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Category: AutoRevolution

  • GM Turns to 3D Printing to Keep Tahoe Production On Track

    GM Turns to 3D Printing to Keep Tahoe Production On Track

    GM is turning to 3D printing to keep Tahoe production on track, printing some 60,000 parts as supply chain issues impact manufacturing.

    The global semiconductor shortage and supply chain issues have been particularly difficult on automakers. GM, Ford, Toyota, Opel, and others have all experienced production issues. According to CNET, GM is turning to 3D printing to create 60,000 parts in a fraction of the time it would otherwise require.

    GM’s management had the foresight to invest heavily in the tech in 2020, establishing the Additive Industralization Center using 15,000 square feet of space as a home for the 3D printing operation. The tech’s time to shine came roughly a year later, thanks to a change engineers made to the 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe. The change involved a new “spoiler closeout seal” to fill a gap in the SUV’s rear, with each of the 30,000 Tahoes in production needing two.

    Thanks to 3D printing, GM was able to design and print all 60,000 parts in just five weeks, half the time traditional injection-molding would have taken.

    With ongoing advances in the technology, 3D printing will no doubt play an increasingly important role in manufacturing across a range of industries.

  • The EU May Ban New Combustion Engine Cars by 2035

    The EU May Ban New Combustion Engine Cars by 2035

    Support is growing for an EU measure that would ban the sale of new vehicles powered by combustion engines by 2035.

    Countries around the world are working to reduce carbon emissions in the coming decade in a desperate attempt to curb climate change. Many automakers have already committed to electric-only lineups in the coming years, but the EU may be forcing the issue even further according to AP News.

    EU lawmakers held a vote, requiring automakers to achieve a 100% reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions by 2035. This would effectively make it illegal to sell new vehicles powered by gas or diesel. The lawmakers also adopted a measure that would require automakers to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030, substantially more than the 37.5% they are already required to meet.

    While environmental groups praised the steps taken, automakers were, unsurprisingly, less enthused. In particular, automakers wanted synthetic fuels exempted, something lawmakers did not agree to. As a result, the German auto lobby group VDA called the vote “a decision against innovation and technology.”

    The decision must still be adopted by EU nations but, if it is, it will signal a fundamental shift in the nature of the auto industry.

  • Apple Reportedly Shooting for 2025 to Release Full Self-Driving Car

    Apple Reportedly Shooting for 2025 to Release Full Self-Driving Car

    Apple is reportedly working to launch a full self-driving Apple Car as early as 2025, potentially turning the auto industry on its head.

    Apple has reportedly been working on the Apple Car, code-named “Project Titan,” for years. The company has tried to establish manufacturing deals with various automakers, and has waffled back and forth on exactly what the Apple Car will be. According to Bloomberg, the company’s plans are coming into focus, with a proposed debut as early as 2025.

    Apple has been working on two different approaches with Project Titan: one being a more traditional vehicle, with limited self-driving abilities, and the other a completely autonomous vehicle that requires no human interaction. Bloomberg’s sources say the company has settled on the latter option under project leader Kevin Lynch.

    If Apple is able to deliver, it has the potential to upend the entire auto industry. Automakers large and small have been working to crack the autonomous driving issues — with varying degrees of success. Ultimately, no automaker has managed to make a truly autonomous vehicle, one that doesn’t require human interaction.

    In fact, it’s believed the Apple Car will ship without a steering wheel or control pedals, although it may provide a way to take over in an emergency. The car may also feature seating around the sides of the car, rather than the traditional configuration, making it easier for passengers to visit with each other. Apple is reportedly considering an infotainment system — perhaps iPad-based — in the center of the vehicle. This would make it easier for all passengers to interact with it and get pertinent information about their journey.

    Interestingly, Bloomberg’s sources say the company’s chip design group has been working on the processors that will power the car’s AI, rather than the car group itself. Given the experience the chip design group has with the M1 and A-series lines of chips, this decision makes a lot of sense. Apple is also focusing extensively on safety, aiming to provide more safety measures than either Tesla or Waymo.

    Only time will tell if Apple is successful with Project Titan. If it is, however, the auto industry might join the list of industries reimagined and revolutionized by Apple.

  • Intel Wins DARPA Contract For Off-Road Autonomous Vehicle Sim Software

    Intel Wins DARPA Contract For Off-Road Autonomous Vehicle Sim Software

    Intel has won a contract to provide the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) with simulation software for autonomous off-road vehicle testing.

    Automakers around the world are working to develop autonomous vehicles, but their application goes far beyond the highway. Unfortunately, most autonomous vehicle development focuses almost exclusively on highway travel, leaving a gaping hole in the technology’s future, as Intel highlights:

    In the context of autonomous driving, the gap between on-road and off-road deployment is still very significant. Many simulation environments exist today, but few are optimized for off-road autonomy development at scale and speed. Additionally, real-world demonstrations continue to serve as the primary method to verify system performance.

    Off-road autonomous vehicles must deal with substantial challenges, including a lack of road networks and extreme terrain with rocks and all types of vegetation, among many others. Such extreme conditions make developing and testing expensive and slow. The RACER-Sim program aims to solve this problem by providing advanced simulation technologies to develop and test solutions, reducing deployment time and validation of AI-powered autonomous systems.

    To solve these problems, DARPA is turning to Intel to provide simulation software to help further off-road development.

    “Intel Labs has already made progress in advancing autonomous vehicle simulation through several projects, including the CARLA simulator, and we’re proud to participate in RACER-Sim to continue contributing to the next frontier of off-road robotics and autonomous vehicles,” said German Ros, Autonomous Agents Lab director at Intel Labs. “We brought together a team of renowned experts from the Computer Vision Center and UT Austin with the goal of creating a versatile and open platform to accelerate progress in off-road ground robots for all types of environments and conditions.”

  • BMW CEO Not a Fan of EV-Only Strategies

    BMW CEO Not a Fan of EV-Only Strategies

    Automakers may be racing to transition to electric vehicles (EVs), but BMW CEO Oliver Zipse isn’t a fan of that approach.

    Many automakers, from Subaru to Bentley, have committed to EV-only lineups within the next decade or so, but Zipse believes an EV-only strategy may leave automakers vulnerable. In particular, he has concerns the various components required for EV production are under the control of just a few countries, most notably China.

    “When you look at the technology coming out, the EV push, we must be careful because at the same time, you increase dependency on very few countries,” Zipse said, according to Reuters.

    “If someone cannot buy an EV for some reason but needs a car, would you rather propose he continues to drive his old car forever? If you are not selling combustion engines anymore, someone else will,” said Zipse.

    Instead of EV-only, Zipse is a fan of highly efficient combustion engines, which he believes are both environmentally responsible and more viable financially.

  • Canada to Ban Combustion Engine Cars Sales by 2035

    Canada to Ban Combustion Engine Cars Sales by 2035

    Automakers will no longer be able to sell combustion engine passenger cars in Canada, effective 2035, adding to the growing impetus for a full transition to electric vehicles.

    Governments are working to combat climate change, with combustion engine vehicles being one of the biggest, and most visible, means of doing so. Many automakers have committed to phasing out combustion engines by the mid-2030s, and various jurisdictions are moving to require such a transition.

    Canada is the latest to do so, according to Engadget, setting 2035 as the cutoff date for combustion engine car sales. In the meantime, the government has set interim milestones for automakers to meet. Canada wants 20% of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2026, increasing to 60% by 2030.

    Ottawa’s larger goal is to reach net zero emissions as a country by 2050, hitting 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

  • GM Shutting Down Indiana Pickup Truck Plant Over Chip Shortage

    GM Shutting Down Indiana Pickup Truck Plant Over Chip Shortage

    GM is shutting down its Fort Wayne, Indiana pickup truck factory for two weeks as a result of the semiconductor shortage.

    Despite chipmakers’ efforts to boost production, the semiconductor shortage continues to take a toll on various industries, with automakers especially susceptible to supply and demand issue. According to the Houston Chronicle, this is now causing GM to halt production at the Fort Wayne facility.

    “There is still uncertainty and unpredictability in the semiconductor supply base, and we are actively working with our suppliers to mitigate potential issues moving forward,” GM said Friday.

    Unfortunately for the industry, there doesn’t appear to be a quick resolution in sight. In fact, the Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens to exacerbate the situation even more, as Ukraine is responsible for 90% of the neon gas used in semiconductor manufacturing.

  • Ridesharing Business Trends You Should Know

    Ridesharing Business Trends You Should Know

    Rideshare businesses, such as Uber and Lyft, can make traveling much easier and more convenient than traditional taxi travel. At the end of the day, however, rideshare drivers can also be susceptible to reckless driving, negligent driving habits, and serious accidents. While rideshare companies are not lenient towards reckless drivers, navigating the aftermath of an accident can be difficult. Businesses with ridesharing operations may benefit from the assistance of a qualified and experienced accident attorney.

    To better understand the legal repercussions of a rideshare accident as well as how an accident attorney can help you, consider the following questions.

    What policies you have for ridesharing?

    No matter the magnitude of a collision, being in an accident is a jarring experience. There are a few key steps you should take after being in a ridesharing accident, and company policies should reflect those. First, take safety precautions. If possible, the driver should move the vehicle to a safe area away from traffic. Secondly, contact the authorities for appropriate help and documentation. If anyone has been seriously injured, request an ambulance immediately. Third, gather evidence. With authorities, share information about the passenger,  other parties, and witnesses to the accident. Take pictures and notes. Fourth, drivers should talk to the company attorney, which is preferably experienced with rideshare accidents. Passengers should have a rideshare accident attorney also. The attorneys can help navigate the aftermath of an accident, avoid error and miscommunication, and determine liability.

    Who is responsible for a ridesharing accident?

    Rideshare companies typically have policies in place that make it easier to skirt involvement in accidents caused by their drivers. Throughout the country, rideshare drivers are considered, not as employees, but as independent contractors. This distinction safeguards companies from paying taxes, benefits, or unemployment insurance to drivers and largely prevents companies from having vicarious liability for the actions of their drivers. In practice, this makes it easier for rideshare companies to avoid responsibility for wrecks caused by rideshare driver negligence.

    Could a rideshare company be held liable?

    Some actions and policies may arise that can connect an accident to the rideshare company’s negligence, such as poor hiring policies, making it easier to hold a rideshare company liable. The issue of when liability kicks in and from who can be a complicated one. This is why having an accident attorney on retainer may be especially important for a business because a qualified accident attorney will have a better understanding of who is liable.

    Both Lyft and Uber maintain one million dollar policies to cover passengers, third-party drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians for accidents caused by their drivers. These policies may apply towards injuries, medical bills, and damages in situations where the rideshare driver was logged into the app when they caused the crash. If this is the situation, it may be easier to file with a rideshare company for damages.

    How does a driver’s insurance affect liability?

    Rideshare drivers need to understand the extent of their insurance coverage. Uber and Lyft have similar insurance policies that cover rideshare drivers while they are driving while representing the company. This policy is addressed in three phases. Phase One is the sign-in period, in which a driver is logged into the app, but has not yet received a trip request. The driver in Phase One is covered, but only minimally as required by law. Important to note, the rideshare company’s insurance only covers a driver from financial liability incurred if involved in an accident. It does not typically cover any injuries to the driver or the driver’s property in this phase, and drivers will need to have personal insurance to be covered. Phase Two is the acceptance period, in which you have accepted a trip request from a passenger, and Phase Three is the transportation period, in which the driver is transporting the passenger. In Phases Two and Three, the driver is covered at a higher amount, until the moment the trip is complete. Generally, drivers have $1 million in liability coverage per accident and about $250,000 for injuries caused by uninsured drivers. If drivers have physical-damage coverage, then their vehicle may be covered by the rideshare app.

    Given the complications that may arise in understanding who is covered at what stage in the rideshare experience, it will be advantageous to have an experienced accident attorney to help sort through the timeline of events and injury as well as to handle all communications with the insurance company on your company’s behalf.

    What are the risks I face if I don’t hire an accident attorney?

    An accident attorney has specialized training and likely the experience needed to serve as a winning personal advocate for your case. They will have a comprehensive understanding of the law of your state regarding personal injury and rideshare cases, will conduct the appropriate research, client, and witness interviews, and negotiate any settlements and paperwork needed to help you seek proper compensation for injuries incurred as a result of the accident.

    The outcome of an accident is dependent on analyzing the fact-specific circumstances of your case. A rideshare accident may include working with several parties including the driver, passengers, the rideshare company itself, the insurance company, and third-parties. With so many moving components and participants, your case will become overwhelming quickly.

    Without the assistance of an experienced and competent accident attorney, you may be missing out on attaining the compensation you deserve to be whole once again.

    This is why hiring an accident attorney will be to your best advantage. An accident attorney will work in your best interests to efficiently help you reach a fair and appropriate conclusion. Most importantly, an accident attorney will help you move on from this jarring and unfortunate experience.

  • Maserati Commits to Full Electric Lineup by 2025

    Maserati Commits to Full Electric Lineup by 2025

    Maserati is the latest automaker to commit to a fully electric lineup, planning to make the transition by 2025.

    Virtually every automaker is working to transition to electric vehicles. Maserati is looking to carve out a niche for itself as the first Italian luxury brand to make the transition.

    Maserati is the first Italian luxury car brand to produce full-electric models: the Trident is announcing its plans for the market launch of the electric range, Maserati Folgore, and is providing comments on the 2021 sales figures.

    The automaker is coming off of a record year, one in which it saw a 41% year-on-year increase in sales. Maserati clearly wants to build on that success with the electrification of its lineup.

    All Maserati models will come in a 100% electric version by 2025: the MC20 super sports car, the new Quattroporte sport sedan and the all-new full-size Levante SUV will complete the Maserati Folgore offering, to attract the new luxury consumer in all market segments.

    With brands like Maserati making the jump to electric vehicles, the pressure will continue to increase for run-of-the-mill brands that don’t have the performance requirements as an Italian luxury brand.

  • T-Mobile and BMW Partner to Deliver First 5G-Connect Car

    T-Mobile and BMW Partner to Deliver First 5G-Connect Car

    T-Mobile and BMW are partnering to deliver the first 5G-connected car in the US, powered by T-Mobile Magenta Drive.

    Available to postpaid customers for $20 a month, T-Mobile Magenta Drive for BMW gives eligible vehicles full 5G connectivity, providing hotspot access to up to 10 devices simultaneously. The feature also integrates a user’s phone number, allowing them to leave their phone behind and still make calls from their car.

    T-Mobile and BMW tout the advanced antenna system in the BMW iX and i4, a system that compliments T-Mobile’s industry-leading 5G coverage and access.

    “In 2019 we lit up the first nationwide 5G network, and today we mark another milestone that builds on our 5G leadership,” said Callie Field, President, T-Mobile Business Group. “In another 5G first, we’ve delivered America’s first 5G connected cars, and we’re honored to do it together with BMW, who entrust their vehicles’ connectivity to T-Mobile.”

  • NHTSA Ruling Opens Door to Fully Autonomous Vehicles

    NHTSA Ruling Opens Door to Fully Autonomous Vehicles

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a ruling that opens the door to fully autonomous vehicles in the US.

    Virtually every major automaker is working to develop and deploy autonomous vehicles, but regulations have been as much an impediment as the actual technology. The Department of Transportation’s NHTSA has taken a major step forward in addressing the regulatory issues with the first-of-its-kind safety standards, designed to protect passengers in vehicles with automated driving systems (ADS).

    “Through the 2020s, an important part of USDOT’s safety mission will be to ensure safety standards keep pace with the development of automated driving and driver assistance systems,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This new rule is an important step, establishing robust safety standards for ADS-equipped vehicles.”

    “As the driver changes from a person to a machine in ADS-equipped vehicles, the need to keep the humans safe remains the same and must be integrated from the beginning,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator. “With this rule, we ensure that manufacturers put safety first.”

    In particular, the new standard stipulates that occupants of ADS-equipped vehicles must be afforded the same level of safety as a traditional vehicle provides.

    The full content of the new rule can be accessed here.

  • Intel Spinning Off Autonomous Unit Mobileye

    Intel Spinning Off Autonomous Unit Mobileye

    Intel has filed paperwork to spin off Mobileye, its autonomous driving unit, roughly five years after it acquired it.

    Mobileye is a leading provider of autonomous vehicle technology, including the camera systems some models rely. Since being acquired by Intel, the company has benefited from Intel’s investment and technical expertise, significantly expanding its reach. According to The Wall Street Journal, via TheStreet, Mobileye’s vehicle pipeline has risen from 37 million vehicles in 2021 to 50 million in 2022. The company also increased its revenue 40% from 2020 to 2021, coming in at $1.4 billion.

    Intel clearly wants to maximize the return on its investment, filing confidentially for a Mobileye IPO. The valuation could come in north of $50 billion, making it the largest IPO of the year so far. Intel says it will retain majority ownership.

    The IPO could come as early as mid-2022.

  • Volkwagen Preparing to Take On Tesla, Defend Its Home Turf

    Volkwagen Preparing to Take On Tesla, Defend Its Home Turf

    Volkswagen is preparing to defend its home turf, ramping up electric vehicle (EV) production to take on Tesla in Germany.

    Tesla’s Gigafactory is the company’s first manufacturing operation in Germany, as Tesla works to maintain its dominance in the EV market. Unfortunately for the company, virtually every major automaker is racing to transition to an EV lineup, and Volkswagen is no exception.

    According to TheStreet, Volkswagen is planning on spending some $2.2 billion on a new factory to produce its Trinity EV. Construction will begin in early 2023, with the first vehicles slated to roll off the assembly line in 2026. Volkswagen’s goal is to make the Trinity a carbon-neutral vehicle.

    “We are setting benchmarks in the automotive industry with Trinity and the new factory and turning Wolfsburg into the global lighthouse for cutting-edge and efficient vehicle production,” CEO Ralf Brandstätter said in a statement.

    The company is also “seeking to attract new groups of customers and tap additional sources of income” as it continues to work on autonomous vehicles. Like other automakers, the company has been working on the next evolution of the automobile, developing its own autonomous software and partnering with Microsoft Azure to help power it.

  • Honda and Sony Partnering on Electric Vehicle Efforts

    Honda and Sony Partnering on Electric Vehicle Efforts

    Honda and Sony are working together, forming a new company to sell electric vehicles (EVs) as the entire industry pivots away from gasoline engines.

    Sony showed off its Vision-S SUV at CES 2022, a sleek-looking EV born as a result of the response Sony received from unveiling the Vision-S sedan a year earlier.

    “The excitement we received after we showed off the Vision-S really encouraged us to further consider how we can bring creativity and technology to change the experience of moving from one place to another,” CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said at the time. “This is our new Vision-S SUV. Vision-S has been developed on a foundation of safety, adaptability and entertainment. Safety has been our No. 1 priority in creating a comfortable mobility experience. That has not changed when building this SUV. A total of 40 sensors are installed inside and outside of the vehicle to monitor safety.”

    Sony has found a partner in Honda, a company that has the engineering and manufacturing capabilities to help bring Sony’s vision to life. According to Reuters, the two companies will form a joint venture, with plans to bring EVs to market in 2025.

  • GM Kills Off Marketplace

    GM Kills Off Marketplace

    GM has announced it has killed off Marketplace, one of its more innovative convenience features.

    Marketplace was an app that allowed GM owners to purchase gas, food, drinks, and more from their in-vehicle infotainment systems. The company first unveiled the product in 2017, and it was a comprehensive way for drivers to access various roadside services. In addition to fuel, food, and drinks, drivers could make hotel reservations, as well as order curbside pickup. Marketplace was also touted as a way for businesses to more easily engage with drivers and potential customers.

    Despite its innovative features, GM is killing off Marketplace, according to CNBC.

    “We routinely evaluate our services to ensure they provide the best experience for our members. In this spirit, we have decided to discontinue our Marketplace services,” GM said in an email to vehicle owners.

    It seems low adoption rate is to blame for the feature’s untimely demise, with one engineer saying activation was only in the “thousands.”

  • Mazda Drivers Stuck on Public Radio, 5G Blamed

    Mazda Drivers Stuck on Public Radio, 5G Blamed

    Mazda drivers in Western Washington are getting a major dose of public radio, unable to change the station from public radio KUOW 94.9.

    According to GeekWire, some Mazdas made between 2014 and 2017 are experiencing issues with their vehicles radios and infotainment systems. In some cases the vehicles are stuck on KUOW, while in other cases the system has quit working altogether. The one common denominator is that everyone who’s had the problem was listening to KUOW when it started.

    Some dealerships believe the issue has to do with 5G, but KUOW disputes that assertion.

    “5G is just a cell standard,” Operations Director Dane Johnson told GeekWire. “When they talk about cars and a 5G vs. 3G issue it’s cars that have an actual cell receiver in them and are on a service like AT&T that may have problems if that provider sunsets 3G. It has nothing to do with broadcast terrestrial service.”

    Mazda is evidently aware of the issue, has figured out the cause, and is working on a fix.

  • Dealers Beware: Ford Will Withhold Inventory From Those That Gauge Customers

    Dealers Beware: Ford Will Withhold Inventory From Those That Gauge Customers

    Ford CEO Jim Farley is laying down the law, warning dealers the company will withhold inventory from those that gouge customers.

    Automakers around the world are struggling with a shortage of semiconductors and components, leading to constrained inventory. Some dealerships have responded by trying to take advantage of the situation, charging customers exorbitant prices.

    The practice hasn’t gone unnoticed by the powers that be at Ford, according to Bloomberg. In fact, Farley is promising such behavior will cost those dealerships.

    “We have very good intelligence of who they are and their future allocation of product will be directly impacted because of that policy,” CEO Jim Farley said Thursday on a conference call with analysts. “We have about 10% of our dealers last year in the supply constrained environment that we’re in charging above MSRP to the best of our knowledge.”

    Any time there is constrained supply, there are always those who would take advantage of people. Hats off to Farley and Ford for cracking down on such behavior.

  • Hyundai Shutters Engine Development Group to Focus on EVs

    Hyundai has shuttered its internal combustion engine group as the company pivots toward the development of electric vehicles (EVs).

    Like most automakers, Hyundai is racing to transition to EVs. The company announced its battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform, the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) a year ago.

    According to The Korea Economic Daily, Hyundai has now shut down its internal combustion engine development group, reassigning the personnel to EV development.

    “Now, it is inevitable to convert into electrification,” said new R&D chief Park Chung-kook in an email to employees. “Our own engine development is a great achievement, but we must change the system to create future innovation based on the great asset from the past.”

    The move will help the Hyundai meet its goals of selling 1 million EVs in 2025, and 1.7 million EVs in 2026.

  • Toyota Reconsidering Charging for Key Fob Remote Start

    Toyota is reconsidering a controversial decision to charge for keyless remote entry after backlash from owners and non-owners alike.

    Toyota ignited a firestorm in mid-December when The Drive broke news the company planned on disabling key fob remote start unless customers were enrolled in a monthly subscription. Rather than announcing the change only for upcoming models, Toyota said it would apply to models sold from 2018 forward.

    At the time the news broke, Toyota was less than forthcoming with details, but the company has since provided The Drive with more information. Evidently, the remote start functionality — activated by pressing the lock button three times — was never advertised in official Toyota materials as a feature, and was something many dealers simply told customers about.

    Toyota says the issue comes from software logic related to the data communication module (DCM), which checks for the presence of a subscription before allowing certain feature. The remote start is one such feature, even though the functionality is handled locally, between the fob and the car.

    “The subscription truly is for the app,” a Toyota spokesperson told The Drive. “The key fob remote start was never intended to be a cost item either at the time of purchase or through subscription.”

    The company claims it never anticipated the pushback it received, although it’s hard to imagine how a company with the marketing resources of Toyota managed to miss such an obvious conclusion, especially given the “subscription fatigue” many customers feel. It’s also not clear how or why the company did not realize dealerships were telling customers about the remote start, or that it would be such a loved feature — one customers would not want to give up.

    Either way, Toyota says it is reevaluating the situation and trying to determine if the functionality can be left as-is.

  • Want to Remote Start Your Toyota? You’ll Need to Pay a Subscription

    Want to Remote Start Your Toyota? You’ll Need to Pay a Subscription

    Toyota has revealed that customers will need to pay a subscription fee to use the remote start functionality of their key fobs.

    Remote start is a popular add-on feature for many vehicles, and can be a life-saver in cold or extremely hot weather. Unfortunately, Toyota customers who thought their vehicles came with remote start are in for a bit of a surprise: They’ll need to pay a subscription fee to continue using it.

    Subscription-based services have become incredibly popular in the tech industry, with everyone from enterprise software providers to shareware authors opting for the licensing model. That model seems to be making its way into the automotive industry, with luxury manufacturers turning to subscriptions to unlock high-end features.

    In a turn of events, however, the world’s largest automaker appears to also be embracing subscription-based services. According to The Drive, 2018 and later Toyota models with a key fob that includes remote start will require a Remote Connect subscription in order to continue working.

    If more automakers embrace Toyota’s position, it’s a safe bet the demand for aftermarket remote start kits will skyrocket.

  • Toyota Building Multi-Billion Dollar Battery Plant in North Carolina

    Toyota Building Multi-Billion Dollar Battery Plant in North Carolina

    Toyota is ramping up its electric vehicle (EV) battery production with plans to build a multi-billion dollar plant in North Carolina.

    Despite helping to create the market for hybrid vehicles, Toyota has been noticeably behind other manufacturers in committing to an all-electric lineup. In fact, the automaker has even been accused of working to delay climate legislation and opposes a fast transition to all-electric vehicles.

    Whatever the company’s plans, it appears to be investing more in EV battery production, building a North Carolina plant that will be operational by 2025, according to Raleigh’s The News & Observer.

    “North Carolina’s economic story — from the Wright brothers first in flight, to life-saving medicines at Research Triangle Park — we have been a state of firsts, partnering with industries to develop new ideas that really do change people’s lives,” said Gov. Roy Cooper.

    The plant will eventually account for 1,750 jobs in 2029, with a minimum average salary of $62,234.