Motoring

Volkswagen fined $154 mn more in US for dieselgate

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Volkswagen must pay an additional $154 million to California to settle state environmental charges in the latest penalty in the scandal over its use of emissions “defeat devices,” regulators announced Thursday. The sum is on top of $533 million VW already paid to California in the so-called dieselgate conspiracy, in which software allowed cars to pass emissions tests, while still spewing nitrogen oxide far above legal limits. “This payment […]

Volvo Cars moves into fast-growing Indian market

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) — Swedish carmaker Volvo said Thursday it will start assembling cars in India this year in a move into a fast-expanding market where it has had only a small presence until now. Volvo Cars said in a statement that it was teaming up with truck manufacturer Volvo Group to build cars at the latter’s existing plant in Hoskote near Bangalore. While sharing the Volvo name, Volvo Cars has not actually been part of […]

Chinese company presents SUVs to be sold in Mexico

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) — China’s Anhui Jianghuai Automobile (JAC Motor) on Tuesday (March 28) presented their models SUV S2 and SUV S3 to be sold in Mexico. Last month, Mexico’s Giant Motors and China’s JAC Motor, along with distributor Chori Company Limited, announced they would invest more than 4.4 billion pesos ($212.46 million) in an existing Mexican plant to build these SUVs in the central state of Hidalgo. The investment is a welcome sign of […]

US : ‘Global startup’ vows autonomous car by 2020 in US

This handout illustration obtained March 10, 2017 courtesy of Nio, shows the NIO EVE autonomous vision car of the future. A “global startup” which makes electric racing vehicles unveiled plans on March 10, 2017 to sell a fully autonomous car in the US market by 2020. The company called Nio, founded by Chinese entrepreneur William Li and with offices in Silicon Valley, Europe and China, unveiled a prototype of the vehicle called Eve at the […]

Nissan introduces car ‘camelpower’

(Reuters) — Nissan has launched a new measurement unit for 4×4 cars that they are calling Desert Camel Power. The Japanese firm wants to provide definitive answers to questions about the off-road capabilities of 4×4 cars in the Gulf market. Nissan argues that the traditional definition of horsepower is not an accurate unit of measurement for cars that drive in the desert, since engine power does not necessarily ensure smooth driving on sand. Regional Executive […]

Toyota recalling fuel-cell Mirai vehicles

TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) — Toyota said Wednesday it is recalling all the Mirai fuel-cell vehicles it has sold globally due to a software glitch that can shut off its hydrogen-powered system. The auto giant said it would call back about 2,800 Mirai vehicles made between November 2014 and December 2016 to repair the defect. Toyota launched Mirai — which means “future” in Japanese — in late 2014 as it looked to push further into the fast-growing […]

BMW defends plans to open plant in Mexico

BMW’s chief of sales and marketing Ian Robertson defends the German automaker’s decision to open a new factory in Mexico in 2019, despite warnings from President-elect Donald Trump that he will impose a border tax on cars imported from the country. https://youtu.be/mBxBGYpWhL8

Toyota unveils concept car with artificial intelligence system

(REUTERS) — Carmaker Toyota unveiled a concept vehicle featuring digital displays throughout and an artificial intelligence system on Wednesday (January 04) at CES in Las Vegas. According to Toyota, the vehicle features what they call ‘kinetic warmth,’ a warm and welcoming atmosphere to create a relationship between the driver and the car. “The CALTY team developed a concept that we’re calling Kinetic warmth. It’s a design philosophy that’s guided every element of the Concept-i’s creation […]

Automakers ramp up promotions

(Reuters) — U.S. automakers are ramping up promotions ahead of Black Friday to clear out bulging inventories and dispel investor doubts about consumer demand. U.S. automakers are ramping up promotions ahead of Black Friday to clear out bulging inventories and reassure investors that business is solid. The biggest promotions are on sedans, compact cars, and sports cars as consumers shift to pickup trucks and SUVs. Shares of General Motors, Ford Motor, and Fiat Chrysler are […]

BMW presents its self-balancing motorcycle of the future

  by Veronique Dupont LOS ANGELES, United States | AFP | — The motorcycle of the future is so safe riders can cruise sans helmet — all of the thrills with none of the danger — according to BMW. The German automaker unveiled Tuesday its Motorrad Vision Next 100, a sleek, self-balancing prototype the company released as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations. The zero-emissions bike has self-balancing wheels designed to stand upright even at […]

BMW presents its self-balancing motorcycle of the future

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) — The motorcycle of the future is so safe riders can cruise sans helmet — all of the thrills with none of the danger — according to BMW. The German automaker unveiled Tuesday its Motorrad Vision Next 100, a sleek, self-balancing prototype the company released as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations. The zero-emissions bike has self-balancing wheels designed to stand upright even at a complete stop, stability that the company […]

Electric cars purr at post-‘dieselgate’ Paris car show

by Tangi QUEMENER PARIS, France (AFP) — Automakers at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday unveiled several electric cars with a range of up to 400 km, a technological leap designed to turn the page on the “dieselgate” scandal that sullied the industry’s image. Troubled German automaker Volkswagen led the electric charge on the opening day of the biennial show, where it aims to rebound from the emissions cheating scandal that engulfed it a year […]