New Tesla models could face delays

PLUS: Ford Ion Park is in the works, Fisker Ocean inches to production, and Nikola founder Milton is indicted.

If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.     This week Ford plans a new battery R&D site, the Fisker Ocean is on its way, and the Tesla Model S won't get a normal steering wheel after all. But first: Tesla generates plenty of profit, but new battery cells could delay new models.    This week Tesla revealed a number of crucial bits of information about its upcoming models during its quarterly conference call as well as an SEC filing. The automaker had a record quarter with $1.14 billion in income, while delivering about 201,250 vehicles in the second quarter.    The automaker also indicated directly and indirectly that several of its new models could be delayed, with the culprits being both batteries and the pace of factory completion. Tesla announced the new 4680 cells during last September's battery day and has made substantial progress on them, promising a boost in range and power as well as a lighter construction that would also serve structural purposes. While the automaker is in the process of advancing the 4680 cells into production, the timing of their readiness will dictate when Cybertruck, Semi truck, and Model Y production will start. On that issue, Tesla also indicated that it has prioritized Model Y production at the Gigafactory Texas in Austin over the Cybertruck. But the factory itself is still in the construction stage.    The Tesla Semi is now officially delayed.    This means we're unlikely to see the Cybertruck reach production this year, making spring or summer of 2022 much more likely.    Needless to say, quite a lot hinges over the next six months on Tesla's successful launch of the 4680 cells, but one major effect is expected to be that it won't be the first or second (or perhaps even third) automaker to begin deliveries of a mass-produced electric pickup truck, as Rivian and GMC are expected to start production and customer deliveries sooner.   REE Automotive will open a US headquarters in Austin, as well as a facility for building prototypes.    Speaking of Austin, Texas, an EV start-up is about to set up a US headquarters in the city, aiming to bring its skateboard platform tech to North America. REE Automotive has announced plans to create an assembly site and office in Texas in order to work with its stateside partners on EV platforms, aiming to offer what it bills as the industry's flattest EV platform to other automakers.    REE's platforms pack the powertrain, steering, suspension, and braking systems into a very compact base, designed to carry many different types of bodies. In fact, REE calls its platforms "agnostic" to the size and design of a particular body, offering a modular and scalable architecture. The company hopes to attract more partners in the US that could use the platforms and fit their own vehicle bodies to them, similar to how automakers a century ago built the chassis, and then customers had to contract a coachbuilder for the bodies. REE's platforms are ultimately aimed at commercial vehicle builders, such as those who'd wish to build delivery vehicles, but could be used by automakers to offer vehicles to private owners.         Ford Aims for EV Battery Independence with R&D Site    Ford plans to open a new battery research and development center in Romulus, Michigan, not far from Detroit, dubbed Ford Ion Park. The company plans to spend $185 million on a laboratory, slated to open in 2022, to develop new production techniques for existing lithium-ion battery types, as well as new solid-state batteries. READ THE FULL STORY Fisker Ocean Will Debut at the LA Auto Show    Henrik Fisker's EV start-up will bring a production version of the battery-electric Ocean SUV to the LA auto show this fall, following its first appearance at CES nearly two years ago. Promised with a 300-mile range and a $37,499 starting price, the Ocean is slated to be produced by Austria's Magna Steyr starting next fall, using Magna's own EV architecture. READ THE FULL STORY Nikola Founder Trevor Milton Charged with Fraud READ MORE Should VW Offer Pickup Versions of the ID. Buzz? READ MORE Chevy Bolt Faces Second Recall for Battery Fire Risk READ MORE Hyundai Is Bringing Its Hydrogen Trucks Here READ MORE Tesla Model S Won't Offer a Normal Steering Wheel READ MORE EV Maker Rivian Plans to Spend $5 Billion on New Plant READ MORE       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. SIGN UP Follow Us Unsubscribe Privacy Notice Autoweek.com ©2021 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019