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News

Will Honda and Nissan merge?

Not so long ago, information appeared that Nissan and Honda will join forces and create one of the largest automotive groups. However, the latest information calls the project into question because both companies are not sure what the merger would bring to them.

Honda is in a relatively good position when it comes to hybrid vehicles, but it does not show big ambitions in the EV segment. On the other hand, Nissan has the problem of an outdated electric model range, poor finances and management problems, while its advantages are a better production network, especially in Southeast Asia, and the Sakura model, which is achieving outstanding results in the domestic market. Honda’s partnership with GM collapsed after the bad start of the Prologue model, while its first independently developed long-range EV will not reach the market before 2026.

Those who know the situation at both companies better believe that their strengths could help both companies. However, there are also those who do not believe in this project. Automotive analyst Julie Boote of Pelham Smithers Associates says: “Honda needs to partner with another company to step up its efforts on electric vehicles and software-defined vehicles because it is a mid-sized automaker. Ideally, it would be a healthy and financially sound company, not Nissan.”

There are many reasons why the story of merging these two companies was started, and one of them is the protection of domestic manufacturers from foreign takeovers. Some believe Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) pushed the merger to stop rumors of a takeover of Nissan by Taiwanese technology company Foxconn. Former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was also against it, saying: “It means you are putting control over performance. Personally, I don’t think it will be successful.”

Even if a merger happens, the entire process could be completed in about six months, while the first effects could be seen in three to five years, which is simply too long for the auto industry.

Source: Reuters

News

First Bugatti Bolide delivered to customer

In October 2020, Bugatti unveiled a very powerful two-seater based on the Chiron model, the Bugatti Bolide. Many believed that the concept would never go into production, but just a year later, Bugatti announced that it would produce 40 units. A few days ago, the first cars were delivered to customers in the United States.

One of the examples is finished in black with contrasting blue details on the front splitter, roof, rear fenders, aerodynamic fin and the sides of the large rear wing. The owner of this car is collector and real estate dealer Manny Khoshbin, who took his Bolide from Bugatti Newport Beach.

The second Bolide in the photos is finished in a combination of black and blue, and after taking it over, the owner tested it on the Circuit of the Americas track in Texas.

Speaking of design, the X-shaped lights at the front and rear make the car look straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. It’s only 995 millimeters (39.1 inches) tall and sits on a super-light and super-stiff carbonfibre monocoque. Carbon fiber is also used in the front end and underbody, and Bugatti claims that the tensile strength of carbon fiber is equal to that used in the aerospace industry. The suspension is made of titanium pushrods with horizontal shock absorbers, while welded stainless steel controls are designed as wing profiles.

It is powered by a turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine with 1,578 hp (1,160 kW) and 1,180 lb-ft (1,600 Nm) of torque. That’s slightly less than the base concept model which has 1,825 hp and 1,365 lb-ft of torque. It also weighs 462 lb (210 kg) less than the base model, which weighs 3,200 lb (1,451 kg).

Source: Vision Effect TV via YouTube

Gallery:

First Bugatti Bolide delivered to customer
News

EVs more popular than ICE cars in China

In 2020, the Chinese government set a goal for electric vehicles to account for half of new car sales by 2035, but at this rate, China will reach that goal a decade early. According to the latest data, sales of electric cars in China will reach 12 million units in 2024, surpassing cars with combustion engines for the first time ever.

The latest information says that in 2024, sales of cars with combustion engines could fall to less than 11 million units, which is 10 percent less than in 2023. That’s no surprise, considering China has big plans for EVs. Plug-in hybrids are expected to be a hit this year with 4.39 million units sold, rising to 6.05 million vehicles over the next eight years.

Predictions are that once the transition point is reached, electric vehicles will continue to grow and could exceed 18 million units by 2034. By then, sales of cars with combustion engines could drop to just 2.93 million.

What could worry the manufacturers of cars with combustion engines in China is that these vehicles will have very little space in the domestic market. In 2024, the market share of foreign cars fell to 37 percent compared to 64 percent in 2020. This shows that Chinese buyers are increasingly choosing domestic vehicles in the largest new car market on the planet, resulting in a reduction in a significant source of revenue for many manufacturers.

China, as the world’s EV leader, is slowly killing its competition. EV production is turning into a game of survival, and the winners are likely to be the manufacturers that can deliver quality vehicles at affordable prices. This will also mean the shutdown of some of the all-electric brands that have been present on the market for years.

One of the first victims in the cruel automotive world is the American brand Fisker. In 2023, Fisker had big plans, production of 40,000 electric vehicles, but only 10,000 left the production lines. The Ocean SUV has received mixed reviews, with Consumer Reports claiming that the promise has not been fulfilled, while regulators have addressed issues with brakes and doors that won’t open. Further complicating the situation for Fisker was the fact that the Ocean lost its place on the list of tax-deductible electric vehicles unless leased because it was manufactured outside of North America. Now, they are bankrupt.

Source: Reuters