China is pushing automakers toward electric and hybrid petrol-electric vehicles, setting tough quotas for NEVs that come into play in 2019, and has signalled a longer-term shift away from traditional internal combustion engine cars.
The first vehicle based on the new modular electric drive kit (MEB) is to be the compact all-electric Volkswagen I.D., which is to roll off the production line at the Zwickau plant in Saxony from the end of 2019.
Electric powertrain developer and manufacturer of one of the most insane hypercars in the world, Rimac, have teased a successor to the already bonkers Concept One. The Concept One is the electric hypercar that Rimac currently produce, albeit in very limited numbers, and has already proven to be the best in its class by destroying almost everything else - including the likes of the Porsche 918 in a straight line drag race. The new hypercar will be more powerful and according to official Rimac communication, 'a true game changer'. Rimac also provides the powertrain for the likes of Koenigsegg and Aston Martin for their respective electric hypercars.
Just over a year ago, Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely's launched a new automotive startup - Lync&Co. Geely, who also owns Volvo and recently Lotus had then announced that Lync&Cowould be making a new compact SUV that would cater to an ever growing Chinese auto sector and also exported to Europe and other parts of the world. This SUV was the '01' which was showcased earlier this year and launched just a few days ago. Prices of the car were announced and pre-orders for the SUV were opened for 6000 cars on November 17. And all the 6000 units were sold out in a staggering 137 seconds through bookings online and though 150 dedicated stores across China. This makes it the quickest selling car in automotive history!
For the next 2018-19 season, the Indian outfit decided to crowdsource names for the M4 Electro Formula E cars that will be driven by Nick Heidfield and Felix Rosenqvist. The team reached out to fans on social media, who sent a slew of options for Mahindra to choose from.
Mahindra, the only Indian manufacturer to make electric vehicles, is all set to launch two new EVs before the end of 2019. The first one will be launched in 2018 while the other one will see the light of the day in 2019. We might get a glimpse of these models at the 2018 Auto Expo.
Mahindra will be bidding for the second stage of the tender for supplying 9,500 electric vehicles (EVs) to state-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL). The order for the second phase will be issued after the completion of deliveries of 500 EVs in the first phase by November 30.
