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

This year is shaping up to be quite a year for electric vehicles. Sales of BEVs and PHEVs are up all around the world, new models coming out and (hopefully) charging infrastructure improving.

Let’s get into it:

Canada

Rivian to Open First Canadian 'Spaces' Showroom in Vancouver on July 28.

Rivian is excited to announce the grand opening of its inaugural 'Spaces' showroom in Canada on July 28. Situated in the bustling city of Vancouver, the showroom will be located at The Amazing Brentwood shopping mall in Burnaby.

This year, Rivian is focused on enhancing its physical retail presence, as the majority of the purchasing experience has predominantly taken place online until now. Last month, Rivian unveiled its first Space in downtown New York, offering customers a relaxed and non-pressurized environment, free from aggressive sales tactics.

Each Rivian Space possesses its own distinct charm. For instance, the forthcoming Space in Austin, Texas will feature a delightful rooftop patio and green area, while another Space in Laguna Beach, California is set to be housed within a refurbished theater.

Setting the Burnaby, Vancouver Space apart is the introduction of augmented reality technology, enabling customers to visualize and personalize their individual configurations.

In addition to the existing R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV, Rivian plans to expand its lineup with the introduction of more affordable 'R2' options. The complete R2 range is scheduled to be unveiled next year and is expected to include a crossover model as well as a pickup truck similar in size to the Ford Maverick.

Prices for the R2 vehicles are anticipated to range from $40,000 to $60,000, representing a significant decrease compared to the R1T and R1S, which fall within the $70,000 to $100,000 price range.

Alongside its increased retail presence, Rivian is diligently working on providing ample access to fast charging for its customers. The Rivian Adventure Network aims to cover remote areas across North America, with the initial three charging sites already open as of last year. Furthermore, a newly formed partnership with Tesla ensures that Rivian customers will enjoy full access to Tesla's extensive network of 12,000+ Superchargers, beginning in 2024.

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

Ford's 2023 F-150 Lightning EV Pickup Sees Significant Price Cut.

Ford has announced a substantial price reduction for its 2023 F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup truck in Canada. The company is lowering the price by up to $15,000 due to increased sales volumes and more affordable raw materials for batteries. In order to implement these improvements, Ford has temporarily closed its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan for final upgrades. These upgrades will boost the plant's annual production to a targeted 150,000 vehicles, starting this fall. As is the case with most manufactured goods, higher production volumes lead to lower costs per vehicle.

The base Pro trim, currently priced at $74,000 CAD, will now be available for $59,000 CAD, representing a $15,000 difference. Important to note that Ford.ca doesn’t allow you to build and price the Pro trim. You should reach out to your local dealer. The XLT trim sees a $10,000 reduction, with the standard-range model priced at $69,000 and the extended-range battery model at $85,000. The Lariat trim with standard-range is now $80,000, down by $10,000, while the extended-range battery model is $99,600, a reduction of $9,000. The top-level Platinum Extended Range trim drops from $121,000 to $115,000.

It’s also important to note that the price has fluctuated a lot since it was originally supposed to have a base price of just over $50,000 CAD.

Customers in the United States will also benefit from price drops, with the F-150 Lightning now priced between $49,995 and $91,995, down from $59,974 to $98,074.

Ford expects the plant upgrades to enhance customer access to their custom-built trucks as early as October, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) that is more in line with the initial pricing at the truck's announcement. The original price increase was due to escalating material costs, supply limitations, and other factors, according to Ford.

Vehicle ordering is currently open in Canada, and inventory is available at dealerships. Furthermore, Ford's BlueOval Charge Network will offer access to Tesla Superchargers starting in early 2023. With the reduced pricing, some F-150 Lightning models may also qualify for federal and provincial incentives for electric vehicles.

While Ford has experienced strong F-150 Lightning deliveries, there are reports of a slowdown in sales for the automaker's Mustang Mach-E SUV compared to the previous year. This suggests a potential plateau in the popularity of electric vehicles, including the EV pickup. Additionally, Ford has more inventory of both models than it can sell, as reported by Business Insider.

EV Around the World 🌏

Aptera Meets Pininfarina's Wind Tunnel For Validation Phase.

Nio CEO Calls for Equal Access for Chinese EVs in US Market.

Nio, often referred to as China's Tesla, is urging for equal market access for Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States, similar to what Tesla enjoys in China.

William Li, the founder and CEO of Shanghai-based Nio, believes that automakers should not be caught up in political tensions between the two countries. In an interview with the Financial Times, Li called on the US government to provide Chinese EVs with the same opportunities to access the American market.

Li emphasized the need for an open world without politicizing business and questioned why Chinese companies face obstacles when selling their EVs to US consumers. Notably, Tesla has a significant factory in China, while Nio has not yet announced plans to manufacture EVs in the US.

Nio considers itself an international company, with a substantial portion of its investors located outside China, despite being listed in New York.

Li's criticism of US protectionism coincides with the aggressive expansion of Chinese EV makers, including Nio, BYD, XPeng, and Li Auto, in overseas markets, heavily relying on exports. However, uncertain access to the US market poses a significant challenge to their growth.

High tariffs on Chinese vehicles and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing and reducing economic dependency on China, complicate access to the US market. This leads to uncertainty regarding subsidies, treatment of Chinese-branded vehicles, and China-made EV components in the US under the IRA. Li questioned why US consumers can't enjoy the wide range of new energy vehicles available to Chinese consumers.

Meanwhile, China is expected to surpass Japan as the world's largest car exporter this year, following its rise to the second spot last year, surpassing Germany.

Due to the challenges of selling cars in the US, Nio and other Chinese EV makers are directing their exports toward Europe, where strict emissions regulations are driving a rapid transition from internal combustion engines to EVs.

Nio has been installing battery swap stations across Europe, enabling EV owners to exchange their depleted batteries for fully charged ones in a quick and automated process lasting just minutes. The company aims to establish approximately 1,000 such stations in the region by 2025.

As I have mentioned in previous issues of the newsletter, I would love to see companies such as NIO and Xpeng bring their EVs to Canada for a few reasons:
1- Increase competition and accelerate the reduction of prices on EV.
2- They have great performance, reliability and look amazing!

Watch 10 Fastest Cars At The 2023 Goodwood FoS: McLaren, Rimac, & More!

Clean Energy and Mobility

Doroni Aerospace Makes History with First Manned Personal Flying Car (eVTOL).

QuickEV

• Tesla Said To Plan Making $24,000 EV At New Factory In India.

• [VIDEO] EV Driver’s Terrible Charging Experience.

• Tesla has built ‘first Cybertruck’ at Giga Texas.

• [VIDEO] Hyundai RN22e Crash Hard At Goodwood After Missing Turn.

• Tesla launches ‘Charge on Solar’ to charge vehicles with solar.

• [VIDEO] Rivian Showcases Performance Dual-Motor R1T In Giggle-Filled Customer Video.

• [VIDEO] The Emerald Fold eBike: A True Standout in Folding eBike.

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