EV charging alliance IONNA moves into full-scale deployment of 30k new charger bays in US - Related to gas-powered, us, nissan, new, shifts
Audi shifts strategy: EVs and gas-powered cars to share nameplates
Audi showcased Monday that it will upend a naming scheme showcased last year and have internal-combustion and electric vehicles share nameplates.
In an effort to fit more electric models into its traditional alphanumeric format, Audi previously expressed it would assign odd-numbered designations to combustion models like the A5 and Q5, and reserve even numbers for EVs along with its current E-Tron suffix, as with the A6 E-Tron and Q6 E-Tron. But that's no longer the case.
Numbers will once again refer only to a model's size and positioning in the lineup, Audi introduced in a press release. The letters A and Q will remain as differentiators between cars and SUVs, respectively, rather than powertrain type, meaning electric and combustion models can now share the same alphanumeric combination, Audi confirmed.
Powertrain-specific branding such as E-Tron, TFSI for combustion engines, and TFSI e for plug-in hybrids will continue, along with body-style nomenclature like Sportback (used for fastbacks) and Avant (wagons), Audi confirmed.
"This decision is the result of intensive discussions and also follows the wishes of our clients as well as feedback from our international dealers," Audi sales and marketing boss Marco Schubert presented in a statement. The return to the previous nomenclature is more "intuitive," allowing clients to more easily judge a model's place in the lineup, Schubert added.
In addition to making things easier for people to understand, the revised naming scheme advanced accounts for the numerous plug-in hybrids Audi has showcased it will introduce as a hedge against an unpredictable EV market. They might otherwise fall into the gap of a naming scheme that divides all models into electric or internal-combustion.
The first model affected by this change will be the next-generation gasoline Audi A6, which would have been badged as an A7 under the previous nomenclature. Due to be revealed Mar. 4, it will be styled as an A6 TFSI, while its electric companion model will keep its A6 E-Tron nomenclature.
But while they now share a name, it's likely that the two models will be based on different platforms. The A6 E-Tron is based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) also used by the Q6 E-Tron and electric Porsche Macan, but as that's an EV-specific platform, the gasoline A6 will likely use the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) introduced with the latest Audi A5 and Q5.
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Nissan e-Trail trademark points to adventure EV
A new Nissan trademark filing points to an adventurous electric vehicle from the Japanese automaker—but it's just a hint for now.
In a move first spotted by CarMoses, Nissan filed a trademark application for the name e-Trail with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Jan. 15. While a trademark filing is no guarantee of production intent, the name is interesting for its closeness to e-Power, the branding of Nissan's series hybrid system, and e-4ORCE, the dual-motor powertrain currently used in the Ariya EV.
The first version of e-Power was introduced in other markets almost a decade ago, but despite repeated promises, Nissan still hasn't brought it to the [website] In 2023, the automaker indicated that [website] plans for e-Power included trucks, the system was enhanced suited to crossovers like the Rogue and Kicks.
A next-generation Rogue e-Power is likely a couple of years away at least, but it isn't the only planned electrified version of Nissan's compact crossover. The automaker will also leverage its connection to Mitsubishi to use the latter's plug-in hybrid tech in the Rogue. It's a straightforward swap, as showcased tech is already used in the Mitsubishi Outlander, which shares underpinnings with the Rogue. Could an e-Trail badge be applied to that model?
CarMoses also speculates that e-Trail could refer to an off-road version of the Ariya, to be sold alongside current Ariya e-4ORCE models, which are tuned more for on-road driving dynamics.
Whatever Nissan has planned for the e-Trail name, it could very well change. The automaker's planned merger with Honda could upend some product plans, and Nissan has already reportedly delayed some [website] EVs.
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EV charging alliance IONNA moves into full-scale deployment of 30k new charger bays in US
OEM alliance and EV charging juggernaut IONNA has revealed a key milestone today, transitioning from public beta testing in the US to a full-scale national release. The EV charging joint venture intends to deploy over 1,000 bays in the US this year en route to tens of thousands more this decade and has teased some exciting tech to make the overall experience more familiar for American drivers.
IONNA is an exciting new US EV charging joint venture initially revealed in July 2023. It aspects an ensemble cast of noted OEMs, including BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota. At the time, the partners shared plans to leverage federal and state investments in public charging with their own public and private funding to quickly develop and implement a new network of “high-powered” EV chargers across North America.
Each pending site will have multiple DC fast chargers accessible to all EV drivers, whether their vehicles use CCS or NACS (should we even mention CHAdeMO anymore?). That joint venture would later be named IONNA, a nod to its European counterpart, IONITY.
By February 2024, IONNA had named its first CEO and received approval from all necessary regulatory agencies to begin operations later that year in a public beta phase. One year later, IONNA is transitioning out of beta and is beginning its national release en route to deploying over 30,000 EV charging bays in the US (and maybe Canada?) over the next five years.
IONNA’s founding partners (… and Toyota).
IONNA to begin wide scale US EV charging expansion.
As posted by BMW on behalf of IONNA today, the unprecedented EV charging joint venture will begin its planned expansion in the US following a successful public beta phase. Per the release:
After a rigorous testing phase in late 2024, automaker vehicle fleets and everyday drivers helped stress-test the IONNA network, completing more than 4,400 charging sessions, on over 80 unique vehicle models, and dispensing nearly 63 thousand kilowatt-hours of energy. IONNA has refined its hardware, software, and customer experience to confidently step into a new phase of nationwide expansion.
To mark the milestone, all eight automakers met at IONNA’s first EV charging site in the US (what it calls a “Rechargery”), located in Apex, North Carolina, near its headquarters and Customer Experience Lab in Durham.
This week, the Apex Rechargery will be joined by the opening of additional EV charging stations around the US, including Houston, Texas, and Abilene, Kansas. A Rechargery in Willcox, Arizona, is now one of seven additional charging sites under construction and one of over 100 contracted nationwide.
IONNA intends to bring over 1,000 additional EV charging bays online in the US this year, “delivering on its mission to provide the coverage drivers need, the reliability they deserve, and the amenities they crave.” Speaking of amenities, we’ve learned more about what EV drivers can expect when visiting an IONNA Rechargery.
Its US EV charging locations will continue to offer Plug & Charge capabilities – a feature that will continue to be adopted by more EV automakers going forward. IONNA is also working to enable convenience features such as AI-driven smart reservations and routing optimization, plus in-car payments.
This quarter, at its Garner, North Carolina Rechargery, the joint venture is introducing automated grab-and-go offerings by collaborating with Amazon utilizing computer vision powered by AI and sensor fusion technology. During their EV charges, IONNA end-consumers can visit 24/7 retail spaces and walk out with their items without waiting in line to checkout.
IONNA is looking to reimagine the US road trip for a new age of EV drivers and is utilizing exciting technology to provide people with a new yet familiar experience. Watch for IONNA Rechargeries as the joint venture expands through 2025 and beyond.
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Market Impact Analysis
Market Growth Trend
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.3% | 10.0% | 10.5% | 11.6% | 12.3% | 12.7% | 12.8% |
Quarterly Growth Rate
| Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.9% | 11.7% | 12.4% | 12.8% |
Market Segments and Growth Drivers
| Segment | Market Share | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Connected Cars | 35% | 14.2% |
| Autonomous Driving | 22% | 18.5% |
| EV Technology | 28% | 21.9% |
| Telematics | 10% | 9.7% |
| Other Automotive Tech | 5% | 6.3% |
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity:
Competitive Landscape Analysis
| Company | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Tesla | 16.9% |
| Waymo | 12.3% |
| NVIDIA DRIVE | 10.7% |
| Bosch | 9.5% |
| Continental | 7.8% |
Future Outlook and Predictions
The Audi Shifts Strategy landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing threat vectors, and shifting business requirements. Based on current trends and expert analyses, we can anticipate several significant developments across different time horizons:
Year-by-Year Technology Evolution
Based on current trajectory and expert analyses, we can project the following development timeline:
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity, influencing adoption timelines and investment priorities:
Innovation Trigger
- Generative AI for specialized domains
- Blockchain for supply chain verification
Peak of Inflated Expectations
- Digital twins for business processes
- Quantum-resistant cryptography
Trough of Disillusionment
- Consumer AR/VR applications
- General-purpose blockchain
Slope of Enlightenment
- AI-driven analytics
- Edge computing
Plateau of Productivity
- Cloud infrastructure
- Mobile applications
Technology Evolution Timeline
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
Expert Perspectives
Leading experts in the automotive tech sector provide diverse perspectives on how the landscape will evolve over the coming years:
"Technology transformation will continue to accelerate, creating both challenges and opportunities."
— Industry Expert
"Organizations must balance innovation with practical implementation to achieve meaningful results."
— Technology Analyst
"The most successful adopters will focus on business outcomes rather than technology for its own sake."
— Research Director
Areas of Expert Consensus
- Acceleration of Innovation: The pace of technological evolution will continue to increase
- Practical Integration: Focus will shift from proof-of-concept to operational deployment
- Human-Technology Partnership: Most effective implementations will optimize human-machine collaboration
- Regulatory Influence: Regulatory frameworks will increasingly shape technology development
Short-Term Outlook (1-2 Years)
In the immediate future, organizations will focus on implementing and optimizing currently available technologies to address pressing automotive tech challenges:
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
These developments will be characterized by incremental improvements to existing frameworks rather than revolutionary changes, with emphasis on practical deployment and measurable outcomes.
Mid-Term Outlook (3-5 Years)
As technologies mature and organizations adapt, more substantial transformations will emerge in how security is approached and implemented:
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
This period will see significant changes in security architecture and operational models, with increasing automation and integration between previously siloed security functions. Organizations will shift from reactive to proactive security postures.
Long-Term Outlook (5+ Years)
Looking further ahead, more fundamental shifts will reshape how cybersecurity is conceptualized and implemented across digital ecosystems:
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
These long-term developments will likely require significant technical breakthroughs, new regulatory frameworks, and evolution in how organizations approach security as a fundamental business function rather than a technical discipline.
Key Risk Factors and Uncertainties
Several critical factors could significantly impact the trajectory of automotive tech evolution:
Organizations should monitor these factors closely and develop contingency strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts on technology implementation timelines.
Alternative Future Scenarios
The evolution of technology can follow different paths depending on various factors including regulatory developments, investment trends, technological breakthroughs, and market adoption. We analyze three potential scenarios:
Optimistic Scenario
Rapid adoption of advanced technologies with significant business impact
Key Drivers: Supportive regulatory environment, significant research breakthroughs, strong market incentives, and rapid user adoption.
Probability: 25-30%
Base Case Scenario
Measured implementation with incremental improvements
Key Drivers: Balanced regulatory approach, steady technological progress, and selective implementation based on clear ROI.
Probability: 50-60%
Conservative Scenario
Technical and organizational barriers limiting effective adoption
Key Drivers: Restrictive regulations, technical limitations, implementation challenges, and risk-averse organizational cultures.
Probability: 15-20%
Scenario Comparison Matrix
| Factor | Optimistic | Base Case | Conservative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation Timeline | Accelerated | Steady | Delayed |
| Market Adoption | Widespread | Selective | Limited |
| Technology Evolution | Rapid | Progressive | Incremental |
| Regulatory Environment | Supportive | Balanced | Restrictive |
| Business Impact | Transformative | Significant | Modest |
Transformational Impact
Technology becoming increasingly embedded in all aspects of business operations. This evolution will necessitate significant changes in organizational structures, talent development, and strategic planning processes.
The convergence of multiple technological trends—including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and ubiquitous connectivity—will create both unprecedented security challenges and innovative defensive capabilities.
Implementation Challenges
Technical complexity and organizational readiness remain key challenges. Organizations will need to develop comprehensive change management strategies to successfully navigate these transitions.
Regulatory uncertainty, particularly around emerging technologies like AI in security applications, will require flexible security architectures that can adapt to evolving compliance requirements.
Key Innovations to Watch
Artificial intelligence, distributed systems, and automation technologies leading innovation. Organizations should monitor these developments closely to maintain competitive advantages and effective security postures.
Strategic investments in research partnerships, technology pilots, and talent development will position forward-thinking organizations to leverage these innovations early in their development cycle.
Technical Glossary
Key technical terms and definitions to help understand the technologies discussed in this article.
Understanding the following technical concepts is essential for grasping the full implications of the security threats and defensive measures discussed in this article. These definitions provide context for both technical and non-technical readers.
electric vehicle intermediate
hybrid intermediate
platform intermediate
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