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LAS VEGAS — Max Verstappen is hoping that what happens in Vegas won't just stay in Vegas — it will go down in the history books. Verstappen, 27, of the Netherlands, can secure the trophy by finishing the 50-lap race ahead of his sole championship rival, Lando Norris. Norris needs to outscore Verstappen by at least 3 points to keep his title hopes alive, although they would be slim regardless. No other driver is mathematically in contention for the championship with three races left in the season. McLaren hopes to secure its first constructors championship since 1998, when Finnish driver Mika Häkkinen won the drivers championship with the now papaya-colored team.

Persons: Max Verstappen, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio, Verstappen, Lando Norris, McLaren’s Norris, Norris, ” Verstappen, Mark Thompson, Red Bull, McLaren, Mika Häkkinen, Oscar Piastri, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, “, ” Norris, ” Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Haas, Liam Lawson, Daniel Ricciardo, ” Lawson, I’ve, ” Liam Lawson, Rudy Carezzevoli, Lawson Organizations: VEGAS, McLaren, Ferrari, Hamilton, Silver Arrows, Sauber, Audi, RB, NBC Locations: Vegas, Netherlands, Las Vegas, Finnish, Woking, Brazil, São Paulo

☆ I drove BMW's new $53,000 X2. These 16 features make it a fun entry-level luxury SUV.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Benjamin Zhang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AdvertisementThe BMW X2 is a subcompact luxury SUV that competes against the Mercedes-Benz GLA and the Audi Q3. I recently drove a 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i that was loaded with optional extras. The subcompact premium SUV segment has become increasingly competitive in recent years. I recently reviewed a 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i with an as-tested price of $52,745. Here's a closer look at some of the BMW X2's coolest features, which help make it a standout entry-level luxury SUV.

Organizations: Mercedes, Benz GLA, Audi, BMW, Luxury, Benz, Lexus

☆ Top Ducati executive explains how the Army helped him succeed and shares 2 traits that make veterans great hires
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Benjamin Zhang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ducati North America CEO Jason Chinnock enlisted in the US Army out of high school. Chinnock served as a tank driver with the Third Armored Division and is a veteran of Desert Storm. AdvertisementFor nearly a century, Ducati motorcycles have been some of the most sought-after in the world. Related VideoSince 2016, Ducati North America CEO Jason Chinnock has been the executive tasked with running the motorcycle maker's crucial US business, its largest market outside Italy. Chinnock said veterans can also be strong hires for their discipline and ability to persevere when facing challenges.

Persons: Jason Chinnock, Chinnock, —, it's, Allan Tannenbaum, that's Organizations: Ducati North, US Army, Third Armored Division, Desert, Service, Ducati, Audi, Business, Army, Division, Operation Desert, Chinnock, US Armed Forces Locations: Desert Storm, Italy, Iraq, Persian

☆ Toyota and BMW are the latest casualties in China's evolving EV market
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Toyota and BMW both reported plunging profits on Wednesday. China's EV giants like BYD are squeezing out foreign automakers and increasingly expanding into the premium market. AdvertisementChina's EV giants are rising, putting foreign automakers under pressure in the world's largest car market. Toyota and BMW reported a drop in quarterly profits on Wednesday, with sales in China slumping for both companies as they face growing competition from local automakers like BYD. In China, meanwhile, Toyota is facing fierce competition from local EV giants like BYD.

Persons: —, BYD, Xiaomi Organizations: Toyota, BMW, EV, Service, Sales, Mercedes, Audi Locations: China, Japan

☆ The 7 biggest storylines of this Formula 1 season — and their impact on the sport's future
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Gregory Leporati | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Red Bull is no longer dominantMax Verstappen and Red Bull Racing haven't been as dominant this season. Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesIn a surprising midseason driver swap, Daniel Ricciardo was cut from RB F1, Red Bull Racing's sister team. Audi / Getty ImagesLast week, Toyota announced it would return to Formula 1, joining forces with the Haas F1 team. Audi is poised to join Formula 1 in 2026, taking over the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. The American manufacturer Ford also plans to partner with Red Bull in 2026 to provide the team with power units.

Persons: It's, Lewis Hamilton, Bryn Lennon, Mercedes, —, Red Bull, Max Verstappen, haven't, Mark Thompson, McLaren's Lando Norris, Verstappen, Verstappen hasn't, Red, Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, McLaren, Andrea Stella, Lando Norris, Song, Oscar Piastri, Bull, Aston Martin, Adrian Newey Adrian Newey, Bradley Collyer, he'd, Lawrence, Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, Daniel Ricciardo's, Dan Istitene, Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Joe Portlock, Liam Lawson, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, Jack Doohan, they're, Ford Organizations: Ferrari, Mercedes, Red, Miami Grand Prix, Miami Grand, McLaren, Aston, Red Bull, RB F1, Netflix, NASCAR, Alpine, Audi, Getty, Toyota, Haas F1, Haas, Formula, Stake Locations: British, Hamilton, Red, New Zealand

☆ Early voting: What the data can and can’t tell us about Election Day
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —Election Day is a few weeks off, but Americans are voting every day, either early at a polling place or by mail. At CNN, we get access to your early voting data. We don’t see early voting in the volume and the numbers that we saw in 2020. After this conversation took place, Georgia’s election officials announced there had been record-breaking turnout on the first day of early voting in that state. People wait in line to cast their vote during early voting at City Hall in Philadelphia on October 7, 2020.

Persons: Michael Frias, FRIAS, Catalist, it’s, we’re, Donald, Trump, Kamala, Harris, you’ve, you’re, That’s, There’s, who’s, Richard Burkhart, don’t, Gabriella Audi, It’s, banting, they’re Organizations: CNN, Republicans, District of Columbia, Pacific Islanders, Voters, Savannah Civic Center, Savannah Morning, USA, Democrat, Republican Party, Democrats, City Hall, AFP, Getty, Republican Locations: Catalist, United States, ’, Georgia, Savannah, York, California, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, midterms

☆ I drove Acura's $62,000 TLX to see if it could compete with Cadillac and BMW
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-06 | by ( Benjamin Zhang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Acura TLX Type S is a high-performance variant of Acura's TLX compact luxury sports sedan. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Since the NSX sailed off into the sunset in 2022, the TLX Type S has taken up the mantle as the brand's performance flagship, competing against the Audi S4, Cadillac CT5-V, Genesis G70, and BMW M340i xDrive. The current generation of Acura's compact TLX luxury sedan launched in 2021 and received a mid-cycle refresh in 2024 with tweaked styling, updated tech, and a quieter cabin.

Persons: — Organizations: Acura, Service, Vehicles, Integra, NSX, Audi, Cadillac, BMW M340i

☆ Car companies have plenty of inventory, but the port strike will affect European brands the most
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Benjamin Zhang | Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Car companies have plenty of inventory, enough to cover 77 selling days. If no new inventory arrives, car companies have, on average, a 77-day supply of vehicles to sell. AdvertisementEuropean carmakers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Volvo are expected to be most heavily affected, Reuters reported, citing research by Barclays analysts. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Volkswagen all operate vehicle-processing and -distribution facilities at the port. At the same time, the Port of Jacksonville handled just over half a million vehicles from Toyota and Volkswagen in 2023.

Persons: Longshoremen, —, Martin Meissner, Cox, Mercedes, Stephen B, Morton Organizations: Service, Cox Automotive, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo, Reuters, Barclays, VW, Audi, Toyota, Hyundai, Lexus, Kia Telluride, Port, Georgia Port Authority, Kia, International Longshoremen's Association, US Maritime Alliance, Associated Press Locations: Gulf, Europe, East, New York, Baltimore, Savannah , Georgia, Bremerhaven, Germany, West Coast, Asia, Coast, Jacksonville , Florida, Brunswick, Georgia, Savannah, Port, Jacksonville

☆ Here’s what might be tough to find if there’s a long port strike
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-29 | by ( Chris Isidore | Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It doesn’t make economic – or logistical – sense to ship many of the goods that come into East Coast ports by alternative ports of entry – or by plane. That means America could see some shortages of chocolate, alcohol, popular fruit, including bananas and cherries, and even certain cars if the strike lasts a long time. A potential strike at this and other ports on the Gulf and East costs could start early Tuesday. And the federation and its members are concerned with how long it will take to recover from even a short strike. And many of those imports come in through East and Gulf coast ports.

Persons: ” Jonathan Gold, Brandon Bell, Gold, ”, “, That’s, Danny Munch, Munch, ” Chris Swonger, Swonger, Erin Keating, Mark Gillies, Loren Elliott, Chris Frey, Cox Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Retail Federation, CNN, Port, Houston Authority, ILA, American Farm Bureau, Consumers, Cox Automotive, “, Cox, Volkswagen, ” Audi, Auto, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: New York, East, Gulf Coast, East Coast, America, West Coast, United States, Port Wilmington, Delaware, Michigan, Europe, South America, Port of New York, New Jersey, Port of Houston, Gulf, Asia, Midwest

BRUSSELS (AP) — Trade unions and thousands of disgruntled workers are set to demonstrate through the Belgian capital Monday to protest the threat of thousands of layoffs in a state-of-the-art Brussels car factory and other key industries. There was a tide over the past year,” affecting major industries all over Belgium, said ACV union representative Lieve De Preter. To counter the industrial decline, unions are insisting on better company coordination across the 27-nation EU and more say of employees in the running of businesses. The demonstration is set to cause gridlock throughout Brussels for much of the day. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Persons: Lieve De Preter Organizations: — Trade, Belgian, Audi, EU, Associated Press Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, Belgium

☆ The weirdest startup in healthcare has a blank check from General Catalyst
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-05 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Hemant Taneja, the CEO of top venture firm General Catalyst, cofounded the healthcare startup Commure in 2017, and launched it in 2020. AdvertisementIt's made six acquisitions in four years — a remarkable number for a healthcare startup. He hatched Commure inside General Catalyst in 2017 alongside former leaders from Google, Salesforce, and healthcare data analytics firm Health Catalyst. The Philadelphia-based health system co-created a startup with General Catalyst, patient engagement platform Tendo, in 2020. General Catalyst said HATCo will work closely with its more than 20 health system partners, including HCA Healthcare.

Persons: Hemant Taneja, Catalyst, PitchBook, Commure, It's, Augmedix, He's, Tyler Le, Taneja, Livongo, Teladoc, Glen Tullman, Ashwini Zenooz, CommureOS, Tanay Tandon, Rusty Russell, Strongline, Tandon, didn't, General Catalyst, it's, Axios, he's, HATCo, GABRIELLA AUDI, wasn't, Hemant Organizations: Catalyst, Business, Catalyst's, Google, NASDAQ, Jefferson Health, Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, Athelas, SMP Labs, SMP, Commure, BI, FCC, Labs, Strongline Pro, Strongline, Northern District of, Canopy, General, Health, Healthcare Assurance Transformation Corporation, Summa Health, Olive AI, Augmedix, HCA, Getty, Big Tech, Commure's Locations: Livongo, Philadelphia, Commure, PatientKeeper, Athelas, Strongline, Northern District, Northern District of California, Ohio, Augmedix

☆ A Tesla fan in India preordered a Model 3 in 2016. He waited 7 years, and the car still hadn't shown up.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewTesla fan Vishal Gondal from Mumbai said he preordered a Tesla Model 3 in April 2016, excited about the car's "cutting-edge EV technology." Gondal is one of the Tesla fans in India who preordered the Model 3 in 2016 and were left hanging for years for cars that never arrived. Advertisement"I initially expected to wait one to two years but ended up waiting nearly eight years with no car," Gondal told BI. It lowered import taxes on EVs made by companies that commit to investing at least $500 million and start domestic manufacturing within three years, per Reuters. AdvertisementRepresentatives for Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: —, Vishal Gondal, Elon Musk's, Tesla, Gondal, Hemant Suthar, Elon Musk, Musk Organizations: Service, Tesla, Business, Audi, Musk's EV, Associated Press, Reuters, Business Insider Locations: Mumbai, India, Europe, Asia, Pacific

☆ Audi strikes multiyear partnership with MLS' Inter Miami CF
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Justine Fisher | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Volkswagen-owned Audi has struck a multiyear partnership with Inter Miami CF as the team's official automotive partner. Audi is driving up its sports investments and becoming the official automotive partner of Inter Miami CF. Inter Miami CF president of business operations Xavier Asensi said elements of the partnership are ongoing as opportunities arise. He said Inter Miami CF aims for a long-term partnership where the two companies can build together. Audi has been the official automotive partner of Major League Soccer since 2015, and Cotter said the automaker hopes to continue to build its soccer portfolio.

Persons: Emilie Cotter, They've, Cotter, Xavier Asensi, Asensi Organizations: Volkswagen, Audi, Inter Miami CF, South, Audi of America, Inter Miami, Major League Soccer Locations: South Florida, Cotter

☆ Volkswagen shares slip as it considers Brussels plant closure on weak EV demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen at the New York International Auto Show Press Preview, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 27, 2024. Volkswagen shares dipped Wednesday after the company issued an overnight profit warning and announced it was considering the potential closure of an Audi plant in Brussels. It noted that is also considering the restructuring or potential shutdown of its Audi plant in Brussels, where it employs 3,000 people, on the back of weak demand for the Audi Q8 e-tron line — a fully electric offering from the brand, launched in 2019. Automakers have contended with waning EV demand, with European brands facing the compounded challenge of a wave of discounted, state-subsidized rival vehicles produced in China. If it presses ahead, this would mark Volkswagen's first factory shutdown in nearly four decades, since the 1988 closure of its plant in the Westmoreland site in Alabama.

Organizations: New York, Auto, Volkswagen, Audi, EU Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Brussels, China, Westmoreland, Alabama

Moreover, the partnership will enable Rivian to cut operating costs by leveraging volumes of supplies including chips and components, he said. It will also help Rivian, known for its flagship R1S SUVs and R1T pickups, turn cashflow positive. Volkswagen will immediately invest $1 billion in Rivian through a note that will convert to stock on Dec. 1, subject to regulatory approvals. The German automaker will also invest $2 billion in Rivian stock - $1 billion each in 2025 and 2026 - subject to the startup hitting certain milestones, and provide a $1 billion loan in 2026. Rivian stock has halved so far this year.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, RJ Scaringe, Vitaly Golomb, Herbert Diess, Diess, Rivian, Scaringe, Sam Fiorani, Mavka Capital's Golomb, VW's Cariad, Abhirup Roy, Ben Klayman, Noel Randewich, Christina Amann, Harshita Varghese, Sayantani Ghosh, Rod Nickel, Matthew Lewis, Leslie Adler Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Reuters, JV, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Volkswagen Group, Mavka, VW, AutoForecast Solutions, Traders, S3 Partners, Rivian, Thomson Locations: Reze, Nantes, France, Europe, Asia, North America, U.S, German, South Carolina, San Francisco, Detroit, Oakland , California, Berlin, Bengaluru

☆ Maker of Jeep and Dodge plans to kill chrome on cars, citing risks to those who make it
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Southern California boasts the highest concentration of chrome plating shops in America and regulators in that state have been requiring those methods for years. But California is now moving toward an outright ban on chrome plating using hexavalent chromium while offering funding for chrome platers to transition to other methods. In 2019, green slime oozing out onto a highway near Detroit was found to be hexavalent chromium leaking from a nearby business. “We are also using light as the new chrome,” VW said in a statement shared with CNN. “Chrome peaked in the ’50s with the big American land yachts and stuff with giant chrome bumpers and giant chrome grills.

Persons: CNN —, It’s, ”, Leslie Kendall, Stellantis, it’s, Ralph Gilles, Gilles, Christian Richter, “, ” Gilles, ‘, ’, Bentley –, VW, Peter Valdes, Petersen, Kendall, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Petersen Automotive Museum, Fiat, Maserati, California Air Resources Board, Chrysler, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, National Association, EPA, OSHA, Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Limited, Volkswagen, VW Group, Audi, Bentley, VW, “ Locations: Los Angeles, United States, Europe, Southern California, America, California, Detroit, Michigan, NASF

☆ GM has a secret to help sell its new EVs. It's Costco
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Costco Auto has facilitated more than 500,000 vehicle sales annually over the past five years on average, according to Jay Maxwell, Costco Auto Program general manager responsible for strategic partnerships. GM declined to disclose how many Costco customers have purchased GM vehicles through the program. EV interestA growing number of vehicle sales made through Costco Auto are of electric vehicles, Costco said. In addition to GM, Costco Auto has partnered with Volvo, including its Polestar EV startup brand, Audi and others over the years. The Costco Auto Program was initially part of wholesale competitor Price Club, which merged with Costco in 1993.

Persons: Kena, Motors, it's, Marissa West, Michael Wayland, Jay Maxwell, Maxwell, Mary Barra, That's, Cox, Scott Mlyn, Julie Craig, –, Melissa Repko Organizations: Costco, Corbis, Getty, DETROIT —, Costco Wholesale, Detroit automaker, Costco Auto Program, EVs, Chevrolet, Chevrolet Blazer, GM North America, CNBC, U.S, Costco Auto, Canada, Ford Motor, Volkswagen, Brands, Lithia Motors, AutoNation, GM, EV, Volvo, Audi, CNBC Costco Auto, Cadillac, Industry, Cox Automotive, Dealers, New York Auto Show, Price Club Locations: Teterboro , New Jersey, CNBC, U.S, Detroit, Canada

☆ F1's new regulations suggest car makers are not done with the internal combustion engine yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Chris Hawes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If you want to see into the future of car making, the Formula One rulebook has often been a good place to start. But the sport's new regulations suggest that car makers are not pinning all their hopes on electrification. In 2026, F1 cars will be powered by hybrid engines with a 50:50 split between electric-power and internal combustion; crucially, the combustion engine will be powered by synthetic e-fuels. Another is Audi, which left Formula E in 2021 to join F1 in 2026, the same year that the German automotive company will stop producing new combustion engine cars and only release electric vehicles. One of the products Audi is ramping up is synthetic e-fuels, which use renewably-generated electricity to break water into hydrogen and oxygen before combining them with carbon dioxide.

Persons: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Pat Symonds, Madeleine Orr, Alex Keynes Organizations: Petronas, Team, Prix, Monaco, CNBC, Honda, Audi, E, University of Toronto Locations: Montecarlo, Monaco

☆ Volkswagen in concrete discussions over car partnerships in India
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of German car giant Volkswagen (VW) is seen on a Volkswagen ID Buzz van during the company's annual press conference to present the business report, on March 14, 2023 in Berlin. Volkswagen is in concrete talks about partnering up on passenger car production in India, the group's finance chief said on Thursday, adding it was tough to earn money in the market that still presents a "clear" opportunity. "We are in very good discussions," Arno Antlitz told the Reuters Events Automotive Europe conference in Munich, "it's very, very concrete," he added, without specifying. "I think we shouldn't underestimate the potential in India in terms of a market ... and in terms of regulatory uncertainty between the U.S. and China. At 101,553 delivered vehicles, India is so far a small market for Volkswagen, accounting for little more than 1% of deliveries across the whole group in 2023.

Persons: Arno Antlitz, Antlitz Organizations: Volkswagen, Reuters, Automotive, U.S, India's Mahindra, SKODA, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini Locations: Berlin, India, Munich, China, Washington, Beijing, Aurangabad, Pune

☆ I test-drove the 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor. The $84,000 price tag is worth it, especially for off-roading.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jules Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Automotive journalist Jules Rogers test-drove the 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor priced at $83,665 and loved it. AdvertisementIn a group of similar trucks, the 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor immediately stands out from the crowd. AdvertisementThe 2024 F-150 Raptor starts at $77,980, and the model I tested was listed at $83,665 with its optional upgrades. Interior and aestheticsThe interior of the 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor. The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor.

Persons: Jules Rogers, —, Ford Organizations: Service, Raptors, Ford, Audi, Oregon, Raptor

☆ The electric car revolution is on track, says IEA
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“The continued momentum behind electric cars is clear in our data, although it is stronger in some markets than others,” IEA executive director Fatih Birol said in a statement. Last year, global EV sales grew 35% to almost 14 million. “Intensifying market competition and improving battery technologies are expected to reduce (EV) prices in the coming years,” the IEA said. “Growing electric car exports from Chinese automakers, which accounted for more than half of all electric car sales in 2023, could add to downward pressure on purchase prices,” it added. By 2030, almost one in three cars on the roads in China is set to be electric, according to the IEA.

Persons: —, Tesla, “, Fatih Birol, China’s BYD, Brandon Bell, EVs, ” Birol Organizations: London CNN — Global, International Energy Agency, IEA, Li, Getty, European Union, EV, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW Locations: China, Chinese, Germany, United States, Austin , Texas, EVs, Europe

☆ Whatever happened to the two-door car?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

There are still two-door cars today, of course, but they’re almost all high-performance sports cars not intended for comfortable cruising. For car designers, two-door models can offer more striking proportions to play with, long hoods that evoke power and tapered, aerodynamic back ends. Today, it’s rare to see a two-door car that isn’t a performance model like the Mustang or Corvette. Today, if you have a two-door car and you have kids, you also have a backache. While some two-door cars used to be bargain items – the cheapest entry-level cars were almost always two-door hatchbacks – today two-door models are seen mostly in European luxury car showrooms.

Persons: Ricardo Montalbán, Brian Rabold, Bob D'Olivo, ”, Kevin Kirbitz, who’s, “, Rabold, ” Rabold, Scott Krugger, Kia Rio, You’ve, Gorden Wagener Organizations: CNN, Chrysler, Network, Riviera, GM, Ford Thunderbird, Chevrolet Corvette, Thunderbird, Ford, Stellantis’s Dodge, Nissan, Cox Automotive, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Benz, American Mercedes Locations: Chrysler Cordoba, Cordoba, United States, American

☆ What Happened When a German Car Factory Went All Electric
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

So when Volkswagen announced in 2018 that it would convert its Zwickau factory, the largest private employer in the area, to manufacture nothing but electric vehicles, it was a big deal. “A lot of people were skeptical,” said Michael Fuchs, who has worked at the factory for more than a quarter century. They wondered, “What’s going to happen?” he said. Volkswagen shut down assembly lines churning out its popular Golf hatchbacks and converted the factory, which has its own exit on the autobahn, to make six electric models. The remodeled plant can produce a car a minute, shipping them out by train.

Persons: Horch, ”, Michael Fuchs, “ What’s Organizations: Volkswagen Locations: Zwickau, Germany’s, Detroit

☆ I drove the 2024 Tesla Model 3. It's a big improvement from older versions, but the Model Y is still the better buy.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Andrew Lambrecht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Andrew Lambrecht, who owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3, test drove the new 2024 Model 3. He says the more spacious Model Y, which is still eligible for a tax credit, is the better buy. Given the Model 3's relatively long lifecycle without any significant updates, the refreshed 2024 Model 3 has been long-awaited. The Model 3's new lookThe nose of the 2024 Tesla Model 3. Andrew LambrechtThe 2024 Tesla Model 3 is a massive improvement over the outgoing one.

Persons: Andrew Lambrecht, —, Tesla Charlotte, you've, Tesla Organizations: Tesla, Service, Audi

☆ Electric Cars Are Boring (Tesla Cybertruck Included) - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Ezra Dyer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Over the past few years, as electric vehicle sales increased substantially and car companies announced an onslaught of new battery-powered models, it seemed that electric cars were a near-term inevitability. Hertz is selling off about a third of its electric cars and Audi is slowing its transition to E.V.s. But there’s also a more subtle issue at play, one that won’t be easily resolved: Electric cars are too boring. On the list of things wrong with the world, “electric cars are dull” isn’t in the Top 5. Driving, as we all knew it before the arrival of mass-market electric cars a little more than a decade ago, involved familiar rituals that carved out a place in our collective psyche.

Persons: Tesla, Hertz, there’s, revel Organizations: Ford, Audi, Chrysler Pacifica Locations: upshifts

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