Weekly Rankings
Weekly News
Tesla Reduced Prices Again
On February 6, Tesla announced that it had saved expenses due to the end of the old owner referral program, so the entire Model 3 series was reduced by $1,100. After the price cut, Elon tweeted that the mid-range version of the Model 3 had dropped to $35,000 after deducting $8,000 in credit and fuel costs.
On February 8, Tesla China announced that consumers who purchased the Model 3 in China could choose to install the enhanced version of Autopilot for free, which is equivalent to a disguised price cut of 46,300 Chinese yuan.
Quick comment: It is worth noting that Elon’s “Starting Cost＄35k” tweet does not mean that the actual purchase price of the Model 3 in the US has really reached $35,000. The actual purchase price is $42,900. The so-called $34,850 price refers to the price after saving fuel costs in the next few years. It is really tricky. The standard version of the Model 3 with a true selling price of $35,000 is expected to be launched in 4-6 months. Speaking of which, Tesla really went all out to save its Q1 sales decline. The free installation of Autopilot upon ordering is really tempting, if only I had enough money.
CATL Won a Big Order of 56 GWh from Honda
Ningde Times to Co-Develop Plasma Battery with Honda for Pure Electric Vehicles
On February 5th, Ningde Times announced a cooperation with Honda to jointly develop plasma batteries for pure electric vehicles. Ningde Times will supply batteries to Honda’s future pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Under the cooperation agreement signed by Ningde Times and Honda in Tokyo, Ningde Times will supply 56GWh of batteries to Honda through a long-term contract until 2027. In order to cooperate with Honda’s research and development, Ningde Times will also build a base in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan in the first half of 2019.
Comment: Seeing this scene is really gratifying. After years of rapid development, China’s battery technology has undergone earth-shaking changes. With Honda’s technology and orders, I believe Ningde Times will continue to improve.
Bosch Invests $1.1 Billion to Build a New Factory in Germany
Recently, Bosch announced that it will invest $1.1 billion to build its second wafer factory in Dresden, Germany. This will double Bosch’s chip production from 2021 onwards. In 2017, Bosch built its first wafer factory in Dresden, but with the expansion of market demand, Bosch’s production capacity has been unable to meet demand, hence the plan to build a second wafer factory.
Comment: Wafers are the basic material for manufacturing semiconductor chips. As major automakers begin to lay out automotive intelligence, the demand for automotive chips has increased dramatically, and the demand for wafers has doubled as well. Many chip giants are also entering the automotive industry, and Bosch is constantly strengthening its competitiveness in the future market.
Apple Applies for Patent of Keyless Entry System
Recently, it was reported that Apple has applied for a patent for keyless entry, which will make the iPhone not only a phone, but also a car key. It can not only unlock the car, but also control the vehicle to drive automatically to the location of the phone.
The patent shows that the “vehicle authorization system” will provide communication between the vehicle and the iPhone, allowing users to perform tasks such as opening the door. The patent uses biometric technology to confirm the user’s identity and determine whether the user is authorized to enter and drive the vehicle. In other words, the user’s iPhone can become the “car key.”
Audi E-tron UK Price Revealed
Recently, Audi officially opened reservations for the E-tron in the UK. There are two versions available: the basic version and the high-end Launch version, with a pre-subsidy price of £71,490 (~$93,000) and £82,240 (~$107,000) respectively. The first batch of customers is expected to receive their cars in April.
Comment: The price of the E-tron in the UK is £10,000-£20,000 cheaper than the Tesla Model X. Let’s not evaluate the price too much, but instead speculate on the future sales of the E-tron!* Tesla Acquires Maxwell; Multiple Manufacturers Adjust Subsidies and Price | E Weekly News
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.