Smart Cars
Priced at $132K, First Police Tesla Cybertruck Hits the Road: Taxpayers Protest
October 11, 2024 – The inaugural police Tesla Cybertruck has hit the streets of Irvine, California, sparking controversy among taxpayers due to its hefty price tag of $132,000. This unique Cybertruck boasts customized police graphics, emergency lighting, and a bespoke interior tailored for its new role, with components crafted by Unplugged Performance and Whelen Engineering….
Toyota Chairman Warns: Full EV Shift Could Lead to Massive Job Cuts in Japan
October 11, 2024 – According to Reuters, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda expressed concerns today during the unveiling of a bust of his father, Kiichiro Toyoda, at Nagoya University. He warned that the shift towards a pure electric vehicle future could result in significant job losses for the Japanese population, affecting not only those directly employed…
BMW Skytop Enters Production: 50-Unit Global Limit, 617 HP V8, 0-62 mph in 3.3 Seconds
October 11, 2024 – According to a report published today by carscoops, BMW has commenced mass production of its Skytop sports car, with a strictly limited edition of only 50 units worldwide. Remarkably, all 50 cars have already been fully booked and sold out. Initially unveiled as a concept car at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa…
GM Overtakes Ford, Claims Spot as US’s Second-Largest EV Maker
October 11, 2024 – At its 2024 Investor Day on Tuesday local time, General Motors proudly declared, “We are now the second-largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the United States.” Having surpassed Ford in the third quarter of this year, GM has solidified its position as the second-biggest EV brand in the country. Amid falling EV…
Fisker’s Demand for Owners to Cover Recall Labor Costs Rejected by U.S. Justice Department
October 9, 2024 – Fisker, the struggling electric vehicle manufacturer, has sparked controversy with a proposal asking owners to bear the labor costs associated with multiple recall-related repairs. However, the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has stated that such a move would be illegal under federal…
Lamborghini CTO: Timing Not Ripe for Fully Electric Supercar, Focus Remains on Hybrids
October 9, 2024 – At the recent Urus SE unveiling, Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr expressed skepticism about the current market readiness for a fully electric supercar. “The timing isn’t ripe yet for introducing an electric supercar,” Mohr stated. “There are already numerous electric models on the market, but they haven’t achieved true success.”…
BYD Projects 50,000 EV Sales in Mexico This Year, Doubling Next Year
October 9, 2024 – In a statement made on October 8th, Jorge Vallejo, the General Manager of BYD Mexico, anticipated that the company would sell 50,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in Mexico this year, with a target to reach 100,000 units by 2025. Vallejo also revealed that BYD would announce the location of its first manufacturing…
Tesla’s NACS Wins First Support in Japan, Sony Honda Mobility to Adopt
September 29, 2024 – The North American Charging Standard (NACS) of Tesla has been expanding its influence not only in the US market but also gaining support in Japan. On September 27th, Sony Honda Mobility announced that its upcoming electric vehicle, “AFEELA,” will support the NACS charging standard. With this announcement, Sony Honda Mobility becomes…
Tesla Faces High Sick Leave Rates in Germany, Prompting Musk’s Personal Investigation
September 29, 2024 – Tesla’s sole European car manufacturing plant in Grünheide, Brandenburg, has caught the attention of CEO Elon Musk due to its high absentee rate. According to a report by Handelsblatt, the sick leave rate among employees at the Tesla factory climbed to 17% in August, which is more than three times the…
Tesla Makes Progress: 3,000 Trees Felled Under Police Escort in Berlin
September 26, 2024 – Tesla’s expansion plans for its Berlin factory are facing strong opposition from environmental organizations. Local residents and environmental activists are concerned that the expansion will damage the local forest ecology and have a negative impact on the environment. Earlier this year, residents of Grunheide, where the Tesla Berlin factory is located,…