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Volkswagen Has 5.8 Billion Reasons To Not F#$K This Up
VW finalized their software deal with Rivian.
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-Growdy
Volkswagen Has 5.8 Billion Reasons To Not F#$K This Up
Nebulus VW / Rivian Prototypes
This week, VW and Rivian gathered a few journalists to show examples of the vehicles they plan to build together. theverge.com
The two companies finalized a deal they announced earlier this year, in which VW will invest up to $5.8 billion between now and 2027 to co-develop software for electric vehicles. The overtly unoriginally named new joint venture, the “Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies,” will operate as an independent company. Rivian gets an epic sugar daddy level of cash, while VW gets access to Rivian’s software. techcrunch.com
VW is notoriously bad at code. Their Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) was meant to hit roads in 2024; software delays have pushed it out past 2026. Additional coding problems have pushed back next-generation models like the electric Golf and the ID.4 to 2029. autoblog.com
Although VW delayed the launch of the ID.7 in North America due to “market dynamics,” whatever the fuck that means, there are likely software issues at play as well. youtube.com, caranddriver.com
And not to put too fine a point on it, VW can’t fuck this up.
These delays, coupled with global sales pressure from Chinese OEMs, have put VW in a tough spot. If this marriage of code doesn’t work, it could spell even worse outcomes for the German automaker. They are already threatening to close plants, lay off thousands of workers, and face a multi-year turnaround effort to keep volks buying their wagons. theguardian.com
The War On Batteries
From the school of news that is entirely not surprising, Reuters reported this week that Trump plans to kill the US’s EV credits. reuters.com
The Zero Emission Transportation Association, a collection of OEMs and battery manufacturers, are lobbying heavily to keep the credits in place. reuters.com
“Cancelling the U.S. electric vehicle tax credit would be counterproductive and cede ground to car-makers in China, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters on Friday at the COP29 climate conference in Baku.” reuters.com
Meanwhile, some US utilities don’t want the credits to end. reuters.com
Trump’s unpredictability makes it impossible to know how this particular issue might be resolved, along with many other geo-political decisions that could have a wide-sweeping impact on the rest of the world. nytimes.com
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China’s Automotive Expansion
CATL builds a full EV skateboard for OEMs. reuters.com
Pony AI gets closer to its IPO in the U.S. techcrunch.com
Geely consolidates Lynk & Co into their Zeekr brand. reuters.com
Xiaomi builds its 100,000th vehicle in less than a year. electrek.co
Must Know Musk News
Elon manages not to jump up and down during DOGE appointment.
Elon and Vivek Ramaswamy were officially added to Trump’s cabinet to co-lead the newly fabricated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). bbc.com
Elon is already looking to recruit “High-IQ Revolutionaries” to DOGE, where you can expect to work 80 hours a week without compensation. nbcnews.com
CATL trash-talks Elon, saying he doesn’t know shit about making batteries (I might be paraphrasing). insideevs.com
SpaceX Dragon cargo vehicle repositioned the ISS and helped stabilize the ISS's trajectory in low-Earth orbit. space.com
Tesla issued its sixth voluntary recall on Cybertrucks this year. theverge.com
Tesla Energy drops 24 Megapack units into the Anchorage power grid. yahoo.com
Tesla begins installing its long-awaited V4 Superchargers. electrek.co
Some Tesla owners regret their purchases due to Elon’s MAGA transformation. drive.com.au
Rise Of The Machines
Creepy robot artist
A creepy humanoid robot learned to paint art (not walls). theguardian.com
Clone Robotics unveils super creepy humanoid torso capable of human-like movements. interestingengineering.com
Vecna Robotics raises $14.5 million from existing investors. techcrunch.com
SF start-up trains robot arms to do your laundry. wired.com
US Army builds a “smart” machine gun that doesn’t need you to pull the trigger. wired.com
Energy
China connects the largest single-capacity solar farm ever built to its grid. electrek.co
Shell won their appeal against a landmark order to cut emissions. ft.com
Ottawa’s proposed emissions cap could slow down oil and gas industry investment and raise gas prices. theglobeandmail.com
Swedish battery maker Northvolt has been discussing the possibility of bankruptcy protection in the US. reuters.com
Lyten buys assets from Northvolt. techcrunch.com
At least three Russian oil refineries halted processing due to rising crude prices and high borrowing costs. reuters.com
But Wait, There’s More
Where will we film these head-to-head videos?
Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary bought an airstrip in southern Alberta to film YouTube videos. autonews.com, youtube.com
Loyal Honda buyers love their new GM-built Honda Prologues. bloomberg.com
Honda might have an engine problem. globalnews.ca
Nissan’s shares jumped twice this week after activist investors took stakes in the OEM. reuters.com
Nissan unveils new N7 EV sedan. electrek.co
Stellantis wants to put a heater in your wheels to melt snow and ice. moparinsiders.com
GM partners with Reliant Energy to offer free overnight charging for their EVs in Texas. theverge.com
GM’s Cruise will pay $500,000 to resolve a federal investigation and accept a deferred prosecution agreement after they admitted to falsifying a report to the NHTSA. theverge.com
GM is laying off nearly 1,000 workers. techcrunch.com
GM has a transmission problem. reuters.com
Ford will pay up to $165 million after the NHTSA found they took too long to recall vehicles with faulty rearview cameras. theverge.com
Hyundai is launching a new AI-powered EV in 2025. electrek.co
Hyundai named Jose Munoz its US chief and global COO. reuters.com
Zoox starts operating their robotaxis in San Francisco and Vegas. techcrunch.com
Waymo is now fully operational in LA. techcrunch.com
Waymo compiles ‘largest ever’ dataset of pedestrian and cyclist injuries. theverge.com
Funky, cute, new mini-truck looks like it is from the future. motortrend.com
Check out this week’s “Kick Out The Jams” post.
You read to the bottom. Amazing! Now get a coffee and have a fucking awesome day.