Lordstown Pauses Production and Deliveries, Recalls 19 Endurance EVs

Written by Dan Mihalascu, InsideEVs
Published Feb. 28, 2023

EV startup Lordstown Motors announced it temporarily stopped production and customer deliveries since its last production update in January.

In a statement posted on its website, the company said it has experienced performance and quality issues with certain components of its Endurance pickup truck.

Lordstown said the problem is a "specific electrical connection issue that could result in a loss of propulsion while driving" and has issued a voluntary recall for 19 vehicles "that are either in the hands of customers or being used internally by LMC."

The

Ford F-150 Lightning Production Halt Continues, Battery Issue Identified

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Feb. 24, 2023

Ford said Feb. 24 it will suspend F-150 Lightning production for another week after identifying issues with battery cells provided by supplier SK.

Ford halted production of the F-150 Lightning on Feb. 14 after a vehicle displayed “a potential battery issue,” which the company said was identified during pre-delivery quality inspections. “We are holding vehicles while we investigate,” Ford said at the

Tesla Giga New York Faces Racism Allegations

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Feb. 24, 2023

TeslaGiga New York employees allege they have routinely faced racism while working at the plant in Buffalo, NY, since the facility opened years ago.

Gigafactory New York has been the site of controversy recently. Tesla terminated a number of employees as part of a performance review cycle, including one who was part of an active unionization campaign. A complaint was filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board against the EV maker

Tesla Announces New Global Engineering HQ in California

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published Feb. 23, 2023

TeslaCEO Elon Musk and Gov. Gavin Newsom met at Tesla’s new engineering facility in California, where Musk announced the facility would be the company’s global headquarters for engineering.

The rumors of a new Tesla facility in Silicon Valley turned out to be true. Tesla acquired a previous Hewlett-Packard building, primarily to improve its AI and R&D chops. Musk and Newsom met Feb. 22 at the location, allowing the governor rare access to Tesla’s vastly expanding AI program.

Tesla made the announcement the same day on

Toyota to Produce Electric Cars in U.S. as Early as 2025: Report

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published Feb. 22, 2023

Toyotahas been lagging in the transition to electric vehicles, but its incoming president, Koji Sato, hinted he would make the pivot to EVs a priority. Per recent reports, this will be evident in the U.S., which could see domestic production of Toyota electric cars as early as 2025.

Nikkei Asia reported Feb. 21 that Toyota will start producing electric

Michigan Says It Needs $750M More for Ford Battery Site

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Feb. 22, 2023

Michigan says it needs $750 million more from taxpayers to prep the site for Ford Motor Company's $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall.

Taxpayers are already footing $1 billion for the factory, dubbed "Project Hickory," that Ford says will create 2,500 jobs.

Economic development officials said "not a cent" of the $750 million would go to Ford, but would instead fund site readiness.

The $750

NHTSA Looking into Tesla Crash in California

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Feb. 21, 2023

A crash involving a Teslathat collided with a firetruck on Feb. 18 in California has prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to seek more information.

The NHTSA said it contacted Tesla for additional information regarding the collision, according to Reuters, which involved a Tesla Model S, the company’s flagship sedan, and a firetruck parked on Interstate 680 in Contra Costa County, CA.

According to a Twitterpost from the Fire Department in Contra Costa, a firetruck was blocking lanes as a crew cleaned up debris from a previous accident. The Tesla

Tesla’s FSD Beta Recall Gets Response from IIHS President

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Feb. 20, 2023

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) President David Harkey said Tesla’s recently announced Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta recall is representative of a wider issue on partially-automated systems and the way they are advertised. 

In a statement posted on the IIHS’ official website, Harkey said drivers of partially automated cars have shown a tendency to treat their vehicles like they are already fully

Tesla Giga NY Workers Continue Union Fight Despite Terminations

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Feb. 20, 2023

The week of Feb. 13, TeslaGiga New York workers who organized a unionization campaign experienced a roller coaster of emotions. The group was full of hope as they launched their campaign Feb. 14, but Feb. 15 and 16, union organizers felt deflated as Tesla issued a round of terminations on the plant’s Autopilot labeling team.

In response to the terminations, the Workers United union filed a complaint with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board ...

Ram 1500 REV Sold Out in 5 Days

Written by Ben O’Hare, InsideEVs
Published Feb. 20, 2023

Ramhas closed reservations for its 1500 REV pickup truck, just five days after order books opened.

The exact number of reservations made was not disclosed. Ram is likely trying to build hype around its electric truck, and wouldn't be surprising if reservations opened again in a few months. The 1500 REV was revealed as part of a Super Bowl halftime commercial and could be reserved with a fully refundable $100 deposit.

The 1500 REV is set to go into production in late 2024 and promises to "push past the competition in areas customers care about the most: range, payload, towing and charge time." Although exact

CIECA Forms Electric Vehicle (EV) & Battery Committee

PublishedFeb. 20, 2023

CIECAhas announced the formation of a new Standards Development Committee focused on electric vehicles (EVs) and electric batteries. The committee will be chaired by Frank Phillips, senior manager of Certified Collision North America for Rivian; Jake Rodenroth, North American body repair program operations manager for Lucid Motors; and Ginny Whelan, senior consultant for the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA).

The first meeting is March 1. All industry stakeholders, including CIECA and non-CIECA members, are invited to ...

Teslawas recently accused of terminating Giga New York employees because they attempted to form a union. A blog post from the electric vehicle maker said this was not the case. 

In a recent filing with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, the Workers United union said Tesla laid off dozens of Giga New York employees “in retaliation for union activity and to discourage union activity.” The union also asked the labor board to pursue a federal court

Tesla Recalls 362K Full Self Driving Vehicles, Fault to Be Fixed Through OTA Update

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Feb. 16, 2023

Teslahas initiated a recall for 362,758 vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta system. The recall was posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) official website.

The FSD Beta recall covers certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with the automaker’s Autosteer on City Streets feature, better known as Full Self-Driving Beta or FSD Beta.

As per the NHTSA, the FSD Beta fault may result in a vehicle exceeding the speed limits of inner city roads. It

Ford Uncovers F-150 Lightning Battery Problem, Production to Resume in Weeks

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published Feb. 16, 2023

Fordhas reportedly figured out what caused a battery issue in the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck that has temporarily halted production and shipping to dealers.

The company doesn't believe the problem impacts trucks already delivered to dealers, and it says production should resume in a few weeks.

Ford reached out to Electrekand said it hopes to be

Tesla Accused of Terminating Giga New York Workers Over Unionization Efforts

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Feb. 16, 2023

Dozens of employees from Giga New York were laid off by Teslaon Feb. 15, per a complaint filed by union organizers. The terminations were implemented one day after a union campaign was announced by Autopilot workers at the plant.

The Workers United union said in its filing with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board that Tesla illegally terminated employees “in retaliation for union activity and to discourage

Ford Announces Major Changes to Improve Profitability, EVs

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published Feb. 15, 2023

Fordon Feb. 15 announced a series of changes and design goals it will be implementing to increase profitability and improve its EV offerings.

Ford’s Q4 earnings report highlighted two major weak points for the company: profitability and quality control. Despite a strong demand for many of its vehicles, particularly its electric offerings, the company saw declines in those two key areas.

To battle these shortcomings, Ford CEO Jim Farley and his team of executives announced a series of changes they hope will revitalize the brand.

According to

Mitchell Publishes EV Collision Insights Report

PublishedFeb. 15, 2023

Mitchell, an Enlytecompany, on Feb. 15 announced the availability of its latest trends publication: Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights. The new quarterly report provides auto insurance and collision repair executives with up-to-date information on electric vehicle claims and market data.

In 2022, EV sales hit a tipping point, representing 5.6% of all new vehicles sold, according to Kelley Blue Book. As consumer adoption increases, vehicle manufacturers including Audi, GMand Volvo are pledging to go all-electric in the future---putting more of these automobiles on the road and,

Ford Pauses F-150 Lightning Production, Citing Potential Battery Issue

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Feb. 14, 2023

Fordis halting production and shipments of the F-150 Lightning, its all-electric version of the best-selling pickup truck in the U.S., citing potential battery issues.

The stop shipment order and production halt were issued early the week of Feb. 6, Ford spokespeople said.

“There is a stop build and in-transit stop ship for F-150 Lightning,” Ford’s Emma Bergg told Teslarati. "As part of our pre-delivery quality inspections, a vehicle displayed a potential battery issue and we are holding vehicles while we investigate."

There is

Michigan OKs $1B Subsidy for $3.5B Ford EV Battery Plant

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Feb. 14, 2023

Michigan taxpayers will give $1 billion for Ford’s new $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery factory, which the automaker says will create 2,500 jobs in Marshall, MI.

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved incentives for the BlueOval Battery Park, including a $210 million Critical Industry Program grant from Michigan's Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund; $772 million in Renaissance Zone property; a real tax exemption over 15 years; and a $36 million loan.

John Mozena, president of the Center for Economic Accountability, a nonprofit

Tesla Workers at Buffalo Gigafactory Aiming to Unionize

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Feb. 14, 2023

Teslaemployees at the company’s Gigafactory in Buffalo, NY, are aiming to unionize.

If successful, it would be the first Tesla facility to have an active union. Bloombergreported employees sent an email to CEO Elon Musk on Feb. 14, communicating their intent to unionize, which would include better pay, more job security and a reduction in production pressures.

“Unionizing will further accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy because it will give us a voice in our workplace and in the goals we set for ourselves to accomplish,” employees said

Toyota’s CEO-to-Be Outlines Leadership Team Bullish on EVs

Written by Yuri Kageyama, AP
Published Feb. 13, 2023

The next president at Japan’s top automaker Toyota, Koji Sato, introduced a management team Feb. 13 he said will lead an aggressive push on electric vehicles.

Sato stressed that “electrification” is a key theme for his team and promised to develop a totally new, next-generation electric vehicle by 2026.

That will be a Lexus, while Toyota Motor Corp. will also beef up all its EV model offerings, Sato said.

...

Tesla Cybertruck Initial Production Clears Potential Speed Bump

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Feb. 13, 2023

Gigafactory Texas is being prepared to build the TeslaCybertruck, expected to enter initial production this summer.

Tesla skeptics, however, continue to argue the all-electric pickup truck will either be delayed even more or never released at all, partly due to the company’s plans for the vehicle.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the Cybertruck would be Tesla’s masterpiece of sorts, meaning the Cybertruck will receive the best the company can offer, such as the Hardware 4 computer.

Little is known about the specifics of Tesla’s Hardware 4 computer,

Ram Reveals All-Electric Ram 1500 REV, Opens Online Reservations

PublishedFeb. 13, 2023

The Ram Truck brand unveiled its highly anticipated all-new Ram 1500 REV battery-electric truck for the first time Feb. 12 as part of the brand's Big Game efforts.

The commercial also signaled the official opening of customer reservations for a place in line to per-order the truck at RamRev.com.

The 60-second commercial, "Premature Electrification," which aired early in the fourth quarter of the game, was released earlier that day across Ram's social media channels. The spot features Emmy-nominated actor Jason Jones

GlobalFoundries, GM to Produce Semiconductor Chips in Upstate NY

PublishedFeb. 10, 2023

General Motors Co.and GlobalFoundrieson Feb. 9 announced a strategic, long-term agreement establishing a dedicated capacity corridor exclusively for GM’s chip supply.

Through this first-of-its-kind agreement, GF will manufacture for GM’s key chip suppliers at GF’s advanced semiconductor facility in Upstate New York, bringing a critical process to the U.S.

This agreement supports GM’s strategy to reduce the number of unique chips needed to power increasingly complex and tech-laden vehicles. With this strategy, chips can be produced in higher volumes and are expected to offer better quality and

Ram's First Electric Pickup Name Has Familiar Ring

Written by Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press
Published Feb. 10, 2023

The long-awaited electric pickup by Ram Trucks will add a twist to a familiar name.

The Stellantisbrand confirmed Feb. 9 that the truck---production of which is slated to begin next year---will be called the Ram 1500 REV. Two teaser images were also released, displaying "RAM" on the grille and "REV" on the hood of a glossy, dark truck.

As he's done in the past, Ram brand CEO Mike Koval Jr. noted in a news release that customers should have big expectations for Ram's first electric pickup offering.

...

Volkswagen Recalls ID.4 to Address Stalling Issue

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published Feb. 9, 2023

Volkswageninitiated an ID.4 recall to address a stalling issue caused by software problems. The recall affects approximately 20,904 2021 ID.4 vehicles in the U.S. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a post about VW’s ID.4 recall on Feb. 1. According to the German automaker, 2021 ID.4 cars have software issues that may cause the vehicle to stall while on the road. 

VW further explained the software problem might cause the ID.4’s high voltage (HV) battery management control modules to restart. The ID.4 electric motor doesn’t

Old EV Batteries Being Reused as Energy Storage Devices in CA

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published Feb. 9, 2023

Electric vehicles are here to stay, and the subject of what to do with their battery packs once they are no longer suitable for the road remains a key concern among skeptics. 

A response to these concerns is currently being demonstrated in California by B2U Storage Solutions Inc, a Los Angeles-based startup using secondhand EV batteries as energy storage systems that can support the grid. 

B2U said its use of old EV batteries can significantly lower the cost of carbon-free energy storage. The company also said so far, it has 25 MWh of storage capacity tied

Fatal 2021 TX Tesla Crash Tied to Excessive Speed, Not Autopilot

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Feb. 9, 2023

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed Feb. 8 its investigation into an April 2021 fatal crash involving a TeslaModel S in Texas found no indications the vehicle was operating on Autopilot at the time of the incident.

Instead, the probable cause of the crash was determined to be the driver’s excessive speed, alcohol impairment and inability to maintain control of the vehicle.

Two men died in the accident, which caused the Model S to burst into flame. The victims were 69-year-old engineer Everett Talbot and 59-year-old Dr. William

Ford to Unveil Radical New Plan to Improve Quality, Profitability

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published Feb. 8, 2023

Fordexecutives will unveil the company’s new expansion plan at a “fireside chat” with auto analyst Rod Lache, Feb. 15 at the Auto Consumer Conference 2023 in New York City.

Ford has faced rocky roads in its transition to EVs, its most recent earnings report showed. To battle these challenges, Ford CEO Jim Farley is taking the business by the horns and implementing Ford+.

The scheme began last year as the automaker split into three segments covering ICE, EV and commercial products, but at the upcoming meeting, the rest of the

MIT Study: Self-Driving Cars Could Drive Up Carbon Emissions

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Feb. 8, 2023

A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says the computers that power autonomous cars could become a significant source of carbon emissions if widely adopted.

For years, Michigan taxpayers have subsidized research on autonomous cars, which aim to drive themselves using a series of sensors and advanced technology.

The goal of autonomous vehicles is to reduce traffic deaths and relieve humans of manual driving. In 2021, the most recent data available, there were 282,640 crashes in Michigan. Of those crashes, 1,068 were fatal, according to crash data from the