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Topic: Cars

The MX-30 was a misstep, but not the end of Mazda's EV plans. News 

Mazda Discontinues US Sales of Electric Vehicle

Jim Hendler,

Mazda’s MX-30, an unconventional electric vehicle, is being withdrawn from the US market after the 2023 model year, indicating that the company is aware of its peculiarity. Mazda is presently prioritizing “large platform” plug-in hybrids such as the CX-70 and CX-90, along with conventional hybrids like the CX-50. The MX-30 is Mazda’s first and so far the only mass-produced electric car, and it came to the country in the fall of 2021 as a California-only model. Its prospects were limited from the start by several unusual business decisions. In addition…

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The company has been accused of exaggerating its EVs' capabilities. News 

Tesla Reportedly Establishes Group to Address Driving Range Issues

Adarsh V.K, ,

Tesla is facing new allegations of attempting to downplay customer complaints about the performance of its electric vehicles. According to sources from Reuters, the company allegedly operated a covert “Diversion Team” in Las Vegas, whose objective was to cancel service appointments related to range issues. When customers expressed dissatisfaction with the vehicle’s range not meeting advertised claims, team advisors would reportedly inform them that the Environmental Protection Agency’s range figures were merely predictions and that battery degradation would inevitably reduce the range. Initially, the team conducted remote diagnostics and contacted…

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Tesla has several electric cars in its portfolio, ranging from the affordable Model 3 to the top-end Tesla Model X Plaid. (Bloomberg) News 

Tesla in Discussions to Establish Manufacturing Plant in India; Vehicle Prices Could Begin at Rs. 20 Lakh

Adarsh V.K, , ,

According to a report by the Times of India, Tesla is currently engaged in discussions with the Indian government regarding the establishment of a Gigafactory in India. This factory would have the capability to produce 500,000 electric vehicles on an annual basis. Although Tesla has been contemplating the idea of setting up a plant in India for some time, it appears that progress is being made as the company, led by Elon Musk, explores the possibility of utilizing India as an export hub for the Indo-Pacific region. Tesla’s India plans…

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"You will never ever have the chance to acquire again." News 

Rolls-Royce Disallows Profits from Reselling its New Electric Vehicle

Febin Mathew, ,

The Spectre, the inaugural electric vehicle from Rolls-Royce, will soon be available for purchase at a hefty price of $425,000. However, due to the limited availability, acquiring a slot will be quite challenging. Those considering buying one with the intention of reselling it for a quick profit should reconsider their plans. CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös has stated that customers who attempt to profit from reselling their Spectre models will face a lifetime ban from purchasing any future Rolls-Royce vehicles from authorized dealers, as reported by Car Dealer. “I can tell you…

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It can go over 60 mph, costs $45k and will be street legal in Europe. News 

This Electric Vehicle is Like a Remote-Controlled Car That Has Experienced a Major Expansion

Febin Mathew, ,

The Little Car Company, based in the UK, has created a life-size replica of the popular Tamiya Wild One RC car from the 1980s. According to Car and Driver, this electric vehicle is equipped with eight interchangeable battery packs, providing a total range of 124 miles. The Wild One Max has plenty of climb and go, with a top speed of 62 mph. The biggest feature, however, is how much this full-sized vehicle resembles its fun-sized cousin. Just look at this thing. Even cooler? The EV will make its public…

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This isn't your parents' Lotus. News 

Lotus’ Eletre SUV Demonstrates Brand’s Maturation

Febin Mathew, ,

Lotus, known for their minimalist approach to driving pleasure, is now entering a new phase of maturity with the introduction of their first-ever production SUV, the Eletre. This electric vehicle offers spacious seating for either four or even five passengers. Eletre? Well, that’s a lot. It weighs a lot, about 5500 kilos. Its style definitely goes that extra mile and this interior is nothing if not dazzling. This isn’t for everyone, in fact I’m not sure who it’s for, but it’s easily the highest quality and most comprehensive interior Lotus…

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It's the first German brand to support NACS. News 

Mercedes to Adopt Tesla’s Electric Vehicle Charging Standard for North American Models

Febin Mathew, , , ,

Mercedes-Benz has announced its decision to incorporate Tesla’s charging technology into its new North American electric vehicles from 2025. Initially, drivers will be able to utilize the Tesla Supercharger network through a CCS-to-NACS adapter, which is expected to be available in 2024. This does not affect Mercedes’ plans to introduce its own fast charging network from this fall, according to the company. The company plans to build more than 400 “charging centers” in North America by 2030, with a total of 2,500 chargers available. The first installations are now set…

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Robotaxi service could launch in Austin by 2026. News 

VW to Launch Autonomous Vehicle Trials in the US This Month

Jim Hendler, ,

Volkswagen, known for its self-driving car trials, is now expanding its experiments to the United States. This month, the automaker will introduce its initial fleet of autonomous test vehicles in Austin. Consisting of 10 modified ID.Buzz electric vans, these vehicles will utilize Mobileye’s Level 4 self-driving system, which offers complete autonomy in certain situations. The primary purpose of this initiative is to gather driving data that will help enhance and authenticate the technology. To ensure safety, these early models will have human drivers onboard. The German brand plans to both…

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It's set to be revealed in full on August 3rd. News 

Fisker Reveals First Glimpse of Ronin Electric Vehicle with 600-Mile Range

Febin Mathew, ,

According to a recent Instagram post from CEO Henrik Fisker, Fisker has provided us with another preview of the Ronin convertible EV, which is said to have a range of 600 miles. The full unveiling of the vehicle is scheduled for August 3rd. Similar to the original Fisker Karma, the Ronin is a sleek and low four-door sedan that falls under the category of a “super GT” car. It will be joining the Ocean SUV and the upcoming Pear EV in Fisker’s lineup. In the Instagram post, Fisker described the…

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Take all your friends to the charging station! News 

Kia EV9 Debuts: Introducing Three-Row Electric Vehicle Option

Sanjay Patil, , ,

The dominance of crossovers in the EV market is logical, given their popularity and practicality. While they may be essentially elevated hatchbacks, they provide ample seating and storage for individuals or small families. However, the progress in electrifying three-row vehicles, which are necessary for larger families or extensive cargo transportation, has been sluggish. Thankfully, the arrival of the Kia EV9 offers a solution, as it can accommodate up to seven passengers and boasts a spacious cargo area. We had a chance to take the Korean-spec EV9 for the first drive…

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Freya Cui, a resident of Shijiazhuang in northern China and one of the earliest owners of WM Motor’s EX5 sports utility vehicle, had to walk away from her four-year-old car in April due to a battery pack defect. (Bloomberg) News 

Signs of Deflation in China’s Electric Vehicle Market

Sanjay Patil, ,

The biggest market for electric vehicles in the world is moving past its initial stages of being overcrowded. China’s explosives industry, which more than a decade ago was crammed with government subsidies, now includes about a hundred manufacturers producing purely electric and rechargeable hybrid models. Although the number is less than the approximately 500 registered electric vehicle manufacturers in 2019, the end now seems to be in sight for more. The peak market moved from formally overcrowded to moderately concentrated in the first quarter. This was based on the Herfindahl-Hirschman…

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It'll supply the motors, batteries and more. News 

Lucid Motors to Provide Power for Aston Martin’s Upcoming Electric Vehicles

Jim Hendler, , ,

Lucid has revealed that Aston Martin intends to manufacture “ultra-luxury high-performance” electric vehicles using its electric motors, batteries, and other technology. This marks the first time that Lucid has entered into a deal to supply parts to other automakers, following in the footsteps of Rimac, which has previously developed batteries and other components for Aston Martin, Koenigsegg, and other companies. Lucid has recently launched its own electric car, the Air, which is available in various versions starting at approximately $87,400. “The supply agreement with Lucid is a game-changer for Aston…

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The GAS platform, licensed to vehicle manufacturers, comprises Google Maps, a version of the Google Play app store and the Google voice assistant. (Bloomberg) News 

German Regulator Cautions Google on Car Infotainment System

Adriana Marais, , ,

On Wednesday, Germany’s competition regulator expressed disapproval of Google’s in-car entertainment system, citing concerns that the integration of various services could potentially provide the American tech company with an unjust advantage over its rivals. The Federal Antitrust Office said it has warned Google parent Alphabet in a preliminary legal review that it plans to ban various “anti-competitive practices” related to Google Automative Services (GAS). The GAS platform, licensed to vehicle manufacturers, includes Google Maps, a version of the Google Play app store, and Google Voice Assistant. “We are particularly critical…

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It's the brand's first full-size, all-electric SUV. News 

Cadillac Gives Sneak Peek of Electric Escalade IQ Before August 9th Unveiling

Sanjay Patil, , ,

Cadillac has released a sneak peek of its upcoming electric vehicle, the Escalade IQ, which is set to be officially unveiled on August 9th. The initial glimpse doesn’t provide much information about the vehicle, but it does show LED lights in the grille, including a digital rendition of the Cadillac emblem. This is Cadillac’s first full-size, all-electric SUV. It follows the mid-size Lyriq and the Celestiq sedan. The brand will introduce the Escalade IQ as part of its transition to an all-electric lineup by the end of this decade. The…

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The automaker will adopt NACS charge ports as standard in R1 and R2 vehicles. News 

Rivian Electric Vehicle Owners to Have Access to Tesla Superchargers in 2024

Adriana Marais, , , ,

Rivian is set to join the likes of GM and Ford in being granted access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. The company plans to provide an adapter to R1T and R1S owners, enabling them to connect their electric vehicles to Supercharger stations from spring 2022. Additionally, Rivian will make use of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge ports as standard in R1 vehicles from 2025, as well as in the forthcoming R2 platform. The move means Rivia owners will soon be able to charge their vehicle’s battery at more than…

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Ford, great-grandson of founder Henry Ford, said he sees an opportunity for Ford engineers to understand the technology. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) (AP) News 

Ford Executive Declares America Lacking in Electric Vehicle Technology Compared to China

Nitin Misra, ,

According to Bill Ford Jr., the Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Co., the United States is not yet fully equipped to rival China in the manufacturing of electric vehicles. He also mentioned that his company is adopting an all-inclusive strategy to get ready for the competition. “They developed very quickly, and they’ve developed them on a large scale, and now they’re taking,” Ford said in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS. “They’re not here, but they’re going to be here in our opinion at some point and we’ve got…

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Tax credits helped foster a surge in American EV demand. News 

US Takes Second Place in Global Electric Vehicle Market Behind China

Adarsh V.K, , ,

For a long time, the US has been trailing behind Europe and other areas in the adoption of electric vehicles. However, this is no longer the case. According to Counterpoint, EV sales in the US surged by 79% YoY in Q1 2023, enabling it to surpass Germany and become the second-largest electric car market globally. The only market that is larger is China, as per the analyst group. Tax credits for electric vehicles are believed to have played a “crucial role” in boosting sales and may have helped the US…

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That’s nearly twice as far as the plug-in Prius. News 

Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV to Offer 62 Miles of Electric-Only Mode

Jim Hendler, , ,

Volkswagen has revealed details about its upcoming Tiguan SUV, which includes a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model that could be a great option for those who want to minimize their use of gasoline. The PHEV version is expected to offer an impressive all-electric range of up to 62 miles, which is twice as much as the current Tiguan eHybrid and surpasses the 37.5-mile range of Toyota’s Prius Prime. This means that drivers may only need to use the combustion engine for longer journeys. The jump to the new MQB evo platform…

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ParkMate’s standout DaSH (Drop and Shop) service utilises GPS tagging and geofencing technology to offer instant, guaranteed parking to all car owners. (Pexels) AI 

Securing Smart Parking with Artificial Intelligence

Adriana Marais, , ,

Currently, the term artificial intelligence is popular and businesses are taking action to implement its advantages. ParkMate offers various parking services that can alleviate the stress of drivers, and Dhananjaya Bharadwaj, the Co-founder and CEO, provides a concise explanation on how to utilize and profit from them. ParkMate utilizes new-age technologies to transform the parking industry and provide a smart yet user-friendly parking experience. In addition to utilizing NPCI’s FASTag technology, ParkMate goes one step further by combining its own artificial intelligence-based license plate recognition technology with the UniPay system.…

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Tesla could add $3 billion in revenue in 2030 and more than $5.4 billion in 2032 from non-Tesla vehicle owners, according to a recent report from Piper Sandler & Co. (REUTERS) News 

Growing Support for Tesla’s Electric Vehicle Charging Plug as It Becomes the US Standard

Adriana Marais, , , ,

Several players in the electric-vehicle power industry have pledged to provide compatible equipment for Tesla Inc.’s charging technology, strengthening the automaker’s system as the standard in the United States. ChargePoint Holdings Inc., Blink Charging Co. and Wallbox NV each announced on Monday that they have chargers capable of working with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard, which is rapidly gaining ground in the competition with the so-called connected charging system. Australia’s Tritium DCFC Ltd. also said they offer a NACS connector option with chargers. The quick succession announcement comes just days…

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