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Tesla Launches New Model S/X with Increased Range but no Changes to Exterior and Interior
On April 24th, Tesla quietly launched a new version of Model S and Model X with no major changes to the exterior and interior, but significant upgrades to the powertrain. All new Model S/X vehicles are powered by a new generation front permanent magnet rear induction motor powertrain that features silicon carbide power electronics, lubrication, cooling systems, redesigned bearings, and gearbox, with efficiency exceeding 93%. The battery remains at 100 kWh.
After the upgrade, the standard/long-range/performance versions of Model S have EPA-rated ranges of 458 km, 595 km, and 555 km, respectively, with 0-96 km/h acceleration times of 4 s, 3.7 s, and 3 s. The high-performance version, after adding the Ludicrous Mode ($20,000), can accelerate from 0-96 km/h in 2.4 s.
After the upgrade, the standard/long-range/performance versions of Model X have EPA-rated ranges of 402 km, 523 km, and 490 km, respectively, with 0-96 km/h acceleration times of 4.6 s, 4.4 s, and 3.4 s. The high-performance version, after adding the Ludicrous Mode ($20,000), can accelerate from 0-96 km/h in 2.7 s.
In addition, all new Model S/X vehicles are equipped with Tesla’s proprietary active air suspension. Tesla specifically mentioned that since the entire suspension software system is independently developed, the suspension can dynamically adjust according to road conditions, speed, and distance from other vehicles to provide an “Ultra-Cushioned” feeling when using Autopilot or high-speed cruise.
The prices of the new Model S/X in China have been increased by 22,800 yuan and 26,600 yuan, respectively, with Autopilot becoming standard.
### Tesla releases new self-driving chip
On April 23rd, Tesla released its self-developed self-driving chip HW 3.0, which has a computing power of 144 TOPS and can handle the images captured by all 8 cameras in the vehicle, realizing full automatic driving. In addition, Elon Musk also said that Robotaxi will be launched in 2020, which is a self-driving rental car based on the Tesla network. All Tesla owners can share their vehicles, and Tesla owners can receive a 25%-30% cut of the shared service revenue.
Comment: For a car company, it’s not easy to develop a chip with advanced computing power from scratch. Tesla’s route in self-driving technology is also very aggressive. Will you trust and use the self-driving function if it’s open in 2020? Would you share your Tesla? By the way, vehicles with FSD function can be upgraded to HW 3.0 chip for free now.
Tesla Referral Program offers more free Supercharging
On April 29th, Tesla announced a new Referral Program. From now until May 28th, both new and existing owners can get 7,500 km of free supercharging by using a referral code. This is a great increase compared to the previous offer of 1,500 km.
Comment: To boost sales of the quarter, free supercharging and Autopilot have become promotional tools for Tesla. You should pay more attention to Tesla’s news before making a purchase and buy at the most suitable time. By the way, welcome to use the referral code “ALLEN51722” for 42 Motor Pool.
Ford invests in Rivian to develop pure electric pickup truck
On April 24th, Ford announced that it would invest $500 million in Rivian, a US start-up company that focuses on electric pickup trucks. Joe Hinrichs, President of Ford Automotive, will also receive a seat on the Rivian board of directors. In addition, Ford also plans to develop a pure electric vehicle model based on Rivian’s electrification platform in collaboration with Rivian.
Quick Take: In February of this year, Rivian received a $700 million investment from Amazon. On February 19th, we mentioned in “Rivian is a good company and Ford should acquire it” that Ford invested $500 million in Rivian on April 24th. The story has become more and more interesting. We are waiting to see how the situation will develop.
The Ideal Offline Experience Center is About to Open
Following the launch of the Ideal ONE at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show, offline stores will also gradually be opened. The first batch of 5 offline experience centers will open on May 1st in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Tianjin.
Offline experience centers in Suzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Nanjing, and Xi’an will open from May to August.
Quick Take: The time for Ideal to enter production is getting closer and closer. I strongly recommend that friends interested in the ONE should experience the real car.
Waymo Plans to Expand its Autonomous Driving Fleet
On April 22nd, Waymo announced a partnership with American Axle & Manufacturing to retrofit an old factory for the production of autonomous vehicles. Previously, Waymo planned to purchase 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid models and 20,000 Jaguar I-Pace models as the basic models for its autonomous vehicles.
Quick Comment: Waymo has always insisted on using lidar for autonomous driving. This move undoubtedly makes it the largest autonomous driving fleet in the world. It must be said that Google is indeed well-funded. However, this quantity is not just mentioned in front of Tesla.
A Week’s Mini Survey
The 42 Garage mini-program has been online for some time. Although there is currently only a topic voting function (more practical and interesting functions are being developed, stay tuned), with the continuous joining of enthusiastic group members, certified owners, and fans, some topics have been produced that have caused heated discussions or are very helpful for choosing and using a car.
How many cars would be ideal for you to own at home at the same time as ONE?
61 certified intention deposit users have voted so far, please see the figure below for details:
As a luxury mid-to-large-sized intelligent electric SUV that meets the needs of family travel, it was thought that Ideal ONE would be the only car for many families.
Unexpectedly, the proportion of those who own only one car is only about 10%.
However, after careful consideration, for a new car brand like Ideals, families that already have cars tend to have a higher acceptance rate. They are relatively more knowledgeable about cars and know more clearly what they want, which results in less demand for the brand. Therefore, it is not surprising that the majority don’t own the only car at home.
But, why are so many people the third car at home! … Do you still need a driver?
Welcome all prospective car owners to continue to actively certify and participate in voting~
Click the button below to participate in the voting:
* Tesla and NIO both caught fire by themselves; Huawei enters the automotive industry | 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.