Trump paves the way for Tesla's autonomous driving technology, while Lucid is not ready to make cheap electric vehicles | Overseas Daily

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The Trump administration might facilitate Tesla's autonomous driving technology, and Tesla's stock price surges

Key points:
Recently, the stock price of Tesla (Tesla, stock code: TSLA) has risen sharply due to the possibility that the Trump administration might simplify the federal approval process for its autonomous driving technology. Although Tesla's autonomous driving technology has not yet been fully realized, the market is filled with expectations for its future prospects. Currently, autonomous driving technology is mainly regulated by each state, and each state has its own regulations to approve the use of autonomous driving systems on the road. In Tesla's most recent earnings conference call, CEO Elon Musk (Elon Musk) hinted that he might cooperate with the new government to promote the federal-level autonomous driving approval process. According to Bloomberg, Trump's transition team is discussing making the federal autonomous vehicle framework a priority for the Department of Transportation. This news has caused Tesla's stock price to rise by 7%, increasing the market value by about $70 billion. However, this increase is surprising because the biggest obstacle to Tesla's autonomous driving technology previously seemed not to be regulatory issues, but the realization of the technology itself. Tesla's predictions on the autonomous driving timeline have been repeatedly incorrect, and the latest goal is to launch an unsupervised autonomous driving technology in California and Texas in the second quarter of 2025. Tesla's autonomous driving technology aims to achieve a critical disengagement rate of more than 600,000 miles, which is based on data on human driving accidents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Currently, Tesla has not released any data on its autonomous driving efforts, so the best data source is crowdsourced data, which shows that a critical disengagement occurs approximately every 241 miles. Tesla needs to achieve a 2,500-fold improvement in the disengagement rate to reach a level that is safer than human driving, which is the goal before obtaining regulatory approval. At the current rate, this 2,500-fold improvement may take 10 years, and we have not seen a significant acceleration in the improvement rate.

Tesla Autopilot (Source: Electrek)

Opinions:
The future development of Tesla's autonomous driving technology is undoubtedly a hot topic in the automotive industry. The Trump administration's consideration of simplifying the federal approval process is a positive signal for the entire autonomous driving industry, as it might provide a more unified and clear regulatory environment for technological innovation. However, for Tesla, even if the federal-level regulatory barriers are reduced, the challenges of technological realization are still huge. Tesla's progress in autonomous driving technology has been controversial, and its critical disengagement rate still has a huge gap compared to the goal. To reach a level that is safer than human driving, Tesla needs to achieve a qualitative leap in technology. Currently, Tesla's autonomous driving technology is far from reaching this goal, and the improvement rate does not show signs of being able to achieve this goal in a short period of time. In addition, Tesla's autonomous driving technology development also faces fierce competition. Other automakers and technology companies are also actively developing autonomous driving technology, and some have made significant progress. In this competitive environment, Tesla needs to accelerate the pace of technological innovation, otherwise it might lose the market opportunity. In general, although the Trump government's policy might bring benefits to Tesla's autonomous driving technology, Tesla still needs to make more efforts in technology research and development to achieve a breakthrough in the field of autonomous driving.

Mercedes-Benz's new electric CLA makes its debut: Equipped with advanced EV technology and abundant configuration options

Key points:

Mercedes-Benz recently announced the technical details of the powertrain of its upcoming electric CLA model, which integrates many advanced electric vehicle technologies and some interesting battery technology options, as well as the most flexible charging system we have seen so far. The electric CLA aims to achieve extremely high energy efficiency, reaching 12 kWh per 100 kilometers, equivalent to 193 watt-hours per mile or 5.2 miles per kWh. This efficiency exceeds that of any other model on the market currently, such as the 200 watt-hours per mile of the Lucid Air Pure, or the 5.5 kWh per mile claimed by Tesla. The CLA will use Mercedes-Benz's new compact EDU 2.0 electric motor, which is part of its new Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), which will support its upcoming electric models. The drive motor on the rear axle will provide 200 kilowatts of power, while the all-wheel drive model will add an additional 80-kilowatt unit on the front axle. A two-speed gearbox will ensure efficiency at both high and low speeds. To improve efficiency in cold weather, the CLA will use an air-to-air heat pump that can capture heat from the motor, battery, and ambient air to heat the cabin. Although the waste heat generated by the battery and motor is far less than that of an internal combustion engine, being able to direct the heat to where it is needed is still beneficial. Mercedes-Benz says the CLA will offer two battery options with different chemical compositions. The larger 85 kWh model will be able to provide a WLTP range of up to 750 kilometers (466 miles). This battery will add silicon oxide to the anode to increase energy density, a technology pioneered by Sila Nanotechnologies, a company led by Mercedes-Benz. The smaller battery will be 58 kWh and will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. LFP is a lower-cost but lower-energy-density technology with higher long-term durability and simpler mineral sources (without using cobalt, and Mercedes-Benz says "reduced" cobalt use in the larger battery). However, LFP typically has slower fast charging and cold weather performance. In terms of charging, the "advanced" battery will use an 800V configuration, capable of achieving a charging speed of up to 320 kilowatts. Mercedes-Benz says this can increase the range by 300 kilometers (186 miles) in 10 minutes, and the car will have a wide charging curve, meaning that a high charging rate can be obtained even if the battery is not close to empty. It is not yet clear whether the smaller LFP battery has the same charging rate. This high charging rate enabled Mercedes-Benz to set a record of traveling 3,717 kilometers (2,309 miles) in 24 hours with a pre-production CLA model on the Nardo test track in Italy. This is a record with an average speed of 96 miles per hour including charging time.

Electric Mercedes-Benz CLA camouflaged vehicle (Source: Electrek)

Opinions:

The debut of Mercedes-Benz's electric CLA undoubtedly injects new vitality into the electric vehicle market. This car not only continues Mercedes-Benz's consistent elegance and dynamics in appearance, but also shows forward-looking in the technical level. Especially its efficient powertrain and flexible charging solutions indicate Mercedes-Benz's ambition in the field of electric vehicles. First of all, the CLA's high efficiency goal is impressive. In the electric vehicle market, energy efficiency is one of the important indicators to measure the performance of a vehicle. The CLA's energy efficiency performance of 12 kWh/100 km will undoubtedly make it stand out among the same-level models. This not only means a longer cruising range, but also means lower energy consumption and a more environmentally friendly travel mode. Secondly, the CLA's battery technology options reflect Mercedes-Benz's deep understanding of market demand. By providing two batteries with different chemical compositions, the CLA can meet the needs of different users, whether it is long-distance drivers who pursue ultimate cruising range or urban commuters who pay more attention to cost-effectiveness. This flexibility is an important trend in the development of the electric vehicle market. Furthermore, the CLA's 800V charging configuration and up to 320kW charging speed are one of its technical highlights. The fast charging capability greatly improves the practicality of electric vehicles, reduces the waiting time for users, and improves the user experience. This is crucial for promoting the popularization of electric vehicles. Finally, Mercedes-Benz's decision to provide both CCS and NACS ports on the CLA shows its adaptability and flexibility to future charging standards. This dual-interface design undoubtedly provides more convenience for users, especially in the current situation where the charging infrastructure is not yet perfect, allowing users to deal with it freely in different charging environments.

Elon Musk reveals that Tesla might develop a larger model of electric vehicle, but the specific time is undetermined

Key points:
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently hinted on social media in response to a fan's question that Tesla might manufacture a larger model of electric vehicle to support the needs of larger families. Musk often advocates for having larger families because he is worried that the low birth rate in some countries will lead to a population decline. In response to the fan's request, Musk simply answered "OK" at first, and then mentioned the recently announced Tesla Robovan and "some other things", seemingly suggesting that Tesla is developing a large electric vehicle that has not yet been announced. Since Musk has repeatedly stated that Tesla is developing a vehicle with a high passenger capacity, the weight of this comment is not heavy. Since 2016, Tesla's official product roadmap has included a "high-passenger-density urban transportation" vehicle, but it has not been announced yet, unless you count the Robovan announced last month, but that is a vehicle based entirely on Tesla's autonomous driving efforts and has no steering wheel or pedals. As Tesla transitions to autonomous driving, the automaker has postponed several new electric vehicle projects in favor of those that do not require any driver input, such as the Cybercab and the Robotvan. Musk has also discussed the possibility of Tesla manufacturing electric vans several times in the past few years. It is expected that Tesla will soon announce two new models, planned to be launched next year, but these models are based on the Model 3 and Model Y, so they are unlikely to be larger vehicles.

Tesla larger electric vehicle concept image (Source: Electrek)

Opinions:

Elon Musk's words always make people full of expectations, but at the same time make people remain cautious. Regarding the news that Tesla might manufacture a larger model of electric vehicle, I think it is very meaningful in Tesla's product line. An electric van that can be configured as a cargo, camper, or passenger vehicle will be able to meet the needs of different users and has great potential in the market. However, if the CEO firmly believes that the company is about to achieve autonomous driving and make the steering wheel obsolete, then it is more difficult for a vehicle project like this to be approved. I tend to think that Tesla should be more cautious, continue to develop its series of electric vehicles that can be driven by humans, and at the same time develop autonomous driving technology. Tesla's leading position in the electric vehicle field enables it to explore various types of electric vehicles, including large vehicles. However, considering the actual market demand and the company's strategic planning, Tesla may prioritize those models that can have an immediate impact.

"Big Events"

Tesla significantly lowers Model Y rental prices to impact quarterly delivery records

Tesla recently announced a significant reduction in the base monthly rental price of the Model Y, the latest in a series of incentive measures the company has taken to achieve a record delivery volume this quarter. Last month, Tesla said that despite a decline in delivery volume in the first nine months of this year, the company still plans to achieve a small increase in delivery volume this year. To achieve this goal, Tesla needs to deliver more than 515,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter, which is about 30,000 more than Tesla's previous record quarter - the fourth quarter of 2023. In the past few weeks, Tesla has implemented a series of sales incentive measures to ensure there is sufficient demand to achieve this record quarter. In Europe, these incentive measures include one year of free Supercharging and significant discounts. In the United States, Tesla offers inventory discounts, three months of free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving (FSD) features, and FSD transfer and other benefits. Globally, Tesla is also heavily subsidizing loan payments to reduce interest rates.

Tesla Model Y (Source: Electrek)

Now, if subsidized loan payments are not attractive enough for consumers, Tesla offers another solution: lower rental prices. Tesla recently updated its only configurator to reduce the base rental price of the Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive by $50 per month. This rental price is the same as the Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, although the Model Y is $2,500 more expensive than the Model 3 if purchased directly. This sounds like Tesla is directly providing a $50 per month subsidy for the Model Y rental for 36 months. Since this offer only applies to the base version of the Model Y, which is likely Tesla's best-selling model, Tesla may expect to have an excessive inventory by the end of the year and plans to reduce some of the inventory by the end of the year through this offer. With all these significant discounts, Tesla is likely to achieve the goal of 515,000 vehicles this quarter.

BYD achieves a global milestone of producing the first 10 million new energy vehicles

Chinese new energy vehicle giant BYD this week reached a major milestone as the company produced its 10 millionth new energy vehicle (NEV), becoming the world's first automaker to achieve this feat. This achievement comes just three years after BYD rolled out its 1 millionth NEV. After setting a new NEV sales record for the fifth consecutive month, BYD is closing in on top global automakers such as Ford. BYD sold more than 500,000 NEVs for the first time in October, marking the fifth consecutive month of record NEV sales for BYD, including plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and pure electric (EV) models. In the first ten months of 2024, BYD sold more than 3.25 million NEVs, a 36% increase from the same period last year. Among them, nearly 1.36 million are pure electric models. Against the backdrop of a new wave of competition and an intensifying price war in the Chinese NEV market, BYD is strategically expanding into key overseas markets to drive growth. The company opened its first manufacturing plant in Thailand, a booming NEV market. Soon after, new facilities in Hungary, Brazil, Pakistan, Turkey, and Mexico will also come online.

BYD overseas sales outlets (Source: Electrek)

As BYD continues to expand into new markets, the Chinese EV giant is rapidly catching up with global automotive leaders. After surpassing Nissan and Honda for the first time in the third quarter, BYD is now expected to soon surpass Ford in global deliveries. BYD announced on social media that it has become "the world's first automaker to achieve the milestone of the 10 millionth NEV rolling off the production line". This milestone comes ahead of BYD's 30th anniversary. Founded in 1995 with only about 20 employees, BYD has now become one of the largest companies in the world, with more than 900,000 employees. BYD launched its first mass-produced vehicle, the F3, in 2005, and achieved a sales volume of approximately 100,