In today's dose of "back to basics," Volkswagen decides touchscreens aren't the be-all and end-all. Buckling under customer feedback, VW is reviving physical buttons in its latest compact EV, the ID.2all. The touchscreen craze didn't sit well with drivers, particularly in Europe.
🎛️ Retro Design: Volkswagen's ID.2all reintroduces physical buttons, moving away from a full touchscreen interface.
🌱 Eco-Friendly and Affordable: Priced under €25,000, the ID.2all emphasizes sustainable materials.
🚀 Performance-focused: Features a 223HP motor with a range of 280 miles.
🇪🇺 Europe-Exclusive Launch: Set for a 2025 debut in Europe, catering to specific market preferences.
Phone screen = illegal. Full size tv built in to the dash = very convenient technology.
Tesla's latest move in its Nevada Gigafactory might be a clever play to keep unions at bay. By hiking hourly wages by at least 10%, the EV giant is giving its workers a reason to stay solo.
💵 New Wages: Increases hourly rates to a range of $22 to $34.50, depending on the position.
📊 Streamlining Levels: Standardizes pay for a segment of workers to $34.50 per hour.
🌐 Bigger Picture: The move is partly influenced by the UAW's successes with other major automakers.
🌍 Global Context: Reflects Tesla's response to labor challenges, including international strikes and union activities.
The math works out. Unions are shooting for a 40% increase in worker wages following record profits. So increasing wages 10% and avoiding the union is a pretty good deal.
Farasis Energy is charging the EV battery game with its Super Pouch Solution (SPS), showcased at CISCE 2023. This tech marvel is more than just a power source; it's a game-changer in the electric ride race.
🔋 Energy Density: Farasis Energy's SPS exceeds 220Wh/kg, enabling over 1000km range per charge.
⏱️ Fast Charging: Adds 400km range in just 10 minutes, significantly reducing charging times.
⚖️ Lighter Design: The SPS is 20-30kg lighter than traditional batteries, improving vehicle efficiency.
💰 Cost Reduction: Achieves a 33% reduction in material costs, adaptable for different battery sizes.
Cheaper, faster, higher capacity? ✅ Already as convenient as 100 years of internal combustion proliferation? ❌
Trevor Milton, Nikola's ex-CEO, just got a four-year "time-out" in the big house for playing too fast and loose with the truth.
💸 Hefty Fine: Alongside his prison sentence, Trevor Milton must pay a $1 million fine.
🤥 The Fibs: Key fabrications included Nikola's claim of building the One truck from scratch and falsifying a driving video.
🎲 GM's Near Miss: General Motors nearly partnered with Nikola but avoided involvement after the truth emerged.
📉 Nikola's Downfall: The company's stock value plummeted to under $1, leading to canceled projects and lost hype.
Give somebody a gun and they can rob a bank. Give somebody a trucking company and they can rob… the other people who care about the trucking company…?
Hyundai Motor's selling of its Russian plant for less than a decent dinner marks its exit from a once-lucrative market.
🏷️ Sale Price: Hyundai's Russian plant sold for just 7,000 roubles ($77.67).
📉 Significant Loss: The company incurs a $219.19 million loss on the sale.
♻️ Buyback Option: A clause in the deal with Art-Finance allows for a potential repurchase.
🛑 Russian Retreat: Part of a broader trend among global automakers divesting from Russian assets following the Ukraine War.
Kia Canada's playing a risky game of keep-away with their new cars, and it's not winning them any fans. They're sitting on a goldmine of vehicles in a crafty plot to manipulate sales figures while customers tap their feet.
🔒 Sales Scheme: Kia Canada withholds car availability to manipulate 2023 sales data.
⌛ Customer Fallout: Results in extended wait times, some exceeding a year.
💔 Dealers in Dismay: The strategy impacts the finances of sales staff and franchise owners.
🎥 The Big Reveal: An internal video exposes the details of this controversial tactic.
If there is a benefit in the system for this tactic, why keep that system in place? Like preheating an oven, let’s just skip it like nature-intended.