Category: News Site

Carwiz Enters Asian Market

Tourists from Asian counties mostly visit Zagreb, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik with the intention of visiting destinations such as Plitvice lakes and Krka falls. Photo via Carwiz.  Croatian rent-a-car brand Carwiz has recognized  the importance of connecting with the Asian market by concluding a contract of collaboration with a South Korean partner, Dongbo Air Service — one… Continue reading Carwiz Enters Asian Market

Asia Digest: PH’s VESL wins ‘She Loves Tech’ competition; Baidu to deploy robo-taxis in China

Manila-based fintech trade finance startup VESL has won the ‘She Loves Tech’ competition that is the world’s largest startup platform for women and technology. In a separate development, tech giant Baidu and car maker Hongqi are working together to deploy as many as 10 robo-taxis in Changsa in China. Manila’s VESL wins ‘She Loves Tech’… Continue reading Asia Digest: PH’s VESL wins ‘She Loves Tech’ competition; Baidu to deploy robo-taxis in China

Ride-Hailing Apps Make Traffic Worse — And Now They’re Admitting It

Traffic Updates Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft are directly responsible for making traffic in cities worse. That’s not new: studies have arrived at the same conclusions again and again. What’s different this time around, though, is that Uber and Lyft actually funded the study that came back to point the finger at them, according… Continue reading Ride-Hailing Apps Make Traffic Worse — And Now They’re Admitting It

EV incentive credited for boosting Canadian sales by 30 percent (Updated)

Update: To clarify that the incentive is not a tax credit that requires filing federal taxes, and to correct Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau's first name.

After Canada introduced a nationwide $5,000 discount for electric cars, sales shot up by 30 percent, the country's Transport Ministry announced on Thursday.

The government announced the national incentive in March, after a provincial election in Ontario last July brought a Conservative government to power which had ended that province's $14,000 rebate for electric cars.

Since the new national incentive has been in effect, the government has issued 14,000 of the subsidies, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said in a statement. Sales of plug-in cars in the country reached 3 percent in the second quarter, up from 2 percent last year.

The country has set a goal to reach 100 percent sales of electric vehicles by 2040, under the Paris Climate Accord, and is working with California to adopt that state's goals for clean air and clean fuels.

In a statement announcing the subsidies' effect, Garneau said that the 14,000 EV purchases—which include plug-in hybrids—will eliminate the emissions of 36,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year, or 429,000 tons over their expected lifetimes.

“Through these efforts, the Government of Canada is encouraging the use of zero-emission vehicles and making this clean technology more affordable to Canadians, while promoting a cleaner environment and better quality of life,” the Ministry said in a release. “Canadians’ quality of life—and Canada’s future growth—are deeply tied to the environment.”

Honda drivers can now get Amazon parcels delivered to the trunk of their car

HondaHonda drivers in the U.S. who use the auto firm's “cloud-based connected car system” can now get their Amazon parcels delivered to the trunk of their car.
In a statement earlier this week, Honda said that drivers with a subscription to the HondaLink Remote Services system and a compatible vehicle would be able to use the Key by Amazon app to select an “in-car” delivery option.
On the day of delivery, users of the service must park within two blocks of a selected delivery address. When it's confirmed that the car is in range of the address, a delivery driver will use its GPS location to determine the exact position.
The driver will then scan the package before sending a request for the vehicle to be unlocked so it can be dropped off. The vehicle is then re-locked and the customer is sent a notification to confirm the delivery was made and that their vehicle is secured. Customers need an Amazon Prime subscription to use the service, which is currently available in a select number of cities and surrounding areas.
Honda is the latest car company to utilize the system. Others include GMC and Volvo. The cars have to be 2015 models or newer and need connected service systems.
More broadly, innovation is transforming the way goods and services are delivered. Earlier this month, U.K. supermarket Waitrose announced it would be expanding the trial of its “While You're Away” delivery service.
Yale smart-lock technology gives Waitrose delivery drivers access to a customer's home. The customer sets a temporary access code for their lock, which is sent to Waitrose through a secure app.
This code is in turn sent to a driver's device for the time slot the customer has booked their delivery for and deleted when the delivery is made.
The driver packs refrigerated and frozen goods away and leaves other items on the kitchen counter, or wherever the customer has asked them to be left. A chest-cam worn by the driver records the delivery, with customers able to view the video upon request.

EV startup NIO sold its Formula E racing team

Chinese EV startup NIO has sold the majority stake in its Formula E all-electric racing series team, according to longtime motorsports journalist Sam Smith. The company will remain a sponsor, a person familiar with the sale tells The Verge, but Chinese motorsports promotion company Lisheng Racing bought the stake and will run the team’s operations… Continue reading EV startup NIO sold its Formula E racing team