| If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.  This week we see the production Cadillac Lyriq, Toyota unveils the bZ4X, the IIHS declares EVs safe, and electric semi-trucks are on their way. But first:  The Shanghai auto show easily became the most closely watched industry event in a long time—and not just because it's the highest-profile auto show to have taken place IRL, as they say, since the pandemic erupted. Its focus on electric vehicles combined with China's status as the most diverse EV market in the world have propelled the show to a new level of importance. And the event did not hold back, fielding a number of production and concept debuts from automakers from all over the world.  Don't expect a major departure from the gas-engined GLB-Class, even inside. Among the vehicles that buyers in North America will actually see, we can start with the reveal of the production EQB from Mercedes-Benz, which will make its way here next year after commercial launches in Europe and China in 2021. Due to be the first electric SUV from Mercedes to go on sale stateside, the EQB features only minimal exterior differences with the gas-engine GLB-Class. Its promises a 66.5-kWh battery and a WLTP range of 260 miles, a range that may yet grow as it could get a larger battery by the time it lands in the States. Intended as a seven-seater, the EQB will also battle an ever-growing number of midsize sport utilities and crossovers landing here over the next year, but it won't aim for an entry price as low as other entries as it will still be a luxury offering. The EQB should kick-start Mercedes' EV efforts stateside even more than the EQS sedan, the latter expected to land here with a six-figure price tag.  Cadillac will start taking reservations this September for its first all-electric crossover. The Shanghai show is also where we got our first glimpse of the production version of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, which seems to have lost very little in the transition from last summer's concept to a production-ready example. Slated to use GM's Ultium powertrain when it enters production in 2022, the Lyriq will offer a 100-kWh battery giving it an estimated range of 300 miles on a single charge, with the single-motor drivetrain good for 340 hp and 325 lb-ft doing the work. What's more, the Lyriq won't be as expensive as its futuristic styling suggests: The model will start at $59,990 with reservations opening this September, according to Cadillac. Still, the Lyriq will land in a busy category, one that's already seeing competitors arriving every couple of months.    The Toyota bZ4X all-electric crossover concept was developed with Subaru, with a production version hitting roads in the middle of 2022. The bZ4X rides on a new platform dubbed e-TNGA, which means that a production version could come in front-, rear-, or all-wheel-drive versions. This is the first of an entire line of bZ-badge-wearing products in the future.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the Ford Mustang Mach-E a Top Safety Pick and the Volvo XC40 Recharge a Top Safety Pick+ after testing. Vehicles must pass all crash tests to be named a Top Safety Pick and, additionally, meet stringent headlight standards on every trim to earn a Top Safety Pick+ designation. A new study also shows that electric vehicles, when compared to their conventional gas-powered counterparts, have 40 percent fewer injury claims.   Spread the word: If you know someone interested in staying on top of the rapidly growing EV segment, feel free to pass this newsletter along.
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Friday, April 23, 2021
Mercedes EQB, Audi A6 e-tron, VW ID.6 all bow at Shanghai
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