Sales at the largest domestic carmaker, Geely Automobile Holdings, and China’s No. 1 electrified vehicle manufacturer, BYD Co., fell again in September, amid an ongoing decline in volume across the country’s auto industry. Geely Auto deliveries dropped 8.5 percent to 113,832 last month, the company said. Volume at the Geely mass-market brand and premium Lynk… Continue reading Geely, BYD post lower Sept. deliveries – Automotive News
Category: Automotive
Uber moves into online groceries with Cornershop deal – Financial Times
Tech from Silicon Valley to Shenzhen A dedicated team of journalists follow the trillions made and lost in tech, serving crisp analysis, expert opinions and two weekly newsletters to be your guide to global tech trends and their economic impact. Go to Source Go to Source
Uber passenger says driver ‘went into rage and smashed phone’ during fare row – Bristol Post
An Uber driver allegedly flew into a rage and smacked a customer’s phone onto the ground after an alleged argument over payment. Police are investigating reports of an assault which is reported to have happened in Horfield early in the morning of Sunday, October 6. The alleged victim, a 27-year-old man, claims a driver with… Continue reading Uber passenger says driver ‘went into rage and smashed phone’ during fare row – Bristol Post
Council backs taxi drivers in Uber fight – Kent Online
Hundreds of taxi drivers watched as a local authority agreed to support legal action against Uber. At a Medway Council meeting last night at the St George’s Centre, Pembroke Road, Chatham, it was unanimously agreed steps to remove the app driven taxi service would continue. Medway Licensed Taxi Drivers Association and the Labour councillors at… Continue reading Council backs taxi drivers in Uber fight – Kent Online
Uber begins the pilot phase of its boat service in Nigeria – CNN
To attract customers who want to avoid the city’s frequently congested roads, Uber will operate a two-week pilot phase of the boat service in conjunction with the Lagos State Water Authority (LASWA) and local boat operators, Texas Connection Ferries. “We are aware of the man hours and productivity that are lost every day due to… Continue reading Uber begins the pilot phase of its boat service in Nigeria – CNN
Man’s Uber ride costs £1400 after he dozed off and woke up in the Midlands – Metro.co.uk
The customer has been left with a hefty fine (Picture: Getty/Twitter@Plastician) A man claims his Uber driver took him all the way to the Midlands from London despite him typing in his home destination as Croydon. Musician Chris Reed, who goes by the name Plastician, tweeted about the journey, which cost him more than £1400.… Continue reading Man’s Uber ride costs £1400 after he dozed off and woke up in the Midlands – Metro.co.uk
Porsche and Boeing developing “premium urban air mobility vehicle”
Porsche and Boeing signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the developing of flying cars, the companies announced Thursday.
The notion of a “premium personal urban air mobility vehicle” may sound vague, the new joint venture, Aurora Flight Sciences, is tasked with building a “fully electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle,” which would put them in the running with other firms that are working toward similar offerings intended for urban ride-sharing.
What sets Aurora apart is the premium angle. While the announcement is thick with mentions of urban mobility, there's no suggestion that the final product would be intended for sharing or taxi services. It seems clear that Porsche and Boeing are exploring the mobility market from a private-ownership perspective, or, at the very least, exclusivity.
Porsche Boeing premium urban air mobility vehicle
Porsche has experience in both developing fast-charging EV systems—some of the most tech-advanced ones, with the Taycan electric sport sedan's 800-volt system—and operating higher-end concierge services. Boeing's expertise is aerospace, and the company has already built prototype VTOL drones capable of autonomous cargo delivery.
The future of urban mobility may rely on solutions outside of the traditional automotive space. As a recent study suggests, electrification alone may not be enough to meet future energy consumption and emissions goals. Even in cities with 100 percent electric vehicle traffic, the gridlock from increased rides could potentially result in an overall increase in energy consumption.
With that specter on the horizon, adding a third dimension to urban transportation makes a great deal of sense. While there are still technological barriers to opening up city skies to fleets of drones, the more significant hurdles may actually be regulatory.
Even small drone fleets are only now starting to obtain certification for flights operating outside of line-of-sight, and the regulations governing drone flights over populated areas don't even exist yet.
Dyson done, Mirai remake, RAV4 plug-in hybrid, flying Porsche: Today’s Car News
After several years of promising news from Dyson, the UK company best known for its vacuums is cutting electric cars from its plans. Porsche and Boeing are among the companies working together on a personal aircraft. A Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid will bow at LA next month and arrive sometime next year. And Toyota’s radical remake of the Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car is a stunner. This and more, today at Green Car Reports.
Toyota has revealed the next-generation version of its Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, in concept form. And at first glimpse, the 2021 Toyota Mirai couldn’t be a more radical turnaround. What was a gawky green machine is now a sexy sport sedan, flaunting a tech that Toyota still sees as a big part of the future.
The future that looks increasingly likely of including short-distance mobility options that take off and land like drones. But not all of these vehicles might be shared air taxis. Porsche and Boeing are together helping develop what looks a little more alluring: an all-electric VTOL craft geared at premium personal transportation.
There will be a plug-in version of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 hybrid, the carmaker has confirmed—although there are plenty of details yet to be confirmed, like its battery size, electric range, and whether it can match or top the RAV4 Hybrid’s 40-mpg EPA combined rating. And we don’t yet know if it’s officially the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid or the RAV4 Prime. That’s all to come—likely except for the mileage and range—at this model’s LA auto show reveal in November.
Dyson has completely canceled its electric car, based on a decision coming from the company’s board. Due as soon as 2021, it had been widely anticipated as a potential game-changer with a solid-state battery pack, new motor tech, and a newfound attention to lightweighting. The company says that it will keep working on some of the technology pieces, though.
And if some days it doesn’t seem like every segment of American motorists are on board with electric and electrified powertrains as the future, consider this: Even NASCAR is planning to go hybrid—potentially as soon as 2022.
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Subaru Exhibition Outline of the 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019
September 25, 2019
Subaru Exhibition Outline of the 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019
– All-New Second Generation Levorg Prototype to Make World Debut –
Subaru Corporation today announced its exhibition outline of the 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019 (Press Days: October 23-24, 2019; General Admission: October 25- November 4). Subaru will showcase its future vision of “There will be cars that can make our lives even better” through the vehicles on display and its entire booth.
Subaru President Tomomi Nakamura will hold a press conference on Wednesday, October 23 from 14:00 at the Subaru booth (AOMI Exhibition Halls). Video of the press conference will be posted on https://www.youtube.com/user/SUBARUOnTube.
A special webpage (https://www.subaru.jp/tms/) will be set up on the Subaru official website, where information about the Subaru exhibition will be posted.
All-New Levorg Prototype
All-New Levorg Prototype
World Premiere
WRX STI EJ20 Final Edition Prototype
Special Edition Model
Impreza Sport 2.0i-S EyeSight
Facelift, To be officially announced in October
SUBARU XV Advance (e-BOXER model)
Periodical update, To be officially announced in October
Forester Advance (e-BOXER model)
Current model
SUBARU VIZIV ADRENALINE CONCEPT
Reference exhibit
SUBARU BRZ GT300
Super GT Series entry
◆ All-New Levorg Prototype
Subaru will unveil the all-new second generation Levorg for the first time in the world. The original Levorg debuted in 2014.
Taking full advantage of its latest technologies, Subaru envisions “a future that everyone can enjoy driving at the full, at their will” with this all-new Levorg prototype, in an era where autonomous driving technology is widely spreading.
A special webpage (https://www.subaru.jp/levorg/prototype/) will be set up on the Subaru official website, where information about the all-new Levorg will be posted.
◆ WRX STI EJ20 Final Edition
Subaru will end production of the “EJ20” horizontally-opposed engine, which has been one of the main power units since its debut in 1989, by the end of March 2020. Consequently, it will stop taking orders for the current WRX STI model equipped with EJ20 engine and sold in Japan market by the end of the calendar year 2019. A special edition WRX STI “EJ20 Final Edition”, which the prototype of the model will be showcased at Tokyo Motor Show, has been developed to commemorate the history of EJ20 engine.
Started with the first generation Legacy in 1989, EJ20 engine has been used on a wide variety of Subaru models and also powered racing cars competed in world class competition such as World Rally Championship, Nürburgring 24 Hour Race and so on. “EJ20 Final Edition” features special items such as a balanced EJ20 engine and gold-painted BBS 19-inch alloy wheels to commemorate the last model that uses the EJ20 engine which has powered a series of Subaru models.
A special webpage (https://www.subaru.jp/wrx/sti_ej20finaledition/) will be set up on the Subaru official website, where information about the WRX STI EJ20 Final Edition will be posted.
(Note: WRX STI models with EJ20 engines are currently sold in Japan only. STI models sold in overseas markets are powered by different types of engines and production of those engines will continue.)
WRX STI EJ20 Final Edition Prototype
◆ Impreza Sport 2.0i-S EyeSight
Three years after its debut, the fifth generation Impreza has received major update including redesigned front bumper and headlights as well as improved driving performance with retuned suspension. With standard EyeSight Touring Assist across the line, the overall safety of Impreza has also been improved.
Impreza Sport 2.0i-S EyeSight
◆ SUBARU XV Advance
As a crossover SUV, SUBARU XV integrates urban feel exterior design, go-anywhere capability and superior safety performance. With this year’s update, Subaru will offer more trim levels of SUBARU XV powered by e-BOXER, a power unit combining the Subaru’s signature Boxer engine with an electrification technology. With e-BOXER, it brings enjoyment in a variety of scenes, from city driving to rough road driving, through responsive throttle and linear acceleration thanks to the power assist from an electric motor. In addition to improved overall safety thanks to standard EyeSight Touring Assist, SUBARU XV also gained rough road capability enhancement with updated X-MODE with two drive mode configuration.
SUBARU XV Advance
◆ SUBARU VIZIV ADRENALINE CONCEPT
SUBARU VIZIV* Adrenaline Concept is the first concept vehicle designed under the new design philosophy “BOLDER” which emphasizes key elements of the Subaru design language in a bolder way. Combining utility that supports active lifestyles with off-road driving capability that delivers enjoyment to go anywhere, the VIZIV Adrenaline Concept stimulates the driver’s mind and encourages them to “drive freely in mother nature.” The VIZIV Adrenaline Concept was first unveiled at Geneva International Motor Show 2019.
*: VIZIV is a coined word originating from the phrase “Vision for Innovation.”
SUBARU VIZIV ADRENALINE CONCEPT
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Subaru Provides Aid for Disaster Relief in Northern Kyushu and Eastern Japan
October 9, 2019
Subaru Provides Aid for Disaster Relief in Northern Kyushu and Eastern Japan
Tokyo, October 9, 2019 – Subaru Corporation extends its deepest condolences to those affected by the torrential rain in August in and around northern Kyushu and the Typhoon Faxai (Typhoon Number 15) which struck eastern Japan in September.
Subaru Corporation is providing the following support for local relief efforts.
■ Subaru will donate through the Japanese Red Cross two million yen each to support relief efforts in the respective regions.
Additionally, through the Japanese Red Cross, Subaru will make donations from its matching gift program in which the Company matches contributions by its employees.
■ Subaru will donate through the Central Community Chest of Japan one million yen each to assist relief efforts including activities by volunteers and non-profit organizations in the respective regions.
Subaru sincerely wishes for the earliest possible recovery of the affected areas.
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