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☆ Car companies want to make billions by charging monthly fees for features like heated seats — and electric cars makes it easier than ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Electric cars are less profitable for automakers than gas-powered ones. There's a simple reason why: EVs aren't very profitable for automakers — and certainly nowhere near how profitable gas-powered cars. Subscriptions and additional offerings post-initial transactions are part of why automakers are especially interested in leasing their EVs. So major changes are in store as automakers navigate shifting consumer behaviors, industry headwinds, and especially, increasingly attractive competition. "This looming threat adds pressure on the traditional dealer model and threatens to impact the bottom line," the report says.

☆ Hyundai's low-cost, long-range sedan is shaping up to be a major pain for Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

For $45,500, buyers can get an impressive 361 miles of range, more than Tesla's Model 3 offers. More importantly, the Ioniq 6 sedan's impressive specs and newly revealed pricing show it's shaping up to be one of the strongest rivals to Tesla's Model 3. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 beats the Tesla Model 3's range. By comparison, the $42,990 Model 3 promises 272 miles of range, while the more expensive Long Range model is rated for 358, just shy of the Hyundai's max. The Hyundai Ioniq 6.

☆ Why you won't see many car ads during Sunday's Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The average cost of a 30-second commercial during last year's Super Bowl was $6.5 million, up more than $2 million over 2016 rates. Automakers — historically among the largest Super Bowl advertisers — are mostly bypassing this Sunday's NFL championship game to preserve cash or spend ad dollars elsewhere. And EV startup Polestar, whose ad was a success in the 2022 Super Bowl, said it will also not advertise this year. Ferrell also appeared in GM's Super Bowl ad promoting EVs two years ago. Stellantis has not released its ads, while GM, Kia and WeatherTech released their commercials earlier this week.

"We don't see (price cuts) at this point in time," Rowan told Reuters. "Demand for our (battery electric vehicles) is the highest that we've ever seen, the backlog for that as well." Those price cuts are expected to hit EV startups like U.S. firm Rivian RIVN.O more than established brands. Henrik Fisker, CEO of U.S. EV maker Fisker (FSR.N), told Reuters he also has no plans to lower prices, arguing that the EV startup's cars were already competitively priced. Despite the price cuts, some suppliers say they have seen no EV production surge so far.

☆ From a road-trip disaster to a face-melting rip in the world's quickest supercar, these are my biggest lessons from driving 20 electric cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I've tested 20 electric cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks from Tesla, Ford, Porsche, Polestar, and more. But electric cars are quick, convenient, fun to drive, and quiet. Hours behind the wheel taught me some important lessons about range, charging, and our electric future. Charging can be more convenient than getting gasRecharging an electric car takes a whole lot longer than filling up on gas. The best ones offer spacious interiors and clever storageToday's electric cars typically use what's known as a skateboard platform, which is basically what it sounds like.

☆ Super Bowl LVII won't have any crypto ads because firms pulled out of deals following FTX's bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But this year's Super Bowl will have no crypto ads after FTX's collapse. The Super Bowl ad landscape will look much different this year, Insider previously reported. But a lot has changed since then, to the extent that there will be zero crypto ads at Super Bowl LVII on Sunday. The crypto exchange cofounded by Sam Bankman-Fried filed for bankruptcy in November, nine months after the Super Bowl, following mass customer withdrawals. The advertising landscape at this year's Super Bowl is likely to be much different to 2022, thanks to rising economic uncertainty.

Buying a Super Bowl can be a big risk because it's a big investment months ahead of the game. Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes said during the company's January earnings call that its brand Crown Royal will run its first Super Bowl ad this year. Anheuser-Busch's move is an indication that the sky-high price of running a Super Bowl ad is getting harder for companies to justify. Bookings typically happen in May, said one ad agency exec who's purchased many Super Bowl ads for clients, including this year. Super Bowl ad slots sold briskly for both Fox this year and NBC last year.

☆ Hyundai's sleek new electric car brings Tesla-beating range in a futuristic package
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan brings streamlined looks and impressive driving range. It can drive 361 miles before needing to charge up, the EPA recently said. This week, the EPA granted the Ioniq 6 a stellar range estimate of up to 361 miles, three miles more than Tesla's uber-successful Model 3. The Hyundai Ioniq 6. The base, rear-wheel-drive Model 3 serves up 272 miles of EPA range.

☆ I've tested 19 different electric cars. The technology is amazing, but you shouldn't buy one yet.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Testing well over a dozen new electric cars has convinced me that I want one someday. New electric cars are too expensiveThe Tesla Model Y costs close to $70,000. Today, you can't find a used EV with more than 250 miles of EPA-rated range for less than $24,000. Tim Levin/InsiderUnderdeveloped charging infrastructure is widely cited as one of the top reasons more people don't buy more electric cars. Did you recently buy an electric car, sell one, or trade it in for a different brand?

☆ Israel's StoreDot partners with Circulor on supply chain tracking
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Circulor, a British start-up specialised in blockchain being used at the Gatumba mine, is pictured on a smartphone in Ngororero district, Western Rwanda October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Clement UwiringiyimanaFRANKFURT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - StoreDot, an Israeli start-up developing fast-charging batteries, said on Tuesday it has partnered with UK start-up Circulor, which uses blockchain technology to map supply chains for companies pursuing greener, more sustainable production. StoreDot has begun using Circulor's technology to track the origin and carbon emissions of the raw materials in its battery cells. Legislative pressure is rising on electric vehicle makers and battery producers to track the human rights and environmental impact of their supply chains. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ One of the best Tesla alternatives just became an even bigger thorn in Elon Musk's side
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The base 2024 Polestar 2 gets 300 miles of range and 299 horsepower. With longer range, enhanced performance, and updated looks, the sporty electric sedan has become an even fiercer competitor to Tesla's popular Model 3. PolestarThe refreshed Polestar 2 gets an upgraded battery pack that boosts range to an estimated 300 miles for the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive version. The base, $44,000 Model 3 is rated for 272 miles of range, while the longest-range version gets 338 miles on a full charge. PolestarNew, more powerful motors mean the single-motor Polestar 2 now makes 299 horsepower (up from 231) and hits 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

☆ Tesla's Autopilot is falling behind as other software catches up
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Consumer Reports ranked the best advanced driver-assistance systems on the market. Mercedes-Benz's tech took third. Ford BlueCruise took the top spot, ahead of General Motors Super Cruise and Mercedes-Benz's system. That's because Elon Musk's automaker hasn't made significant changes to Autopilot's core functionality in years, Consumer Reports said. While other automakers have evolved their ACC and LCA systems, Tesla has simply fallen behind," Jake Fisher, the organization's senior director of auto testing, said in the report.

☆ Salesforce employees demand answers from execs about layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Salesforce employees demand answers. More than 500 employees wrote a letter to execs, demanding answers about the layoffs. Amazon employees told not to share confidential info with ChatGPT. Current and former employees told Insider that the social media company is shedding employees. This is what employees told us.

☆ I've tested 15 electric cars — these 6 blew me away with game-changing features
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla's Model Y is incredibly easy to charge, while Pininfarina's Battista packs mind-bending acceleration. The Tesla Model Y's Supercharging abilityThe Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderTeslas are known for a lot of things — their minimalist interiors, their sporty performance, and, for better or worse, their boisterous mastermind, Elon Musk. But the one part of testing a Tesla Model Y that stuck with me more than any of that was Supercharging. The Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderOnce you have a payment method set, Supercharging is as simple as pulling up to an available stall and plugging in. The Polestar 2's screensThe 2022 Polestar 2.

☆ Exclusive: Geely plans to turn maker of London black cabs into EV powerhouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Geely will make consistent investments into LEVC because this is a very unique project." Nan said LEVC and Geely would seek to attract other investors to its zero-emission portfolio and would look to partner with other carmakers to develop new technology. "Geely fully supports the new transition strategy laid out by LEVC's board and executive team," Geely said in a statement. As such, Geely faces a complexity that larger EV makers BYD (002594.SZ) and Tesla (TSLA.O) have avoided. Allen said LEVC was exploring a range of commercial and passenger car models on a common electric platform.

☆ Hertz is bringing thousands of EVs and chargers to the city of Denver in a broad new partnership
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( John Rosevear | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In addition to building chargers in lower-income neighborhoods, Hertz will provide EVs, tools and training to the city's technical high school — and will offer summer job opportunities through Denver's Youth Employment Program. Scherr said that Hertz plans to share anonymized location data from its rental EVs with the city to help Denver officials determine where to install new charging stations. He expects that some of that data will point to sites in the city's less affluent neighborhoods, where ride-share drivers using Hertz EVs tend to live. The company currently has about 40,000 Teslas and Polestars available for rental, Scherr said. Last fall, Hertz and BP Pulse announced they would partner to install thousands of high-speed EV chargers at Hertz locations across the U.S.

☆ Italvolt to license battery technology from Israel's StoreDot
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Electric vehicle batterymaker Italvolt will license fast-charging battery technology from Israeli start-up StoreDot to manufacture lithium-ion batteries at a plant it is raising funds to build in Italy, the companies said on Monday. Italvolt will ringfence a minimum amount of the batteries produced at the plant for StoreDot's business and customers, Italvolt's statement said, without specifying the amount. Fast-charge capability could also enable EV manufacturers to install smaller battery packs and thus lower the cost of their cars. Currently, StoreDot licenses technology to its manufacturing partner EVE Energy (300014.SZ) to produce batteries in China and ship to customers in China and Korea. Italvolt is one of a handful of battery startups trying to raise money and build a homegrown European battery industry to compete with the Asian giants that dominate global sales.

☆ Google's cookie crumbles
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Dave Smith | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Google's cookie concept crumbles. Google's been testing a bunch of cookie-less proposals since 2020. Unfortunately, the web standards body W3C rejected Google's Topics API proposal, saying it maintains "the status quo of inappropriate surveillance on the web." In other news:A Tesla car dealership in Maplewood, Minnesota. The coolest electric cars hitting the streets this year.

☆ I've driven 19 electric cars. Here are 4 reasons you should consider buying one (that have nothing to do with the environment).
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I've driven electric cars from Tesla, Audi, Porsche, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen, Rivian, and more. EVs are quick, fun, and quietThe 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line. Tim Levin/InsiderAlmost all EVs, from budget Chevys to sporty Audis, have more pep in their step than comparable gas cars. The 2022 Kia EV6. Tim Levin/InsiderSince electric cars lack bulky components like an engine and transmission, automakers enjoy lots of flexibility to add extra interior room for people and stuff.

☆ The biggest announcements from CES 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Harry Rabinowitz | Harry Rabinowitz Is A Reporter For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Every year, the biggest brands in tech make their way to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show, or CES. TelevisionRoku, one of the top streaming platforms for smart TVs, announced that it is releasing its own Roku-branded televisions. Now, Roku will be launching its own brand, with Roku Select and Roku Plus TVs, alongside a Roku TV Wireless Soundbar. TCL, a top smart TV brand, is rebranding and overhauling its TV lineup. Now, all of its smart TVs will fall into two groups: the higher-end Q-Series and the budget-friendly S-Series.

☆ Fed-up Tesla owners say they're so sick of Elon Musk's antics that they're ditching their cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Some Tesla owners are done with the electric-car brand over Elon Musk's antics. We spoke to three Tesla owners who say Musk has made them rethink their relationship with the brand. Perkowitz is one of many Tesla owners rethinking their allegiance to the brand as Elon Musk becomes an increasingly erratic and polarizing figure online. "Elon was a really good reason to buy the car," Perkowitz told Insider. "I've been kind of stalling waiting for Elon to come to his senses and say something that makes sense," Perkowitz said.

Automakers from Sony Honda to Hyundai are introducing ways at the CES 2023 technology trade show this week to reshape the in-car entertainment experience, including offering video games during the rides. "This is a field which can be deployed very quickly," Dirk Hilgenberg, head of Volkswagen AG's (VOWG_p.DE) CARIAD software unit, told Reuters at CES. In December, Tesla issued a "holiday update" to its software to add access to 1,000 PC games through the Steam platform. Still, these are features that consumers are demanding, so VW is at CES seeking partnerships. "We will see the content ... which is provided by software enabled functionality will be a decisive factor for buying."

☆ 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.

☆ Our predictions for big themes in 2023, from China tensions to the abundance agenda and tech discipline
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On the agenda today:But first: Now that it's 2023, I want to share some of the things I'm personally fascinated with that I think will be big themes for the year ahead. 3 big themes for 2023China tensions: The fate of the world economy may depend on what happens to a company in Taiwan most Americans have never heard of. These are all huge storylines for 2023 driven by increasing tensions between China and the US. Big tech companies are making their performance reviews tougher. What do you think are the big themes that will shape 2023?

☆ I've driven 15 different electric cars this year — these are the 3 I'd buy (if I was rich)
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

My three favorites were the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Rivian R1S, and Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. The Hyundai Ioniq 5The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD. The Porsche Taycan Cross TurismoThe 2022 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S. Tim Levin/InsiderThe Taycan Cross Turismo is Porsche's totally badass electric station wagon. The Taycan Cross Turismo showed me why the German brand has been the poster child of impeccable driving dynamics for decades. The Taycan Cross Turismo starts at $97,700, $11,000 more than the regular Taycan sedan.

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