Nissan shows off EV concepts—which could be built?

PLUS: BMW i4 deliveries begin, Polestar 3 SUV seen in the metal, and Lexus' first EV on the way.

If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.     Our first glimpse of the Polestar 3 SUV, a futuristic Nissan concept inspired by Formula E, and an electric crossover from Lexus. But first:  Nissan Reveals EV Concepts, Including a Pickup    This week Nissan revealed not one but a whole squadron of concept vehicles while laying out its EV strategy for the rest of the decade, with plans to launch 15 new EVs between now and 2030. The automaker plans to add 20 new electric and electrified models just in the next five years, starting with the arrival of the Ariya stateside next year. The upcoming crossover will be merely the second new EV nameplate the US will seen since the Leaf arrived over a decade ago, with the automaker hinting that the Ariya will soon be joined by others.    Just what those new EVs could look like was demonstrated this week with concepts as diverse as a two-door pickup truck dubbed Surf-Out, and a convertible named Max-Out. Two crossovers were also shown, one hinting at a Cube successor and the other pointing toward a possible next-gen Leaf.    It's safe to say the small, beach-bound electric trucklet, just a rendering at the moment, sparked plenty of conversation at a time when EV pickups appear poised to go mainstream.    But just how likely is Nissan to actually build it?   The Surf-Out concept takes a different route than the currently planned EV trucks from other automakers, but it's also a computer rendering.    The rendering of the pickup certainly demonstrated some attractive design features, but it's worth noting that the market for small, two-door pickups could be quite limited, as demonstrated by the lack of similar gas-engined offerings.    Out of the all the concepts shown by Nissan this week the two crossovers may have the easiest paths to production. But just how soon we'll see another electric crossover after the debut of the Ariya is an open question, as Nissan will be joining a segment that seems to be getting more crowded with each passing month. Nissan will need something very different for its next production crossover model.   The first examples of the BMW i4 were delivered just a few days ago, with BMW setting its sights on Tesla.    Speaking of new EVs, BMW has begun deliveries of the i4 to customers in Germany some three months ahead of schedule. The automaker held a delivery event at BMW Welt in Munich just a month after production of the i4 began.    "It is a very special moment for us when we hand over brand new models to customers for the first time," said Bernhard Kuhnt, senior vice president BMW Group Market Germany. "The BMW i4 shows in an emotional way how well fully electric mobility and sporty driving dynamics fit together. For us, it is therefore clear: the BMW i4 will offer our customers a whole new dimension of driving pleasure."    The first deliveries of the i4 are happening just as Tesla prepares to begin production at its new plant in Germany, where EV sales have boomed over the past two years. BMW's i4 will compete with the Tesla Model 3 and the Polestar 2 at launch, until other competitors arrive. But this particular segment isn't the only one that BMW is joining in the next few weeks, as iX deliveries are set to begin soon.             New Plant for Ultium Battery Materials on the Way GM and POSCO Chemical have revealed plans to create a joint venture that will include the construction of a new plant to process battery materials for Ultium battery cells. The new plant will be aimed at processing Cathode Active Material (CAM), which accounts for approximately 40% of the cost of each battery cell, the automaker says, with a planned opening expected in 2024. READ THE FULL STORY    Polestar 3 SUV Teased Ahead of 2022 Launch This week Polestar offered at look at its next model—the Polestar 3—giving the world a glimpse at a still-camouflaged electric SUV that will arrive on sale relatively soon. Set to be produced in the United States, the Polestar 3 will set its sights on other electric SUVs on the market in 2022, including those from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla. READ THE FULL STORY VW Mulling Electric Convertible, Report Says READ MORE Mercedes and Stellantis Bet on One Start-Up's Tech READ MORE Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept Is an EV Dream Machine READ MORE Nissan Chill-Out Concept Hints at Leaf Successor READ MORE Will Future Electric BMWs Be Fun to Drive? READ MORE Lexus' First EV for the U.S., Starts to Take Shape 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