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China EV Sales Boom, F1 Andretti-Cadillac Bid Controversy, and Rhonda the Roundabout
Jordan Greer
August 09, 2024
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AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY NEWS
In July, electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), collectively known as new energy vehicles (NEVs), accounted for a record 50.7% of car sales in China, marking the first time this milestone was reached in the world's largest auto market. This surge in sales, which represents a 37% year-over-year increase, is largely attributed to government incentives, including cash incentives for EVs, sales tax exemptions for NEVs, and a scrappage scheme for consumers replacing gas cars with NEVs.
Hyundai and Kia are facing a class action lawsuit in California, accused of collecting and selling owners' driving data to insurance companies without consent, allegedly leading to increased premiums. The lawsuit, filed by Mark Will, claims the car manufacturers violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act through their connected car services, with the data allegedly sold to data broker Verisk Analytics for risk analysis and subsequent resale to insurance companies.
Dodge's upcoming electric vehicle, the Charger Daytona, features a Fratzonic Exhaust system that mimics the sound of a V8 engine, using a speaker driver and other unique components to generate the noise rather than recorded sounds. The system can reach the same 126 dB sound level as a Hellcat-powered car and allows owners to rev the car at a standstill, with the volume and tone varying according to the selected drive mode.
The 2025 Ford Police Interceptor Utility, a law enforcement version of the sixth-generation Explorer, is receiving tech updates and a 3.3-liter hybrid powertrain option, which is expected to save governments an average of 838 gallons of fuel each year. The vehicle also features a Police Perimeter Alert system, Police Engine Idle feature, driver assistance features, and a Manual Police Pursuit mode, along with optional ballistic panels for the front doors and a timed-release security feature for the rear liftgate.
ChargePoint has launched a new technology called "Omni Port" that allows EV drivers to charge at any ChargePoint space, regardless of their vehicle's make or model, by combining multiple charging plugs into one port. The Omni Port, which is the first commercially available solution for universal EV charging, eliminates the need for adapters and dedicated charging spaces based on specific EV plug types, and will be rolled out in new charging piles and can also be installed on existing models.
MOTORSPORT
Liberty Media, the owner of Formula One Group, is being investigated by the Justice Department for rejecting Andretti Global's application to join Formula 1, a decision that came after a six-month review and was criticised by Mario and Michael Andretti, and General Motors. The Justice Department's investigation was spurred by six U.S. senators who expressed concerns that Formula 1's rejection, which was based on doubts about Andretti's competitiveness and value addition to the series, could violate antitrust laws by acting in the interest of individual teams and foreign automakers.
An appeal against an investigation that cleared Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner of sexual harassment allegations has been dismissed by another independent lawyer. The accusations, made by a female employee, were initially investigated by an independent lawyer appointed by Red Bull's parent company, Red Bull GmbH, who found Horner not guilty, a decision that has now been upheld following the appeal.
Hyundai's 2025 World Rally Championship car is set to undergo revisions to address its "peaky" handling issues, particularly in low grip and changeable conditions, according to team principal Cyril Abiteboul. Despite these issues, Hyundai has managed to secure a 20-point lead in the manufacturers' championship with four rounds remaining.
CURIOSITIES
Clarksville, Tennessee has a history of personifying its infrastructure, with the latest being "Rhonda the Roundabout," a new traffic feature at the intersection of Whitfield Road and Needmore Road. A live-streaming traffic cam has captured drivers getting lost or intentionally doing laps on the roundabout, leading to its popularity and a dedicated Facebook page with over 5.5K members.
The National Park Service (NPS) is issuing warnings to visitors who use all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles for off-roading in national parks, highlighting the difference between AWD and four-wheel drive (4WD) systems, with the latter being more suitable for off-road conditions due to its equal power distribution to all wheels. The NPS's focus on vehicle suitability for off-roading extends to the height and type of suspension, with high clearance 4WD required for certain roads, as evidenced by a letter sent to a Subaru Crosstrek owner who had driven on a restricted road in Canyonlands National Park.
A Tesla Model S caught fire in Mexico after the owner connected it to an unauthorized power line, known locally as a 'diablito', causing a nearby house to also catch fire. This incident occurred shortly after Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced a delay in the company's planned $10 billion investment for a factory in northern Mexico due to potential new tariffs.
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