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      Tesla India Electric Car Plant To Be Setup In Karnataka – Report

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      File Photo
      Tesla India has been registered as Tesla India Motors and Energy Private Ltd – as per Ministry of Corporate Affairs

      Earlier this year, Karnataka CM, B S Yediyurappa had tweeted that Tesla will commence operations with an R&D unit in Bengaluru. He had announced this on twitter. But soon after, he had deleted the tweet. A State Govt document, accessed by Reuters points to the fact that Karnataka will also be the home to Tesla’s car manufacturing plant.
      This update comes on the back of statements from Gujarat and Maharashtra – both stating that they have invited Tesla to setup their Indian manufacturing unit in their respective state. Tesla is yet to confirm the report.
      Tesla in India
      Entry of the US based electric vehicle maker Tesla, into the Indian automobile sector, is particularly noteworthy as both the Central and State Governments are vying for higher adoption of green vehicle technology to conserve energy and preserve the environment.
      Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc. has set up a subsidiary in Bengaluru with plans to introduce their range of electric cars in India later this year. The R&D Center is at Lavelle Road in Bengaluru and marks the company’s entry into the country with a paid up capital of Rs.1 lakh and authorized capital of Rs.15 lakhs.
      Karnataka CM tweet which was deleted soon after it was posted
      With plans to launch a range of electric vehicles in India in 2021, Tesla has named Vaibhav Taneja, Venkatrangam Sreeram and David Jon Feinstein as its three directors. Plans are afoot to launch the new Tesla Model 3 in India for a start, with local assembly and manufacturing to commence later.
      First Tesla Car In India
      It is rumoured that Tesla Model 3 will be the first to launch in India as it is the most affordable Tesla product. The all electric sedan will be brought in as a CBU initially. It will attract a 100 percent import duty unless the Government of India offers any concessions to Tesla so as to give electric vehicle entry a push. Standard range of 423 kms on a single charge.
      South Of India Becoming EV Hub
      South of India and more specifically Bengaluru is a hub of automotive engineering with centres of Daimler, Bosch, Continental, Fiat Chrysler. Electric vehicle segment is also seeing increased participation with mobility startups like Ola, Uber, Bounce and Vogo planning to introduce more electric vehicles into their fleets.
      Ola is also keen on manufacturing electric vehicles with a new EV plant in Tamil Nadu. Ola will setup the world’s largest electric scooter manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu – for the same they have signed an MoU of Rs 2,400 crores.
      Ather Energy has also gone ahead with their plans. Production is now shifted to Hosur, Tamil Nadu from where the company aims to produce around 1 lakh units of electric two wheelers per annum.
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      Garage-built electric off-roader finds racing glory at King of the Hammers – Roadshow

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      Truck No. 2,277 is the first EV to cross the finish line at a King of the Hammers event.
      Nicole Dreon
      Last week marked the first time an electric vehicle ran in the King of the Hammers off-road event in Johnson Valley, California. Racer Kyle Seggelin and his team finished the Every Man Challenge in truck No. 2,277, a Toyota 4Runner with the powertrain from a Nissan Leaf EV.The 4Runner/Leaf rig was built by Seggelin and his team. It started the race with two 20-kilowatt-hour batteries, enough to get it to the first pit stop some 17.5 miles away. There, the team swapped out those batteries for the 62-kWh pack found in the Leaf Plus — a process that took a mere seven minutes.The key to quickly swapping batteries? Custom-built sliders. The team divided the battery packs into sections, each weighing roughly 200 pounds. They fit securely into the sliders and connected to the electric motor with a large, high-voltage connection, and one or two smaller Molex connectors, depending on the pack size. All the team had to do was disconnect, slide the packs out and then reverse the process. Easy peasy.While Seggelin and his co-driver, his sister Dahlia Seggelin, were out on the next 55 miles with the larger 62-kWh battery, the team charged the original, smaller batteries with a 12,000-watt generator. It was on this 55-mile section of the race course that the camaraderie of off-road racing really shined. Another team’s crew asked Seggelin to carry some parts out to their rig, which was stopped about five miles outside of pits. The KOH rules state that there is no pitting outside of designated areas, but competitors can help each other. But before Seggelin got to his fallen foe, his power steering went south. Seggelin noticed that the other team’s tool bag had the part he needed: a simple bolt. Not knowing what was wrong with the competitor’s rig, he took a risk and used the other team’s part anyway.Celebratory champagne at the finish line. 
      Nicole Dreon
      Displaying true sportsmanship, the other driver was ready to give up his race in favor of his competitor finishing, until Seggelin noticed that the other rig just needed a heim joint to get going. Once again, the tool bag provided the solution, and both trucks were able to make repairs on the trail.The 4Runner, however, was also running on three-wheel drive thanks to a broken front axle, and Seggelin said his truck lost power a few times. The team made the second battery swap in under 10 minutes, but in all, it took him 7 hours, 42 minutes, 9 seconds to finish the 91-mile lap. Preliminary data analysis shows that the truck got more range than the anticipated 1 mile for each kWh of juice, but the team won’t know the exact figures until they really dig into the computers.Seggelin was in a class of one in the Every Man Challenge, only needing to finish the first desert-focused lap of the race to take the podium. Next year he and his team would like to go back in a tube chassis EV with dual motors, solid axles and gear reductions to really get the most out of the power plant. He’d like to see other competitors bring electric competitors, as well, including major car manufacturers.”If a couple of guys in a garage with a junkyard Leaf and a 30-year-old hand-me-down truck can do it,” Seggelin said, “what’s stopping the auto industry from giving us some competition?”

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      Toyota will debut 2 new EVs for the US this year – Roadshow

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      One of the new EVs will probably be a compact crossover.
      Toyota
      Toyota is making a push for electrification, aiming for 40% of its new vehicle sales to be electrified by 2025 (and 70% by 2030). To help achieve that goal Toyota is finally jumping into the mainstream electric car game in the US, announcing today that it will debut two new fully electric vehicles this year.This news comes a few months after Toyota teased a new electric compact SUV being built as part of a joint venture with Subaru. That model was slated to launch in Europe first, but it seems likely that it will be one of the two models that we’ll get in the US this year. The crossover is said to be totally new, and it will use Toyota’s dedicated e-TNGA platform for EVs. Beyond that we don’t know much, but e-TNGA allows for a variety of battery packs and motor configurations, so expect all-wheel drive at least as an option.

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      We don’t know anything about what the second EV could be, but it’s probably a safe bet that it will have a sedan or hatchback body style to better compete against existing electric cars like the Hyundai Ioniq and Chevrolet Bolt. It should ride on the e-TNGA platform as well.The existing RAV4 Prime will be joined by another plug-in-hybrid model.
      Craig Cole/Roadshow
      Toyota also says it will reveal a new plug-in-hybrid model this year as well, but gives no details as to what that will be. Our best guess is a PHEV version of the Sienna minivan, Venza crossover or Highlander SUV, any of which would gain a Prime moniker to align with the Prius and RAV4 plug-in models.No reveal timeline was given for any of the three new vehicles, but given that Toyota says they will all “debut in the US market this year,” we could see the first unveil happen as soon as later this month. Expect each of the new Toyotas to go on sale by the end of the year as a 2022 model.

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      Tata Nexon Electric Owner Files Complaint In Transport Dept Over Low Range

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      Image for reference. Credit – Hemank.
      Tata Motors has been issued with a show cause notice by the Delhi Transport Department following a complaint filed by a Delhi resident

      The complaint states that the Tata Nexon Electric failed to perform as per standard. The vehicle owner, a resident of Najafgarh, purchased the Tata Nexon EV XZ+ variant and noted that while the company claimed a range of 312 km per charge, his vehicle was not offering more than 200 kms. This was despite the fact that he complied with every advice issued by the dealer.
      The Nexon EV was purchased from an authorized company dealership in Safarjung Enclave. It was registered on 3rd Dec 2020 and it was immediately noted to fail in meeting the required range as indicated. Though the owner stringently followed all directions, there was no improvement in the range and nowhere close to 312 kms per charge.
      Complaint Filed, Show Cause Notice Issued
      A complaint was filed by the owner of the Tata Nexon EV with Delhi Transport Department and a notice has been sent to the automaker. Tata Motors has been instructed to depute a representative to attend the office of the said department on 5th Feb 2021 at 12 noon.
      The notice also adds that the Delhi Government could consider removing the subsidy offered under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2020, on the Tata Nexon EV, if it is proved that this contention is proved to be true.
      File Photo. Credit – AutoTown
      Under this Policy, a purchase incentive of Rs.10,000 per kWh battery capacity is offered on the purchase of an electric 4 wheeler with a cap of Rs.1.50 lakhs. Also, the owners of the first 1000 electric cars registered in Delhi, following the issuance of the policy, would be eligible for the incentive. The Nexon EV is an approved vehicle under these conditions of the EV policy.
      Tata Motors, on their part, have taken cognizance of the show cause notice and are taking measures to address the concerns of the owner. The range of 312 kms per charge is based on certification received from Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).
      ARAI is an apex body to test and certify vehicles under various standard test conditions prior to the vehicles going on sale. Tests conducted by ARAI are under special and ideal conditions and hence range are always on the higher side as compared to real world conditions.
      As is also seen in the case of conventional vehicles, electric vehicle range is also derived depending on certain factors. These include use of air conditioning, individual style of driving and real world conditions present at the time the vehicle is being driven. The range is also achieved according to familiarity with the new technology and customers report a marked improvement by around 10 percent in a time frame of 4-6 weeks once they are familiar with the vehicle.
      Tata Nexon EV Sales
      Tata Nexon EV is the best-selling electric SUV in India and most affordable car in its segment currently commanding a market share of 63.2 percent. Launched on 28th Jan 2020, sales have touched the 3,000 unit mark in the past one year while its affordable price tag allows it compete efficiently with its rivals such as the MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona Electric.
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      Kia updates EV strategy, first purpose-built electric to debut next month – Roadshow

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      This South Korean automaker is hard at work on a broad range of electrified vehicles.
      Kia
      On Tuesday, South Korean automaker Kia announced important updates to its “Plan S” business strategy. The news was part of its 2021 CEO investor day, which was hosted digitally.This is shaping up to be a big year for the company. It already introduced a new logo and slogan and it’s announced that a range of electrified vehicles is in the works, with 11 new models including seven dedicated EVs scheduled to hit the market by 2026. Today, we get a few more numbers.

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      By 2030, Kia wants its latest crop of eco-friendly vehicles to account for 40% of global sales, or deliveries of around 1.6 million units. This includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure-electric vehicles. It also wants to increase its dedicated EV sales to 880,000 by the same year, becoming the world leader in the process.Seven of the fresh models Kia is launching will ride atop the new Electric-Global Modular Platform, or E-GMP for short. The remainder will be based on existing architectures. E-GMP aims to set new benchmarks in driving range, interior space and performance, though GM *with its new Ultium battery system) and Tesla aren’t standing still. Vehicles based on this platform will also support over-the-air updates and feature-on-demand services. The first purpose-built EV that’s leading the charge in Kia’s product offensive is codenamed “CV” and will feature Level 2 highway driving assist. More details about this enigmatic electric vehicle will be released next month.Kia is also aiming to expand its purpose-built vehicle offerings, PBVs for short, which ride atop specialized skateboard-style platforms. These are models designed to meet the needs of specific global markets, a strategy that should help it sell more vehicles by appealing to as many drivers as possible. Kia wants PBVs to rack up annual sales of 1 million units by 2030.On the mobility services front, Kia will expand its existing car-sharing and car-usership offerings in countries like Spain and Russia. The automaker will also launch EV-based subscription and car-sharing services for businesses. Operating profit margin was something else announced at Kia’s investor day. The company expects this figure to rise to 5.4% in 2021 and grow to 7.9% in 2025. Delivering this increase, Kia aims to grow its sales to 3.8 million units in 2025, with eco-friendly vehicles accounting for around 22% of those deliveries. A better product mix and more profitable EVs should add to the company’s bottom line.

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      New Tesla Electric Car Testing To Start This Year – Could Be Named Model 2

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      Tesla Model 2 render. Credit – JULIEN JODRY/TWITTER
      This compact electric car is likely to be positioned as an entry-level product from Tesla and will be based on the same platform as Model 3

      Tesla has reached a point in its business endeavours that it could very well project itself as a mass manufacturing mainstream automaker in the future. While its Model 3 sedan is currently the most popular electric car worldwide, its latest offering- Model Y, is set to overhaul the former to become even more popular.
      This could be further established by the company developing an affordable electric car worth $25,000 (equivalent to INR 18.22 lakh). Latest reports surfaced on the internet suggest that Tesla might soon commence testing trials for the upcoming compact car which has been labeled as a ‘Future Product’ in its Q4 FY 2020 Update Letter.
      Tesla Compact EV
      The company, however, has not yet officially confirmed the development of the said vehicle. As per a report published in a Chinese media outlet, Tesla is expected to begin road tests for this upcoming EV in the coming months, most probably in the latter half of this year in China. The report further mentions that this car could make an appearance at the Guangzhou Auto Show later this year.
      Specifications about this upcoming compact EV are still in the dark and are expected to be revealed in months to come. However, it has been revealed that it will be designed by locally hired talent in China. This would allow the EV giant to develop this model in a budget.
      2021 Tesla Model S
      In all likelihood, Tesla would target the working class as the primary consumer base for this product hence it requires to be cost-effective. The EV is expected to offer modest performance and a range of about 350-450 km on a single charge.
      Design-wise, this EV is likely to be positioned as a compact hatchback which is based on the platform as Model 3. This should provide the upcoming EV with ample space inside the cabin. Furthermore, reports mention that the car could be produced at Gigafactory in Shanghai although exact details as to the exact area where its assembly line will be set up are still unknown.
      Tesla In India
      This development comes in the backdrop of Tesla looking to expand its global footprints by setting foot in emerging markets like India. Last month, the company officially announced that it would enter the Indian market with its headquarter set up in Bangalore.
      While its manufacturing facility could be established in either of the two major ports of Kandla and Mundra in the state of Gujarat. The first product in India will be the Model 3 electric sedan which is expected to be followed by the launch of Model Y electric crossover. In 2020, Telsa manufactured and delivered about 5 lakh electric cars globally.
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