. Along with Stellantis, United Airlines and even Renault.
Reverse: Union Strong
Neutral: How are you?
How are you doing on this wonderful Tuesday morning? I’m again in New York after a weekend in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. The race was fairly good. Did you watch? I’m having fun with Alonso’s string of podiums this 12 months, however do want there was a bit extra of a struggle on for the win. P.S. New York bagels are higher.
Source: jalopnik.com