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Volkswagen to adopt Tesla-esque online sales model for its ID electric vehicle line

(Credit: Volkswagen)

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Volkswagen has announced that 100% of its retail partners have agreed to a new Tesla-like online sales model in Germany for its upcoming electric vehicle line, which starts with the ID.3.

In a press release published by the German automaker on May 20, the veteran automaker announced that customers could buy directly from Volkswagen straight from their computer or smartphone. Meanwhile, dealers will continue to remain involved in the sales process through modes of “personalized customer care and local services.”

After ordering their Volkswagen ID electric vehicle through the company’s website, buyers will then choose a preferred dealer that will take care of any needs they may require throughout the life of their car, like inspections, maintenance, or service.

Dealers technically assume the role of a traditional vehicle sales representative, Volkswagen said. “They look after acquisition, sales consultation, organizing test drives, transaction processing and vehicle handover in coordination with Volkswagen,” the company added.

“Volkswagen decides on the vehicle price, thus dispensing with complicated price negotiations. Dealers can therefore count on calculable compensation regardless of whether the customer buys their vehicle online or in the showroom.”

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Head of Sales and Marketing for Volkswagen in Germany, Holger B. Santel, stated that every retail location and VW partner is entirely on board with the new system, which could alleviate the stress of the car buying experience.

“All our partners are now 100% on board. Broad approval from our retail partners for the agency model is a strong signal for the future. From the customer’s perspective, Volkswagen and retail become one unit with the agency model. And this seamless, coordinated shopping experience at all touchpoints is exactly what our customers want,” Santel said.

The inclusion of the new online mode of ordering a VW electric vehicle helps customers save money because the manufacturer assumes responsibility for vehicle financing, residual value risk, and inventory costs. Some of these fees are included when buying a car from a dealership, which can add hundreds of extra dollars simply because the dealership is storing the vehicle on the lot.

Dirk Weddigen von Knapp, Chairperson of the Volkswagen and Audi partner association, is also excited to save individual dealerships money, which he says is crucial at the current time. “Our partners can, therefore, focus on what makes retail so indispensable: personal, competent customer care. I am delighted that all partners have signed the jointly drafted agreement,” he said.

Volkswagen’s aim with the online-based customer purchasing option was to fulfill growing customer demand and give a smoother buying process to customers. The automaker has also developed a new IT system, known as “Thunder,” which will debut at dealers with the eventual launch of the ID family.

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Currently, Volkswagen is working through some issues with the ID family of vehicles, whose issues are mainly based around software troubles. The first models are expected to be released soon.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Shark Tank’s Daymond John: Buy Tesla (TSLA), because it’s going back up

The Shark Tank host’s advice was simple—Buy TSLA stock.

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The Shark Group, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

In a recent social media post, FUBU founder and Shark Tank host Daymond John shared some financial advice to his followers. John’s advice was simple—Buy TSLA stock, because it’s going back up.

Shark’s Advice

In his video, John acknowledged that Tesla is a controversial stock due to the hate being put towards CEO Elon Musk. But as per the Shark Tank host, the people who are boycotting Tesla or attacking the company will eventually stop. He also noted that Tesla is practically at half price today compared to its price last December. 

“You want some financial advice? Buy TSLA. You get all that political crap. People want to burn cars, hate Elon Musk, I don’t know. But let me tell you something. All those people gonna forget all about that just like they forgot about boycotting Gucci or Balenciaga and all that other stuff, and that stock is gonna go back up. It was at $462 in December. It is now at $250. That is almost 50% off,” John stated. 

Robotaxi Potential

Interestingly enough, the Shark Tank host pointed at Tesla’s robotaxi service as one of the reasons why he is bullish on the company. As per John, Tesla is just about ready to roll out an autonomous Uber-like ride-sharing service. And when that happens, TSLA stock will react, negative news on Elon Musk or not.

“You see these Waymo cars all around? There’s a couple of them working their way around. But what Tesla has done over the last is all these patterns of what people have driven. They have now created a lot of these driving pattens, and what are they gonna do? They’re gonna end up releasing autonomous Teslas that are gonna be like Uber, and that stock, no matter what, is going to fly,” John stated.

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China’s Huayou replaces LG in Indonesia’s $7.7B EV battery project

After 5 years of negotiations, Indonesia drops LG and taps Huayou Cobalt to power its EV battery dreams.

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(Credit: Huayou Cobalt)

China’s Huayou Cobalt replaced LG Energy Solution in Indonesia’s $7.7 billion electric vehicle (EV) battery project. The shift underscores China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia’s EV supply chain.

Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, confirmed that Huayou would replace LG in the Grand Package, a plan to build a comprehensive EV battery ecosystem. The Grand Package, also called Project Titan, included plans to develop raw material mining, processing, and EV battery production in Indonesia.

“Conceptually, the development of the Grand Package has not changed. The infrastructure and production plan remain in accordance with the initial road map. LG is no longer involved and has been replaced by Huayou,” Bahlil said.

LG Energy Solution signed a memorandum of understanding with Jakarta in December 2020 but exited after prolonged talks.

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“Taking into account various factors, including market conditions and investment environment, we have agreed to formally withdraw from the Indonesia GP (Grand Package) project,” LGES stated.

Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani noted that the government removed LG on January 31 due to a “long negotiation process” spanning five years. The Investor Minister also mentioned that Indonesia considered the Chinese company because Huayou’s technological capabilities positioned it as a suitable replacement to advance the project.

“We want all of this to run well, quickly, but the negotiations have been going on for five years. The government decided to replace LG with Huayou since it expressed interest in the Titan project last year,” Rosan noted.

The transition highlights Indonesia’s determination to maintain momentum in its EV battery ambitions, resulting in deepening ties with China. Huayou’s leadership ensures Project Titan adheres to its original timeline, reinforcing Indonesia’s role in the global EV supply chain.

China’s expanding presence in the EV sector could reshape regional dynamics as Indonesia leverages its rich nickel resources to attract investments. The move also signals challenges for non-Chinese firms navigating Indonesia’s complex investment landscape.

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Starlink India’s license faces delay due to regulatory requirements

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(Credit: Starlink/X)

SpaceX’s satellite internet venture Starlink has yet to secure an operating license in India. Starlink is facing regulatory delays in India despite ongoing progress.

India’s Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed that the company must meet stringent requirements before launching services in the country.

“The process is ongoing. The minute they meet all conditions — including setting up gateways in India and registering user terminals locally — we are ready to issue the license,” Scindia told local media.

The licensing process involves multiple agencies in India, including the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe). These agencies are evaluating Starlink’s compliance with India’s technical, administrative, and national security standards.

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Scindia emphasized Starlink’s need for domestic registration of user terminals and local gateways to address data sovereignty and internal security concerns.

“It’s not only related to DoT but also to internal security — gateways have to be in India, any user terminal has to be registered in India…the minute they check all the boxes, which I also hope will be soon, the license should be given,” he added.

The requirements reflect India’s cautious approach to integrating foreign satellite providers into its telecom ecosystem. The delay comes amid broader industry calls for enhanced connectivity. At Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal urged regulators to support telecom operators in closing the global connectivity gap for 400 million people, particularly in rural India. He advocated for resource sharing between terrestrial and satellite operators to avoid duplicative investments.

Bharti Airtel and Jio Platforms signed agreements with SpaceX to help expand Starlink services in India. The agreements are contingent on the Indian government approving Starlink’s license.

Starlink’s potential entry into India could bolster rural connectivity, but regulatory hurdles remain a significant barrier. As the company works to meet India’s conditions, its progress is closely watched by telecom operators and regulators alike. The outcome could shape the role of satellite internet in addressing India’s digital divide, aligning with global efforts to expand access through collaborative infrastructure investments.

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