Munich / Cluj-Napoca. The BMW Group and NTT DATA Romania have signed an settlement to determine a Joint Venture (JV) in Romania. The BMW Group is thus persevering with to develop its international community for its company IT and is securing expertise and expertise within the software program sector. The execution of the JV contract is topic to evaluation and approval by the related authorities.
The JV advantages from NTT DATA’s a few years of expertise in agile software program improvement and its wonderful community within the native Romanian IT group. The new location in Romania is meant to help the BMW Group IT in Europe and drive ahead IT-projects and improvements for manufacturing, improvement, human assets, gross sales and BMW Financial Services.
“With NTT DATA, we are relying on another strong partner that has an excellent network in a lively technology region and enables us to build up additional software competencies quickly and in a targeted manner. In collaboration with companies like NTT DATA we can establish strong IT hubs and thereby give an answer to the shortage of IT experts,” says Alexander Buresch, CIO and Senior Vice President ofBMW Group IT.
“We are proud to announce our plans to open a brand new software program improvement middle for software program options in Cluj-Napoca along with BMW Group. This collaboration goals to help the carmaker in main the digital transformation,” says Maria Metz, CEO at NTT DATA Romania.
The JV is to be arrange in Cluj-Napoca in Romania. The college city provides a powerful ecosystem for innovation with strong entrepreneurship, startups and a excessive variety of skills within the tech scene. This creates excessive potential for long-term progress of the JV. The JV is anticipated to make use of round 250 software program builders on the finish of 2024 and plans to develop to a four-digit variety of workers by 2027.
The BMW Group and NTT DATA have been collaborating throughout a wide selection of initiatives for over 30 years. The signing of the JV contract marks the following massive step on this partnership.
———————— End of joint press launch ————————–
Global footprint in IT and software program improvement.
The BMW Group is already properly superior in digitizing the whole firm and its inside and exterior processes. For a number of years now, IT & software program hubs in Germany, the USA, South Africa, India, Portugal (Joint Venture Critical TechWorks) and China (LingYue Digital IT Co. Ltd. and BA TechWorks) have been strengthening the premium producer’s software program experience. They contribute considerably to the event and operation of progressive IT options for the BMW Group. A complete of over 9,400 workers worldwide are already working in IT and software program improvement for the BMW Group and the Joint Ventures.
Agreement with Cirba Solutions contains battery assortment, storage, testing and processing to assist the rising EV market
Expected to cut back Toyota’s total end-of-life battery transportation and logistics prices by 70 p.c, whereas additionally decreasing transportation-related emissions
Up to 95 p.c restoration price anticipated to extract important minerals
PLANO, Texas and LANCASTER, Ohio (Dec. 7, 2023) – Furthering its mission to create a closed-loop battery ecosystem whereas working towards its carbon neutrality objectives, Toyota Motor North America (Toyota) right this moment introduced that it’s increasing its battery recycling community with a brand new collaboration with Cirba Solutions, a premiere battery recycling supplies and administration firm. The settlement enhances Toyota and Cirba Solutions’ rising relationship by increasing Toyota’s battery recycling community and optimizing its logistics community for end-of-life electrified car battery assortment, together with these from hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electrical automobiles (BEV).
“Cirba Solutions’ large and well-established transportation and recycling network ensures Toyota has nationwide battery collection and recycling to reduce both our costs as well as our operational carbon footprint,” stated Christopher Yang, group vice chairman, Business Development, Toyota Motor North America. “This moves us closer to our ultimate goal of creating a sustainable, closed-loop ecosystem for our automotive batteries.”
As one of many largest battery recycling corporations in North America, Cirba Solutions has intensive expertise and presents a coast-to-coast assortment and recycling community. Toyota’s collaboration with Cirba Solutions will give attention to the gathering, transportation, dismantling and processing of end-of-life lithium-ion electrified car batteries from the Midwest and East Coast areas. Processing will happen at Cirba Solutions’ Lancaster, Ohio facility, which just lately obtained an $82+ million Department of Energy grant as a part of the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law. This facility will use superior expertise to extract important minerals from scrap and end-of-life batteries with an as much as 95 p.c restoration price, then provide battery-grade metals again into the provision chain.
“Our collaboration with Toyota helps move toward a long-term vision of a sustainable closed-loop battery supply chain. With aligned purpose, and Toyota’s growing electric vehicle line-up in North America, we are proud to be a partner,” stated Jay Wago, chief industrial officer at Cirba Solutions.
Toyota presently collects roughly 25,000 used automotive batteries, primarily nickel-metal hydride batteries present in its hybrid electrical automobiles, from its dealership community annually, and expects the variety of batteries, notably end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, to rise because the variety of battery electrical automobiles it sells will increase sooner or later. Through the settlement with Cirba Solutions, Toyota expects to cut back its total transportation and logistics prices by a minimum of 70 p.c from decreasing the typical miles pushed for assortment and recycling from 1,251 to 582, primarily based on 2022 knowledge, and by specializing in the Midwest and East Coast areas. In some circumstances, such because the Cincinnati area, the brand new recycling collaboration ought to cut back the full mileage pushed for these actions by roughly 94 p.c. In addition, the corporate expects that by decreasing the quantity of miles pushed for assortment and recycling actions, it will likely be capable of make a major discount in transportation-related emissions as effectively.
Globally, Toyota has been the primary vendor of electrified automobiles for greater than 25 years, and, in North America, Toyota has bought greater than 6.2 million mixed PHEVs and HEVs since 2000. With a long time of electrified automobiles available in the market, Toyota is concentrated on the right way to recycle, remanufacture, or repurpose automotive batteries utilized in Toyota’s electrified automobiles which have reached the top of their life, a quantity that’s set to extend within the coming years. In reality, Toyota forecasts that its end-of-life batteries will doubtless double by 2030.
The firm additionally has a brand new plant for automotive batteries, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC), presently beneath building that’s anticipated to go surfing in 2025 and has a complete introduced funding of almost $14 billion. Originally introduced in 2021, the North Carolina facility may have a phased ramp up for manufacturing and can assist the creation of greater than 5,000 new jobs to assist automobiles assembled in North America.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been part of the cultural cloth in North America for greater than 65 years, and is dedicated to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility by means of our Toyota and Lexus manufacturers, plus our greater than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota immediately employs greater than 63,000 individuals in North America who’ve contributed to the design, engineering, and meeting of almost 45 million vehicles and vehicles at our 13 manufacturing vegetation. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will start to fabricate automotive batteries for electrified automobiles. With extra electrified automobiles on the highway than some other automaker, Toyota presently presents 26 electrified choices. For extra details about Toyota, go to www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
About Cirba Solutions
Cirba Solutions is a premiere battery recycling supplies and administration firm utilizing superior expertise to extract important supplies from scrap and used batteries after which supplying these battery-grade metals again into the provision chain. The solely vertically built-in workforce with an operational, differentiated platform and a full suite of capabilities. Creating a round battery provide chain is important to making sure that right this moment’s sources are used to their fullest potential. Cirba Solutions combines the sources and experience of Heritage Battery Recycling, Retriev Technologies and Battery Solutions.
In a surprising twist, Tesla has hit the brakes on a controversial clause in the Cybertruck’s purchase agreement that left owners facing a hefty $50,000 penalty if they dared to sell their prized electric pickup within the initial 12 months. The clause was quietly deleted last week, giving Cybertruck enthusiasts the green light to turn a quick profit on their new wheels.
This move by Tesla aligns with an industry trend of curbing speculative resales, a tactic previously employed by luxury car manufacturers like Ferrari and Porsche. The Cybertruck, with over a million reservations and deliveries starting later this month, is poised to test the waters of demand in an electric pickup market that’s seen its fair share of hype. Tesla insiders have long been revealing details about Cybtertruck, although leaks have been silenced in recent months.
With Elon Musk signaling a slow production ramp-up, the anticipation for the Cybertruck’s arrival is electrifying. The revision in Tesla’s policy now allows owners to potentially capitalize on the high demand by selling shortly after taking delivery. As the first Cybertrucks hit the road, it remains to be seen whether opportunistic sellers will seize the chance to cash in on the electric pickup craze. With this model being a niche of its own, there’s no guessing its future.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Road and Track, Electrek, Car and Driver, and MotorTrend.
Not So Scary Anymore: Tesla Walks Back On The Cybertruck Flipping Clause
Tesla
Tesla will no longer punish Cybertruck buyers for “flipping” their vehicles.
Recently, Tesla took back its anti-flip rhetoric from the pre-order/purchasing agreement terms for the upcoming Cybertruck EV. With the original document claiming those who tried to flip their pre-order or sell their truck within 12 months of getting it would face a fine of $50,000, Tesla now seems to have walked back on that promise/threat.
One reason this happened is likely due to the fact Tesla can’t use its resources to monitor customer behavior (no company should do this), on top of fulfilling the million-plus deliveries slated to happen once this EV truck releases.
There’s Not Much Legality To Tesla’s Original Anti-Flip Clause
With this recent withdrawal, Tesla has backed off its lawsuit/court-heavy flip clause, which received much backlash from customers and those with Cybertruck pre-orders. One of the main reasons people took issue with this bogus claim from Tesla is that, as part of the rule, Cybertruck owners were prohibited from selling or transferring the title of their EV to another buyer within the first 12 months of ownership.
Typically, when someone buys a new car, it’s there to do whatever they want with it. Tesla essentially promising to become Big Brother to all Cybertruck owners didn’t sit well, and for good reason. There have been issues of people with pre-orders effectively selling or “flipping” those reserved Cybertrucks on eBay and other marketplace sites, which, in that case, punishment makes sense.
However, once someone OWNS a Cybertruck, they should (and now can) do whatever they want with it. Keep it, sell it; it’s not Tesla’s business.
Getting Sued For Selling A Cybertruck Too Early Is Poor Marketing
Tesla via YouTube
The original Cybertruck agreement mentioned a $50,000 fine for reselling your Cybertruck “too early.”
With this clause out of the way, it’s worth noting in the original documents customers signed upon giving their $100 deposit for a Cybertruck delivery, Tesla promised to pursue legal action, asking for a $50,000 fine from flippers. Considering a Cybertruck (base model) will retail for a smidge under $40,000 as per the pricing at the time of the launch. (although we expect its final MSRP to be much greater), you’d end up paying the same amount for allegedly flipping your new truck.
That in itself is where most of the damage from a PR standpoint came regarding the rule. Although nobody wants to pay aftermarket prices for a Cybertruck, reselling one after a few months should not lead to a massive fine. This quiet deletion on Tesla’s part took that into consideration, and for the sake of a smooth release, we’re glad Tesla did this.
With A $100 Deposit For Cybertruck, What Did Tesla Expect?
It’s worth noting that a huge issue with the Cybertruck reselling market has been the reservation fee (or lack thereof) customers had to pay to secure a new EV pickup. Tesla only set the Cybertruck reservation fee to $100, which is entirely refundable.
With this fee, people bought a reservation knowing they wouldn’t keep or even see the Tesla, listed the confirmed vehicle pre-order on a site like eBay, and then inflated the price tenfold. As per the last update, Tesla has over 2 million reservations. That is why this clause likely became a thing, although reselling a physical vehicle within 12 months should be fair game. We’re sure Tesla knows it messed up and will charge a higher RSVP price in the future.
Delays, Delays, And Oh Wait: More Cybertruck Delays
Tesla
Tesla plans to ramp up Cybertruck production to 250,000 per year starting in 2025.
On top of secret clauses being added, removed, and modified, Cybertruck is facing incredible production delays. With over a million pre-orders, Tesla “hopes” to ramp up production enough to make 250,000 Cybertrucks annually by 2025, which would still mean years of waiting for some anxious owners. Considering that the manufacturing process for Cybertruck has reportedly been a nightmare, the auto giant is likely still in the slow stages of producing these pre-orders.
Of course, that’s not to say Tesla *can’t* do this and make it right, although at this point, don’t expect a Cybertruck to appear at your doorstep until 2025, 2026, or even later, if you do the math.
Deliveries *Should* Start As Early As December 2023
Now that the Cybertruck is expected to come to dealers in very small batches ending in 2023 and entering 2024, it’s even more important drivers understand what they agree to upon signing and purchasing a Tesla Cybertruck.
The Tesla Cybertruck Release Continues To Cause Controversy
Since 2019, Tesla Cybertruck has sparked outrage and interest online.
Since the news of Cybertruck broke in 2019, the world has never forgotten this uber-modern EV pickup. For good and not so good reasons, the Tesla Cybertruck will make noise upon its large-scale release in 2024/2025, although it’s best Tesla keeps things smooth sailing as we enter this final chapter of pre-production and clause adjusting.
After all, when you buy a car, it shouldn’t feel like signing your life away. Luckily, the company removed its aggressive language and legal structure from the Cybertruck order agreement, but it’s worth keeping a close watch on said document. The original release should have been in 2021/2022, and we’re now almost to 2024, with the first batch of these being finished. SpaceX has started to use Cybertrucks, and from what we know, it’s been going well.
In a surprising twist, Tesla has hit the brakes on a controversial clause in the Cybertruck’s purchase agreement that left owners facing a hefty $50,000 penalty if they dared to sell their prized electric pickup within the initial 12 months. The clause was quietly deleted last week, giving Cybertruck enthusiasts the green light to turn a quick profit on their new wheels.
This move by Tesla aligns with an industry trend of curbing speculative resales, a tactic previously employed by luxury car manufacturers like Ferrari and Porsche. The Cybertruck, with over a million reservations and deliveries starting later this month, is poised to test the waters of demand in an electric pickup market that’s seen its fair share of hype. Tesla insiders have long been revealing details about Cybtertruck, although leaks have been silenced in recent months.
With Elon Musk signaling a slow production ramp-up, the anticipation for the Cybertruck’s arrival is electrifying. The revision in Tesla’s policy now allows owners to potentially capitalize on the high demand by selling shortly after taking delivery. As the first Cybertrucks hit the road, it remains to be seen whether opportunistic sellers will seize the chance to cash in on the electric pickup craze. With this model being a niche of its own, there’s no guessing its future.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Road and Track, Electrek, Car and Driver, and MotorTrend.
Not So Scary Anymore: Tesla Walks Back On The Cybertruck Flipping Clause
Tesla
Tesla will no longer punish Cybertruck buyers for “flipping” their vehicles.
Recently, Tesla took back its anti-flip rhetoric from the pre-order/purchasing agreement terms for the upcoming Cybertruck EV. With the original document claiming those who tried to flip their pre-order or sell their truck within 12 months of getting it would face a fine of $50,000, Tesla now seems to have walked back on that promise/threat.
One reason this happened is likely due to the fact Tesla can’t use its resources to monitor customer behavior (no company should do this), on top of fulfilling the million-plus deliveries slated to happen once this EV truck releases.
There’s Not Much Legality To Tesla’s Original Anti-Flip Clause
With this recent withdrawal, Tesla has backed off its lawsuit/court-heavy flip clause, which received much backlash from customers and those with Cybertruck pre-orders. One of the main reasons people took issue with this bogus claim from Tesla is that, as part of the rule, Cybertruck owners were prohibited from selling or transferring the title of their EV to another buyer within the first 12 months of ownership.
Typically, when someone buys a new car, it’s there to do whatever they want with it. Tesla essentially promising to become Big Brother to all Cybertruck owners didn’t sit well, and for good reason. There have been issues of people with pre-orders effectively selling or “flipping” those reserved Cybertrucks on eBay and other marketplace sites, which, in that case, punishment makes sense.
However, once someone OWNS a Cybertruck, they should (and now can) do whatever they want with it. Keep it, sell it; it’s not Tesla’s business.
Getting Sued For Selling A Cybertruck Too Early Is Poor Marketing
Tesla via YouTube
The original Cybertruck agreement mentioned a $50,000 fine for reselling your Cybertruck “too early.”
With this clause out of the way, it’s worth noting in the original documents customers signed upon giving their $100 deposit for a Cybertruck delivery, Tesla promised to pursue legal action, asking for a $50,000 fine from flippers. Considering a Cybertruck (base model) will retail for a smidge under $40,000 as per the pricing at the time of the launch. (although we expect its final MSRP to be much greater), you’d end up paying the same amount for allegedly flipping your new truck.
That in itself is where most of the damage from a PR standpoint came regarding the rule. Although nobody wants to pay aftermarket prices for a Cybertruck, reselling one after a few months should not lead to a massive fine. This quiet deletion on Tesla’s part took that into consideration, and for the sake of a smooth release, we’re glad Tesla did this.
With A $100 Deposit For Cybertruck, What Did Tesla Expect?
It’s worth noting that a huge issue with the Cybertruck reselling market has been the reservation fee (or lack thereof) customers had to pay to secure a new EV pickup. Tesla only set the Cybertruck reservation fee to $100, which is entirely refundable.
With this fee, people bought a reservation knowing they wouldn’t keep or even see the Tesla, listed the confirmed vehicle pre-order on a site like eBay, and then inflated the price tenfold. As per the last update, Tesla has over 2 million reservations. That is why this clause likely became a thing, although reselling a physical vehicle within 12 months should be fair game. We’re sure Tesla knows it messed up and will charge a higher RSVP price in the future.
Delays, Delays, And Oh Wait: More Cybertruck Delays
Tesla
Tesla plans to ramp up Cybertruck production to 250,000 per year starting in 2025.
On top of secret clauses being added, removed, and modified, Cybertruck is facing incredible production delays. With over a million pre-orders, Tesla “hopes” to ramp up production enough to make 250,000 Cybertrucks annually by 2025, which would still mean years of waiting for some anxious owners. Considering that the manufacturing process for Cybertruck has reportedly been a nightmare, the auto giant is likely still in the slow stages of producing these pre-orders.
Of course, that’s not to say Tesla *can’t* do this and make it right, although at this point, don’t expect a Cybertruck to appear at your doorstep until 2025, 2026, or even later, if you do the math.
Deliveries *Should* Start As Early As December 2023
Now that the Cybertruck is expected to come to dealers in very small batches ending in 2023 and entering 2024, it’s even more important drivers understand what they agree to upon signing and purchasing a Tesla Cybertruck.
The Tesla Cybertruck Release Continues To Cause Controversy
Since 2019, Tesla Cybertruck has sparked outrage and interest online.
Since the news of Cybertruck broke in 2019, the world has never forgotten this uber-modern EV pickup. For good and not so good reasons, the Tesla Cybertruck will make noise upon its large-scale release in 2024/2025, although it’s best Tesla keeps things smooth sailing as we enter this final chapter of pre-production and clause adjusting.
After all, when you buy a car, it shouldn’t feel like signing your life away. Luckily, the company removed its aggressive language and legal structure from the Cybertruck order agreement, but it’s worth keeping a close watch on said document. The original release should have been in 2021/2022, and we’re now almost to 2024, with the first batch of these being finished. SpaceX has started to use Cybertrucks, and from what we know, it’s been going well.
Expands on previous recycling agreement to create end-of-life pathways for Toyota batteries used in hybrid and battery electric vehicles
Plans include agreement for Toyota to source Cathode Active Material (CAM) and Anode copper foil from Redwood’s recycling activities for its supply chain
Creates North American circularity by recycling and reintroducing recovered metals back into battery supply chain
PLANO, Texas and CARSON CITY, Nev. (Nov. 16, 2023)– Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and Redwood Materials have announced an expanded recycling agreement that aims to create pathways for automotive batteries used in Toyota’s electrified vehicles that have reached the end of their life. The plan also includes an agreement for Toyota to source Cathode Active Material (CAM) and Anode copper foil from Redwood’s recycling activities for Toyota’s future, new automotive battery production. The agreement builds on the collaboration with Redwood announced last year for battery collection and recycling of Toyota’s hybrid and battery electric vehicle batteries.
Christopher Yang, Group Vice President, Business Development, Toyota Motor North America, stated, “Working with Redwood Materials, we are creating a circular supply chain to optimize logistics, expand refining, and ensure that the valuable metals recovered can be reintroduced into our future vehicles. Accelerating our recycling efforts and domestic component procurement gets us closer to our ultimate goal of creating a closed-loop battery ecosystem that will become increasingly important as we add more vehicles with batteries to roads across North America.”
Cal Lankton, Redwood Materials’ Chief Commercial Officer, commented, “Today, in collaboration with Redwood Materials, Toyota is making a decisive move toward a sustainable future. They’re not only working to ensure responsible end-of-life management for their electric vehicles but also planning to build their next generation of EVs, in part, by using sustainable and domestically manufactured battery components.”
Toyota’s automotive battery recycling needs are expected to grow substantially in the coming years as more of its electrified vehicles, such as first-generation Prius models introduced more than 20 years ago, reach the end of their lifecycle. With a large amount of Toyota’s retiring fleet of electrified vehicles being in California, Redwood’s Nevada recycling facility will support Toyota’s North American supply chain, which will improve sustainability, and help to enhance operational improvements across the TMNA enterprise for a closed-loop battery ecosystem. Toyota’s battery lifecycle ecosystem is forecast to include the recycling, remanufacturing and repurposing of the nearly five million operating units, building toward Toyota’s ultimate goals of carbon neutrality for its global operations by 2035 and carbon neutrality for its vehicles by 2050.
Toyota has agreed to develop a closed-loop framework that also includes plans to procure Cathode Active Material (CAM) and copper foil from Redwood as part of a long-term agreement. Based on the parameters of the agreement, Cathode Active material recovered and produced from Redwood’s recycling activities are expected to feed recycled material into future new battery production at Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC). The use of recycled materials is anticipated to help increase the focus and relevance of domestic supply chains versus the extensive, carbon-intensive current supply chain of procuring outside of the United States. Toyota plans to bring its nearly $14 billion TBMNC automotive battery manufacturing facility online in 2025.
Sean Suggs, TBMNC President, said, “Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina’s start of production is right around the corner, and we’re thrilled to be procuring critical battery components and materials to filter into our battery ecosystem. We’ll continue to work toward the sourcing and recycling of battery materials here in the United States to maximize these precious resources and reduce our carbon footprint in the process.”
Redwood is making major investments to scale their technology and facilities to supply U.S. battery cell manufacturers and automakers with strategic battery materials produced domestically, for the first time. Redwood continues to expand its Northern Nevada facility and will break ground on its second Battery Materials Campus, outside Charleston, South Carolina, later this year. Both of Redwood’s campuses will recycle, refine, and manufacture battery materials, aiming to scale production of components to 100 GWh annually. Based on this agreement, Redwood will provide materials that include a minimum of 20 percent recycled nickel, 20 percent recycled lithium, and 50 percent recycled cobalt, in their cathode and targeting recycled copper in their anode copper foil.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 26 electrified options.
For Toyota customer inquiries, please call 800-331-4331.
About Redwood Materials
Redwood Materials is creating a circular supply chain to drive down the environmental footprint and cost of lithium-ion batteries and the electric vehicles and sustainable energy storage systems they power. Founded by JB Straubel, the Nevada-based company is offering large-scale sources of anode and cathode materials produced at scale in the U.S. for the first time, from recycled batteries. Redwood is ramping its Northern Nevada facility and is breaking ground on its second Battery Materials Campus, outside Charleston, South Carolina. Both of Redwood’s campuses will recycle, refine, and manufacture battery materials, aiming to scale production of components to 100 GWh annually. More information is available at redwoodmaterials.com.
Stellantis and the UAW reached a tentative agreement for a new contract on October 28. UAW members working at Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler still need to ratify the deal, but notable news regarding vehicle production has slipped out in the process. In short, we’re seeing timelines for popular SUVs that take us through the current lifecycle and into the next generation, revealing some electrification details in the process.
We start with the Jeep Wrangler. Built at the Stellantis factory in Toledo, Ohio, the current JL generation will remain in production until 2028. An upgrade to the Wrangler 4xe hybrid is scheduled for 2025. However, the interesting part comes with the next-generation off-roader. The UAW deal reveals that production for the J70 Wrangler, starting in 2028, will feature two electric powertrains. One will be fully electric, while the other will use a combustion engine as a range extender. This confirms previous reports about the next Wrangler being fully electric, without any mention of a pure combustion model or a plug-in hybrid version.
On the other end of the size spectrum, the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will also continue with the current model until 2028. A mid-cycle refresh is expected in 2025, and the UAW agreement reveals an electric version with a range-extending engine will be introduced that year. A fully electric Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer is listed for 2027. Unlike the Wrangler, there is no mention of a next-generation model or any plans beyond 2028. However, a second refresh for combustion models is mentioned in 2027.
As for the Grand Cherokee, the current generation two-row model will continue production until 2027, while the three-row version will be produced until 2028. A mid-cycle refresh is scheduled for 2024, and a next-generation model is expected in 2027, featuring both battery and combustion powertrains.
The Dodge Durango, built alongside the Grand Cherokee at Stellantis’ Detroit Assembly Complex, will remain in production until 2025 for the current generation, with the next-generation model set for 2026. Similar to the Grand Cherokee, it will be available with both combustion and battery-electric powertrains.
It’s important to note that while these details appear to be official, the automakers themselves have not made any official announcements. We reached out to representatives from Dodge and Jeep for confirmation and comments on the information in the UAW agreement, but both companies declined to comment.
These are not the only details leaked by the UAW regarding Stellantis. The proposal also mentions the reopening of the former Jeep Cherokee plant in Belvidere, Illinois, where an unspecified mid-size truck will be manufactured. This suggests the possibility of a smaller Ram truck, as Jeep already produces the Gladiator. Ram, however, did not comment on this report, similar to the SUV news.
FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) boss Ben Sulayem has voiced his opinion on the conflict between the FIA and the commercial boom of Formula 1. According to Sulayem, although the Concorde Agreement, which governs the commercial aspects of F1, allows for 12 teams, newcomers cannot be completely shut out of the sport.
One team that Sulayem has shown support for is the Andretti operation, led by Michael Andretti, son of the famous 1970s F1 driver Mario Andretti. Andretti’s team is looking to partner with General Motors and join the sport.
However, Sulayem emphasizes that the rules state that if there are serious prospective teams, the FIA is obligated to review their application. He clarifies that there are rules in place, and the FIA cannot simply reject them. Furthermore, as there is a contract for 12 teams in place, the FIA must follow the process.
Sulayem is clear that his intention is not to upset Liberty Media, the owners of Formula 1, but he also acknowledges that certain comments made about the FIA can be upsetting. He stresses that the FIA’s objective is to sustain motorsport and avoid any legal action from teams who believe they have been unfairly blocked.
He explains that expressions of interest from potential teams are considered, with due diligence conducted on the financial and technical aspects. Additionally, the FIA considers its vision for the future and welcomes the idea of having a team from the United States. However, Sulayem cannot force anyone to buy a team in order to join the sport.
The decision on whether to accept new applicants is taking longer than expected. This situation showcases the tension between the FIA and Formula 1, although it is just one example of their ongoing conflict.
Volkswagen Group of America has recently announced its agreement with Bugatti Rimac to serve as the division’s importer and distributor in the United States. This partnership will involve Sascha Doering, the current COO of Bugatti America, expanding his role to also include Rimac.
While this agreement was actually finalized during Monterey Car Week in September, VW has only just now made the official announcement. The companies are now working on establishing a dealer network for the sale of these high-end vehicles in the US.
“The US is the strongest single market in the world for both Bugatti and Rimac brands, so it’s crucial that we create a sales and ownership experience that matches the extraordinary cars we’re delivering to customers,” said Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac.
Previously, Volkswagen Group of America handled the distribution of Bugatti vehicles in the US. However, this changed with the formation of the Bugatti Rimac joint venture.
The Bugatti Rimac joint venture was established in 2021, with the company’s headquarters located in Croatia. Bugatti production continues to take place in Molsheim, France. Additionally, Porsche currently owns 45% of Bugatti and 24% of Rimac.
Rimac has already delivered at least three Neveras in the United States. The first one was Gunpowder Gray with a pearlescent finish and featured Gunmetal Infinitus wheels. Inside, the car had Alcantara upholstery with green highlights.
Rimac’s Chief Technology Officer, Emilio Scervo, revealed that the company aims to reduce the weight of its future models compared to current ones. “Thinking about a track version [of the Nevera], definitely what we should be working on is making it lighter,” Scervo stated. “And some other tweaks to deliver stiffness, to make the car more connected to the driver.”
Bugatti is also currently in the development stages of a new model, set to premiere in 2024 with deliveries expected in 2025. According to Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac, this upcoming model can be described as a “hypercar rearranged as a hybrid,” with the combustion engine component being described as “totally bonkers.” Some wealthy individuals have already had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the car.
For more details on Bugatti’s future, watch the video below:
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