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Here’s what we’ve got for you today: 

• BYD Launching Autopilot Competitor

• Global BEV Sales are WAY WAY UP

• Alpine Teases EV Hot Hatch

• Tesla Cuts Prices on Charging

• The Juice 🔋 (New section to highlight more interesting stories)

BYD LAUNCHING AUTOPILOT COMPETITOR

Well, well, well, what do we have here? The goliath BYD, a company that was once happy making batteries, is now dipping its toes into the sparkling waters of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). On May 11, the Chinese think tank HiEV Research Institute spilled the beans on BYD's upcoming ADAS, aptly named DNP. Whatever that is. The first lucky car to show off this new piece of tech wizardry will be the 2023 Han premium EV sedan, set to make its grand debut in Q4.

Let's rewind a little, shall we? BYD, a company that started with batteries, now runs the whole show, from lithium mines to car rental companies. They've become the "Jack of all trades," making Tesla sweat in their own backyard, China. With models like the BYD Seal and BYD Song SUV, they've given Tesla a run for their money, offering similar performance at a lower price. They're like that annoying younger sibling that keeps poking you until you finally react.

Now, Tesla has been the big kid on the block with their Full Self Driving (FSD) and Autopilot tech. But there's a new sheriff in town: BYD's DNP, which plans to give Autopilot a serious headache. Who knows, maybe BYD will soon throw down the gauntlet to FSD too.

But Tesla isn't the only one BYD needs to watch out for. Xpeng is also breathing down their neck with their XNGP ADAS system for highway driving and NGP for city and urban driving.

When it comes to autonomous driving tech, BYD is playing the field. They've partnered with Horizon Robotics for Journey 5 autonomous driving chips, and Nvidia for intelligent driving technology. But BYD's not putting all their eggs in one basket. They've also announced partnerships with Baidu, Huawei, Momenta, RoboSense, Hesai, and DJI.

So, in the world of EVs and ADAS, it's not just about who's got the biggest battery. It's a high-tech love triangle (or should I say polygon?) with BYD, Tesla, and Xpeng all vying for the crown. And we're here, popcorn in hand, ready to watch this epic battle unfold. Let the games begin!

GLOBAL BEV SALES ARE WAY WAY UP

Buckle up, because it's time for another exhilarating romp through the riveting world of global plug-in vehicle registrations. March 2023 made quite a splash, with numbers revving up by a whopping 28% compared to March 2022. The grand total? A staggering 1,097,000 registrations. It seems the world is having a serious love affair with electric vehicles, second only to that steamy December 2022 rendezvous.

And what’s that you ask? Oh, just a casual 16% of the auto market being dominated by our sparky friends (12% by the purely electric ones). Looks like the global automotive market is in what we’re calling the Electric Disruption Zone. Cue dramatic music.

But lo and behold, plugless hybrids are also having their moment in the sun. Over one million of these bad boys were registered in March, for the first time ever. Grand total of electrified vehicles? A cool two million, or 31% of the global market. The year to date growth of plug-in electric vehicles? A modest 13% (with 9% being purely electric).

Fully electric vehicles (BEVs) strutted their stuff, representing 72% of plug-in registrations in March. Year to date, they’ve pulled up their tally by two percentage points to a stunning 68% share.

Shifting gears to March's best sellers, the top spot was snagged by none other than the Tesla Model Y. The mighty Model Y trounced the competition with a jaw-dropping 145,306 registrations. This not only makes it the month's top seller, but also beats out every other powertrain in the market. Take that, Toyota Corolla and RAV4!

ALPINES TEASES EV HOT HATCH

Hang onto your seats, folks! Alpine is dropping the mic on the electric vehicle scene with its latest all-electric supermodel, the A290_B (and yes, you gotta say it like you're in a frat: "Beta"). This electrifying newbie offers a sneak-peek into Alpine's leap of faith into the bustling circus of mainstream electric cars, with an actual production model to join the fray in 2024.

Bored of alphanumeric soup? Tough luck, because the name A290_β is a result of Alpine's thrilling new global naming strategy. The 'A' and the three numbers are a secret handshake, telling us it's an Alpine. The '2' hints at it being a B-segment car, while '90' is a cryptic hint at the upcoming 'Lifestyle' range. The Greek letter beta is there because the car's not quite ready to take the stage yet. It's the understudy, waiting in the wings for its big debut next year.

In other news, Renault’s Alpine Sports Car Brand is hatching not one, but TWO electric SUVs for the USA. Excited yet?

Just in case you didn't get it the first (or the hundredth) time: New Alpine A290_B Concept is an electrifying hot hatch coming in 2024. There, I said it again! Beta.

And while it's not exactly the spitting image of last year's R5 Turbo 3E concept, it's got enough sass and class to stand out on its own. It's still rocking the same style as the previously teased Renault 5 Prototype.

According to the Chief Designer, Raphael Linari, the production version will likely keep most of the concept's exterior flair, with a whopping 85% of the design being identical. But brace yourselves, because the interior is going for a complete overhaul. We're talking about that three-seat cockpit with the driver smack dab in the center - which, sadly, won't make it to the production model. Devastating.

Again, for those in the back: New Alpine A290_B Concept is an electrifying hot hatch coming in 2024. BETA.

Linari, playing coy with us, says, “It’s too early to announce what’s happening inside the car so we went crazy on the interior.” Can't wait to see what kind of crazy they've cooked up inside this hot hatch.

TESLA CUTS PRICES ON CHARGING

Oh boy, here we go again. Tesla, the drama queen of the automotive world, is back slicing it up. It seems like Elon Musk is hosting a price slashing bonanza more often than a grandma visits her bingo club. This time, however, it's not about Tesla's overhyped, I mean, groundbreaking electric cars, but their DC fast charging network. "Whoop-de-doo," said every European Tesla owner, as Supercharging prices got a trim.

So what's the go? Tesla, after spending more time on the brink of bankruptcy than a college student at a bar, is now sitting pretty with a margin so fat it'd make a Wall Street tycoon jealous. They're raking in the profits, their cash flow is a sight to behold, and they're growing faster than a teenager on a protein shake diet.

You may remember the time when Tesla chopped the prices of their EVs. How did they manage that? Their whopping high margins, of course. But, let's be real, there was a dip in their revenue, and yes, those lovely margins took a hit. And while Tesla could jack up or slash their charging prices willy-nilly, that's not what's happening here.

After a rollercoaster ride, energy prices in Europe are finally chilling out. Mr. Musk, in his infinite wisdom, has always been a bit of a doomsday prepper, planning for the worst amidst the global economic turmoil. They hiked prices, made safe forecasts, all to ensure they don't end up like a dog chasing its tail.

But hallelujah! The pandemic is officially over, supply chain nightmares are fading, and energy prices seem to be on a chill pill. It's like we're slowly getting back to normalcy, if you can still remember what that's like. Sure, the Ukraine crisis is still a mess, but it's not causing as much havoc as before.

It's no secret that fast-charging an EV lately felt more like a daylight robbery. Sure, you save on fuel costs, but charging at a Tesla Supercharger or any public DC fast charging station would have made your wallet weep, especially in Europe.

But lo and behold, according to Electrek, Tesla has decided to stop playing Scrooge and slashed Supercharger prices in most of Europe by 10 to 20%. Some markets, like Spain, are even getting a whopping 25% off.

And guess what? This is not a Tesla-only party. Many Supercharger stations across Europe are open to all non-Tesla EVs. So all you non-Tesla electric car owners out there, get ready to feel the love from Uncle Elon.

THE JUICE 🔋

VW Delays Software Platform Again. Impacting production systems for VW, Porsche & Audi. Yikes.

Tesla cancels Model S and Model X in RHD Markets. Australia and others get snubbed from flagship models. Ouch.

Subaru Launching 4 New EV's by 2027. But will be ineligible for US tax credits. No deal.

Polestar cuts Production Guidance and Jobs. Lower projections and resources? Sounds like a bad time to me.

PLUGGED IN WEEKLY MEME

That's a wrap for today. Charge your batteries & see ya tomorrow! If you want more, be sure to follow our Twitter (@PluggedInEmail)

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DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.