Maxxd.com – Modified and Performance Car News

  • Tesla joins group of automakers suing EU for EV tariffs from China-built cars


    Tesla is joining a group of automakers that includes BYD, SAIC, and Geely in suing the European Union as the EU implied duties on China-built electric vehicles.

    Tesla operates a factory in China known as Gigafactory Shanghai that produces both domestic and exported vehicles. Tesla has focused on shipping many of the cars built in China to territories outside Asia, Europe being one of them.

    However, political stakes are higher than ever as regions are attempting to keep manufacturing domestic in hopes that consumers will buy vehicles built at home. As a result, the EU’s Commission hit exporters with certain duty rates, Tesla’s being the lowest at just 8 percent.

    However, other carmakers, like SAIC, were hit with 35 percent tariffs, causing an uproar and catalyzing this new lawsuit.

    Politico first reported the inclusion of Tesla in the complaint, which occurred this week.

    The EU Commission says it has compiled evidence in a year-long anti-subsidy investigation that Beijing underwrote the Chinese EV industry into its position as a global leader. It feels it has more of a leg to stand on than the U.S. and Canada, which applied 100 percent duties on EVs manufactured in China.

    Olof Gill, the Commission’s trade spokesperson, said yesterday that they are “ready” for the suit:

    “We’re ready. We’re a rules-based club here in the EU. If they want to take us to court, they can take us to court.”

    Evidently, the suit’s main purpose is to neutralize the law that imposed the duties. If they are victorious, it could be the first step in retrieving the losses they felt from the tariffs being imposed.

    There is also another group, the China Chamber of Commerce for the Import and Export of Machinery and Electronics (CCCME), which has also reportedly filed a case.

    Please email me with questions and comments at olstar@maxxd.com. I’d love to chat! You can also reach me on Twitter @MaxxdUK, or if you have news tips, you can email us at olstar@maxxd.com.

    Tesla joins group of automakers suing EU for EV tariffs from China-built cars





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  • Tesla Autopilot engineer teases autonomy progress: ‘Prepare to be shocked’


    A Tesla Autopilot engineer teased the company’s progress in autonomy after some barbs at Full Self-Driving from a user seemed to commend Waymo in comparison to the suite that the automaker has been developing for years.

    Tesla’s competitors in the autonomy space are plentiful, but a handful have developed platforms that are credible and revolutionary in their own right.

    However, there are critics of everyone and everything. One critic of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software said that it is “not remotely close to Waymo,” stating that it is behind by “at least 100x.”

    James Wang, who posted the skepticism regarding Tesla Full Self-Driving, said he admits that Tesla is far ahead in geographic coverage. Waymo is geofenced into certain cities and areas. He is a long-term Tesla shareholder, he says.

    He went on to say he would “be shocked and delighted if it managed to get to Waymo level safety without hw changes.”

    That’s where Tesla comes in.

    Phil Duan, a Sr. Staff Software Engineer at Tesla in their Autopilot program for four years, rebutted Wang’s last statement, stating that he should “prepare to be shocked,” with no definite timeframe. His message definitely lets the mind wander at what could be:

    It’s no secret that Tesla has astronomical expectations for its Full Self-Driving suite this year, which is automatically what most people’s minds will gravitate toward. CEO Elon Musk has already said he expects some jurisdictions to allow FSD to operate this year, especially in Texas and California.

    However, with the constant improvements that are shown through software updates and the focus on new external hardware features in Tesla’s latest vehicles, it is certain that things will continue to trend in the right direction.

    Please email me with questions and comments at olstar@maxxd.com. I’d love to chat! You can also reach me on Twitter @MaxxdUK, or if you have news tips, you can email us at olstar@maxxd.com.

    Tesla Autopilot engineer teases autonomy progress: ‘Prepare to be shocked’





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  • New Tesla Model Y launches in the U.S., estimated deliveries in March


    Tesla has formally launched the new Model Y in the United States. The vehicle is designed to be more comfortable and more efficient than its best-selling predecessor.

    A look at the Model Y’s configurator shows that deliveries of the new Model Y Launch Series in the United States are expected to start in March 2025.

    New exterior updates:

    • The new Model Y is the first significant update to the all-electric crossover since its initial launch in 2019.
    • As noted by Tesla, the new Model Y features a more aggressive, redesigned exterior that improves aerodynamics. 
    • This gives the new Model Y better range, performance, and longevity.
    • Updates to the vehicle’s wheels, tires, and brakes, as well as a retuned suspension, also pave the way for a smoother ride.
    • The new Model Y includes eight exterior cameras, including one in the front bumper that has a self-washing system.
    • For now, the new Model Y in the United States is only offered in Stealth Gray, Ultra Red, Pearl White Multi-Coat, and Quicksilver paint. Glacier Blue, which is offered in vehicles supplied by Giga Shanghai, is unavailable in the United States. All new Model Y Launch Series paint options in the United States are free.

    New interior updates:

    • The significant updates to the Model Y are even more prominent in the interior
    • Similar to the reengineered Model 3, the front row seats of the new Model Y are ventilated.
    • The second-row seats of the new Model Y power folding, and they are electronically adjusted.
    • Thanks to acoustic glass all-around, the cabin of the new Model Y is extremely quiet.
    • Tesla also promotes “invisible speakers” in the new Model Y cabin.
    • The new Model Y also features a single, physical stalk, unlike the reengineered Model 3 sedan.
    • The Model Y Launch Series is equipped with 15 speakers and one subwoofer, which should provide a great listening experience for occupants of the revamped vehicle.

    Deliveries and pricing:

    • So far, the Model Y Launch Series is only offered as a Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant with an EPA estimated range of 320 miles per charge. The vehicle is also listed with a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds.
    • The Model Y Launch Series Long Range AWD is priced at $59,990 before options. This price already includes FSD.
    • The vehicle could also be leased for $699 per month with a down payment of $2,999 (36 months at 10,000 annual miles).
    • The new Model Y Launch Series is expected to start deliveries in March.

    Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

    New Tesla Model Y launches in the U.S., estimated deliveries in March





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