Act fast. The clock is ticking.
Tesla has had an amazing year. While 2020 may not have been the best for most residents of this planet, the Californian company became the world s most valuable automaker, began the construction of two new factories, and started testing its full self-driving (FSD) technology in beta ahead of a general rollout early next year. The automaker is also currently racing against time to achieve its end-of-year-goal of a record 500,000 deliveries this year.
Earlier this month, we reported Tesla still had to deliver over 181,000 vehicles and that figure has since decreased, but it s not quite there. As part of a last-minute push, CEO Elon Musk has just announced any Tesla vehicle delivered between now and midnight on December 31 will receive three months of FSD, totally free of charge.
Here s when it s expected to happen.
Earlier this month, Japan said it intends to join the UK in banning gasoline-powered vehicles potentially as soon as 2030. As expected, this caused some immediate uproar from major automakers, including Japan s largest, Toyota. CEO Akio Toyoda blasted the Japanese government for not understanding how the auto industry really works, pointing out the charging infrastructure is not in place while the island nation continues to burn fossil fuels to power EV charging stations. Nevertheless, Japan appears to be pushing ahead with the plan.
The Associated Press reports Japan now aims to eliminate gas-powered vehicles in about 15 years time, so around 2035. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga s government also pledged a carbon-free goal by 2050 and to generate almost $2 trillion in growth from green industries and related investments.
Apple refused and now probably regrets it.
The reemergence of Apple s electric vehicle program was one of this week s surprise stories. If all goes as planned, Apple aims to bring its new car, dubbed Project Titan, to market by 2024 with a revolutionary new battery that s currently surrounded in secrecy. Supposedly, a new monocell design increases the size of the individual battery cells resulting in additional space inside the battery pack as there ll be no need for pouches and modules to hold the battery terminals. It definitely sounds like an expensive undertaking and the auto business has always been risky; just ask the countless EV start-ups who ve failed to succeed.
Chevrolet is ending 2020 on a high.
With plant closures caused by United Auto Workers Union strikes and the global pandemic, the new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hasn t had the smoothest of launches. Consequently, some customers who ordered a 2020 model had to wait for the 2021 model to arrive. Thankfully, things are back on track now. Production of the 2020 Corvette was extended to enable GM to hit its original 20,000 unit target.
The 2021 model also started production one month earlier than expected. And according to Corvette Blogger, the first examples are already arriving in showrooms, so some owners can enjoy their 2021 Corvette this year as an early Christmas present from Chevrolet.