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Category: ElectricVehicleTrends

ElectricVehicleTrends

  • Apple Snags Porsche’s Head of Chassis Development

    Apple Snags Porsche’s Head of Chassis Development

    Amid a slew of new rumors and information about the Apple Car, the company has hired Dr. Manfred Harrer, Porsche’s Vice President of Chassis Development.

    Apple’s plans for a car, code-named “Project Titan,” are coming into clearer focus, thanks to reports, rumors and walked-back statements. Hyundai initially released a statement saying it was in talks with Apple to build a car, before walking that statement back in two subsequent ones.

    Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Project Titan will use Hyundai’s E-GMP battery electric vehicle (BEV) chassis, giving the first glimpse at possible specs for the finished product.

    At the same time, Apple’s hardware chief, Dan Riccio, recently was moved to a new project where he will report directly to CEO Tim Cook. For someone of Riccio’s stature within the company to be moved to a new project underscores the importance of that endeavor, as does his reporting directly to Cook, leading some to believe he may be working on Project Titan.

    The latest news from Insider Deutschland, via 9to5Mac, indicates that Apple is moving forward with its hire of Dr. Harrer. Dr. Harrer has spent over a decade at Porsche, and been head of chassis development since 2016. His hiring is particularly interesting, given the rumors that Apple will use Hyundai’s E-GMP platform.

    Apple is well-known for taking a platform and customizing it to meet their specific needs. One has only to look at the iPhone, iPad and Mac to see this in practice. While the processors used in all three devices are loosely based on Arm designs, Apple has a license that allows them to customize them so heavily that it truly has its own, custom silicon.

    One can’t help but wonder if Dr. Harrer was hired with the same goal — to take Hyundai’s E-GMP platform and customize it to better meet Apple’s needs and goals. Just as Apple’s custom silicon consistently out-performs competitors using vanilla Arm designs, a customized E-GMP platform could end up out-performing Hyundai’s standard option.

  • Tesla Recalling 135,000 Vehicles Over Failing Center Display

    Tesla Recalling 135,000 Vehicles Over Failing Center Display

    Tesla has agreed to recall some 134,951 Model S and Model X vehicles under pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

    The issue involves the center display in Tesla models, a display that is central to a number of functions.

    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.

    When the center display fails, it can impact several convenience and safety features.

    The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

    According to the NHTSA, Tesla will notify impacted owner and perform the necessary repair for free.

  • First Apple Car Specs Leaked…And They’re Impressive

    First Apple Car Specs Leaked…And They’re Impressive

    Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, one of the most reliable Apple prognosticators, has leaked specs for the rumored Apple Car.

    Apple has been working on the Apple Car, code-named “Project Titan,” for years. The project has alternately been rumored to be a full-fledged car, an OEM AI system and an aftermarket AI system that could be integrated with a range of vehicles. Recently, the evidence has consolidated around Project Titan being a full-fledged car, with Hyundai the likely manufacturer.

    Ming-Chi Kuo is well-known in the Apple community for having well-placed sources and a reliable track record regarding his predictions about upcoming Apple products. Kuo has now weighed in on the biggest Apple rumor, providing a possible glimpse of the Apple Car’s specs.

    According to 9to5Mac, Kuo “reiterates recent reports that Hyundai will be the key manufacturing partner for the Apple Car, but goes on to say that the vehicle will use the company’s electric car chassis known as E-GMP.”

    The use of the E-GMP platform is critical, and provides the bulk of the insight. Unlike Hyundai’s existing platforms, the E-GMP is designed exclusively for battery electric vehicles (BEV). In contrast, the company’s existing platforms — even those used in their hybrid vehicles — were designed primarily for internal combustion drivetrains.

    The E-GMP boasts a 300-mile range, fast-charging to 80% capacity in 18 minutes and a top speed of 160 mph, including 0-60 in less than 3.5 seconds.

    Kuo’s notes also touch on the manufacturing timeframe:

    We predict that Apple will launch the Apple Car in 2025 at the earliest. The new iPhone takes about 18–24 months from initial specification definition to mass production based on experience. Given the longer development time, higher validation requirements, more complicated supply chain management, and very different sales/after-sales service channels for the automobiles, we believe that Apple, which lacks car building experience, is already on a tight schedule if it wants to launch the Apple Car in 2025.

    As 9to5Mac points out, those specs are for the “the high-performance model” of the E-GMP chassis. At the same time, Apple knows the stakes involved in entering such a competitive market late in the game. Similarly, the company is known for its high-end hardware, and its penchant for improving on the status quo. Therefore, it’s a safe bet the Apple Car will probably offer the very best the E-GMP platform can provide.

  • Tesla’s Model S and Model X Refresh Ditches the Gear Shift

    Tesla’s Model S and Model X Refresh Ditches the Gear Shift

    Tesla has unveiled its refreshed Model S and Model X, including a radically redesigned steering wheel and an absent gear shifter.

    Whether automatic or standard, the gear shifter has been a major part of almost every vehicle ever made. Leave it to Tesla to rethink it…and ditch it.

    Electrek got a look at an internal Tesla document that discusses how the vehicles will know which drive mode to active:

    The vehicle uses its Autopilot sensors to intelligently and automatically determine intended drive modes and select them. For example, if the front of Model S/X is facing a garage wall, it will detect this and automatically shift to Reverse once the driver presses the brake pedal. This eliminates one more step for the drivers of the world’s most intelligent production cars.

    According to Electrek, “Tesla is making sure that people are not too confused about it by adding force touch controls for ‘Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive’ drive modes at the base of the phone charger on the center console.”

    Needless to say, this is a huge departure from what people are familiar with, but Tesla has built an entire business of upending the traditional auto. This is one of those features many people will probably wonder how they ever lived without.

  • Lilium Puts Florida On the Forefront of Electric Air Taxi Industry

    Lilium Puts Florida On the Forefront of Electric Air Taxi Industry

    Lilium, a company focused on all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) craft, has signed a deal for 10 vertiports in Florida.

    Lilium has been working to make electric air taxis a reality. The company told Business Insider in 2019 that flights could be as cheap as $70. The company has now moved one step closer to deployment, partnering with Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial to build 10 vertiports throughout Florida.

    The locations will ensure widespread coverage for the state’s residents.

    “Our strategy to bring high-speed transportation networks to an entire region is being brought to life in Florida, and Ferrovial is the ideal partner with their unrivalled expertise in airport construction and operations around the globe,” said Dr. Remo Gerber, Chief Operating Officer, Lilium. “Nearly all 20 million Floridians will live within 30 minutes of our vertiports and the 140 million annual visitors to the Sunshine State will have a high-speed option available to travel to their destinations.”

    “We are delighted to partner with Lilium in this big step towards new ways of achieving air mobility and sustainable infrastructure. Our partnership will deliver a uniquely different end-to-end passenger experience,” said Jorge Gil, CEO Ferrovial Airports.

    Lilium’s jet uses 36 electric jet engines to provide thrust, giving it a speed of 186 mph. Taking off, the jet is only as loud as a passing truck, and completely inaudible from the ground once it reaches 400 meters. Because they’re electric, Lilium’s jets are much simpler than traditional designs, having roughly the same number of parts as the average family car.

    It appears Lilium may have the right combination of features, performance and cost to finally make air taxies a success.

  • GM Commits to All-Electric Light-Duty Vehicles By 2035

    GM Commits to All-Electric Light-Duty Vehicles By 2035

    GM has become the latest company to commit to an all-electric light-duty lineup by 2035, with the goal of being carbon neutral by 2040.

    Automakers around the globe are embracing electric vehicle (EV) technology, with everyone from Subaru to Bentley committing to phasing out fossil fuels. In the US, President Biden’s action to rejoin the Paris Agreement is placing a renewed emphasis on combating climate change. In addition, President Biden has committed to replacing the entire federal vehicle fleet with American-made EVs.

    Given the groundswell of support, it’s not surprising GM has now become the latest automaker to embrace EVs, vowing to sell only emissions-free, light-duty EVs by 2035.

    “General Motors is joining governments and companies around the globe working to establish a safer, greener and better world,” said Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO. “We encourage others to follow suit and make a significant impact on our industry and on the economy as a whole.”

    The company has also committed to becoming carbon neutral in both its products and operations by 2040.

    “With this extraordinary step forward, GM is making it crystal clear that taking action to eliminate pollution from all new light-duty vehicles by 2035 is an essential element of any automaker’s business plan,” said Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp. “EDF and GM have had some important differences in the past, but this is a new day in America — one where serious collaboration to achieve transportation electrification, science-based climate progress and equitably shared economic opportunity can move our nation forward.”

  • Apple Shakeup Has Hardware Chief Taking On New Secret Project

    Apple Shakeup Has Hardware Chief Taking On New Secret Project

    Apple has announced a shakeup of its executive team, with hardware chief Dan Riccio taking on a new project.

    Dan Riccio has been with Apple since 1998 as a leader on the Product Design team. From there he became vice president of iPad Hardware Engineering in 2010, and then executive team leader of Hardware Engineering in 2012. Riccio now moves on as a vice president of engineering. Most significantly, Apple says his new role will involving working on a new project and reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook.

    In the meantime, John Ternus will take over Apple’s Hardware Engineering in place of Riccio.

    “Every innovation Dan has helped Apple bring to life has made us a better and more innovative company, and we’re thrilled that he’ll continue to be part of the team,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “John’s deep expertise and wide breadth of experience make him a bold and visionary leader of our Hardware Engineering teams. I want to congratulate them both on these exciting new steps, and I’m looking forward to many more innovations they’ll help bring to the world.”

    “Working at Apple has been the opportunity of a lifetime, spent making the world’s best products with the most talented people you could imagine,” said Riccio. “After 23 years of leading our Product Design or Hardware Engineering teams — culminating with our biggest and most ambitious product year ever — it’s the right time for a change. Next up, I’m looking forward to doing what I love most — focusing all my time and energy at Apple on creating something new and wonderful that I couldn’t be more excited about.”

    While Apple is not giving any hints about what project Riccio will be working on, one possibility is the Apple Car. The project is currently being led by Apple AI chief John Giannandrea, but it seems likely Riccio’s vast experience in hardware engineering would be an invaluable asset to the project. Alternatively, Riccio could be helming an entirely unrelated, yet to be revealed project.

  • BP Pivots to Renewables, Slashes Oil Exploration

    BP Pivots to Renewables, Slashes Oil Exploration

    BP has reduced its oil exploration to 100 members, down from 700, as it focuses on renewable energy.

    With climate change headlining the agendas of many countries, companies around the globe are taking drastic action to adapt and prepare for an economy based on renewable energy. Nowhere is that transformation more drastic than the very industry that has provided the fossil fuels the world has depended on.

    BP is among those energy companies leading the charge, thanks to CEO Bernard Looney. Under Looney, the company has been aggressively pivoting to renewable energy and scaling back its oil exploration efforts, according to Reuters. The company is using its existing petroleum business to help fund the transition.

    “We are in a harvest mode and what isn’t being said is that BP is going to be a much smaller company without exploration,” a source in BP’s oil and production division said told Reuters.

    The company has been hiring staff from Silicon Valley, Toyota, Uber and more in an effort to better understand electric vehicles and other key parts of the renewable energy industry in an effort to help it better compete.

    Looney’s efforts are not without risk, however, as some worry the company may prematurely slash its oil income before its investments in renewable energy pay off.

    “There is so much internal change that it will be a big job to pick up the organisation and get things going,” a senior employee in the exploration division told Reuters.

    There’s no doubt the company is experiencing challenges with its transformation, with the stock at its lowest point in 25 years. Looney is adamant, however, that BP must change in order to remain relevant.

    “Everywhere I have been, inside BP as well as outside BP, I have come away with one inescapable conclusion, and that is that we have got to change,” he said in a webcast.

    If Looney can pull off his vision, BP will be far better positioned than competitors who are trying to hang on to a dying industry as long as possible.

     

  • Electric Vehicles Nearing Adoption Tipping Point

    Electric Vehicles Nearing Adoption Tipping Point

    Electric vehicles are approaching the tipping point of mass adoption thanks to a combination of factors.

    Electric vehicles have been increasing in popularity, with multiple automakers committed to phasing out gasoline engines in the next decade. Even so, there are issues holding back widespread adoption, specifically cost and range anxiety.

    According to The Guardian, however, those factors are on the verge of changing, and already have in some locations. Norway, for example, saw electric cars hit 54% market share in 2020 thank, in large part, to tax breaks that made them cheaper than gasoline-powered vehicles. Continued development of battery technology is driving the price down globally, making it only a matter of time before electric vehicles are cheaper in other countries as well.

    Similarly, StoreDot has successfully demonstrated batteries that charge in five minutes. Fast-charging batteries are one of the biggest factors in alleviating range anxiety, making it possible to recharge in the same amount of time it would take to refuel a traditional vehicle.

    As The Guardian points out, experts now believe electric vehicles will become cheaper than traditional vehicles, even without subsidies, sometime between 2023 and 2025.

    While there’s still a ways to go, these factors are combining to ensure the tipping point of mass adoption occurs sooner rather than later.

  • Elon Musk Donating $100 Million Toward Best Carbon Capture Idea

    Elon Musk Donating $100 Million Toward Best Carbon Capture Idea

    Elon Musk is donating $100 million toward efforts to find the best way to capture carbon emissions.

    As climate change begins to take a toll, many are turning to efforts to capture and safely store carbon dioxide (CO2) as a solution. In fact, this is naturally occurring phenomenon, with CO2 deposits safely stored in rock formations around the globe.

    There are additional advantages to carbon capture and storage (CCS), including the cost and removal of additional pollutants. According to Earth Institute, Columbia University, “the technology also reduces pollutants like sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxide, and particulates. And the best part is that it costs only $40 for per tonne of CO2.”

    With President Biden recommitting the US to the Paris Agreement, CCS could be an important step toward bringing carbon emissions within the target levels. Elon Musk is willing to put his own money toward helping find the best way achieve wide scale CCS.

    We will be monitoring this story and provide updates as those details become available.

  • Hyundai’s Kia Motors Taking Point On Apple Car

    Hyundai’s Kia Motors Taking Point On Apple Car

    Hyundai’s Kia Motors has been tasked with coordinating efforts on the rumored Apple Car, according to reports.

    Hyundai made headlines when it issued a statement saying it was in talks with Apple to build its Apple Car, not realizing the first rule of working with Apple is ‘don’t talk about working with Apple.’ The company quickly realized the error of its ways, issuing follow-up statements that walked back any reference to the Cupertino company.

    Subsequent reports indicated Apple was still working with Hyundai, however, with the two companies moving closer to a deal. According to Reuters, “Hyundai Motor Group, had decided Kia would be in charge of proposed cooperation with Apple on electric cars.”

    In further evidence Hyundai has learned from its early blunder, the company declined to comment when Reuters reached out.

    Should Apple and Hyundai finalize their deal, it will likely be good news for potential customers. Hyundai and Kia have a reputation for manufacturing cars that receive rave reviews while remaining affordable, compared to competitors.

  • StoreDot Demonstrates ‘5-Minute Charge’ Electric Vehicle Batteries

    StoreDot Demonstrates ‘5-Minute Charge’ Electric Vehicle Batteries

    StoreDot has achieved a significant milestone, demonstrating lithium-ion (Li-ion) electric vehicle batteries that charge in five minutes.

    Range anxiety is one of the biggest challenges to widespread electric vehicle adoption. Even with increased charging infrastructure, lengthy charging times can be an impediment to long-distance travel, such as a cross-country trip.

    StoreDot is an Israeli startup that may have the solution. The company has been working on fast-charging Li-ion batteries, ideally suited for electric vehicles. The company has now announced that engineer samples of its first-generation 5-minute charge batteries are now available.

    Dr. Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot, described the significance of the company’s technology:

    StoreDot continues to go from strength to strength as we get one step closer to making our vision of 5-minute charging of EVs a commercial reality. Our team of top scientists has overcome inherent challenges of XFC such as safety, cycle life and swelling by harnessing innovative materials and cell design. Today’s announcement marks an important milestone, moving XFC for the first time beyond innovation in the lab to a commercially-viable product that is scalable for mass production. This paves the way for the launch of our second-generation, silicon-dominant anode prototype battery for electric vehicles later this year.

    We founded StoreDot to achieve what many said could never be done – develop batteries capable of delivering a full charge in just five minutes. We have shown that this level of XFC charging is possible – first in 2019 with an electric scooter and again six months ago with a commercial drone. We are proud to make these samples available, but today’s milestone is just the beginning. We’re on the cusp of achieving a revolution in the EV charging experience that will remove the critical barrier to mass adoption of EVs.

    StoreDot’s batteries could be a game-changer for the industry, and lead to electric vehicles that are every bit as convenient as their gasoline-fueled counterparts.

  • Microsoft Invests In Cruise, GM’s Self-Driving Subsidiary

    Microsoft Invests In Cruise, GM’s Self-Driving Subsidiary

    As part of a new $2 billion round of funding, Microsoft has invested in Cruise, GM’s self-driving subsidiary, sending GM’s stock up 9%.

    Headquartered in San Francisco, Cruise’s mission is to bring all-electric, self-driving, shared vehicles to the market. The investment will see Microsoft become the preferred cloud provider for Cruise, as it leverages Azure to help commercialize its vehicle offerings.

    “Our mission to bring safer, better, and more affordable transportation to everyone isn’t just a tech race – it’s also a trust race,” said Cruise CEO Dan Ammann. “Microsoft, as the gold standard in the trustworthy democratization of technology, will be a force multiplier for us as we commercialize our fleet of self-driving, all-electric, shared vehicles.”

    “Advances in digital technology are redefining every aspect of our work and life, including how we move people and goods,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “As Cruise and GM’s preferred cloud, we will apply the power of Azure to help them scale and make autonomous transportation mainstream.”

    This latest round of investment brings Cruise’s total valuation to $30 billion. Meanwhile, GM’s stock reached an all-new, intraday high on the news, hitting $54.42 after the opening bell.

  • Ford Delaying Mustang Mach-E Deliveries For Quality Review

    Ford Delaying Mustang Mach-E Deliveries For Quality Review

    Ford customers are in for a bit of disappointment, as the automaker is delaying some Mustang Mach-E deliveries for quality reviews.

    An electric SUV, the Mach-E is one of the most highly-anticipated vehicles, and is considered to be a real challenger to Tesla’s dominance in the electric vehicle market. The SUV was even named North American Utility Vehicle of the Year at the 2021 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) Awards.

    Customers looking forward to getting behind the wheel will need to wait a bit longer, however, as they began receiving emails Thursday evening that their orders would be delayed.

    The Detroit Free Press received confirmation from Ford that a few deliveries were already made in December. However, the company confirmed several hundred deliveries would be delayed.

    “As part of our commitment to delivering high-quality vehicles, we are conducting additional quality checks on several hundred Mustang Mach-E models built before dealer shipments started last month. We want to ensure they meet the quality our customers expect and deserve,” Ford spokeswoman Emma Bergg told the Free Press.

    “We notified affected customers (several hundred in US and Canada) that they may receive their Mustang Mach-Es on different timing than previously discussed,” she continued. “The team is working to expedite these vehicles, and we hope that customers receive them ahead of targeted dates, providing there are no COVID-19-related transportation delays.”

    While disappointing for Ford’s customers, the company is obviously concerned with making sure they get this launch perfect. Given what’s at stake, and Ford’s increasingly rivalry with Tesla, it’s understandable that they’re not taking any chances.

  • American Robotics First Company Approved For Automated Drone Flights

    American Robotics First Company Approved For Automated Drone Flights

    American Robotics has become the first company authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly automated drones.

    The drone industry is exploding, with companies large and small looking to the craft for retail delivery, agriculture, security, inspections, search and rescue, surveying and more. A big milestone toward the growth of the industry, however, is approval for automated flights, without on-site human operators.

    American Robotics is now the first company to receive that authorization. The company specializes in developing fully autonomous drones, featuring the company’s Scout System, with advanced acoustic Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) technology. As a result, the company’s drones maintain a safe distance from other aircraft.

    “With these approvals, American Robotics is ushering in a new era of widespread automated drone operations,” said Reese Mozer, CEO and co-founder of American Robotics. “Decades worth of promise and projection are finally coming to fruition. We are proud to be the first company to meet the FAA’s comprehensive safety requirements, which had previously restricted the viability of drone use in the commercial sector. We are very grateful for the FAA’s willingness to work closely with American Robotics over the past four years on this precedent-setting authorization. With this set of approvals, American Robotics can begin safely operating our automated Scout platform for the benefit of the energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and security market verticals, helping unlock the projected $100 billion commercial drone market.”

    During the testing period, the company’s drones showed the impact they could have on both industry and agriculture.

    “Our interest in American Robotics’ technology started with the desire to have a drone imagery solution that was reliable, scalable, and executed with minimal human resources,” said Lance Ruppert, Director of Agronomy Marketing and Technology at Growmark, Inc., a leading U.S. grower cooperative. “This technology, along with the FAA approvals to operate it without humans on the ground, is key to making drones a widespread reality in our industry. This is a game changer.”

    American Robotics’ approval is good news for the drone industry and is sure to be just the first of many.

  • Archer and Fiat Chrysler Plan to Produce Flying Cars by 2023

    Archer and Fiat Chrysler Plan to Produce Flying Cars by 2023

    Move over Jetsons: Flying cars are on the horizon, with Archer and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) planning production for 2023.

    Flying cars have been a staple of science fiction for decades, but the reality has eluded inventors, scientists and corporations. California-based Archer is dedicated to revolutionizing air travel, with a focus on creating the first all-electric airline. The company is now working with FCA to make flying cars — what it calls electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft — a reality.

    “We’ve been hyper-focused on a customer-first approach to vehicle design and aircraft operations,” said Brett Adcock, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Archer. “Now we are working with a seasoned, industry-leading automotive partner to leverage cost benefits and experience that will allow Archer to produce thousands of aircraft reliably and affordably every single year.”

    “Electrification within the transportation sector, whether on roads or in the air is the future and with any new and rapidly developing technology, scale is important,” said Doug Ostermann, Vice President and Head of Global Business Development of FCA. “Our partnership with Archer has mutual benefits and will enable innovative, environmentally friendly transportation solutions to be brought to market at an accelerated pace.”

    “We are excited to team up with one of the world’s largest automotive companies on our mission of advancing the benefits of sustainable air mobility” said Adam Goldstein, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Archer. “This is a first-of-its-kind deal for one of Detroit’s Big Three auto makers in moving into the Urban Air Mobility space. There is now a clear path for Archer to bring mass production to this industry, changing the way people travel in and around cities forever.”

    Archer’s efforts are one of the most concrete endeavors yet to make flying cars a reality. While production is slated to begin in 2023, the companies plan to unveil their design in early 2021. Partnering with one of Detroit’s Big Three will help bring to bear the necessary resources and expertise to hopefully make the project a success

  • GM Launches BrightDrop Business to Build Electric Delivery Solutions

    GM Launches BrightDrop Business to Build Electric Delivery Solutions

    GM has launched a new business, BrightDrop, to build electric solutions to cover the entire delivery process.

    As the transition to electric transportation moves ahead, GM is working to tackle the delivery industry. To better do so, the company is launching BrightDrop, with a focus on developing an “ecosystem of electric first-to-last-mile products.”

    The first product that will come to market is the BrightDrop EP1, a propulsion-assist electric pallet. This will be followed by the BrightDrop EV600, an electric light commercial delivery vehicle.

    The company will also be developing a range software and services to compliment its products.

    “BrightDrop offers a smarter way to deliver goods and services,” said Mary Barra GM Chairman and CEO. “We are building on our significant expertise in electrification, mobility applications, telematics and fleet management, with a new one-stop-shop solution for commercial customers to move goods in a better, more sustainable way.”

    GM is working with FedEx Express to fine-tune the new products and services. One pilot program has already been completed, with another slated to begin.

    “Our need for reliable, sustainable transportation has never been more important,” said Richard Smith, FedEx Express regional president of the Americas and executive vice president of global support. “BrightDrop is a perfect example of the innovations we are adopting to transform our company as time-definite express transportation continues to grow. With this new suite of products, we will help improve the safety, security and timeliness of FedEx Express deliveries, while reducing our environmental impact and protecting the well-being of our couriers.”

  • Apple and Hyundai Set to Sign Partnership

    Apple and Hyundai Set to Sign Partnership

    New reports indicate Apple and Hyundai are on the verge of signing an agreement to manufacture the Apple Car.

    Hyundai made headlines when it released a statement saying it was in talks with Apple to produce the highly anticipated Apple Car. Hyundai seemed to instantly realized it had breached the number one rule of working with Apple — don’t talk about working with Apple — and quickly walked back its statements.

    It appears that Hyundai’s misstep may not have been a fatal one. According to local newspaper Korea IT News, by way of Reuters, the two companies are preparing to sign a partnership.

    The deal will see Hyundai build the Apple Car at its Kia Motors’ factory in Georgia. Alternately, the two companies may build a new factory with the capacity to produce 100,000 around 2024, the initial rumored production window. Eventually, the new factory could produce up to 400,000 vehicles a year.

    If the reports are true, it would represent a big win for Hyundai and be the most solid information yet on the proposed Apple Car plans.

  • Tesla Replaces Facebook As Fifth Most Valuable US Company

    Tesla Replaces Facebook As Fifth Most Valuable US Company

    Tesla entered an exclusive club Friday, becoming the fifth most valuable US company at Facebook’s expense.

    Tesla closed the day Friday with a valuable of $820 billion, making it one of the top five most valuable US companies, according to CNBC. The previous fifth-place company, Facebook, was worth $763 billion at the close of market.

    Tesla’s new valuation places it in exclusive company, along with Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet. It also underscores the importance of the electric vehicle (EV) market as countries and companies pivot to environmentally sustainable transportation.

    As CNBC points out, Tesla is benefiting from the recent elections, with President-elect Joe Biden committed to heavy investment in EV charging infrastructure and the domestic auto industry. Similarly, Democratic candidates winning the Georgia runoff races was seen as another boost to Tesla, as it clears potential obstacles to Biden’s agenda and environmental initiatives.

  • Hyundai In Running to Be Apple Car Manufacturer

    Hyundai In Running to Be Apple Car Manufacturer

    Hyundai is evidently in talks with Apple to manufacture its upcoming Apple Car.

    Apple is well-known for designing blockbuster products but, like many tech companies, it relies on outside companies to manufacture its products. With increasing evidence that Apple is once again moving forward with its Apple Car project, the billion dollar question has been: Who will manufacture it?

    It appears Apple is in talks with Hyundai to be its manufacturer, according to Bloomberg. Interestingly, Hyundai has revised its statement at least a couple of times, removing the reference to Apple that was in the initial statement.

    “We’ve been receiving requests for potential cooperation from various companies regarding development of autonomous EVs,” the latest statement says. “No decisions have been made as discussions are in early stage.”

    Hyundai is apparently getting a crash course in being an Apple partner. The Cupertino company is notorious for maintaining secrecy around its upcoming products. When ATI leaked the existence of the G4 Cube before Steve Jobs could announce it, Jobs famously ordered that ATI’s Radeon cards be pulled from the Cube at the last minute in retribution. In contrast, the automotive industry will often host shows wherein they reveal their upcoming designs that are still several years away.

    Hyundai will need to double down on its secrecy if it wants to be Apple’s long-term partner.

  • Apple Car Still Years Away According to Reports

    Apple Car Still Years Away According to Reports

    The rumored Apple Car has been making headlines again, although recent reports are placing its debut several years away.

    The Apple Car seems to be Apple’s on-again, off-again project, with it taking different forms throughout the years. Dubbed “Project Titan” it was alternately believed to be a full car, an OEM AI system for manufacturers to adopt and integrate into their vehicles, or an aftermarket system that could be integrated into a range of vehicles. It now seems as though Apple is once again aiming for a full automobile.

    The most recent rumors placed a possible Apple Car debut in 2021, while some reports place it in 2024. According to the latest reports from Bloomberg, however, it seems the Apple Car is still several years away, with production slated to begin in 2024.

    At the same time, Bloomberg says Apple is continuing to work on a third-party system for integration with other manufacturers, and could still switch its plans to back that effort instead.

    Either way, it appears Tesla has nothing to fear from Apple for at least the next few years.