Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET On Monday, Apple finally dropped iOS 17, which the company first unveiled back in June at WWDC. The new software has several noteworthy features, including contact posters, live transcriptions of voicemails, a Facetime leave-a-message feature, Name Drop, and more. However, only one feature convinced me to go through the hassle of updating my… Continue reading This iOS 17 Apple Music feature is the only reason I updated my iPhone
Category: Automotive
Toyota reveals next-gen EV production line as it looks to play catch-up with Tesla
As it looks to make up for lost time, Toyota is giving us a glimpse of its next-gen EV production line with modern technology like Giga casting, self-propelled assembly lines, and robots to transport finished vehicles. Electric vehicle sales continue ramping at a record pace. By the end of 2023, global EV sales are expected… Continue reading Toyota reveals next-gen EV production line as it looks to play catch-up with Tesla
Graphite made from wood chips may soon be in your EV battery
A New Zealand-based startup just got $18 million to commercialize graphite made of wood chips for EV batteries in Europe and the US. Graphite made of wood chips and sawdust Swedish-Finnish renewable forestry giant Stora Enso, Hong Kong-based battery maker Amperex Technology (ATL), and other partners are investing in CarbonScape, which uses forestry and timber industry… Continue reading Graphite made from wood chips may soon be in your EV battery
Watch Tesla build a $150 million Megapack battery system
CS Energy released a new timelapse video of its $150 million Tesla Megapack project being built in Queensland. The Megapack has become the to-go battery system for large utility-scale energy storage projects. Tesla launched the Megapack back in 2019. It was Tesla’s third stationary energy storage product after the Powerwall and Powerpack. A single Megapack unit… Continue reading Watch Tesla build a $150 million Megapack battery system
Tesla builds in-car software to make car rental easier with Hertz’s fleet
Tesla has built new in-car software specifically for Hertz’s growing fleet of Tesla vehicles for rent around the world. Back in 2021, Hertz announced an important effort to electrify its fleet of rental cars, led by a massive purchase of 100,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. More recently, the company added Model Y vehicles to the order. The… Continue reading Tesla builds in-car software to make car rental easier with Hertz’s fleet
Ford barrels toward new Canadian strike that could affect F-Series pickup production
2023 Ford Super Duty F-350 Limited Ford DETROIT — Ford Motor‘s labor troubles could become an international issue that affects U.S. production of some pickup trucks, as Canadian union Unifor and the company have only hours to reach an agreement for roughly 5,600 autoworkers. The sides have to reach a deal before an extended 11:59 p.m. ET… Continue reading Ford barrels toward new Canadian strike that could affect F-Series pickup production
White House no longer sending top officials to Detroit for UAW strike talks this week
A United Auto Workers member on a picket line outside the Ford Motor Co. Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan, on Sept. 15, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Biden administration is no longer sending two key officials to Detroit this week to potentially help broker a deal between striking autoworkers and the… Continue reading White House no longer sending top officials to Detroit for UAW strike talks this week
Pence echoes Trump, links UAW strikes to Biden EV push: ‘Good for Beijing, bad for Detroit’
watch now Former Vice President Mike Pence argued Tuesday that the Biden administration’s push toward electric vehicles was to blame for the historic United Auto Workers strikes underway at the Big Three Detroit carmakers’ plants. “I guarantee you that one of the things that’s driving that strike is that Bidenomics and their green energy, electric… Continue reading Pence echoes Trump, links UAW strikes to Biden EV push: ‘Good for Beijing, bad for Detroit’
EV charging needs big improvements soon if the auto industry’s transition is going to work
A charging port is seen on a Mercedes Benz EQC 400 4Matic electric vehicle at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 13, 2019. Mark Blinch | Reuters There’s a looming problem with the auto industry’s grand EV plans. Automakers are spending huge sums to bring a slew of new electric vehicles to… Continue reading EV charging needs big improvements soon if the auto industry’s transition is going to work
China’s capital city is letting the public take fully driverless robotaxis — and has bigger rollout plans, startup Pony.ai says
Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi, on the right, operates in the Yizhuang suburban district of Beijing alongside Pony.ai’s version. The two vehicles are pictured here in November 2021 shortly after Beijing allowed the companies to charge fares. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s capital city is taking swift steps to allow… Continue reading China’s capital city is letting the public take fully driverless robotaxis — and has bigger rollout plans, startup Pony.ai says