Because of Musk, Tesla stores have become the targets of vandals and arsonists. | Overseas Daily
"Top 3 News"
Tesla Stores Targeted by Vandals and Arsonists, FBI Gets Involved
Key Points:
Recently, dissatisfaction with Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been increasing, and Tesla stores have become the main targets of vandals. Even arson incidents have occurred. Currently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States has intervened in the investigation. Since Musk made two Nazi salutes at Trump's inauguration ceremony, Tesla stores have been damaged more frequently in the past few weeks.
Tesla Factory in Germany (Source: Electrek)
In Europe, related vandalism is mostly related to anti-Nazism. For example, a Tesla showroom in The Hague was graffiti with Nazi symbols last week, and slogans such as "Against Nazism" and "Fascists Get Out" were left. A group even projected Musk's Nazi salute gesture and the word "Heil" onto Tesla's factory in Berlin. In Loveland, Colorado, the local Tesla store was vandalized twice on January 29 and February 2, 2025, with a relatively small scale. However, on February 7, the store suffered a more serious arson attempt. The police received a report around 7 am on the same day. The preliminary investigation shows that the arson attempt occurred shortly after midnight. At the same time, multiple cars and the store building were graffiti, and some of the contents were extremely aggressive and hateful.
Opinions:
The frequent vandalism of Tesla stores fully indicates that Musk's personal misconduct has aroused strong dissatisfaction from the public, which has had an extremely negative impact on Tesla's brand image. These vandalism acts not only caused Tesla to suffer economic losses but also disrupted the normal business order.
From a social perspective, this incident deeply reflects the close connection between public sentiment and the corporate image, as well as the public's high attention to the behavior of public figures. For Tesla, how to effectively deal with this crisis caused by the executive's personal behavior and repair the damaged brand image has become a key problem that needs to be solved urgently. At the same time, law enforcement departments should also strengthen the protection of commercial places, fully maintain social order, and prevent the further spread of such violent vandalism acts.
Rivian to Sell Its Commercial Vans to Any Fleet, Starting at $79,900
Key Points:
Rivian's commercial vehicle development has many key milestones. As early as 2019, Rivian announced a cooperation with Amazon to produce electric delivery vans. Amazon ordered 100,000 units, and about 20,000 units have been delivered so far. The cooperation agreement at that time included a 4-year exclusivity period, stipulating that Rivian could only supply to Amazon. This exclusivity period ended in November 2023.
Rivian Commercial Vehicle Fleet (Source: Electrek)
Since then, Rivian not only changed the vehicle name from "Electric Delivery Van" to "Rivian Commercial Vehicle", expanding the sales use to fields such as contractors, handymen, and food trucks, but also quickly attracted the interest of other companies, and spy photos of vans with different coatings have been leaked. Now, it is officially confirmed that Rivian commercial vehicles are accepting orders for any size fleet, with a minimum of one vehicle, but only for enterprises. At the same time, a fleet sales plan is launched, no longer limited to seeking large cooperative orders.
Opinions:
Rivian's opening of orders for any size fleet is a major shift in its market strategy. This move is conducive to expanding the customer base, increasing sales and market share, to cope with the increasingly fierce competition in the electric commercial vehicle market, and enhancing its own competitiveness through a flexible sales strategy. Although it has attracted the interest of other companies, no major cooperation agreements have been reached so far. Whether Rivian can achieve significant results in the commercial vehicle market with this plan in the future depends on the subsequent market promotion and cooperation with customers. From an industry perspective, Rivian's strategic adjustment may also prompt other electric commercial vehicle manufacturers to change their sales strategies, thereby promoting the development and transformation of the entire industry.
SkyDrive Low-altitude Flying Car Achieves the Latest Certification Milestone
Key Points:
Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive stated that its flagship "SKYDRIVE" eVTOL has officially obtained the G - 1 certification in Japan, which is a major progress for it to achieve commercial operations in Japan and the United States. It also shared the first real-world image of the aircraft, including in-flight photos. SkyDrive was not well-known in the sustainable aviation field originally, but its research and development progress is rapid in two continents, and its global customer base is continuously expanding. It also intends to use Suzuki to manufacture aircraft in Japan to achieve large-scale production of eVTOL.
The Japanese SkyDrive Team (Source: Electrek)
In the summer of 2023, it established its headquarters in South Carolina, USA, and received its first pre-order. With the efforts to obtain eVTOL flight certifications in the United States and Japan, the order volume continues to grow. Previously, people had only seen the renderings of its flagship eVTOL, and now the real photos have finally been released. SkyDrive confirmed that the flagship eVTOL obtained the G - 1 certification basis from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). This is based on the cooperation with JCAB, aiming to achieve the type certification of the 3-seat "SKYDRIVE" aircraft.
In addition, the first official photo of the aircraft before its official debut at the 2025 Osaka Expo in Japan was also shared. A public demonstration flight will be conducted at that time. Currently, the company is discussing the future certification plan with JCAB to determine the test schedule and procedures. Once determined, ground and flight tests will be carried out in Japan. At the same time, it is also cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States to confirm the separate certification process in the United States. Arnaud Coville, the Chief Development Officer of SkyDrive, said that the discussions with JCAB have been fruitful, and the verification project with the FAA has also made progress. The prototype is undergoing flight tests and is steadily preparing for the demonstration flight at the Osaka Expo. 2025 is of great significance and has a good start for the company. Currently, the flagship eVTOL is undergoing flight tests to prepare for the public debut at the Osaka Expo, which will open on April 13, 2025, and last until mid-October.
Opinions:
SkyDrive's obtaining the G - 1 certification and publicly releasing real images mark a crucial step in its eVTOL technology development and commercialization process. This not only enhances its popularity and competitiveness in the industry but also can attract more customers and partners. The cooperation with Suzuki and the advancement of certifications in the United States and Japan demonstrate its determination for global layout and large-scale development.
From an industry perspective, SkyDrive's progress injects new vitality into the eVTOL industry development, promotes the improvement of technical standards and certification systems, and may prompt more enterprises to accelerate research and development and market expansion, promoting the forward development of the entire sustainable aviation field. However, to achieve large-scale commercial operations, SkyDrive still faces many challenges, such as the complex certification process, the need for further technical optimization, and the need to cultivate the market.
"Big Events"
Renault Unveils Three All-Electric Light Commercial Vehicles, Set to Launch in 2026
Renault Group will usher in a new era of all-electric commercial vehicles next year. The French automaker has unveiled the names and styles of three new all-electric light commercial vehicles (LCV). These models will adopt a new skateboard platform with a high degree of modularity to meet the needs of future fleets. Renault is an established French automaker with a 125-year history. In recent years, it has entered various electrification routes through the "E - Tech" plan and has launched several electric passenger cars and commercial vehicles, such as the R4 SUV launched last autumn and the 600-kilometer-range semi-trailer truck, as well as the recently launched ultra-efficient concept car Filante.
Renault Electric Commercial Vehicle (Source: Electrek)
Currently, Renault has launched three new electric commercial vehicles under the E - Tech series and plans to go on the market next year. According to Renault Group's press release, its upcoming light commercial vehicle series will be part of a flexible and scalable full-range electric vehicle, "redefining" the market segment. These three new models are developed in collaboration with Flexis, an independent company jointly founded by Renault Group, Volvo Group, and CMA CGM.
The three initial models are named Estafette, Goelette, and Trafic, and are built based on the modular skateboard architecture developed by Ampere. The Estafette E - Tech is the modern electric version of Renault's 1960s panel van, designed specifically for urban logistics and last-mile delivery; the Goelette E - Tech is the electric version of the LCV that was produced from 1956 for ten years. Its modern architecture provides three variants of chassis cab, van, and dump truck for commercial customers.
From a market perspective, Renault's three new electric commercial vehicles are expected to gain a foothold in the light commercial vehicle market with their innovative design and modular features, meeting the diverse needs of different customers and enhancing Renault's market share in the electric commercial vehicle field. From an industry trend perspective, this also reflects the development trend of commercial vehicle electrification, which may prompt other automakers to accelerate the research and development and promotion of electric commercial vehicles, promoting the technological progress and market transformation of the entire industry.
FREYR Cancels Plan to Build a $2.6 Billion Battery Factory in Georgia
FREYR Battery has canceled its plan to build a $2.6 billion battery energy storage system factory in Coweta County, Georgia. On Thursday, the company informed officials in Newnan, a suburb of Atlanta, that it will not build the "American Super Factory" in Georgia that is expected to provide more than 700 jobs.
FREYR Battery Factory (Source: Electrek)
In 2023, inspired by the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits of the Biden administration and the strong growth of renewable energy, Freyr moved its headquarters from Norway to Georgia and announced the construction of a battery factory. The Newnan Times-Herald, which first reported the matter, said that Freyr attributed the reason to the rising interest rates, the falling battery prices, and the change in the company's leadership, or as stated in the letter to the county authorities, it is a "recent strategic goal adjustment". Freyr announced today that it has reached a final agreement to sell the 368-acre land of the Georgia battery factory to an undisclosed buyer for a total sales price of $50 million. The transaction is expected to be completed on February 15. After repaying the state and local grants previously received, Freyr expects a total net gain of $22.5 million.
In August, then-CEO Tom Einar Jensen told investors that the oversupply of cheap batteries from China made it more difficult to raise funds for battery manufacturing, so the company shifted its focus to solar panel manufacturing. On December 24, Freyr announced the completion of the acquisition of Trina Solar's 5-gigawatt, 1.35 million-square-foot solar panel factory in Wilmer, Texas. This acquisition consolidated Freyr's transformation from a European battery company to an American solar company. The company also announced today that it will move its global headquarters to Austin.
From the perspective of the company's own development, Freyr's strategic adjustment is to respond to market changes and seek a more favorable development direction. However, whether its transformation can be successful still depends on the subsequent market expansion and operation in the solar energy field. From an industry perspective, this change reflects the fierce competition in the battery market and the development potential of the solar energy industry, which may prompt other enterprises to re-examine their own business layout and affect the industry competition pattern.
Hyundai to Launch Pilot Production Line for All-Solid-State "Dream" Electric Vehicle Battery Next Month
In March this year, Hyundai will publicly showcase its all-solid-state electric vehicle battery pilot production line for the first time. This battery, called "Dream", is expected to achieve a longer driving range, faster charging speed, and significantly higher energy density. At the 2023 CEO Investor Day event, Hyundai outlined its plan to become a leader in the electric vehicle battery field and announced that it will invest more than $9 billion (9.5 trillion won) within ten years in the research and development of a series of batteries, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP), nickel cobalt manganese (NCM), and all-solid-state electric vehicle batteries, to cover all market segments.
Hyundai Electric SUV (Source: Electrek)
Last month, local reports said that Hyundai had almost completed the construction of the all-solid-state electric vehicle battery pilot production line. On February 9, industry sources (via The Elec) said that Hyundai will hold the opening ceremony of its next-generation battery research center in Suwon, South Korea in March, and the all-solid-state electric vehicle battery pilot production line is built in this new research facility.
This ceremony will be Hyundai's first public display of its new battery technology. It is reported that several industry leaders and senior officials, including General Motors, will attend. General Motors has recently just expanded its cooperation with Hyundai in the field of electric vehicles. From a market perspective, Hyundai's display of all-solid-state battery technology may trigger changes in the market competition pattern, promote the development of the electric vehicle market towards higher performance, attract more consumers' attention and purchase of its electric vehicle products, and enhance the brand's competitiveness. From an industry trend perspective, this reflects the continuous innovation and development trend of electric vehicle battery technology, which may prompt other automakers to increase their investment in battery technology research and development and accelerate the industry's technological upgrade.
New York Awards Revel $60 Million to Install 267 DC Fast Chargers
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that $60 million in loans will be provided to Revel to install 267 DC fast chargers.