Karma Partners with Callisma Automotive Group, Opens Karma Sweden
Karma’s Growing European Retail Presence Supports Company’s Global Expansion Plans
IRVINE, Calif. (December 13, 2019) – Karma Automotive, the Southern California-based creator of luxury electric vehicles and high-tech incubator, announced today its growing market expansion into Europe with its newest retail partner in Stockholm, Sweden.
Karma Sweden will further the brand’s international growth plans, as its global retail network remains on track to expand to five continents in 2020. Operated by leading luxury group Callisma, Karma Sweden is the third retailer to join Karma’s burgeoning European operations, with sites in France and the Netherlands added earlier this month.
“Karma continues to align with partners and retailers such as Callisma, who exhibit our goals of personalized customization and outstanding customer experience alongside Karma’s distinct design and technology offerings,” says Rogier Kroymans, Karma’s VP European Sales and Network Development.
Founded in 2003 by brothers Fred and Charlie Mannerfelt, Callisma is Sweden’s premiere retailer of both luxury automobiles and yachts. Callisma represents a selection of Europe’s most bespoke and iconic vehicles, providing its wide network of car enthusiasts, collectors, private traders and contacts with first-class customer service.
“We are pleased to be amongst the first retailers in Europe to offer Karma’s luxury electric vehicles,” says Fred Mannerfelt, CEO, Callisma. “We believe our customers will find Karma’s luxury electric Revero and its vision of a high-tech, sustainable future both special and substantive.”
Stockholm is one of the cleanest cities in the world, in part due to Swedish commitment to the January 2018 Climate Act, which bound the country to reach net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2045. Sweden has already spent the last two decades decarbonizing its energy supply, investing heavily in renewable energy, including wind and solar. Presently, only a quarter of Sweden’s energy comes from fossil fuels.
All Revero vehicles are built largely by hand at Karma’s Innovation and Customization Center (KICC), a $100 million manufacturing facility in Moreno Valley, Calif. Karma owners are invited to experience the natural landscapes that inspired their vehicles through Karma’s VIP California Experience Tour, which allows Karma customers to partake in a three-day curated program with oceanfront accommodations at a Southern California luxury resort and a guided tour of KICC. The experience furthers Karma’s philosophy ownership should be memorable and special, connecting owners with the pioneering technology and craftsmanship behind their vehicles.
The 2019 Revero is Karma’s original luxury electric vehicle powered by dual electric motors. It features an efficient four-cylinder turbocharged engine which powers an on-board electric generator and enhances overall vehicle performance. Karma Sweden will offer a strictly limited number of examples of the automaker’s luxury electric 2019 Revero in line with the company’s international expansion plans, ahead of future products arriving in the region.
Meet Karma Group
As our name implies, Southern California-based Karma Group is more than just a car company. Although we are best known as a creator of soul-stirring luxury electric vehicles, Karma has emerged as a high-tech incubator offering innovators a perfect platform to prove their emerging technologies. Founded in 2014 with nearly 1,000 people worldwide, Karma is reinventing the traditional retail-based automotive business model to create non-traditional value by opening its engineering, design, customization and manufacturing resources to other companies looking to speed product development, access new technology, or make their products more luxurious. Every Karma vehicle is created with great individual care and world-class craftsmanship at the Karma Innovation and Customization Center in Moreno Valley, Calif. We are backed by a patient and well-funded shareholder committed to sustaining Karma’s long-term future through the creation of a global, all-electric vehicle platform that will serve as the foundation for many different models starting in 2021.
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Meet Luna Yang, our scuba diving and wildlife photography enthusiast, and a Software Engineer from our Perception team.
As we build a diverse culture at Aurora, we are committed to supporting and inspiring women to develop their careers and transform the world of technology.
In our series, Women of Aurora, we share the personal and professional journeys of the women of Aurora. In our next installment, we are excited to introduce Luna Yang, a Software Engineer on our Perception team.
Read on to learn about Luna’s bold moves, from switching majors to moving across the world in pursuit of the next big thing. She also has a penchant for adventure sports.
Tell us about your background.
Luna: My story begins in my home country of China where I was studying to be an actuary. Actuaries determine the premiums one should pay for certain life insurance policies. Essentially, their job is to predict an individual’s probability of dying in a given year. Morbid, I know! After three years of studying actuarial science and interning at an actuarial firm, I concluded the field wasn’t for me. It’s a well-developed industry and I was discouraged by the pace of innovation. I craved for something more cutting-edge and exciting. So, I asked myself, “What is the next big thing?”
To answer this question, I reached out to numerous professionals and strangers, in hopes of learning about their careers. A few of them actually responded and agreed to speak with me! Additionally, I attended various online classes. These two approaches ultimately led me to Machine Learning. I spoke with dozens of domain experts and my excitement grew. I was impressed by the field’s rapid development. I knew this was going to be hot. This was the next big thing.
My next step was to find a new major that would bring me closer to machine learning. Thus, three years into college, I changed my major from actuarial science to statistics. (There is significant overlap between stats and machine learning on the theoretical front.) After graduating, I applied to several masters programs in the US. I eventually committed to Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Science in Robotics program. I packed my bags and made my way to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Luna attending the 2014 Center of Actuarial Excellence Student Summit.
Why autonomous vehicles and why Aurora?
Luna: While I narrowed down the field to machine learning, I didn’t know which particular industry I wanted to pursue. That’s when self-driving cars popped on my radar. I was drawn to the industry first and foremost because it was innovative; it offered an opportunity to do and build something that no one else has done before. Secondly, impact. Autonomous vehicles are going to be the first scalable robotics application that will have an immediate impact on people’s lives. The last reason…hmm, I guess this word should start with an “I” too. It’s…interesting work! The industry combines math, engineering, and state-of-the-art research.
As to why Aurora, I was impressed by the company’s talent and culture. Data-driven methodology is the key to making self-driving cars a reality, and Aurora’s expertise in this area is unbeatable. Furthermore, the organization’s culture and values deeply resonate with me. The “no jerks” policy fosters a compassionate and collaborative workplace. The emphasis on integrity and doing the right thing ensures transparency throughout the company. Great culture attracts great people.
What sparked your interest in software engineering?
Luna: Software engineering allows me to build and create something. Although machine learning first piqued my curiosity, it’s more of a subject or methodology — it cannot be turned into a tangible product. I want to make an impact by building a product that people use, rather than simply writing a research paper. To build a product, in our case the Aurora Driver, rigorous software engineering is an inextricable part of the process.
What is the coolest project you’ve worked on at Aurora?
Luna: The Perception team takes raw sensor data as inputs and outputs an understanding of the scene, which mainly includes state estimations for important actors. There are many different types of actors on the road. It’s unrealistic to label and train a classifier for each of them. However, we still need to know these actors exist, what their location is, and an estimate of their state. How to estimate the state of unlabeled actors is what I’ve been working on recently. To do this, the Perception team uses a combination of unsupervised learning and more traditional computer vision techniques. The latter offers faster development turn-around, while the former is more promising in the long term. I’ve been exploring unsupervised learning and it’s very exciting work.
Luna has been working on improving the quality of velocity estimation. Here’s a visualization of velocity prediction in our system. The blue rectangle shows the vehicle track we’re tracking. The white arrows show the predicted velocities, which are trained without using any labels. The white dots are the roots of the velocity and the length of the arrow represents the predicted speed. The oncoming traffic have downward pointing velocities, while the parked car on the right and other static background objects only have a white dot, i.e. close to zero velocity.
As you continue to develop your skills and expand your responsibilities, what has been instrumental in your journey?
Luna: Support from my peers and managers, especially since I just moved to the US three years ago and this is my first job. When I joined Aurora, I didn’t know how to write production-level C++ code. Not to mention, I experienced culture shock. Sometimes I had trouble understanding people’s jokes. Every aspect of my life was brand new, and that created a tremendous amount of stress and pressure.
Fortunately, I was paired with stellar mentors through the Aurora Mentorship Program. My first mentor was another software engineer who encouraged me to take my time easing into my role and helped me understand American idioms like the difference between “gets to me” and “gets me.” My managers have also been incredibly supportive and are always available when I need guidance with a project.
Last but not least, we have an employee resource group called Women@Aurora. This wonderful community has helped me navigate professional challenges as a young female engineer in a growing company. I have a solid support system at Aurora that has been vital to my transition to a new industry and country. They’re my home away from home.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.
Luna: I’m a certified scuba diver! One of my most memorable dives was in Malapascua, an island in the Philippines. My group and I were roughly 40 yards underwater. Suddenly, everyone stopped moving and started pointing to the same direction. I wasn’t sure what was going on since the water was extremely dark. Then, I saw it… A thresher shark! It was 10 yards away from me! We weren’t in danger but I have had several close calls with wild predators. I was once seven feet away from an Alaskan Grizzly Bear!
Luna scuba diving in Cancun and hitting the slopes at Big Sky Resort in Montana.
Other than scuba diving, what is one of your favorite things to do?
Luna: I just picked up a new hobby a few months ago. I’m learning to play the piano. I found a piano teacher who’s a Master’s student in CMU’s Piano Performance program. Her lessons are awesome. Playing the piano has been my biggest hobby lately. During the winter, I love skiing. I’m looking forward to visiting Aurora’s Bozeman, Montana office which is close to Big Sky, a really cool ski resort.
What would you do for a career if you weren’t a software engineer?
Luna: I would love to be a wildlife photographer! I enjoy observing wildlife. Animals are fascinating and amusing to watch. Although, wildlife viewing can also be a humbling experience that puts my worries into perspective. In nature, it’s about survival. Creatures are constantly faced with life-or-death situations. Most problems seem trivial when I’m watching animals hunt or compete for resources in order to stay alive.
Luna’s wildlife photography skills on display. She captured otters and grizzly bears during her trip to Alaska.
If you could be any animal, what would it be?
Luna: I’m glad you asked! I regularly engage in a fun thought experiment where I imagine myself as an animal. Recently, I’ve been imagining myself as a sea otter. I just returned from Alaska and encountered many otters during my trip. They’re irresistibly cute and curious creatures that float around and munch on snacks. I envy them!
What is the best thing about working at Aurora?
Luna: I touched upon this already but I can’t reiterate it enough: the people and culture. Everyone at Aurora is extremely kind and supportive. We encourage one another to learn and grow, to tackle challenging problems together, all the while having fun. Aurora’s people and culture have given me a remarkable feeling of support that extends beyond the workplace.
Aurora is looking for great people to join our team. If you’re interested in our open roles, you can learn more here.
Women of Aurora with Luna Yang was originally published in Aurora Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Visionary automotive company Neuron EV is gearing up for its highly anticipated vision sharing exhibition set to open in the modern premium community of West Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Aptly titled Driven to Be the Change, the exhibition will reveal an exclusive view of Neuron’s singular mission of upgrading humanity through electric vehicles. It’s where people can learn about the company’s history, ongoing developments, and future outlook.
The purpose of the exhibitions is to share Neuron EV’s global message of forging unity. This includes working together to create the next generation of electric mobility and building real world value through modular and upgradeable automobiles.
Neuron EV’s Driven to Be the Change exhibition is a cohesive space created by four themes: Humanity, Innovation, Sustainability, and Technology. These are the company’s guiding values in fulfilling its vision to improve humanity through innovation in sustainability using automotive technology.
Humanity
Neuron EV pays tribute to the people who shared their thoughts on transportation, the environment, and the future of mobility, and honors their honesty and passion through this gallery as appreciation for helping mold the vision of making a positive contribution to humanity.
Innovation
This gallery focuses on the company’s innovative electric utility vehicles.
The Neuron EV T-ONE is the world’s first modular electric utility vehicle with a platform that can take on various truck bodies as well as a van, offering immense value through modular technology; while the Neuron EV TORQ is a pure electric semi-truck developed for the clean energy transformation of the commercial transportation industry.
Sustainability
This display is about how Neuron EV integrates smart production through modular technology, and how it aims to synchronize technology and nature for the future of sustainability. The company believes that renewable and upgradeable solutions are key to reducing waste and managing the lifecycle of product creation.
Technology
This space shows how Neuron EV uses technology as an optimization tool for streamlining production, and how it helps to develop, analyze, and manage productivity quickly, creatively, and efficiently.
Driven to Be the Change will be held at 819 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles and will open on Monday, December 16th through Sunday, December 22nd from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm daily.
Another Neuron EV exhibition Expanding the Electric Vehicle Landscape recently opened on December 2nd in Shanghai and is open to public from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
The Neuron EV Hongqiao Exhibition located at 2377 Shenkun Road in the Central Business District of Hongqiao features both the T-ONE and TORQ vehicles, which relocated after the import expo to extend the viewing period.
Neuron EV plans to continue its exhibition of the vehicles around the world including Los Angeles where the company is headquartered.
Detroit. Last week my column was about time, and a surprise for our readers too. The fact is that writing strictly about cars and the auto business can get tedious at times. This man can’t live on cars alone. Even though I grew up in the business, worked in the business and am still immersed in the business, I have plenty of other interests, so, I offer no apologies. I will zig and zag at times from here on out, just to keep things interesting, at least for me.
I mean, what’s in the news now that hasn’t already been pounded into the ground? The coming BEV revolution, even though no one is ready for it, especially real live mainstream buyers? It’s the biggest fundamental change in this business in more than 100 years, and no one can predict how it will go. It’s a giant “we’ll see” and the 2022–2025 time frame will tell us a lot. Some companies are quietly hedging their bets, while others have their asses hanging so far out in the breeze that if the BEV revolution doesn’t happen as planned it could have dire consequences. What else? The corrosive level of corruption that permeated the upper echelons of the UAW? Was that really a surprise to anyone? Hardly. The only surprise was the depth and breadth of the scale of the corruption. And the huge piles of money involved.
So, if last week was about time, this week will be about space – a concept we all deal with every day and throughout our lives. Some of us crave wide open spaces, and some of us would like to trip the light fantastic and actually go into space. Some desire their own space and need a wide berth to function properly. Others aren’t so claustrophobic and welcome close contact.
Our spatial relationships have been upended over the last two decades. Office hierarchy gave way to cube farms, and now people just wander around and plug in wherever they feel like it. Or they sit out in the open, until they have to go to a conference room to make a phone call. (I am happy to report, however, that there are serious rumblings about the pendulum swinging back and that actual offices are making a comeback. It couldn’t happen soon enough as far as I’m concerned.)
Some of us can space out at a moment’s notice, lost in a daydream or some lingering “woulda-coulda-shouldas.” Others are just spaced-out as a matter of course, or go through life intentionally detached from reality. To those people space isn’t an esoteric concept; it’s just Tuesday.
Our lives may be dictated to by the digits of a clock, but we’re consumed by the concept of space. Floor space at an auto show is crucial. The right retail space can make or break a business. Parking spaces can be like gold. Our personal space can be invaded, or flat-out ignored by individuals or crowds on subways and planes. The square footage of an apartment can add up to be a costly space. We make things evenly spaced when the situation demands it. Or we can cast things to the wind when we just… space out.
Space can be deep, or lost in, or somewhere we’ve never gone before. It can be explored, studied, charted and traveled. It can be observed and viewed through a telescope or by way of satellites. Or, by putting a man on the moon and just being there.
A blank space on a sheet of paper or a canvas can either be an inspiration for creativity, or a daunting millstone that shuts a person down and prevents things from getting started. We can space things out so that we don’t become overwhelmed. A space can be unoccupied, or we can rent storage spaces because we don’t have enough… space. We rarely have such a thing as too much space, however. Because space can be limited. Or confined. Or restricted. Or at a premium. Or only available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A space can be solemn, haunting and sad too. Arlington National Cemetery. Gettysburg. Shiloh. Antietam. Manassas. Vicksburg. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Tragic reminders of the fragility of life and all those who died to protect our freedoms.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, those aforementioned wide-open spaces? They can be beautifully breathtaking. Moab. The Painted Desert. The Grand Canyon. The Badlands. Yosemite. Yellowstone. The Continental Divide. Joshua Tree National Park. Glacier National Park. Big Sur. We daydream about them, write about them, photograph them and paint them. They make us feel alive and invigorated, they can make us feel incredibly small and inconsequential, too, but they are oddly life-affirming and precious at the same time. (Everyone should drive across this great country at least once to be immersed in those wide-open spaces; it remains the quintessential American experience.)
Our relationship to space says a lot about who we are and how we live life. I tend to avoid confined spaces, much preferring the wide-open spaces both in the physical realm and in thought. Needless to say, a narrowly defined path never really suited me. Tom Petty had it right when he said, “The sky was the limit.”
Expertise bringing products to market will be crucial as we prepare to deliver the Aurora Driver at scale
By Chris Urmson
Hardware plays a foundational role in powering the Aurora Driver. Since our founding, we’ve made several key investments to build world-class technology and a talented hardware engineering team. Today we welcome a new leader to our team — Sandor Barna, who joins Aurora as our first VP of Hardware.
As we plan for our next stage of growth, we look for people who have diverse perspectives, industry expertise, and relevant experience. This enables us to build the Aurora Driver safely and quickly as we tackle some of the industry’s most challenging problems, like understanding the hardware requirements for self-driving technology.
Sandor — who has spent his career leading large technical teams at GoPro, ON Semiconductor, Aptina, and Micron — knows how to build innovative, high-performance products and bring them to market at scale. This experience in manufacturing and shipping technology at scale is valuable as we lay the foundation for delivering our hardware across multiple vehicle platforms that will operate on surface streets and highways.
Building the Aurora Driver involves weaving together a combination of carefully-crafted sensors, computers, and networking hardware custom-fit to its corresponding software. Sandor’s expertise in electrical architecture, optical systems, and silicon development will be key as we push our hardware to the next level of customization. We’re glad to have him at Aurora!
Here’s more from Sandor about why he joined Aurora, what he’s looking to accomplish, and how he spends his time when he’s not building hardware…
Aurora’s VP of Hardware, Sandor Barna
Q: You could have joined many different companies, but you chose Aurora. Why?
It’s exciting to join during such a high-growth phase. The technical challenges are interesting and complex, and we have the opportunity to save lives with this technology. I’m also looking forward to working with this impressive team — people who designed advanced lidar systems, developed leading consumer electronics, and deployed some of the most advanced automotive systems out there today. It’s rewarding to build hardware when you know it will be infused with best-in-class software.
Q: What’s top of mind for you right now?
Hiring is a top priority. We’re looking to build out our world-class team as we integrate the Aurora Driver into more and more platforms.
Scaling from our current size to a large fleet of cars powered by the Aurora Driver is another huge priority for us, and an area where I definitely have some experience. When Micron acquired Photobit, where I began my career, I helped grow a small startup into a market-leading billion-dollar business. I’ve since worked in a variety of business and engineering roles where I’ve seen the importance of manufacturing excellence, a focused strategy, and delivering great products that delight customers.
Q: How do you think about building and leading teams?
Focus. It’s one of the values at Aurora, and something I think a lot about. The most important role of a leader is to set direction. I am not going to tell an engineer how to build a circuit board, but I will make sure we’re all rowing in the right direction. I’ve found over the years that teams don’t get frustrated when they have a lot of work, they get frustrated when they have unfocused work.
Q: What should engineers considering applying to Aurora’s hardware team know?
It’s important to work at a company where it’s safe to do good engineering. Yes, there will always be tradeoffs. But I know that Aurora doesn’t believe in cutting corners. Here we work with urgency, but we do things the right way.
Q: What do you do when you’re not at work?
I have young kids, so I spend a lot of time with my family. We enjoy hiking and my favorite hike is Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park. We also love traveling and recently went to London. Soon, I’d like to visit South America. I am also obsessed with baseball and have enjoyed helping to coach my son’s Little League teams.
First Luxury Electric Karma Revero arrives in Europe
Karma’s European Retail Presence Supports Company’s Global Expansion Plans
IRVINE, Calif. (December 4, 2019) – Karma Automotive, the Southern California-based creator of luxury electric vehicles and high-tech incubator, announced today its growing market expansion into Europe with new retail partners in France and the Netherlands.
Karma France and Karma Netherlands, will further the brand’s international growth plans, as its global retail network expands to five continents by 2020. Karma France will be led by Passion Automobiles in Paris, and Karma Netherlands by Kroymans Ecodrive Benelux, located in Hilversum, Netherlands. Karma Netherlands recently accepted its first plated 2019 Revero which has now entered the European market.
“There is a growing interest in Europe for Karma’s hand-built Southern California luxury electric vehicles,” says Rogier Kroymans, Karma’s VP European Sales and Network Development. “Our new retailers will give us tremendous presence in both the Netherlands and France; two markets at the forefront of electric vehicle adoption in Europe.”
Karma’s current European focus is on building an organization with retailers and partners that embody its goals of offering leading automotive design, cutting edge technology, personalized customization, and an outstanding customer experience.
All Revero vehicles are built largely by hand at Karma’s Innovation and Customization Center (KICC), a $100 million manufacturing facility in Moreno Valley, Calif. Karma owners are invited to experience the natural landscapes that inspired their vehicles through Karma’s VIP California Experience Tour, which allows Karma customers to partake in a three-day curated program with oceanfront accommodations at a Southern California luxury resort and a guided tour of KICC. The experience furthers Karma’s philosophy ownership should be memorable and special, connecting owners with the pioneering technology and craftsmanship behind their vehicles.
The 2019 Revero is Karma’s original luxury electric vehicle powered by dual electric motors. It features an efficient four-cylinder turbocharged engine which powers an on-board electric generator and enhances overall vehicle performance. Karma France and the Netherlands will offer a strictly limited number of examples of the automaker’s luxury electric 2019 Revero in line with the company’s international expansion plans, ahead of future products arriving in the region.
Meet Karma Group
As our name implies, Southern California-based Karma Group is more than just a car company. Although we are best known as a creator of soul-stirring luxury electric vehicles, Karma has emerged as a high-tech incubator offering innovators a perfect platform to prove their emerging technologies. Founded in 2014 with nearly 1,000 people worldwide, Karma is reinventing the traditional retail-based automotive business model to create non-traditional value by opening its engineering, design, customization and manufacturing resources to other companies looking to speed product development, access new technology, or make their products more luxurious. Every Karma vehicle is created with great individual care and world-class craftsmanship at the Karma Innovation and Customization Center in Moreno Valley, Calif. We are backed by a patient and well-funded shareholder committed to sustaining Karma’s long-term future through the creation of a global, all-electric vehicle platform that will serve as the foundation for many different models starting in 2021.
Learn more about Karma Automotive and Revero at www.karmaautomotive.com or visit the password-free Karma Newsroom at www.karmanewsroom.com for the latest press releases, videos and images — there you will learn why Karma is attracting innovators, entrepreneurs, engineers, designers and others looking for new ways to build a different kind of car company and a better future.
Karma Automotive Europe Contact:
Rogier Kroymans, VP Sales and Network Development Europe
CINCINNATI, Dec. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ —Workhorse Group Inc.(NASDAQ: WKHS) (“Workhorse”), an American technology company focused on providing sustainable and cost-effective electric-mobility solutions to the transportation sector, announced that it has completed two separate business transactions with Moog Inc. (“Moog”), a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems, involving Workhorse’s SureFly® assets and its HorseFly™ operating unit, respectively.” data-reactid=”13″>CINCINNATI, Dec. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ —Workhorse Group Inc.(NASDAQ: WKHS) (“Workhorse”), an American technology company focused on providing sustainable and cost-effective electric-mobility solutions to the transportation sector, announced that it has completed two separate business transactions with Moog Inc. (“Moog”), a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems, involving Workhorse’s SureFly® assets and its HorseFly™ operating unit, respectively.
Workhorse Group Inc. Logo
As part of the first completed transaction, Workhorse sold the assets of its SureFly electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and related hybrid electric power system technology.
In the second completed transaction, Workhouse and Moog entered into a Joint Venture (JV) related to Workhorse’s HorseFly “last mile delivery” Aerial System. Under the terms of the agreement, Workhorse and Moog will each own 50% of the equity interests in the newly formed entity. Workhorse will contribute various assets related to HorseFly, and Moog will contribute complementary assets, intellectual property (IP) and technology. The purpose of the JV is centered around the sharing and advancement of technology and IP related to the development of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Duane Hughes. “In selling SureFly, we have been able to monetize a secondary asset, which will provide us with additional working capital for our core business, which is the manufacturing of electric last-mile delivery vehicles. Through our HorseFly JV, we’re looking forward to taking another existing Workhorse technology and leveraging the experience and resources of an established enterprise to tackle new markets and create outcomes there are greater than just the sum of the parts.”” data-reactid=”27″>”Building strong relationships through partnerships and transactions with world-class operators like Moog has always been a key area of focus for our company,” said Workhorse CEO Duane Hughes. “In selling SureFly, we have been able to monetize a secondary asset, which will provide us with additional working capital for our core business, which is the manufacturing of electric last-mile delivery vehicles. Through our HorseFly JV, we’re looking forward to taking another existing Workhorse technology and leveraging the experience and resources of an established enterprise to tackle new markets and create outcomes there are greater than just the sum of the parts.”
October 1, 2019, with the closings taking place on November 27, 2019. For additional details regarding the transactions, please reference the Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 4, 2019.” data-reactid=”28″>The agreements were both finalized on October 1, 2019, with the closings taking place on November 27, 2019. For additional details regarding the transactions, please reference the Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 4, 2019.
workhorse.com.” data-reactid=”35″>About Workhorse Group Inc. Workhorse is a technology company focused on providing electric mobility solutions to the transportation sector. As an American original equipment manufacturer, we design and build high performance battery-electric vehicles including trucks and aircraft. Workhorse also develops cloud-based, real-time telematics performance monitoring systems that are fully integrated with our vehicles and enable fleet operators to optimize energy and route efficiency. All Workhorse vehicles are designed to make the movement of people and goods more efficient and less harmful to the environment. For additional information visit workhorse.com.
www.moog.com.” data-reactid=”36″>About Moog Moog Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems. Moog’s high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, marine and medical equipment. Additional information about the company can be found at www.moog.com.
Matt Glover and Tom Colton Gateway Investor Relations 949-574-3860 WKHS@gatewayir.com ” data-reactid=”38″>Matt Glover and Tom Colton Gateway Investor Relations 949-574-3860 WKHS@gatewayir.com
2,000 vehicle preorders to be generated in four weeks. Founders intend transfer of their profits into Community Pool.
Munich, December 2, 2019 – The German mobility provider Sono Motors launched one of the biggest community funding campaigns in Europe yesterday. The company’s campaign target is to generate 50 million euros between now and December 30, 2019, with preorders from existing and new supporters. The capital will then primarily be invested in production facilities for prototypes of the first solar electric vehicle (SEV): the Sion. This broad-based public campaign follows a strategic reorganization of the company’s finances. Long-term realization of the vision, an unreserved focus on the objectives of Sono Motors as well as the production and delivery of the Sion are to be safeguarded in ways other than with conventional financing rounds. The idea is for the follow-up financing to likewise be borne by the growing Sono Motors community, complemented by long-term investors who share and support the company’s value system and vision.
In the past, the company’s high capital requirements meant that international investors in particular played a major part in its financing strategy. However, in advanced negotiations with a number of potential partners it became increasingly apparent that Sono Motors’ long-term corporate strategy could not easily be reconciled with the interests of traditional investors. A departure from the company’s vision and an outflow of technologies and patents and ultimately the end for the forward-looking concept of the Sion would have been the result. The decision to no longer pursue the previous strategy and the termination of the corresponding talks requires the acquisition of new financial resources and postpones the production of the first vehicles into September 2021.
“We realized again and again over the past few months that we have entirely different goals to traditional financial investors,” says Laurin Hahn, CEO and cofounder of Sono Motors. “Aggressive growth and quick profits are difficult to reconcile with a sustainable corporate and vehicle concept which is designed to give access to affordable and eco-friendly electromobility throughout. In addition, providing start-ups that have a capital-intensive business model with venture capital does not work in Germany, neither in the initial stages nor at the growth stage. Had we relied solely on funding measures or the German market environment, Sono Motors would probably not exist in its current form. Urgent action is required from the politicians in this area. It should be possible to implement such a future project in Germany and lead it to economic success. We will continue to fight anyhow. For climate-friendly mobility and for our reservation holders,” adds Hahn.
Sono Motors’ decision to opt for community funding is an unmistakable acknowledgment to the more than 10,000 supporters who have already preordered and prepaid a Sion and a rejection of teaming up with investors who do not share or support the company’s vision and goals.
“We were torn between our pledge to the community and the investors’ demands and were increasingly moving away from who we really are, which is something we absolutely had to correct. Social responsibility and climate protection would otherwise have fallen by the wayside, and so would all that we stepped up for. We are now focusing on continuing to fund our innovative vehicle concept together with people who want to see the Sion on the road. Together with a community that asks for a company which acts responsibly, critically questions itself and can be judged honestly on the basis of the statements it makes,” says Jona Christians, CEO and cofounder of Sono Motors.
With the start of the campaign, the company founders are transferring their remaining shares of the profits to a Community Pool and transfer future profits to today’s Sion reservation holders. They are therefore passing up their personal profits, but will keep their voting rights in the company. This ensures that the company’s objectives continue to be realized and that the Sion can be produced sustainably without any changes to the concept. The founding team currently holds around 74 percent of the company’s shares and 64 percent of the profit participation rights.
The Sion is the first production vehicle to bring together solar integration, mobility services and a bidirectional charging function. The seamless integration of solar cells into the vehicle’s surface makes this innovative all-rounder independent of the charging infrastructure over short distances. Up to 5,800 kilometers of free and carbon-neutral range can be generated a year thanks to the integration of solar cells, thereby lowering the running costs of the car. A total of 260,000 vehicles will be manufactured with renewable energy in Sweden.
The fastest accelerating car accelerates even more
Aspark kicked off a new era in full-electric hypercars with the Owl, whose production version was finally unveiled few days ago at Dubai International Motor Show by CEO Masanori Yoshida.
A lot of people came to pay a visit to Aspark stand: authorities, media representatives from top international news publications, famous bloggers and online influencers, car enthusiasts, and spectators who were curios to see the famous Owl for real.
Introduced on stage on the first day by Titan the Robot, the world famous performer from UK, the Owl was probably the most photographed car of the show: a continuous flow of selfies, pictures, stories, videos flooding the social media channels. In the same period, thousand of articles and mentions went on the Internet, on television channels and print magazines.
Now the Owl has set its navigation system for the 90th edition of Geneva International Motor Show, one of the most prestigious and influential automotive industry events in the world. Save the date: 3 March 2020.
“We were very proud to present the production version of the Owl at Dubai International Motor Show, which is absolutely the most prestigious car event in Middle-East area. This region is also one an important market for us. Demand is clearly confirmed after the unveiling”, Aspark CEO Masanori Yoshida says.
“I was very happy to see my dream coming true. Now Aspark is focusing on the Geneva Motor Show, the most important automotive event in the world. The production of the Owl will be our main theme”, he adds
The Power is in our Nature
The claim of the short film of the Owl “The Power is in our Nature” perfectly catches the essence of this incredible full-electric hypercar. Body, chassis and much of the components entirely made by top-level carbon fiber materials, extremely powerful four electric motors, a unique torque vectoring system, an exclusive battery system, and handmade premium interior: the Owl is a compendium of state-of-the-art technology, design and functionality, mixed with a genuine passion for beauty.
The fastest accelerating car in the world: 0-60 mph in 1.69 seconds
The most astonishing performance of the Owl is the acceleration: from 0 to 60 mph in 1.69 seconds*. The Owl has a unique battery pack for a range of up to 450 km. Top speed is 400 km/h. Furthermore, the Owl has a height of 99 cm: it is probably the lowest road legal electric hypercar in the world.
The world most powerful electric hypercar
The production version, which will have new interior and exterior design and significantly improved performances, is limited to only 50 cars worldwide. Each one will be fully customizable, each one will be different from the other: exclusivity now has a real meaning. Production is planned to take place in Turin, Italy in collaboration with Manifattura Automobili Torino, with the full support of Aspark engineering centres in the world. Aspark plans to deliver the first set of the Owl by the second quarter of 2020.
The Owl has the most powerful 4 electric motors ever made. They produce a total power of 1480 kW with 2012 horsepower. Overall torque is around 2000 Newton meters.
The Owl has almost three times more power than Formula-E cars and two times more than Formula 1 cars. The rotation of the motor should be the fastest in the world with 15000 rpm.
Delivered in the second quarter of 2020
“By accelerating the final stage of the Owl project in Italy and establishing a new legal subsidiary in Switzerland (Aspark Promotion AG) dedicated to the hypercar business, Aspark reinforces its international presence outside Japan”, Head of Sales and Communication Agshin Badalbayli underlines. “We are not only delivering the premium level hypercars to our customers but we also take the full responsibility for after-sales, right level of warranty and full product liability. Additionally we are creating global sales and after-sales network of Aspark branded cars in order to reach our customers at the right moment and in the right place”.
The production version of the Owl is limited to only 50 cars worldwide. Each one will be fully customizable, each one will be different from the other: exclusivity now has a real meaning.
Production is planned to take place in Turin, Italy in collaboration with Manifattura Automobili Torino, with the full support of Aspark engineering centres in the world. Aspark plans to deliver the first set of the Owl by the second quarter of 2020.
Price of the base version is Euro 2,900,000. The Owl can be reserved with a reduced deposit of Euro 50,000.
Delivery and after-sales
Body, chassis and much of the components entirely made by top-level carbon fiber materials, extremely powerful four electric motors, a unique torque vectoring system, an exclusive battery system, and handmade premium interior: the full-electric hypercar Owl is a compendium of state-of-the-art technology, design and functionality, mixed with a genuine passion for beauty.
“By accelerating the final stage of the Owl project in Italy and establishing a new legal subsidiary in Switzerland (Aspark Promotion AG) dedicated to the hypercar business, Aspark reinforces its international presence outside Japan”, Head of Sales and Communication Agshin Badalbayli underlines.
“We are not only delivering the premium level hypercars to our customers but we also take the full responsibility for after-sales, right level of warranty and full product liability. Additionally we are creating global sales and after-sales network of Aspark branded cars in order to reach our customers at the right moment and in the right place”.
Test drives and factory tours
Aspark would be happy to welcome potential clients and media representatives at Owl development and production centre which is based in Turin, Italy in the facility of its collaborator. The first test drives for our selected clients and media persons are scheduled from next January. Please keep in touch with us for booking your visit and test drive.
