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Saturday, January 29, 2022
Friday, January 28, 2022
Elon Musk lays out Tesla's plans for 2022
| If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.  Mini will convert classic models to EVs, Cadillac Lyriq goes into pre-production, and Volkswagen starts building the ID.5. But first:  This week during a scheduled investor conference call recapping Tesla's fourth quarter results, Tesla CEO Elon Musk offered an update on future vehicle plans, while also providing a general outlook on the upcoming year. Among other items, Tesla fans received an update on the long-awaited Cybertruck, which at last report had been pushed back to late 2022 as Tesla prioritized other vehicles.  The long-awaited Cybertruck, first shown in 2019, has been pushed to the back burner, but even a 2023 arrival is not assured. "So we will not be introducing new vehicle models this year, it would not make any sense, because we will still be parts constrained," Musk said on the call. "We will however do a lot of engineering, tooling, what not to create those vehicles, as the Cybertruck, Semi, Roadster, Optimus, and be ready to bring those to production hopefully next year, that is the most likely." In case you've forgotten just what Optimus is supposed to be, it's definitely not a car. Rather, it's the humanoid robot concept that Musk announced a few months ago, previewed at the time by a very real human in a suit, and it's something the Tesla CEO called "the most important product development" item the company will be working on in 2022.  Bentley plans for its entire lineup to be electric by 2030. Speaking of future cars, this week Bentley confirmed that it will launch its first EV in just a few years, in 2025, ahead of going EV-only by 2030. That's right: the Anglo-Germanic luxury marque plans to offer its very first battery-electric model in a little over three years from now, ahead of turning its entire lineup electric five years after that. It's a very quick timeline, needless to say, and despite the fact that Bentley does not build a vast number of vehicles each year, its lineup is actually quite varied for a boutique brand.    Mini will offer factory EV conversions for its classic models as part of its Mini Recharged effort. Classic Austin Mini owners will be able to commission a conversion that will replace the gasoline engine with an electric motor and a high-voltage battery, giving the Mini a range of about 100 miles. Will such a conversion make sense for many classic Mini owners?
 Cadillac has begun pre-production of the Lyriq electric crossover, due to go on sale later this year as a 2023 model, opening a new chapter in the brand's electrification efforts. Based on the Ultium platform, the production version of the Lyriq has stayed quite close to the concept first shown in 2020, with GM keeping most of the futuristic exterior along with a versatile and upscale interior. Read on to find out what the Lyriq will offer.   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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