TOKYO (Reuters) – Nissan Motor Co said on Friday that Hiroto Saikawa would stay on as chief executive, backing the protege of former boss Carlos Ghosn even as top shareholder Renault pushed for a change in the Japanese automaker’s leadership. FILE PHOTO: Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa attends a news conference in Yokohama, Japan, May 14,… Continue reading Nissan says Saikawa retained as CEO, putting focus on Renault ties
Tag: M and A
Cummins Increases Presence and Footprint in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) along with the Governor of Indiana and the Mayors of Columbus, Greenwood and Indianapolis, announced plans to expand its presence along the “Cummins Corridor” with new building projects and investment along I-65 in its global headquarters in Columbus, in Greenwood and in Indianapolis, Indiana.… Continue reading Cummins Increases Presence and Footprint in Indiana
Volkswagen says EV batteries to last “the life of the car”
Volkswagen ID Buzz Concept
In an announcement last month, Volkswagen joined Nissan and Tesla as the only automakers to explicitly warranty not just the batteries in its cars but specifically how much life it expects them to retain.
Frank Blome, the head of VW's Center of Excellence in Battery Cells, said in an outward facing internal marketing interview that the company expects the battery packs in its upcoming line of ID cars to last “the life of the cars,” he said.
READ THIS: Here's the battery pack behind VW's global electric-vehicle push
Of course, for a key component of the car that costs five figures to replace it's an open question whether a dead battery becomes a self-fulfilling condition of a dead car.
Volkswagen has previously said—at several points—that its batteries will retain 70 percent of their original capacity for 8 years or 100,000 miles. That's the standard time frame for an EV battery warranty, though not all companies go so far as to provide a definition of how much capacity the battery needs to retain at that point.
CHECK OUT: Volkswagen details the foundation for 10 million electric vehicles
Batteries for the Audi E-tron quattro, the first all-electric car from the Volkswagen Group's luxury division come from Korean supplier LG Chem. LG's South Korean rival, SK Innovation, which was just sued by LG Chem at the International Trade Commission, will supply batteries for VW's new products in Europe as well as the U.S.
SKI is building new battery factories in Hungary and the U.S. state of Georgia to supply the batteries. In China, VW will rely on local batteries from CATL.
DON'T MISS: VW Group has nailed down $25 billion of batteries for electric cars, it said today
Blome confirmed that Volkswagen continues to work with Silicon Valley startup QuantumScape to develop solid-state batteries for its next generation of batteries for electric cars sometime between 2025 and 2030.
He also affirmed that he expects VW's European Battery Union partnership with Swedish battery maker Northvolt to produce more and better batteries, and to promote more battery production in Europe. The EBU is expected to begin research in 2020. “This new consortium will cover the entire battery value chain,” he said. “The primary aim is to gain broader expertise in battery cell production.”
Via and SamTrans Launch On-Demand Public Transportation in Pacifica, California
Published May 6, 2019 7:00 am, Via NYC
Via and SamTrans Launch On-Demand Public Transportation in Pacifica, California
The new partnership with SamTrans brings another shared, on-demand service powered by Via to the San Francisco Bay area.
May 6, 2019 (Pacifica, CA) — Via, the world’s leading provider and developer of on-demand shared mobility solutions, today announced a new microtransit deployment in the San Francisco Bay Area, operated in partnership with public transportation leader SamTrans. The new service brings corner-to-corner shuttle service to Pacifica, California.
Starting May 6, SamTrans will offer on-demand shared transportation within the coverage area for the standard SamTrans fare. The new on-demand service replaces the fixed-route FLX Pacifica bus service, offering customers a more convenient public transportation solution.
SamTrans OnDemand is powered by Via’s advanced algorithm, which enables multiple riders to seamlessly share a single vehicle. The powerful technology directs passengers to a nearby corner — a virtual bus stop — for pick up and drop off, and dynamically routes the vehicle in real-time, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.
“Via’s powerful technology is redefining mobility across the globe, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to provide on-demand dynamic transportation solutions,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “We are delighted to be partnering with SamTrans to help Pacifica lead the way in mobility innovation through the launch of this convenient, affordable, and eco-friendly service.”
SamTrans operates 70 routes throughout San Mateo County. Funded in part by a half-cent sales tax, the San Mateo County Transit District also provides administrative support for Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.
“SamTrans OnDemand is an innovative service that will better serve Pacifica residents by providing a flexible and affordable transportation option,” said SamTrans Chief Planning Officer April Chan. “If this way of delivering service works well, we hope to extend this to other neighborhoods in San Mateo County that can take advantage of this service.”
“Pacifica has unique challenges regarding transportation that result in congested roads and needless stress,” said Pacifica Mayor Sue Vaterlauss. “SamTrans OnDemand offers an alternative that will appeal to students, seniors and people that want options beyond owning a car.”
SamTrans OnDemand allows riders to request a trip through an iOS or Android app operated by Via, or through the SamTrans Customer Service Call Center. Once a trip is booked, a shuttle is routed to the pickup location and can be tracked through the app in real-time.
Via has been tapped by cities and transportation players around the world to help re-engineer public transit from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via now has more than 70 launched and pending deployments in more than 15 countries. To learn more about Via, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.
About Via
Via is re-engineering public transit, from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via’s mobile app connects multiple passengers who are headed the same way, allowing riders to seamlessly share a premium vehicle. First launched in New York City in September 2013, the Via platform operates in the United States and in Europe through its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Vans, ViaVan. Via’s technology is also deployed worldwide through dozens of partner projects with public transportation agencies, private transit operators, taxi fleets, private companies, and universities, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to power cutting-edge on-demand mobility. For more information, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.
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Will Tesla’s Advantageous Panasonic Partnership Come To An End?
Is it all too good to be true moving forward? There’s definitely a chance that Tesla’s advantageous partnership with Panasonic could come to an end at some point. As we previously reported, sometimes it seems the Japanese battery cell maker is enamored with its Tesla partnership, but other times it appears that’s not necessarily the… Continue reading Will Tesla’s Advantageous Panasonic Partnership Come To An End?
GozNym Cyber-Criminal Network Operating out of Europe Targeting American Entities Dismantled in International Operation
Network Formed by Individuals Who Advertised their Specialized Technical Skills and Services on Underground Russian-Language Online Criminal Forums A complex transnational organized cybercrime network that used GozNym malware in an attempt to steal an estimated $100 million from unsuspecting victims in the United States and around the world has been dismantled as part of an… Continue reading GozNym Cyber-Criminal Network Operating out of Europe Targeting American Entities Dismantled in International Operation
China’s Tesla wannabe Xpeng starts ride-hailing service
There’re a lot of synergies between electric vehicles and ride-hailing. Drivers are able to save more steering an EV compared to a gas vehicle. Environmentally conscious consumers will choose to hire an electric car. And EVs are designed with better compatibility with autonomous driving, which is expected to hit the public road in the coming… Continue reading China’s Tesla wannabe Xpeng starts ride-hailing service
Nissan offers Renault CEO board seat as it rebuffs merger talks
Japan group’s olive branch to French partner comes as it seeks to close-down tie-up Go to Source
Michelin announces its acquisition of Masternaut, one of the largest European telematics providers
Michelin announces its acquisition of Masternaut, one of the largest European telematics providers In line with the Group’s development strategy in the Services & Solutions business and leveraging the experience it has gained following the Sascar and NexTraq acquisitions in America, Michelin announces it has signed an agreement to acquire the entire share capital of… Continue reading Michelin announces its acquisition of Masternaut, one of the largest European telematics providers
UPDATE: Tesla Officially Acquires Maxwell Technologies
The offer expired at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 15, 2019 and the deal was sealed. Tesla announced the final offer for the acquisition of Maxwell Technologies, known manufacturer of ultracapacitors and developer of new dry electrode technology for batteries. ***UPDATE – May 16, 2019 – Tesla has officially acquired Maxwell. Press release from… Continue reading UPDATE: Tesla Officially Acquires Maxwell Technologies