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Volvo’s cheapest EV, the EX30, has already crossed a significant milestone. The 100,000th Volvo EX30 rolled off the assembly line on September 30 as demand for the low-cost electric SUV continues rising.

After kicking off EX30 production last fall in China, Volvo has already built its 100,000th model. The milestone comes as sales continue surging.

Volvo announced that the 100,000th mass-produced EX30 officially rolled off the assembly line on September 30, 2024.

Despite its compact size, the EX30 is loaded with the tech and safety the Volvo brand promises to deliver. As Volvo said, the EX30 is “small but powerful” and a new starting point for the brand.

Starting at around $40,000 (30,000 euros), the EX30 is Volvo’s cheapest and smallest EV. In China, it starts at around $28,600 (200,800 yuan). However, it’s already making a big impact on the Volvo brand.

According to Dataforce, the EX30 was Europe’s second-best-selling EV last month, trailing only the Tesla Model Y.

Although EV registrations slipped 43.9% in the EU last month, Volvo saw some of the biggest sales growth.

Volvo's-cheapest-EV-milestone
Volvo EX30 production in China (Source: Volvo)

Volvo’s cheapest EV is charging up sales

Volvo’s vehicle sales were up 36% YOY to 19,605. The EX30 was the main growth driver, adding 6,377 to the total.

The milestone comes despite Volvo’s cheapest EV being delayed in the US. Volvo was expected to launch the EX30 in the US later this year, but it won’t arrive until the second half of 2025.

Volvo-EX30-milestone
Volvo EX30 (Source: Volvo)

Volvo delayed it after the US announced a new 100% tariff on EV imports from China, where the EX30 is built.

To bypass the extra tariffs, Volvo plans to build EX30 models at its Ghent, Belgium plant and export them to the US. Starting at $34,950, the EX30 will not only be Volvo’s cheapest EV in the US but also one of the most affordable electric cars on the market.

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Volvo EX30 interior (Source: Volvo)

The EX30 gets up to 295 miles (476 km) combined WLTP range. In the city, it can get up to 367 miles (592 km) driving range. In the US, the EX30 is expected to have an EPA-estimated range of up to 275 miles.

Meanwhile, Volvo is starting deliveries of its first three-row electric SUV, the EX90, this month (see our review here). The first EX90 rolled off the production line at its South Carolina plant in June as Volvo looks to revamp US sales.

With two new electric SUVs arriving in high-demand segments, Volvo is poised to build on its momentum as US sales increase.

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ALSET Auto’s expanding franchise business offers Tesla-like experience for EV protection and personalization

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ALSET Auto's expanding franchise business offers Tesla-like experience for EV protection and personalization

ALSET Auto doesn’t protect cars; it protects EVs. This year, the Tesla customization company expanded its services to include all EV owners and offers services such as tint, ceramic coatings, paint protection film (PPF), and colored wraps. As ALSET Auto’s business grows, the company is offering new franchise opportunities to help expand its services to EV owners in the US and Canada.

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Founded by EV owners for EV owners

ALSET Auto was founded in Portland, Oregon in 2018 by Phil Bunting and Marcus Brown after they each purchased Teslas and were dissatisfied with their experience in their search for viable exterior protection options.

I called a half dozen shops in my area and got the same runaround. They loved to disparage Tesla’s soft paint, but no one wanted to give me a firm price for paint protection over the phone,

recalls ALSET CEO, Phil Bunting:

They all wanted me to bring my Tesla into their shop first, refused to provide a firm estimate over the phone, and declined to list their all-in prices on their website. I remember thinking, if I can build, price, and purchase a $100,000 Model X on my iPhone in five minutes, why should getting my Tesla protected be any different?

Thus, the idea for ALSET (Tesla spelled backward) was born. The company envisioned offering customers an experience similar to buying a Tesla, where the price is transparent, and there is no upselling, bait-and-switch tactics, or pricing gimmicks. Instead of selling Tesla owners on the fear of what could happen to their EV’s unprotected paint, ALSET set out to build a lasting connection with customers based on a shared passion for the cars they love.

Over the past five years, ALSET Auto has quickly become a leading provider of paint protection and personalization services. Operating in 15 markets across North America, ALSET has protected and personalized more than 7,000 EVs.

Aside from Cybertruck wraps, ALSET Auto’s three core services appeal to the broader market of owners who are looking to protect, preserve and enhance the look of their EVs. The company forged a partnership with XPEL Inc. to offer its customers a suite of best-in-class protective film and coating options, which include:

ALSET Auto offers a suite of options to protect, preserve and personalize your EV

Tesla Cybertruck wraps have quickly become a significant portion of ALSET Auto’s expanding business. The company offers the largest selection of colored PPF in the industry with more than 250 options in gloss, matte, metallic, and color shifting. The company is currently wrapping about 100 Cybertrucks per month, with several locations wrapping as many as five per week. Bunting elaborated:

The demand for colored paint protection film in recent years has surged because most EVs are offered in limited colors. Unlike flimsy vinyl wraps, colored PPF offer durable protection, self- healing properties and longer warranty coverage. It is the best of both worlds for protection and aesthetics. For Cybertrucks, we are finding that it’s a matter of when their owners will purchase wraps, not if.

The company has received nearly 1,000 five-star reviews for offering highly specialized customer service along with an industry-leading, lifetime warranty. In addition, ALSET services are CARFAX certified so that all upgrades appear on CARFAX reports to increase resale value and assist in insurance claims.

Paint Protection Film (PPF) – This durable self-healing film is offered in a clear or matte finish and is most commonly applied to the entire car or the front impact zones which include the full hood, fenders, bumper and mirror caps. PPF protects the vehicle’s paint from unsightly rock chips, scratches and abrasions. In many instances, scratches in the film can be removed with heat from the sun or blowdryer, or by using hot water.

Nano Ceramic Coatings – When fully cured, ceramic coatings are up to three times harder than factory clear coat. ALSET Auto’s full interior and exterior ceramic package uses four different ceramic formulas which are applied to the paint and trim, wheels, windshield, as well as the interior. While these coatings are not intended to prevent rock chips, they help protect from light scratches and swirls, environmental contaminants, and etching from bug guts and bird droppings. They also make your EV extremely shiny and hydrophobic, which makes washing and maintenance a breeze.

Ceramic Window Film – Available in a variety of shades, ceramic window tint offers unrivaled heat rejection as well as protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays. It also provides a sleeker look and enhanced security and privacy. EVs with ceramic window tint can expect to get more range from their battery due to lower cabin temps and less use of their EV’s air conditioning. 

ALSET Auto also participates in XPEL’s OEM referral programs, which include Tesla and Rivian.

ALSET Auto plans to award 12 new franchises in 2025

After successfully opening corporate locations in Portland and Seattle, ALSET Auto launched the company’s first franchise in 2021 in Dallas, Texas. In doing so, ALSET Auto completed a rigorous franchise registration process with iFranchise Group, Inc., an industry-leading consultancy group that has worked with Massage Envy, Denny’s, Vitamin Shoppe, Shelf Genie and other name brands.

Since then, ALSET Auto has expanded to 15 locations with several more franchises currently in the pipeline. 

  • Locations:
    • Atlanta, GA
    • Austin, TX
    • Dallas, TX
    • Jacksonville, FL
    • Las Vegas, NV
    • Orange County, CA
    • Portland, OR
    • Raleigh, NC
    • Richmond, VA
    • San Diego, CA
    • Sacramento, CA (ALSET Affiliate)
    • Seattle, WA
    • Tampa, FL
    • Vancouver, BC, Canada

The average annual revenue for ALSET Auto locations open at least 12 months was $1 million in 2023, according to the company’s 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). 

ALSET Auto provides franchisees a wide range of ongoing support including training, site selection assistance, coaching, access to proprietary software systems, in-house marketing and advertising, vendor partnerships, and dealer programs. These services are critical to setting up news franchise operators for success.

Current ALSET franchisees joined the company without any prior experience in the industry. They come from various backgrounds, including the restaurant and entertainment industries, sales, technology, sports, and finance.

Ideal franchise candidates are EV owners and enthusiasts who are passionate about the booming EV market and seeking financial freedom and independence from a typical 9-to-5 job. Candidates should be well-capitalized, business-minded, passionate about the EV industry, and committed to actively working in their business.

To learn more about franchising with ALSET Auto and receive the company’s franchising e-brochure, visit their website here.

If you’re interested in learning more about their services, visit their retail site at www.alsetauto.com.

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Oxa reveals Ford E-Transit self driving van and minibus [video]

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Oxa reveals Ford E-Transit self driving van and minibus [video]

While Tesla is thinking about a utopian future populated by a self driving van and shuttle bus, autonomous software company Oxa has fully electric Ford E-Transit vans and shuttles that are operating on UK and US roads today.

“Great to see Tesla’s Robotaxi unveiled … including the Robovan. But why wait?” Those are the words of Oxa’s VP of Director Strategic Partnerships & Universal Vehicle Autonomy, Paul Reynolds, on LinkedIn – and it’s hard to argue against the idea that if a self-driving van is a good idea five years from now, it’s a good idea today.

And Oxa says it has a self driving van today that’s ready to deliver on that idea’s promise.

Oxa’s autonomous-capable hardware is designed to fit snugly on the outside of the popular Ford E-Transit commercial van without encroaching on the van’s interior. That means fleets will be able to integrate the self-driving vans into existing fleets without the need to redesign their existing upfit solutions – a critical piece of the overall puzzle for fleet managers.

That also means that the self-driving version of the Oxa-powered Ford E-Transit can be configured to do everything the conventional ICE Transits can do, and serve logistics (delivery van), trades (work van), and passenger/shuttle services (up to 10 seats in passenger E-Transit trim – which we don’t yet get here in the US).

“Making the Ford E-Transit available for autonomous operations is the next step on our journey to deliver safe, scalable, and sustainable autonomous solutions,” explains Gavin Jackson, CEO of Oxa. “This vehicle represents an important milestone in our mission to reshape the future of passenger transportation and logistics.”

The Oxa E-Tranist self driving van is equipped with a full suite of sensing equipment to “take in the road,” including high-definition cameras, lidar, and radar sensors. The Oxa hardware sends a full 360-degrees’ worth of perception and long-range detection to the system’s processors, enabling autonomous operation at electronically-limited speeds of up to 35 mph in mixed traffic. The Transit’s manual controls are fully preserved, too, enabling a seamless transition to human operation in adverse/edge case conditions.

Electrek’s Take

Ford E-Transit self driving van, driven by Oxa.

There are a dozen ways an autonomous electric van like this can make life better for students, seniors, and people with limited mobility right now – and, given the ethereal nature (and horrible track record) of that other company when it comes to delivering on its own robotic taxi promises, it seems smart to give the Oxa solution a look.

Check out the video, above, and let us know how you think it compares to last month’s Hollywood launch party in the comments.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Oxa.

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Yamaha throws in the towel, pulls out of e-bike market in North America

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Yamaha throws in the towel, pulls out of e-bike market in North America

Yamaha has announced to its dealers that it will be pulling its e-bikes out of the North American market at the end of this year. In the meantime, the brand says that it will offer sales of up to 60% off for its remaining inventory and continue to support its e-bikes already sold in the US for at least five more years.

Yamaha’s electric bikes have been well-received in global markets and have also received rave reviews in the US. However, the company’s higher prices make it harder to compete in the North American market, which is dominated by value-oriented models with significantly lower price points.

Yamaha’s various electric bikes designed for commuting, fitness, and mountain biking all feature higher-end components, which has resulted in the company competing more directly with premium bicycle shops. The company’s elaborate frames and in-house motors have added value to their models, yet have also contributed to a more premium price range.

Meanwhile, Yamaha hasn’t been immune to the same sales slowdown and overstocking issues that have plagued the e-bike industry over the last few years, as the company explained to its dealers in the letter seen below.

“Dear Yamaha eBike Dealer,

We want to thank you for your partnership and for your business in purchasing and retailing Yamaha eBikes, and for proudly representing the Yamaha brand. However, as you know, the combination of a post-COVID oversupply within the entire bicycle industry, coupled with a significant softening of the market, has resulted in a particularly challenging business environment where it is extremely difficult to achieve a sustainable business model. Given these market conditions, we regret to inform you that Yamaha has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the U.S. eBike business and cease wholesaling units effective the end of this year.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) entered the U.S. eBike market in 2018, and we have enjoyed the opportunity to partner with you these past six years to sell exciting, high-quality, all-road, mountain, and fitness/lifestyle eBikes.

We will continue to support your dealership in the sell down of your inventory by extending the current “Fan Promotion” program where customers may receive up to 60% off their purchase of a new Yamaha eBike. This “Fan Promotion” program will be offered on all units retailed and warranty registered through June 30, 2025. YMUS will continue to provide parts, service, and customer support in the United States both now and in support of our limited 5-year warranty.

Finally, we wish to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to you and your staff for your dedication and support of the Yamaha eBike business.

Thank you for your understanding and support.”

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