Author: Andy Williams

The VF 7 is 1.7 inches longer than the latest BMW X1, with dimensions of 178.9 inches in length and 111.8 inches in wheelbase. It also has an additional 5.8 inches of space between the wheels, despite not being significantly larger overall. The interior of the VF 7, an all-new model from a rising automaker, is familiar to anyone who has been in a modern SUV. The exterior’s simple design is reflected in the clean cabin, which is highlighted by a large 15.6-inch touchscreen display. The VF 7 Eco comes with cloth upholstery, while the Plus model is equipped with…

Goodyear and Gatik have successfully demonstrated that Goodyear’s intelligent tires, equipped with SightLine technology, can accurately estimate tire-road friction and provide real-time information to Gatik’s automated driving system. This proof-of-concept represents a significant step towards the use of autonomous transportation for safer and more sustainable goods movement. Goodyear and Gatik have recently implemented a system in Canada for continuously measuring road friction using tire sensor data and other vehicle information. This data is processed using Goodyear’s proprietary cloud-based algorithms to optimize vehicle performance. The friction estimates provided by Goodyear’s SightLine solution were able to detect slippery conditions, such as snow…

The Project Arrow concept vehicle was unveiled to the world this week at the Consumer Electronics Show by Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturer’s Association (APMA). This project was first announced at CES in 2020 and featured an open competition for students across Canada to submit designs. The winning team was from Carleton University in Ottawa. After a few sketches and a brief teaser were released last year, the full vehicle was finally revealed at this year’s CES in Las Vegas. “Today at CES, we reveal Project Arrow to the world with 25 new technologies. The Prime Minister dared us to imagine…

Slovenian electric motor specialist Elaphe has entered into a strategic partnership with McLaren Applied to develop a powertrain combining Elaphe’s in-wheel motors and vehicle control with McLaren Applied’s inverter technology. The companies claim their joint electric drive will offer automakers significant space and weight savings, resulting in reduced vehicle energy consumption and five times faster torque response compared to current systems. In addition, Elaphe and McLaren highlight the design freedom offered by the smaller installation space of their drive. Elaphe’s current in-wheel motors have torque densities of up to 460 Nm/liter and 100 Nm/kg and allow customers to customize the…

Factorial unveiled its first 100 Amp-Hour (Ah) solid-state battery cell at CES 2023 in the Stellantis exhibit. This cell is the result of the joint development agreement between Factorial and Stellantis, which was announced in November 2021. The collaboration aims to bring solid-state battery technology to electric vehicles. Factorial has already successfully developed automotive-sized cells with a capacity of 40 Ah, and is now introducing even larger cells to meet the performance requirements of their top global automotive OEM partners. “Factorial is excited to showcase our large format solid battery cells in an automotive battery pack concept application at this…

ZF has introduced a heated seat belt option for electric vehicles that can improve range by up to 15% in cold weather by reducing the energy needed to heat the interior of the vehicle. The seat belt is made of special webbing with built-in heating conductors that only slightly increase the thickness of the webbing, making it easy for vehicle manufacturers to integrate and providing occupants with the same comfort as a regular seat belt. The heated belt is designed to provide a consistent feeling of warmth close to the body. When used in combination with other contact heaters such…

EVgo has announced a partnership with Amazon to integrate an Alexa-enabled EV charging experience. Drivers will be able to use Alexa to find and navigate to EVgo charging stations, as well as initiate and pay for charging sessions. This functionality will be available in Alexa-enabled vehicles and automotive accessories like Echo Auto later in the year. “We want Alexa to be useful for customers in their everyday lives, and EV charging is a great example of a task that can be simplified and made more convenient through the power of AI,” says Anes Hodžić, Vice President, Amazon Smart Vehicles. “By…

According to a recent announcement by the Mexican Economic Ministry, General Motors (GM) is planning to expand its electric vehicle (EV) production to its Ramos Arizpe plant in northern Mexico. The news was shared via a tweet showing leaders from both parties discussing the expansion. GM, along with other major American automakers, has long had a presence in Mexico, with vehicles such as the Chevy Trax, Jeep Compass, and Chevy Silverado being produced there. This expansion into EV production would mark a significant shift for the company in the Mexican market. https://twitter.com/SE_mx/status/1610384951878336513 According to the tweet from the Mexican Ministry,…

LG Electronics will expand its partnership with Canadian auto parts maker Magna. The collaboration between the two is aimed at producing self-driving cars. Through this initiative, the two want to target the growing autonomous car market. One of the steps it is trying to develop is integrating technology related to LG infotainment and a sophisticated driver assistance system called ADAS from Magna. “LG and Magna will have their own promotional booth at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Officials from the two companies will meet there to discuss further cooperation steps,” said a spokesperson for LG as quoted by the Korea…

Swedish electric motorbike company Cake has introduced a new electric bike called the Åik, which it claims will “blend the line” between electric bikes and motorbikes due to its high power and range. The Åik is designed to meet US e-bike regulations and will be part of Cake’s :work line of two-wheel utility vehicles, which also includes the Makka e-moped, the Ösa, and the Kalk. The Åik is classified as a PeopleforBike’s Class 2 e-bike, which allows for throttle-assisted e-bikes with a top speed of 20 mph when pedals are used. In some markets, such as the USA, these bikes…

The GMC brand saw 143,645 vehicle deliveries in the United States during the fourth quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year increase of 42.3%. The annual result was also positive, with 517,649 vehicles delivered (a 7.3% increase compared to the previous year). However, the ramp-up of the all-electric GMC Hummer EV Pickup has been disrupted due to a production pause at Factory ZERO in Detroit and Hamtramck, General Motors’ first Ultium-dedicated assembly plant, which is being upgraded to accommodate additional models, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV. The company reported only 72 deliveries of the GMC Hummer EV Pickup in the fourth…

Cadillac announced that it delivered 39,135 vehicles in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2022, representing a 75% increase compared to the same period the previous year. This brought the total number of deliveries for the year to 134,726, a 13.9% increase over 2021. The company’s electrification efforts, which include the all-electric Cadillac Lyriq, are just beginning, with only 122 units delivered in total in 2022. During the third quarter, Cadillac delivered the first 36 units of the Lyriq electric vehicle. In the fourth quarter, production of the Lyriq ramped up, although it was a slow process. Only…

Chevrolet is providing further information about its 2024 Silverado EV. In particular, they have been focusing on the Work Truck (WT) variant, which is currently undergoing testing and validation. This is significant because a majority of reservation holders (87%) have indicated that they will be using their pickup trucks for towing. To demonstrate the Silverado EV WT’s towing capabilities, Chevrolet released a video showing it pulling a 7,700 lb Keystone Cougar travel trailer, which is close to the maximum towing capacity of 8,000 lbs. Despite the high load, the Silverado EV performed well and impressed chief engineer Nichole Kraatz. Kraatz…

The city of New York has announced plans to spend $10.1 million on the purchase of 925 electric vehicles and the installation of 315 new EV charging stations. The funding for this project will come from the US Department of Transportation, in the form of a federal grant. The new electric vehicles will include 382 Chevrolet Bolts, 360 Ford E-Transit vans, 150 Ford F-150 E-Lightning pickup trucks, 25 plug-in hybrid street sweepers, and seven Mack LR BEV garbage trucks. This marks the first time that the New York City Department of Sanitation will be using electric garbage trucks, following a…

Swiss-Swedish company ABB E-Mobility has announced a new AC charging solution for electric vehicles that will be released later this year. The Terra Home wallbox will have the unique feature of giving preference to electricity from renewable sources. The company conducted a global study, in which 90% of respondents stated that they felt a responsibility to act more sustainably. The new wallbox aims to make it easier for customers to reduce their carbon footprint when charging their electric vehicles. The charging capacity of the wallbox has not been specified, but it will likely vary depending on the market in which…

SAIC Motor, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech, and Alibaba Group teamed up to form IM Motors, an electric vehicle company. At the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show, they introduced the LS7 concept vehicle. The front of the LS7 features a closed design with “L”-shaped headlights that contain all-LED lights. The vehicle also has three vents and LED daytime running lights on both sides, as well as through-type vents to give the appearance of a wider lateral width. The LS7’s design is consistent with previous vehicles created by IM Motors. The LS7 is equipped with a large integrated spoiler on the rear of the car…

Nio, a Shanghai-based company, has recently announced the appointment of Tom Wharfe as Head of Brand and User Development for the UK market. Wharfe is a highly experienced automotive manager who has previously worked for BMW, Volkswagen, and Rolls-Royce. In addition to this news, Nio also announced that it will be launching its Power Swap Stations (PSS) in the UK in 2023, signaling the company’s imminent entry into the UK market. No exact date has been given for this launch. “I’m very proud to be a part of this exciting company and can’t wait to introduce this innovative Brand to…

Audi reported total sales of 186,875 vehicles in 2022, a decrease of 5% from the previous year’s figure of 196,038. However, the company’s electric car sales saw a significant increase, with a 47% rise from 10,985 in 2021 to 16,177 in 2022. In 2022, Audi launched the Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback, two new electric SUVs. While a few deliveries of these vehicles were made in 2021, they were primarily “launch preparation vehicles” and actual customer deliveries began in earnest in 2022. This is reflected in the significant year-over-year increase in Q4 e-tron deliveries, which went from 45 in…

Chrysler will be the first brand of Stellantis to introduce new infotainment technology in North America, which will be based on the upcoming STLA electric vehicle platform. This technology will include large infotainment screens covering the entire dashboard, as well as autonomous features. The automaker is showcasing this technology with a cockpit concept at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The concept, called the Chrysler Synthesis cockpit, features 37.2 inches of screens for the front row passengers on two large glass sections that stretch across the entire dashboard. The design of the cockpit is based on the Airflow…

Sony Honda Mobility, a joint venture between Sony and Honda, has announced the name of its new electric vehicle brand: Afeela. Both companies are major players in the technology and automotive industries in Japan. The vehicle will feature a digital chassis provided by Qualcomm and was unveiled at the CES technology trade show in Las Vegas. This move marks Sony’s foray into the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market and allows the company to leverage its expertise in entertainment content and sensors for use in the vehicles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVMcjxW68Bc The Afeela electric vehicle, which has a sleek black roof and rounded corners,…