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Renault CEO calls for Auto European plan to protect against ‘onslaught of EVs from China’

(Credit: BYD)

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Renault CEO Luca de Meo released a 19-page open letter to Europe describing an auto European plan to protect against the ‘onslaught of electric vehicles (EV)’ coming from China.” 

Meo stated that the center of the global automotive market has gravitated toward Asia. He pointed out that electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids account for 14% of global car sales, led by Asian automakers.

“China is making rapid inroads into the all-electric vehicle segment. Buoyed by its huge domestic market (8.5 million electric vehicles sold in 2023, according to the Chinese Passenger Car Association, or 60% of the global total), it already had [a] market share of close to 4% in Europe in 2022. In 2023, around 35% of electric vehicles exported worldwide were Chinese. 

“As a logical consequence of this trend, European imports from China have increased fivefold since 2017…The brands with the highest exports in the first half of 2023 were MG and BYD. They were followed by Tesla, which ships the Model Y from its Shanghai plant to Europe,” writes de Meo. 

Non-Asian automakers have made moves to strengthen ties with China as it becomes a rising power in the global automotive market. In January, Volkswagen changed its Board of Management and reassigned Thomas Ullrich as the Chief Technology Officer in China to establish connections and develop future technologies in the region. 

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Stellantis is another automaker seeking to strengthen its ties with China’s auto industry. Last year, it signed a supply agreement with Chinese battery supplier CATL. Stellantis also invested in China-based Leapmotor to expand global EV sales.

Tesla also has ties to China through Gigafactory Shanghai. Tesla Giga Shanghai has become the company’s main export hub, delivering Model 3 and Model Y vehicles to certain countries worldwide.

China isn’t Europe’s only rival in the ever-growing auto industry, either. According to de Meo, the United States is also increasing its efforts in the expanding global EV market. He specifically mentions the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was passed in the U.S. to boost investments in North America

In his letter, de Meo lists 10 projects Europe must start to catch up to China and the United States’ EV industries. Number three on the list is a European Marshall Plan that would create a fund for the growth of a Europe-based EV industry. 

De Meo’s proposal is based on the United States’ Economic Recovery Act of 1948, signed by President Truman. It was also known as the Marshall Plan because it was proposed by Secretary of State George Marshall. The primary purpose of the Marshall Plan was to provide economic assistance to Europe so it could restore its economic infrastructure after World War II.

Read Renault CEO Luca de Meo’s full letter below!

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Renault CEO Calls for Auto European Plan to Protect Against ‘Onslaught of EVs From China’ by Maria Merano on Scribd

If you have any tips, contact me at maria@teslarati.com or via X @Writer_01001101.

Maria--aka "M"-- is an experienced writer and book editor. She's written about several topics including health, tech, and politics. As a book editor, she's worked with authors who write Sci-Fi, Romance, and Dark Fantasy. M loves hearing from TESLARATI readers. If you have any tips or article ideas, contact her at maria@teslarati.com or via X, @Writer_01001101.

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Tesla launches new feature that cold climate drivers will love

Tesla’s steering wheels are getting better with this simple yet effective software update.

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Credit: Weibo (via YYDS on X)

Tesla is launching another new feature in its cars, this time it will cater to those in colder climates, and those drivers will love it.

Perhaps one of the best things about Teslas is that they routinely receive over-the-air software updates that either improve the ownership experience, add features, or make their performance more robust.

Every update offers some sort of bug fix or new feature that simply makes the cars better than they were before. For example, earlier this week, we reported on a new third-party charger latch release feature that will help those with non-Tesla home charging plugs.

Tesla adds useful Model 3/Y feature home chargers will love

Now, Tesla is releasing a new improvement to its heated steering wheel system, which has been around for several years. The new feature is one that will improve its performance and have your wheel nice and toasty the next time you get in, and it is a bit chilly outside.

According to Not a Tesla App, Tesla rolled out the Heated Steering Wheel improvements with the 2024.14 software update:

“If the steering wheel heater is set to Auto, the steering wheel will now heat up based on the cabin temperature, even if the climate system is set manually.

Previously, the climate system needed to be set to Auto for the steering wheel heater to turn on automatically.”

The change impacts all five Tesla models, the release notes state.

The heated steering wheel is one of the features that Tesla has used to help cater the vehicle’s overall performance to those in colder climates.

Tesla Model 3 with heated steering wheel begins US deliveries

Just as the air-conditioned and cooling seats are beneficial during the Summer months, the heated steering wheel is incredibly beneficial to those drivers in colder parts of the globe.

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Tesla announces massive new achievement with 8 million cars produced

Tesla’s 8 millionth car comes just 8 months after it built its 7 millionth car.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla announced a massive new achievement in relation to its automotive division as it has officially built 8 million cars globally.

The 8 millionth car rolled off production lines at Gigafactory Berlin on Friday, the company announced. The car was an Ultra Red Model Y, images show:

The car comes just about eight months after Tesla built its 7 millionth car at the Fremont Factory last October, a major accomplishment considering the claims of a lack of demand from the media.

Tesla celebrates 7 million vehicles produced

Additionally, Tesla was able to achieve this major threshold with a stoppage in production at each of its four production facilities earlier this year. The manufacturing halt was attributed to a production line changeover for the new Model Y crossover.

The car has been the best-selling vehicle in the world for two consecutive years, and the company pausing production for two weeks, yet still managed to produce one million cars in eight months is impressive.

Tesla currently only produces the Model Y at Gigafactory Berlin, but the car is also manufactured at Gigafactory Shanghai, Gigafactory Texas, and the Fremont Factory.

It is the only model to be produced at all four of Tesla’s global manufacturing plants, which span across three different continents.

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk and Donald Trump to speak with each other Friday: report

White House aides have scheduled a call between the CEO and U.S. President on Friday.

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The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
President Donald J. Trump purchases a Tesla on the South Lawn, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s feud seems to be thawing, at least to some degree.

As per a recent Politico report, White House aides have scheduled a call between the CEO and U.S. President on Friday.

Musk vs. Trump

Musk turned into a staunch critic of Trump amidst the administration’s efforts to pass the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which the CEO claimed would add trillions to the country’s deficit. Trump, for his part, claimed that Musk turned on him due to the adverse effects of the proposed bill on his companies.

The spat between the two powerful men became so notable that Musk called for the impeachment of Trump on X. He also claimed that Trump was in the Epstein list. The U.S. President, for his part, threatened to cancel billions of dollars worth of government contracts with Musk’s companies such as SpaceX.

Potential Truce

As per Politico, however, White House aides have stepped in to temper the tensions and broker peace between the two powerful men. When asked by the outlet about his ongoing feud with the CEO, Trump reportedly stated that “it’s okay” and that “it’s going very well, never done better.” The U.S. President also highlighted his favorability ratings, stating that his “numbers are through the roof.”

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While the CEO was very aggressive against Trump in his X posts, he did back down somewhat after some time. When hedge fund manager Bill Ackman argued that Trump and Musk should make peace for the benefit of the United States, the CEO responded with, “You’re not wrong.” Musk also walked back on his decision to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which is essential to NASA’s operations.

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