Hey, Your Top Automobile News for January 25, 2021

Your Daily Automobile updates From Around The World [img] [img]( [The Automobile News]( [Audi And FAW Confirm A New Cooperation Company To Build EVs]( Audi is deepening its partnership with FAW and laying the foundation for continued success in China. The Board of Management of Audi, Supervisory Board of the Volkswagen Group and Board of Management of the FAW Group confirmed that Changchun in the northeast of China will be the headquarters of the newly founded Audi-FAW company. This was announced at the ceremonial signing in Changchun and Beijing. Audi AG and Volkswagen Group China will receive a 60 per cent share, making this company – founded for the local production of fully electric Audi models on the “Premium Platform Electric” (PPE) codeveloped with Porsche – the first cooperation company with a majority interest held by Audi in China. Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG and the person responsible for business in China said, “In doing so, we are continuing the Audi success story in China and actively helping to shape the transformation of the Chinese automotive industry as it moves toward sustainable mobility.” Local manufacturing of the first PPE model produced jointly with FAW is scheduled to start by 2024. Changchun is also the headquarters of the joint venture FAW‑Volkswagen, which Audi has been involved in for more than 30 years and, in addition to other locations in China, already produces models with Audi locally. FAW Audi Sales Co., Ltd. will assume responsibility for selling the Audi models produced locally by FAW-Volkswagen as well as Audi import vehicles and future cars produced at the joint PPE plant. Through these strategic decisions, Audi is further strengthening its presence on its biggest foreign market. This partnership with FAW will allow Audi to increase the number of locally produced models to 12 by the end of 2021. The models produced by its second partner, SAIC Volkswagen, are set to be introduced in 2022. Audi has so far delivered almost 7 million vehicles on the Chinese market. In 2020 alone, Audi sold 727,358 vehicles in China, the brand’s best ever result in over 30 years of business on the Chinese market. [Read More]( The post [Audi And FAW Confirm A New Cooperation Company To Build EVs]( appeared first on [TheAutomobileNews.com](. [Read Full Story]( [The Road Ahead For Electric Cars in India]( Elon Musk confirmed his India plans for Tesla with a two-word tweet. “As promised,” wrote the world’s richest man in a thread, linking to a blog that said Tesla cars will be expensive, but may eventually become more affordable for the Indian middle class when the company starts its own production. “At the moment, due to the high tariffs in India, Tesla cars will be expensive. Nevertheless, if the company has its own production, it will reduce the cost of cars to an acceptable level, which will make them more affordable. Thus, at some point, Tesla cars may become affordable for the middle class as well,” the brand says in one of the blogs. The first launch expected from the company is its entry-level offering, the Model 3 sedan, which will be sold in India through the CBU (Completely Built Unit) route, thus demanding a higher price tag (starting at approximately Rs 60 lakh). The most affordable and best-selling product of the brand, Model 3 comes in three variants: standard range plus, long range and performance. But the brand hasn’t confirmed if it will bring its Autopilot autonomous driving assist to India, one of the biggest highlights of the brand. Autopilot is an advanced driver assistance system, which does not turn a Tesla into an autonomous vehicle or allow the driver to abdicate responsibility. Instead, it reduces the driver’s overall workload. Nonetheless, the much-hyped arrival of Tesla in the Indian market has raised eyebrows, as electric mobility in India is still a work in progress. Also, there are already many players in the electric vehicle market in India. Tata Motors’ brand of electric vehicles starts at Rs 15 lakh, Mahindra Electric sells eVerito cars that are battery-operated, and Morris Garage and Hyundai, too, sell battery-operated vehicles. Mercedes-Benz currently retails the EQC, an electric car that is not only the costliest but also the most advanced in India. In fact, there are many upcoming electric cars in 2021 as well. Take, for instance, Mahindra XUV300 Electric, an all-electric version, which is powered by a 130hp electric motor with a 30kWh battery to deliver a range of over 300 km on a single charge. Or the BMW i3, which is expected to be a lighter vehicle in the segment and travel a distance of 128-150 km on a single charge. Tata Altroz EV will come with a 30kWh battery that will offer a range of around 300 km on a single charge. US-based Triton Electric Vehicles, too, plans to introduce its N4 sedan in India, starting at a price of Rs 35 lakh. But can India easily achieve transition to e-mobility? The ministry of power has allowed the sale of electricity as a service for charging electric vehicles. The ministry of road transport highways has notified that there will be an exemption of official permit for battery-operated vehicles. But there is an increasing need to make ample charging stations available and this can lead to pressure on electricity generation. Plus, renewable energy resources should be coupled with charging stations for efficiency. According to a 2020 study by lubricants major Castrol, most consumers in India would consider buying an electric vehicle by 2022, but most of them also believe that it won’t be until 2025 that the majority of new cars purchased are electric. The study found that, on an average, for consumers in India, a price point of Rs 23 lakh (or $31,000), a charge time of 35 minutes and a range of 401 km from a single charge represents the ‘tipping points’ to achieve mainstream EV adoption. Also, when Tesla comes to India, the brand will have to pay special emphasis on the next-generation electric vehicle batteries, turning to lithium iron, not lithium ion. The next generation of lithium iron batteries have fundamental chemical engineering science powering EVs. The lithium-iron phosphate does not require nickel or cobalt, and lab research shows that this will cut costs, enhance much longer-range and durable battery cells. The new technology can allow cars to go 400 miles or more between charges and last as long as 1 million miles. [Read More]( The post [The Road Ahead For Electric Cars in India]( appeared first on [TheAutomobileNews.com](. [Read Full Story]( [Here’s Everything We Know About The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder]( Although there has been a lot of speculation about the Nissan Frontier, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder remains shrouded in mystery.Nissan is wasting no time in trying to make 2021 a more successful year for the brand following the announcement that two new vehicles are on the way: the Nissan Frontier and the Nissan Pathfinder. The car manufacturer now has a website devoted to the two new vehicles with a countdown and a single teaser to their upcoming reveal. What’s New For The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder? For those who are excited about the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder, do not expect any radical changes from the 2021 Nissan Pathfinder. Nonetheless, the transmission system inside the car can also be upgraded to a 9-speed automatic, thereby providing drivers with improved handling and ride dynamics. With four trim levels on offer within two different drivetrain configurations, this performance-driven SUV will be priced between $31,980 for the Base trim going up to $44,910 for the top trim. What Can We Expect From The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder’s Engine? Under the bonnet, the current Nissan Pathfinder’s 3.5-liter petrol V6 is expected to carry over. The engine is expected to belt out between 284-310 hp, and there is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged Inline-4 unit for the top trim. Many anticipate that the SUV will be upgraded in the future with a hybrid version, but Nissan is keeping details about its plans here under close wraps. The Nissan Pathfinder’s gasoline engine is rather impressive and drivers have no reason to fear that this vehicle will let them down on the roads. It is smooth on the highways and in the cities, but it may feel a bit flat at times. Drivers who love to push the limits will love the Nissan Pathfinder because its naturally aspirated V6 engine and upgraded transmission system means that the car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds. But the anticipated change in the transmission system should result in the Nissan Pathfinder being able to hit this mark in just under 7 seconds. The SUV will also include an all-wheel drive setup in the future with shift-on-the-fly terrain modes. How Will The Nissan Pathfinder’s Engine Affect Its Performance? Due to the disappointment of the current Nissan Pathfinder’s handling and its heavy steering column, drivers should expect a lot of changes to the new SUV’s driving. The all-wheel-drive of the latter acts beautifully in challenging weather conditions whilst being able to maintain a perfect balance in hotter climates. With highly upgraded and advanced features, the new Nissan Pathfinder will be employed with direct fuel ignition and a mirror bore cylinder coating that will streamline the combustion process and will definitely reduce the engine weight. Therefore, the new SUV’s fuel economy will be far better than its predecessor’s. Drivers can also travel longer distances because there will be a 19.5-gallon fuel tank. [Read More]( The post [Here’s Everything We Know About The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder]( appeared first on [TheAutomobileNews.com](. [Read Full Story]( ------------------ Sponsored Content � � � ------------------ Connect with TheAutomobileNews on Facebook and Twitter [fb](  [tw]( ------------------ You received this email because you operate or create content for a website/service and based on your website it seemed like this could be important information to you and your users. TheAutomobileNews daily newsletter is managed by Postbox Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. 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