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☆ Luck, Tesla design likely saved family that plunged off cliff, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Four people were rescued after a Tesla plunged over a cliff in Calif., on Monday. Patel, a 41-year-old woman and two children ages 4 and 7 — both of whom were in car seats — were also in the SUV, California Highway Patrol spokesman Mark Andrews said. Nor is it clear what driving mode Patel was using before the SUV careened off the cliff, the California Highway Patrol said. “In my 35 years of working on vehicle safety, I’ve never had an automaker say, 'Look at this crash test we’re doing for extra credit,'” he said. Helicopters were dispatched, and the family was hoisted from the vehicle using rescue baskets, he said.

☆ BMW teases a talking car that shifts colors like a chameleon
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Joseph White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BMW plans to launch a new lineup of electric vehicles, which it is calling the Neue Klasse, or new class. The BMW concept was very much a show car, with elements that could be challenging to put into mass production at competitive prices. But Zipse told a packed theater at the Palms Casino that BMW "will bring this technology into our Neue Klasse ... in serious production." Playing on its long-time slogan "the ultimate driving machine," BMW said the "Dee" technology could make future cars the "ultimate companion." The i Vision Dee car has 240 separate color cells that can change individually.

☆ Being in a Tesla helped save the 4 people who plunged 250 feet off a cliff, expert says. That and a lot of luck.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Four people emerged almost unscathed from a car crash off a 250-foot cliff on Monday. Professor Jahan Rasty cited several Tesla safety features that likely helped. If too much of a moving car's energy is suddenly directed into people's bodies, they will die. Car safety design is all about dissipating that energy away from the passengers. Tesla roofs "are about 30% stronger in terms of crash resistance" than a regular car, Rasty said.

☆ Review: The Polestar 2 is a $65,000 electric sedan from Volvo with all the allure of an early Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Alanis King | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Polestar 2's gold brake calipers. Alanis KingThe 2 is an electric sedan from Polestar, a new EV brand by Volvo. Alanis KingThe 2's interior is simple, airy, and spacious. The Polestar 2's headlight assembly. Alanis KingThe 2 has virtually no wind or road noise on the highway, the brakes are strong, and there's barely any body roll.

☆ Joe Manchin wants to slam the brakes on the 'loopholes' in the EV tax credit that could give some Americans extra cash early this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Biden's Inflation Reduction Act included a $7,500 tax credit for purchasing an electric vehicle. Sen. Manchin said that delay "bends to the desires of the companies looking for loopholes" by allowing more to qualify for the credit. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on the culture & business of sustainability — delivered weekly to your inbox. That incentive was in the form of a maximum $7,500 tax credit for households that buy new electric vehicles (EVs), along with a $4,000 credit for used EVs. The Treasury Department delayed implementation of the sourcing rule until March, giving car manufacturers and consumers until then to take advantage of the tax credit before stricter rules go into place.

☆ Tesla driver found sleeping at the wheel as car reached 70 mph on highway, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A driver fell asleep while his Tesla car was using its autopilot assistance system on a German highway. Police tried to stop the driver as the car reached up to 70 mph, The Times of London reported. The car reached close to 70 mph on the highway in Bavaria, Germany, while the 45-year-old driver continued to snooze, the newspaper reported. Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, has championed the car company's Autopilot assistance system. Insider previously reported that vehicles using Tesla's Autopilot software were involved in 273 crashes in the US from July 2021 to May 2022.

☆ Warren Buffett slams a $300 million streetcar that would run right past Berkshire Hathaway HQ in Omaha. Here's why he wants buses instead.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Warren Buffett's hometown of Omaha is planning to build a streetcar that would travel right by Berkshire Hathaway HQ. Buffett wants Omaha residents to vote on the streetcar project, but it doesn't require a vote. Instead, the city should consider beefing up its current bus system, Buffett wrote. The World-Herald reported that the types of bonds approved for the streetcar project do not require a public vote. Burke wrote that the streetcar construction is expensive, could cause traffic issues, and the expected development around the streetcar might not happen.

☆ If you buy an electric vehicle by March, you'll have a better chance of getting the maximum $7,500 tax credit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Biden's Inflation Reduction Act included an up-to $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle purchases. Here's what Americans looking to buy an electric vehicle need to know about the credit. One notable part of that was an incentive for Americans to purchase electric vehicles and play a part in saving the environment. Who qualifies for the tax credit on a new electric vehicle? Can I qualify for a tax credit on a used electric vehicle purchase?

☆ 7 up-and-coming battery makers vying for the $370 billion electric commercial vehicle business
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Andrew Moseman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The global electric commercial vehicle market is expected to top $370 billion in annual revenue by 2030. With a flood of new battery-powered autos set to transform the business of building passenger vehicles, it was natural that commercial vehicles would be next. The global electric commercial vehicles market is expected to surpass $370 billion in annual revenue by 2030, according to Guidehouse Insights. It also has its toes deep into electric mobility, building batteries not only for EVs but also electric buses, boats, and trucks. Now, through internal changes and acquisitions, BorgWarner is positioning itself for the electrified future, especially as that future comes to commercial vehicles.

☆ I drove hundreds of miles 'hands-free' in GM, Ford and Tesla cars – here's how it went
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

It aims to make Super Cruise available on 22 cars, trucks and SUVs globally by the end of 2023. When the steering-wheel light bar illuminates in green with GM's Super Cruise, drivers may remove their hands from the steering wheel. When Super Cruise did disengage, it would typically be available again minutes, if not seconds, later. Both Ford and GM systems would have likely hit a temporary concrete construction barrier if I hadn't taken over and disengaged on a large S-curve roadway near Detroit. Super Cruise and BlueCruise both disengaged several times for what seemed like no reason, only to reengage quickly after.

☆ Police said a member of Elon Musk's security team is a suspect — not a victim — in what Musk alleged was a 'crazy stalker' incident
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Police are looking to question a member of Elon Musk's security team, according to a statement. But authorities said this week that a member of Musk's security team was a suspect in the incident. The driver of the second vehicle is believed to be a member of Musk's security team, authorities said. "On Thursday, December 15, 2022, South Pasadena Police learned the suspect involved in this case is believed to be a member of Elon Musk's security team," the police statement said. The Tuesday police statement said Collado never indicated that the altercation with Musk's security guard was "anything more than coincidental."

☆ Elon Musk hasn't filed a police report about the 'crazy stalker' incident which sparked journalists' Twitter suspensions, LAPD says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The LAPD says Elon Musk hasn't filed a police report about the "crazy stalker" who followed his son. Musk tweeted that the man had followed a car containing his son X Æ A-Xii, believing Musk was inside. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Police Department said "LAPD's Threat Management Unit is aware of the situation and Tweet by Elon Musk and is in contact with his representatives and security team." Musk then shared a video of the masked person who he said followed his son, and the car's license plate. The official Twitter account for Mastodon was also suspended.

☆ Review: The $38,000 Kia Sorento Hybrid 3-row SUV is the affordable, stylish way to stop stressing about gas
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Alanis King | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Kia Sorento Hybrid, a traditional hybrid SUV, starts at $36,590 for the 2023 model year. The Kia Sorento Hybrid: The perfect middle ground for our electric futureThe Sorento is Kia's midsize SUV that comes in both front- and all-wheel drive. The Kia Sorento Hybrid. Here's how all the powertrains compare on fuel efficiency in combined city-highway driving, according to the EPA:Kia Sorento (gas only, FWD): 25 to 26 mpg combined25 to 26 mpg combined Kia Sorento (gas only, AWD): 24 mpg combined24 mpg combined Kia Sorento Hybrid (FWD): 37 mpg combined37 mpg combined Kia Sorento Hybrid (AWD): 35 mpg combined35 mpg combined Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (AWD only): 79 mpg-e with electricity, 34 mpg without(The numbers listed above are for the 2022 model year, because the EPA doesn't have all the numbers for 2023 yet.) The Kia Sorento Hybrid.

☆ Cold weather can wreak havoc on an electric car's range, but these models do the best in frigid temperatures
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Electric cars can lose lots of driving range in freezing temperatures. Recurrent, a startup that tracks battery health, studied how 13 electric models perform in the cold. Owners of electric vehicles face an extra challenge when temperatures drop: less driving range. RecurrentAll the models Recurrent studied experienced some range loss in cold temperatures. In an analysis of 20 models, the Norwegian Automobile Association found that cold temperatures dealt an 18.5% blow to range on average and stunted charging speeds.

☆ Azerbaijan's SOCAR halts Russian crude supplies to Turkish refinery
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON/MOSCOW, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The trading arm of Azerbaijan's state oil firm SOCAR has paused purchases of Russian crude oil for its Turkish refinery as the industry grapples with EU sanctions on shipping and crude, sources familiar with the matter said. Turkish refineries, including SOCAR's STAR plant, had increased purchases of Russian crude after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russian flows to Turkey had already dropped last month to their lowest since February, according to Refinitiv Eikon data, and a source said SOCAR was reviewing the situation in order to remain compliant with Western sanctions. Reporting by Reuters reporters, Rowena Edwards and Julia Payne in London; Editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Apple scales back self-driving car, delays launch to 2026 - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has scaled back ambitious self-driving plans for its future electric vehicle and postponed the car's target launch date to 2026, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Apple is now planning a less-ambitious design that will include a steering wheel and pedals and only support full autonomous capabilities on highways, the people told Bloomberg. Last year, a Bloomberg report said Apple was pushing to launch its electric car as early as 2025 and refocusing the project around full self-driving capabilities. Apple's ideal car would have no steering wheel and pedals, with interiors designed around hands-off driving, the report then said. Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has been sued by two women who said its AirTag devices have made it easier for their former partners and other stalkers to track down victims. The plaintiffs called AirTag "the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers," and said it has been linked to murders this year of women from Akron, Ohio and Indianapolis. One plaintiff in Monday's lawsuit, Lauren Hughes, said her former boyfriend learned where she had moved to avoid him after placing an AirTag in her car's wheel well. The other plaintiff, Jane Doe, said her estranged husband tracked her after putting an AirTag in their child's backpack. The case is Hughes et al v. Apple Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No.

☆ Apple is delaying its long-rumored self-driving car until 2026 and shifting its futuristic design to include a steering wheel and driver's seat, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Apple is scaling back plans for a fully autonomous vehicle. The vehicle's autonomous capabilities would have surpassed those of seasoned automakers like Tesla and Waymo. Now, Apple is putting its plans on pause and scaling back its ambitious vision for a fully autonomous future. And instead of a limousine-style interior, the car will be designed like a traditional vehicle with a driver's seat, Bloomberg noted. The department has about 1,000 employees who are spread across the US and Europe, according to Bloomberg.

☆ Faster acceleration is just a click — and a credit card payment — away in new electric cars as the likes of Mercedes jump on a trend set by Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Tim Levin | Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Both brands recently introduced software updates that boost a car's performance for a fee. Tesla pioneered using software updates to unlock special features in its cars. Luxury automaker Mercedes will soon offer an "Acceleration Increase" feature for its EQS and EQE electric sedans and their SUV counterparts. Tesla pioneered remote software updates in cars and offers extra performance to owners of its Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV who cough up a couple thousand dollars. Big-picture software playEfforts to monetize software-enabled features go beyond performance upgrades.

The Mexican grupera (a form of regional music) band Los Bukis become the first Latin music band to sell out two shows at the 70,000-seat SoFi Stadium. The magnitude of generational diversity could be seen when the Grammy award-winning Mexican band Los Tigres del Norte were on stage. Hernán Hernández and Jorge Hernández of the band Los Tigres del Norte perform Saturday. Scott Dudelson / Getty Images"Before, we really were invisible,” said Leila Cobo, a renowned Latin music expert and Billboard’s vice president of Latin content. "Now I think the kids go to see their parents’ music and Bad Bunny."

☆ Startup backed by Tesla investor promises $300,000 flying car by 2025: 'This is not more complicated than a Toyota Corolla'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Alef Aeronautics wants to start delivering its $300,000 Model A flying car to customers by 2025. It's the timing: The company says it plans to begin delivering the vehicles to customers by the end of 2025. In a statement in October, Dukhovny referenced "road conditions, weather and infrastructure" as potential reasons to briefly take flight. But for a flying car to actually appear on highways anytime soon, a lot needs to happen, experts say. The FAA even reportedly gave another flying car concept, Samson Sky's Switchblade, the go-ahead for flight testing in July.

☆ I drove Mercedes-Benz's $141,000 Tesla rival. I loved its luxurious interior and extra-long range, but it's not perfect.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Pro: Super luxurious interiorThe 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580. Pro: A comfortable, silky-smooth rideThe 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580. Con: Weird, mushy brakesThe 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580. Pro: Rear-wheel steeringThe 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580. Con: No front trunkThe 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580.

☆ California's housing market is cooling off faster than any other US state, even though it's still really costly to buy a home there
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

However, several cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento, have all seen home prices fall by more than 5% from peak sale prices. Additionally, Stockton has seen its median sale price drop 4.8% from its peak. That brings California's total to seven metros out of the top 20 for the nation that have seen the most severe drop in housing prices. So far it appears that 2023 is likely to be an even slower year for the state's housing market, especially if locals continue to leave and move to more affordable states. The pullback in demand could ultimately result in the state's median home price declining 8.8% to $758,600, the report adds.

☆ Ferrari pauses new Purosangue orders amid strong demand - media
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MILAN, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Ferrari (RACE.MI) has temporarily stopped taking orders for its Purosangue SUV as high demand has sent waiting lists for some customers to around two years, Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Enrica Galliera told the drive.com.au website. Ferrari unveiled in September the petrol-powered 12-cylinder Purosangue, which the Italian sports car maker prefers to describe as a four-door, four-seater. "It's no secret that we stopped taking orders. We had such an interest without delivering one single car," Galliera was quoted as saying by the Australian website. The company prioritises existing customers when taking orders for new models.

☆ I drove a $2 million electric car and a $200,000 one. See the biggest differences — and similarities — between the two.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

The Battista is made almost entirely out of carbon fiber, which is super light and rigid but also unforgiving over bumps and cracks. You can hear pebbles bouncing off of the supercar's floor as you drive. The Pininfarina Battista. Tim Levin/Insider

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