Hello! Thank you for checking out this weeks’ EV North Newsletter!

If you’re new here, The EV North is a weekly newsletter that brings together some of the biggest EV news stories and delivers it to your inbox. There is a focus on Canada & North America in general but you’ll also find EV news from around the world!

In this issue:

• Ford Delays EV Production at Oakville Plant Until 2027, Layoffs Expected.

• Which rebate-eligible EVs were the most popular in Canada for 2023?

• Tesla's Affordable EV and Robotaxi Drama.

• Tesla Settles with Family of Engineer Killed in Autopilot Crash.

• Rivian produces 100,000th vehicle.

• + more!

Canada

Ford Delays EV Production at Oakville Plant Until 2027, Layoffs Expected.

Ford Motor Co. announces a two-year delay in the commencement of EV production at its Oakville, Ontario plant, now slated for 2027 instead of the initially planned 2025 start. This decision comes alongside news of associated layoffs, according to a company spokesperson.

The U.S. automaker's initial plan involved transforming its Oakville assembly plant, which currently employs 2,700 workers, into a center for EV manufacturing, encompassing both vehicle and battery pack assembly, with an investment of $1.8 billion. Although the plant overhaul is set to commence as scheduled in the second quarter of this year, the rollout of new three-row electric vehicles is postponed until 2027.

Ford justifies the delay by citing the need for further consumer market development and advancements in EV battery technology. While some employees will remain during the plant's transformation, layoffs are inevitable, states Ford.

In response to the workforce impact, Ford pledges to collaborate with Unifor, the union representing 3,200 workers at the Oakville plant, to mitigate the consequences of the delay. Unifor expresses disappointment over the decision and emphasizes the importance of securing workers' future amidst the substantial delay in EV production launch.

Here’s a video from Ford from almost a year ago related to their Oakville plant:

Ford president and CEO Jim Farley assures that the delay reflects a strategic long-term vision, reaffirming the company's commitment to Canadian manufacturing. Farley acknowledges the impact on the Oakville workforce and reiterates Ford's dedication to building a sustainable and profitable business in the region.

The Oakville facility, consisting of three body shops, one paint building, and one assembly building, will see significant changes, including the addition of a new battery plant. This plant will assemble battery packs from parts sourced from Ford's U.S. operations for installation in vehicles produced on-site.

Ford's investment plans in the Oakville plant were originally announced in 2020 during union negotiations, aiming to secure long-term production commitments. The agreement involved investments from the Ontario and federal governments, totaling $295 million each, to support Ford's initiatives and bolster Canada's automotive manufacturing sector.

Are you on Reddit? Check out our subreddit at https://reddit.com/r/evcanada 

Which rebate-eligible EVs were the most popular in Canada for 2023?

As reported by Driving.ca, Transport Canada increased the amount of money spent on rebates for zero-emission vehicles in 2023. A whopping $635.6 million was spent on nearly 128,000 battery electric vehicles and $178.8 million on 39,000 buyers of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).

Transport Canada’s rebate during the 2023 had 29 different EVs listed as available for the rebate. Here are the top 5 selling EVs for 2023:

5. Hyundai Kona Electric: 6,160 units sold.

4. Volkswagen ID.4: 6,669 units sold.

3. Chevrolet Bolt: 14,050 units sold.

2. Tesla Model 3: 29,122 units sold.

1. Tesla Model Y: 29,582 units sold.

Do any of these surprise you? Honestly I thought we’d see the Ioniq5 break the top 5. Also I’ve heard amazing things about the Kia EV6, but don’t see as much of them around? Let me know by replying to this email!

EV Around the World 🌏

Tesla's Affordable EV and Robotaxi Drama.

Recent reports from Reuters, having cited various sources and internal communications, alleging the abandonment of Tesla's much-anticipated $25,000 affordable electric car project, known as the Model 2, in favor of prioritizing its robo-taxi initiative which is built on the same platform. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk swiftly refuted these claims on social media, casting doubt on the accuracy of the report.

Analysts theorize that discrepancies may arise from a misinterpretation of Tesla's product roadmap. Some suggest that the robo-taxi project and the affordable electric car were intricately linked, with Tesla potentially prioritizing the autonomous variant over a human-driven model. However, doubts persist regarding Tesla's ability to deliver a fully autonomous vehicle at a price point lower than the current Model 3.

Tesla's operational efficiency and vertical integration have positioned it as an industry leader in electric vehicles. The potential abandonment of the $25,000 Tesla model could significantly impact EV enthusiasts, given Tesla's unparalleled market position and potential to drive widespread adoption of affordable electric vehicles.

Recently, Musk's announcement of the Tesla Robotaxi's unveiling on August 8, 2024, adds another layer of complexity to the situation. This revelation marks a milestone in Tesla's journey, dating back to 2016 when the company initially outlined plans for a self-driving people carrier. While details have been scarce, glimpses of a "Robotaxi Concept" emerged in Walter Isaacson's biography of Musk.

Musk's vision for the autonomous robotaxi reportedly envisions a vehicle devoid of traditional features such as pedals or a steering wheel. However, internal discussions within Tesla reveal a divergence in strategy, with Musk's deputies advocating for the development of an affordable "global car" to meet ambitious growth targets.

The overlap in design and engineering between the robotaxi and the affordable mass-market EV raises questions about the feasibility of both projects. With the robotaxi's unveiling preceding any updates on the affordable Tesla, concerns mount regarding the latter's viability, especially in light of reports hinting at its cancellation.

Tesla Settles with Family of Engineer Killed in Autopilot Crash.

Tesla finds itself in a significant legal development as it opts to settle with the family of Wei "Walter" Huang, the Apple engineer who tragically lost his life in an Autopilot-related crash. Originally scheduled to defend its Autopilot system against allegations of wrongful death in court this week, Tesla has pivoted towards reaching a settlement with Huang's family.

While specifics of the settlement remain undisclosed, court documents indicate Tesla's efforts to keep the settlement amount confidential, underscoring a desire for privacy from both parties involved. This move comes amidst reports from reputable sources such as The Washington Post and Bloomberg, shedding light on the imminent resolution.

However, the settlement awaits judicial approval, with a follow-up hearing set for Thursday, April 11th. Notably, the California Department of Transportation, another defendant in the case, retains the right to voice objections to the settlement.

Huang's fatal accident occurred when his Tesla Model X, operating on Autopilot, collided with a safety barrier in Mountain View, California, in March 2018. Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the crash to a combination of Autopilot engagement and driver distraction.

Tesla had initially planned to assert Huang's engagement with a mobile game as a contributing factor, seeking to involve Apple in the legal proceedings by subpoenaing the tech giant for evidence regarding Huang's gaming activity. However, Apple has actively opposed Tesla's efforts to drag them into the trial, attempting to thwart the subpoena.

As the legal saga unfolds, the resolution of this case underscores the intricate intersection of technology, accountability, and responsibility within the realm of autonomous driving systems, leaving lingering questions about the future of such technologies and their implications for road safety.

Hello, one quick thing. If you’re enjoying this, can you do me a favour and forward it to a friend? Thank you!

Rivian produces 100,000th vehicle.

Rivian’s 100,000th EV has rolled off the production line located in Normal, Illinois.
As seen in the post below, it’s an R1S - hopefully making it’s way to Canada!
There are not many of these vehicles on Canadian roads - especially on the East Coast.

It was way back in 2022 when Rivian said they had approximately 114,000 reservations for the R1T and R1S. There has definitely been many more reservations since then, but the exact number remains a mystery. These numbers make me believe that Rivian is behind in production so longer wait times.

Now that the R2, R3 and R3X have been unveiled, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said that there were over 68,000 reservations for the R2 in less than 24 hours.

Also announced, Rivian will shut down the Normal, Illinois production facility as they introduce cutting-edge technologies and streamlined practices to enhance efficiency and reduced costs. Specifically, Rivian is looking to implement changes that will provide substantial reductions in material for the R1S and the R1T. The shutdown will occur from April 5th to April 30th. Rivian forecasts, even with the shutdown, a production number of 57,000 units for 2024.

QuickEV

• Kia to launch new Carens EV, two other mass-market EVs in India.

• Tesla’s year-over-year sales dropped for the first time since 2020.

• [VIDEO] Tesla Cybertruck Owner's Likes And Dislikes After 6,500 km.

• CATL launches new EV battery with close to a 1 million mile, 15-year lifespan.

• BYD Releases Camouflaged Photos Of EV Truck For Global Markets.

• [VIDEO] Mercedes Drifts The Electric G-Class on a Frozen Lake.

• Alfa Romeo Milano, sporty Italian SUV goes electric as brand’s first EV.

• Volvo sets a global all-time sales record thanks to EV.

• [VIDEO] A Chevy Silverado EV Just Went 460 Miles On One Charge.

EV Tweet of the Week

Enjoying FSD V12.3 on your Tesla?