The Volkswagen Group says it will reduce spending on hybridization and internal-combustion-engine development and concentrate on stepping up development and production of BEVs.
The new BMW is based on an upcoming facelifted version of the Chinese-market long-wheelbase 3-Series – a model not currently sold outside of China – which is 6.4 ins. longer than the existing standard-wheelbase 3-Series sold in North America.
Priced starting at $39,000, the 5-passenger QX50 is available in five grades – Pure, Luxe, Essential, Sensory and Autograph – with standard front-wheel drive or, for an additional $2,000, Intelligent All-Wheel Drive.
The unit was developed in partnership with several technology companies and is aimed at providing such infotainment functions as in-car communication, in-car payment, video streaming and voice assistants.
The automaker says it has 12 million monetizable connected cars globally. By 2026, this is expected to grow to 26 million vehicles and generate approximately €4 billion ($4.5 billion) in revenues, CEO Carlos Tavares says.
The new partnership aims to be a dominant player in nationwide EV charging infrastructure development. “Something like 53% of private vehicles are not garaged,” former auto executive Mark LaNeve says in citing challenges ahead.
Abigail Wulf, head of the Center for Critical Minerals Strategy at Securing America’s Future Energy, warns that with increasing demand for electric vehicles and batteries, the U.S. might not have sufficient raw material supplies.
Toyota’s plant will open in 2025 with four production lines, each able to produce enough batteries to power 200,000 vehicles per year. Toyota wants to expand to at least six production lines, bringing its total production capacity to 1.2 million...
Toyota has been criticized for moving too slowly toward battery-electric vehicles. In an interview, Toyota’s Gill Pratt defends the automaker’s approach and explains why it will have a bigger environmental impact.