Sam is in the middle of a 2 week jaunt in Korea and Japan so it's just Nicole and Robbie today. Robbie has the Ford F-150 Lightning again and Nicole is driving the refreshed Kia Seltos.

In the news, Toyota dropped a bunch of images of new EV concepts it will highlighting at the Japan Mobility Show. Mercedes dealers are apparently having a hard time moving EVs. We'll see if Tesla has an equally hard time selling Cybertrucks soon because they apparently will be a lot more expensive than the announced prices back in 2019. For those that were hoping for a big range boost on the refreshed Model 3, think again. Stellantis is saving some cash by withdrawing from SEMA, LA auto show and CES. GM's new Brightdrop Zevo 6 delivery van is being transformed into an electric camper and more workers are being furloughed due to the UAW strikes.

Links

Toyota Tokyo EV concepts

Mercedes dealers having trouble selling EVs

Cybertruck deliveries soon? Affordable, not so much

Stellantis pulls out of Sema, LA, CES

Refreshed Tesla Model 3 fails to meet range claims, again

Transforming the Brightdrop delivery van into a camper

UAW Layoffs and….

…more to come

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Falling Short and Expensive

Wheel Bearings is a podcast about cars and transportation hosted by Sam Abuelsamid, Nicole Wakelin and Roberto Baldwin

Automotive

Games & Hobbies

Leisure

This week Nicole had a Chevy Blazer EV that had to go home early and a Hyundai Kona. Robbie drove the Fiat 500e and Sam drove the BMW 530i xDrive. Despite some recent skepticism because of the Supercharger layoffs at Tesla, EVgo is moving forward with installing J3400 connectors on its DC fast chargers. Rivians run Android Automotive and are getting Google Cast support. Honda provides an EV update. BYD has a plug-in hybrid midsize pickup called the Shark, and Motor Trend disproves Tesla's 911 Cybertruck drag race claims. BMW's Neue Klasse EVs will charge really fast and Nicole has thoughts on a French safety campaign. Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis retires and we answer listener questions. Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Thanks to ExpressVPN and listeners for supporting Wheel Bearings Links EVGo begins NACS deployment Android Automotive gets Google Cast support starting with Rivian Honda EV update BYD Shark Motor Trend drag races the Cybertruck and 911 BMW Neue Klasse - 186 miles in 10 minutes France encourages everyone to drive like a woman Audi/Porsche PPE platform Tim Kuniskis retires

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Two Transmissions in One

Robbie is back from Japan and driving the BMW i5 M60. Nicole jumps from last week's Suburban into the Nissan Altima and Sam had the Cadillac Lyriq with new better door handles and fully functional software. 

In the news, will Rivian partner with Apple on something? Infotainment, ADAS? Will the US impose 100% tarrifs on Chinese made EVs? Ford is scaling back orders for EV batteries, but how much are they really losing per electric vehicle? On the combustion side, nearly 1/4 of F-150s are now hybrids. The aftermath of Tesla gutting its charging team is still playing out as other companies scramble to pick up the pieces. Cadillac has a new documentary about its Le Mans racing program and Hyundai steps in to save Motional and its automated driving efforts. Finally ZF had a technology demo day and Sam got to try out some cool stuff. 

Links

Apple and Rivian to partner?
100% Tariffs on Chinese EVs?
Ford Cuts Battery Orders, How Much Are They Really Losing on EVs?
Nearly 1/4 of F-150s now hybrid
It's all about the charging
BP Pulse and Shell interested in Supercharger sites
No Perfect Formula Trailer
Trying to get a speeding ticket in a slow car
ZF Demo Day
Hyundai spending nearly $1B to keep Motional driving

Nissan Altima Review

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A Little Digital Kiss

As Robbie and his wife celebrate 18 years of marriage with a vacation in Japan, we're joined this week by our friend Jill Ciminillo. Jill shares her thoughts on one of the most affordable new cars still offered for sale in the US, the Nissan Versa SR. Nicole hwas been driving something nearly large enough to hold a Versa inside, the Chevrolet Suburban High Country and Sam has the Infiniti QX55 with its silly dual screen infotainment system. 

We also have a first drive review of the new 2024 Chevrolet Traverse and a discussion of why Mercedes-Benz won't be adopting the next-generation Apple Carplay. That rolls into a discussion of GM's decision to drop Carplay support from its EVs. NHTSA is looking into why there were two fatal crashes of vehicles running Ford's hands-free BlueCruise system. Tesla has fired its whole Charging team. By 2029 all new vehicles in the US will need automatic emergency braking systems capable of working at speeds up to 90 mph. The woes for Fisker Ocean owners continue with a lack of parts availability. 

Links

2024 Chevrolet Traverse
Mercedes-Benz Won't Let CarPlay Take Over
NHTSA Investigating BlueCruise
Tesla fires supercharger team
Tesla fires supercharger team
AEB up to 90 mph to be mandatory by 2029
Fisker Ocean totalled over a $910 door ding
Fisker cannibalizing prototypes for service parts

Chevy Blazer EV infotainment demo

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The Girl In The Trunk

Nicole is back and she shares her impressions of driving a Lynk&Co 01 that she and her husband rented in France during their vacation. Robbie will have more to share next week about the BMW i5 and Sam has driven the Land Rover Defender 110 and Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray.

In the news, the Ram TRX has been shelved for now, but Ram has a six-cylinder powered version called the RHO. Mercedes-Benz has revealed an all-electric version of the new G-Wagen with four motors. There were several interesting reveals at the 2024 Beijing Motor Show and some of them might make it to North America. The Mini Aceman is all electric, but it doesn't directly replace the discontinued Clubman. The Mazda EZ-6 is a great looking electric sedan that should come to America along with the Buick Electra L and LT. While the design of the Toyota bZ4X is polarizing, the bZ3C and bZ3X are much more appealing. Honda and its partners will invest $11 billion into an EV production ecosystem in Alliston, Ontario and NHTSA has closed one Tesla Autopilot investigation and opened up another. 

Links

Lynk & Co 01
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Tesla Autopilot has caused hundreds of crashes, dozens of fatalities
Mini Aceman
Mazda EZ-6
Toyota BZ3C and BZ3X
Buick Electra L, LT concepts
Honda $11B investment in Canada EV production
Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen EQ

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Finding The Hidden Charge Port

Nicole is still cruising European rivers so it's just the boys this week. Robbie drove the Range Rover Sport and used a Ford Transit to get his bands to Salt Lake City for a couple of shows (hence why there was no episode last week). Sam has been driving the Subaru CrossTrek Wilderness. 

In the news, VW workers in Tennessee join the UAW, and Mercedes-Benz is voting next. Toyota launches a 6th gen 4Runner. Sam sees the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X in person and talks with Designworks CEO Julia de Bono. Kia is testing the EV3 and it may sticker for under $35,000. GM launches its vehicle to home charging products. Alfa Romeo unveils its first EV as the Milano and almost immediately changes the name. Back in the 1980s, Porsche was developing a Miata competitor before the Mazda launched. Maserati shows off the stunning Gran Cabrio Folgore and Honda is launching a new design language for its Ye EVs in China. 

Links

VW Workers in Tennessee Vote for UAW, M-B next?
2025 Toyota 4Runner
BMW Vision Neue Klasse X
Soapy Cybertruck Recall
Kia EV3 may be under $35,000
GM Launches V2H products
Alfa Romeo Launches Milano EV, Quickly Renames it Junior
What if Porsche built a Miata Competitor?
Maserati Gran Cabrio Folgore
Honda Ye EVs for China

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Falling Short and Expensive

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