Category: Auto

Volkswagen is bringing forward the development of a small electric car for the mass market in anticipation of tougher climate regulations, according to plans seen by Reuters, as it seeks to boost sales in a new green era. Under the project dubbed “Small BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle)”, engineers are racing to develop a purely-battery powered car around the size of a Polo which will be available for between 20,000 and 25,000 euros ($24,000-30,000). This would make it cheaper than Volkswagen’s ID.3 electric car, which went on sale in September. Volkswagen did not provide details on what the vehicle might look ... Read more

Ferrari will resume production from April 14, after halting the same on March 14 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, production will only resume if the supply chain works without any interruption so that all necessary parts can be provided for the production process. In an official press release, Ferrari said “All activities that can be conducted in smart working will continue to be performed as has been the case in recent weeks. The company will continue to cover all days of absence to those unable to take advantage of this solution.” The Italian firm was the first to temporarily ... Read more

Porsche is stepping up its corporate social responsibility in response to the coronavirus pandemic. After stopping production on March 21 for an initial period of two weeks, the car manufacturer is also redirecting resources to help those in need. The Executive Board of Porsche AG is working intensively on concrete measures that will enable the company to provide support. Specialist staff such as medically experienced personnel or IT experts have been deployed to carry out voluntary work. Assistance with technical materials and supplies, such as procurement of personal protective equipment has been identified as another field of activity. Food donations ... Read more

Ford Motor Company is joining forces with 3M and GE Healthcare to lend its manufacturing and engineering expertise to quickly expand production of urgently needed medical equipment and supplies for healthcare workers, first responders and patients fighting coronavirus. In addition, Ford plans to assemble more than 100,000 face shields per week and leverage its in-house 3D printing capability to produce components for use in personal protective equipment. “This is such a critical time for America and the world. It is a time for action and cooperation. By coming together across multiple industries, we can make a real difference for people ... Read more

German car maker Volkswagen has said it will temporarily shut down most of its European plants in light following the corona virus pandemic. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chief Executive Herbert Diess said the company would shut down production at factories operated by the group’s brands “in the near future,” with most European plants set to suspend work for at least two weeks. Production at Volkswagen plants in Spain, Slovakia and Italy would all be halted before the end of the week, Diess added. The decision to shut the plants come shortly after the world’s largest carmaker by sales, warned ... Read more

Off late, we have been hearing about flying cars. But, Hyundai has gone one step ahead and launched its unique walking car, dubbed Hyundai Elevate. With its four wheels attached to extendable robotic legs, the vehicle can drive, walk or climb over obstacles, and has been primarily designed to provide fast and efficient disaster assistance, as well as transport for people of determination. View this post on Instagram Take a closer look at the #Hyundai #Elevate, the first-ever vehicle with movable legs! Its wheels with robotic legs allow people to drive, walk or even climb over the treacherous terrain. A post ... Read more

How often have you arrived for a holiday get-together only to find yourself stressed-out due to the travel hassles you just endured while getting there? Endless airport and car rental lines, joining the crowded highway traffic – it all takes a toll. What if you didn’t have to tolerate such things, and could arrive perhaps in a better frame of mind than when you started the journey? Samson is re-defining holiday travel (and all travel for that matter) by allowing people to travel door-to-door, flying and driving on their own terms. The Switchblade flying sports car carries two people, gifts, ... Read more

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued notification under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 mandating the provision of Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) device and emergency buttons in all Public Service Vehicles registered on or after 1st January, 2019. States may decide timelines for implementation of VLT and emergency buttons in vehicles registered upto 31st December, 2018. Two-wheelers, E-rickshaw, three wheelers and any transport vehicles for which no permit is required under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 are exempted from this requirement. The Ministry has sanctioned proposals under Nirbhaya Fund after recommendation by Empowered Committee of Ministry of Women ... Read more

The retro, classic Italian brand, Lambretta, is planning a return to India with a prototype debut at the Auto Expo 2020 (February 6-9). Lambretta will come in an electric avatar, but expect it to retain the classic design. The product is currently under development in Milan and the Italian company has tied up with the Delhi-based Lohia Auto Ltd and Bird Group to sell the products in India. The company has not disclosed the product specifications and the name of the product yet. Lambretta is collaborating with a global company to develop the electric two-wheeler. Lambretta has also announced the development of ... Read more

Saudi is hosting Formula E – the mega event in the historic Saudi town of Ad Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The event is set to revolutionize motorsports by using only electric race cars. Officially known as the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, the race expects to draw 40,000 attendees, with access not only to the race but also to the Kingdom’s largest ever festival for music, entertainment and cultural activities. A first for Saudi Arabia and the region, the event’s magnitude reflects the Kingdom’s goal of hosting major events and promoting them domestically and globally. A milestone was ... Read more

German luxury car maker BMW said it will increase prices in India by up to 4 per cent with effect from January next year. The company sells a variety of vehicles in India ranging from SUV X1 to 7 Series sedan, priced between Rs 34.5 lakh and Rs 2.45 crore (ex-showroom). “From January 1, 2019, BMW India will increase the prices of its cars by up to 4 per cent,” BMW Group India Chairman Vikram Pawah said in a statement. The company, however, did not give any specific reason for the price hike. The range of locally produced BMW cars in ... Read more

Bajaj’s quadricyle- RE 60 The government has included ‘Quadricycle’ as a ‘non transport’ vehicle in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, paving the way for such vehicles to carry passengers. The government has allowed non-transport usage of quadricycles with a view to providing a safe and cheap mode for the last mile connectivity, an official statement said. The press release posted on 23rd November 2018, states “Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified the insertion of the item ‘Quadricycle’ as a ‘non transport’ vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. A Quadricycle is a vehicle of the size of a ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: Autocar The Hyundai Nexo has scored a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating to become the first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) to achieve this safety standard. The large SUV achieved the result in the latest round of testing conducted by Euro NCAP, with a 94 per cent rating for adult occupant safety. As well as the Hyundai, the Lexus ES hybrid, Mazda 6 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class also achieved maximum five-star scores. “Nexo’s five-star rating should dissipate concerns around how hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars perform in a crash,” said Matthew Avery from Thatcham Research, the only British ... Read more

Revv Co-founders -Anupam Agarwal and Karan Jain Revv, the car sharing platform is coming to Kochi. It is as per their plan to expand their services to four new cities making their presence in 15 cities of the country. Three other are Ahmedabad, Mangalore and Kolkata. The company is already operating other Metro cities already. The company also plan to start operations in another five cities by the end of 2018. The fleet of vehicles will also be increased in accordance with the expansion programme. There are also plans to have new one-way intercity routes. The expansion programmes expected to ... Read more

Rolls-Royce has revealed its plans to develop a hybrid electric vehicle, dubbed the “flying taxi”, which takes off and lands vertically and could be airborne within five years. Rolls-Royce showed off the plans at the Farnborough Airshow for the first time and said it hoped to manufacture a prototype version of its electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) vehicle within the next 18 months, and could potentially take to the skies in the early 2020s. The Rolls-Royce EVTOL plane will seat four or five people, with a flying range of 500 miles (805 kilometres) and a top speed of 200 miles ... Read more