The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent proposal, currently under White House review, mandates a significant reduction in vehicle emissions by 2032. If implemented, the plan could drastically accelerate the industry's trajectory into more environmentally-friendly alternatives.
💨 Drastic Emissions Reductions — The EPA's ambitious strategy calls for a 56% reduction in fleet average emissions compared to 2026 model year standards.
⚡️ Electric Vehicle Surge — To meet these stringent requirements, automakers are projected to increase EV production to 60% by 2030 and 67% by 2032.
🔍 Intense Scrutiny and Concerns — The plan, now undergoing interagency review after over 250,000 public comments, faces considerable pushback from major automakers who argue that the targets are neither reasonable nor achievable within the given timeframe.
Yesterday, Vroom Inc. announced it will be discontinuing its online used vehicle sales and e-commerce operations.
🚘 Ecommerce Operations Ceasing — Vroom is halting its online vehicle sales and planning to liquidate its current inventory through wholesale channels.
💼 Strategic Refocus — The company aims to concentrate on its profitable segments like United Auto Credit Corporation and CarStory which specialize in auto finance and AI-powered digital services.
📉 Market Challenges — Despite efforts to secure additional capital and extend its vehicle floorplan facility, Vroom has been unable to overcome continued market and demand difficulties.
Despite recent GM Cruise snafus in California, Alphabet Inc's Waymo is planning to venture into Los Angeles to expand its own driverless services.
✉️ LA Expansion Plans — Waymo has applied to the California Public Utilities Commission to operate its autonomous driving service fully in Los Angeles, currently testing rides on an invitation-only basis.
🦺 Community-Focused Expansion — The company plans to collaborate with LA's local authorities and community groups, indicating a commitment to integrate its services responsibly into the city.
🧪 Widening Reach — Beyond LA, Waymo is testing driverless cars in Phoenix and exploring expansion into Austin, Texas, adapting its strategies amidst the industry's regulatory challenges.
Stellantis has introduced its STLA Large platform, a base framework for building a variety of large vehicles like SUVs and sedans. Think of it like the foundation of a house upon which you can build different styles of home. With its high adaptability and future-proof design, STLA Large offers unprecedented options for vehicle design and performance.
🚂 Multi-Powertrain Compatibility — The STLA Large platform is designed to accommodate BEV, hybrid, and ICE powertrains, catering to a wide range of fullsize vehicles.
🔋 Electrification and Range — Emphasizing electric mobility, it promises up to a 500-mile range for sedans, equipped with fast-charging technology.
📐 Customizable Dimensions — The platform allows adjustments in vehicle size and configuration, offering flexibility for various model designs.
Following the “bigger is better” trend happening in automotive, Ford's newest in-car technology feature is a 48-inch digital dashboard. The mega-display will debut in the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus with more models to follow.
📺 Supersized Screen Experience — The curved display with 4K graphics stretches across the dashboard, placing Ford alongside luxury brands like Tesla and Mercedes-Benz in offering expansive in-car screens.
📱 Versatile Connectivity — The new system, built on the Android Automotive OS, integrates native Google apps and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It features personalization, modularity, 5G connectivity, and driver recognition that automatically adjusts the settings.
🔄 A Shift from Sync — Moving away from its BlackBerry QNX-powered Sync, Ford's new system promises a unique OS experience while retaining the option for individual vehicle models to choose their screen configurations.