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  • German council approves a revised plan by Tesla to expand its plant near Berlin

    German council approves a revised plan by Tesla to expand its plant near Berlin

    BERLIN (AP) — A local council in Germany approved a plan by electric carmaker Tesla to expand the grounds of its first plant in Europe, a proposal which has drawn persistent protests this year.

    Councilors in the Gruenheide municipality, just outside Berlin, voted 11-6 Thursday evening with two abstentions in favor of the plan, German news agency dpa reported. The proposal was scaled down to involve the felling of fewer trees than originally intended.

    Tesla wants to add a freight depot and logistical space to its factory, which opened in 2022.

    In a nonbinding vote in mid-February, residents of Gruenheide rejected Tesla’s original proposal, which would have meant clearing more than 100 hectares (247 acres) of trees.

    Activists have been protesting in a forest near the plant since February over concerns about water and deforestation. Hours before the council meeting, a court ruled that police can’t clear away tree houses that activists have built in the area for now.

    “Stop Tesla,” a group backing the protest, said Friday that it was disappointed by the council’s decision and vowed to keep on demonstrating. “We must stay to protect the water and the forest as long as our protection is needed,” it said in a statement.

    The state government in Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin, welcomed the councilors’ decision. The regional economy minister, Jörg Steinbach, described it as “a strong signal for the future development of Gruenheide and Tesla.”

    In March, a suspected arson attack on an electricity pylon, claimed by a far-left group, knocked out power supplies to the factory for nearly a week and interrupted production.

    Company CEO Elon Musk at the time called the culprits the “dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth” and said anti-Tesla protesters were misguided for aiming to halt production of electric vehicles rather than those powered by fossil fuels.

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  • Tesla signs mapping deal with Baidu in China

    Tesla signs mapping deal with Baidu in China

    Tesla has signed a deal with Baidu giving the US battery electric vehicle (BEV) manufacturer access to the Chinese internet giant’s mapping and data services, while also clearing a major regulatory hurdle in the world’s largest vehicle market.

    The deal followed last week’s visit to China by Tesla’s main shareholder and CEO Elon Musk, during which he met Chinese premier Li Qiang.

    The agreement with Baidu paved the way for Tesla to introduce its semi-autonomous driving technology in China.

    Elon Musk’s successful trip to China helped lift the company’s flagging share price by a third to US$194, valuing the company at US$615bn, before giving up some of the gains in the last few days.

    Tesla wants to step up the roll out of its ‘full self driving’ (FSD) system in major markets, including China, as competition from Chinese automakers including BYD Auto continued to intensify.

    Tesla vehicles have now been included in a list of 70 models tested for data security compliance in China by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers but had yet to be formally given compliance certification.

    Connected, smart technology, including driver assist systems, was becoming essential content in BEVs sold in China while demand for fully autonomous vehicles from transport companies such as taxi operators was expected to surge once the technology was proven and accepted.

    Foreign automakers in China were required to source their mapping and navigation systems from one of around 20 approved local suppliers. All manufacturers of vehicles with self driving technology were also required to store user data, which is used to improve these systems, in China.

    Tesla’s Shanghai plant shipped 948,000 vehicles last year, accounting for more than half the company’s global vehicle output, including 604,000 units for sale locally, accounting for 11% of the country’s domestic BEV market.

    “Tesla signs mapping deal with Baidu in China” was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.

     


    The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

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  • What would a full rollout of autopilot in China mean for Tesla?

    What would a full rollout of autopilot in China mean for Tesla?

    During Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s visit to Beijing on Sunday (28 April) to discuss the rollout of its autopilot, or full self-driving (FSD) software, the US automaker won an endorsement from a top Chinese auto association, which saw its Model 3 and Y cars named compliant with China’s data security requirements.

    The endorsement would give local governments the power to allow Tesla cars into parts of China they were previously banned from, according to Chinese media.

    Tesla also reached an agreement with Chinese tech giant Baidu to use Tesla’s mapping license for data collection on China’s roads, according to Reuters, citing two people familiar with the matter.

    Due to data security hurdles, Tesla has been offering a limited version of its FSD software in China for the last four years.

    Tesla has stored all data collected by its vehicles in China domestically to appease Chinese regulators since 2021, acting as a major hurdle to widespread adoption in the country.

    While Tesla’s endorsement from one of China’s auto associations is a positive step for a future unrestricted autopilot rollout in the country, it is unclear how many other hurdles Tesla will need to overcome for it to become a reality.

    Why does Tesla want its autopilot software in China?

    China is the largest automotive market in the world and remains the largest market for autonomous driving systems. A full rollout of autopilot in the country would allow Tesla to have a better chance at competing with its local rivals.

    According to research and analysis company GlobalData’s Thematic Intelligence: Autonomous Vehicles (2023) report, China’s car makers are rapidly gaining ground from technology transfer through joint ventures with foreign car makers such as GM, Daimler, and BMW.

    At the same time, a flurry of specialist start-ups funded and backed by state institutions and corporate venture capital firms (many of them foreign, such as Intel) is enabling China to compete in auto AI, according to the report.

    China launched its “Made in China 2025” program in 2015, an ambitious 10-year-plan to achieve manufacturing self-reliance within the decade. A primary goal of that plan was to ensure its autonomous vehicle industry became the world’s best.

    The country has focused on Level 4 and Level 5 self-driving testing, hoping to outpace other markets.

    Level 5 autonomy relates to self-driving cars that do not require human interaction—meaning that when they’re eventually deployed, they won’t have steering wheels or pedals.

    Despite Musk’s promises, Tesla’s FSD software has still not moved the system beyond Level 2. Level 2 driving consists of lane-centering capabilities alongside adaptive speed control.

    Crucially, Tesla drivers are still required to be monitoring driving at all times and must intervene if something goes wrong.

    Releasing full-scale FSD software in China will help provide a much-needed boost to Tesla’s declining EV sales. In April, Musk reaffirmed his commitment to making self-driving technology a significant revenue source for the company.

    Tesla’s vehicle deliveries in the first quarter fell for the first time in nearly four years. The company began the second quarter announcing layoffs of more than 10% of its global workforce and slashing vehicle prices in major markets, including the US, China and Europe.

    Why is Tesla’s FSD rollout so slow in the US?

    Tesla has been heavily criticised by the leading US auto safety regulator for being complacent about driver safety.

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) argues that Tesla owners are using the system beyond its intended purpose and that the title autopilot or FSD is misleading.

    The regulator closed a three-year probe into Tesla’s autopilot system crashes in April. The regulator claimed 13 of the crashes were fatal.

    Last week, the regulator said that Tesla’s autopilot label could lead drivers to “believe that the automation has greater capabilities than it does and invite drivers to overly trust the automation”.

    According to GlobalData, the difficulty of commercialising autonomous vehicles has been one of the industry’s biggest hurdles.

    “The early hype in expectations, a period that went from approximately 2015 to 2020, has given way to far more realistic positioning as the wide range of challenges to full commercial deployment becomes clearer,” according to GlobalData’s thematic research in autonomous driving.

    The autonomous driving systems market size was 212.5 million units in 2023, according to GlobalData’s 2024 market analysis.

    The market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of more than five percent during 2023-2028, according to the report.

    “What would a full rollout of autopilot in China mean for Tesla?” was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.

     


    The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

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  • Tesla makes its controversial Full Self-Driving software cheaper by $4,000

    Tesla makes its controversial Full Self-Driving software cheaper by $4,000

    Tesla has reduced the price of its Full Self-Driving software in the US and Canada. Per a post from the company on , it now costs $8,000 in the US (or $11,000 for buyers in Canada) to add the so-called Full Self-Driving Capability. This is down from $12,000 ($16,000 CAD), according to , which also reports that Tesla has discontinued the $6,000 Enhanced Autopilot option. Current owners with that package can upgrade to FSD for $2,000.

    Tesla’s driver assistance features have been under scrutiny from regulators for years, and despite the name, Full Self-Driving isn’t meant to fully take over for a human driver at this stage. On its website, Tesla notes that current FSD features “require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.” In March, the company reportedly introduced a mandate of FSD before they’re able to take home their new cars, so they can see what the software has to offer.

    The latest price drop comes a few days after of its subscription for FSD — which it has recently been referring to as Full Self-Driving (Supervised). The subscription, which previously cost $199/month, now goes for $99/month. Tesla also vehicles this weekend by $2,000 each. Earlier this month, Tesla reported that its fell short of expectations, with an eight percent drop year-over-year.

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  • Tesla’s Elon Musk postpones India trip, sources say

    Tesla’s Elon Musk postpones India trip, sources say

    By Aditi Shah, Aditya Kalra and Sarita Chaganti Singh

    NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Tesla chief Elon Musk has postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and announce plans to enter the South Asian market, four people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.

    Reuters could not immediately determine why Musk postponed the trip. Tesla and Modi’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    After Reuters reported his India trip plans on April 10, the CEO posted on X: “Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India!”

    In New Delhi, Musk was expected to announce an investment of $2 billion to $3 billion, mainly to build a factory in India, after the government announced a policy lowering high tariffs on imported cars if companies invest locally, Reuters has reported.

    He was also expected to meet executives from several space startups in New Delhi. Musk is awaiting Indian government regulatory approvals to begin offering his Starlink satellite broadband services in the world’s most populous country.

    Musk’s planned Sunday arrival was to have come two days after the start of India’s nation election, in which Modi is forecast to win a rare third term.

    The CEO and the prime minister are both at critical junctures.

    Modi, in his election campaign, wants to highlight progress toward promises of making India a global manufacturing hub. Tesla could have used the India announcement to reassure investors after months of share-price declines and the news on April 15 that it would lay off more than 10% of its global workforce.

    Rohan Patel, a Tesla public policy executive who, according to sources, was one of those leading the company’s India entry plans, also resigned this week.

    (Reporting by Aditi and Shah Aditya Kalra; Editing by William Mallard)

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  • Chinese electric vehicle giant with surging profits

    Chinese electric vehicle giant with surging profits

    China’s BYD posted a record annual profit for 2023 on Tuesday, just months after surpassing Tesla to become the world’s leading electric vehicle seller.

    Here’s what you need to know about the Chinese EV firm with global ambitions.

    – ‘Build Your Dreams’ –

    Known as “Biyadi” in Chinese — or by the English slogan “Build Your Dreams” — BYD was founded in 1995 in the southern industrial hub of Shenzhen.

    It initially specialised in the design and manufacture of batteries before moving into the automotive sector in 2003.

    Close government cooperation in Shenzhen — where the public bus fleet has already fully transitioned to electric models — gave it an important boost.

    The firm recorded a net profit of 30 billion yuan ($4.16 billion) last year, according to a filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, up 80.7 percent year-on-year from 16.6 billion yuan in 2022, reaching an all-time high.

    BYD’s biggest advantage over competitors is scale, Tu Le, founder and managing director of Sino Auto Insights, told AFP.

    The firm’s high production volume allows them to “aggressively price their vehicles and keep pressure on struggling EV startups and (original equipment manufacturers), including Tesla”, said Le.

    Last year BYD became the first manufacturer to pass the five million milestone in terms of hybrids and all-electric vehicles sold, cumulatively — crowning itself “the world’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles”.

    Many foreign automotive giants, including Tesla, BMW, Mercedes and Audi, depend on BYD for their batteries.

    – State backing –

    The firm has long benefited from generous subsidies from Beijing for electric vehicles — support that has angered other governments.

    China has spearheaded a targeted industrial strategy to boost its EV sector, pouring vast state funds into domestic firms as well as research and development.

    Between 2014 and the end of 2022, the Chinese government said it had spent more than 200 billion yuan ($28 billion) on subsidies and tax breaks for EV purchases alone.

    The approach has given Chinese firms a critical edge in the race to provide cheaper, more fuel-efficient EVs over leading US automakers, which have not always enjoyed such state largesse.

    Demand for EVs has soared in recent years in China, which is the world’s biggest emitter of polluting greenhouse gasses.

    BYD, whose investors include US investment titan Warren Buffett, wants electric and hybrid vehicles to lead its sales by 2035.

    That push saw it announce sales of 526,409 all-electric cars in the fourth quarter of 2023 — surpassing Tesla’s 484,507 in the same period.

    Sales have been helped by the fact that BYD’s electric vehicles are cheaper, with its cars selling for less than $30,000 on average, while Tesla’s go for north of $40,000, according to financial magazine Barron’s.

    BYD also sold more than 400,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the fourth quarter.

    But despite its dominant position in the Chinese market, a number of growing domestic brands, including XPeng, Nio and Geely, are nipping at its heels.

    XPeng said a total of 141,601 vehicles were delivered in 2023, while Nio reached 160,038 — both up from the year before.

    Under intense pressure to outdo each other, China’s automakers are engaging in a price war, especially with consumer spending slowing as the country’s post-pandemic recovery stutters.

    – All electric, with global ambitions –

    BYD ceased production of gasoline-powered vehicles in 2022 and now focuses exclusively on hybrid and electric models.

    It launched a European offensive in 2022 at the Paris Motor Show.

    The company said earlier this year that its future EV factory in Hungary would begin production in three years, making it the first Chinese firm to manufacture passenger cars in Europe.

    That move builds on its existing operations in the central European nation, including an electric bus factory.

    It has said it hopes the factory will “accelerate the entry of new energy passenger vehicles into the European market” as well as deepen its global footprint.

    But not everyone is happy with BYD’s westward expansion.

    Last year, the European Union launched an investigation into Chinese subsidies for its EV sector, saying that Chinese state support has squeezed its own firms in local markets and threatening to impose tariffs in retaliation.

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