Posts

Showing posts from January, 2023

Tesla Added 29,000 Jobs In 2022 Amid Mass Layoffs In Tech Sector

Image
Tesla bucked the pattern amongst tech providers when it will come to the variety of work opportunities developed in 2022. Though tech giants like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Twitter laid off tens of 1000’s of workers previous calendar year to help save funds in the confront of a coming economic downturn &#x2013 and some will go on to do so &#x2013 Tesla on its individual has additional nearly 29,000 new workers in 2022, a 22-p.c boost in excess of the earlier calendar year. In fairness, Tesla did lay off workers previous calendar year, but the individuals influenced were being generally keeping unneeded whole-time company and distant positions.&#xA0While Tesla explained it would slash its salaried headcount by as significantly as 10 p.c, it also talked about programs to boost the variety of hourly workers in production.&#xA0 In an e mail to workers previous calendar year, CEO Elon Musk said 10 percent of salaried positions would be eliminated , noting that the redu

Self-driving tech firm Aurora hires its first president

Self-driving technological know-how organization Aurora Innovation Inc. appointed Ossa Fisher as its to start with president. The shift arrives as part of the company’s efforts to prepare for a commercial launch of autonomous vans. Fisher joins Aurora from Istation, an education and learning-technological know-how organization dependent in Dallas. She oversaw engineering, product or service, gross sales and advertising and marketing divisions in her purpose as Istation’s president and COO, a place she held because 2019. At Aurora, Fisher will engage in a central purpose in scaling functions and retaining interactions with key partners like FedEx Corp., Uber Freight, Werner, as perfectly as truckmakers these as PACCAR and AB Volvo. She will remain in Dallas, the firm’s increasing operational hub. Aurora experienced considerably less than 20 personnel in Dallas at the conclusion of 2020 that selection rose to almost 120 by the conclusion of 2022, in accordance to a organization sp

SpaceX’s first NASA astronauts to receive Space Medal of Honor for Dragon test flight

The post SpaceX’s first NASA astronauts to receive Space Medal of Honor for Dragon test flight appeared first on Cars News Magazine . The Auto Xone

VW will not match Tesla price cuts for its EVs, CEO Blume says

BERLIN — Volkswagen Team has no programs to supply bargains for its electrical cars to counter price tag cuts by T esla , CEO Oliver Blume explained to a German newspaper. VW will not acquire portion in a price tag war with Tesla, Blume explained to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung . “We have a distinct pricing method and are concentrating on trustworthiness. We belief in the toughness of our items and models,” he stated. VW wishes to be a world-wide chief in EVs but this really should be accomplished via lucrative advancement, Blume stated. In the U.S., Ford has adopted Tesla’s price tag cuts by reducing the price of the Mustang Mach-E crossover by $600 to $five,900, dependent on the trim. “The price tag lower is coming quicker and extra brutally than anticipated. Tesla could be aiming to drive rivals out of the sector,” Antoine Weill, a husband or wife at consultancy Simon-Kucher &amp Companions, told  Automotive News Europe sister publication Automobilwoche .

Cheap Zip Tie Car Trick! | MotorTrend #shorts

Image
#roadkill #roadkillgarage #motortrend The post Cheap Zip Tie Car Trick! | MotorTrend #shorts appeared first on Cars News Magazine . The Auto Xone

Waymo’s YJ Ahn delves into the design behind the Zeekr robotaxi

LAS VEGAS &#x2014 YJ Ahn has extended performed linchpin roles in building transformational technological know-how merchandise. She started off out doing work on clever televisions and house theaters at LG Electronics, then joined Motorola to velocity its changeover from flip telephones to clever types. Each ordeals served as precursor to her most bold obstacle &#x2014 head of layout at Waymo. Ahn, 48, joined Google at the outset of its self-driving professional-ject much more than a ten years in the past. She has overseen layout of all of the firm’s cars, starting up with the very small autonomous Firefly prototype via modern substantial Course eight vans. Her most up-to-date generation was on screen this thirty day period at CES . Team reporter Pete Bigelow sat down with Ahn &#x2014 within the cabin of the subsequent-era Zeekr robotaxi &#x2014 to go over it, the evolution of autonomous cars and the driving forces guiding her layout philosophy. Below are edited exc

GM’s defense arm, American Rheinmetall win U.S. army contract for trucks

General Motors ‘ protection arm and American Rheinmetall Motor vehicles said on Monday that they have received a agreement for the to start with section of the U.S. Army’s Prevalent Tactical Truck Software. The multi-phased application aims to swap the army’s relatives of major tactical vans with the manufacturing of up to 40,000 vans valued at up to $14 billion. Beneath the agreement, the businesses will present their HX3 Prevalent Tactical Truck, which will assistance innovative driver support devices and are enabled for autonomous vehicle procedure. The post GM’s defense arm, American Rheinmetall win U.S. army contract for trucks appeared first on Cars News Magazine . The Auto Xone

Audi RS6 E-Tron To Arrive In 2024 As All-Electric Performance Sedan

Image
German luxurious brand name Audi is in the remaining phases of planning the initially-at any time RS6 functionality sedan in all-electrical e-tron guise, and it will reportedly have extremely broad wheel arches, a small stance, and &#x201Cdifferent&#x201D functionality in comparison to the forthcoming A6 e-tron. Talking with TopGear in the course of the expose of the German marque&#x2019s Activesphere concept , Audi&#x2019s main designer, Marc Lichte, mentioned that the all-new electrical RS6 e-tron will be produced along with an inside combustion motor variant, which is nevertheless to be retired, and that it will be comparable in structure with the A6 e-tron concept proven in 2021, but with a considerably broader monitor and exceptional functionality. The forthcoming all-electrical Audi A6 will be dependent on the brand name&#x2019s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture and will be driven by a 100-kWh battery pack, which really should consequence in

Volvo reboots, revives subscription service in Calif.

Much less than a few yrs soon after currently being booted from California for violating the state’s franchise rules, Volvo Vehicles is reviving a motor vehicle membership system in a critical U.S. marketplace. The most recent system, slated to start upcoming thirty day period, finishes a 4-12 months struggle amongst Volvo and its California sellers to introduce the assistance that now bundles motor vehicle use, highway hazard protection, upkeep and other providers into a month-to-month payment. Treatment by Volvo gives a two-12 months phrase, but subscribers can alter autos or terminate the membership with out penalty soon after 5 months. “Supplying clients the flexibility to shift in a particular, sustainable, and protected way is our mission,” Volvo Automobile United states outgoing CEO Anders Gustafsson explained to Automotive Information . “Doing the job with our retailer associates to offer you the adaptability to do so is one particular way we are satisfying our mission.”

Porsche’s failed NFT drop is a lesson for brands in Web3

Porsche’ s non-fungible token fall was meant to be a match-changer. But in what has develop into a considerably typical prevalence with NFT drops , it unsuccessful to reside up to the buzz. The challenge, auspiciously declared at Artwork Basel Miami Seaside, introduced on Monday, and by Tuesday less than one,500 of the assortment&#x2019s seven,500 NFTs experienced been minted. Consumers, sensing this absence of demand from customers, commenced listing their tokens on secondary marketplaces for considerably less dollars. Hrs afterwards, just after major backlash on-line, Porsche reduce the token offer and declared it would halt the mint. Only two,383 NFTs experienced bought by the conclude of the fiasco, or just above 30 p.c of the supposed offer.&#xA0 &#x201CMany buyers from the Web3 group have certainly held again mainly because immediate resale appeared unprofitable thanks to the customization of the NFT,&#x201D explained a Porsche spokesperson. &#x201CThe meas

Betting on e-bikes

Automotive stalwarts this kind of as BMW , Porsche and German provider Robert Bosch are betting that e-bicycles will develop into a beneficial organization as people seem for more recent, more affordable and eco-helpful means to get about. McKinsey &amp Co. tasks that the micromobility market place will improve by nine p.c per year to arrive at a cumulative $260 billion by 2025. Bikes, such as guide and electric powered types employed in bicycle-share providers, will account for about $180 billion of that, with e-bikes accounting for a escalating share of that market place. “In most marketplaces, e-bikes are escalating anyplace amongst five and 15 p.c for each calendar year, although standard bikes are escalating much more like two p.c for each calendar year,” mentioned Kersten Heineke, chief of the McKinsey Middle for Long term Mobility. “They are cannibalizing standard bicycle income.” E-bikes are common in nations with sturdy biking cultures, this kind of as Germany, Heine

Nissan warns dealers Ariya supplies will be tight in 2023

Nissan Motor Co. , citing higher battery product charges, warned sellers on Sunday that U.S. provides of the Ariya crossover, a flagship electric vehicle , will be minimal this 12 months. The Japanese automaker, in the course of a make conference at NADA, also declared programs for a wave of new EV and gasoline types it hopes will raise U.S. industry share to much more than six per cent in fiscal 2023 from five per cent very last 12 months. Nissan expects a 19 per cent maximize in manufacturing in 2023 vs. 2022. The Ariya was slated to start in mid-2021, but COVID-connected chip shortages delayed it. U.S. deliveries started late very last 12 months. The new halo design is crucial to Nissan’s energy to reclaim its place in a section it pioneered with the start of the electric powered Leaf hatchback much more than a ten years in the past. Availability and affordability of the Ariya were being on dealers’ minds at the conference Sunday, with a lot of of the approximately 200 merch

Worries loom for used-car market

Sellers are cautious about their utilised-automobile prospective clients in 2023 soon after worsening market place circumstances led utilised-automobile gross sales to tumble very last calendar year. But even though utilised-automobile gross sales are envisioned to fall once more this calendar year, sellers and utilised-automobile professionals do not be expecting the strike to purchaser demand from customers and gains will be serious in early 2023. Shoring up that viewpoint: Wholesale utilised-automobile price ranges are down considerably from very last year’s document highs, but they have not crashed. New-automobile offer has to some degree enhanced at the start out of 2023, but right up until entirely recovered, the require for utilised motor vehicles continues to be elevated. Even so, significant problems loom, and numerous sellers say higher retail price ranges and growing fascination charges build a 1-two punch that will even more discourage buyers worried about affordability a

Kia leans into Super Bowl while others sit out

With the Tremendous Bowl just two months absent, Kia stands by itself as the only automaker that has fully commited to working a industrial at this issue. The Korean manufacturer, which has been a Tremendous Bowl staple, will emphasize the preferred a few-row Telluride. The utility auto has been freshened for the 2023 design yr. Kia sees the Tremendous Bowl phase as a vital piece in creating consciousness. It is pushing the Telluride all through the activity mainly because the enterprise “elevated output in the [West Point, Ga.] plant, starting up in September, by 20 per cent, so we want to make guaranteed we preserve telling persons to preserve the need,” stated Russell Wager, Kia America’s vice president of internet marketing. The manufacturer will get started rolling out a sneak peek of the Tremendous Bowl marketing campaign right after Feb. one. Wager stated Kia will proceed to be intense with its up to date portfolio, which involves the battery electric powered EV6, the fre

Tesla, insurers take different paths to deal with expensive repairs

Tesla Inc.’s electric powered motor vehicles are pricey to fix – so significantly so that the automaker and insurers are addressing the situation in sharply various methods. Main Government Elon Musk states Tesla is generating design and style and computer software modifications to its motor vehicles to decreased fix charges and insurance coverage rates. Insurance policies carriers, in the meantime, are composing off reduced-mileage Tesla Design Ys that have been in crashes, and sending them to salvage auctions right after deeming lots of far too pricey to fix. Through Tesla’s fourth-quarter earnings get in touch with on Wednesday, Musk mentioned rates from 3rd-celebration insurance coverage organizations “in some instances had been unreasonably significant” and that the EV maker’s insurance coverage arm was placing strain on all those carriers by featuring decreased premiums to Tesla homeowners. Musk also mentioned “we want to lessen the price of fixing a Tesla if it truly is i

Ford drops EV sales cap, lowers training costs for some dealers

Ford is getting rid of the yearly profits cap of 25 electric powered motor vehicles for dealerships on the considerably less-pricey tier of the brand’s EV certification method and minimizing the volume individuals shops ought to expend schooling personnel by $10,000. The improvements are a bid to gain above suppliers who took challenge with some of the certification program’s prices and needs. Despite the fact that enrollment for the method shut previous thirty day period, Ford suggests it will permit sellers on a situation-by-situation foundation to adjust their tier, be a part of or fall out based mostly on the freshly introduced improvements. Executives, talking to sellers at the Ford make assembly, claimed the manufacturer is reducing the schooling prerequisite for sellers who decide for the lessen-priced “accredited” tier by 40 % to $15,000. It will hold off schooling invoicing right up until June, right after schooling has commenced. Ford also will permit “accredited” sellers

Tesla CEO Musk meets with Washington brass to discuss EVs

Image
By Joey Klender Posted on January 27, 2023 Tesla CEO Elon Musk achieved with Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden, John Podesta and Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu on Friday in Washington to examine electrical auto adoption and development in the United States. A Senior White Household spokesperson stated &#xA0 Podesta and Landrieu achieved with Musk to examine &#x201Cshared aims all-around electrification&#x201D and how a short while ago handed legislature like the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Regulation can add to escalating electrical auto adoption in the United States. The spokesperson also informed&#xA0 Reuters that subject areas of dialogue integrated broadening electrical auto creation, charging infrastructure, and &#x201Cthe broader trigger of electrification.&#x201D Curiously, the White Household announced last year that Tesla, the organization Musk experienced led to catalyze the EV motion glob

Why Super Bowl auto ad spending is trending down

The post Why Super Bowl auto ad spending is trending down appeared first on Cars News Magazine . The Auto Xone

Best Driver’s Car Contender: 2018 Audi TT RS

Image
In some ways, this all-wheel drive, turbocharged five-cylinder coupe is more classic Audi than an R8. Is it enough to push the 2018 Audi TT RSA into the top spot? Watch the hot lap here http://bit.ly/2Niygs2 #mtbdc The post Best Driver’s Car Contender: 2018 Audi TT RS appeared first on Cars News Magazine . The Auto Xone

GM, Ford must convince investors they can profit as prices fall

General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. are expected to report strong profits for 2022 next week, powered by premium-priced pickup trucks and crossovers. Now, the Detroit rivals must convince investors that last year’s profit formula can keep working when costs for EV batteries are rising, high interest rates are cutting consumer purchasing power, and Tesla Inc. is slashing prices. Already there are signs the Detroit automakers are scaling back spending to offset competitive and economic pressure. GM and LG Energy Solution have shelved for now plans to build a fourth EV battery plant in North America. Ford is in talks with German unions to cut thousands of jobs in its European operations and possibly sell a German vehicle assembly plant. In October, it stopped funding autonomous vehicle affiliate Argo AI. GM and Ford both rely on sales of pickup trucks and crossovers in the United States for the bulk of their global profits. This year, both automakers plan to ramp up sales of much

Stellantis dealers near record profitability despite lower sales

Stellantis&#x2019 U.S. sellers experienced their 2nd-ideal yr of profitability at any time in 2022, even as profits fell 13 p.c, a top rated government with the automaker claimed Friday. That elevated profitability and a surge in Stellantis&#x2019 J.D. Ability profits pleasure scores gave the business and its sellers a lot to be fired up about irrespective of the output constraints that retained stock restricted, claimed Jeff Kommor, head of U.S. profits. It was a “superior yr on quantity general for our profits, so I am happy of that, and we are searching to do a lot more this yr,” Kommor explained to Automotive Information immediately after the Stellantis make conference. “We are searching for a rather sizeable improve in the current market share enhancement as all people is.” The conference also touched on the ongoing work to give the Jeep model a lot more exclusivity, Kommor claimed. Several Stellantis sellers have been incorporating individual Jeep showrooms and sta