HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Audi to Introduce Electric SUV in 2018
Automaker Audi says it plans to launch an all-electric SUV in 2018.
European Law May Encourage Greener and Safer Trucks
The European parliament has adopted a law allowing for longer and heavier trucks as long as manufacturers build more aerodynamic, less polluting and less dangerous vehicles.
Audi Plant Uses Robots to Move Cars
Two robots named "Ray" independently transport cars from production to an interim storage area as part of a pilot project at the Audi automotive plant in Ingolstadt, Germany.
BMW and Volkswagen Partner to Build Fast-charging EV Stations
BMW and Volkswagen are investing over the next 12 months in new public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along heavily traveled routes on the east and west coasts of the U.S.
Autonomous Vehicles and Their Need for Map Accuracy
Experts in the autonomous vehicle field are finding a challenge in answering one question: should self-driving vehicle makers create their own maps? Google Inc., for example, reportedly is creating detailed maps.
Carbon Spheres May Cut Engine Friction and Improve Performance
Researchers have found that when small, smooth carbon spheres are added to motor oil, they can reduce friction and wear typically found in engines by as much as 25%.
Flow Battery Technology Aims to Take the Driver's Seat
Switzerland's well-known neutrality extends beyond politics. Most European automotive manufacturers see it as an unbiased arena since the country has no production vehicle industry.
Renault and French Post Office Test Electric Truck with Fuel-cell Range Extender
Renault Trucks and the French Post Office will introduce, on an experimental basis, an electric truck equipped with a fuel-cell range extender; the test program is one of the first of its kind in Europe. T
Surface Scanning Technology Aids Vehicle Development
Simulator software company rFpro has used surface scanning technology to produce what it says are more accurate digital road models.
Renesas Creates Chip for Safety, Experience in Connected Vehicles
Renesas says it has built a microcontroller (MCU) for use in instrument clusters found in connected cars that can deliver a safer and better driving experience.
Revenues from Smartphone and Automotive Displays Grew in 2014, IHS Says
As smartphones monopolize product sales for cameras and other devices with small and medium displays, automotive display revenues rose 26% to become the second-highest growth category in 2014, according to IHS.
Ricardo Builds Electric Motor without Rare Earth Materials
Ricardo, a global engineering, strategic and environmental consultancy, has developed what it says is a low-cost 85-kilowatt (kW) electric motor.
Apple Aims to Produce an Electric Vehicle by 2020, Bloomberg Says
Apple Inc. aims to begin producing an electric vehicle as early as 2020, people with knowledge of the matter have told Bloomberg.
Volvo to Use Cloud for Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
Volvo says it plans to share information between cars over the Internet through the cloud. The Swedish automaker says it soon will be possible for cars to warn other cars about road hazards, such as potholes and oil spills.
Safety Groups Want Anti-collision Technology Mandated for Trucks and Buses
Four interest groups have joined to request a rule-making initiative from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate anti-collision technology on all trucks and buses with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more.
Volvo's Self-driving Cars Could Reach Roads by 2017
Volvo has completed designs for self-driving cars which it plans to put into operation in two years, the company announced on Feb. 19.
Rolls-Royce Launches Aluminum-based "Everywhere Vehicle"
Rolls-Royce says it will build an “everywhere vehicle” for its next series, joining the list of automakers with sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
A123 Lawsuit Claims Apple Is Recruiting Engineers for Auto Battery Project
Electric-car battery maker A123 Systems has sued Apple Inc. in a Massachusetts federal court, alleging that the iPhone maker is poaching engineers to build a large-scale battery division. The lawsuit was reported by website law360.com and bolsters industry talk that Apple may be developing a car.
Clutch-less Drive Attracts Auto Part Companies to India
As automated manual transmission’s (AMT) popularity in India has grown, new technology may be able to lower the cost of those vehicles. Robert Bosch, an auto components maker, and UK-based Drive System Design are two companies considering options to bring more affordable drive systems to the Indian market.
Could Driverless Vehicles Mean Fewer Cars, More Miles?
Autonomous vehicles may reduce the number of vehicles a family needs, but may lead to an increase in total miles driven, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.