Motor Morsels: Toyota’s May, VinFast’s Support, Formula Sun, and Barra’s 2024

May Flowers. Toyota Motor reported a 10% increase in global sales in May 2023 compared to 2022, selling 838,478 vehicles, including the Lexus brand. Sales in Japan soared 35.1%. Global hybrid sales increased by 25.8% to 261,147 units. Meanwhile, battery electric vehicle sales reached 9,923, contributing to 35,980 units in 2023. In China, sales rose 9.3% to 162,381 vehicles. The growth reflects the easing of the parts supply shortage.

One way to make money… VinFast has launched a "Special Aftersales Policy" to enhance customer support worldwide. Effective June 15, 2023, it offers compensation for vehicle issues. "Type 1" issues earn customers Canadian Dollars (CAD) 160, while "Type 2" issues warrant CAD 480. For "Type 3" issues, which involve extended repair times, customers get CAD 160 for each day beyond the third. The policy, available as service vouchers or cash, operates separately from VinFast's warranty and applies to the Canadian market.

Fun in the sun. The Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix 2023, sponsored by Tesla, Blue Origin, and others, is underway at Topeka's Heartland Motorsports Park. Top North American engineering schools compete in solar and electric propulsion car races. The event is open to the public from June 29 to July 2.

Big plans, New Blazer. During the Aspen Ideas Festival, General Motors CEO Mary Barra revealed that the automotive company is on track for significant changes in 2024 and beyond. Here are the key takeaways:

• GM sold over 20,000 battery EVs in Q1 2023, up from 457 in the previous year.
• The company plans to transition its light-duty portfolio to electric vehicles by 2035.
• GM's all-electric Ultium platform, which debuted on the Hummer EV, will underpin future EV offerings.
• Battery production scaling-up issues are currently causing delays in GM's plans.
• The company aims to manufacture 400,000 plug-in vehicles by mid-2024 and reach one million by 2025.
• The Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV will retire by the end of 2023, with hints at a successor.
• From 2025, GM vehicles will feature built-in Tesla's North American Charging Standard connector.
• Mary Barra communicates directly with Tesla CEO Elon Musk and sees him as a partner and a competitor.
• The first sellable Chevy Blazer EV came off GM's Ramos Arizpe plant production line.