Tag Archives: state

Smartphones

Can You Add Your Driver’s License To Your Apple Wallet On An iPhone?

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To add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet in your iPhone, a number of issues should be true. The most necessary criterion is that you must be from a state that presently helps using digital IDs in Apple Wallet. As of this writing, the list is restricted to Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland, with extra to return later.

Provided you might be presently inside these states and have the required native ID, you should use the iPhone’s Wallet app to indicate a digital model of it as proof of your age and id at choose institutions. You could even have the ability to journey by air and current it at choose TSA checkpoints, specifically inside Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Denver International Airport (DEN), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). As a traveler, it’s possible you’ll have to seek advice from checkpoint signage to substantiate digital ID acceptance and will nonetheless have your bodily ID with you it doesn’t matter what.

In addition, you want not less than an iPhone 8 or newer operating on the most recent model of iOS so as to add your driver’s license to your Apple Wallet. You’ll additionally need to have Face ID enabled, have an Apple ID with two-factor authentication switched on, and set your iPhone’s area to the United States.

News

5 Automakers That Saw The Biggest Increase In EV Sales In Q1 2024

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The automotive trade is in a relentless state of evolution, and the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has grow to be an important issue for automakers worldwide. As we enter the primary quarter of 2024, 5 main automotive corporations are underneath the highlight for exhibiting important development in EV gross sales, which is reshaping the market panorama. This interval has seen an unprecedented acceleration in the direction of sustainable mobility, pushed by technological developments, evolving shopper preferences, and strict environmental laws.

Since Tesla is the EV large, it is price exploring if any of the automakers on this listing can challenge its sales. Although a number of the corporations on the listing have low gross sales numbers, they’ve proven an enormous enhance from the primary quarter of final 12 months to this 12 months, which is promising.

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Amongst the surge in EV gross sales, 5 automakers have emerged as frontrunners, demonstrating probably the most important enhance in EV gross sales. From established trade giants to small EV startups, every firm’s rise in EV gross sales not solely highlights its dedication to sustainability but in addition may sign a paradigm shift within the automotive trade. In this exploration, we’ll delve into the journey of those 5 automakers, together with their plans for the longer term and a number of the most vital modifications to their upcoming vehicles.

In order to provide the most modern and correct info attainable, the information used to compile this text was sourced from Ford, Cadillac, Vinfast, Lexus, Jaguar, and different authoritative sources Kelley Blue Book. The manufacturers under have been ranked based mostly on their year-on-year development.

Gray Tesla Model 3 front tracking

Related

Yes, Tesla Sales Have Dropped, But It’s Still The World’s EV Sales King

While the whole EV trade is present process a cooldown, Tesla at the moment sells extra EVs than another carmaker on the earth, together with BYD

5 Ford – 85.11 Percent

Total Sales: 20,223 Examples

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has rapidly grow to be Ford‘s hottest electrical automobile, despite the fact that it has solely been in manufacturing for round 5 years. Its versatility as a small sports activities utility automobile (SUV), eco-friendly options, and cheap value have made it a buyer favourite. The Mach-E’s spectacular vary has additionally contributed to its success.

In Q1 2024, the Ford F-150 Lightning emerged because the second hottest EV offered by Ford. It reworked the rugged pickup into an eco-friendly powerhouse, which has resonated with clients. With spectacular horsepower and towing capabilities, it’s nonetheless a superb automobile.

Ford Sales

Q1 Sales 2023

Q1 Sales 2024

% Increase

Ford E-Transit

1,168

2,891

147.52%

Ford F-150 Lightning

4,291

7,743

80.45%

Ford Mustang Mach-E

5,407

9,589

77.34%

Ford – Total

10,866

20,223

86.11%

(Data was collected from Ford and Kelley Blue Book)

Ford has demonstrated success within the EV market by providing a various vary of electrical automobiles which have garnered important gross sales. In truth, throughout Q1 within the U.S., Ford contributed 7.4% of all EV gross sales, which is sort of commendable. However, Tesla dominates the market by claiming 51.3-percent of all EV gross sales.

What Is New For Ford?

Ford has launched a brand new marketing campaign named “Build Ford Tough” with a imaginative and prescient to encourage folks to just accept challenges and overcome them with confidence. As a part of this marketing campaign, Ford has not too long ago launched their newly designed F-150 with a number of options, together with a Pro Access Tailgate.

The F-150 comes with a variety of PowerBoost Hybrid automobiles accessible in numerous trims, giving clients loads of choices to select from. Additionally, Ford has decreased the overall Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the distinctive F-150 Lightning Flash to underneath $70,000, which incorporates an extended-range battery, a 15.5-inch touchscreen, and numerous built-in applied sciences.

Ford is now selling a brand new marketing campaign highlighting its distinctive “Freedom of Choice” lineup, providing a selective vary of engines from fuel to electrical, offering vary of choices for all clients. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, recognized for its efficiency, is alleged to be quicker than the Tesla Model 3. The Mach-E GT with GTTM Performance improve can go from 0-60mph in simply 3.3 seconds, which is sort of spectacular. These figures are faster than the Model Y and the Porsche Macan 4 electrical. The automobile has an built-in eMotor that gives an additional 100 pound-feet of torque.

Silver Tesla Model Y front-quarter

Related

The Best-Selling Electric Cars Of 2023, Ranked By Sales

There are loads of EVs to select from, however these 10 EVs had been the preferred ones in 2023.

4 Jaguar – 383.02 Percent

Total Sales: 256 Examples

Manufacturers are all the time adapting to new modifications on the earth, and Jaguar is not any exception. They have not too long ago launched the concept of launching a completely electrical vary of Jaguars, which can require a brand new title for the model. Additionally, they’ve ceased manufacturing of Non-R-Dynamic automobiles and have launched design-focused updates, such because the Black Exterior Pack, which is now normal on all Jaguar fashions in North America.

Jaguar Sales

​​​

Q1 2023 Sales

Q1 2024 Sales

% Increase

Jaguar I-Pace

53

256

383.02%

Total – Jaguar

53

256

383.02%

Jaguar’s electrical automobiles (EVs) haven’t had a major influence on gross sales within the U.S. market, accounting for less than 0.1% of whole EV gross sales. However, contemplating the substantial enhance in gross sales inside only one 12 months, Jaguar might be able to construct on this optimistic momentum and create a sustainable EV market within the U.S.

What Is New For Jaguar?

The Jaguar F-Type has been a well-liked automotive mannequin for the corporate since its launch in 2013. However, the corporate has determined to discontinue its manufacturing, and this 12 months would be the closing 12 months of its availability. The final model of the F-Type will embrace distinctive inside and exterior options, together with a robust 5.0-liter V-8 Supercharged engine.

Jaguar’s Pivi Pro infotainment system will now be an ordinary function within the F-Pace, E-Pace, and I-Pace, in addition to the XF. The system options Alexa voice management and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration. The F-Pace will provide three completely different powertrains, together with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 246 horses, a 3.0-liter delicate hybrid turbo with an electrical supercharger that produces 359hp, and a large 5.0-liter Supercharged V-8 that produces 542 horses.

Jaguar has also signed an agreement with Tesla to supply entry to over 12,000 Superchargers for its North American clients to cost up its automobiles across the nation.

Blue BYD Seal in action

Related

This Country Is Leading The Way For EV Sales

EV gross sales are rising around the globe, however this nation has adopted electrification the most effective.

3 Cadillac – 499.17 Percent

Total Sales: 5,800 Examples

Cadillac is a serious American car producer that has been round for a few years and has a wealthy historical past in motorsports. In order to maintain up with the altering instances and promote a extra sustainable future, Cadillac is engaged on creating an electrical automotive and sustaining its model picture.

Cadillac Sales

Q1 Sales 2023

Q1 Sales 2024

% Increase

Cadillac Lyriq

968

5,800

499.2%

Total – Cadillac

968

5,800

499.2%

(Data was collected from Kelley Blue Book)

Cadillac has just one electrical automobile accessible on the market, which can clarify why its gross sales figures are down. However, there was a major enhance in gross sales in comparison with the earlier 12 months, which is a optimistic signal that they’ll enhance their numbers.

What Is New For Cadillac?

For the longer term, Cadillac plans to launch two new vehicles by 2025, the CT5-V and the CT5-V Blackwing. The CT5-V may have a wider stance and a decrease look, with a brand new entrance grille and improved entrance lighting utilizing LEDs. The automotive may also are available in three new colours and have a big 33-inch LED show and quad trapezoid exhaust ideas. On the opposite hand, the CT5-V Blackwing may have a high-performance entrance finish, with aero floor results and entrance fenders, together with carbon fiber packages and a splitter.

Cadillac is celebrating 20 years of V-Series on the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, they usually plan to make use of this chance to tease their zero-emission efficiency bundle. By racing at these tracks, they goal to achieve data and new applied sciences that may be transferred to their manufacturing vehicles. This is a technique that many different producers, equivalent to Porsche and Mercedes, have additionally adopted.

As General Motors owns Cadillac and is a prevalent a part of motorsports, they’re increasing their attain and plan to create energy engines for Formula 1 in 2028, some of the technical and over-engineered sports activities on the earth. It is essential for General Motors to provide a robust and eco-efficient engine that complies with the rules of Formula 1.

Mudfest 2023 Contenders

Related

Here’s What’s Hurting U.S. Auto Sales Today

While the United Auto Workers have settled with the large three, however will that be sufficient to stabilize the auto market or is there extra at play?

2 Vinfast – 742.73 Percent

Total Sales: 927 Examples

VinFast, a Vietnamese automotive producer, was solely established in 2017 however has made important progress since then. The firm produces solely electrical automobiles, which can be a purpose for its success, additionally it’s the solely world producer based mostly in Vietnam.

VinFast Sales

Q1 Sales 2023

Q1 Sales 2024

% Increase

Vinfast VF8

110

927

742.7%

Total – Vinfast

110

927

742.7%

(Data was collected from Kelley Blue Book)

Despite comparatively low gross sales numbers, VinFast noticed a major enhance in gross sales final 12 months, and the corporate is at the moment increasing its dealership community, which is predicted to additional increase gross sales.

What Is New For VinFast?

In line with its dedication to sustainability, VinFast’s founder is launching a brand new EV charging station firm referred to as V-Green. The purpose is to determine an infrastructure that gives electrical assist worldwide for VinFast’s electrical automobiles.

Recently, VinFast unveiled its new concept truck, the VF Wild, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The automobile’s design was developed by VinFast and Australian design studio GoMotive, taking up 8,000 hours to finish. According to VinFast, the design was impressed by a superhero’s flowing cape within the wind and embodies the spirit of journey within the wild, pushing the boundaries of a inexperienced future for all.

VinFast is dedicated to promoting its automobiles within the United States and has signed agreements with 5 dealerships in North Carolina, New York, two in Texas, and Kansas. The firm hopes to promote extra automobiles with these sellers and introduce extra fashions as their recognition grows.

White Mazda CX-90

Related

The Japanese Automaker That Is Stealing Sales Away From Toyota

While the demand for Toyotas stays sturdy, a myriad of challenges and hurdles for the model, current a possibility for an additional Japanese heavyweight

1 Lexus – 766.49 Percent

Total Sales: 1,603 Examples

Lexus was first produced in 1989 as a luxurious automobile model owned by Toyota. Today, Lexus is renowned for its impressive SUV and hybrid automobiles full of superior options and beautiful designs.

Lexus Sales

Q1 Sales 2023

Q1 Sales 2024

% Increase Of Sales

Lexus RZ

185

1,603

766.5%

Total – Lexus

185

1,603

766.5%

(Data was collected from Kelley Blue Book)

Lexus is happy to see that their electrical automobile (EV) has taken off, as there was a major enhance in gross sales from final 12 months. Although the quantity was low, it’s a optimistic signal for the corporate. With plans to broaden their EV vary, it’s seemingly that Lexus will see one other enhance in gross sales.

What Is New For Lexus?

Lexus is making a number of modifications to its vary, particularly in the direction of the outside colours and look of its automobiles. Toyota and Lexus provide an unlimited vary of auto choices, together with 27 electrified fashions accessible at their U.S. dealerships, which is greater than another automaker.

Lexus is dedicated to a extra sustainable future and has plans to provide 100-percent battery-electric automobiles (BEVs) globally by 2035. Additionally, they’ve plans for his or her future vehicles in 2025, together with the UX 300h, which can function a brand new powertrain that boasts 196 hp and a light-weight lithium-ion battery. The 2024 Lexus RZ 300e has a variety of as much as 266 miles, making it fairly aggressive, and numerous shade updates have been made to the automobile.

Furthermore, Lexus has plans to develop its model within the U.S. by partnering up with the PGA of America because the official automobile. Lexus has been concerned with many various manufacturers for 30 years and has additionally showcased its next-generation automobiles and prospects for the longer term and expertise on the 2024 Milan Design Week.

ToyotaUk

CSU Dominguez Hills and Toyota Join Forces to Improve Mobility for Underserved Communities

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CARSON, Calif. (April 30, 2024) – California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) right now launched a multipronged program targeted on transportation fairness for the college and its surrounding communities based mostly on the concept of “Mobility for All.”

“Knowledge is a catalyst for progress, and collaboration with industry partners is essential for advancing academic research and innovation at our university,” stated CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham. “We are incredibly grateful for Toyota’s longstanding support and investment in of our educational mission and look forward to our continued partnership in building a better, more sustainable, and equitable future.” 

The preliminary part of this system will set up the Center for Resilient, Equitable, and Sustainable Transportation (CREST) at CSUDH, made attainable by a $1.2 million grant from Toyota. Housed inside CSUDH’s Center for Innovation in STEM Education, CREST will have interaction school and college students in analysis, curricula, and paid internships to seek out options to the myriad of mobility challenges confronted by members of the college and wider neighborhood.

“Toyota believes that when people are free to move, anything is possible,” stated Tom Stricker, group vice chairman, Toyota Sustainability & Regulatory Affairs. “CREST aligns perfectly with Toyota’s ‘Mobility for All’ vision, which aims to leave ‘no one behind’ by providing people with accessible, low, and zero emission mobility solutions to meet their diverse needs.”

CSUDH college students, lots of whom are low-income, minority, or first-generation, face quite a few obstacles to schooling—one in all which is insufficient transportation. More than 95 p.c of CSUDH college students commute to campus, and a wants evaluation performed in communities across the college revealed transportation disparities and restricted public transit choices. CREST will function an data hub, providing assets for accessible and inexpensive transportation choices for CSUDH college students, school, and workers. CREST will develop its attain to the City of Carson and different goal geographic areas over the course of 5 years.

“CREST will offer students and local residents mobility options that are flexible, affordable, reliable, and accessible,” stated Kamal Hamdan, govt director for the CSUDH Center for Innovation in STEM Education. “This is a transformational project focused on improving quality of life and creating lasting change in the communities we serve.”

Providing college students with sustainable and accessible transportation is one other key aspect of this system. KINTO, Toyota’s carsharing program, will provide CSUDH with 20 hybrid and/or battery electrical autos beginning in Fall 2024 to extend college students’ entry to handy automobile renting at a extremely discounted fee. With improved transportation choices, college students may have extra time to raised deal with their tutorial objectives, have simpler entry to job alternatives, and be capable to take full benefit of residing in Greater Los Angeles. To accommodate the brand new automobile fleet and supply improved charging capabilities on campus, CSUDH can also be partnering with Southern California Edison to put in Level 2 electrical charging stations on campus within the close to future.

“KINTO mobility solution is designed to increase mobility through the EV-based ridesharing program,” stated Kevin McKeever, basic supervisor, KINTO & Fleet Management. “With 34 locations already across California, we’re excited to open the newest KINTO location on the CSUDH campus for students, faculty, and staff. To make the program even more accessible, for the first year, we are offering a special discounted hourly rate to the CSUDH community.”

Additionally, CSUDH is within the early phases of reconfiguring the area alongside Victoria Parkway right into a Metro Transit Hub. This joint venture with the City of Carson could be funded by $3.5 million allotted to the campus by LA Metro. The final imaginative and prescient of “Mobility for All” is to create a campus Mobility Hub to assist reduce commuters’ carbon footprint with upgraded public transit and transportation inter-modalities.

“Just as the university upgraded its infrastructure to support the 1984 Olympics and host events, CSUDH aims to ready the campus to better serve attendees of the 2028 Summer Olympics, for which we are hosting several events,” stated Vice President for University Advancement Eva Sevcikova.

“Whether it’s higher education, the government, or the private industry, every partner at the table is driven by a collective focus on the socio-economic mobility of our students—helping them attain a college degree and join the region’s workforce,” she stated. “These initiatives promise to create ripples throughout the South Bay, benefitting communities and better connecting us all.”

About California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Dominguez Hills cultivates an instructional neighborhood dedicated to justice, fairness, and inclusion – one which fosters a way of belonging and advances social mobility for our graduates. For greater than 5 a long time, we’ve offered data, expertise, and management to Southern California and past. Strategically positioned to convey academic pathways to underserved communities within the aftermath of the 1965 Watts Rebellion, we proudly educate many first-generation faculty college students. Ranked first within the nation for increasing faculty entry and growing financial alternatives, CSUDH delivers a transformative schooling that’s grounded in culturally sustaining practices, revolutionary analysis, creativity, and neighborhood engagement. We are devoted to fostering college students’ important inquiry, profession readiness, and fervour for lifelong studying—guaranteeing that upon commencement, college students are geared up to guide and thrive within the industries shaping the long run. For extra data, go to www.csudh.edu.

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 immediately employs greater than 63,000 folks in North America who’ve contributed to the design, engineering, and meeting of almost 47 million vehicles and vehicles at our 13 manufacturing crops. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will start to fabricate automotive batteries for electrified autos. With extra electrified autos on the street than some other automaker, Toyota at present affords 27 electrified choices.

For extra details about Toyota, go to www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Opinion

How to clamp down on roadside garbage

There was a superb column in The Times just lately in regards to the state of Britain’s roadsides, which ceaselessly are liberally strewn with litter.

It recommended that we get critical about cleansing it up. Any marketing campaign to get that performed would obtain my assist, too. But I do not know that we must always really feel fairly a lot disgrace about litter’s existence as we typically do. I wager that, fly-tipping apart, most of it will get there by chance.

I am unable to place a bin bag exterior my entrance door late at night time to hold it to the wheelie bin on the finish of the lane within the morning as a result of by then a rat or a crow may have taken just a few chunks out of the bag and the whole lot inside may have began blowing across the backyard.

And there is a lay-by down the highway from me the place I usually see black luggage left poking from the highest of the wheelie bins. I’m positive the intent is sweet, however it’s not more likely to finish effectively, provided that Britain is a windy island within the North Atlantic with loads of scavenging wildlife.

Similar bin-cramming occurs on the town centres; stuff is positioned close to the highest of these bins which have a gap on each side, creating the proper wind tunnel for sucking light-weight garbage precariously positioned in them.

So by all means let’s get Britain’s roads tidy once more, however on the similar time let’s make a plan to stop it going flawed once more.

Often it is thoughtlessness over malice. So let’s have extra bins, higher designed, extra ceaselessly emptied and with large indicators about not overfilling them. And make native amenity suggestions free once more, too.

Cars

Here’s Why Dodge Discontinued The Magnum

Unfortunately, the favoritism of SUVs and crossovers over station wagons and the declining state of the auto trade gave the revived Dodge Magnum no small quantity of bother from the beginning — and people obstacles resulted in gross sales that had been stable however not stable sufficient. While it garnered a constructive reception on the time of its launch, the automobile apparently wasn’t assembly Chrysler’s business requirements. To some extent, the writing was on the wall even earlier than the announcement of its discontinuation was made.

In the 2007 press launch asserting the Magnum’s discontinuation, the corporate cited the smaller automobile market, the business underperformance of the car, and strain from sellers to pivot away from the mannequin. “These actions reflect our new customer-driven philosophy and allow us to focus our resources on new, more profitable and appealing products,” Jim Press, Vice Chairman and President of Chrysler, said within the press launch. “Further, these product actions are all in response to dealer requests.”

The Magnum wasn’t the one mannequin on the chopping block, both. Alongside the unlucky station wagon, the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Crossfire, and the convertible Chrysler PT Cruiser had been all axed. While some, just like the Pacifica, have since seen a return in recent times, the Magnum stays dormant. As for whether or not this legacy Dodge model will ever be revived, that is still to be seen.

Smartphones

How To Find Out Your Current iPhone’s Trade-In Value (So You Can Get A New One)

In normal, the nearer your iPhone is to its out-of-the-box state visually and functionally, the upper the provide chances are you’ll get for the gadget. The first query you will be requested whenever you undergo the trade-in course of is whether or not your gadget fulfills the next parameters:

  • It activates and features usually
  • All the buttons work with out points
  • The digicam features correctly and all of the lenses are with out scratches, dents, or injury
  • The battery can maintain a cost
  • The telephone’s physique is dent and scratch-free
  • The contact display and again glass haven’t any cracks or seen injury
  • The show display would not have traces, spots, or different visible distortions

Your iPhone model may also weigh closely on its trade-in worth. Since newer iPhones have extra improved options, they’re extra worthwhile and can seemingly garner greater than an older mannequin. Moreover, if in case you have a model of a selected iPhone collection that has a much bigger display, higher battery life, and the like — as an example, an iPhone 14 Pro Max as a substitute of an everyday iPhone 14 — it will be value extra.

Finally, the larger your iPhone’s storage capability, the extra worthwhile it’s when it comes to trade-in worth. Similarly, the newer your iPhone is, the upper the chances of a superb resale worth. It’s not at all times the case although because the latter is essentially decided by market demand. For instance, regardless that the third-generation iPhone SE got here out in early 2022, the older iPhone 13 is worth more because of its wider slate of options.

Now that you’ve an concept how iPhone trade-in values are generated, let’s undergo the other ways to go about exchanging your iOS gadget for one of many newer ones.

Motorsport

Florida Could Name Its Most Famous Highway After Jimmy Buffett

Come Monday, Florida’s historic State Road A1A might have a brand new title: Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway. Two payments handed within the Florida Legislature over the weekend had been unanimously authorized by the state Senate honoring the music legend, who handed away final 12 months on the age of 76.

The first of the 2 payments would rename parts of the 340-mile stretch of freeway, which runs south from Jimmy’s former residence in Key West north to Fernandina Beach close to Jacksonville. Parts of A1A in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties would bear the title Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway, which, paradoxically, was the title of his fifth studio album.

The second invoice authorized a brand new Buffett-inspired Florida license plate design with the phrase “Margaritaville,” named after his hottest tune and his chain of eating places, shops, and accommodations. All proceeds from the license plates would go towards a charity based by Jimmy known as Singing for Change, which helps victims of hurricanes.

“Margaritaville is just what Florida is all about,” Republican state Senator Gayle Harrell advised the Associated Press. “No one represents the open sun, beaches, and music more than Jimmy Buffett and Margaritaville.”

Republican Chuck Clemons initially filed the invoice in October of 2023 following Jimmy’s dying, and now it appears prefer it might come to fruition if the payments are authorized within the Florida House of Representatives. Residents are even pushing to rename the Key West International Airport after Buffett – which can quickly be situated off of Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.

Motorsport

Toyota EV With Solid-State Batteries Coming In A Couple Of Years

Toyota will roll out a manufacturing EV with strong state batteries “in a couple of years,” and new automobile stock is at a three-year excessive within the US.

This is AM Drive, Motor1’s day by day take a look at the information you want earlier than you get in your automobile.

Toyota Electric Vehicle With Solid-State Batteries Due In A Couple Of Years

Solid-state batteries at all times appear to be no less than a number of years away. In early 2022, Toyota mentioned we might get a hybrid with the revolutionary battery tech by 2025 however there hasn’t been any information on that entrance since then. However, final fall, the Japanese automaker did say it had achieved a “breakthrough.” It promised 10 to 80 p.c charging in 10 minutes and a driving vary of 621 miles (1,000 kilometers).

Initially, the primary EV with solid-state batteries was supposed to return out in 2027 or 2028 however a brand new assertion from a Toyota official suggests the launch may need been moved ahead. Speaking at an funding summit in India, the Country Head of Toyota Kirloskar Motor mentioned the automobile will probably be out “in a couple of years from now.”

Vikram Gulati touted even higher vary, saying an EV with a solid-state battery will have the ability to cowl as a lot as 745 miles (1,200 kilometers) on a single cost. This determine was beforehand talked about by Toyota for a higher-specification solid-state battery scheduled to reach later.

New Car Inventory In The United States Reaches 2.7 Million Units

Mercedes-EQ dealership in Yokohama, Japan

Cox Automotive estimates there are greater than 2.7 million new vehicles ready for a purchaser within the United States. Last December alone, the stock rose by over 200,000 autos. The current fleet equates to a 71-day provide, and is projected to develop moreover in 2024.

This yr, new automobile stock is estimated to succeed in practically three million models, due to this fact matching the pre-pandemic ranges. Cox Automotive believes that as a result of supplier heaps are busy, salespersons might “moderately” apply reductions in a bid to maneuver extra vehicles. However, value cuts of greater than 10 p.c appear unlikely.

On a associated observe, the trade analysts declare roughly 36.2 million used vehicles are going to be bought within the subsequent 12 months, up by lower than one p.c in comparison with 2023.

Motorsport

Future Hyundais May Hear You Scream And Alert The Police

A future surveillance state seems inevitable. Law enforcement agencies are already accessing user data shared with Google, Facebook, and other digital service providers, often getting the information by purchasing it from the companies concerned, bypassing any constitutional concerns. If Hyundai Motor Group’s Orwellian vision of the future becomes reality, that data could soon be coming from your car as well.

The company highlighted the winners of its 2023 Ideas Festival, a program designed to foster and produce creative research concepts from its employees. This year’s theme was “Technology with a Heart that Changes the World,” and one of the bronze prize winners was an idea called “H-SOS.”

The concept imagines a future where a car equipped with external microphones could always be listening for signs of distress, like a person screaming or an explosion. If it detects such an occurrence, the car could activate its headlights, hazards, and horn and begin using its cameras to record its surroundings.

It would then alert police, sending officers the vehicle’s location and video footage. For cases of extreme crimes or disasters, the car could alert nearby vehicle owners to stay away from the area.

Much of the technology for such a connected car already exists. It’s the implementation and integration that is lacking. Tesla’s Sentry Mode is famous for catching vandals and thieves of all varieties, and Rivian’s vehicles feature a similar video security system.

Shazam and Google can listen to a few seconds of a song and identify it, while SoundThinking Inc.’s technology, formerly ShotSpotter, uses algorithms to listen for gunshots across several American cities. While a human does listen to the audio before alerting the authorities, there are ongoing debates about the technology’s efficacy and usefulness.

Many modern cars are already connected to the internet in some capacity, capable of receiving over-the-air updates via cellular network or WiFi. General Motors has been offering connected services through OnStar for nearly 30 years, which can track and remotely slow down stolen vehicles and alert police to their location.

The proposed implementation is an “idea for building a social safety net to prevent crimes and accidents in blind spots,” which sounds hopeful. Technology like this is not nefarious on its own, but without robust privacy protections for consumers, it makes it even easier for corrupt governments and companies to surveil whomever they want with few barriers.

Connected cars and their digitization make it easier for governments to mandate these new nanny systems in vehicles, and US regulators seem eager to test the surveillance waters. The hardware – cameras, sensors, and microphones – will only get cheaper, and software can live in the cloud thanks to 4G and 5G connectivity.

The National Transportation Safety Board recently recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration require automakers to implement intelligent speed assistance technology to alert drivers when their vehicle exceeds the speed limit. Having the car log your speed and alert the police to any infractions seems like a logical next step for safety and feels easily feasible in 2023.

The feds also asked automakers in 2021 to explore integrating drunk driver detection technology that would prevent an intoxicated person from operating a vehicle. HMG also awarded a bronze prize to “Drunk Hunter” this year, which imagines using AI-based technology to predict and prevent drunk drivers and analyze their real-time behavior.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen electrifies the Vatican’s vehicle fleet

Volkswagen is assisting the Vatican City State in its shift toward sustainable mobility. Starting in 2024, the company will supply nearly 40 fully electric models from its ID. series, including the ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5. These vehicles are part of the Vatican’s plan to achieve carbon neutrality for its fleet by 2030. Imelda Labbé, a member of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars board, and Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, personally delivered the first two electric vehicles, ID.3 Pro Performance models, to the Vatican.

The Vatican City State is committed to implementing innovative and sustainable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of human activities and protect the planet. Central to this effort is the “Ecological Conversion 2030” program, which aims to decrease the CO2 footprint of the state’s vehicle fleet. To achieve this, the Vatican plans to gradually replace its current vehicles with electric ones, ultimately reaching a CO2-neutral fleet by 2030.

Volkswagen has been selected as the partner for this project and will provide the Vatican State with a fleet starting in 2024 through Volkswagen Financial Services. Subsequently, additional zero-emission vehicles from Volkswagen Group brands will be progressively introduced, leading to a complete fleet replacement by 2030.

Imelda Labbé stated during the vehicle handover in Vatican City: “The electrification of fleets is becoming increasingly important across the globe. The fact that Vatican employees will now also drive our ID. models in the future is a great honor for our brand and highlights the appeal of our all-electric ID. models.”

Dr. Christian Dahlheim added, “We are pleased to support the Vatican in this important project. This is a unique opportunity for us and demonstrates our competitiveness in providing mobility solutions.”

Information for editors:
Volkswagen Financial Services is a division of the Volkswagen AG group and includes Volkswagen Financial Services AG, Volkswagen Bank GmbH, Porsche Financial Services, and financial service companies in the USA and Canada under the Volkswagen AG umbrella, with the exception of the Scania brand and Porsche Holding Salzburg. These businesses cover dealer and customer financing, leasing, banking, insurance activities, fleet management, and mobility services. Volkswagen Financial Services employ approximately 17,713 people globally, with 7,692 in Germany alone. They report total assets of around EUR 240 billion, an operating profit of EUR 5.60 billion, and a portfolio of around 22.0 million current contracts (as at 31.12.2022).

More information at www.vwfs.com

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand operates in over 140 markets and manufactures vehicles at 29 locations in twelve countries. In 2022, Volkswagen delivered approximately 4.6 million vehicles, including popular models like the Polo, T-Roc, T-Cross, Golf, Tiguan, Passat, and the all-electric models ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and ID.6. Last year, the company supplied over 330,000 all-electric vehicles to customers worldwide. Volkswagen employs around 170,000 people globally, and with its ACCELERATE strategy, it aims to become the most sought-after brand for sustainable mobility.