Month: October 2018

October 31, 2018 17:56 CET

MUMBAI — Tata Motors announced a turnaround plan for Jaguar Land Rover, which has been hit hard by trade tensions between China and the U.S., low demand for diesel cars in Europe and worries over Brexit.

Under “Project Charge” Tata Motors said it plans to cut costs and improve cash flows at Jaguar Land Rover by 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) over 18 months.

JLR said new vehicles such as the recently launched Jaguar I-Pace full-electric crossover and the Continue reading “Jaguar Land Rover turnaround plan unveiled”

October 31, 2018 13:09 CET

BEIJING/SHANGHAI — Ford and Baidu launched a two-year project on Wednesday to test self-driving vehicles on Chinese roads, amid a global race by automakers and technology companies to develop autonomous vehicles and the software that runs them.

The project will start testing on designated roads in Beijing by year end, and possibly other Chinese cities, the two companies said.

The vehicles will be capable of operating autonomously in certain conditions by the Continue reading “Ford, Baidu to start self-driving road tests in China”

October 31, 2018 14:14 CET

Tata Motors on Wednesday reported a loss for the three months ended September, dented by falling Jaguar Land Rover sales and a one-time charge related to a subsidiary closure in Thailand.

Retail sales of its Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles fell 13 percent, hurt particularly by tariff changes in China and escalating trade tensions between China and the U.S.

“In JLR, market conditions, particularly in China, have deteriorated further,” Tata Chairman N. Continue reading “Tata Motors posts Q2 loss on declining JLR sales, one-time charge”

October 31, 2018 11:22 CET

Great Wall Motor signed a memorandum of understanding to invest in H2 Mobility Deutschland, a German operator of hydrogen fueling stations that is a joint venture between six European companies, including Daimler.

By becoming a shareholder in H2 Mobility, Great Wall said it would be able to tap the company’s expertise in hydrogen fueling infrastructure and construction, and the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles in China.

Great Wall signed the memorandum Continue reading “Great Wall will invest in Daimler-funded hydrogen station company”

October 31, 2018 13:47 CET

DETROIT — Stronger-than-expected results in China and North America propelled General Motors to a 25 percent increase in pretax profit in the third quarter and net income of $2.5 billion.

GM’s revenue increased 6.4 percent to $35.8 billion in the third quarter. The company announced a global profit margin of 8.8 percent, including 10.2 percent in North America.

The 2018 results for the third quarter compare to a loss of almost $3 billion a year ago, due Continue reading “GM posts $2.5 billion 3Q profit on strong results in key markets”

Tesla Model 3 dashboard in Autopilot testing with IIHS [CREDIT: IIHS]

Another Tesla owner whose car crashed while Autopilot was engaged has sued the automaker claiming false advertising

In September, a woman whose Tesla crashed into the back of a stationary fire truck at speed while driving on Autopilot in Utah sued the automaker with similar claims.

On Tuesday, Florida resident Shawn Hudson sued Tesla after his Tesla Model S crashed into the back of a Ford Fiesta that had been left in Continue reading “Another owner sues Tesla over Autopilot rear-end crash”

Dutch coalition PlasticRoad bike path

Cars could soon provide a solution to one of the world’s biggest environmental problems, not just contribute to them. Cars, or at least the roads they drive on, could provide a much needed outlet for tons of recycled plastics that currently have no place else to go.

According to the EPA, the U.S. produces about 14 million tons of plastic waste a year, and 91 percent of it is not recycled, according to National Geographic.

The problem was compounded Continue reading “Broken bottles may be good for roads and the environment”

Hot Wheels Tesla ‘Starman’ car (2018)

Tesla’s chief executive officer Elon Musk has pulled off some elaborate visions—and madcap stunts—for future mobility, often with multiple levels of nerdy references to be found within.

If that appeals to you and you’ve ever been a Hot Wheels collector, there’s something you would probably like to have in your display case or on your desk: a new Hot Wheels car commemorating a Tesla Roadster’s voyage into space last February.

DON’T Continue reading “Tesla ‘Starman’ stunt commemorated by Hot Wheels”

Image from 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric-car ad by Ourisman Chevrolet, Rockville, Maryland

Electric cars are coming. The question is how soon.

According to a new report by the UN International Panel on Climate Change earlier in October, coastal cities and coral reefs will begin experiencing “devastating effects” by 2040 from climate change if emissions of global-warming carbon-dioxide continue.

Estimates on electric-car adoption range from 50 percent of new cars sold by 2030 to about Continue reading “How soon can all new car sales realistically be electric? Twitter poll results”

With all manner of ghouls and ghosts walking the streets, it’s one of those times of the year that you’ll probably be happiest tucked up at home feeling cosy (maybe with a horror film on).  That being said, if you do have to drive it is worth considering some tips to make sure that you all stay safe when out and about on Halloween:

• Be mindful that children may be around residential areas and might not be as careful in all the excitement of the night
• Bars, pubs etc will be Continue reading “Stay Safe On The Road This Halloween”