The highly-anticipated Tesla Cybertruck will initially be produced in a four-motor variant.
The Cybertruck represents Tesla’s expansion into the pickup truck market. Its futuristic design looks like something from a sci-fi movie, and CEO Elon Musk has touted it’s performance, even pitting it against a Ford F-150.
In a tweet Friday, Musk said the Cybertruck will initially be produced in a four-motor variant that will provide independent control of each wheel.
On the heels of news Toyota would cut September production, Ford’s F-150 plant in Kansas City will shut down as a result of the semiconductor shortage.
The semiconductor shortage has been impacting automakers around the world, with many forced to close plants, cut back production or ship vehicles without their full compliment of chips.
Ford is currently being impacted, and will halt production at its Kansas City F-150 plant for one week, according to Reuters. The shutdown will begin August 23.
Customers eager to get their hands on Tesla’s electric pickup truck will have to wait a bit longer, as the company has delayed production to 2022.
Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck to a great deal of fanfare. Ever the showman, Elon Musk proudly displayed a demo of the Cybertruck beating an F-150 in a tug-of-war, the validity of which some of questioned.
While mass production was always planned for 2022, Musk had previously said there would be at least some deliveries in 2021. That appears to have changed, if the company’s order and configuration website is correct.
You will be able to complete your configuration as production nears in 2022.
While disappointing, the delay is not necessarily unexpected. The Cybertruck is a completely different beast than anything else Tesla has made, and likely has a host of unique issues to be worked out.
Ford is laying down the gauntlet in the self-driving arena, declaring its BlueCruise software has completed the “Mother of All Road Trips.”
Self-driving vehicles are the next great frontier for the automotive industry. Virtually all of the major players are working on self-driving and autonomous driving systems. Ford is working on its self-driving software, BlueCruise, and has even gone so far as to call Tesla’s competing system vaporware.
BlueCruise is a Level 2 technology. Autonomous driving is rated on a scale of 0 to 5, with 0 being fully manual and 5 requiring no human control whatsoever.
BlueCruise is an SAE Level 2 driver-assist technology, similar to Tesla Autopilot but with the advantage of offering a true hands-free driving experience while in Hands-Free Mode that does not require a driver’s hands to stay in contact with the steering wheel, unless prompted by vehicle alerts.
And unlike other approaches – such as GM’s Super Cruise, which uses red and green lighting, or Tesla’s Autopilot, which requires a driver keep their hands on the steering wheel – BlueCruise communicates with drivers in different ways. The instrument cluster transitions to communicate that the feature is in Hands-Free mode through text and blue lighting cues, effective even for those with color blindness.
Ford is putting its money where its mouth is, however, having recently put its BlueCruise through rigorous testing. According to the company, it sent a fleet of 10 test vehicles — five Mustang Mach-E SUVs and five F-150s — on the “Mother of All Road Trips.” The trip was more than 110,000 miles through 37 states and five Canadian provinces.
“There are highway intricacies and driving conditions that you simply cannot replicate in a lab,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product platform and operations officer. “Sending these vehicles out for real-world driving experience is just one of many ways we ensured that BlueCruise technology offers confidence and convenience for drivers all across the continent.”
The company is planning on providing BlueCruise via over-the-air software updates later this year on 2021 F-150 and Mustang Mach-E models equipped with Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 Prep Package.
Batteries for the electric F-150 may be in short supply due to an import dispute involving the Korean supplier Ford is using.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has banned Korea-based SK Innovation from importing batteries to the US for 10 years, according to Bloomberg. The ruling comes as a result of an accusation from Korea-based LG Chem, accusing SK Innovation of stealing trade secrets. The seemingly harsh ban was the result of SK Innovation destroying evidence LG Chem needed to prove its case.
The ITC did provide a grace period to give automakers, including Ford and Volkswagen, time to make alternate arrangements. SK Innovation can import components for the F-150 for four years, and for the Volkswagen’s MEB line for two years.
There are two factors that could play to SK Innovation’s favor. The company is building a factory in Georgia that will become operational later this year. While some components are still slated to be imported, when faced with a 10-year ban, the company may try to move all production to the US.
As Bloomberg highlights, President Biden could also overrule the ITC’s decision on public policy grounds. Given the front-and-center focus climate change and green energy is taking in the new administration, it’s entirely possible SK Innovation’s ban may be seen as too damaging to electric vehicle endeavors.
Bentley is the latest automaker to commit to a fully electric lineup of cars by 2030, phasing out fossil fuels.
Automakers have increasingly been moving toward hybrid and electric vehicles in lieu of fossil fuels. GM recently announced it was investing $2 billion in factories in an effort to focus on electric vehicle manufacturing. Subaru announced in January that it would transition to electric vehicles by the mid-2030s. Ford has been increasing the number of electric vehicles it offers, including the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150. Now Bentley is joining the fray.
“Since 1919, Bentley has defined luxury grand touring. Being at the forefront of progress is part of our DNA – the original Bentley boys were pioneers and leaders,” said Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Motors. “Now, as we look Beyond100, we will continue to lead by reinventing the company and becoming the world’s benchmark luxury car business.
“Driving this change includes, and also goes beyond our products, delivering a paradigm shift throughout our business, with credibility, authenticity, and integrity. Within a decade, Bentley will transform from a 100 year old luxury car company to a new, sustainable, wholly ethical role model for luxury.”
As part of their commitment, Bentley plans on being end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030. This will include not only its electrification plans, but also improving its manufacturing and operations, as well as working with its third-party suppliers.
Tesla is scouting locations in the Central U.S. for a site to build a Cybertruck Gigafactory.
The Cybertruck is Tesla’s latest model, and the company’s attempt to upend the truck market. The Cybertruck has a futuristic design to compliment its name, and looks straight out of a dystopian movie. With three different models and priced to compete with Ford’s F-150, not to mention the attention the truck has already garnered, Tesla will likely have its hands full keeping up with demand.
Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk tweeted the company is looking for a suitable location for its new factory.
Scouting locations for Cybertruck Gigafactory. Will be central USA.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 3/10/20
It’s likely the company will have no shortage of good options and locations lined up vying for the new facility.
Citing Cairn Energy Research Advisors, CNBC is reporting that Tesla has a significant advantage in electric battery technology.
The electric vehicle pioneer is facing more and more competition from startups and established rivals. Rivian has made headlines as a more traditional-looking electric vehicle manufacturer, while Ford has also had its fair share of news for an all-electric Mustang Mach-E and upcoming F-150. GM, Toyota, Subaru and others are all planning to roll out all-electric lineups, with Subaru committed to producing only electric vehicles by the mid-2030s.
According to Sam Jaffe, managing director of Cairn Energy Research Advisors, despite the competition, Tesla still has a major advantage in the battery tech it uses. While most automakers use battery packs that have pouch or prismatic cells, “Tesla is the only automaker to use cylindrical battery cells in its battery packs.” In the last four years, the cost of cylindrical cell battery packs has dropped over $100 per kilowatt hour (kWh), hitting $158.27 per kWh last year. In contrast, the cost of the competition’s battery packs is still running over $200 per kWh.
While a difference of less than $50 per kWh may not seem like a lot, as manufacturers ramp up production and begin mass-producing electric vehicles, that expense will add up quickly. In addition, Jaffa says Tesla also has an advantage not only in its more advanced cylindrical battery cells, but also in its battery management system.
“Tesla has really revolutionized that part of the battery pack and made it much more sophisticated, and it gives them the competitive advantage,” said Jaffe, according to CNBC.
Tesla made headlines with its debut of the Cybertruck, a futuristic-looking electric pickup truck. Tesla is obviously taking aim at Ford and the rest of the pickup truck industry.
The Cybertruck starts at $39,900 for a single RWD motor and 7,500 lbs towing capacity. The middle option offers dual-motor AWD and 10,000 lbs of towing starting at $49,900. The highest trim level starts at $69,900 and provides 14,000 lbs towing.
As part of Tesla’s demonstration, they showed a video of the Cybertruck beating a Porsche 911 off the line and beating an F-150 in a tug-of-war. As Business Insider (BI) points out, four days later a Ford executive suggested in a tweet that the contest may not have been an apples-to-apples comparison. Even Neil deGrasse Tyson got in on the action, questioning the physics of the comparison.
Elon Musk took the challenges to heart and promised to film a new test between the two trucks. It would appear that gambling site MyBookie is getting in on the action. At the time that BI wrote their article, odds were in favor of the F-150 winning the match at -120 vs the Cybertruck at +100. The odds have since shifted back in favor of the Cybertruck, now at -140 vs +120 for the F-150.
With betting remaining open till December 4, it will be interesting to see if the Cybertruck remains the favorite, not to mention who will win the final contest.
The new 2015 Ford F-150s are set to start roll off dealers’ lots in December, and reviews are starting to come out.
The consensus of the critics seems to come down to: yes, it’s still a truck.
“Do not approach Ford’s all-new F-150 truck expecting a revolution,” wrote David Undercoffler of the Los Angeles Times, “For all the hype about the lightweight aluminum body, and the promises of groundbreaking efficiency and hauling capabilities, the 2015 model is still just a truck.” The new design embraces the truck essence of the F-150, with some differences from the old model.
Chris Davies of Slash Gear called it “the big aluminum risk”. Even though the fundamental tuck design of the vehicle remains the same, Ford has switched up the steel body and bed for an aluminum one. This makes the truck lighter and stronger overall than its predecessors.
2015 Ford F-150 First Drive: The big aluminum risk http://t.co/ybNPQtoOxZ #2015F150 pic.twitter.com/YYEVHDB2Ff
— SlashGear (@slashgear) October 5, 2014
“Thus far, the much-hyped 2015 Ford F-150 is living up to its lofty aspirations,” Ford stated in a press release, “One major concern skeptics of the aluminum F-150 voiced pertained to the strength and ability of the pickup truck. Those doubts have been quieted with the recent announcement that the 2015 F-150 is the most capable truck in its class when it comes to payload and towing ability.”
To test out it’s capabilities, some journalists have taken the new F-150 off-road. “The truck’s plenty competent in the dirt,” wrote Andrew P. Collins of Truck Yeah! “Front and side visibility cameras, only the domain of Range Rovers not long ago, are hugely helpful in tight and technical spots. Hill decent control takes the thinking and foot-work out of tedious downhill driving. And Ford is still the only outfit who offers a beautiful digital tilt-and-roll gauge on the dash. The tech in the 2015 F-150 make it the easiest full-size truck to punt through a trail.”
Monday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford Motor Company introduced its new version of the most popular truck in the U.S. – the F-150 pickup.
Although the redesign was a gamble, making major changes to the top American selling vehicle can be tricky, but the redesign was Ford’s effort to focus more on fuel economy. So they traded in the heavy steal for lightweight aluminum alloy.
The body, doors, hood, engine compartment, bed and tailgate are all lightweight aluminum, a rare event in the auto world, especially for a full sized truck.
Check out photos of the new F-150.
It was an expensive overhaul, but it did shave off 700 pounds and the payoff in performance and efficiency, Ford believes was worth the risk.
(image)
“They are trying to leapfrog the competition on fuel economy,” said Stephanie Brinley, an analyst at IHS Automotive. “As we get closer and closer to the stricter government regulations, this is something all automakers have to deal with.
Some consumers are likely to be skeptical that an aluminum truck will be as tough as one made from conventional steel, Brinley said. Ford will have to do some savvy marketing to relieve doubt.
“Ford should be able to pull it off,” said Larry Dominique, president of the ALG car valuation company and former vice president of product planning for Nissan North America.
“The all-new F-150 redefines the future of trucks,” said Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company chief operating officer.
This new model includes a second, smaller turbocharged V-6 engine. The new 2.7-liter V-6 engine is from the same “EcoBoost” family as the turbocharged four-cylinder that Ford recently dropped in its all-new Mustang and Lincoln’s MKC crossover.
The 3.5-liter EcoBoost remains the top-seller in the F-150 lineup. The power will be similar to the outgoing model, which now has 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.
Image via FORD Motor Company #2, #3