Toyota once again postpones the launch of a new generation of electric vehicle models, and Rivian's electric pickup has a higher satisfaction rate than Tesla | Overseas Daily
"Top 3 News"
Electric Pickup Rivian Leads in Satisfaction, Tesla Ranks Third
Key Points:
Recently, according to the latest owner satisfaction survey results released by Consumer Reports, the emerging electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has topped the list for the second consecutive year, becoming an industry leader. The survey shows that 86% of Rivian owners said they would buy the brand's vehicles again, a proportion significantly higher than that of BMW, Tesla, and Porsche, which are in a three-way tie. Tesla has risen two places in this survey, but when asked whether owners would buy again, its proportion has decreased by two percentage points compared to last year's survey.
Consumer Reports points out that automakers with fewer models may have an advantage over brands with a rich model range, because only a few of the latter's models may meet the expectations of car owners, while other models may not be satisfactory. However, some manufacturers can consistently win the satisfaction of buyers in all or most of their models. This consistency is crucial because an automaker's product line is not static. In this survey, Jeep unsurprisingly ranked last, and three brands under the Stellantis Group were at the bottom. Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Nissan had lower rankings in the survey, which was somewhat unexpected.
Rivian (Source: Electrek)
Opinions:
The success of Rivian and Tesla in this satisfaction survey can largely be attributed to the appeal of electric vehicles. As more and more people choose electric vehicles, they are often reluctant to return to fuel vehicles. Rivian seems to be unique in this regard, and its owner group is generally satisfied. Although there are some dissatisfaction with service access, this is not uncommon for new models. Consumer Reports actually points out that reliability is not a factor in this survey because as long as the service experience is good, car owners are usually not affected by reliability problems during the warranty period.
This high evaluation of satisfaction is a positive signal for emerging electric vehicle brands, indicating that they are doing well in meeting consumer expectations. With the continuous growth of the electric vehicle market, the success of these brands may attract more consumers to switch to electric vehicles, thereby promoting the transformation of the entire industry. As an industry pioneer, Tesla ranks third in this survey, but its brand influence and market position should not be underestimated. The rise of Rivian shows the potential of new entrants in the electric vehicle field and their innovation ability in meeting consumer needs. With the advancement of technology and the improvement of consumers' acceptance of electric vehicles, we can expect more satisfactory electric vehicle brands and models to appear in the market in the future.
Renault 5 Electric Vehicle Surpasses Tesla Model Y, Becoming the Best-Selling Electric Vehicle in France
Key Points:
Despite the recent turmoil in the French government, the enthusiasm of the French people for electric vehicles has not been affected. According to the latest data, the market share of electric vehicles in France has exceeded 15%, and the new retro-style Renault 5 electric model won the championship in last month's sales. The French government experienced a historic vote of no confidence this week, resulting in the dismissal of Prime Minister Michel Barnier and the paralysis of the government. Although the political turmoil has had an impact on the French car market, with the overall sales volume decreasing by 12.7% year-on-year, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models showed strong growth in November, with an increase of 34%.
In the field of electric vehicles, the Renault 5 E-Tech has become the market leader with its excellent sales performance. The Renault 5 E-Tech achieved remarkable results in the first full month of its listing, selling a total of 3,316 vehicles last month, showing a strong start in the local market. In contrast, the globally best-selling Tesla Model Y sold only 3,175 vehicles under large-scale promotions, while the Citroën ë-C3 ranked third with 1,239 new registrations. The Renault 5 ranked seventh in all new car sales.
Renault 5 Electric Vehicle (Source: Electrek)
Opinions:
Renault Group seems to be continuously enhancing its market competitiveness with its E-Tech series of cars and commercial vehicles. After seeing a series of mistakes made by the recently fired Stellantis Group CEO Carlos Tavares, perhaps it would be a wise choice to hand Chrysler over to Renault Group. The success of the Renault 5 lies not only in its retro design and electric vehicle positioning, but also in its good performance in the local market. This achievement is a positive signal for Renault Group, indicating that its strategic layout in the electric vehicle field is achieving results. The hot sales of the Renault 5 E-Tech not only promote the growth of the market share of electric vehicles in France, but also add weight to Renault Group's competition in the global electric vehicle market. The growth of the French electric vehicle market reflects the acceleration of the global electric vehicle trend.
With the progress of electric vehicle technology and the improvement of environmental awareness, electric vehicles are gradually becoming the first choice for consumers. The success of the Renault 5 E-Tech provides an example for other automakers that through innovative design and cost-effective products, success can be achieved in the market. In addition, the growth of the French electric vehicle market also has a positive impact on the global electric vehicle industry. As more and more countries and enterprises increase their investment in electric vehicles, the penetration rate of electric vehicles will continue to increase, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cope with global climate change. The hot sales of the Renault 5 E-Tech are not only a victory for Renault Group, but also a milestone for the global electric vehicle industry.
Xiaomi Electric Vehicle Sales Exceed Toyota in Just 6 Months after Its Launch
Key Points:
In the global electric vehicle market, Chinese automakers are gradually becoming a real threat as they seek growth through overseas expansion. For the first time, half of the top ten global electric vehicle sales come from China. BYD is rapidly catching up with Tesla, and after the Chinese tech giant Xiaomi launched its first model in April, its sales have exceeded Toyota. China is the world's largest electric vehicle market, and with the arrival of a new wave of local competitors, domestic leading enterprises such as BYD and Geely are rapidly expanding into new markets. According to new data from MarkLines (via Nikkei), a total of 2.52 million electric vehicles were sold in 55 markets worldwide in the third quarter.
Tesla topped the list with sales of 432,000 vehicles from July to September, with a year-on-year increase of 2%. BYD ranked second with sales of 424,000 vehicles, with a 9% increase in the third quarter. This Chinese electric vehicle leader continues to climb in the global sales rankings, and its low-cost electric vehicles have a price advantage over many internal combustion engine vehicles. BYD's best-selling electric vehicle is the Seagull, which is also its cheapest model, with a starting price of less than $10,000 in China. The Seagull has become the best-selling car in China, selling nearly 41,000 units in August alone.
The Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi made an impressive debut in the third quarter, and its electric vehicle sales even exceeded Toyota, which was achieved just 6 months after the launch of its first model. Xiaomi launched its first electric vehicle, the SU7, on March 28, 2024. In just 6 months, its sales have exceeded many global automakers, including Toyota. According to AlixPartners' forecast, by 2030, Chinese brands will control more than one-third of the global electric vehicle market.
At the same time, many American and European automakers are falling behind. Volkswagen slipped to fifth place, with sales dropping 17% to 170,000 units in the third quarter. Jeep manufacturer Stellantis and Mercedes both dropped out of the top ten, with sales dropping by more than 20%. General Motors ranked fourth with sales of 184,000 units, with a year-on-year increase of 27%. Most of this comes from its joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling in China. No Japanese brand entered the top 20, and they have become the biggest laggards in the transition to electric vehicles. Nissan ranked 22nd with sales of 34,000 units, while Toyota and Honda ranked 23rd and 24th respectively.
Xiaomi SU7 (Source: Electrek)
Opinions:
The rapid rise of Chinese electric vehicle brands in the global market not only shows China's competitiveness in the electric vehicle field, but also reflects the changes in the global automotive market pattern. The strong performance of Chinese brands such as Xiaomi poses a challenge to traditional automakers, especially those that are slow in the transition to electric vehicles. Xiaomi's success is not only a sales surpass, but also an innovation in electric vehicle technology and market strategy. The launch of Xiaomi SU7 not only meets the needs of consumers in technology, but also is competitive in price, which enables it to quickly seize the market share.
In addition, Xiaomi's brand influence in the smartphone and smart home fields also provides a powerful market promotion and user base for its electric vehicle business. For American and European automakers, the rise of Chinese brands is undoubtedly a warning. If they cannot accelerate the research and development and market promotion of electric vehicles, they may further fall behind in the global electric vehicle market. American and European policymakers and automakers need to recognize that the transition to electric vehicles is not only a technology race, but also a market and policy competition. With the global emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and coping with climate change, the electric vehicle market will continue to expand. The success of Chinese brands in the global electric vehicle market not only provides new opportunities for the development of China's automotive industry, but also brings new impetus to the innovation and competition of the global electric vehicle industry.
"Big Events"
Volkswagen Plans to Move ID. Buzz Electric Vehicle Production Out of Germany
The German automaker Volkswagen is facing severe challenges recently. Due to a large-scale labor strike in its native Germany, the company is considering moving the production of its retro-style electric van ID. Buzz out of Germany. Currently, the ID. Buzz is produced at the Hannover factory in Germany, but due to the electric model not meeting the production target, Volkswagen may transfer all or part of its production to the factory in Poznan, Poland. This news was reported by the Hannoversche Allgemeine and noticed by Electrive. The annual production target of the ID. Buzz is 130,000 units, but the delivery volume in the first half of this year is less than 15,000 units. Since the summer, the two production lines of the factory have only been operating in two day shifts without the need to add night shifts.
Volkswagen ID Buzz (Source: Electrek)
Meanwhile, more than 100,000 workers in Germany held several-hour strikes at nine factories, including Volkswagen's only electric vehicle plant, causing the production lines to come to a standstill. This strike occurred after several weeks of collective bargaining, and Volkswagen has not given up the plan to cut thousands of jobs and close factories in Germany - a first in its 87-year history in Germany. Volkswagen plans to close at least three factories, lay off thousands of employees, and cut the salaries of the remaining employees by 10% to cope with the fierce competition from countries such as China.
Moving the production of the ID. Buzz out of Germany is undoubtedly a blow to the German factory, and it is not yet clear whether there are other products that can fill this gap. Behind this decision is Volkswagen's competitive pressure in the global electric vehicle market. With the rise of electric vehicle brands in countries such as China, Volkswagen has to seek new ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency. As part of Volkswagen's electrification strategy, the transfer of the ID. Buzz production may indicate a major adjustment in Volkswagen's global production layout. This change not only affects the employment market in Germany, but also may have an impact on Volkswagen's competitiveness in the global electric vehicle market. With the acceleration of the global automotive industry's transition to electrification, Volkswagen's this decision may become a weathervane for its strategic adjustment.
Toyota Once Again Delays the Launch of Its New Generation Electric Vehicle Model, Expected to Be Launched in Mid-2027
Lexus LF-ZL Electric Sedan (Source: Electrek)
The global automaker Toyota recently announced that its highly anticipated new generation electric vehicle model will not be launched as expected in 2026, but will be postponed to mid-2027. This decision is to introduce new technologies in order to reduce costs and speed up the production. In October last year at the Japan Auto Show, Toyota first showcased its next-generation electric vehicle platform and exhibited two Lexus concept models - LF-ZC and LF-ZL, which were originally planned to be launched in 2026. However, according to a report by the Japanese media NHK, Toyota has postponed the production start time of these two Lexus electric vehicles to mid-2027. Toyota claims that its upcoming high-performance electric vehicle battery can provide a WLTP range of more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and supports fast charging function, which can charge from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes.
In contrast, Toyota's currently sold bZ4X electric SUV has a WLTP range of up to 516 kilometers (321 miles), while its EPA-estimated range is up to 236 miles. It is reported that Toyota postponed the production date to introduce new production methods, including giant casting technology, to reduce costs and increase production volume. Previously, the Nikkei reported that Toyota will delay the plan to produce electric three-row SUVs in the United States until the first half of 2026. The model was originally expected to start assembly at the Georgetown plant in Kentucky in 2025. After notifying suppliers, Toyota now expects to produce about 1 million electric vehicles by 2026, lower than the previous target of 1.5 million. Toyota has joined the ranks of competitors including Ford, General Motors, and Volkswagen, who have also recently postponed their electric vehicle plans.
Electric Truck Startup OX Delivers Secures $163 Million Deal to Expand in African Market
The electric truck startup OX Delivers recently announced that the company has obtained a multi-year deal worth $163 million, aiming to introduce its durable, efficient, and low-cost electric "truck-as-a-service" vehicles to East Africa to promote the development of electric mobility in the global south. This multi-year, $163 million deal will create a new franchise - OX East Africa. The deal includes the delivery of a batch of OX Delivers electric trucks, as well as the provision of a multi-year subscription to the company's technology platform and vehicle maintenance services. As the company enhances its presence in Rwanda and expands to Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, OX East Africa is committed to meeting the growing demand for OX Delivers' truck-as-a-service business in Rwanda.
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