In April, a white Tesla Model S was caught on camera emitting smoke, before catching fire.@ShanghaiJayin / Twitter A catastrophic fire in a Tesla Model S last April was caused by a single battery module inside the vehicle, according to the automaker, which has revised its settings for better protection.On April 21, a Tesla parked in an underground garage in Shanghai spontaneously burst into flames. The incident was captured by security cameras and later shared on Twitter.According to Automotive News, Tesla posted on its Weibo social media channel in China that its investigative team conducted a probe and analysis of the battery, software, manufacturing data and vehicle history. The investigation concluded that there was no system defect, and the fire was caused by a single battery module located at the front of the vehicle. A module is made up of several battery cells joined together. Panasonic supplies Teslas cells but not its modules.The automaker said it sent over-the-air software updates to Model S and Model X vehicles to revise the charging and thermal management settings to help further protect the battery and improve battery longevity.NIO, a Chinese electric-car manufacturer competing with Tesla, has had three vehicle fires in China. One of them occurred at a NIO repair facility not long after the Tesla incident. Earlier this week, NIO posted on Weibo that it may have issues with some of its battery modules, and will recall 4,803
Origin: Tesla updates its cars in wake of Shanghai battery fire
Shanghai
Tesla spontaneously combusts in Shanghai parking garage
Tesla is investigating an incident in Shanghai where one of its cars apparently burst into flames while parked â and NIO Inc., its electric-vehicle competitor in China, is now doing the same. The video, taken by a closed-circuit camera and posted on Twitter by @ShanghaiJayin, shows a Tesla Model S parked alongside three other vehicles in an underground garage. Smoke initially comes out from under the front wheel wells, followed by what appears to be an explosion of flames from under the front of the car. Good or bad, negative or positive I will post anything about Tesla or EVs in China. This happened today in Shanghai, China đ¨đł 1st generation Tesla Model S caught Fire đĽ underground car park.#Tesla #TeslaChina #ModelS #Fire #China #Shanghai #çšćŻć #ä¸ĺ˝ $TSLA pic.twitter.com/HOwMcvulV1 Jay in Shanghai (@ShanghaiJayin) April 21, 2019 Fifteen hours later, @ShanghaiJayin posted another video, this time of a NIO ES8 on fire at a repair centre in Xiâan, China. Tesla said that, to the best of its knowledge, there were no casualties in the fire, while NIO said that no one was hurt in the fire at its repair facility. Both companies are investigating the cause of the fires. On April 17, 2019, a Tesla Model X sport-utility spontaneously caught fire and burned for several hours in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, three hours after it was towed to a repair facility. The vehicle was being inspected, as it had already caught fire in February while parked in its ownerâs garage. According to several news outlets, a Tesla engineer had removed a fuse from the battery pack so it would be safe to transport to Monroeville. According to news agency Bloomberg, there were at least 40 fire-related incidents in China in 2018 involving ânew-energyâ vehicles, which includes electrics, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell vehicles. Chinaâs government authority, the State Administration for Market Regulation, recalled more than 130,000 cars last year and is calling for more oversight on the quality of electrified vehicles. Other Twitter videos showed the aftermath of the Tesla fire, with the car destroyed and the vehicles beside it damaged. Reports are that the Tesla was not plugged in and being charged at the time. Tesla currently imports all of its China-market cars from its US factory, but is building a factory in Shanghai to produce the Model 3 for local
Origin: Tesla spontaneously combusts in Shanghai parking garage
2019 Shanghai motor show: full report and all the new cars
At the Shanghai motor show, some of the biggest manufacturers youâve never heard of displayed their newest models alongside familiar Western brands keen to crack the worldâs most lucrative automotive market. Long gone are the days when Shanghai was an exhibition of the most blatant copycat cars, and the impressive quality of new Chinese creations is beginning to pose a very real threat to more established manufacturers. The 2019 edition was especially significant, with an increasing number of Chinese models being prepared for European launches and global manufacturers such as Volkswagen adding to their range of models adapted specifically for sale in China. Shanghai 2019: Full show report Chinaâs car sales fell for the tenth consecutive month in March, pitching the countryâs growing ranks of car makers face-first into an unprecedented headwind whipped up, in part, by on-going trade frictions with the US and a continued slowing of the global economy, stymying their dramatic growth of the past two decades and threatening new model plans along the way. But if there were concerns for the long-term health of the Chinese car industry in what has been described as its biggest crisis yet, it certainly wasnât showing as the 2019 Shanghai motor show opened its doors. With business confidence in the worldâs largest car market showing heartening signs of a rebound, owing to a timely reduction in sales tax ordered by the Chinese central government effective from the beginning of April, the mood within the vast halls of the international convention centre, where the countryâs biggest motor show takes place every two years, was cautiously upbeat. While Chinaâs car sales have fallen for the good part of the past year, they continue to far outstrip those of any other country. The overall figure for March, at 2.52 million, showed the smallest decrease year-on-year in over seven months, at 5.2 per cent. With many car makers reducing prices to boost sales in light of the tax break, expectations are total car sales for 2019 will be roughly in line with those of 2018 at around 22.5 million. Predictably given the importance now placed on Shanghai motor show as an automotive showcase with international reach, every key Chinese car maker, including the five state-owned heavyweights SAIC, FAW, BAIC, Dongfeng and Changan, all presented new or improved production models this year. They were kept honest by an ever more competitive list of private own rivals headed by the likes of Geely, GAC, Great Wall Motors and BYD as well as key introductions by joint venture operations such as those operated by Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota and Honda. It was the concept cars from established western car makers, including the clever new Audi AI:ME, versatile Volkswagen Roomzz and rugged looking Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB, that grabbed the headlines in the days leading up to Shanghai motor show. However, it was Chinaâs growing number of increasingly well funded electric vehicle start-ups that stole the limelight once the veils went up. With Chinaâs electric car sales showing no sign of a slow down despite a recent reduction in government subsidies, the competition for the attention of buyers is now intense. Zero local emission compatibility and other key technology solutions play a big part in the attraction of new cars for Chinese buyers and it was being laid on thick by the likes of Nio, XPeng, Weltmeister, Singulato, Byton, Aiways, Bordrin Motor and Leap Motors, along with many other newly-created electric vehicle start-ups, several of which are based in and around the sprawling metropolis of Shanghai itself. With promises of ranges of up to 373 miles and charging times of less than 15 minutes, Chinaâs latest electric cars have, it seems, now breached the point where they can compete head to head with those from Tesla and perhaps, more importantly, more traditional combustion engine rivals. From advanced 5G connectivity solutions to smart holographic augmented reality head-up displays, the latest in autonomous driving functions and new hydrogen-fuelled power units, this yearâs Shanghai motor show proved without any doubt that China has once and for all arrived as an automotive force – and not only for domestic consumption but with truly global credentials. As one seasoned automotive industry official opined as BYDâs design boss, Wolfgang Egger, presented the stylish electric-powered e-SEED GT: âShanghai, itâs the new Detroitâ. One solid theme evident in Shanghai this year was a surprise swing away from SUVs towards contemporary new sedans, the most notable of which, the Nio ET, Enovate ME-S, Xpeng P7 and Qoros Mile II, all boasted newly developed platforms with pure electric drive systems in a direct Aware at the threat Chinaâs electric vehicle start-ups pose to their business, many of the countryâs established car makers have also begun to create their own electric vehicle sub-brands to attract new customers, as
Origin: 2019 Shanghai motor show: full report and all the new cars
Aston Martin Rapide E released at Shanghai
Aston Martin Rapide E released at Shanghai The Rapide E is the first Aston Martin to feature an electric powertrain Aston Martin has unveiled its first all-electric model – the Rapide E – at the Shanghai Motor Show, with production of the four-door saloon limited to 155 units. Fitted with twin electric motors, producing a combined 450 kW (612 hp) and 950 Nm of torque, the new Rapide E is set to be built at Aston Martin’s new St Athans facility in Wales, and has been developed in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering – one of the world leaders in electric powertrains. A 65 kWh battery powers the two electric motors, which drive the rear wheels, with the battery pack sitting in the space where an engine, transmission, and fuel tank normally would. The range is quoted at ‘over 200 miles’ according to Aston Martin’s press release, and it looks likely that it will only be a little over that milestone considering the specifications. That figure is based on the WLTP tests though, which we’ve found to be fairly accurate and a realistic target figure for drivers. Considering the likes of Jaguar’s I-Pace and Audi e-tron have 90 kWh and 95 kWh batteries respectively, and ranges of a little under 300 miles and around 240 miles, the quoted 200 mile range does seem optimistic. However, the Rapide E is around 400 kg lighter than the e-tron and a similar weight to the I-Pace, so a range of around 215 miles would represent a fair calculation based on comparisons, and match Aston Martin’s claims. What is confirmed are the charging specifications. An 800V system will allow drivers to charge at high speeds, with rapid charging at 100 kW able to recharge the Rapide E in around 35-40 minutes. Aston Martin quotes 310 miles per minute, and also quotes a fast charging time of ‘as little as three hours’, from which we can work out that a 22 kW on-board AC charger will be fitted. Performance figures are typically Aston Martin, with a sub-4.0 second 0-60mph time, and 50-70mph completed in just 1.5 seconds. The Gaydon-based firm promises that the performance will be repeatable and delivered consistently – a little dig at Tesla’s Ludicrous mode – with the ability to drive a full lap of the Nurburgring with no reduced performance from the battery or motors. Aerodynamics for the ageing Rapide saloon have been tweaked and reduced drag by around 8%, with active flaps behind the grille, a smooth under floor, and new wheels helping achieve those claims. Speaking ahead of Rapide E’s Shanghai debut, Dr Andy Palmer, President and Group CEO, Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “Unveiling the Rapide E will be a huge moment for Aston Martin. As our first all-electric production car, it is a truly historic step. One that signals Aston Martin is prepared for the huge challenge of an environmentally responsible and sustainable future. “As a car company we cannot afford to passively allow that future to come to us; we have to actively chase it. Only by doing this can we learn and prepare, but also preserve those things we love as drivers and car enthusiasts. That’s why it was so important to me that in embracing EV technology we should not let go of those unique qualities that define an Aston Martin. I believe Rapide E embodies that desire and paves the way for a hugely exciting future.” Pricing is available on application, and order books for the Rapide E are open now.
Origin: Aston Martin Rapide E released at Shanghai
Renault launches KZE compact EV at Shanghai
Renault launches K-ZE compact EV at Shanghai The latest Renault is the sixth EV to join the range Renault has launched the K-ZE pure-electric compact crossover at the Shanghai Auto Show, which will help drive expansion in the important Chinese EV market, but could come to Europe in due course. The K-ZE is smaller than a Zoe, and roughly the same size as a Twingo in crossover form. Technical specifications are not yet confirmed, but the concept version showcased at the Paris Motor Show last year had an NEDC range of 155 miles on a single charge. Judging by the footprint and low-cost targets, a large battery would be out of the question, so a WLTP range of around 120-130 miles would be a reasonable estimate. Charging times have been quoted at 50 minutes for a 0-80% fast charge, or four hours for a slow 0-100% charge. Connected EV systems will be available via an app, and Renault has fitted PM2.5 sensors and an air quality control system to improve the cabin environment. Aimed specifically at the Chinese market, the K-ZE has been designed to ‘high European quality standards’ and it would not be a surprise if the model made it to Europe at some stage.
Origin: Renault launches KZE compact EV at Shanghai
New extended BMW 3 Series launched in Shanghai
BMW has revealed the long-wheelbase version of the new 3 Series saloon, which will be offered exclusively in the Chinese market, at this yearâs Shanghai motor show. The extended version of the recently launched seventh-generation 3 Series has been reworked to offer extra space in the rear, along with a number of new features. It fits a long trend of car firms making longer versions of premium models for China. The stretched 3 Seriesâs wheelbase of 2851mm is 41mm longer than the regular 3 Series, and the carâs total length is stretched to 4719mm. It is 1827mm wide and 1459mm high, with increased track widths of 1583mm at the front and 1599mm at the rear. Power comes from a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, while the 3 Series long-wheelbase features comfort seats in the front and rear and a panoramic glass roof, among a number of features to meet the demands of Chinese customers. The machine will be produced by joint venture firm BMW Brilliance Automotive, at its Tiexi plant in Shenyang in Liaoning Province, where Chinese market versions of the regular 3 Series will also be produced. In China, the 3 Series â in both standard and long-wheelbase forms â will also be offered with BMWâs new Intelligent Personal Assistant system, which offers a range of digital services. It also responds to voice controls with the prompt âhey BMWâ. BMW has also displayed the recently announced X3M and X4M performance SUV models in public for the first time at the Shanghai
Origin: New extended BMW 3 Series launched in Shanghai
Jetta: New China-only Volkswagen models shown at Shanghai
Volkswagen has launched a new standalone brand for the Chinese market, named after its long-running Jetta model, at the Shanghai motor show. The Jetta brand will be run by the German firm in co-operation with long-time Chinese joint venture partner First Automobile Works (FAW). It will target younger buyers outside major metropolitan areas. The two companies first revealed they were planning a budget brand in 2017. Volkswagen sales boss JĂźrgen Stackmann said: âWith Jetta, we’re closing the gap between the established Volkswagen lead brand in the top volume segment and entry-level mobility, which accounts for about one-third of the Chinese market and is served mainly by local brands. This way, we will significantly increase our market coverage.” By the end of 2019, Volkswagen plans to establish up to 200 Jetta dealerships, and it says this network will be supported by a range of sales formats, including digital showrooms, shopping malls and mobile sales trucks. The initial Jetta line-up comprises three models, the VA3, VS5 and VS7, with sales scheduled to start in the third quarter of this year. The 4487mm-long VA3 is a rebadged version of the current Chinese-market Jetta saloon, while the 4400mm-long VS5 and 4600mm-long VS7 are SUVs that draw heavily on the Seat Ateca and Seat Tarraco, with five and seven seats respectively. Seat doesn’t have an existing sales presence in China; the integration of the Spanish car makerâs models into the Jetta line-up is expected to profit from greater economies of scale. A VS3 compact SUV based on the Seat Arona has been muted as a possible future addition to the Jetta range. Stackmann added: âIn China, the Jetta plays an extremely valuable role for us as a Volkswagen model. It has brought mobility for the masses, just like the Beetle once did in Europe. Developed by Volkswagen and built in China, the Jetta placed China on four wheels. âTo this day, it’s one of Volkswagenâs most popular models in China â a real icon. This is why we’re transforming a model into a brand and establishing a separate model and brand family.â Each of the initial Jetta models is planned to receive a common corporate grille treatment, as previewed by an official sketch of the VA3 released by Volkswagen. They will be produced at a factory operated jointly by Volkswagen and FAW in Chengdu, China. Volkswagen delivered 3.11 million cars in China in 2018, making it the companyâs single largest
Origin: Jetta: New China-only Volkswagen models shown at Shanghai
Mercedes-Benz unveils its smallest seven-seater at Shanghai Auto Show
Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB 2019Mercedes-Benz Automakers are hitting every possible slot in the SUV market, which might explain Mercedes-Benz’s latest unveiling, the Concept GLB. Thought built on the companyâs compact-car platform, itâs designed to hold up to seven people. Itâs being called a concept, but the model that rolled out onstage at the Shanghai Auto Show looks closer-than-close to production. Itâs essentially a boxier, more rugged-looking version of the current GLA. âWe asked ourselves whether there is still space between the GLA and GLC in our successful SUV range,â said Britta Seeger, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Car Sales. âThe Concept GLB is the answer to this question. With it, we are demonstrating the creative ideas we have for this segment too.â No wonder itâs being demonstrated: SUVs are currently the top-selling bracket for the company, with more than 820,000 sold globally in 2018. The conceptâs interior is tricked out more than a production model would be, with leather-wrapped dash and specially-stitched seats, but itâs unmistakably the CLA/GLA under all the bling. Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB 2019 Mercedes-Benz The third-row seats, a first for a Mercedes-Benz compact model, fold flat for extra cargo space, and offer âcomfortable seating for two medium-sized occupants,â the company said. The second row can be slid ahead or back to maximize legroom as needed. The concept uses a 224-horsepower gasoline engine with eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and has 4Matic all-wheel drive. Itâs not the first time Mercedes-Benz has sent out a concept for its world debut in China. In April of 2013, it introduced the Concept GLA at the Shanghai show, and started delivering the production model to customers by the following
Origin: Mercedes-Benz unveils its smallest seven-seater at Shanghai Auto Show
2019 Shanghai motor show: all the new cars revealed
At the Shanghai motor show, some of the biggest manufacturers youâve never heard of are displaying their newest models alongside familiar Western brands keen to crack the worldâs most lucrative automotive market. Long gone are the days when Shanghai was an exhibition of the most blatant copycat cars, and the impressive quality of new Chinese creations is beginning to pose a very real threat to more established manufacturers. The 2019 edition is especially significant, with an increasing number of Chinese models being prepared for European launches and global manufacturers such as Volkswagen adding to their range of models adapted specifically for sale in China. Here, we take a look at the most important unveilings. Aston Martin Rapide E Aston Martin is aiming the new Rapide E electric performance saloon squarely at the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan. A claimed torque output of 738lb ft will help the Rapide E to sprint from 50mph-70mph in under 1.6 seconds, and the model can cruise at its 155mph top speed for 10 straight minutes. Audi AI:ME concept Audi Q2 L e-tron Audiâs China-only long-wheelbase Q2 L is the latest model to receive the e-tron treatment. Badged the Q2 L e-tron, the electric compact SUV will be built in Foshan, alongside Chinese variants of the A3 Sportback and A3 Saloon, by Volkswagen Group partner First Automotive Works (FAW). The model is the first of ten planned for launch by Audi and FAW in China by 2022 and the first electric Audi tailored specifically for the Chinese market. BMW 3 Series LWB Audi isn’t the only German brand taking an extended version of one of its newest models to China. The new BMW 3 Series has been adapted for the Chinese market, and will be on display in long-wheelbase 3 Series L form. Almost as long as the 5 Series available in Europe, the new model has been developed alongside the standard 3 Series, and will be built by BMW’s Chinese partner company Brilliance Automotive. BYD hybrid supercar A preview image released by Chinese company BYD shows off a sleek, low sports car with a prominent greenhouse-style cabin and performance-inspired design elements. Little is known about the model’s powertrain, but Chinese media reports that a four-wheel drive variant would likely use a 2.0-litre petrol engine coupled to an electric motor for a combined output of 469bhp. Faraday Future MPV EV start-up Faraday Future has yet to launch its first effort, the FF91, but will be previewing a second production model in Shanghai. Previewed in silhouette form, the V9 is a China-only electric MPV being developed in partnership with a Chinese mobile gaming company. Geely GE11 Karma-Pininfarina concept Karma, born out of the 2014 collapse of Fisker Automotive, will unveil an as-yet-unnamed luxury model designed in association with Italian design house Pininfarina. The Chinese-funded, US-based electric car manufacutrer is remaining tight-lipped about the modelâs specifications and performance, but a recently released preview image shows off an angular, streamlined front end and a prominent lower grille like that of the original Fisker Karma. Karma Revero Joining the new Pininfarina-designed concept on Karmaâs Shanghai stand will be the updated-for-2020 version of the brandâs Revero luxury saloon. The four-door range-extender electric car will use a three-cylinder petrol engine from BMW. It’s tipped to receive styling revisions but retain an overarching resemblance to the Fisker Karma, from which is was developed. Karma has plans to launch the new Revero in Europe as a competitor to the Polestar 1 performance hybrid. Karma Vision Rounding off Karmaâs âShanghai Big Threeâ will be the Vision concept. Little is known about what form the Vision will take, but Karma said it will play a role in the brandâs transformation from a traditional car manufacturer into âan open-platform luxury high-tech automotive incubatorâ, like the Italdesign DaVinci electric supercar revealed earlier this year at the Geneva motor show. Landwind E315 Codenamed E315, the latest effort from Jiangling Motors brand Landwind is a stylish compact SUV that will go up against the likes of the Volvo XC60, LynkCo 01 and Haval H6. Details remain scarce, but the E315 is expected to have five seats and make use of the same 1.5-litre Ford-derived unit that powered Landwind’s Range Rover Evoque copycat, the X7, which has just been forcibly discontinued. LynkCo 05 Taking the form of an SUV-coupĂŠ, the Geely-owned LynkCo brand’s fifth model is a BMW X6 rival based on its 01. It will sit atop the Volvo-developed CMA platform and will likely use the Swedish company’s range of 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines. A European launch is likely but unconfirmed. Mercedes-Benz GLB Mercedes’ new small SUV will sit between the current GLC and GLA models, and will take on rivals like the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. Styling across the GLB range
Origin: 2019 Shanghai motor show: all the new cars revealed
VW ID Roomzz launched at Shanghai show
VW ID. Roomzz launched at Shanghai show The latest pure electric concept from VW will arrive in 2021 Volkswagen has unveiled the ID. Roomzz at the Shanghai Motor Show, its latest model set to join the ID. all-electric sub-brand. A production version of the large SUV is due to go on sale in 2021 to rival the likes of Tesla’s Model X. Based on the VW Group’s MEB architecture – a platform designed specifically for electric vehicles – the ID. Roomzz is part full-size SUV, part lounge on wheels. Three rows of seats are possible thanks to the opened up packaging possibilities provided by the skateboard-style platform, and fully autonomous driving systems – on this concept at least – means that three different seating configurations are possible. ID. Drive mode sees a conventional forward facing arrangement for all occupants, with the driver controlling everything via a steering wheel and pedals. When the driver puts their hand on the VW logo on the steering wheel for longer than five seconds, ID. Pilot is engaged, setting the car into autonomous driving mode. All seats angle inwards by 25 degrees for a more sociable seating area, or ID. Pilot Relax mode enables each passenger to create their individual seating position, including a reclined setting. Twin electric motors power the ID. Roomzz, providing a combined 225 kW for the all-wheel drive system. A 75 kW motor sits on the front axle, and a 150 kW motor on the rear, providing a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds. Power comes from an 82 kWh battery, which gives the ID. Roomzz a range of 280 miles on a charge, based on WLTP tests. Charging can either be carried out wirelessly via induction charging, or through a conventional plug. Rapid charging can be carried out at up to 150 kW. Other features showcased on the concept model include ID. Light, which provides passengers with information such as assistance systems, navigation, and air quality displayed via light effects from an LED strip along the bottom of the windscreen, or doors and roof in the rear. Augmented reality (AR) is used for the driver to display navigation instructions projected ahead of the driver, and the interior is trimmed with AppleSkin artificial leather, which contains 20% vegetable matter. The ID. Roomzz will be the sixth model to join the ID. family, after the ID., ID. Crozz, ID. Buzz, ID. Vizzion, and ID. Buggy. It is confirmed to go into production, launching in China initially in a couple of years’ time.
Origin: VW ID Roomzz launched at Shanghai show
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