International news snips from the past week
AMAZON AUTO
Amazon is selling new cars in many markets in the United States. And while it is still refining their processes and offerings, reports say that it is already planning an extension of the Amazon Autos platform into used car sales.
AUDI
Audi is set to debut its first China-only all-electric car next month at the Shanghai auto show. To be called the Audi E – a new battery-electric concept car for China. Among the changes, the traditional four-ring Audi badge is being dropped.
Meanwhile, Audi will focus on plug-in hybrids as transition technology to full-electric cars, which remains slow. Ten new PHEVs versions could debut this year.
BRAKES
ZF and Brembo are moving on with new state-of-the-art brake-by-wire system developments on the way. The new brake-by-wire system, which operates totally without hydraulics, promises to improve safety, shorten stopping distances and may lower consumers’ costs. In the dry brake-by-wire system from ZF, the braking force on the wheel is generated by electric motors.
Both ZF and Brembo have signed large contracts with two different unnamed vehicle manufacturers to supply millions of their respective new brake-by-wire systems.
While both companies are offering fluid-free systems, word is that Brembo will also produce a version that includes some hydraulics for certain application demands, such as for sports/performance cars.
BYD
BYD has shown a new charging system that it claims could make it possible for two of its latest models to be capable of receiving peak charging power of 1,000 kilowatts (kW), which would enable them to travel circa 400km on just a five-minute charge.
Charging speeds of 1,000 kW or 1 megawatt (MW), would be twice as fast as Tesla’s superchargers, which offer up to 500 kW. Fast-charging technology is regarded as being key to increasing EV adoption.
Meanwhile, according to a report, BYD’s Hungary plant is being investigated by EU over China subsidies. If it is found to be the case that BYD benefited from unfair state aid, it may be required to repay the subsidy and possibly also pay a fine for non-compliance.
TESLA
Seen as part as a political backlash again Elon Musk, Tesla’s new car registrations in Europe have been in free-fall through January (-45%) and February (-44%). Sales of Tesla’s Model Y midsize SUV were down 56 per cent in February in Europe.
TRUMP & TARIFFS
President Trump and his administration’s threatened United States tariffs are causing havoc with the American auto industry, the European and global carmakers, and all the auto components industries that feeds into all of those markets.
After just coming out of the blowback trail of the Corona virus pandemic, and then the slowdown in electric vehicle sales in Europe in 2024 combined with the new Trump administration not being fans of a green agenda, topped by the threat of massive trade tariffs, it is all combining to force a major reboot of a different supply to meet a likely different and smaller demand.