Archives for 2017

• Bracing for EV shift, NGK Spark Plug ignites all solid-state battery quest – Reuters: Facing the eventual demise of gasoline engines, the world’s biggest maker of spark plugs is turning its focus to a … in all solid-state batteries, which experts believe will be safer and more powerful than the lithium-ion batteries currently used in…
• China’s Baidu Sues Ex-Driverless Chief Over Alleged Secrets Theft – Bloomberg: Baidu is accelerating an effort to become China’s leading provider of self-driving cars, racing against the likes of Tesla Inc. to develop the potentially transformative technology. Baidu’s dubbed its open-source approach ” Apollo” and is now trying to…
• Volvo, Cadillac and Porsche drive subscription model growth – FT: Once every teenagers’ dream was to have their own car. Now they have an app for that. Volvo, Cadillac and Porsche are among brands that have launched subscription deals this year, as the industry dips its toe in the water of a world of selling services…

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• Analysts See Auto Demand Slipping Into Low Gear in 2018 – Bloomberg: Technology for self-driven cars and electric vehicles will continue to dominate the headlines for automakers and suppliers, as industry players strive to stake their claims on the fast-changing landscape. Meanwhile, car sales will remain on the “…
• Acura Hints at New Direction with 2019 RDX Prototype – Detroit Bureau: It was the first of the Japanese luxury brands but Acura has been struggling to catch up to newer siblings Lexus and Infiniti in recent years, and is hoping that with the upcoming launch of the 2019 RDX sport-utility vehicle it will finally shift into…
• Consumer Reports most satisfied car owners are. . . – CBS News: Previously,the model was called the Hyundai Genesis and counted in the Hyundai results for last year’s survey. Deprived of the strong results of the Genesis this year, the Hyundai brand dropped 11 places to 24th overall. The rest of the top 10, in…

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• Faraday Future raises £747 million by selling shares – Autocar: US company headed by Chinese investor Jia Yueting uses equity funding; it maintains first vehicle will make production next year
• Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) and ViaVan, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Vans and Via – Daimler: Berlin’s local public transport system is considered one of the best in the world – reliable, comfortable, safe and environmentally friendly.
• Ford Focus RS Edition gains Race Red swansong version – Autocar: Final run of top-spec super-hatch to be produced in just 300 units for the UK
• Edmunds compares Kia Stinger with Audi A5, S5 Sportbacks – Washington Post: When it comes time to buy an upscale fastback sedan, most people naturally consider models from European luxury brands. For 2018, though, those car shoppers have another option: the 2018 Kia Stinger. Yes, that’s right, a vehicle from the South Korean…

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• Infiniti, Nissan stand out in first-visit scheduling – Automotive News: Consultants urge dealerships to schedule the first service visit before a new-vehicle owner or leaseholder leaves the store, as a way to build loyalty and retain service business. But an online survey of consumers last month found that while 36 percent…
• Knock Knock! Solar Companies Battling Tesla Going Door-to-Door – Bloomberg: It wasn’t a flashy ad or Elon Musk’s charm that convinced New Jersey firefighter David Philpott to get solar panels for his home. Instead, it was a neighbor’s recommendation and a visit from a door-to-door salesman. Knocking on doors may seem…
• Solid Power, BMW partner to develop next-generation EV batteries – Reuters: U.S. EV battery company Solid Power said on Monday it had partnered with Germany’s BMW AG to develop the next-generation solid-state battery technology for use in electric vehicles (EVs). BMW will assist in advancing Solid Power’s technology to achieve…
• Toyota Plays Catch-Up With Plans for More Than 10 EV Models – WSJ: TOKYO-Toyota Motor Corp., which has lagged behind rivals in rolling out fully electric vehicles, issued the first detailed outline of its strategy, saying it planned more than 10 models world-wide by the early 2020s. The plan calls for electric-vehicle…

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