TTAC News Round-up: Toyota Brings on Brains, Sergio Leaves the Cake in the Oven, and GM Takes the Stand

The brain trust of yet another artificial intelligence technology startup has been snapped up as automakers prepare for our terrifying, dystopian future.

That, Sergio Marchionne has a sure-fire recipe, jury selection begins in ignition trial, Tesla doesn’t need no stinkin’ successful low-priced car, and GM goes big on commercial sales … after the break!

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Nissan Taking On Tesla Powerwall With Recycling Approach

Nissan is looking to take on Tesla et al in the stationary energy storage game with their own battery solution. However, unlike the Silicon Valley based electric car manufacturer and ZEV credit printing press, the Japanese automaker is looking to take a much greener approach.

Instead of building fresh batteries for commercial stationary applications, Nissan will instead reuse lithium-ion batteries from the LEAF with partner Green Charge Networks.

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Tesla Ownership Vignettes

We’ve owned our 2013 P85 Tesla Model S since December, putting maybe 3,000 miles on it, so I thought TTAC readers would appreciate a long-term update.

Overall it’s still the grin-inducing ride that all owners like to be smug about. That said, there have been more than a few unusual experiences. To that end, I thought it would be useful to present this update as a series of individual stories, or vignettes, of the Tesla ownership experience.

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While You Were Sleeping: Tesla Is Now Officially In More Than Just Your Garage

This is what everyone in Silicon Valley was waiting for last night: a battery that hangs on a wall.

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  • IanGTCS Someone else's project is a default no go for me. In saying that it is a good looking car and has been mentioned it shouldn't be the most difficult project to complete. If the auction goes low enough I can see the value for someone in this one.
  • ToolGuy "it’s a troubling reversal from the automaker"• Trouble for whom? Doesn't trouble me.
  • Arthur Dailey Due to the ease of parts and the comparative lack of complexity, this might be an excellent 'project' to provide a student/young adult with a vehicle that stands out in the parking lot. Rather than adding 'go fast' options put in basic and robust mechanical components and it might be a decent 'runner'?
  • Theflyersfan Building on Art and MaintenanceCosts - Looking at the three Nissan dealers in my area:Jeff Wyler (one of the 800 pound gorillas of car dealer families in this part of the Midwest - all over Cincinnati, Columbus and Louisville):2024 Z NISMO: $84,075 ($15,000 "upfits")2024 Z Performance: $52,562 ($1,800 discount)2024 Z Sport: $44,095 (in transit, no discount or "upfit" listed)Coyle: No Zs availableCollins:2024 Z Performance: $65,720 ("upfit" isn't listed, but it's looking to be around $10K-$13K)Three dealers, three on the lot, one in transit, and the good one has a laughable adjustment. There is no way a Z, even a NISMO, is worth $84,000 before taxes and fees. I guess if you're in the Kentuckiana area, and have a need for a Z, get the Performance model and the small discount. But this is just one metro area of close to a million people with three dealers with little inventory with Zs getting marked up. And I'm sure everyone reading this can check their hometown Nissan dealers and see the same thing.
  • Analoggrotto One parked beside me early this year