Automobile | Pixr8 News

Air taxi startup Volocopter gains key production certification in Europe

7Jul By reutersNo Comments

Automobile

Air taxi startup Volocopter gains key production certification in Europe

BERLIN, July 6, 2021 (Reuters) - German flying taxi startup Volocopter said it was acquiring long-time partner DG Flugzeugbau, in a step that secures its compliance with the European Union air safety regulator's production standards. The acquisition, the terms of which were not disclosed, means that Bruchsal-based Volocopter now has production organization approval in compliance with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), in addition to the existing EASA design approval. "Volocopter is now the first and only electric vertical take-off and landing company holding both the required design and production organisation approvals to advance its aircraft towards commercial launch," it said in a statement. Volocopter hopes to bring its two-seater flying taxi, which looks like a...

Flying Taxi Platform Volocopter eyes fresh capital, SPAC an option

22Mar By reutersNo Comments

Automobile

Flying Taxi Platform Volocopter eyes fresh capital, SPAC an option

BERLIN, 3/22/2021: German air taxi startup Volocopter plans to raise fresh funds from investors, its Chief Executive Florian Reuter said on Thursday, adding that a deal to go public via a special purpose acquisition company was one option. Volocopter this month tapped investors led by U.S. asset manager Blackrock for 200 million euros ($239 million) in backing as it seeks certification for its battery-powered flying taxi. "We expect to need more money in the future," Reuter said in an interview. "You can expect us to continue raising money going forward." Aims to bring its VoloCity air taxi into commercial service in the next two years, in a race with startups including U.S. rival Joby which plans to go public via a $6.6 billion SPAC deal. Joby, which has partnered with Toyota ...

Volvo will make only EVs by 2030; will be sold exclusively online

2Mar By AnkitaNo Comments

Automobile

Volvo will make only EVs by 2030; will be sold exclusively online

Swedish automaker Volvo says it is phasing out the production of all cars with internal combustion engines including hybrids and will make only electric vehicles by 2030. But if you want one, you'll have to buy it online. There is no long-term future for cars with an internal combustion engine, said Henrik Green, Volvo's chief technology officer. Volvo's announcement follows General Motors' pledge earlier this year to make only battery-powered vehicles by 2035. While its all-electric vehicles will be sold exclusively online, dealerships will remain a crucial part of the customer experience and will continue to be responsible for a variety of important services such as selling, preparing, delivering, and servicing cars. As part of the announcement, the Swedish automaker will unv...

Ola Invest $326 Million to setup World’s Biggest eScooter Plant

14Dec By PriyankaNo Comments

Automobile

Ola Invest $326 Million to setup World’s Biggest eScooter Plant

Tamil Nadu, Dec 14, 2020: India's leading cab service provider Ola inked an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government to invest $326 Million (Rs 2,400 crore) for setting up its first electric scooter factory in the state. Upon completion, the factory will create nearly 10,000 jobs and will be the world's largest scooter manufacturing facility that will initially have an annual capacity of 2 million units, a statement said. "In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, Ola's factory is an important step in making an Atmanirbhar Bharat. It will catalyse reduction of India's import dependence in a key future sector like electric vehicles, boost local manufacturing, create jobs as well as improve the technical expertise in the country," it added. Ola said India with its unique s...

Okinawa discontinues lead-acid battery scooters to sell lithium-ion Version

10Dec By AdityaNo Comments

Automobile

Okinawa discontinues lead-acid battery scooters to sell lithium-ion Version

New Delhi, Dec 10, 2020: Electric two-wheeler maker Okinawa discontinued the sale of lead-acid battery-based scooters and will be focusing on the lithium-ion versions only. The startup started its journey in the country with the lead-acid scooter Okinawa Ridge and had later introduced four lead-acid scooters in three years. Gradually, the brand moved on to the lithium-ion detachable battery-equipped e-scooter versions, which received overwhelming response due to better technology and addressed the charging problem of the users. "We are shifting to 100 per cent lithium-ion battery pack based two-wheelers. When we launched the brand, lead acid was the most advanced option available in the market. Now, with rigorous growth of the industry and the brand, we have taken a step ahead and...

Ather Energy discontinues Ather 450 scooter

28Nov By AnkitaNo Comments

Automobile

Ather Energy discontinues Ather 450 scooter

New Delhi, Nov 28, 2020: Electric two-wheeler startup Ather Energy decided to replace its first product, Ather 450, with Ather 450X and Ather 450 Plus, which have been built on the same platform, with improved hardware and software capabilities. The company had launched the Ather 450 in 2018. The company will stop the sale of Ather 450 on November 28 in both Bengaluru and Chennai, Ather Energy said in a statement. This marks the end of phase one of Ather Energy as a company as it moves on to a new stage of rapid growth aided by a new round of Series D funding, it added. "Our maiden model, Ather 450 was the outcome of four years of continuous work on R&D, design, prototype building and testing, and improving the product to make it production worthy. The learnings from Ather ...

Volvo Trucks launches range of Electric Trucks for European Market

5Nov By AdityaNo Comments

Automobile

Volvo Trucks launches range of Electric Trucks for European Market

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Nov. 5, 2020-- In 2021, Europe will be able to order all-electric versions of Volvo's heavy-duty trucks. Volvo Trucks' massive drive towards electrification marks a major step forwards on the road to fossil-free transport. Volvo Trucks is now running tests of the electric heavy-duty Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX trucks, which will be used for regional transport and urban construction operations in Europe. These trucks will have a gross combination weight of up to 44 tonnes. Depending on the battery configuration the range could be up to 300 km. Sales will begin next year and volume production will start in 2022. This means that from 2021 onwards Volvo Trucks will sell a complete range of battery-electric trucks in Europe for distribution, refuse, regional ...

Harley Davidson & Hero MotoCorp collaborate for Indian Market

28Oct By AnkitaNo Comments

Automobile

Harley Davidson & Hero MotoCorp collaborate for Indian Market

NEW DELHI, India, Oct. 28, 2020 -- After closing its services in India Harley-Davidson tie-up with Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest maker of motorcycles and scooters in terms of unit volumes for selling its bikes in India. Per a distribution agreement, Hero MotoCorp will sell and service Harley-Davidson motorcycles and sell Parts & Accessories and General Merchandise riding gear and apparel through a network of brand-exclusive Harley-Davidson dealers and Hero MotorCorp’s existing dealership network in India. As part of a Licensing agreement, Hero MotoCorp will develop and sell a range of premium motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson brand name. These actions are aligned with Harley-Davidson’s business overhaul, The Rewire, and the company’s announcement in Se...

CarDekho to open 50 offline stores in India

13Oct By PriyankaNo Comments

Automobile

CarDekho to open 50 offline stores in India

Jaipur, Oct 13th, 2020: Automobile portal CarDekho has decided to open 50 offline stores in the country within the next six months in view of rising demand for used cars, according to a senior company official. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, people are looking forward to using their own car instead of public transport and, therefore, the demand for used cars has increased, particularly in the segment of $3000 to $7000 (Rs 2-Rs 5 lakh), CarDekho Group Head (Trust Mark Stores) Sharad Jaiswal told PTI. He added that the company's first store ''CarDekho Gaadi Trust Mark'' was opened in New Delhi, and the firm is planning to open 50 such exclusive stores by March 2021 to sell used cars. He said the company plans to open 50 Trust Mark Exclusive stores and 200 Retail Touchpoints by march...

Swedish startup Volta unveils electric truck

3Sep By reutersNo Comments

Automobile

Swedish startup Volta unveils electric truck

STOCKHOLM, Sept 3, 2020: Swedish startup Volta Trucks unveiled its Volta Zero, a 16-tonne electric truck, with plans to start production in 2022 in the United Kingdom. Following the success of companies such as Tesla in popularising electric cars, electric trucks have also been getting a lot of attention from existing players such as Volvo and Daimler and startups like Rivian and Nikola. Trials will start next year with parcel delivery companies such as DPDgroup in the UK and other firms in Europe and Volta aims to put 500 vehicles on the road by 2022, CEO Rob Fowler told Reuters. "We are also well progressed with another seven or eight customers," he said. The company said the first Volta vehicle was manufactured by Prodrive in Warwick, England, and it is in discussion with a ...

Amazon Ordered 1,800 Electric Delivery Vans from Mercedes Benz

28Aug By PriyankaNo Comments

Automobile

Amazon Ordered 1,800 Electric Delivery Vans from Mercedes Benz

Berlin, Aug 28, 2020: Amazon bought 1,800 electric delivery vans from Mercedes-Benz, the biggest such order for the German automaker to date. In announcing the order, Mercedes said it would also join a climate initiative established by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. By signing up to The Climate Pledge, Mercedes-Benz commits itself to going completely carbon neutral by 2039. Scientists say man-made emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide must end by 2050 at the latest to avoid pushing global temperatures beyond the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) set out in the Paris climate accord. The transport sector, including the surge in deliveries from online retailers like Amazon, is a major source of carbon emissions. “We need continued innovation and partne...

Eicher Motors acquires Volvo Group India

13Aug By PriyankaNo Comments

Automobile

Eicher Motors acquires Volvo Group India

New Delhi, Aug 13, 2020: Eicher Motors subsidiary VE Commercial Vehicles has entered into a business transfer agreement to acquire Volvo Group India's bus business for a cash consideration of around $13 million (Rs 100.50 crore). VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd (VECV) is in the business of manufacturing and selling the Eicher branded trucks and buses and also distributes Volvo branded trucks and provides aftermarket services and distribution of spare parts for Volvo branded trucks and buses. Apart from being a subsidiary of the company, VCEV is also a joint venture between Eicher Motors and Volvo Truck Corporation, Sweden and Aktiebolaget Volvo (Publ.), Sweden. VECV entered into a business transfer agreement on August 12 with Volvo Group India for acquisition, as a going concern on slu...