Smart Cars
Volocopter, Backed by Mercedes and Geely, Files for Insolvency Protection
December 31, 2024 – Volocopter, the German electric air taxi company, has filed for insolvency protection, joining a list of similar startups struggling with financial difficulties. The company intends to continue operations while seeking new investors. In a statement, Volocopter’s CEO Dirk Hoke said, “We have been ahead of our industry peers in terms of…
Waymo’s Self-Driving Cars: Proven Safer Than Human Drivers
December 20, 2024 – According to a report published today by Engadget, Waymo, a leading company in autonomous driving, has collaborated with Swiss Re, a renowned reinsurance company, on a study that reveals Waymo’s self-driving cars result in fewer insurance claims compared to human-driven vehicles. The study conducted by Swiss Re analyzed collision liability claims…
Honda to Showcase Two Zero Series Prototypes and New OS at CES 2025
December 19, 2024 – Honda has announced today that it will officially unveil two Honda Zero series prototypes at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next January. Additionally, the company plans to showcase its newly developed proprietary operating system tailored for its global electric vehicle lineup. Honda introduced the Honda Zero series…
Stellantis to Produce New Model in Italy, While Pure Electric Vehicle Output Remains Limited
December 18, 2024 – According to a recent report by Reuters, Stellantis has allocated a new mass-market vehicle model to one of its Italian factories, as outlined in a long-term production plan submitted to the Italian government this week. Sources indicate that the new model could be manufactured at either the Pomigliano d’Arco plant, located…
Mercedes-Benz Raises the Bar: L3 Autonomous Driving Approved for 95km/h in Germany
December 18, 2024 – Mercedes-Benz has recently announced that its DRIVE PILOT autonomous driving system, capable of operating at speeds up to 95km/h, has been officially approved by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), the German federal automotive transport authority. The automaker revealed that this updated version of DRIVE PILOT, designed for speeds of up to 95km/h, is…
Sony Honda’s EV to Offer In-Car Karaoke and Movie Streaming for Ultimate Entertainment
December 17, 2024 – Sony Honda Mobility, the joint venture between Sony Group and Honda focused on pure electric vehicles (EVs), has announced a partnership with Canadian media services company Stingray Group. The collaboration will introduce Stingray’s karaoke library, featuring over 100,000 songs, into the “AFEELA” model, which is set to begin accepting orders in…
Tesla Faces Major Autopilot Computer Issues in New US Cars, Disrupting Multiple Vehicle Functions
December 17, 2024 – According to a report by Electrek, a significant number of new Tesla vehicles have encountered failures in their autopilot computers, resulting in the malfunction of various features including active safety functions, cameras, GPS navigation, and range estimation. This widespread issue has placed considerable strain on Tesla’s after-sales service. Electrek, through internal…
BMW to Fuel New German Diesel Cars with Vegetable Oil for Lower Carbon Emissions
December 17, 2024 – BMW, echoing a similar strategy to Toyota, believes that a combination of various technologies is essential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the automotive industry. Effective from next January, BMW will, for the first time, pre-fill all its new diesel models produced in Germany with HVO 100 hydrogenated vegetable oil. According…
Lamborghini CEO Declares 2029 the Right Time for Electric Sports Car Launch, Says Market Not Ready Yet
December 17, 2024 – According to a report by Electrek, the Italian luxury sports car brand Lamborghini has announced that it will postpone the launch of its first all-electric sports car until 2029. CEO Stephan Winkelmann, speaking from the company’s headquarters near Bologna, stated that the global market is not yet ready to embrace a…
Audi to Close Brussels Plant Amid Disappointing Q8 e-tron Sales
December 17, 2024 – Volkswagen Group is currently mulling over the closure of its plant in Germany, while its subsidiary brand, Audi, has already made the decision to shut down its Brussels factory in Belgium. The plant is slated to cease operations by the end of February next year, resulting in the discontinuation of two…