PLANO, Texas (May 15, 2024) – When it involves social affect, civic engagement, and protecting neighborhood on the core of its enterprise, Toyota North America* is acknowledged by Points of Light as a prime community-minded firm. This is the second yr each Toyota Financial Services (TFS) and Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) have collectively ranked on The Civic 50 as a unified submission. Previously, TFS earned a spot on the listing for seven consecutive years.
Points of Light, the world’s largest nonprofit devoted to accelerating people-powered change, has included Toyota North America in its Civic 50, which units the usual for company civic engagement and creates a roadmap for firms looking for to greatest use their time, expertise and sources to enhance the standard of life within the communities the place they do enterprise.
“Growing and sustaining existing and new relationships in the community is embedded into everything we do,” mentioned Tellis Bethel, chief variety officer and group vp of Social Innovation, Toyota Motor North America. “We’d like to think of this recognition as a reminder that we’re on the right track.”
Toyota North America is dedicated to contributing its know-how, time, and sources to communities throughout the nation. Through youth improvement, volunteer applications, and powerful nationwide and native partnerships, Toyota helps drive optimistic change and create limitless potentialities for all. Notable contributions embrace (January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023):
Toyota group members tracked roughly 50,000 volunteer hours.
More than $67 million contributed by Toyota to social causes, together with by the Toyota USA Foundation.
Board of Director grants totaling roughly $1 million.
In 2023, The Way Forward Fund launched, supporting organizations targeted on strengthening entry to care and damage restoration help for people and households, initially targeted on kids with traumatic mind accidents.
Since June 2023, Driving Possibilities, Toyota’s profession readiness and neighborhood engagement initiative, introduced six new websites. Driving Possibilities is Toyota’s latest college-career readiness and neighborhood enrichment initiative designed to cut back limitations to training to assist put together college students for the careers of tomorrow. It’s a long-term initiative of the Toyota USA Foundation, funded partly by Toyota Motor North America, Inc. and Toyota Financial Services.
Honorees are firms with annual U.S. revenues of at the very least $1 billion and are chosen based mostly on 4 dimensions of their company citizenship and social affect applications: funding of sources and volunteerism, integration throughout enterprise features, institutionalization via insurance policies and methods and affect measurement.
“Expectations for companies to be leaders in civic engagement continue to increase,” mentioned Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, Points of Light. “Toyota North America demonstrates how to maximize the full range of their assets – from people power to policy to financial contributions – to meet pressing needs and create thriving communities where they live and work. We’re thrilled to uplift and celebrate them as an honoree of The Civic 50 2024.”
The Civic 50 survey is run by True Impact, and the outcomes are analyzed by VeraWorks. The survey instrument consists of quantitative and multiple-choice questions that inform the scoring course of. The Civic 50 is the one survey and rating system that solely measures company neighborhood engagement.
*Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Financial Services moved to the Plano headquarters, the primary time in the identical location, in 2017 as a part of the OneToyota initiative. The transfer made for sooner resolution making and created a greater expertise for purchasers and group members. Information from each firms was collected and submitted to Points of Light.
About Toyota Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been part of the cultural material in North America for greater than 65 years, and is dedicated to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility via our Toyota and Lexus manufacturers, plus our greater than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota instantly employs greater than 63,000 individuals in North America who’ve contributed to the design, engineering, and meeting of almost 47 million vehicles and vehicles at our 12 manufacturing crops. By 2025, Toyota’s thirteenth plant in North Carolina will start to fabricate automotive batteries for electrified automobiles. With extra electrified automobiles on the street than every other automaker, Toyota presently provides 28 electrified choices.
Social Innovation To date, Toyota has contributed greater than $1 billion to American nonprofit teams. For extra details about Toyota’s contributions within the U.S., go tohttp://www.toyotaeffect.com/impact.
About Points of Light Points of Light is a nonpartisan, international nonprofit group that conjures up, equips and mobilizes hundreds of thousands of individuals to take motion that modifications the world. We envision a world by which each particular person discovers the ability to make a distinction, creating wholesome communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through 145 associates throughout 39 nations, and in partnership with 1000’s of nonprofits and companies, Points of Light engages 3.7 million individuals in 16.7 million hours of service annually. We deliver the ability of individuals to bear the place it’s wanted most. For extra info, go to pointsoflight.org.
With the right smartphone tripod, you’ll be able to shoot content material in your social media in all places. If you are simply taking pictures images and movies at residence, investing in a extra steady tripod that may help your exterior equipment is right. However, should you favor to shoot outdoor, there are a whole lot of tripods that may match small baggage, that are nice while you’re touring. There are even tripods with versatile legs that you should utilize in tough terrain.
Alternatively, it’s also possible to use tripods with suction materials, which is helpful for individuals who take photos in a spot with a whole lot of clean surfaces. For instance, should you’re a health junkie trying to doc your units, you’ll be able to merely stick your iPhone to the closest mirror.
For iPhone videographers, smartphone gimbals may give a greater bang in your buck. Before the rise of smartphones, gimbals had been sometimes utilized by skilled videographers to create clean actions of their photographs. These days, you should utilize gimbals to take smoother movies of your subsequent get together.
In some ways, gimbals and different related know-how assist make images and movies really feel extra skilled and elegantly accomplished. Unless, after all, you’re going for a handheld digital camera vibe like “The Blair Witch Project.” Some of the most well-liked gimbals available in the market as we speak that work properly with smartphones embrace the Insta360 Flow, Rigiet, and DJI OM 5. But as a final resort, it’s also possible to simply observe taking clean movies by hand.
Goodreads is a social networking app for avid readers. It comes with a number of options, together with discovering books you’ve got learn and need to learn, communities of like-minded readers, and it even permits you to comply with your favourite authors. For these trying so as to add a problem to their studying, Goodreads lets them set an annual studying purpose the place they try and learn a sure variety of books for the 12 months.
The app would possibly look acquainted to cinema followers, because it’s much like Letterboxd, a social platform for sharing film tastes. Like the Cinephile app, Goodreads lets customers give star rankings to the novels they learn, together with a well-thought-out overview in the event that they please.
While customers cannot learn books straight from the app, it is a great way to maintain monitor of various books and might even double as a digital bookmark. Goodreads permits you to replace your progress with a guide as you learn it, making it straightforward to search out your spot if you happen to occur to misplace your bookmark. Since Amazon owns the app, you possibly can sign up along with your Amazon account.
Contrary to what you might even see in Hollywood productions or on social media, luxurious automobile possession might not all the time be a pleasing one. The actuality is that, you must settle for that there are pitfalls related to proudly owning a luxurious automobile. This replace refreshes this text with new details about luxurious autos.
Luxury cars epitomize opulence and luxury within the automobile world. Everything about luxurious vehicles is top-notch, from the engine and bodywork to the inside trim and tech choices. Their engines are sometimes massive, and in current occasions, automobile producers have launched hybrid powertrains of their high-end autos. Luxury autos are incomplete with out high-end leather-based, chrome wood-trimmed interiors, and in some instances, even carbon fiber.
They characteristic loads of passenger house, top-of-the-range sound programs, and the newest inside automobile know-how. But luxurious does not come low cost. Entry-level fashions from the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz begin round $35,000. Ultra-luxury choices from Bentley and Rolls-Royce can cost as much as $450,000. High-end autos are a delight to personal and drive, however there are a number of pitfalls to high-end automobile possession. Here are 10 issues nobody tells you about proudly owning a luxurious automobile.
Not all German vehicles are created equal, however a few of them made a powerful assertion of luxurious in a lot easier occasions.
UPDATE: 2024/03/05 18:00
Contrary to what you might even see in Hollywood productions or on social media, luxurious automobile possession might not all the time be a pleasing one. The actuality is that, you must settle for that there are pitfalls related to proudly owning a luxurious automobile. This replace refreshes this text with new details about luxurious autos.
In order to provide the most modern and correct info attainable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from numerous producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with SizzlingCars, Car And Driver, AAA Foundation, and CarEdge.
15High Maintenance Costs
Mercedes-Benz
Luxury vehicles are costly to purchase and to keep up. The common rule is to solely purchase a luxurious automobile when you have the sources to keep up the automobile over an prolonged interval.
Luxury Vehicle Parts And Maintenance Costs Are High
For occasion, it prices much more to keep up a Porsche Panamera than a Toyota Corolla: the maintenance cost of a Porsche over ten years is $22,075; the upkeep price of a Toyota over the same interval is $5,996. Several components additional inflate the upkeep prices of luxurious automobile possession. First, it’s possible you’ll want to go to a certified auto store to carry out service or repairs in your automobile. Authorized auto retailers are inclined to cost extra for his or her companies.
Second, engaged on high-end luxurious vehicles takes longer because the autos are extra complicated. This will increase the labor prices. Furthermore, the price of high-end automobile components can also be excessive. Maintenance prices of high-end vehicles are set to extend as producers electrify and additional add refined electronics to their autos.
Luxury Cars Sometimes Lose Huge Chunks Of Their Values
Luxury vehicles drop in worth sharply as a result of their demand within the used automobile market is low. Most automobile consumers haven’t any want for the luxuries of a high-end automobile. An common automobile purchaser will desire a brand new Toyota Camry over a used Bentley with wooden trim and leather-based. Further, individuals with the means to buy luxurious vehicles desire to purchase new ones moderately than used examples.
Also, the expensive-to-maintain nature of luxurious vehicles drops their worth. Car consumers are conscious that they may spend fortunes sustaining a used Maserati and can shrink back from buying the automobile at a premium. Consequently, sellers are pressured to scale back the costs of used luxurious vehicles, contributing to their speedy depreciation.
13Unwelcome Attention
Mecum Auctions
Some individuals purchase luxurious vehicles as standing symbols. Manufacturers know this, so some enable prospects to personalize their vehicles as they see match. Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Aston Martins, and Maybachs are symbols of opulence, wealth, prestige, and success. They are the sorts of vehicles you discover in Monaco, Malibu, and Beverly Hills.
You Will Attract Attention Whether You Like It Or Not
A good portion of high-end automobile house owners need the world to know that they’ve made it. If you might be a kind of individuals, buying a Rolls-Royce Phantom will get you all the eye you need. Conversely, a couple of luxurious automobile consumers purchase the vehicles just because they’re secure, comfy, highly effective, and high-tech. These house owners haven’t any need for the highlight.
Unfortunately for them, there’s no escaping the eye that comes with proudly owning a luxurious automobile. The notion is that luxurious automobile drivers need to be seen; individuals typically abide by that notion. They will bombard you with digicam telephones and ceaseless queries about methods to make it massive.
Luxury vehicles typically include massive engines. Luxury components add weight, forcing producers to put in highly effective engines on high-end autos. These engines burn numerous gasoline.
Big Engines Burn Plenty Of Fuel
The Rolls-Royce Phantom, as an example, contains a twin-turbo V-12 churning out 563 horsepower, greater than sufficient grunt to lug the 5,750-pound automobile round with ease. As a consequence, the engine gulps a gallon of fuel every 14 miles. The Bentley Flying Spur, with its twin-turbo W-12 or twin-turbo V-8, doesn’t fare a lot better. The V-8 variant has a mixed gasoline economic system ranking of 17 MPG, whereas the W-12 variant has a 15 MPG ranking.
Thankfully, gasoline effectivity for luxurious manufacturers has improved and can hold bettering as producers electrify their vehicles. Bentley, for instance, provides a 2.9-liter hybrid V-6 variant of the Flying Spur. It’s slower than its gasoline-powered siblings however way more economical: the automobile manages 46 MPG in hybrid mode.
It’s advisable to buy full protection to your costly automobile. It’s authorized in most states to solely buy legal responsibility protection. However, legal responsibility insurance coverage doesn’t cowl your automobile. You can scale back the price of high-end automobile insurance coverage by searching for insurance coverage reductions. Some insurers present particular insurance policies that cowl luxurious vehicles. They are sometimes cheaper, however they impose circumstances like mileage limits on the proprietor.
Used luxurious autos, particularly ones with excessive mileage, don’t entice many consumers. They might have leather-based seats in roughly good situation and glossy wooden trims, however their tech is sure to be outdated. Nothing ages a automobile as a lot as know-how and newer variations of luxurious vehicles typically characteristic higher know-how and are normally higher geared up.
It is probably not attainable for producers to ship over-the-air updates to enhance the used vehicles’ programs, leaving house owners with glitchy and out-of-date navigation programs. Another essential downside with used luxurious vehicles is upkeep. Used high-end autos nonetheless want common upkeep. To make issues worse, older high-end vehicles are inclined to have worn components, which aren’t low cost.
From refined coupes to opulent sedans, listed below are 10 fashions that symbolize the best of Japanese luxurious and craftsmanship
9Luxury Cars Are Targets For Thieves
Lexus
Premium vehicles are prime targets for thieves as a result of luxurious vehicles or components from high-end autos are pricier on the black market. Keyless entry, a cool automobile characteristic, has made it simpler for thieves to steal vehicles. People should buy gadgets from on-line markets like Amazon that unlock your automobile with minimal fuss.
Install Anti-Theft Devices To Deter Thieves
The enhance in premium automobile thefts is a world concern. In the U.Ok., the variety of premium autos stolen within the first six months of 2019 was greater than the variety of premium vehicles stolen in 2015. Luxury and sports activities vehicles are extra alluring to thieves than different autos. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends the set up of anti-theft gadgets and parking in well-lit areas to discourage potential thieves.
8Luxury Cars Are Fast and Powerful But Not Sporty
Rolls Royce
Luxury vehicles typically characteristic highly effective engines, which give spectacular straight-line pace. A 2024 Rolls-Royce Phantom, as an example, rockets to 60 MPH in 5.1 seconds, a powerful feat for a 5,750-pound automobile.
Luxury Cars Are More Tuned To Luxury Than Sportiness
However, luxurious vehicles are usually not sporty; they’re tuned for consolation and kitted for luxurious journey. Most sports activities vehicles eschew high-end choices like wooden accents and leather-based units as a result of they add weight. The astronomical curb weights of luxurious vehicles make them unsuitable for monitor actions, their highly effective engines however. Also, high-end autos have mushy suspensions suited extra for comfy journey than tire-shredding monitor motion.
7Leasing A Luxury Car May Be A Better Financial Decision Than Buying One
Jaguar
Many luxurious automobile house owners lease their autos from dealerships as an alternative of shopping for them. Leases usually final between two and 4 years, and the cash a lessee pays is the distinction between the MSRP and the automobile’s anticipated worth on the finish of the lease interval. Basically, the lessee pays for the automobile’s depreciation.
There Are Several Advantages To Leasing Over Purchasing
People prefer leasing over buying for several reasons. Firstly, they solely personal the automobile for the interval lined by the guarantee. Also, some premium automobile automakers supply free upkeep throughout the lease. Thirdly, leasing permits the lessee to get rid of the automobile for a more moderen mannequin with out promoting it or negotiating for a trade-in.
While not all Mercs are created equal, here is why these fashions earned a repute for being among the hardest vehicles to put on the three-pointed star
6The General Perception Of People With High-End Cars
Mercedes-Maybach
Luxury automobile house owners are sometimes revered for fulfillment and seen as function fashions. However, some luxurious automobile house owners are thought-about obnoxious individuals with out respect for street guidelines and etiquette.
Luxury Car Owners Are More Likely To Break Highway Laws
Studies have truly discovered that upper-class people, the type who drive luxury cars, are more likely to violate traffic codes. Another examine discovered that unempathetic and cussed males had been extra prone to drive high-status vehicles. Conversely, it additionally discovered that considerate and conscientious individuals have a tendency to purchase high-end autos. It seems that the vehicles aren’t the issue; it’s the kind of those who personal them. You resolve the sort of luxurious automobile proprietor you need to be.
5As a Luxury Car Owner, You May Be Charged With The “Rich People” Tax
Jaguar
It goes with out saying that when individuals see you in a flashy, costly automobile, they routinely assume you might be loaded with money. After all, most high-end luxurious vehicles include a six-figure (or extra) sticker value.
People May Charge You More For Services Or Goods
In a hypothetical state of affairs once you name somebody to work on your home (plumber, roofer, and many others.) and so they spot your luxurious automobile parked in entrance, it is a secure wager they are going to attempt to rip you off. As a luxurious automobile proprietor, you’ll, most probably, be hit with the “you can afford it” angle, and negotiating a good value for the service will probably be an ordeal.
While there may be all the time an opportunity for somebody to attempt to make the most of your supposedly enviable monetary state of affairs, the chance turns into that a lot larger after you have a luxurious automobile parked in your storage.
4Used Luxury Cars Are Sometimes Poorly Maintained
Bring-A-Trailer
Whether we speak about luxurious vehicles or mainstream fashions, there are two varieties of householders. On one hand, you could have people who religiously sustain with the upkeep intervals and spare no expense. On the opposite hand, there are those that, as a result of lack of information or easy negligence, take poor care of their automobile.
Luxury Cars Require Specialized, Costly Care
This goes double for luxurious vehicles as most first house owners of those vehicles change their automobile each three years on the most. The level is, luxurious vehicles have much more tech and upkeep goes well-beyond common oil adjustments and rotating your tires.
Luxury cars like some Mercedes SUVs have complicated programs just like the energetic body-control module or air suspension, which, if left unattended, can simply begin malfunctioning, rendering the automobile undriveable. There is a purpose why many used luxurious vehicles are dust low cost. They, typically, cover repairs costing greater than the automobile itself. So, if you wish to keep away from probably catastrophic monetary choices, assume twice earlier than shopping for that “bargain” S500.
With the luxurious automobile phase rising by the 12 months, here is a take a look at among the most costly and indulgent options supplied by automakers
3Luxury Cars Are Not Very Child-Friendly
BMW
This partially overlaps with the earlier paragraph about negligible upkeep. Allow us to make clear. While luxurious vehicles present superior consolation and security, they’re loaded with tech, even within the second-row seats. This can embody auxiliary local weather or stereo controls and headrest-mounted TVs.
Innocent Accidents May Necessitate Expensive Repairs
All that tech is delicate to spilled drinks and different occurrences, prone to seem with kids on board. Not to say the upholstery, which in luxurious vehicles, is sort of solely leather-based and suede or Alcántara – very tough to maintain clear and recent. It’s not that luxurious vehicles cannot be family-friendly vehicles, however it may be unnerving realizing which you can be one spilled drink away from an costly ordeal on the restore store.
2Luxury Car Safety Features May Be Dangerous
Kia
Luxury vehicles typically characteristic the very best and newest security tech, making them some of the safest cars on the road. However, analysis by the AAA Foundation concluded that negligent use of superior security options might trigger accidents.
The Improper Use Of Safety Features And Driver Aids May Cause Accidents
You ought to learn to use your automobile’s security options appropriately to keep away from crashes.Before the automotive world develops safe and autonomous driving – one other characteristic prone to seem in luxurious autos first – it is advisable stay alert when the automobile takes partial management.
Amongst a sea of mass-market vehicles, discover out why this luxurious crossover was included in CR’s high 10 fashions for 2024
1Your Luxury Vehicle May Not Stand Out For Long
Mecum Auctions
One of the the reason why individuals purchase luxurious vehicles is the will to face out. Owning a BMW or a Mercedes demonstrates that you’re rich – that you’ve got ‘made it’. Unfortunately, your luxurious automobile will finally lose its luster.
Luxury Car Features Often Trickle Down To Regular Cars
The options that distinguish luxurious vehicles from common vehicles typically change into commonplace as time goes by. For occasion, in some unspecified time in the future within the twentieth century, energy home windows had been a luxurious unique to vehicles just like the Lincoln Custom limousine and sedan. As your automobile will not stay luxurious endlessly, there isn’t any must go for overpriced German examples when alternatives from Japanese brands like Acura and Lexus offer better value.
Pagani posted a brief clip to social media at the moment to tease “a new creation” from its Atelier program. The firm providing few particulars in regards to the mysterious supercar. We don’t know what Pagani has cooking, but when it’s like its earlier delicacies, we’re in for an superior deal with.
The closest we get to seeing the brand new Pagani is of it sitting beneath a sheet that reveals its Huayra R-like contours. The firm couldn’t conceal the large rear wing poking up, which connects to a vertical fin operating down the backbone of the automobile. A large entrance splitter sits off what seems just like the Huayra’s pointier nostril.
This most likely isn’t a brand new Utopia variant. The automobile Pagani teased options the identical kink within the rear fender because the Huayra R, main us to consider this could possibly be an up to date model of the track-only mannequin. It may also be a one-off creation primarily based on the race automobile.
The quick teaser solely confirmed varied race tracks from world wide, like Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Yas Marina Circuit, paired with the sound of a wailing 12-cylinder engine. The automaker launched the Huayra R in March 2021 with an 850-horsepower, naturally aspirated V12. We’re excited to see if Pagani improves on the design or has one thing else in retailer.
It’s unclear after we’ll see the brand new automobile sans cowl. The teaser solely stated to “Stay tuned,” so we’ll.
Dramatic video out of New Mexico revealed to social media on Monday exhibits the second a truck driver smashed right into a fuel pump and destroyed a station whereas reportedly having a seizure behind the wheel. Thankfully nobody was killed, and the driving force reportedly walked away with simply minor accidents.
A video from extrezionx on TikTok captured your complete occasion by way of a touch cam. Taken in entrance of a Speedway fuel station within the small city of La Plata, the footage has an eerie Final Destination vibe to it. The clip accommodates some robust language so be suggested earlier than you click on the play button. Considering this crash occurs instantly in entrance of the digital camera, a couple of F-bombs are definitely comprehensible.
As the digital camera nears the station, we see headlights of a pickup truck approaching within the distance. The date and time stamp on the video reads February 4 at roughly 8:42 pm native time. All appears regular till the headlights instantly veer in direction of the station with none indication of slowing down. Pausing the video simply earlier than impression tells us the truck is a first-generation GMC Sierra, constructed from 1999 by way of 2007.
Unpausing it exhibits the pickup’s fiery demise because it crashes by way of the gasoline pump and help beam for the roof, inflicting it to break down simply as spilled gasoline bursts into flames. As far as we are able to inform, the driving force of the GMC by no means touched the brakes, which can have truly helped on this occasion. Had the impression occurred at a slower velocity, the truck could have been caught below the collapsed cover, trapping it there within the flames. Instead, the Sierra continues out-of-frame and involves relaxation close to a tree, as seen in a follow-up video from extrezionx.
An unconfirmed report from Storyful claims the GMC’s driver was a girl who suffered a seizure, resulting in the crash. That report additionally states she had simply minor accidents in consequence. The San Juan County Sheriff’s Department responded to the incident; we contacted their workplace for remark and confirmed the crash befell however further particulars have been unavailable. When extra info is available in we’ll you should definitely replace this text.
From our vantage level, this crash might have ended a lot worse. Stay protected on the market people.
When Dodge printed “spy” pictures of the new Charger Daytona on social media, we figured a debut would not be distant. Now, we’ve got phrase that the official reveal is certainly simply across the nook. Save the date for March 5.
A Dodge spokesperson confirmed the reveal date to Motor1 when reached by e-mail. Senior Vice President Matt McAlear revealed particulars on the latest J.D. Power Auto Summit in Las Vegas. According to Automotive News, he stated the brand new EV would not be centered on mileage or low drag coefficients, calling it “the next generation of muscle.”
Plenty of social networks had been briefly residence to the AI-generated Swift photos, together with X (previously Twitter), Facebook, and Reddit, in accordance with CNN. Though all three corporations have eliminated the content material, critics argue {that a} extra proactive strategy is required to deal with this drawback going ahead, significantly now that generative AI is available to the common particular person. Many web sites and on-line communities exist that dabble within the creation and dissemination of this type of express content material, and whereas some states and international locations have legal guidelines in place that make doing so unlawful, others have not moved as quick because the evolution of the know-how itself.
Swift is not the primary superstar to fall sufferer to the know-how, however her recognition means the difficulty has been dropped at the general public’s consideration in an enormous manner, and that will assist spur the motion of laws that addresses the issue — that is all however assured if, as claimed by Daily Mail, Swift’s alleged contemplation about taking authorized motion leads to an precise lawsuit or two. Meanwhile, although it’s, for all intents and functions, unimaginable to forestall the creation of this type of express materials as a result of existence of offline AI turbines, corporations could quickly leverage AI-powered proactive scanning know-how to detect these photos earlier than they’re made publicly obtainable — comparable know-how is already used to detect CSAM.
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has finally introduced the ability to make audio and video calls. The convenience of calling is only available to X Premium subscribers and is limited to the iOS app at the moment. However, the platform’s support page says it will soon arrive on Android, as well. There is no word if this feature will ever expand to the desktop client.
Notably, you don’t need an X Premium account to receive calls. For audio calls, users will also have access to core features like mute controls for the mic and putting the call on speaker. In video calls, there’s the facility to switch between front and rear cameras or turn off the camera feed in its entirety. X has tied the feature to its Direct Messaging system, and as such, you can only make calls after you have initiated a conversation in the DMs section.
That is where things get messy. Ever since the arrival of X Premium, Twitter has reworked the rules around whom you can send direct messages. But what’s baffling is that calling on X is enabled by default. Thankfully, there’s a setting to only allow calls from mutuals, not complete strangers.
How to control calling privilege on X?
Nadeem Sarwar / SlashGear
If you don’t want voice or video calls on X, you can easily turn it off. Alternatively, you can narrow down the list of people who can ring you up on the Elon Musk-owned social media platform. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Open the X app on your iPhone.
Tap on your profile icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
In the side pane that opens on the left edge, tap on “Settings and Support,” followed by “Settings and privacy” in the drop-down menu.
On the next page, scroll down and select “Privacy and safety.”
Here, you will see an option called “Direct Messages.” Tap on it to land on the messaging controls page.
If you don’t want to use the calling system on X at all, just turn off the toggle that says “Enable audio and video calling.” It is enabled by default. If you seek more privacy, you can allow voice and video calls only from accounts you follow, verified users, or those in your address book.
Many people on social media are not happy with the current state of alternatives to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. This could be because the 2030 ban on ICEs will force people to switch to new cars for which comparable alternatives don’t currently exist. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be comparable alternatives in the future.
Toyota is working on next-generation battery technology that will be available in three years. This new tech will offer a range of up to 620 miles, reduce cost by 20%, and have a charging time of 20 minutes or less.
For the past couple of decades, engineering consultants, research bodies, and car manufacturers’ R&D departments have been working on technology roadmaps for more efficient engine technologies. The goal has always been to make cars more environmentally friendly, and the message has consistently been that there is no single solution.
Back then, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were seen as only suitable for city driving, and no one predicted how quickly they would improve. Now, drivers expect BEVs to be a like-for-like replacement for ICE cars without any compromises in terms of refuelling time, range, or charging infrastructure.
However, technology has been advancing faster than expected, and it’s possible that in the next 15 years, today’s EVs will be considered outdated. Toyota’s work on battery technology is a prime example of how quickly development is progressing. Despite the initial financial losses of the Prius, Toyota continued to invest and gain valuable knowledge in battery development.
Earlier this year, Toyota announced plans to introduce a new next-generation lithium battery by 2026. This battery will power the next-generation BEVs, which will be built from the ground up with a modular structure divided into three sections: front, centre, and rear. The battery will be housed in the centre section, allowing for easy upgrades as battery technology progresses.
Toyota’s next-generation BEVs will come in two versions. The performance version will have a range of 620 miles and charge in under 30 minutes. The popularisation version will offer a 20% increase in range compared to existing batteries, charge in less than 30 minutes, and cost 40% less than current technology.
Unlock Your Automotive Passion and Explore the Road Ahead
