M and A – Page 9722 – I wish I had more to offer

Aston Martin’s first electric car is finally here

The first all-electric Aston Martin has finally been revealed, nearly four years after it was originally announced. Based on the existing combustion-engine Aston Martin Rapide sedan, the “Rapide E” officially debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show on Tuesday. Only 155 will be made, and Aston Martin didn’t announce a price for the car. Powered by… Continue reading Aston Martin’s first electric car is finally here

Lyft adds Citi Bikes to its app for NYC riders

Lyft is going to integrate Citi Bike into its app for some riders in New York City. Lyft acquired bike-share startup Motivate back in July and proceeded to become a one-stop transportation app in three cities in December. Now, it’s ready to do the same in New York. Beginning early next month, Lyft customers in… Continue reading Lyft adds Citi Bikes to its app for NYC riders

Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (PROTON) today extended their partnership with PETRONAS Lubricants Marketing Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PLMM), a subsidiary of PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) and PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) for a period of ten years

Kuala Lumpur, 9 April 2019 – Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (PROTON) today extended their partnership with PETRONAS Lubricants Marketing Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PLMM), a subsidiary of PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) and PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) for a period of ten years, to develop, supply and deliver lubricant products and functional fluids, effective 1 January 2019.

The Global Supply, Technology, Commercial and Collaboration Agreement (STCCA) was inked by Ruslan Islahudin as Regional Business Head APAC PLI witnessed by Andrew Wong, Regional Head for OEM APAC together with PROTON signee Lim Meng Jin, Chief Procurement Officer of PROTON, witnessed by Yusri Yusof as Senior Director of Corporate Strategy. As for the Local Supply and Commercial Collaboration Agreement (LSCCA), it was signed by Hardeep Singh as the CEO of PLMM for PETRONAS and witnessed by Gan Kher Yang, General Manager Sales B2C meanwhile PROTON’s signee was Tuan Haji Hamizan Osman, Senior Director Procurem..

Coming to the Lyft app: Bikes!

Starting in early May, select Lyft users in New York City will begin to see a new mode of transportation available in the app: bikes! As we work to make cities better places to live and increase mobility, we see bikeshare as an integral part of our vision. There’s no question that a platform for… Continue reading Coming to the Lyft app: Bikes!

Nidec Announces In-Wheel Motor Prototype for Electric Vehicles

Nidec’s new in-wheel traction motor developed based on the company’s E-Axle product line

Kyoto, Japan: Following last year's reveal of Nidec's fully integrated traction motor system E-Axle and the announcement that the product will be adopted by the Aion S super e-car slated to appear on the Chinese market in May 2019, the company now presents a prototype of a new addition to its lineup of motors powering electric vehicles: a traction motor designed to be fitted inside the wheel hubs.

While regular EV traction motors generally occupy the engine compartment, in-wheel motors, as their name implies, are incorporated directly into the wheels of the automobile. Benefits of this set-up include higher efficiency as a result of driving the wheels directly and bypassing the need for conventional power transmission mechanisms. In turn, this allows for lighter and more compact designs. Additionally, independent control of..

Via Announces Strategic Partnership with ITOCHU Corporation and Mori Building Company

Published April 14, 2019 10:00 pm, Via NYC
Via Announces Strategic Partnership with ITOCHU Corporation and Mori Building Company
The new partnership allows for dramatic growth of on-demand mobility in Japan

April 15, 2019 (Tokyo, Japan) — Via, the world’s leading provider and developer of on-demand shared mobility solutions, announced today a strategic partnership with ITOCHU Corporation and Mori Building Company. Following on the heels of the August 2018 launch of HillsVia, a commuter service for Mori employees, the new partnership will allow Via to rapidly expand its dynamic, on-demand transportation solutions and solve pressing transit issues across Japan.

“We are delighted for ITOCHU and Mori Building to join us as strategic partners and investors,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “ITOCHU’s bold vision to transform consumer experiences and mobility infrastructure and Mori Building’s success in innovating urban living make both companies invaluable partners as we work to provide cutting-edge mobility solutions that are smart, efficient, and help to reduce congestion and emissions in Japan.”

Via is able to seamlessly integrate with existing fixed-route transportation infrastructure, helping to fill in gaps where existing transit isn’t easily accessible. Via’s technology efficiently works to aggregate multiple passengers into shared vehicles, reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips, thus improving traffic congestion and curtailing carbon emissions. The easy-to-use mobile interface is suited to riders of all ages, including the elderly.

As one of the country’s largest general trading companies, ITOCHU has a deep understanding of the Japanese consumer market, leading the pack when it comes to investing in transformative technologies like Via that will both innovate transportation and solve local governments’ most pressing issues. Via’s technology and operational experience is uniquely suited to the Japanese market, where Via operates as Via Japan.

“We are excited to partner with Via to support a more convenient transportation system in Japan,” said Shunsuke Noda, ITOCHU Chief Digital & Information Officer. “We believe that Via’s cutting-edge solution will be widely accepted in the Japanese market through strategic partnerships with existing transportation operators.”

Leading Tokyo-based urban developer Mori Building began its partnership with Via in August 2018, developing the on-demand mobility HillsVia solution for travel between Mori Building properties, such as Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills. Using the Via-powered HillsVia mobile app, Mori Building employees can book rides in high-end V-Class vans provided by Mercedes-Benz to move amongst the properties. The program confirmed that Via’s solutions can be successfully applied to Japanese business customs and traffic conditions.

“Through our trial of HillsVia since last summer, we have experienced the usefulness of Via’s unique algorism for urban lifestyle. Via’s solution will contribute to solving the problems of urban transportation such as traffic congestion and environmental pollution,” said Masahiko Ogasawara, a Director & Executive Managing Officer for Mori Building. “This service will improve city life by increasing transportation options in urban areas.”

In partnership with ITOCHU and Mori Building, Via aims to provide Japanese transportation companies and drivers with new technology that will both improve their organizational profitability, as well as solve social problems throughout Japan.

Via has been tapped by cities and transit authorities in more than 60 markets in 15 countries around the world, including several deployments in Asia. In addition to Mori’s corporate shuttle system, Via also powers a public transportation network to transform Angot in Indonesia in cooperation with PT. Teknologi Rancang Olah Nusantara (affiliated with Digiasia Bios), and two on-demand bus services in Singapore, including one with Singapore’s Land Transportation Authority. 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.

About ITOCHU Corporation

With 110 offices in 63 countries, ITOCHU, one of the leading sogo shosha, engages in domestic trading, import/export and overseas trading of various products such as textile, machinery, metals, minerals, energy, chemicals, food, general products, realty, information and communications technology, and finance, as well as business investment in Japan and overseas. ITOCHU Corporation was founded by Chubei Itoh in 1858 and now employs 4,380 people globally.

About Mori Building Company

Mori Building is an innovative urban developer based in Tokyo. The company is committed to maximizing the magnetic power of cities by creating and nurturing safe, sustainable and cosmopolitan urban centers based on its unique Vertical Garden City concept of high-rise centers for business, education, leisure and residence. The concept is applied in the company’s many leading-edge projects, including ARK Hills, Omotesando Hills, Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills in Tokyo and the Shanghai World Financial Center. Mori Building is also engaged in real estate leasing, project management and consultation. Please visit www.mori.co.jp/en

China plays key role in Volkswagen Group’s e-mobility strategy

China will play a key role in the Volkswagen group’s global transformation and its accompanying decarbonization program. Thus, this year will see an intensified roll-out of new energy models. Volkswagen Group China aims to produce more than half of the group’s global objective of 22 million BEVs by 2028. To speed up its e-offensive, it… Continue reading China plays key role in Volkswagen Group’s e-mobility strategy

Ford Strengthens Commercial Vehicle Leadership in First Quarter; High-Series and Retail Sales Grow

About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility… Continue reading Ford Strengthens Commercial Vehicle Leadership in First Quarter; High-Series and Retail Sales Grow

T-Systems announces partnership with Israeli automotive cyber security specialist

BONN, 4-Apr-2019 — /EuropaWire/ — T-Systems teams up with Argus Cyber Security, an independent subsidiary of Continental, for car cyber defense. The partnership was announced at the Hanover Industrial Trade Fair. T-Systems announced in mid-March about its plans for a Security Operations Center specializing in vehicles (Automotive SOC). T-Systems brings Argus as an important partner on board.

Argus Cyber Security is an Israeli automotive cyber security specialist. Argus has a highly developed Information and Event Management System (SIEM) for cars as well as in-vehicle solutions which car manufacturers (OEMs) and fleet operators use to identify connected vehicles anomalies.

“We are currently seeing a new peak of 32 million daily attacks on our systems. Attackers don’t stop in front of our cars either. The connected vehicle needs a digital bodyguard and real-time cyber defense” comments T-Systems CEO Adel Al-Saleh.

Robust solution for protecting vehicles

Werner Koestler, Head of Strategy, Interior Division, Continental comments: “We are delighted that Argus and T-Systems are working together to develop a comprehensive and robust solution for cyber security in the automotive sector – from the vehicle to the cloud and beyond. We are bringing together the largest IT service provider in the automotive industry in Germany with Argus. The joint solution will strengthen cyber security in cars. This will enable OEMs and fleet operators to realize their vision of safe and secure mobility.”

Yoni Heilbronn, Chief Marketing Officer of Argus Cyber Security comments: “Argus’ focus has always been on averting attacks on the automotive industry and anticipating future threats. Together with T-Systems, we will offer customers an advanced and robust Automotive Security Operation Center. To do this we link, fuse and analyze multiple data sources. This enables automakers to respond immediately to threats. In addition, the Automotive SOC helps the industry to act with foresight – even in ever-changing threat situations which are inherent to cyber security.”

About Argus:

Argus was founded in 2013, headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, with offices in Michigan, Silicon Valley, Stuttgart and Tokyo. A global leader in automotive cyber security, Argus provides comprehensive and proven solution suites to protect connected cars and commercial vehicles against cyber-attacks. The company has decades of experience in both cyber security and the automotive industry. Argus offers innovative security methods and proven computer networking know-how with a deep understanding of automotive best practices. Argus is an independent company of Elektrobit, a leading provider of automotive software products and services.

About Continental:

Continental was founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. The company develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. In 2018, Continental generated preliminary sales of € 44.4 billion and currently employs around 244,000 people in 60 countries and markets.

Information management in and beyond the vehicle is at the very heart of the Interior division. The product portfolio for different types of vehicles includes: instrument clusters, multifunctional and head-up displays, control units, access control and tire-information systems, radios, infotainment systems, input devices, control panels, climate control units, software, cockpits as well as services and solutions for telematics and Intelligent Transportation Systems. The Interior division employs around 48,000 people worldwide and generated sales of €9.7 billion in 2018.

SOURCE: Deutsche Telekom AG

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Exclusive: Toyota sells electric vehicle technology to Chinese startup Singulato

BEIJING (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp has agreed to sell electric car technology to Singulato, its first deal with a Chinese electric vehicle startup, allowing the fledgling firm to speed up development of a planned mini EV. Singulato workers unwrap a concept car, dubbed the iC3, which is based on a discontinued EV of Toyota,… Continue reading Exclusive: Toyota sells electric vehicle technology to Chinese startup Singulato