Author: Central Desk

Volkswagen Passenger Cars is setting the stage for an electric vision by adapting its Germany-based production facilities. In a meeting, the brand’s vehicle allocation plans through 2028 were shared with the Group Board of Management. This move is a part of the brand’s ambitious performance program, ACCELERATE forward | Road to 6.5, aiming for profitable capacity utilization and a sound economic outlook in the coming years amidst a rapidly evolving automotive industry. Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, highlighted the complex challenges the industry faces during this transformative phase, especially under stringent business conditions. He emphasized the importance of…

The BMW Group is dedicating a hefty investment of €100 million towards establishing a state-of-the-art battery testing center at its Wackersdorf location in Upper Palatinate by 2026, marking a substantial stride in its e-mobility trajectory. This investment accentuates the automotive giant’s alignment with the global momentum towards cleaner and more sustainable electric vehicle technologies. Destined to blend seamlessly with the existing infrastructure, the new battery testing center symbolizes a crucial milestone in the road toward electric vehicle refinement. The first wave of deliverables concerning the development of high-voltage batteries is anticipated to transition into regular operation by mid-2024. Spanning a…

The burgeoning global trend towards electric vehicles (EVs) casts an unsettling shade on the robust UK automotive sector, warns a report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). The encompassing document titled ‘UK Automotive Sector: Surviving the Net Zero Transition,’ stresses the imperative of governmental reinforcement to retain sector competitiveness amidst escalating international rivalry, principally from electric automotive markets. The UK government’s commitment to transition to a zero-emission fleet and achieve Net Zero objectives echoes a larger worldwide movement towards environmental sustainability. The IMechE report highlights that without an augmented support structure for both consumers and manufacturers, the UK auto…

The ascension of Artificial Intelligence (AI) foundation models is catalyzing a new epoch of intelligence within China’s auto sector. Revelations from the recently concluded 2023 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference (WICVC) held in Beijing from Sept. 20 to 24, delineate a bold narrative in automotive innovation. Xin Guobin, the vice minister of industry and information technology, disclosed that 42.4% of passenger car sales within China during the first half of 2023 featured combined driver assistance, signifying a stride towards Level 2 autonomous driving. Han Zhao, leading the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, reflected on the nascent stages of automatic driving,…

American manufacturer of electric luxury sports cars and grand tourers, Lucid Group unveiled Saudi Arabia’s pioneering car manufacturing facility, marking a significant leap toward sustainable automotive manufacturing in the Kingdom. The Advanced Manufacturing Plant (AMP-2), Lucid’s first venture beyond US borders, manifests the burgeoning appeal of the luxurious Lucid Air, the crown jewel of the 2023 World Luxury Car Award. The meticulously crafted AMP-2, devised to deliver Lucid’s trailblazing electric vehicles, reflects not merely a victory for Saudi Arabia, but augments the worldwide electric vehicle trajectory. Resolute backing from the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), the Saudi Industrial…

With the world fast adopting autonomous driving technology, the UK makes a significant stride with the launch of evolvAD, a robust research project backed by Nissan and funded by the UK Government. The initiative, now officially underway, aims to augment the UK’s autonomous driving capability and provide vital technical support to supply chains preparing for the mass adoption of this revolutionary technology. The evolvAD project seeks to thoroughly test Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) across a wide array of urban residential and complex rural terrains. This initiative is the result of a collaboration among five industry partners, with Nissan leading…

Unveiling a significant stride toward reshaping road safety standards and transforming in-cabin experiences, Mitsubishi Electric and BlackBerry have forged a notable alliance. Mitsubishi Electric’s innovative automotive in-cabin system, named Mitsubishi Electric FLEXConnect, will be energized by BlackBerry IVY, a capable edge-to-cloud vehicle data platform. This noteworthy collaboration is designed to metamorphose road safety by harnessing a broad spectrum of sensor data to forewarn about safety risks, curtail driver distractions, spotlight potential driving hazards, and unveil new consumer experiences. Expressing eagerness about this union, Mark Rakoski, the VP of Advanced Engineering at Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, stated, “The collaboration between Mitsubishi…

Škoda Auto, the Czech automotive behemoth, marked its debut in the Vietnamese market with aplomb this Monday. A ceremonious event, graced by officials from both Vietnamese and Czech governments alongside Škoda’s local ally, TC Group, heralded this new beginning. With an unwavering plan to escalate its dealer network to 30 partners swiftly, Škoda Auto envisions an ambitious annual sales horizon of over 40,000 units beyond 2030. Initially, the European market will channel the models Karoq and Kodiaq to Vietnam, transitioning to local Completely Knocked Down (CKD) production next year. This strategic pivot to initiate CKD production, bolstered by Vietnam’s geographic…

Ford Michigan has put a temporary halt on the construction of a pivotal electric vehicle (EV) battery plant, inciting criticism from Republicans due to the firm’s intent to use licensed Chinese battery technology. Ford confirmed the suspension of activities and reduced spending at the facility will continue “until we’re confident about our ability to competitively operate the plant,” according to spokesperson T.R. Reid. While no final decision regarding the anticipated investment has been made, this halt aligns with the ongoing second week of a United Auto Workers (UAW) strike against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. This labor unrest underscores a…

Decisive attempt to advance its electric vehicle (EV) blueprint, Lexus seems to have found a beacon of innovation in Tesla, the global leader in electric mobility. The Japanese luxury automotive brand, steered by President Takashi Watanabe, acknowledges that to stay relevant in the burgeoning electric market, gleaning insights from Tesla’s triumphs is crucial. As the EV wave continues to swell across the globe, traditional automakers are navigating the transition to secure a foothold in the sustainable mobility realm. Lexus, amid planning a significant EV overhaul starting 2026, is not coy about the influence Tesla has had on its electrification ethos.…