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1 year ago
What can you tell us about some of the upcoming developments at Audi Middle East? We’re gearing up for a really exciting chapter in the Audi Middle East story with the launch of some 20 new models including their variants over the next two years. This bold move underscores our commitment to driving innovation and expanding the diversity of our product portfolio. Simultaneously, we’re ramping up efforts to fortify the electric vehicle charging infrastructure across our region. By the end of this year, we have 150 chargers operational, setting a robust foundation for the evolving needs of electric vehicle users. Another initiative we recently soft-launched was the House of Progress in Saudi Arabia, which is an excellent example of a progressive retail concept. Guiding initiatives such as these involve localising international concepts to better align with the unique demands of the Middle East market, placing a strong emphasis on enhancing both the customer and brand experience. How is Audi envisioning electrification and the infrastructure for EVs? We recognise the growing demand for electric vehicles, so we’re strategically expanding our charging network. We are committed to supporting the infrastructure expansion not only at the dealership level but also through selected public […]
1 year ago
Elon Musk is expected to announce the launch of Tesla India in January 2024 during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gandhinagar. According to local media reports, Tesla and Elon Musk are in the final stages of negotiations with the government regarding land for a manufacturing facility. Tesla and India have had long discussions throughout the years, with the pair almost reaching a deal plenty of times, only for talks to ultimately lead to nothing. In early November, Tesla India discussions reignited when the Indian government announced it would discuss policy changes for electric vehicles (EV). The discussions included a policy change related to EV manufacturing in India. The Indian government also planned to discuss Tesla’s investment proposal. The government aims to fast-track approvals for the company by January 2024. Gujarat state media outlets report that Tesla is looking at land in Sanand, a city and municipality in Ahmedabad district. Sanand has become a central industrial hub in Gujarat, where other automakers like Tara Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and MG Motor are located. Talks of Tesla launching in India started again when Elon Musk met with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in New York in the summer. After the meeting with PM Modi, Elon Musk announced plans to visit […]
1 year ago
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Gone are the days of Windows 95; heading into the year 2024, there’s an entirely new “blue screen of death” people apparently need to be watching out for – in their cars. This week a photo went viral on social media purporting to show a Ford vehicle displaying a “your vehicle cannot be driven” message after a failed software update. “Please call customer support,” the screen urges. Owning a car is about to get *really* weird. Ford might be first but won’t be the last. pic.twitter.com/WSgOoMx0hj — Car Dealership Guy (@GuyDealership) December 26, 2023 A post on one car enthusiast forum questioned the authenticity of the screenshot, stating: “This is going around on Twitter, but I couldn’t find any mentions of it here.Is this even real? The phone number, when Googled doesn’t turn up anything official.” One person responded: “That’s the message you will see on the rare occasion that an OTA fails. It’s a special customer service phone number for dealing with failed OTAs. It’s from a user on Reddit, his car has since been fixed and is back to normal FYI.” “If an OTA update fails in such a way that this […]
1 year ago
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi took the wraps off its first electric vehicle on Thursday and promptly announced it was aiming to become one of the world’s top five automakers. The sedan, dubbed the SU7 with the SU short for Speed Ultra, is a highly anticipated model that chief executive Lei Jun touted as having “super electric motor” technology capable of delivering acceleration speeds faster than Tesla cars and Porsche’s EVs. But the car – likely to go on sale in several months – is making its debut at a time when China’s auto market – the world’s largest – is wrestling with a capacity glut and slowing demand that have stoked a bruising price war. Pick your tint! #XiaomiEVTechnologyLaunch 🔵 Aqua Blue🔘 Mineral Gray🟢 Verdant Green pic.twitter.com/tkHjnwaNL7 — Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) December 28, 2023 That didn’t stop Xiaomi Chief Executive Lei Jun from outlining big ambitions. “By working hard over the next 15 to 20 years, we will become one of the world’s top five automakers, striving to lift China’s overall automobile industry,” he said at the unveiling. Those plans include building “a dream car comparable to Porsche and Tesla,” he added. The SU7 is also expected to appeal to customers […]
1 year ago
Toyota is recalling about 1 million cars and SUVs in the United States due to a possible defect that could cause the passenger airbag to fail to deploy in a crash. The recall involves 15 different 2020 and 2021 model year Toyota and Lexus models including the Toyota Camry, Rav4, Sienna and the Lexus RX350 and ES350. Lexus is Toyota’s luxury vehicle brand. Specifically, the Occupant Classification System sensor that detects when someone is sitting in the front passenger seat could short circuit. In some of these vehicles the sensor was improperly manufactured. The OCS sensor can roughly tell how heavy a person is, giving an indication of wether a front seat passenger is an adult or child. If a child is detected in the front passenger seat, the airbag might not deploy in a crash because the force of the airbag could injure someone so small. A short circuit in the OCS sensor could cause the airbag to fail to deploy in incidents when it should, according to Toyota’s announcement. A Toyota spokesperson declined to say whether the automaker is aware of any injuries arising from this issue. Owners of vehicles involved in the recall will be notified by Toyota by the middle […]
1 year ago
Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund is gaining full ownership of McLaren Group, one of the most revered names in British premium manufacturing, as part of long-term plans to secure a partnership with a global industry giant. Mumtalakat, the Gulf state’s investment fund, is on the brink of a deal with McLaren’s remaining minority shareholders to convert their equity into warrant-like instruments. The new contracts will have the economic rights to benefit from a future ‘liquidity event’ such as an initial public offering of McLaren but will not be classified as shares. One banking source said they expected the agreement to be announced later this week. It would involve roughly 20% of the equity in McLaren being converted into the new contracts and leave the state of Bahrain as the Formula One team-owning group’s sole shareholder. McLaren Racing, the division that directly houses the F1 and other racing operations, does have its own external shareholders following a deal struck during the pandemic to raise capital. The deal to be signed this week underlines the continued confidence and leadership of Mumtalakat in driving McLaren’s turnaround, according to one insider. The Woking-based company’s convoluted capital structure has acted as a deterrent to global automotive […]
1 year ago
It’s a fact of life that vehicles depreciate—some say by almost 50%—as soon as they’re driven out of the lot. Some depreciate less, but which cars depreciate the fastest? In the graphic below, Visual Capitalist’s Marcus Lu and Pallavi Rao show the top 10 vehicles with the highest depreciation rates over five years, based on data from iSeeCars. They analysed over 1.1 million used cars from model year 2018 sold between November 2022 and October 2023. Models no longer in production as of the 2022 model year were excluded. Luxury Cars Struggle to Hold Their Value At the top of the list, the Maserati Quattroporte loses nearly two-thirds of its value after five years. First introduced in 1963, the car is Maserati’s flagship and is in its sixth iteration as a four-door luxury sedan with a high-performance Ferrari-made V6 or V8 engine. The 2018 version of the car retailed anywhere between $109,000 and $140,000, depending on the model. Here’s a look at the full list of fastest-depreciating cars in the U.S. Rank Model Average 5-YrDepreciation Average Differencefrom MSRP 1 Maserati Quattroporte 65% $90,588 2 BMW 7 Series 62% $72,444 3 Maserati Ghibli 61% $58,623 4 BMW 5 Series(Hybrid) 59% $37,975 5 Cadillac Escalade ESV 59% $63,885 6 BMW X5 58% $44,828 […]
1 year ago
The third generation of the Haval H6 is built on a new platform called the global highly intelligent modular technology platform. It is equipped with a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged GDI engine and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. With a horsepower of 201 and a torque of 320 Nm, the H6 offers impressive performance. In terms of exterior design, the H6 features an oriental futurism. It comes with a Fangcheng pattern grille, Horizon rear LED taillights, and Rising Flame LED Headlamps. The car rides on 19-inch Vortex Wheel Hubs, further enhancing its stylish appearance. Moving to the interior, the H6 offers a range of advanced features. It boasts a 10.25-inch Virtual Instrument, a high-gloss electroplating rotary shift, and a 12.3-inch Ultra-Smart Touch Screen. Additionally, it has a large panoramic sunroof and full leather seats. The driver’s seat is 6-way adjustable and has a 2-way waist support for added comfort. When it comes to technology, the Haval H6 is equipped with a wide Head-Up Display and supports wireless charging. It also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration. In terms of safety, the H6 offers a comprehensive set of features. It includes Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive […]
1 year ago
EVIQ, the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company, a newly launched joint venture between the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), has announced the opening of a research and development (R&D) facility in Riyadh that is a first-of-its-kind in the region. The new facility will be used for testing a spectrum of chargers and software, to ensure the deployment of best-in-class equipment and related software, reinforcing EVIQ’s commitment to quality, efficiency, and driving the evolution in the EV sector across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It will also give EV drivers in Saudi Arabia the confidence that EVIQ chargers have been thoroughly tested to the highest quality and safety standards for operating in the Kingdom. EVIQ CEO Mohammad Bakr Gazzaz said: “The launch of our R&D facility is a testament to our commitment to quality and sustainable development of the Kingdom’s EV infrastructure. “Our state-of-the-art facility ensures that EVIQ remains at the cutting-edge of EV charging solution development, bringing users the optimal charging experience, and ensuring that every EV driver in Saudi Arabia has access to reliable and efficient charging solutions. “This facility is a cornerstone in our strategy to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. By focusing on […]
1 year ago
For three years now, the used-car market has been booming, after the pandemic disrupted new car supply chains, sending secondhand vehicle prices skyrocketing. But which cars have the best resale value? In the graphic below, Visual Capitalist’s Marcu Lu and Pallavi Rao show the top 10 vehicles with the lowest depreciation rates over five years, based on data from iSeeCars. They analyzed over 1.1 million used cars from model year 2018, sold between November 2022 to October 2023. Models no longer in production as of the 2022 model year were excluded. Porsche is Still (Almost) Perfect After Five Years Heading the list, Porsche has two models with the best resale value after half a decade. After five years, the 911 (Coupe) only loses 9% of its retail value in the used-car market on average. Porsche’s flagship costs anywhere between $90,000–$294,000 based on the horsepower (ranging from 200–700), along with other model specifications. At second place, the Porsche 718 Cayman loses about one-fifth of its value. Two other Porsches – the Boxster, and the 911 convertible – also feature in ranks, at 12th and 15th respectively, both losing around 25% of their retail price tag. Here’s a look at the full list of slowest depreciating cars in the United States: Rank Model Average 5-YrDepreciation Average […]
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