Author: Central Desk

India’s recent announcement to slash import taxes for electric vehicles heralds a transformative shift in its automotive sector, positioning the country as a magnet for Tesla and other global car giants. This strategic move intricately links EV tax reductions with substantial investments. Investment-Linked Tax Incentives Set the Stage Central to this groundbreaking policy is a compelling directive: entities poised to channel at least $500 million into India’s market and erect manufacturing facilities within a three-year horizon will reap the rewards of reduced taxation. This policy blueprint carves a path for Tesla, among others, to forge deep inroads into the Indian…

APAM Esercizio, the main transport operator in Mantua, Lombardy, has embarked on an innovative journey by placing an order for five Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen-powered buses, slated for delivery by late 2025. This action resonates with Mantua’s broader ambition for decarbonization within Lombardy, showcasing an acute commitment to sustainable development. By integrating hydrogen-powered vehicles, Mantua not only advances its environmental goals but also solidifies its position as a pioneer in adopting clean energy technologies across Italy. The region’s involvement in creating a Hydrogen Valley, aiming to generate over 1,500 tons of hydrogen from renewable resources annually, underscores a strategic move…

The automotive sector’s landscape, characterized by swiftly shifting consumer demands and intense rivalry, witnesses Honda’s ascendancy through innovation and strategic acumen with its Honda Elevate SUV. Launched in September 2023, the Elevate not only rejuvenated Honda Car India’s product lineup but also symbolized a significant stride in Honda’s international expansion, especially through its notable export achievements to Japan. Triumph Within the Indian Market The Elevate’s journey commenced with remarkable success within India, rapidly ascending to become Honda Car India’s second top-selling model with 30,365 units dispatched to dealers from August 2023 through February 2024. This surge in popularity underscores the…

Italy’s endeavor to recalibrate its economic ties with China encapsulates the intricate balance of global geopolitics and economic strategies. Exiting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marked Italy’s intent to mitigate dependence on China. Yet, the nation’s automotive sector reveals the arduousness of severing economic interactions with the world’s second-largest economy. This juxtaposition underscores the sophistication between seeking economic sovereignty and yielding to the compelling allure of Chinese investments. Embarking on a strategy to invigorate its automotive industry, Italy has engaged in discussions with Chinese automotive giants like Chery Auto and BYD, aiming to establish manufacturing bases. These talks, seeking…

Toyota Motor Corporation, alongside giants like Panasonic and Nissan, has embarked on a path-breaking initiative to augment factory worker salaries to levels unseen in the past quarter-century. This strategic decision, pivotal for the workforce, is poised to profoundly influence Japan’s economic directives, potentially heralding the cessation of the longstanding policy of negative interest rates by the nation’s central bank. Pioneering Wage Strategy by Toyota Toyota, the global automotive leader, has pioneered an approach by consenting to a monthly wage surge of up to 28,440 yen, paired with unprecedented bonus disbursements for its manufacturing personnel. This initiative is a component of…

Mercedes-Benz, collaborating with the Fraunhofer-Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, EMI (Ernst Mach Institute), has achieved a groundbreaking feat by executing the world’s inaugural X-ray crash test on an actual car. This test, conducted at EMI’s research facility in Freiburg, Germany, represents a quantum leap in automotive safety testing, providing an unparalleled view into the internal dynamics of a vehicle during collision. The procedure involved a Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloon subjected to a side impact crash at 60 km/h. Distinguishing this crash test is the application of high-speed X-ray imaging, utilizing a linear accelerator to capture the event from above. This advanced technology…

Chinese technological behemoth Xiaomi heralds a significant stride into the electric vehicle (EV) arena, announcing the imminent delivery commencement of its premier EV model. This venture represents Xiaomi’s bold foray from its foundational smartphone industry stronghold into the automotive domain’s competitive landscape. The revelation of this electric vehicle’s pricing is eagerly anticipated on March 28. Ranking as China’s fifth-largest smartphone manufacturer, Xiaomi possesses a robust retail infrastructure, with 59 outlets across 29 cities nationwide, poised for order acceptance for this pioneering initiative. This development unfolds as an escalating price war engulfs leading automotive firms within China, the globe’s paramount car…

German luxury automaker Porsche embarks on a daring path with the announcement of several forthcoming models for this year, injecting an electric sports car into its lineup to challenge sector leaders. This unveiling comes with a cautious note on profitability, illustrating the intricate balance between pioneering growth and sustaining profit margins in a fiercely competitive landscape. Tuesday’s disclosure from Porsche highlighted an ambitious agenda, introducing updated versions of its esteemed Panamera, Macan, and the venerable 911, alongside the eagerly awaited Taycan Turbo GT. This electric contender, already celebrated as a ‘record holder,’ aims to eclipse Tesla’s prior lap records, marking…

Volvo Group forges an agreement with Westport Fuel Systems Inc, catalyzing the commercialization and global adoption of Westport’s High-Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) fuel system technology. This collaboration of Volvo and Westport underscores a steadfast commitment to combating climate change by significantly curtailing CO2 emissions within the transportation sector. Originating from a previously disclosed Letter of Intent, this joint venture epitomizes a significant stride toward sustainable transportation solutions. Leveraging HPDI technology, this alliance endeavors to transition vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines from fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives such as biogas or hydrogen, delineating a path toward carbon neutrality and a…

StoreDot, the vanguard of extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology for electric vehicles, unveils a strategic leap towards commercialization and mass scalability through a partnership with EVE Energy. Sealed today, this alliance grants StoreDot access to EVE’s expansive manufacturing capabilities, paving the way for the mass production of its transformative 100in5 extreme fast charging battery cells. StoreDot will harness manufacturing prowess from EVE to produce its XFC batteries, alongside licensing its technology to EVE. This agreement aims at expanding licensing endeavors with additional entities while bolstering StoreDot’s global manufacturing reach. This collaboration anticipates the production of StoreDot’s cells on EVE’s…