Automotive

TESLA: Mexican States Compete Over Possible Tesla Plants

(CTN NEWS) – MEXICO CITY – States in Mexico are competing with one another for the possibility of a Tesla factory. Similar jostling takes place in the US as states and towns vie for funding from digital companies.

Mexican governors have gone to absurd measures to promote their states, like erecting billboards, establishing exclusive roads, and making mock-ups of Tesla advertisements.

Also, there is no assurance that Tesla will construct a whole factory. Nothing has been declared, and the only thing that has Mexican officials excited is their assurance that Tesla CEO Elon Musk will soon communicate with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

A northern industrial state called Nuevo Leon appeared to be in the lead at the start of the race.

It painted the Tesla emblem on a lane at the Colombian-Texas border crossing last summer and put up “Welcome Tesla” billboards in Monterrey, the state capital, in December.

Even the famous wife of the state governor, Mariana Rodriguez, might be seen with Musk in leaked pictures.

López Obrador asserted on Monday that he would not permit enterprises’ usual high water use to run the danger of creating shortages in the semi-arid state.

Tesla

There Is No Assurance That Tesla Will Construct A Complete Factory

Similar to piranha tank feeding time, this prompted a feeding frenzy across other Mexican states. The governors’ recommendations ranged from being shrewd to almost amusing.

Cuitláhuac Garcia, the governor of Veracruz, made a joke about how his state was the only one with an abundance of gas before immediately adding, “Gas… for industrial use, for industrial use!”

Due to the fact that Veracruz is home to Mexico’s sole nuclear power plant, Garcia, who joined the race late, had to put in more effort.

He also asserted that Veracruz possessed 30% of Mexico’s water supply, despite the fact that the National Water Commission calculates the state’s share to be closer to 11%. As it turns out, water is denser than blood.

There would also be the westernmost state of Mexico’s governor, Michoacan. The tagline “Michoacan — The Best Option for Tesla” was instantly tweeted by Gov. Alfredo Ramrez Bedolla alongside to a gigantic, car-sized avocado, Michoacan’s most recognizable product.

Ramrez Bedolla declared on television, in between talks with leaders in the car industry and foreign business officials, “We have adequate water.”

Tesla

Amazon Mentioned Constructing Its Corporate Headquarters

Violence caused by drug cartels is also a problem in Michoacan. Yet, seven significant foreign automakers have chosen to open operations there despite comparable violence in the nearby Guanajuato state.

Nuevo Leon’s governor. In order to prevent being completely cut off, Samuel Garca had to act quickly and come up with a creative plan.

Enrique Alfaro, the governor of Jalisco and a member of the same tiny Citizen’s Movement party, was approached by Garcia.

Together, the two created an “association” on Thursday that would give Jalisco trucks priority entry to the border crossing in Nuevo Leon, the same one where a “Tesla” lane made its debut last year.

In addition to having a flourishing foreign technology sector, Jalisco has more water than Nuevo Leon.

They appeared to be making an effort to be cordial. “We are states that are not obliged to compete or eat each other up… Alfaro thinks that fragmentation for development is a bad concept.

Gabriela Siller, head economist at Banco Base in Nuevo Leon, claims that López Obrador’s attention to water may be more motivated by politics than by droughts.

Tesla

She alleged that the president tried to influence Tesla’s investment to move to a state controlled by his Morena parties, like Michoacan or Veracruz. Siller thinks that may be a risky game.

Tesla might elect not to travel to Mexico and declare that it is not someone’s toy to be moved anywhere, she said.

Pitting one state against another is a typical practice, according to Sam Abuelsamid, a lead research analyst at Guidehouse Insights in the United States.

It seemed like every state and community in the US was putting in bids to tempt Amazon there a few years ago, when Amazon talked about expanding their headquarters, Abuelsamid said.

Some people question if Musk will unveil anything related to an auto assembly plant. It won’t be a facility, but rather a “ecology” of suppliers, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard.

Previous promises made by Musk have either not materialized or have done so decades later. For instance, he stated in 2019 that by 2020, a fleet of completely autonomous robot axis would be on the roads.

Over three years later, Tesla has still not sold a single autonomous vehicle.

Tesla

Musk has mentioned producing an electric car for $25,000 that would be roughly $20,000 less expensive

Although there hasn’t been much discussion of subsidies in Mexico so far, numerous automakers have benefited from large financial incentives to set up factories there. A race like that may be pricey.

It’s questionable, according to Abuelsamid, “if providing those subsidies is actually that economically beneficial to municipalities.” To attract a corporation to move there, “they’ll occasionally spend billions of dollars in tax benefits.”

Musk has proposed producing an electric car for $25,000, which would be roughly $20,000 less expensive than Tesla’s current Model 3, the company’s most entry-level model.

To save money on labor costs and maintain profit margins, several automakers produce lower-cost models in Mexico.

A Tesla investment might be a part of a US business trend known as “nearshoring,” where firms that once produced in China but are now worried about logistical and political problems there.

The fact that these businesses would now look to Mexico provides the biggest chance for foreign investment for the Latin American nation.

It will be difficult and challenging for nations to compete for investments from this nearshoring phenomenon, according to Alfaro.

Wherever Tesla opens a location, according to Ramrez Bedolla, “it will be significant news in Mexico.”

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Russell’s early departure leaves Lando Norris on pole at the Hungarian F1 GP.

(CTN News) – Lando Norris and his McLaren squad survived a tough qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, but they know they must perform on Sunday.

Lando Norris needed to win Budapest after Oscar Piastri locked off the top row in the field’s fastest McLaren. Recent races have been costly owing to wasted opportunities and little mistakes.

He matched Max Verstappen’s pole lap at the Hungaroring, who was unhappy to finish third. In a confident and aggressive approach, the 24-year-old finished more than three tenths ahead of the Dutchman, hitting the apexes.

Piastri followed Lando Norris by two hundredths of a second on the second hot run, demonstrating McLaren’s speed.

McLaren is doing well since Lando Norris won the Miami Grand Prix.

His potential triumphs have been cost by team and driver error, for which both parties have taken responsibility. On Sunday, he and McLaren will know they must do well.

Norris was quietly pleased with his historic first pole in Hungary and third overall. Although confident, McLaren will also be proud of their recent race progress. No one has won the pole in Budapest since Lewis Hamilton won the race and flag in 2012.

Norris and his crew recognize they must capitalize on closing gaps with 12 races left to drive Verstappen to the finish. Lando Norris understands. Behind Verstappen by 84 championship points.

“I know we missed out on some races, but we did the best we could in every one of them, and I don’t want to get back into all that stuff,” he said. I expect Oscar and Max to challenge me in the rear, not a clean weekend.

“Every location and point must be maximized; the more we can do to return to Max and Red Bull, the better.”

Hungary is a great opportunity since Lando Norris Verstappen was plainly unhappy with his car and outperformed. This disappointed him twice because the team had swiftly upgraded this race.

Verstappen had stated that the upgrades will define the second half of the season, but he admitted that he did not think they had gone far enough and could not defeat the McLarens.

“The changes are effective, but we still need more as we are not at the top,” said he. “Despite the imbalance, I liked the laps. I was pushing hard, so you had these little moments. Fast lap times are less crucial today. Simple: we need to work more because we’re moving slower. McLaren’s qualifying performance suggests a lot of ground to cover.

Lando Norris completed his best lap despite two crash-related stoppages.

Verstappen looked great in dry Q3 hot laps. He set a record with a lap time of 1 minute, 15.555 seconds and was quickest through each sector.

Lando Norris followed and pushed through the corners with fearlessness, posting a perfect 1:15.227 lap time. Piastri improved to second place on the penultimate laps while Verstappen did not, and Yuki Tsunoda’s crash halted the session.

A tardy coda didn’t matter when practice resumed because the last two minutes on old tires were worthless. McLaren has all the cards, but they must perform at the highest level to prove the legendary brand can win again.

Carlos Sainz of Ferrari was fourth and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes fifth. George Russell, Sainz’s teammate, was unexpectedly ousted in the first round.

Sergio Pérez of Red Bull struggled again in the first qualifying round. He hit the curb, lost the rear at turn eight, and crashed, interrupting the session.

Poor performance again for the Mexican, whose Red Bull berth is in risk after a succession of poor performances, especially in qualification. His contract, recently extended to 2025, may have a performance clause, and Red Bull is unlikely to tolerate him underperforming for long. He was sixteen.

Russell fell behind because Lando Norris Mercedes didn’t fuel the car until the session ended. The British driver was eliminated in 17th place after staying out when the track dried after the break.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari placed sixth, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin placed seventh and eighth, Daniel Ricciardo of RB placed nine, and Tsunoda placed tenth.

Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen of Haas finished 11 and 15, Valtteri Bottas of Sauber 12 and Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant of Williams 13 and 14. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly placed ninth and twentieth for Alpine, while Guanyu Zhou placed eighth for Sauber.

SOURCE: GN

Automotive

M5 Partially Closed as Cullompton-Exeter Crash Hospitalizes Two

(CTN News) – Two people were sent to the hospital for treatment as a result of the M5 tragic vehicle accident that happened in Devon.

The accident between two vehicles was the cause of the disaster. One more consequence of the crash is that it has left the M5 partially blocked to traffic to this day.

Between junction 28 for Cullompton and junction 29 for Exeter, the highway was blocked in both directions; however, one lane on the southbound carriageway has been opened up for previously closed traffic.

In a statement issued by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, they stated that they were notified of a traffic accident that had happened in the Exeter district at 2:29 p.m. on Friday, July 12.

M5 happened in Exeter, according to reports.

Furthermore, information was given to them by the South Western Ambulance Service.

To provide medical assistance to those injured, four land ambulances, each with two crews, an air ambulance, a critical care M5 vehicle, a doctor, an operations officer, and a responding officer were dispatched to the scene of the incident.

Furthermore, a critical care vehicle was dispatched. We also dispatched an air ambulance to the scene of the event.

Two patients were transported to their respective hospitals: one was transported by land ambulance to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, while the second patient was flown there by air ambulance.

After being moved, the two patients were sent to hospitals in Devon and Exeter, respectively. Simultaneously, both patients were transferred to their respective sites at the same time.

Here’s what Devon and Somerset M5 Fire and Rescue Service said:

“We responded to the scene of a road traffic collision on the M5 at 2.30 p.m. today, between junctions 28 and 29.” The statement cited above was part of an official declaration.

A car that had been hit by another car coming from the other direction had two persons inside that had been rescued. It had been traveling in the other direction.

We offered support as the people were being taken out of the car. These people are now receiving medical assistance from the ambulance service in order to fulfill their duties.

The event caused significant delays for the M5 and the routes that pass through Exeter during the period when traffic was being redirected. In order to accommodate the traffic, this was being done.

A southbound vehicle experienced wheel failure, causing it to cross the center reserve and merge with the northbound road approaching. The car was going the wrong way, which is why this happened. The vehicle was traveling southward at that precise moment.

National Highways indicated that based on the facts they have provided, it is expected that the police would begin their investigation into the occurrence given the magnitude of the calamity that occurred. The entity that made this information public was National Highways.

The Devon and Cornwall Police Department issued the following statement:

“We know the M5 closure is causing traffic.”

The statement that was released is located beneath you. “We will get people moving safely when we can but please bear with us while we deal with the incident and causalities at the scene.”

In order to accommodate cars and other small vehicles that were traveling on the now-closed northern route towards M5 Taunton and Bristol, the back of the line has been shifted.

This was done to create space for these cars, which were heading towards Taunton and Bristol. The purpose of this activity was to provide space for larger cars. At this point, it seems like more and more vehicles are being stopped from going forward.

Due to this incident, a second lane has been opened up for use by any and all vehicles traveling southward.

SOURCE: ITV

Automotive

Honda to Cease Production at One of its Thailand Auto Factories

(CTN News) – The Japanese vehicle firm Honda Motor made the news in a statement that was posted on Tuesday. The statement stated that the company intends to center its production at the site that it operates in the province of Prachinburi.

As a consequence of this, the production of automobiles will be halted at the facility that it operates in the province of Ayutthaya in Thailand by the year 2025.

The more difficult circumstances that the second-largest car manufacturer in Japan is facing in the country of Thailand, which is located in Eastern Southeast Asia, are exemplified by this move. Thailand is located in Southeast Asia.

There are several reasons for this, including the fact that Chinese firms are determined to grow their market share in Thailand, and a growing number of consumers are expressing an interest in electric vehicles (EVs). They both play a role in contributing to the problem.

The combined output of automobiles produced by Honda’s two facilities has fallen throughout the course of the succeeding four years, going from 228,000 vehicles in 2019 to less than 150,000 vehicles annually. This downward trend has occurred during the course of the past four years.

The preceding four years have been the time period during which this decline has taken place. With regard to the sales that the company has made in Thailand throughout the course of the past four years, there has been a consistent range of less than 100,000 to less than 100,000 for the entirety of this time period.

This is according to Honda’s spokeswoman.

When the factory first opened its doors in 1996, the company anticipates that it would continue to manufacture vehicle components at that location. When the firm finishes manufacturing vehicles at the Ayutthaya facility in the next year, the spokesperson stated that the company intends to continue producing automobile components at the plant.

In accordance with the statement that was given by the spokesman, the Prachinburi factory, which was built in 2016, will be utilized for the purpose of integrating the facilities with which automobiles are created. This was said in the statement. There are only two factories in Thailand that are owned and operated by the vehicle manufacturer, and these two factories are the only ones in the country.

According to the statement made by a spokeswoman for Honda in Thailand, the company’s goal is to reduce the disparity between the number of automobiles it produces and the number of sales it has experienced in the nation.

According to the remark that was made by the spokesman for the company, the automobile manufacturer are already exporting their products from Thailand, particularly to other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines. According to a statement that was sent by a spokeswoman for the company.

Currently, Honda has no plans to invest in Thailand.

When it comes to mainland China, Honda and Nissan Motor, a Japanese automobile manufacturer that competes with Honda, have been hit particularly hard by competition from rising Chinese manufacturers.

Nissan Motor is a competitor of Honda. As a result of the fact that these businesses provide reasonably priced plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles that are loaded with software, a significant number of customers have been drawn to them.

Now, Japanese automobile manufacturers are at risk of losing clients in countries outside of China, such as those in Southeast Asia, to Chinese companies that are increasingly attempting to increase the quantity of automobiles they export and build up operations outside of China.

As a result, Honda Japanese automobile manufacturers are facing a potential loss of customers. They are exposed to this danger as a result of the fact that Japanese brands compete with Chinese brands in these locations.

BYD, a Chinese manufacturer of electric vehicles, recently launched a plant in Thailand that will be responsible for the production of automobiles that are powered by electronic batteries.

This plant was established last week. The Chinese electric car manufacturers are beginning to establish facilities in the country, and this factory is a component of the wave of investments that they are making in the country. These investments have a total value that is greater than 1.44 billion dollars together.

SOURCE |SCMP