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Porsche"s NFT Debut Is a Reminder to Let Web3 Natives Take the Wheel
The German carmaker's NFT collection mint was met with backlash from the community and served as a lesson for big brands looking to meaningfully build their Web3 strategy......»»
Category: forexSource: coindeskJan 24th, 2023
Solar electric vehicle startup says its car will go 400 miles on a full battery and never needs to be charged
Aptera says its sun-powered vehicle can travel up to 40 miles per day using solar energy alone. It aims to start production in 2023. Electric vehicle startup Aptera released new details about its debut solar-powered model.Aptera Electric vehicle startup Aptera released details about its first model. It will have 400 miles of range and be able to travel 40 miles per day using built-in solar cells, the firm says. It needs more funding but plans to start production in 2023. Lots more car buyers would consider an electric vehicle if only charging wasn't such a hassle. EV startup Aptera may have an innovative solution — if it can raise enough funding to get production underway. The California-based company unveiled in January its Launch Edition solar vehicle, its first model that will hit customer driveways. Aptera Launch Edition vehicle.ApteraAptera is taking a markedly different approach to EVs than fellow startups. While Rivian focuses on rugged utility and Lucid Motors prioritizes luxury and performance, Aptera's mission centers around efficiency. The result is unlike anything else on the road: an ultra-aerodynamic, super-light, three-wheeler blanketed in solar panels that turn the sun's rays into driving energy.Aptera first unveiled the general concept and a preliminary design back in 2020. On Friday, it revealed key details of its first production model during a virtual event. Aptera Launch Edition vehicle.ApteraAll 5,000 or so Launch Edition Aptera vehicles will be identical in an effort to streamline production and reduce complexity as manufacturing gets up and running. The vehicle will target 400 miles of range and will have all-wheel drive provided by three motors integrated into the trike's wheels. It'll sprint to 60 mph in a brisk four seconds on its way to a 101-mph top speed, Aptera says.Aptera Launch Edition vehicle.ApteraThe Launch Edition will come with 700 watts worth of solar panels on its hood, roof, and rear section, which Aptera says is enough to provide 40 miles of solar-powered driving per day in ideal conditions. Future models will offer the option for fewer panels.Owners can also charge by plugging in. Aptera Launch Edition vehicles will come with a Tesla-standard charging port but, curiously, no ability to plug into DC fast-charging stations. They'll be able to add up to 57 miles of range per hour when hooked up to a Level 2 charger (fast-chargers like Tesla Superchargers are Level 3), Aptera estimates. Aptera Launch Edition vehicle.ApteraInside, the vehicle will have two seats, a semicircular yoke steering wheel, and a large touchscreen that houses most settings and features. The rear-view and side mirrors are digital. A big hatch reveals 32 cubic feet of cargo space, more than double a Honda Civic's trunk. Aptera Launch Edition vehicle.ApteraOne detail that's still a mystery about the Launch Edition: price. Aptera said it won't know how much to charge until it's closer to production. Down the line, Aptera plans to release more models in more colors and configurations, including one with 1,000 miles of range. But first, it needs to start production. Aptera Launch Edition vehicle.ApteraAptera's leadership said they need an additional $50 million in funding to kick off manufacturing, on top of the $85 million they've already raised. The company aims to begin production by the end of 2023, but as the tribulations of other EV startups have demonstrated, making new cars from scratch is no small feat.Aptera knows this all too well: It first made a go of things starting in the late 2000s before hitting financial trouble and closing up shop in 2011. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: dealsSource: nytJan 23rd, 2023
Meet a Taylor Swift fan who regrets paying $5,500 for resale tickets: "I"m embarrassed I did it, I regret it, and I kind of just wish I had a nosebleed ticket"
Paige, a Swiftie for 15 years, was excited to see Taylor Swift live for the first time. Now she feels like it's a "dirty ticket." Taylor Swift performing at Amazon Music's Prime Day concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom on July 10, 2019, in New York.Evan Agostini/AP Paige, a Swiftie of 15 years, was not enchanted by the way ticket sales went down for the Eras tour. The 31-year-old eventually snagged tickets on the resale market for $5,500 but now regrets it. Swifties across the country have been disappointed by high-priced resale tickets and ticket scarcity. For hours, Paige sat in front of her computer, dust collecting as she waited in the queue for the most coveted show of the year: Taylor Swift's Eras tour.Paige, 31, has been a Swiftie for 15 years. Her last name has been withheld over privacy concerns but is known to Insider.Paige taught herself guitar by learning songs from Swift's debut record. She's never seen Swift in concert and did everything she could to prepare herself for maximum presale luck: She bought merch ahead of the presale registration and streamed music videos to try and land a coveted spot in line.Paige did receive a presale code, but as Swifties across the country found out, the queue for tickets "was a madhouse." With 2,000-plus people ahead of her and the line paused, Paige realized she was on her own.After waiting upward of three hours, she began perusing StubHub for tickets that were already being resold. She saw prices ranging from $5,000 to over $30,000. When she saw two floor seats priced under just $2,000 each, she jumped.With fees and tax, the total came to just over $5,500 — above her initial budget of $5,000. Her plan was to put the purchase on her credit card and pay it off over time, using it as a way to build credit. At first she was excited, running off adrenaline as she scooped up the coveted seats.Now, she regrets it."I don't feel good to have tickets anymore," she said. "It wasn't something fun, like it was supposed to be. I feel guilty. I feel like I did something impulsive in panic mode, and I am disappointed in Ticketmaster and Live Nation for letting it get to this point of just being a complete frenzy." Paige wasn't alone in her mad dash to get tickets, as millions of fans tried to pile into an hours-long virtual queue on Ticketmaster. Swift, the prolific singer, songwriter, and director, has dominated the charts with "Midnights," her latest release. The demand for her latest tour was immense, crashing Ticketmaster and leading fans to believe there must have been a glitch. More than 3.5 million people applied for presale codes, according to Ticketmaster, and 2 million tickets were sold in one day. Many are pointing to Ticketmaster's dominance over ticket sales and merger with Live Nation as one reason that ticket sales were so chaotic.Even Swift herself seemed to lash out at the ticketing madness, writing on Instagram, "It's really difficult for me to trust an outside entity with these relationships and loyalties, and excruciating for me to just watch mistakes happen with no recourse."The gold rush on Swift tickets has led to some tickets being resold for up to $13,000. Paige says she saw tickets going for $33,000 when she purchased hers. Ticketmaster said 90% fewer tickets were up for resale on secondary markets than a typical sale. Now many Swifties have found themselves shut out of buying face-value tickets completely: Ticketmaster announced on Thursday that it was canceling its ticket sale for the general public "due to extraordinarily high demands on ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory.""Once I realized how many people were impacted by this and how I fed into what resellers do, which is prey on people who are in that panic mode, it didn't feel good anymore," Paige said. "Once I saw the Capital One presale go the exact same way, I felt guilty for having tickets. I felt nauseous that I spent so much."It's a struggle some music lovers know all too well, and one that goes beyond just being stuck in a Ticketmaster queue. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a key progressive from New York, blasted Ticketmaster the day that tickets went on sale."Daily reminder that Ticketmaster is a monopoly, it's merger with LiveNation should never have been approved, and they need to be reigned in. Break them up," she tweeted. Now, Ocasio-Cortez is encouraging Swifties to call upon the Justice Department to break up the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation.David Blato, the former policy director of the Federal Trade Commission and a public-interest antitrust lawyer who testified against the merger in 2009, told Insider that he thinks "breaking up this merger will be a major priority for the antitrust division." He said that the merger has led to higher fees and less competition among resellers. The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating Live Nation Entertainment over antitrust concerns."It's awful that people with credit cards and wealth, or luck, we're the only ones who are able to go to Taylor's show now," Paige said.She's not even sure she wants to go anymore. She wishes she and everyone else who bought exorbitantly priced resale tickets could get a refund, or that there was a way to start the process all over again and ensure that verified fans could get tickets."I feel like it's a dirty ticket," she said. "Like in the same way getting something in the wrong way would feel bad, it's the same with this. I'm embarrassed I did it, I regret it, and I kind of just wish I had a nosebleed ticket — because I just don't feel like giving in in this way to the resellers was the answer."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: topSource: businessinsiderJan 21st, 2023
FEMA Distributed Nonsense Emergency Brochures To Native Alaskans FEMA hired a California government contractor to translate disaster-assistance information into two native Alaska languages, but all it and the natives got was a big heap of nonsense. After a typhoon hammered the west coast of Alaska in September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hired a Berkeley-based company, Accent on Languages, to translate instructions for applying for disaster aid. Damage from September's Typhoon Merbok, which had water surging 17 miles inland (Emily Schwing/KYUK) FEMA quickly turned the company's work into tri-fold, glossy brochures that left native Alaskans utterly perplexed, as they encountered phrases like: "Your husband is a polar bear, skinny." "Tomorrow he will go hunting Alaska very early, and will (bring) nothing" "When she said so, the dog ran farther off from the curtain." University of Alaska Fairbanks linguist Gary Holton says one of the translations is a random assortment of phrases copied from a compilation of far-eastern Russian folklore: "Yupik Eskimo Texts from the 1940s." "They clearly just grabbed the words from the document and then just put them in some random order and gave something that looked like Yup'ik but made no sense," Holton told AP. He summed up the work as a "word salad." In a publicly-posted letter, Accent on Languages CEO Caroline Lee said her firm will reimburse FEMA $5,116. "We make no excuses for erroneous translations, and we deeply regret any inconvenience this has caused to the local community." Lee said when the "horrifying," botched translations came to her attention, that her company hired a new team of translators to do the project over again. FEMA has fired the company. Former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney wants more than a reimbursement, saying the company is guilty of fraud — "and you can't put a price on the impact of denying services to vulnerable communities because of misinformation." The grandstanding Sweeney even called for congressional hearings. We wonder if Accent on Languages was itself a victim of fraud on the part of whomever it assigned to do the original translation. Associated Press presented the fiasco as new evidence of systemic racism. Reporter Mark Thiessen called it "an ugly reminder for Alaska Natives of the suppression of their culture and languages from decades past," and quoted Sweeney as she linked the bogus translations to her mother being beaten in school for speaking her native tongue. Like so many government contractors with ownership and leadership optimized for affirmative-action-driven contract awards, Accent on Languages touts itself as a "female, minority-owned business." Tyler Durden Sat, 01/14/2023 - 21:00.....»»
Category: dealsSource: nytJan 14th, 2023
Best Web3 Social Media Platforms in 2023
Social media and web3 have a very interesting relationship and shared history. Most online users around the world use social media as a common form of pleasure and entertainment. The second evolution of the online world, known as Web 2.0, includes the well-known social media platforms that we use daily. The development abruptly stopped with […] Social media and web3 have a very interesting relationship and shared history. Most online users around the world use social media as a common form of pleasure and entertainment. The second evolution of the online world, known as Web 2.0, includes the well-known social media platforms that we use daily. The development abruptly stopped with the advent of the next generation of the internet, known as Web 3.0. Web3 development services have grown from Web 2.0 and are still in their early phases. They have already been shown to be more advantageous to consumers in several ways. So what are the top web3 social media sites of 2023 that you should be on the lookout for? What Are Decentralized Social Media Networks? Decentralized social media networks are based on the blockchain created to defend users from censorship, promote free expression, and protect user data as securely as possible. These social networks vary from the others in that they run on separate servers, or nodes, as opposed to servers under the control of a single entity. NFT tokens are often employed in decentralized social networks as innovative methods to monetize content. Decentralized social media thus affects not just the architecture of centralized platforms but also how social media corporations generate revenue. Today's centralized social networks generate revenue by selling all of their data, including user data. However, members of social networks powered by blockchain will own their data, improving data security. And it is the one thing that sets today's plethora of conventional social media aside from decentralized social networks. There are several decentralized social networks to pick from. Another feature sets these social networks apart from others. As a result of big tech's hegemony, conventional social media sites now suffer. The world of decentralized networks does not include such a monopoly. Here is a list of the top decentralized social media networks to consider in 2023 if you want to sign up for one. Minds Minds is a developing decentralized alternative social media network dedicated to Internet freedom. Users may take back control of their social network, talk freely, safeguard their privacy, and receive cryptocurrency incentives. Bill Ottman founded Minds, built on open-source technology and emphasizes user privacy compared to other social media platforms that harvest your data for advertising. You may upload movies, blogs, and photographs, create statuses, send messages, and securely video chat with friends or groups. You get MINDS Tokens (ERC-20) from the decentralized social network. Minds daily for producing well-liked content, introducing friends, or providing liquidity. With its "Build Your Algorithm" function, the Minds network enables users to customize their algorithm in a way that is impossible on other conventional platforms. Over three million people utilize it globally. Peepeth Peepeth is an Ethereum-powered social network that competes with Twitter in the blockchain space. It promotes thoughtful participation and constructive input. Peepeth encourages its users to be considerate when posting or liking things, donate to good causes, and develop personal growth. Accounts and postings, or "peeps," are maintained on the blockchain on Peepeth. You now have complete control over your account and its contents. You may submit data or access data without the need for an intermediary. Decentralized social media revolves around this, and Peepeth excels in fulfilling that need. Interestingly, Peepeth doesn't have a Like button; instead, it has a once-daily Ens button that you may use to reward those who inform, amuse, or inspire you. More than 50,000 individuals and 300,000 people utilize it. Another thing to be mindful of is the Peepeth front end is centralized and can be destroyed by anybody. However, it may be recovered with the unharmed data by any node operators. This means that Peepeth is censorship resistant. Blurt Blurt has transformed social media by creating a thriving social economy where users are compensated for contributing their views. It represents a brand-new attention economy. For its users, the software develops a full-fledged social economy. This economy is also dynamic and expanding all the time. There are numerous websites enabled by the Blurt blockchain and BLURT money. These websites all read and publish material to the Blurt blockchain, which records everything in an immutable blockchain ledger and pays users in BLURT tokens for their efforts. The Blurt blockchain creates new BLURT tokens every day and adds them to the "rewards pool" of a community. These tokens are then given to individuals for their efforts depending on the votes that their content obtains and the ballots they give out. Lens Protocol Aave is rewriting social media history with the debut of Lens Protocol, one of the biggest cryptocurrency lenders, a Web 3.0 social network powered by NFTs, in 2022. Lens Protocol is a project that allows people to build their own social media networks using Web 3.0 technology. It is a decentralized and composable social graph. Through the Lens Protocol, each user's Non-Fungible Token (NFT) profile may be connected to their community, followers, and content. It may then be transferred into any Lens-enabled app. The Web 3.0 social media platform also gives consumers access to more information, greater connection, ownership of their data, a permissionless network with unbreakable service, and—most importantly—no central actor in charge of information control. Only a year old, the protocol has already achieved significant advancements in decentralized social media. It offers an open-source, decentralized, and composable social graph that enables any content producer to build their platform and manage their experience easily. Steem Steemit is a blogging and social media platform built on the blockchain that was established in 2014 by Ned Scott and blockchain engineer Daniel Larimer. It particularly made use of blockchain technologies from STEEM. The site's primary function is to reward frequent visitors with Bitcoin. You may earn STEEM, the internal cryptocurrency of Steemit, by posting, voting, commenting, curating, and other forms of site activity. STEEM is presently far less valuable than Bitcoin. Additionally, the website gives Tron incentives to active users. New users must struggle to build their STEEM strength by making interesting and helpful posts since they only get a little by voting. The worth of their vote increases with each new creation. Overall, the website gives revenue and security—exactly what decentralization promises. More than a million people have signed up for Steemit. Aether An alternative to Reddit is Aether, an open-source P2P network for self-governing communities with auditable moderation and mod elections. Unless someone saves it, Aether's material is temporary and only stored for six months. There are no centralized servers since it is P2P. Additionally, it is a network in which users ultimately control what they view. Because of its openness, users can see the moderators' activities. No content can vanish. You will know who deleted something, why they did it, and, if you want, how to recover it. Although using Aether is free, you may support the team by donating via Patreon. Alternatively, you might purchase Aether Pro, a team-based Aether that functions as a tool for cooperation. Conclusion A new age of media networks is being ushered in by web3 technology, allowing users to connect and create an online network. Our favorite Web2 social media platforms often lack advanced priorities for data privacy, which is a worry for both young and elderly individuals. Contact the best web3 social media app development company for your safe and secure social media app development......»»
Category: blogSource: valuewalkDec 19th, 2022
It took a full year, multiple calls to the dealership, and an angry tweet at Ford"s CEO, to finally get my all-electric pickup truck delivered
Forget SpaceX rockets and AI chatbots — the invention that's going to reshape our world is the all-electric pickup truck. My new F-150 Lightning is incredible to drive, but the process of getting the truck proved that the road to an electrified American auto industry will be bumpy.Ford; Rachel Mendelson/InsiderThe gas station has been a fixture of our roads and neighborhoods since the internal-combustion-engine car took hold in the early 20th century.These multicolored, brightly lit shrines to car culture introduced us to all kinds of different rituals: learning to pump gas with a parent, worrying about getting stranded when the "empty" light blinks on, seeing the prices climb and fall on the giant board on the corner. The sticky, pungent fumes from diesel and gasoline are a reminder of how much time and energy we pump into our vehicles.But my first child, who is due in January, will never get accustomed to this Church of Petrol, because over the past year my family has gone 100% electric. Last fall, my wife leased a Tesla Model 3, and this fall I followed her lead with a brand-new Ford F-150 Lightning. After driving the F-150 Lightning for a month, I can say without reservation that it's amazing — it drives like a luxury sedan, is full of bells and whistles, and my "refueling" bill has plunged. But the process of getting the truck was far from ideal — beset by production delays, missing parts, and unresponsive customer service. There are still a few kinks to be worked out before electric vehicles can dominate the US market — the road to an electrified American auto industry is going to be a bumpy one.Why go electric?For me, the most important driver for buying an electric vehicle was that it feels like a giant step toward a decarbonized future. There is no way to reduce carbon emissions to something the planet can manage without decarbonizing transportation, and I'm excited to be an early adopter in that transition.There's also the question of: Why Ford? Sure, Teslas have been around forever — I even have one in my garage. But Tesla's dubious record of pushing the limits with "self-driving" technology, a chaotic CEO, issues with build quality, and a limited lineup kept me from following my wife into the largest EV brand. Rivians and flashy new upstart "Tesla killers" were also an option, but buying from those companies felt like buying a Delorean. Rivian will most likely be around 10 years from now, but it's got a rockier path than an established manufacturer. No other EV manufacturer offered the upsides of a Ford: an icon of the American auto industry and absolutely dominant truck brand with a dealer always close, spare parts readily available, and a track record of building trucks well.I've lived most of my adult life in North Carolina, and since moving here, the regional enthusiasm for pickup trucks has always made sense to me. Pickups, especially full-size pickups like the F-150, are incredibly comfortable, loaded with storage space, and can do just about anything a personal vehicle needs to do. Hauling three-quarters of a ton of pine logs to the local recycling center is something a smaller vehicle just doesn't handle well, and my enormous body has always found climbing into a sedan uncomfortable at best.But despite this enthusiasm for the form, I was never able to get my head around their terrible fuel economy: Most of the gas-guzzling trucks that are a fixture of the South only get 10 to 15 miles per gallon. My Lightning, on the other hand, is both zero-emission and means I'm not spending exorbitant amounts at the pump. The combination of higher thermal efficiency and non-carbonized sources for electricity means the CO2 impact of driving my new truck is a tiny shadow of what it used to be. Based on statewide electrical-generation and emissions statistics and information from my own cars, the carbon emissions for driving a mile are about 71% lower in my new truck than they were in my old 2013 Toyota RAV4. Electricity is also inexpensive where I live, so I save a similar amount of money on fuel as I reduce my emissions.Supply-chain nightmareWhile my new EV has been a joy behind the wheel, the road to get it was arduous and shows that the industry has a long way to go in smoothing out supply-chain issues. Manufacturers have worked out the process of building gas-guzzling ICE — or internal-combustion engine — cars over a century of fine tuning and tweaking. While electric vehicles can borrow a lot of that institutional knowledge, new technology and business models mean there is still a way to go before everything is smooth sailing.The troubles can start at the very beginning with ordering the car. Following in the footsteps of Tesla, auto manufacturers have decided to flip the buying process. Instead of producing a boatload of vehicles and shipping them to dealers for customers to peruse and test drive, many manufacturers are trying to increase profits by pushing consumers to order vehicles ahead of time. This means manufacturers are less likely to overproduce and can maximize what they charge for a given customer's preferred vehicle. Letting customers pick the exact features they want for each unit ordered makes price discrimination — a technical term for maximizing what a business charges for a product or service depending on the customer buying — much easier for manufacturers.While the new F-150 Lightning has been a joy behind the wheel, the road to get it was arduous and shows that the industry has a long way to go in smoothing out supply-chain issues.Raquel Pearkes/InsiderIt is vanishingly unlikely that Detroit will do away with dealers entirely, but as manufacturers shift to an order-ahead model, there are gaps in communication that can prove frustrating for customers. In my experience, this meant placing an initial deposit down for my truck in May 2021, waiting with minimal word from Ford until June 2022 when the company told me my spot had come up and I could formally order the car, and only being notified production had started in mid-August. And once the car is ordered, there can be other delays. Any manufacturing process that ties together thousands of battery cells, multiple electric motors, and hundreds of microchips before packing them together into a vehicle that will roll for hundreds of thousands of miles is going to run into a few hiccups along the way. So for the next few years, expect some manufacturing problems, from a small number of cars rolling off the lines when manufacturers announce new models to product recalls as consumers and companies discover flaws in the technology.I had my own run-in with the downsides of this learning curve. After rolling smoothly off the assembly line by the start of September, my truck was shipped to North Carolina but got stranded and ended up sitting partially complete in a Winston-Salem rail yard for multiple months. Getting sufficient information about why it was sitting in a parking lot 90 miles away proved to be a major headache. The Ford corporate employees I called had no idea why the truck wasn't moving, and my dealer was unresponsive without aggressive prodding. After an angry phone call, the dealer shared that one of their systems showed the truck on "chip hold," indicating it was waiting for a single computer chip. It stayed there for weeks until I angrily tweeted about it, tagging Ford and the company's CEO. Maybe it was luck, or maybe someone high up at Ford was reading their mentions that day, but my truck was completed a week later. Not the best way to manage production, especially when so many customers don't have the luxury of a social-media platform to use. Those sorts of gaps in the order process are exasperating and until they're worked out it may be hard to convince consumers to jump into EVs with both feet.What's it like to drive?Despite the headache of getting the car, my Lightning has been incredible to drive. Since EVs are the newest generation of vehicles, they're loaded with features: everything from parking assistance to Apple CarPlay to cooled seats to driver-assistance technology. If you're buying a new EV, expect a huge upgrade from an older car.EVs also have a massive leg up in performance over traditional vehicles. EVs are nearly silent, with no engine noise getting in the way of tunes, podcasts, or conversations on the road. Handling and accelerating in an EV is so vastly superior to an ICE vehicle of the same class that the idea of driving even a top-of-the-line ICE car would feel like going from track spikes to snow boots. As someone that appreciates a smooth ride and the ability to punch it when I have to, I won't go near a rumbling gas-powered engine ever again.While range anxiety is a hold-up for many potential EV buyers who have nightmares about being stuck on the side of the road unable to find a charging station or outlet, in the several weeks I've owned my truck, I've taken it below 30% charge only once and have never had to charge anywhere but my own garage at night. Keep in mind that 99.3% of US passenger auto trips are less than 100 miles, and charging stations are now widely available at retail stores, gas stations, and other high-traffic zones. Buy EV, buy AmericanDespite the snags, America's march to an electric-vehicle fleet is inevitable. For one thing, the US government is putting all its weight into getting more drivers behind the wheel of EVs. This past summer Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides Americans with thousands of dollars in tax credits for purchasing EVs. And based on the structure of the IRA, much of the electric future will be American-made. Over the next several years, manufacturers will be required to assemble both vehicles and batteries in the US if they want buyers to have access to the EV credit.And as demand for EVs soars due to subsidies, lower cost of ownership, and more enjoyable driving, factories from Michigan to Tennessee to Georgia are going to produce not only new EVs but the battery packs they need, too. For communities that play host to battery and EV factories, the capital investment and ongoing employment from factories can remake an entire region's prospects by providing a floor for labor markets.Even without the prodding from the government, car companies have shown a keen interest in shifting their fleets toward electric vehicles for business reasons. The auto industry famously requires a lot of upfront cash investment and is very sensitive to the broader booms and busts of the economy, but management at auto companies hope EVs will increase profitability and reduce the boom-and-bust cycles of car buying. Fewer moving parts and faster assembly, smaller component inventories, and the ability to charge for software upgrades over time are positives for companies that have struggled to earn consistently high returns.A little investor mania doesn't hurt either. Tesla of course is a market-cap titan with a $546 billion valuation, even after dropping by 50% this year. Ford gained over 170% from pre-COVID levels at its peak last year when the market slapped its highest multiple on expected earnings since 2015. Other auto manufacturers have also seen similar spikes thanks to enthusiasm for EVs, including Volkswagen's 77% rally from October 2020 to April 2021. Many manufacturers have seen their stocks slide recently due to concerns of a slowing global economy, but it's clear that these carmakers are committed to the electric shift — by the 2030s, electric vehicles will make up the overwhelming majority of sales and profits for manufacturers.America's all-electric futureDespite the bumps in the road, I couldn't be happier with my Lightning now that it's here. It's the most comfortable and useful vehicle I've ever owned, offering huge reductions in fuel costs and carbon emissions, along with a phenomenal driving experience. I'm confident that the vast majority of American drivers will eventually quit the Church of Petrol, too. When they do, they'll save money and be behind the wheel of a superior machine that was part of a resurgent American manufacturing sector. It's never easy to make a big change in life, and the bumpy path away from gas pumps and toward chargers has its difficulties, but for all the frustrations, the effort is worth it.George Pearkes is the Global Macro Strategist for Bespoke Investment Group. The author does not have any position in any stock mentioned in this piece. Clients of the author's employer own the following stocks mentioned: Ford (F). This piece is not intended as a recommendation to buy or sell any security.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
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
Apple is scaling back plans for a fully autonomous vehicle and is pushing back the debut until 2026. Some Apple workers in Australia went on strike on Tuesday.Loren Elliott/Reuters Apple is scaling back plans for a fully autonomous vehicle. The new model will now be unveiled a year later than expected. Apple aims to sell the vehicle for less than $100,000. The dream was to build a fully autonomous vehicle that needed neither steering wheels nor pedals. Apple's Titan — in theory — would have allowed its riders to coast through city streets sitting like passengers in a limousine. There would have been large touchscreen iPads anchored in the middle of the vehicle for on-board entertainment. 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. Apple will instead be debuting a vehicle — steering wheels, pedals and all — that will only be autonomous on highways, according to Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the matter. The model will be unveiled in 2026 — a year later than planned — and will be sold for less than $100,000, Bloomberg reported. The price point of the car — the Titan, as its known internally — was initially set at around $120,000, which would have placed it in the ranks of sports cars like Porsche and luxury vehicles like Mercedes. The car's core technology is an onboard computer system known as the Denali which has a processing performance that's equal to "four of Apple's highest-end Mac chips combined," according to Bloomberg. The computer, along with a series of sensors, will allow the car to identify driving lanes and also gauge its distance from other objects. And instead of a limousine-style interior, the car will be designed like a traditional vehicle with a driver's seat, Bloomberg noted. Apple aims to have the design finished by 2023, and the features finalized by 2024. Over the course of 2025, the car will go through rigorous testing, according to Bloomberg. Over the past decade, Apple has kept its self-driving car project under wraps. The company has been spending approximately $1 billion per year on the project, according to Bloomberg. The department has about 1,000 employees who are spread across the US and Europe, according to Bloomberg. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: topSource: businessinsiderDec 6th, 2022
The 36 iconic female athletes who have changed the world of women"s sports for the better
From Billie Jean King and Mary Lou Retton to Megan Rapinoe and the Williams sisters, here are 36 iconic athletes who've elevated women's sports. From left to right: Mary Lou Retton, Megan Rapinoe, and Serena Williams.AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis / AP Photo/David Vincent / AP Photo/Tim Ireland Interest and investment in women's sports have been on the rise in recent years. Countless female athletes have helped usher women's sports into the mainstream. From Babe Didrikson Zaharias to the Williams sisters, here are 36 iconic athletes who've put women's sports in the spotlight. Women's sports are on the rise.Recent breakthroughs have helped usher female athletes and their organizations closer to the mainstream than they've ever been. According to a 2018 Nielsen report on the rise of women's sports, 84% of general sports fans now have an interest in women's sports.But for decades, pioneering women in sports have worked to foster progress and inspire others hoping to accomplish history-defining athletic feats of their own.Billie Jean King.AP Photo/John MinchilloThe push to bring women's sports to the masses started with names like Wilma Rudolph and Billie Jean King but has grown to include women like Serena and Venus Williams, Megan Rapinoe, and Katie Ledecky. Below, we take you through the 36 most iconic female athletes that have helped put women's sports in the spotlight.Alexandra Licata contributed to an earlier version of this story.Wilma RudolphAPSprinter Wilma Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympics. She overcame the loss of strength in her left leg and foot, caused by polio at five years old, to become the fastest woman in the world at the 1960 Olympics. She held the records for the 100 meters at 11.2 seconds and 200 meters at 22.9 seconds.Because of worldwide television coverage throughout the 1960 Olympics, Rudolph gained international recognition and became an iconic figure for black and female athletes.During the peak of the civil rights movement, Rudolph was a trailblazer for the rights of Black women. She broke the gender barrier of all-male events in track and field, and her legacy lives on today. Billie Jean KingAPFormer World No. 1 professional tennis player Billie Jean King is regarded as one of the greatest women's tennis players of all time. She won 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles. King is an advocate for gender equality and social justice. She campaigned for equal pay when the Open Era began in 1968 and became the first female athlete to earn more than $100,000 in prize money in 1971. Two years later, she beat tennis superstar Bobby Riggs in "The Battle of the Sexes" and helped found the Women's Tennis Association, both of which contributed to her legacy of making tennis among the most equitable professional sports on the planet.Her fight for gender equity in sports has continued ever since. Today, King remains a primary advocate for women as the founder of the Women's Sports Foundation.She's also a firm proponent of LGBTQ+ equality. In 1981, she was outed as having been in a long-term relationship with a woman. King and Ilana Kloss, her partner of 40-plus years, got married in 2018.Lindsey VonnHans Bezard/Agence Zoom/Getty ImagesLindsey Vonn is one of only two female skiers to win four World Cup overall championships. She won three consecutive titles from 2008-10 and another in 2012. She was also the first American woman to win a gold medal in the downhill, which she did at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Vonn won her 20th World Cup crystal globe title in 2016 to surpass Ingemar Stenmark for the overall record for men or women. She is also one of six women to win a World Cup race in all five disciplines of alpine skiing.With three Olympic medals, four World Cup titles, 82 World Cup victories, and two World Championship gold medals to her name, Vonn is widely considered one of the greatest skiers of all time.After missing parts of several seasons as a result of injuries, Vonn ultimately retired from the sport in 2019.Aly RaismanAlex Livesey/Getty ImagesAly Raisman is a two-time Olympic gymnast. In 2012, she won the team gold medal, floor gold medal, and bronze medal on balance beam with Team USA. She took home the individual all-around silver medal and floor silver medal in 2016, as well as another team gold medal. As accomplished as she is in the gym, Raisman may be even better known for her work in the fight to end sexual abuse. She was among hundreds of gymnasts who came forward to speak out against former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.Since Nassar's trial, during which she delivered a blistering speech, she has used her platform to focus on fixing USA Gymnastics and fighting for justice for all victims of sexual abuse.Alex MorganIra L. Black - Corbis / Getty ImagesAlex Morgan is a United States Women's Soccer Team legend who won her second consecutive FIFA World Cup championship in 2019. She debuted in the World Cup in 2011, where the team won silver. In 2012, Morgan recorded 28 goals and 21 assists to become the second American woman to score 20 goals and 20 assists in the same calendar year, alongside Mia Hamm. She was also the sixth and youngest US player to score 20 goals in a single year.Morgan has accumulated more than 200 caps and 119 goals. She was also one of the first women's soccer players to appear on the cover of a FIFA video game.Off the field, Morgan was crucial to the US women's national team's successful fight for equal pay, which involved a contentious lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation. She was instrumental in the National Women's Soccer League's reckoning over pervasive emotional, mental, and sexual abuse.Nastia LiukinAl Powers/Invision for the Television Academy/AP ImagesNastia Liukin was a pivotal member of the US gymnastics team during three World Championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She won the 2008 Olympic all-around, as well as five Olympic medals, which tied the record for most medals won by an American gymnast in a single non-boycotted Olympic Games. Simone Biles later also tied the record. A four-time all-around US national champion, Liukin's strongest events were the uneven bars and balance beam. She attempted a comeback in 2011 with hopes of making the 2012 Olympic team, but fell several times during the Olympic Trials and retired in 2012. She is now a gymnastics analyst for NBC Sports and hosts an annual Nastia Liukin Cup to support the growth of gymnastics.Serena WilliamsGetty ImagesSerena Williams is widely regarded as the best female tennis player of the Open Era. Her victories have shaped her into an inspirational figure in the sport.She holds the Open Era record of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, which sits just one shy of Margaret Court's all-time record. She and her sister, fellow tennis legend Venus Williams, are considered pioneers of a new era in women's tennis that focuses on power. And throughout her career, Serena was often among the only women on the list of the world's highest-paid athletes, according to Forbes.She announced her decision to pivot away from tennis in 2022, and her improbable run through the US Open later that year was widely believed to be her final professional competition. Danica PatrickChuck Burton/APDanica Patrick is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing. She accomplished multiple firsts for women in the sport, including being the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race at the 2008 Indy Japan 300. Patrick also had the highest finish by a woman in the Indianapolis 500 (third) and Daytona 500 (eighth). She did not endure as much success as many expected, but she had an undeniable impact on the sport.In a predominately male industry, Patrick is often credited for inspiring more women to take part in auto racing and motorsports. Ronda RouseyMatthew Stockman / Getty ImagesRonda Rousey is a professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. She is considered to be one of the greatest female athletes ever as the only woman to win both a UFC and WWE championship. She is also one of the only women to headline a pay-per-view event.At the 2008 Olympics, Rousey won a bronze medal in judo, becoming the first American woman ever to do so. She took part in the first UFC women's fight, successfully defending her title against Liza Carmouche.Rousey was the first female fighter to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018. That same year, she signed a contract with WWE and began professional wrestling. Outside the ring, Rousey has written an autobiography and starred in several films, including "Furious 7" and "Mile 22."Maria SharapovaZak Kaczmarek/GettyMaria Sharapova is a professional tennis player and the only Russian to have a career Grand Slam. When she was 18 years old, Sharapova became the first Russian woman to reach No. 1 in the world rankings. Sharapova accumulated 36 singles titles, including five Grand Slams. She is considered one of the best tennis players to play the game. She has also been involved in various humanitarian endeavors, including being a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador focused on the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme. She also launched a program in 2018 to mentor women entrepreneurs. Katie LedeckyClive Rose/Getty ImagesAmerican swimmer Katie Ledecky has won seven Olympic gold medals and 19 world championship gold medals, both of which are records among female swimmers. She currently holds the world record in women's 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle, short- and long-course races. Ledecky made her international debut at the 2012 London Olympics at 15 years old and surprised everyone when she won the gold medal in women's 800-meter freestyle, becoming the youngest ever to win.Four years later, she became the most decorated female athlete of the 2016 Olympics with four gold medals, one silver medal, and two world records. In 2020, she added two more golds and two silvers at the Tokyo Olympics.She has broken more than a dozen world records throughout her career and is widely considered one of the most dominant swimmers alive. Simone BilesGold medalist Simone Biles of the United States poses for photographs after the medal ceremony for the Women's Individual All Around on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Rio Olympic Arena on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesAmerican gymnast Simone Biles won the individual all-around, vault, and floor gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is a five-time all-around world champion, with three consecutive victories from 2013-15 and two more in 2018 and 2019.Biles is the most decorated American gymnast with seven Olympic and 25 World Championship medals. She set the US record for most gold medals in women's gymnastics at a single Olympics with four.Dominant on nearly every event, Biles is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all-time. She famously struggled with "the twisties" — a phenomenon that throws off a gymnast's balance — during the Tokyo Olympics and catalyzed a larger conversation around self-advocacy and mental health in athletics.Missy FranklinGetty Images/Al BelloAt just 17 years old, Missy Franklin became the first American woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics in any sport during the 2012 London Olympics. She quickly captivated America's attention and went on to win six gold medals at the 2013 World Aquatics Championship.Franklin had previously held the record at the World Aquatics Championships with 11 gold medals, but Katie Ledecky broke it in 2017 with 14. If not for chronic pain cutting Franklin's career short, many believed she would go on to dominate women's swimming the way Michael Phelps dominated men's. In December 2018, Franklin announced her retirement due to shoulder issues, but she will always be remembered as one of the greats in women's swimming. Megan RapinoeAlessandra Tarantino/APMegan Rapinoe has been one of the most recognizable faces on the US Women's National Soccer Team for more than a decade.She put on a dominant performance to lead the Stars and Stripes to a second consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup championship in 2019, scoring six goals to earn the Golden Boot and Golden Ball Awards. All the while, she was publicly feuding with then-US President Donald Trump.Rapinoe was also on the 2015 team that won the Cup, as well as the 2012 Olympic team, which took home gold.Rapinoe has made noise both on and off the field. She is an advocate for numerous LGBTQ organizations and often uses her platform to speak out against social injustice. She is also an advocate for women in sports and equality.Steffi GrafPaul Gilham/Getty ImagesFormer German tennis player Steffi Graf is the only tennis player to win each Grand Slam tournament at least four times and achieve the Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles overall.She was ranked world No. 1 for 377 weeks by the Women's Tennis Association, which is the longest for any player, male or female, since rankings began being issued. Graf and Margaret Court are the only players to win three Grand Slam tournaments in a calendar year five times, among male and female players. Her aggressive game has been noted as the starting point for today's modern style of play. She is regarded as the greatest female tennis player of all time by many, including the court icon Billie Jean King. Graf is credited with helping to increase the sport's popularity in Germany, where it has remained popular since. Graf retired in 1999 and was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh JenningsCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesMisty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings are considered the greatest beach volleyball team of all-time. They won three consecutive Olympic gold medals from 2004-12. They also won 21 consecutive Olympic matches and only lost one set during their 11-year run. May-Treanor announced her retirement following the 2012 London Olympics, where she and Walsh Jennings captured their third gold medal. May-Treanor was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016. Walsh Jennings began playing with former teammate April Ross in 2013 after May-Treanor's retirement. The two won the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, making her the most decorated beach volleyball player, male or female, in history.Diana TaurasiDiana Taurasi.AP Photo/Rick ScuteriDiana Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA. Since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Phoenix Mercury, she has won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award, three WNBA championships, and five Olympic gold medals from 2004-20. She also won the WNBA MVP Award in 2009 and two WNBA Finals MVP Awards in 2009 and 2014. Over her illustrious career, Taurasi has been selected to 10 WNBA All-Star teams. She is one of just a handful of women who have won an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA championship, and a WNBA championship.She is considered one of the greatest women to play basketball, with late legend Kobe Bryant dubbing her the "White Mamba."Larisa LatyninaAP PhotoLarisa Latynina holds the record for most Olympic gold medals by any gymnast, male or female, with nine. Her 18 medals for the Soviet Union was a record for 48 years. Latynina retired in 1966 but went on to coach the Soviet's women's gymnastics team during the 1966-76 Olympics. She is often regarded as establishing the Soviet Union's dominance in gymnastics. Jackie Joyner-KerseeAP PhotoOne of the greatest American track and field athletes of all time, Jackie Joyner-Kersee was known for the heptathlon (where athletes compete in seven different track and field events in two days) and long jump. Over four Olympic Games, she took home three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals in the two events.Joyner-Kersee established the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in 1988, which is dedicated to providing youth, adults, and families with athletic lessons and resources to improve their quality of life. She also is one of 11 athletes who founded Athletes for Hope, which helps professional athletes take part in charity events and volunteering.She is also an activist for children's education, racial equality, and women's rights.Candace ParkerCandace Parker.AP Photo/Kamil KrzaczynskiCandace Parker was the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game. Drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks No. 1 overall in 2008, she became the second player to dunk in a WNBA game in June 2008 and went on to become the league's only player to earn Rookie of the Year and WNBA MVP honors in the same season.Parker was named WNBA Finals MVP after leading the Sparks to the 2016 WNBA championship alongside Alana Beard and Nneka Ogwumike. She was named league MVP again in 2013 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. But after more than a decade in Los Angeles, Parker made a blockbuster free agency move to join her hometown Chicago Sky in 2021. She led the franchise to its first-ever WNBA title that very same year.Off the court, Parker is an analyst for CBS Sports' NCAA tournament coverage and "NBA on TNT."Nadia ComaneciNadia Comaeci, 14-year-old Romanian gymnast, flies out of the uneven bars to score a perfect 10, during the women's team competition in the Olympic Games, in Montreal, Canada, July 18, 1976. It was the first 10 in Olympic history.AP Photo/PoolNadia Comaneci competed during the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics in gymnastics and is credited with bringing attention to the sport worldwide. Hailing from Romania, she won five gold medals in individual events and was the first to be awarded a perfect 10 score. In two Olympics, Comaneci had nine perfect 10s. She won nine Olympic medals and four World Artistic Gymnastics Championship medals. Now retired, Comaneci has remained a prominent figure in gymnastics. She also is involved in fundraising for various charities. Martina NavratilovaDean Treml/Getty ImagesMartina Navratilova is considered to be one of the best female tennis players in history. She is the only player to be ranked No. 1 in singles (332 weeks) and doubles (237 weeks) for more than 200 weeks. She won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, a record 31 major women's doubles titles, and 10 major mixed doubles titles.She won the Wimbledon women's singles title a record nine times, including six consecutive titles, which is regarded as the best performance by a player at a major event.Navratilova is one of only three women to achieve a career Grand Slam in women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles, which consists of every senior Grand Slam title. Over five seasons, from 1982-86, she won 428 out of 442 singles matches. She owns the best single-season win-loss record in the Open Era, going 86-1 in 1983, as well as the longest winning streak with 74 consecutive wins.Navratilova came out as bisexual in 1981 and has been an activist for gay rights, along with animal rights, and underprivileged children. However, she has also been criticized for making "transphobic" comments. Marta Vieira da SilvaBuda Mendes/Getty ImagesMarta Vieira da Silva, more commonly known as Marta, was the first soccer player, male or female, to score at five FIFA World Cups. Her 17 total goals set the all-time record for most scored at the tournament by any player — man or woman.Marta has been named FIFA World Player of the Year six times, including five consecutive years from 2006-10, and is regarded as one of the best female players of all-time. She won a silver medal at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, as well as the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the 2007 Women's World Cup. Se-ri PakREUTERS/Todd KorolSouth Korean World Golf Hall of Famer Se-ri Pak is unequivocally one of the greatest players in the history of women's golf. In her 20 years as a professional golfer, Pak won 39 total events across the LPGA of Korea Tour and the LPGA Tour in America.She earned four major championship titles in a five-year span, including two Women's PGA Championships, one US Women's Open, and one Women's British Open. Then, upon winning a third Women's PGA Championship in 2006, she became one of just 16 women in the sport's history to win five or more major championships.But perhaps more impactful than Pak's dominance alone has been her enduring legacy on women's golf. As one of the first players of Asian descent to break through on the American tour in a massive way, Pak changed the face of the sport and inspired a new generation of athletes to take up — and ultimately dominate — women's golf.Nancy LiebermanAP Photo/Eric DrotterRegarded as one of the greatest figures in American women's basketball, Nancy Lieberman played for several different teams and leagues before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Diamonds. She was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. Lieberman played for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA's inaugural year in 1997, when she was the oldest player at 39.In 1998, Lieberman became the general manager and head coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock, where she coached for three seasons. She broke her own record as the oldest player in WNBA history when she signed a seven-day contract in 2008 at 50 years old with the Shock, playing in one game.She has moved on to become a broadcaster for the New Orleans Pelicans and head coach of the Power in the BIG3.Mia HammAP Photo/Dusan VranicSoccer icon Mia Hamm was a member of the USWNT from 1987-2004, which won two Olympic gold medals and two FIFA Women's World Cups in that span. During her college years, she led the University of North Carolina Tar Heels to four consecutive NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championships. Hamm was a member of the USWNT during the 1991 inaugural Women's World Cup in China and remained on the team for the three tournaments that followed. She was also a member of the US team during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, which was the first Games that held women's soccer as an event. Hamm ranks third in USWNT history with 276 international caps and first in career assists with 144. She was the first woman inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame. She retired in 2004 but has inspired many in the sport, including 2019 World Cup Champion Rose Lavelle. Abby WambachGetty ImagesTwo-time Olympic gold medalist Abby Wambach is the most prolific goal scorer of all time for the US women's national soccer team. Upon retiring, she held the record for most international goals among male and female players with 184.Wambach was a member of USWNT from 2001 to 2015, winning the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup title. She is known for her skillful play and diving headers to score goals.Her equalizing header against Brazil in 2011 in the 122nd minute off a cross from Megan Rapinoe is often called one of the greatest goals in the history of the women's World Cup. It also set a record for the latest goal ever scored.She was awarded the Bronze Boot and Silver Ball after the tournament. That same year, she also became the first soccer player — male or female — to be named Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. Wambach retired in 2015 and is regarded as one of the best to play US soccer. She's now a partial owner of the National Women's Soccer League club Angel City FC.Mary Lou RettonAssociated PressAt the boycotted 1984 Summer Olympics, Mary Lou Retton became the first-ever American woman to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics. She won by .05 points, beating Romania's Ecaterina Szabo. It marked the first time a female gymnast outside of Eastern Europe won the individual all-around gold. She also took home two silver medals and two bronze medals, helping her rise to popularity in the United States.Retton coined her move on the uneven bars "The Retton Flip," consisting of a transition from low-bar to high-bar that ends with the gymnast sitting on top of the high bar. It was removed from the Code of Points because it was a "belly beat" move, which is when the gymnast hits their hips into the low bar to gain momentum.Michelle KwanClive Brunskill/Getty ImagesRetired American figure skater Michelle Kwan is a five-time World Champion and nine-time US champion, which ties her for the all-time National Championship record. She is a two-time Olympic medalist, winning a silver in 1998 and bronze in 2002.She is the most decorated figure skater in US history and is considered one of the greatest figure skaters of all time. Kwan stole the hearts of the American people to become one of the country's most popular female athletes. Venus WilliamsMatthew Stockman/GettyAlong with her sister Serena, Venus Williams is widely regarded as one of tennis' all-time greats. She was the first African American woman to be ranked No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association in the Open Era, and second all-time. She has seven Grand Slam singles titles, which is tied for eighth in the Open Era and 12th on the all-time list. She also has 14 Grand Slam Women's doubles titles, with Serena.Venus has four Olympic gold medals, one in singles and three in women's doubles. She also has a silver medal in mixed doubles, which ties her with Kathleen McKane Godfree for the most Olympic medals won by a male or female tennis player. She is the only tennis player to win a medal at four Olympic Games.Following in the footsteps of Billie Jean King, Williams fought for equal prize money at Wimbledon, gaining the backing of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and winning the fight. Maya MooreJessica Hill/APWNBA star Maya Moore was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx after leading the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to back-to-back national championships. Her standout career with the Huskies included an unbeaten streak of 90 games, which is an NCAA record among men's and women's teams.Moore won four WNBA titles with the Minnesota Lynx, as well as the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. She also won MVP in 2014. She won titles in the Spanish league, EuroLeague, and Chinese League.In February 2019, Moore penned an article on The Player's Tribune saying that she would take a sabbatical for the 2019 season to focus on family and ministry dreams. She has since fought for social justice reform, specifically in the realm of wrongful convictions. Moore helped free her now-husband, Jonathan Irons, after 23 years of wrongful imprisonment.Babe Didrikson ZahariasAP PhotoMulti-sport American athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Olympics and won 10 LGPA major championships, among her total of 82 golf tournament victories. Zaharias also participated in basketball, baseball, softball, diving, roller-skating, and bowling.Zaharias was known for breaking the boundaries of what it meant to be female in her time. She was physically strong and criticized for it. She was inducted into the LGPA Hall of Fame in 1951 and the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1976. Zaharias was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1953. In her later years, she also became known as an advocate for cancer awareness, using her popularity to raise money for her cancer fund. At the time, many Americans refused to seek treatment for cancer. She died three years later in 1956 at age 45. Sheryl SwoopesAP Photo/Jessica KourkounisSheryl Swoopes was the first player to sign a WNBA contract, and for good reason; she was a generational talent who went on to win three WNBA MVP awards. She won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. Swoopes was the first WNBA player to have a triple-double in the regular season and playoffs. She was the first women's basketball player to have a Nike shoe named after her, called the Air Swoopes.She became one of the highest-profile athletes to publicly announce she is gay in 2005. Since retiring from the sport, Swoopes has coached at various women's basketball programs.Cheryl MillerAP Photo/Reed SaxonGold medalist and University of Southern California women's basketball star Cheryl Miller is one of the most well-known collegiate players to ever play the game. Miller never played in the WNBA but led the US basketball team to a gold medal during the 1984 Olympics.Her jersey was the first retired number at USC from either basketball team. She scored 3,018 career points and had 1,534 career rebounds, which is third all-time in NCAA history. She helped the Trojans to two NCAA titles, winning NCAA Tournament MVP both seasons.Miller still holds multiple records at USC, including points, rebounds, games played, steals, field goals, and free throws. She has been a coach and sportscaster in her years after playing.Nancy LopezAP Photo/Nati HarnikGolf great Nancy Lopez left college during her sophomore year to turn professional in 1977. She won nine tournaments during her first full season on the LGPA Tour in 1978.She was named LPGA Rookie of the Year and LPGA Player of the Year, and won the Vare trophy, which is given to the player with the lowest-scoring average for the season. She was the only woman to achieve all three in the same season.From the late 1970s to late 1980s, Lopez was the game's best player, winning three majors, all at the LGPA Championship. She never won the US Women's Open, but finished second four times.In 1997, Lopez became the first woman to score under 70 for all four rounds but finished second to Alison Nicholas. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987. Lisa LeslieAP Photo/Lucy NicholsonLisa Leslie is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medalist. She was drafted No. 7 overall in the 1997 inaugural WNBA draft and went on to win two WNBA championships with the Los Angeles Sparks. She was also selected as a WNBA All-Star eight times. Leslie was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game and is widely considered one of the greatest in the league's history. Since her retirement in 2009, she has served as a sports commentator in several sports networks and in 2018 joined Fox Sports Florida as a studio analyst on Orlando Magic broadcasts. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: topSource: businessinsiderNov 23rd, 2022
Highlights From First FTX Bankruptcy Hearing: "Substantial Amount" Of FTX Assets Stolen, "Dueling" Bahamas Liquidation Comes To A Head
Highlights From First FTX Bankruptcy Hearing: "Substantial Amount" Of FTX Assets Stolen, "Dueling" Bahamas Liquidation Comes To A Head Today at 11am ET, the first FTX bankruptcy court hearing finally took place in Delaware bankruptcy court before Judge John Dorsey, the official start of what will be a long, complex and unprecedented chapter 11 case; this is what we have learned so far (courtesy of the WSJ and Bloomberg). A "substantial amount" of failed crypto exchange FTX's assets is missing and may have been stolen as a run on customer deposits and a liquidity crunch precipitated a crisis of leadership and led the firm to collapse, FTX lawyer James Bromely said in court "FTX was in the control of inexperienced and unsophisticated individuals, and some or all of them were compromised individuals," said James Bromley, counsel to FTX's new management, at its debut appearance at the Delaware bankruptcy court after the failed exchange filed for the largest-ever crypto bankruptcy case earlier this month. FTX's rapid downfall triggered an "unprecedented" bankruptcy, causing many standard procedures, such as this hearing, to be delayed. Information about FTX's biggest creditors will remain redacted for now. The dueling liquidation proceedings will move to Delaware, where the Chapter 11 case is being heard. Judge Dorsey said he will sign an order formally moving a Chapter 15 bankruptcy case filed by Bahamian liquidators from New York to Delaware. FTX expanded the number of affected customers and creditors from a "million" to millions." Some more details from Bromley's initial disclosures: In his initial comments, Bromley recounted some of the events leading up to the company's sudden collapse, alleging major failures against its former leadership under co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried. "What we have here is a worldwide, international organization, but which was run as a personal fiefdom of Sam Bankman-Fried." Mr. Bromley said. FTX's new management and advisers are implementing market-standard controls for the firm's accounting, audit, cash management, human resources, risk management and data management systems, Bromley said. He described the fall of FTX as "one of the most abrupt and difficult collapses in the history of corporate America and the history of corporate entities around the world. " FTX is also "suffering from cyber attacks" that have occurred on the day the firm filed bankruptcy, the days following the chapter 11 filing, and still continue, Bromley said. FTX is in "constant communication" with the Justice Department and the cybercrimes unit of the (Democrat controlled) US attorneys office in New York, which has opened a criminal investigation (whatever happened to the previously reported probe that was launched by the Democrat-controlled AG of SDNY months ago - did it get bogged down in too many donations?). In response, Judge Dorsey said he would grant a number of requested motions filed by FTX to help the company manage its bankruptcy, including the to redact for now the identities of customers with funds frozen on the exchange. FTX management has said it may need until January to compile a complete balance sheet detailing the company's total assets and liabilities, but some business divisions appear to be solvent. The firm has located approximately $1.4 billion in cash that it says belongs to the business, more than double the figure given in a report to the court last week. Most of that cash - $1.24 billion - is located in the Alameda subsidiary. Investment bank Perella Weinberg has been hired to explore selling any salvageable units out of bankruptcy (earlier there were reports that Tron network founder Justin Sun was eyeing some FTX assets). FTX's lawyer also said it has received requests from both the U.S. House and Senate to have Mr. Ray appear before Congress in December. In an especially interesting twist, one which potentially involves SBF's strategy on how to keep stolen assets close by at hand, Judge Dorsey says he will sign an order formally moving a Chapter 15 bankruptcy case filed by Bahamian liquidators from New York to Delaware. In response, Chris Shore who is representing the dueling Chapter 15 liquidators in the Bahamas, said "we're going to try to work this out" with the Chapter 11 debtors. As a reminder, court-appointed liquidators in the Bahamas previously said the local subsidiary controls private keys needed to transfer crypto in and out of the entire FTX complex, once estimated to hold around $16 billion in assets. As such, some have speculated that the Bahamas govt may be in cahoots with SBF himself to keep much of the stolen assets on the Bahamas. While this has been unconfirmed, it is notable just a few days ago, Bankman-Fried liked a Tweet in which it was suggested that the Bahamanian Securities Commission was corrupt and would help SBF keep the stolen funds. Is @SBF_FTX telegraphing his Chapter 11 strategy via twitter pic.twitter.com/9Mw3jqUhXa — zerohedge (@zerohedge) November 20, 2022 Here is how the WSJ explains this tension: "some FTX assets are tied up in the Bahamas, where the firm relocated last year as the country sought to become a destination for digital currency firms worldwide. Public officials there seized the digital assets of FTX's local operations earlier this month, which the new management has characterized as an unauthorized transfer. The Securities Commission of the Bahamas, the lead local authority investigating FTX's collapse, has confirmed that asset transfer, but said it moved the coins "for safekeeping" in accordance with local laws." Court-appointed liquidators in the Bahamas have said the local subsidiary controls private keys needed to transfer crypto in and out of the entire FTX complex, once estimated to hold around $16 billion in assets. That explains why Chris Shore hinted that there "could" be conflict between the liquidators in the Bahamas and the FTX bankruptcy lawyers. "There is a tension that is going on right now," Shore says, referring to bankruptcy rules in the US and efforts by the Bahamas liquidators to get control of assets and information about FTX's collapse. It is understandable why both regulators want control over the Bahamanian subs - that's where most of the remaining money can be found, and if SBF is indeed working on collusion with local corrupt authorities, he may walk out of all this a billionaire. In any event, how Judge Dorsey rules on the treatment of the Bahamas sub may have the biggest consequence for the outcome of this bankruptcy case. Elsewhere in the hearing, FTX has said that it will need months to sort through claims from customers as it sifts through the bad bets at its affiliated trading firm Alameda Research, which tipped FTX into bankruptcy. It hasn't detailed how much it owes to more than one million estimated customers. Lawyers representing FTX are also seeking court approval to keep paying the remaining employees on the payroll, protect the money remaining inside FTX's bank accounts and pay vendors that it deems critical to the business. Tyler Durden Tue, 11/22/2022 - 13:42.....»»
Category: smallbizSource: nytNov 22nd, 2022
EV startup Lucid undercuts Tesla Model S with a car that can go 5 miles farther for $12,000 cheaper
Electric up-and-comer Lucid revealed new details about the $87,400 Air Pure that's set to hit streets before the end of the year. The Lucid Air Pure.Lucid Motors Lucid Motors released new details about the Air Pure, its cheapest model to date. It'll offer more range than Tesla's flagship Model S for $12,000 less. The all-wheel-drive Air Pure gets a range rating of 410 miles and is set to hit streets this year. One of the most promising new electric car startups took a shot at Tesla by unveiling a model that's cheaper than Elon Musk's flagship Model S — and can drive farther on a charge. California-based Lucid Motors revealed new details on Tuesday about the Air Pure, the cheapest version of its debut sedan. The electric luxury car earned a range rating of 410 miles from the Environmental Protection Agency, squeaking past the Model S, which is rated at 405 miles. That's the range of the all-wheel-drive Air Pure, which Lucid says will hit streets by the end of 2022. It costs $92,900, around $12,000 less than the $104,990 Model S. The Lucid Air Pure.Lucid MotorsA cheaper, rear-wheel-drive Air Pure will go on sale next year for $87,400. For years, Tesla reigned over the electric market with its exceptionally long-range cars — until Lucid came along.The Model S was the longest-range EV you could buy until the Air unseated it in 2021. The $169,000 Air Dream Edition blew Tesla and everyone else out of the water when it launched with a 520-mile range. That car also bested The Model S's 1,020 horsepower by offering up to 1,111 horses. The Lucid Air Pure.Lucid MotorsLucid is still a tiny player compared to Tesla, which handily dominates US EV sales and is set to sell well over 1 million cars globally this year. But Musk has been paying attention to his budding rival, which is led by the former top engineer for the Model S. In 2020, Musk slashed the price of the Model S to $69,420 after Lucid said the Air would undercut Tesla's pricing. (Both the Model S and Air have gotten more expensive since.)Production of the all-wheel-drive Air Pure starts in December, Lucid said. It'll have 480 horsepower and be able to add 200 miles of range in 15 minutes of charging, the company claims. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: topSource: businessinsiderNov 15th, 2022
Amazon"s job cut plans show that tech isn"t out of the woods just yet
Meta did big layoffs last week. Amazon could soon cut 10,000 jobs. More shoes are dropping in tech. It's now Tuesday, and you know what that means? It's not Monday anymore, and that is something to celebrate. This is Matt Weinberger in San Francisco, filling in once again for Jordan Erb. The tech industry was already reeling from the recent cuts at companies like Meta, Twitter, and Salesforce. This week, things got worse, as reports indicate that Amazon is planning job cuts of some 10,000 people, largely in its retail, devices, and human resources divisions. A layoff of that size would only represent about 1% of Amazon's global workforce, and 3% of its corporate employees.It's a good reminder that as bad as things have been in tech, there's still room for things to get worse. Indeed, as Insider reported last week, Mark Zuckerberg isn't ruling out the possibility of more layoffs at Meta. On that cheery note, let's get into the news.If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.Amazon CEO Andy JassyDan DeLong/GeekWire1. Amazon job cuts are coming. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has made cost-cutting a major priority of his tenure as the retail giant's top executive, and now the retailer is said to be preparing for the largest layoff in its history.Back in October, Insider's Katherine Long reported that Amazon was looking to reduce headcount, setting the stage for this week's news. Earlier this month, Insider reported on several smaller cuts at the company, including at its Amp live-radio service and the team that makes tutorials for its Amazon Web Services cloud.I asked Insider's Eugene Kim, chief tech correspondent, for his thoughts on the cuts. Eugene notes that Jassy's 16-month tenure as Amazon's chief executive has been particularly tumultous, especially as retail spending slows amid a larger economic downturn. Jassy has been particularly keen to cut expensive so-called "moonshots," he says.Eugene says the "unprecedented" size and scope of the cuts reflect his laser-focus on cost cutting. And the fact that the layoffs are said to largely affect the devices division raise an uncomfortable question for Amazon, he says: Is it time to call the Alexa voice assistant a failure? Read more about the reported layoff plan at Amazon here.Meta CEO Mark ZuckerbergPhoto by Liu Jie/Xinhua via Getty2. Jeff Bezos plans to give away his fortune. Speaking of Amazon, Jeff Bezos announced plans on Monday to give away the majority of his $124 billion to charitable causes. He says his top priorities will be funding initiatives related to the climate crisis and supporting people that unify humanity.3. The internal Zuckerberg backlash has begun. Insider reports that employees at Meta are getting fed up with Mark Zuckerberg, exacerbated by last week's sweeping layoff of some 11,000 people. Those who remain at the company say that there's not a lot of clarity on who has left the company, leaving employees scrambling to figure out which teams and projects have been canned. Read more on the mood inside Meta here.4. Apple could build its own metaverse. Apple job postings indicate that when the company finally drops its long-awaited augmented-slash-virtual reality headset, it could come alongside a full-on virtual world out of the box. Meta has tried something similar with its Horizon Worlds for its Oculus headsets, to what could charitably be called a mixed reception. 5. The FTX bust is splashing cold water on crypto startups. Insider's April Joyner reports that venture capitalists relied on so-called "safe bets" like FTX to break into the cryptocurrency industry. But with FTX imploding in front of our very eyes, it's more clear than ever that there's not always a port in a storm — and expect investment in the market to cool off significantly. Read more on the venture capital crypto reckoning here.6. Earning $244,000 as a tech freelancer. The tech titans are known for paying the big bucks, but that's not the only way to make it in tech. Insider spoke with a freelancer who made $244,000 in 2021 taking on contract gigs for hire. 7. Cheaters everywhere. One traditional way to get ahead in your tech career is to pass a certification exam that shows you have deep technical chops in areas of specialty like Microsoft's Azure cloud or Cisco's networking switches. But Insider's Rob Price reports on a cheating epidemic in the world of tech certifications, with test answers only a Google search away and no way to tell who did the homework and who's a fraudster. Read more here.8. Twitter's $400 lunches? Elon Musk said that Twitter spent $13 million on food service at its offices last year, which worked out to about $400 per person, per meal because most employees were working from home. A former employee, meanwhile, says that the average per-person spend on food was more like $20-25 per meal.Odds and Ends: The Pininfarina BattistaTangentVector9. The $2 million electric supercar. Insider's Tim Levin got behind the wheel of the Pininfarina Battista — a $2 million, 1900-horsepower electric supercar. Levin says the acceleration must be seen to be believed. If you want one, though, act fast: They're only making 150. 10. If Instagram likes are getting your anxiety up, Insider has the complete guide on how to hide them for your own posts or others. What we're watching today:The Forbes Future of Work summit will be held today, both in-person in New York City and virtually. Speakers incude Thrive Capital CEO Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Chenault, the former American Express CEO and current chairman of venture capital firm General Catalyst.CNBC is holding its virtual Technology Executive Committee summit on Tuesday. Executives like UiPath CEO Robert Enslin and Meta VP of Reality Labs partnerships Ash Jhaveri will speak alongside figures including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.Fortune is kicking off its Most Powerful Women Next Gen conference in San Diego, California on Tuesday. Tech leaders like Ancestry CEO Deb Liu and Scale AI CEO Lucy Guo will appear on stage.Keep updated with the latest tech news throughout your day by checking out The Refresh from Insider, a dynamic audio news brief from the Insider newsroom. Listen here.Curated by Matt Weinberger in San Francisco. (Feedback or tips? Email mweinberger@insider.com or tweet @gamoid.) Edited by Hallam Bullock (tweet @hallam_bullock) in London.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: personnelSource: nytNov 15th, 2022
The Next High-Tech Tool for the Auto Aftermarket? Voice Assistants
In the early 1980s, we were first introduced to KITT (short for "Knight Industries Two Thousand"), an artificially-intelligent persona living inside an 1982 Pontiac Trans Am on the iconic American TV Show Knight Rider. While KITT was outfitted with a dizzying array of sensors and weapons, its most powerful capability was being able to speak […] In the early 1980s, we were first introduced to KITT (short for "Knight Industries Two Thousand"), an artificially-intelligent persona living inside an 1982 Pontiac Trans Am on the iconic American TV Show Knight Rider. While KITT was outfitted with a dizzying array of sensors and weapons, its most powerful capability was being able to speak to humans. KITT was not just the trusty sidekick for David Hasselhoff, who played the series hero, but a vision of what's possible at the intersection of the most advanced automotive and conversational AI technologies. if (typeof jQuery == 'undefined') { document.write(''); } .first{clear:both;margin-left:0}.one-third{width:31.034482758621%;float:left;margin-left:3.448275862069%}.two-thirds{width:65.51724137931%;float:left}form.ebook-styles .af-element input{border:0;border-radius:0;padding:8px}form.ebook-styles .af-element{width:220px;float:left}form.ebook-styles .af-element.buttonContainer{width:115px;float:left;margin-left: 6px;}form.ebook-styles .af-element.buttonContainer input.submit{width:115px;padding:10px 6px 8px;text-transform:uppercase;border-radius:0;border:0;font-size:15px}form.ebook-styles .af-body.af-standards input.submit{width:115px}form.ebook-styles .af-element.privacyPolicy{width:100%;font-size:12px;margin:10px auto 0}form.ebook-styles .af-element.privacyPolicy p{font-size:11px;margin-bottom:0}form.ebook-styles .af-body input.text{height:40px;padding:2px 10px !important} form.ebook-styles .error, form.ebook-styles #error { color:#d00; } form.ebook-styles .formfields h1, form.ebook-styles .formfields #mg-logo, form.ebook-styles .formfields #mg-footer { display: none; } form.ebook-styles .formfields { font-size: 12px; } form.ebook-styles .formfields p { margin: 4px 0; } Get The Full Walter Schloss Series in PDF Get the entire 10-part series on Walter Schloss in PDF. Save it to your desktop, read it on your tablet, or email to your colleagues. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Q3 2022 hedge fund letters, conferences and more iFrameResize({ log: false, checkOrigin: false }, '#icb_widget') Find A Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you're ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Some thirty years later, we are living in a time when these sci-fi visions are becoming reality as a result of rapid, converging technological advancements. Today's cars are jam-packed with enough digital sensors and automation technology to make KITT jealous – and they now come with KITT-like voice assistants onboard. While today's drivers are enjoying the benefits of these conversational super-computers-on-wheels, there's another automotive segment that stands to benefit from voice and conversational AI technology: the aftermarket. The aftermarket is simultaneously facing a trifecta of market dynamics: a massive shortage of talent (technician demand is outpacing supply by 5:1), a dramatic increase in demand (at 12.2 years, the average age of vehicles is at an all-time high), and a scramble to keep pace with OEM technologies, which can be highly variable across brands. The outcome? Aftermarket service centers have placed an even-greater emphasis on technician efficiency and productivity to meet demand. At the same time, they are looking for new ways to recruit and retain the next generation of auto service pros - digital natives who have come of age alongside Alexa and Siri. The The Vast Potential Of Voice Assistants Enter the vast potential of voice assistants - not just in the car, but in the shop garage. Technicians need quick and reliable access to accurate data about the cars they're servicing, but retrieving this data can be anything but convenient. When you're on the clock, wrenching under a vehicle and need to check a torque spec or a fluid type, the value of voice technology becomes dead-obvious. Sure, you could set your tools down, wash your hands, and walk to the computer terminal to type up a repair database search query, skim for your answer, then walk back to execute the job. Or, you could stay put, speak your question in natural language (three times faster than you can type) and immediately get just the data you need right there in the bay. Several minutes vs. several seconds. Compound that efficiency over each bay over the course of days and weeks, and you've got a force multiplier on shop throughput. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. As shops continue to digitize their operations through Shop Management Systems (SMS), they're creating a treasure trove of data that can directly impacts shop productivity. Voice interfaces can offer significant advantages when paired with these systems. For always-moving service advisors, how convenient would it be to get immediate answers to "what services did we recommend on Sally's Jeep last visit?," or "what's the ETA on the Integra's filters?". In the bay, technicians could effortlessly clock in and out of jobs by voice, or dictate notes onto repair orders about an additional service a customer might want to consider. By lowering the barrier for SMS use and accelerating data access, information flows more freely to those who need it. Voice assistants can also handle complex logic and provide proactive recommendations. Envision this: a technician or service advisor verbally logs a vehicle's odometer at 48,856 miles, and in response, a voice assistant proactively details the recommended maintenance services for 50,000 miles. This allows a shop to easily propose those services to the customer during this visit. Even digital vehicle inspections, which already eclipse clip-boards in terms of efficiency, could be supercharged with voice. No more fumbling through taps and menus while attempting to check out a vehicle. "Start the 20 point inspection…wipers are a little loose, log as yellow, snap a photo. OK, next step…" Now you've got more attention on the vehicle, less focus on the screen and its visual interface. While the upside potential of voice in the garage is compelling, delivering on these voice assistant use cases is easier said than done. It demands a deep knowledge of the voice technical stack, from speech recognition in noisy environments to natural language understanding in the auto knowledge domain (e.g., to process a term like "wheel nut torque" as a common spec request and not have the system mis-hear it as "will not torque"). When data becomes voice-activated - whether that data relates to vehicle repair guidelines, shop operations, or troubleshooting the car in front of you - everyone benefits. Technicians and service advisors' jobs become that much easier and more enjoyable. Shop owners attract and retain great talent. And customers get back on the road that much faster. Eric Turkington is VP of Growth at RAIN Technology, parent company of Ortho, a voice assistant designed for the auto aftermarket (heyortho.com)......»»
Category: blogSource: valuewalkNov 4th, 2022
EV Roundup: F"s September EV Sales Triple, NIO Expands in Europe & More
Ford's (F) US EV sales jump 197.3% year over year to 4,691 units in September. Meanwhile, NIO forays into four more European countries, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. A host of factors such as pollution issues, technical superiority and stricter fuel-emission standards have turned the fortunes in favor of electric vehicles (EVs). The demand for electric cars is off the charts. Despite a global deficit in semiconductor supply and other supply chain issues, legacy auto giants like Ford F and General Motors GM are witnessing remarkable growth in sales of green vehicles. EV king Tesla TSLA smashed monthly sales records in China last month. Meanwhile, China's rising EV star NIO Inc. NIO entered four more European countries after Norway to spur its EV progress overseas. Rivian Automotive RIVN also made headlines as it issued a recall for nearly 13,000 EVs, covering mostly all its vehicles, over loosened fasteners.While Tesla, Ford, Rivian and NIO carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), General Motors currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Last Week's Top StoriesFord's EV sales in the United States jumped 197.3% year over year to 4,691 units in September. The company's share of the U.S. EV market increased 3% year over year in September. Sales nearly tripled, led by soaring demand for F-150 e-pickup. Since its launch in June, Ford has sold 8,760 units. In fact, F-150 Lightning is one of Ford's fastest-turning vehicles at dealerships, averaging just eight days. Ford's E-Transit commercial van is also gaining immense popularity, securing a 90% share in the electric van market. The F150 Lightning and the E-Transit were the best-selling e-pickup and e-van in September. Sales of the hot-selling Mustang Mach-E model rose 47.3% year over year last month.Last week, Ford also hiked the starting price of the F-150 e-pickup by $5,000, thanks to supply chain snafus and rising commodity costs. Markedly, the price has been raised for the second time in just less than two months. The base 2023 F-150 Lightning is now priced at $51,974 — up roughly 11% from the previous hike in August. The updated price represents a 30% increase from the original sticker price of $39,974 price in May 2021.General Motors reported its highest quarterly sales of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV for the three months ending September. Sales of these models totaled 14,709 units in the third quarter. GM is now set to ramp up production of the EV Chevrolet Bolt and other vehicles.The company intends to bolster Bolt's global production capacity to more than 70,000 units in 2023 from the current level of 44,000 vehicles. In the first nine months of 2022, GM sold 22,012 Bolts, 782 Hummer EV pickups and 36 Lyriq SUVs. The company plans to increase the production of Cadillac Lyriq in the fourth quarter. It is also contemplating additional production shifts for GMC Hummer EVs beginning next year.In another development, GM Defense— a subsidiary of General Motors— was selected last week by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to build a battery pack prototype for testing and analysis on Department of Defense platforms. To meet the requirements of the DIU, General Motors will be leveraging its proprietary battery technology, the Ultium platform. This award follows GM Defense's contract with the U.S. Army in July to provide a GMC HUMMER EV Pickup for analysis and demonstration. NIO made headway into four more European countries after entering Norway in 2021. At a recent event in Berlin, NIO announced extending its services to Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. The selling strategy, however, is different from the Norwegian market, wherein the automaker sells its EVs directly. Instead, in the new markets, it has introduced a subscription-based model through which customers can lease vehicles and rent NIO's three models namely ET7, EL7 and ET5.Deliveries of the flagship ET7 are expected to begin in Germany and the Netherlands on Oct 16, followed by Sweden and Denmark on Nov 15. At the end of January 2023, EL7 will be available in all four markets. The ET5 model is slated to debut at the end of March 2023.NIO eyes the global market to strengthen its electric opportunities. At the Berlin event, the company announced that it will expand its footprint in 25 countries and regions by 2025.Rivian issued a massive recall of nearly all its EVs on the grounds of a potential problem that could make a driver lose steering control. The EV maker announced that it is recalling about 13,000 vehicles built in late 2021 and through September 2022, after it was discovered that a fastener connecting the front upper control arm and steering knuckle might come loose in some vehicles. The problem could lead to excess wheel tilt and, in some rare cases, separation of the wheel, disabling the driver to steer the vehicle, posing a serious threat to the safety of drivers and passengers.The affected customers were notified about the recall decision after seven reports potentially related to the structural issue of a torqued fastener came to light. However, no injuries were reported due to the malfunction. Rivian hopes the financial impact of the recall to be negligible and has ensured checks on all its vehicles within 30 days. Although Rivian had a thumping initial public offering last year in November, the automaker has been struggling to some extent to produce vehicles without being affected by quality issues. The ongoing parts shortage is already impeding deliveries and recalls further add to the woes.Tesla delivered 83,135 made-in-China EVs last month, crossing its monthly sales record in China, per the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This represents an 8% increase from August sales volumes. September sales units mark a new record for Tesla's Shanghai factory since December 2019, topping the previous sales record of 78,906 units. The increase is the result of the Shanghai factory upgrade undertaken by TSLA. The company had temporarily halted most operations at the Shanghai plant in July for an upgrade. That brought the factory's weekly output capacity to around 22,000 units, higher than around 17,000 in June, per CPCA data.Last to last week, Tesla released its third-quarter 2022 production and deliveries update. It produced 365,923 vehicles (comprising 19,935 Model S/X units and 345,988 Model 3/Y units) globally. Third-quarter deliveries totaled 343,830 units (consisting of 18,672 Model S/X units and 325,158 Model 3/Y units) worldwide.Price PerformanceThe following table shows the price movement of some of the major EV players over the last week and six-month period.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchWhat's Next in the Space?Stay tuned for announcements of upcoming EV models and any important updates from the red-hot industry. 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops." Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +24.8% per year. So be sure to give these hand-picked 7 your immediate attention. See them now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ford Motor Company (F): Free Stock Analysis Report General Motors Company (GM): Free Stock Analysis Report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report NIO Inc. (NIO): Free Stock Analysis Report Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»
Category: topSource: zacksOct 11th, 2022
New viewership numbers are here for Amazon"s "Rings of Power" — here"s how it compares to HBO"s "House of the Dragon"
Amazon's big-budget "Lord of the Rings" series had a strong premiere, but the coming weeks could better determine its staying power. "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power."Prime Video Nielsen said that "The Rings of Power" was watched for 1.25 billion minutes in its first four days. It's a strong premiere and, on the surface, ahead of HBO's "House of the Dragon." But Nielsen's data doesn't paint a complete picture. After months of anticipation, Amazon's mega-expensive "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is here — and so are some early viewership figures.The show topped Nielsen's latest streaming chart — which reflected the week of August 29 through September 4 — the first for an Amazon series. The first two episodes of "The Rings of Power," which debuted September 1, were watched for a total of 1.253 billion minutes in the US in their first four days.At an hour in length for each episode, that would break down to roughly 10 million US viewers in that time period, assuming for the purposes of this analysis that there were no repeat viewers and everyone finished each episode (it's not a perfect science)."The Rings of Power" had a lot of pressure on it leading up to its premiere, largely because of its hefty pricetag. Amazon spent $250 million for the rights alone, and the first season cost $465 million to make, according to The Hollywood Reporter.The numbers indicate that "The Rings of Power" had a strong debut, but the show has also faced growing pains. It's been rocked by poor audience reception and online engagement has appeared lukewarm since its premiere, with Google searches related to the show peaking with its debut, for instance.Its fantasy counterpart, HBO's "Game of Thrones" prequel "House of the Dragon" — which premiered less than two weeks before "The Rings of Power" — hasn't seemed to faced those headwinds."House of the Dragon."HBOAt first glance, "The Rings of Power" won the "streaming battle of the prequels" in their premieres, as Nielsen put it. But "House of the Dragon" highlights limitations to the the company's data.Nielsen said last week that the first two episodes of "House of the Dragon" were watched for 741 million minutes on HBO Max from August 22 through August 28. This didn't include the show's premiere, which debuted Sunday, August 21 at 9 pm EST. Nor does it include linear programming on the traditional HBO network, only streaming viewership on HBO Max.With that in mind, "House of the Dragon" is more popular than the Nielsen data suggests. HBO said that the series premiere alone was watched by almost 10 million viewers in the US on its first night across streaming and linear platforms, the network's biggest premiere ever.The show is also driving viewership for "Game of Thrones," which Nielsen said was watched for nearly 800 million minutes over the week of August 22.But that doesn't mean that "The Rings of Power" didn't have a strong premiere (it did), and it's trending ahead of other recent hit Amazon series. But the coming weeks will better suggest whether it has staying power — though Amazon told Insider that the series "continues to be the most-watched show worldwide on Prime Video, breaking all previous viewing records."Here's how it stacked up against other Amazon shows:As a reminder, "The Rings of Power's" first two episodes were watched for 1.253 billion minutes over its first four days."The Wheel of Time's" three-episode premiere was watched for 1.163 billion minutes in its first three-day weekend after it debuted last November."The Boys" was watched for 949 million minutes over the first weekend that its third season premiered with the first three episodes in June."The Terminal List" debuted all eight of its episodes at once in July, which were watched for 1.106 billion minutes in the show's debut weekend.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: dealsSource: nytSep 30th, 2022
Meet 11 top cars from the reimagined Detroit Auto Show — where electric rides rule the day
Attendees can see their favorite engines — like that of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang — and get a taste of the EVs automakers are cooking up. BI GraphicsThe Lincoln Model L 100 concept is chock-full of connectivity, uses next-generation battery-cell and pack technologies, and allows for seating that users can configure in different ways.Lincoln Automakers showed off their EVs in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show this week. It was the first time Detroit has had a show since January 2019. Here's a look at the top cars automakers showcased this year. This article is part of the Ride Along series, a collection of stories recapping some of the biggest auto shows around the country. It's about time Detroit has another one of its iconic auto shows. The Motor City welcomed automakers, industry folks, and showgoers this week to the first major auto bonanza it has held since January 2019. Typically, the annual North American International Auto Show takes over the city each winter. But a while back, show decision-makers decided to shift it from January to the summer, spicing up the decades-old event with a new — outdoor — mobility component to showcase the new directions the industry is going. The show was set to have its first summer iteration in June 2020, but the pandemic put a stop to that. This week, the Detroit Auto Show is actually back. It didn't feature as many debuts as in the past, but for anyone interested in the future of the industry, it was the place to be. Attendees see their favorite engines — like that of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang — and get a taste of the electric vehicles automakers have been talking about for the past few years. Check out the future of autos from makers like Ford, GM, and Toyota at the auto show in Detroit. Here's 11 cars to see:Seventh-gen Ford MustangSeventh-generation Ford Mustang.Alexa St. JohnFord made a splash with its all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV. But the automaker knows there's still an appetite for a gas-powered pony car. With Dodge discontinuing the iconic Challenger and GM ending the Camaro's run, Ford's hoping the latest iteration of the Mustang will have the road all to itself. 2023 Lincoln Corsair2023 Lincoln Corsair.LincolnRevealed on September 12 just ahead of the show, the 2023 Lincoln Corsair features a hands-free advanced driver-assistance system, the Lincoln ActiveGlide 1.2. This includes features like lane-change assist, intersection assist, predictive-speed assist, and in-lane repositioning, which works at up speeds of up to 80 mph.The Corsair got a refresh to its grille, an update to its daytime running lamps, and a more spacious front-row configuration, among other tweaks.It will be available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine, and as the 2.5-liter plug-in hybrid Corsair Grand Touring.Lincoln Model L 100 conceptLincoln Model L 100 concept.LincolnFord's luxury brand unveiled this electric-and-autonomous-vehicle concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance last month. Consumers now get to take a look at the vehicle, Lincoln's homage to the 1922 Model L, in Detroit.It's chock-full of connectivity, uses next-generation battery-cell and pack technologies, and allows for seating that users can configure in different ways.Lincoln said the Model L is "a concept with aero-influenced styling and advanced technology that creates the immersive interior sanctuary of tomorrow."Buick Wildcat EV conceptBuick Wildcat EV concept.BuickUnveiled back in June, the Wildcat's now on display in its hometown. The electric-coupe concept includes exterior-design highlights like semi-swing doors, an external "state of charge" indicator in the hatchback glass, and a snazzy aluminum trim. The brand said "sharp, high-mounted and horizontal check mark-shaped lighting flanks the vehicle."The windshield for this concept wraps around the front of the vehicle and flows into the side glass.Buick plans on evolving its vehicles to include more futuristic features using AI, biometrics, and aromatherapy.2023 GMC Canyon2023 GMC Canyon.GMCGMC unveiled the next generation of its Canyon midsize pickup last month. The AT4X trim has been added to the Canyon lineup, providing more advanced off-roading performance and capabilities. This gives the vehicle 310 horsepower, 430 pound-feet of torque, and a towing capacity of 5,500 pounds. It comes equipped with underbody protection like large front heavy-duty skid plating, a larger transfer-case shield, and rocker protectors.2023 Toyota Crown2023 Toyota Crown.ToyotaToyota reimagined its Crown and brought it back to the US in July.Shown at the show, it's the first of the maker's sedans to offer its HYBRID MAX system, an all-new performance setup available only with its Platinum-grade offering. The Crown can also be ordered with the fourth-generation Toyota Hybrid System for all three grades: the Platinum, XLE, and Limited.All three grades offer electronic on-demand all-wheel drive as standard. The Crown also has a raised height about four inches higher than the Camry, providing increased road visibility.2023 Direct Connection Dodge Hornet GLH concept2023 Direct Connection Dodge Hornet GLH concept.Alexa St. JohnThis concept is the brand's way of bridging the Hornet with one of its most well-known heritage models.The GLH — or "Goes Like Hell" — Dodge Omni gained popularity in the 1980s. The concept's chassis has lowering springs that bring its center of gravity down, according to the automaker. This increases body control, reduces roll, and gives a more "aggressive stance."The compact car has an inline four-cylinder engineer and a turbocharger.2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 convertible2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 convertible.Alexa St. JohnThe exterior of the Corvette Z06 is an eighth-generation mid-engine architecture and design.It has wider fenders, quarter panels, and front and rear fascias for grip and handling benefits. It also has an optional front-lift system that raises the front of the vehicle almost 2 inches to clear low obstacles.The convertible, which went on sale this summer, goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 26 seconds. It has a V8 engine and 670 horsepower.2022 Kia EV6Kia EV6.KiaThe EV6 was displayed as a 2023 North American Car and Truck of the Year semifinalist.It's an all-electric crossover with about 310 miles of range and starts at around $41,400. It comes equipped with the Kia Drive Wise driver-assist technology.There are several versions of the EV6, including the Light and Wind rear-wheel-drive trims, a Wind electric all-wheel drive trim, the GT-Line RWD and e-AWD trims.2023 Lexus RZ 450e2023 Lexus RZ 450e.Alexa St. JohnThe luxury automaker showed off its first EV, the RZ 450e. The company says the car marks its first step into its all-electric future.Its eAxle integrates the vehicle's motor, transaxle, and inverter within a compact unit, benefiting cruise range and enabling a spacious interior.The DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system improves start-up acceleration and handling stability, and allows for low power consumption. The vehicle can go about 225 miles on a single charge.2023 Bronco Sport Heritage Edition2023 Bronco Sport Heritage Edition.Alexa St. JohnFord is tapping into its customers' sense of nostalgia with the heritage edition of the smash-hit Bronco.The display is where "1960s styling meets modern capability," Ford said. Ford will build just 1,966 units of each Heritage Limited Edition model to commemorate the year of the original Bronco's debut.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: dealsSource: nytSep 23rd, 2022
Chinese Tesla rival Xpeng launched "the world"s fastest-charging electric SUV." See the sleek, $43,800 G9.
Chinese startup Xpeng is aiming straight at Tesla with a new electric SUV that charges in a flash and can go 436 miles without charging. See the G9. The Xpeng G9 electric SUV.Xpeng Chinese electric-car startup Xpeng launched the G9, its latest SUV. It promises to be the world's fastest-charging electric SUV, claiming to add 124 miles of range in five minutes. It goes on sale in China and Europe starting in October with a starting price of $43,800. Chinese electric-vehicle startup Xpeng on Wednesday launched the G9, a sleek, fast-charging SUV that should help it compete with Tesla, BYD, and other EV heavyweights.Xpeng G9.XpengThe young company unveiled the G9 last year but just announced new details about the tech-packed model as it prepares to start customer deliveries.Xpeng G9.XpengDepending on the specific version chosen, the G9 will cost buyers between $43,800 and $66,400 in China (at current exchange rates).Xpeng G9.XpengThat pricing matches Tesla's popular Model Y, more or less. In China, Elon Musk's small SUV costs around $45,000 for a base model and $59,000 for a sportier version.Xpeng G9.XpengXpeng also has its sights set on Europe and says you'll be able to buy a G9 in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands.Xpeng G9.XpengRead more: We got an early look at the 557-horsepower Blazer EV SS: See Chevy's $66,000 answer to the Ford Mustang Mach-EAnyone who's considered buying an electric car knows driving range is everything these days.Xpeng G9.XpengThe G9 doesn't disappoint on that front, according to estimates Xpeng provided.Xpeng G9.XpengThe SUV promises to travel an impressive 702 kilometers (436 miles) per charge in its longest-range trim.Xpeng G9.XpengBase models can drive 570 kilometers (354 miles) between fill-ups, Xpeng says.Xpeng G9.XpengCharging up should be a breeze, too. According to Xpeng, buyers won't need to sit and wait for ages while their EV slowly replenishes its battery pack.Xpeng G9.XpengXpeng claims the G9 is the "world's fastest-charging electric SUV."Xpeng G9.XpengRead more: I drove a Tesla for the first time after testing 14 other electric cars. Now I get why people are so obsessed with Elon Musk's vehicles.Some models will be able to add 124 miles of driving range after just five minutes plugged into one of Xpeng's high-powered charging stations.Xpeng G9.XpengLike Tesla, Xpeng is building out its own charging network. It has 1,000 locations in China and plans to add another 500 stations featuring its highest-powered plugs in 2023.Xpeng G9.XpengTesla owners can expect to add up to 200 miles in 15 minutes of charging at a Supercharger, the company says.Xpeng G9.XpengLucid Motors, a startup, says its debut luxury sedan can add 300 miles of range in 22 minutes, under optimal conditions.Xpeng G9.XpengStandard G9 models aim to recharge their battery packs from 10% to 80% in a brief 15 minutes.Xpeng G9.XpengThe SUV will also have bidirectional-charging capability, allowing it to share battery power with outside appliances and devices.Xpeng G9.XpengThe G9 won't lack power either, with the all-wheel-drive performance model promising to hit 62 mph in 3.9 seconds.Xpeng G9.XpengRead more: Ford's new Mustang has crisp looks and a feature that lets you rev the engine from outside the carIn addition to speedy acceleration, solid range, and impressive charging speeds, the G9 gets smooth, upscale styling with flush door handles.Xpeng G9.XpengThe interior looks sufficiently swanky.Xpeng G9.XpengIt includes calf rests for front passengers…Xpeng G9.Xpeng… an expansive touchscreen …Xpeng G9.Xpeng… and colorful ambient lighting throughout.Xpeng G9.XpengThe steering wheel has an unusual two-spoke design, rather than the usual three.Xpeng G9.XpengXpeng also equipped the G9 with its latest semi-automated driving feature, which rivals Tesla Autopilot.Xpeng G9.XpengRead more: I used Tesla's Autopilot for the first time and found it makes a long drive bearable — as long as you remember what it can't doIt promises to navigate highways (including interchanges), change lanes, and automatically drive to saved parking spots.Xpeng G9.XpengThe G9 goes on sale in China in October, followed by international markets.Xpeng G9.XpengRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: topSource: businessinsiderSep 22nd, 2022
We got an early look at the 557-horsepower Blazer EV SS: See Chevy"s $66,000 answer to the Ford Mustang Mach-E
The powerful and electric Chevy Blazer EV SS hits the market next year, but we got an early look. See the stylish SUV's interior and coolest features. The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/Insider This summer, Chevrolet announced the Blazer EV, a sleek electric SUV hitting streets next year. I got a closer look at an early model about a year before its debut. The sporty Blazer EV SS costs $66,000, has all-wheel drive, and boasts a massive 17.7-inch touchscreen. Chevrolet has been in the electric-vehicle game for a while now with the Bolt EV, a small hatchback that's practical but not particularly sexy or exciting.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.TimBut competition is heating up and Chevy is spicing things up with a new battery-powered option coming out next year: the Blazer EV.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderRead more: Chevrolet unveils $45,000 electric Blazer with up to 320 miles of range to take on Ford's popular Mustang Mach-EThe midsize SUV should give Americans exactly what they're craving. And buyers looking to jazz up their commutes will love the inclusion of a performance model called the Blazer EV SS.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderI got to take a closer look at the sporty SUV recently and am here to show you its exterior, interior, and interesting features.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderThe Blazer EV will be available in several trim levels, with three battery sizes on offer. The $66,000 SS is the top-of-the-line model with 290 miles of range, two motors, and all-wheel drive.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderRead more: Chevrolet unveiled the $30,000 Equinox EV, a small, electric SUV with 250 miles of rangeIt promises to produce 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet of torque, GM says. It'll sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in less than four seconds.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderTo handle all this power, the SS gets special brakes and a unique suspension setup.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderSome of the Blazer EV SS's biggest competitors will be the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y. Both SUVs offer sporty variants called the GT and Performance, respectively.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderIn person, the Blazer EV SS looks exceedingly long and low. It's almost more of a sporty station wagon than a tall SUV.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderThe $66,000 SS gets a full-width LED light bar up front, including an illuminated Chevy badge.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderWhile the Blazer is charging, the light strip gradually fills up to indicate the car's battery level.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderRead more: We got an early look at Chevy's upcoming $105,000 electric pickup truck: See inside the Ford Lightning's biggest rivalThe SS gets a blacked-out front end and a black roof, as opposed to the body-colored roof that comes on other models.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderIt also comes with the biggest wheels of the bunch, measuring in at 22 inches.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS electric SUV.Tim Levin/InsiderThe charging port door is way cooler than your typical gas tank flap.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderRead more: I drove a Tesla for the first time after testing 14 other electric cars. Now I get why people are so obsessed with Elon Musk's vehicles.Inside, the Blazer EV SS is spacious and technology-packed.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderThe cockpit features a colorful, 11-inch instrument panel that displays important driving info.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderRead more: Ford unveiled what may be its last gas-powered Mustang: See how the iconic model has evolved through the decadesAlongside it is a large, 17.7-inch touchscreen that's angled toward the driver. It's standard across all Blazer EV models.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderIt's nicely complemented by an array of physical switches for key functions, including a volume knob embedded into the screen.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderSS models get a flat-bottomed steering wheel. They come with Super Cruise, GM's hands-free highway driving system, which includes an LED strip at the top of the steering wheel. When it's green, Super Cruise is ready to go.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderOverall, the interior is boldly designed, featuring turbine-like air vents and lots of shiny trim.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderRead more: Ferrari's first-ever SUV has 715 horsepower and a top speed of 193 mph: See the one-of-a-kind $390,000 PurosangueThe SS gets an exclusive red interior as an option, which might be a bit excessive for some peoples' tastes.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderRear passengers get a substantial amount of legroom and headroom, plus USB-C ports and climate vents.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderThere's no front trunk in the Blazer EV SS like you'd find in competing vehicles from Tesla and Ford.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderBut rear cargo space looks pretty solid.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderThe Chevy Blazer EV goes on sale next summer, followed by the SS model later in the year.The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.Tim Levin/InsiderRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: topSource: businessinsiderSep 20th, 2022
Ferrari"s first-ever SUV has 715 horsepower and a top speed of 193 mph: See the one-of-a-kind $390,000 Purosangue
Ferrari's newest model has four doors, four seats, and costs nearly $400,000. See inside the Purosangue. The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.Ferrari Ferrari unveiled its first-ever SUV on Tuesday: the Purosangue. Its 715-horsepower V12 engine sends it to 62 mph in just 3.3 seconds, Ferrari says. The Purosangue has unique rear-hinge doors and four seats. Ferrari is known for its low-slung, exotic sports cars. But its latest model rejects that mold for something a bit bigger and more capable.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariOn Tuesday, the ultra-premium Italian brand took the wraps off of the Purosangue, its very first SUV.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariThe four-seater will start at 390,000 euros (roughly $390,000) in Italy, but Ferrari hasn't revealed US pricing yet.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariRead more: We got an early look at Chevy's upcoming $105,000 electric pickup truck: See inside the Ford Lightning's biggest rivalThe Purosangue is also the first four-door vehicle Ferrari has ever sold.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariFerrari is following in the footsteps of other high-end sports-car brands like Lamborghini, whose Urus SUV has become by far its most popular model since its debut in 2018.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariRead more: Chevrolet unveiled the $30,000 Equinox EV, a small, electric SUV with 250 miles of rangeThe company insists that the Purosangue isn't any less of a Ferrari than the supercars that came before it, even going so far as to name it "thoroughbred."The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariAnd Ferrari won't even call it an SUV, instead referring to it as "a versatile car that melds unparalleled comfort with Ferrari's signature performance and driving pleasure."The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariRead more: I drove the coolest new electric car you've never heard of. Take a tour of the $48,000 Polestar 2.To Ferrari's credit, the Purosangue certainly looks unlike anything else on the road.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariWith a pointy, stretched-out front end and a hatch in the rear, the Purosangue resembles a mashup between a sports car and a small SUV.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariLike its more conventional Ferrari stablemates, the Purosangue will pack plenty of punch from a big engine.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariIts 6.2-liter V12 should churn out 715 horsepower and 528 pound-feet of torque, according to Ferrari's estimates.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariIt'll rip from a standstill to 62 mph in a brief 3.3 seconds, Ferrari says, placing it among the quickest SUVs on the market.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariAccording to Ferrari, it will hit 124 mph in 10.6 seconds on its way to a top speed north of 193 mph.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariThe Purosangue will come with all-wheel drive to bring extra capability.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariRead more: The 8 cheapest electric cars with at least 250 miles of rangeIt comes standard with a carbon-fiber roof, which Ferrari says reduces overall weight and lowers the vehicle's center of gravity, helping with driving dynamics.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariThe brand added in unique rear-hinged doors that help passengers get into and out of the rear seats more easily.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariThese so-called "welcome doors" also allowed Ferrari to keep the Purosangue as compact as possible, it said.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariClimb inside and you'll find four independently adjustable seats with heating functions, a first for Ferrari.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariRead more: I drove the Rivian R1S. Tour the sleek, feature-packed interior of the coolest new electric SUV in the country.In back, the Purosangue offers the most storage of any Ferrari ever, which doesn't come as too much of a surprise.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariUp front, the driver and passenger get massaging seats.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariRead more: Jeep unveiled its first 2 electric SUVs for the US — see the high-end Wagoneer S and rugged Recon.The dashboard is nearly symmetrical, featuring a 10.2-inch display in front of the passenger.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariThere's a similar display behind the steering wheel that displays important driving info, but curiously there's no central touchscreen.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariThe Purosangue will go on sale next year and will compete with other high-end SUVs like the Lamborghini Urus, Aston Martin DBX, and Porsche Cayenne.The Ferrari Purosangue SUV.FerrariRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Stellantis" (STLA) Jeep to Offer 4 All-Electric SUVs by 2025
Stellantis' (STLA) Jeep to bring four novel all-electric SUVs to North America and Europe by 2025 to spur its electrification efforts. Jeep aims to be in a leading position in the electrified SUVs. Stellantis N.V. STLA-owned Jeep brand has announced a comprehensive plan for its next generation of fully electric 4xe vehicles. It will introduce four new all-electric SUVs in North America and Europe by the end of 2025.Riding on the success of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, its best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle in the United States and the recently introduced Grand Cherokee 4xe, the brand is set to develop a comprehensive electrified product range.In the large SUV segment, the Wagoneer models have powertrains that target an estimated 500 miles of range.Jeep Recon will be one of the first all-new electric SUVs to be launched in North America.Code-named Wagoneer S, the all-new fully electric Wagoneer will bolster the brand's premium SUV segment. It will have all-terrain management, advanced Jeep brand-focused technology impressive performance features.The new all-electric Jeep Avenger will be launched in Europe early next year after its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October this year.The announcement follows Stellantis Dodge's recent unveiling of the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT, a high-performance EV concept. The vehicle has improved performance measures like enhanced aerodynamics and an 800V powertrain with four-wheel drive. The Dodge Charger is expected to be a breakthrough in the world of battery-electric vehicles (BEV).Earlier in the year, Stellantis' Ram broke the news that it was working on an all-electric full-size pickup truck for which production is slated to commence in 2024. Ram will share the details of the much-awaited Ram Revolution EV news in November. The brand aims to serve the next generation of Ram customers with a range of products that caters to real-world demands. The RAM electric pickup truck will be designed on a new STLA Frame architecture that will be able to support a mighty 500-mile driving range. The anticipated vehicle promises more range, power, productivity and convenience.The Chrysler brand has also announced that it will launch its first BEV by 2025 and offer an all-electric Chrysler vehicle lineup by 2028.This recent announcement is part of its sustainable transformation to emerge as the world's leading electrified SUV brand.In July 2021, Stellantis announced ambitious plans to invest more than €30 billion between 2021 and 2025 in electrification and software development.It aims to cover 40% of sales in the United States and 70% of sales in Europe from low-emission vehicles by 2030. It also targets 50% of passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the United States and 100% of passenger car BEV sales mix in Europe by the end of this decade.Stellantis has been focused on expediting its electrification plans in recent months.It has launched the Dare Forward 2030 plan to aid its transition to a carbon net-zero entity by 2038, with a 50% reduction by 2030. The auto giant aims to double net revenues to $335 billion annually by 2030 and maintain double-digit profit margins as it looks to ramp up efforts to bring electrified versions of its cars. The Dodge muscle car and the Ram pickup had been mentioned in the plan. It also intends to have more than 75 BEVs and reach global annual BEV sales of 5 million vehicles by 2030.It is remarkable that Stellantis, with an impressive portfolio of 14 renowned brands, is set to rev up the electrification journey with exhilarating product offerings. The recent development by the Jeep brand is in line with STLA's vision of an electrified future.Shares of STLA have lost 33.7% over the past year compared with its industry's 35.1% decline.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchZacks Rank & Key PicksSTLA carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), currently.Better-ranked players in the auto space include BorgWarner BWA, Tesla Inc. TSLA and LCI Industries LCII, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), currently. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.BorgWarner has an expected earnings growth rate of 2.9% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised 0.7% upward in the past 30 days.BorgWarner's earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters. BWA pulled off a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.45%, on average. The stock has declined 11.4% in the past year.Tesla has an expected earnings growth rate of 76.5% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised 1% upward in the past 30 days.Tesla's earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters. TSLA pulled off a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.17%, on average. The stock has increased 15% in the past year.LCI Industries has an expected earnings growth rate of 68.1% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has remained constant in the past 30 days.LCI Industries' earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters. LCII pulled off a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 26.48%, on average. The stock has declined 13.8% over the past year. Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double" From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all. It's a little-known chemical company that's up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time. This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BorgWarner Inc. (BWA): Free Stock Analysis Report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report LCI Industries (LCII): Free Stock Analysis Report Stellantis N.V. (STLA): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»
Category: topSource: zacksSep 9th, 2022
The Tesla "Hypergrowth" Story Is Over – Shortseller
Stanphyl Capital letter to investors for the month ended August 31, 2022, discussing their short thesis for Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA). It's becoming increasingly obvious that the Tesla "hypergrowth" story is over. Here are the company's most recent quarterly deliveries: Q4 '21: 309,000 Q1 '22: 310,000 Q2 '22 & Q3's estimate averaged to account for pent-up […] Stanphyl Capital letter to investors for the month ended August 31, 2022, discussing their short thesis for Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA). It's becoming increasingly obvious that the Tesla "hypergrowth" story is over. Here are the company's most recent quarterly deliveries: Q4 '21: 309,000 Q1 '22: 310,000 Q2 '22 & Q3's estimate averaged to account for pent-up Q3 demand from Q2's China factory closing: 312,000. if (typeof jQuery == 'undefined') { document.write(''); } .first{clear:both;margin-left:0}.one-third{width:31.034482758621%;float:left;margin-left:3.448275862069%}.two-thirds{width:65.51724137931%;float:left}form.ebook-styles .af-element input{border:0;border-radius:0;padding:8px}form.ebook-styles .af-element{width:220px;float:left}form.ebook-styles .af-element.buttonContainer{width:115px;float:left;margin-left: 6px;}form.ebook-styles .af-element.buttonContainer input.submit{width:115px;padding:10px 6px 8px;text-transform:uppercase;border-radius:0;border:0;font-size:15px}form.ebook-styles .af-body.af-standards input.submit{width:115px}form.ebook-styles .af-element.privacyPolicy{width:100%;font-size:12px;margin:10px auto 0}form.ebook-styles .af-element.privacyPolicy p{font-size:11px;margin-bottom:0}form.ebook-styles .af-body input.text{height:40px;padding:2px 10px !important} form.ebook-styles .error, form.ebook-styles #error { color:#d00; } form.ebook-styles .formfields h1, form.ebook-styles .formfields #mg-logo, form.ebook-styles .formfields #mg-footer { display: none; } form.ebook-styles .formfields { font-size: 12px; } form.ebook-styles .formfields p { margin: 4px 0; } Get The Full Series in PDF Get the entire 10-part series on Charlie Munger in PDF. Save it to your desktop, read it on your tablet, or email to your colleagues. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Q2 2022 hedge fund letters, conferences and more Tesla's Production Capacity Is Outstripping Incoming Orders Tesla delivery wait times worldwide are now declining substantially, which by definition means that its newly expanded production capacity is outstripping its rate of incoming orders despite the new German and Texas factories producing at only around 20% of capacity! This means one thing and one thing only: big, margin-slashing Tesla price cuts are needed to resume meaningful unit delivery growth, and in fact in late August the first such cut happened, with Tesla introducing in Europe a new rear-wheel drive Model Y that sells for as much as $20,000 less than the cheapest model (an all-wheel drive version) available here in the U.S. Sure, if Tesla slashes prices enough it will undoubtedly be able to use its excess capacity, but so can any other car company. Welcome to the auto business, which currently sells for around 5x earnings! Meanwhile, Elon Musk remains the most vile person ever to head a large-cap U.S. public company, and we remain short Tesla, the biggest bubble-stock in modern market history, because: It has a sliding share of the world's EV market and a share of the overall auto market that's only around 1.5%, yet a market cap greater than the next 13 largest automakers (by market cap) combined despite selling only around 2% of the cars they do. It has no "moat" of any kind; i.e., nothing meaningfully proprietary in terms of its electric car technology (which has now been equaled or surpassed by numerous competitors) and its previously proprietary Superchargers are being opened to everyone), while existing automakers—unlike Tesla—have a decades-long "experience moat" of knowing how to mass-produce, distribute and service high-quality cars consistently and profitably. Excluding working capital benefits and sunsetting emission credit sales Tesla generates only minimal free cash flow. Growth in sequential demand for Tesla's cars is at a crawl relative to expectations. Elon Musk is a pathological liar. In July Tesla reported a terrible Q2, with deliveries down 26% from Q1 (which itself showed no growth over Q4). However, Q2's sales decrease was due to a monthlong COVID-related closing of Tesla's Shanghai factory, and thus that month of pent-up demand will undoubtedly make Q3's figure significantly better than it otherwise would be (which is why I averaged the two figures a few paragraphs above). In Q2 Tesla generated only $621 million in stated free cash flow, yet that included a sequential increase in payables (and decrease in receivables) despite a $1.8 billion decrease in revenue! (In other words, Tesla didn't pay some of its bills!) Additionally, there was a $106M operating cash flow benefit from a Bitcoin sale, so adjusting for the working capital and Bitcoin benefits Tesla was barely free cash flow-positive. Meanwhile, earnings were just $0.65/share (adjusted for August's 3:1 split) including roughly .10/share of emission credit sales which will disappear some time next year when competitors have enough EV capacity of their own. If we add back the one-time .03/share loss for the aforementioned Bitcoin sale and deduct the sunsetting credit sales, we get annualized adjusted run-rate earnings of just $2.32, giving Tesla an annualized run-rate PE ratio (as of the end of August) of 119 in an industry with an average current multiple of only around 5! And even to make that lousy earnings number Tesla (an alleged "technology growth company") had to slash R&D spending sequentially by almost $200 million while simultaneously claiming a mysterious reduction in SG&A despite opening two brand new factories in the quarter that Musk called "gigantic money furnaces." Loss Of Product Edge Meanwhile, Tesla has objectively lost its "product edge," with many competing cars now offering comparable or better real-world range, better interiors, similar or faster charging speeds and much better quality. (Tesla ranks second-to-last in Consumer Reports' reliability survey while British consumer organization Which? found it to be one of the least reliable cars in existence.) Thus, due to competitors' temporary production constraints, waiting times are now longer for many of Tesla's direct EV competitors than they are for a Tesla. (Here's one example, and here's another.) In fact, Tesla is likely now the second, third or fourth choice for many EV buyers, and only maintains its volume lead though a short-lived edge in production capacity that will disappear over the next 12 to 36 months as competitors rapidly increase the ability to produce their superior EVs. Tesla's poorly-built Model Y faces current (or imminent) competition from the much better made (and often just better) electric Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach E, Cadillac Lyriq, Nissan Ariya, Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX3, Mercedes EQB, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Chevrolet Blazer EV and Polestar 3. And Tesla's Model 3 now has terrific direct "sedan competition" from Volvo's beautiful Polestar 2, the great new BMW i4, the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Volkswagen Aero, and multiple local competitors in China—here, from Snowbull Capital's @TaylorOgan, is just one example of that Chinese competition: And in the high-end electric car segment worldwide the Porsche Taycan (the base model of which is now considerably less expensive than Tesla's Model S) outsells the Model S, while the spectacular Mercedes EQS, Audi e-Tron GT and Lucid Air make it look like a fast Yugo, and the extremely well reviewed new BMW iX and Mercedes EQS SUV do the same to the Model X. Tesla Is Netflix Indeed, for years I've said "Tesla is Blackberry"—the maker of a first-generation version of a product that—once the market was proven—would be supplanted into niche obscurity by newer, better versions; now I can provide a much more recent analogy: Tesla is Netflix. For years Netflix had an absurd valuation based on its pioneering position in streaming media, but once it proved that such a market existed myriad competitors swarmed all over it, and this year the stock collapsed when we learned that not only is Netflix no longer in "hypergrowth" mode but for the first time since 2011 (when it transitioned from physical DVDs) it actually lost subscribers. I believe Musk knows that Tesla is "the next Netflix" (hence his recent "Twitter buying distraction"), with VW, Hyundai/Kia, Ford, GM, BMW, Mercedes, BYD & other Chinese competitors and, in a few years, Toyota & Honda, being the Disney, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Hulu, Paramount +, etc., of the electric car market, stealing Tesla's share and eventually pounding its stock price down 90% or so from today's, into the valuation of "just another car company." Despite this obvious "writing on the wall," many Tesla bulls sincerely believe that ten years from now the company will be twice the size of Volkswagen or Toyota, thereby selling around 20 million cars a year (up from the current run-rate of around 1.3 million); in fact in May Musk himself even raised this as a possibility. Setting aside the absurdity of selling that many cars at Tesla's high price points, to illustrate the "logistical absurdity" of this, going from 1.3 million cars a year today to 20 million in ten years means that in addition to 2 million cars a year of sold-out existing claimed production capacity (once the German and Texas factories are fully operational), Tesla would have to add 36 more brand new 500,000 car/year factories with sold out production; i.e., a new factory nearly every single quarter for the next ten years! Meanwhile, in July the head of Tesla's "self-driving" program quit, while in June the NHTSA announced that its investigation of Tesla's deadly Autopilot has expanded into "an engineering analysis," the last required step before (finally!) demanding a full recall. The refund liability potential for Tesla for this is in the billions of dollars, and possibly even the tens of billions if a class action lawsuit proves that the cars involved were purchased solely due to the (fallacious) promise of "full self-driving." And, of course, there will be a massive "valuation reappraisal" for Tesla's stock as the world wakes up to the fact that Tesla's so-called "autonomy technology" is just trailing-edge garbage. As of July the NHTA was investigating 48 crashes involving autonomous driving systems, 39 of which—and all the deaths but one—involve Tesla. (For all Tesla deaths cited in the media—which is likely only a small fraction of those that have occurred—see TeslaDeaths.com.) And Tesla has sold this trashy software for almost six years now: …and still promotes it on its website via a completely fraudulent video! Nothing Proprietary Another favorite Tesla hype story has been built around so-called "proprietary battery technology." In fact though, Tesla has nothing proprietary there—it doesn't make them, it buys them from Panasonic, CATL and LG, and it's the biggest liar in the industry regarding the real-world range of its cars. And if new-format 4680 cells enter the market some time in 2024 (as is now expected), even if Tesla makes some of its own, other manufacturers will gladly sell them to anyone, and BMW has already announced it will buy them from CATL and EVE. And oh, the joke of a "pickup truck" Tesla previewed in 2019 (and still hasn't shown in production-ready form) won't be much of "growth engine" either, as it will enter a dogfight of a market; in fact, Ford's terrific 2022 all-electric F-150 Lightning now has over 200,000 retail reservations (plus many more fleet reservations), GM has introduced its fantastic 2023 electric Silverado which already has nearly 200,000 reservations and Rivian's pick-up has gotten excellent early reviews. Regarding safety, as noted earlier in this letter, Tesla continues to deceptively sell its hugely dangerous so-called "Autopilot" system, which Consumer Reports has completely eviscerated; God only knows how many more people this monstrosity unleashed on public roads will kill despite the NTSB condemning it. Elsewhere in safety, the Chinese government forced the recall of tens of thousands of Teslas for a dangerous suspension defect the company spent years trying to cover up, and now Tesla has been hit by a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. for the same defect. Tesla also knowingly sold cars that it knew were a fire hazard and did the same with solar systems, and after initially refusing to do so voluntarily, it was forced to recall a dangerously defective touchscreen. In other words, when it comes to the safety of customers and innocent bystanders, Tesla is truly one of the most vile companies on Earth. Meanwhile the massive number of lawsuits of all types against the company continues to escalate. So Here Is Tesla's Competition In Cars... (note: these links are regularly updated) Porsche Taycan Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Porsche Macan Electric SUV Officially Coming in 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 Volkswagen ID.4 Electric SUV Volkswagen unveils ID.6 SUV EV in China Volkswagen ID.Buzz Electric Van Volkswagen unveils the ID. AERO sedan with 385 miles of range New sketch of 2025 Volkswagen ID.1 unveiled VW's Cupra Born Volkswagen unveils $7.1B commitment to boost product line-up, R&D, mfg in N. America Audi e-tron Audi e-tron Sportback Audi E-tron GT Audi Q4 e-tron Audi Q6 e-tron confirmed for 2022 launch 2022 Audi A6 e-tron set to take on Tesla Audi will expand EV lineup with electric A6 wagon Audi TT to be axed in 2023 for 'emotional', electric replacement Hyundai Ioniq 5 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Hyundai Kona Electric Genesis reveals their first EV on the E-GMP platform, the electric GV60 crossover Genesis Electrified GV70 Revealed With 483 Horsepower And AWD Kia Niro Electric: 239-mile range & $39,000 before subsidies Kia EV6: Charging towards the future Kia EV9 to land in US in 2023 with 300-miles range, $50,000 price Kia EV4 on course to grow electric SUV range Jaguar's All-Electric i-Pace Jaguar to become all-electric brand; Land Rover to Get 6 electric models Daimler will invest more than $47B in EVs and be all-electric ready by 2030 Mercedes EQS: the first electric vehicle in the luxury class 2023 Mercedes EQS SUV Is a Seven-Seat EV Flagship with up to 536 HP 2023 Mercedes EQE Electric Sedan Mercedes EQE SUV to rival BMW iX and Tesla Model X Mercedes EQC electric SUV available now in Europe & China Mercedes-Benz Launches the EQV, its First Fully-Electric Passenger Van Mercedes-Benz EQB Makes Its European Debut, US Sales Confirmed Mercedes-Benz unveils EQA electric SUV with 265 miles of range and ~$46,000 price Ford Mustang Mach-E Available Now Ford F-150 Lightning electric pick-up available 2022 Ford set to launch 'mini Mustang Mach-E' electric SUV in 2023 Ford to launch 7 EVs in Europe in big electric push Ford unveils Lincoln Star electric SUV concept as it readies to add four new EVs by 2026 Polestar 2 sedan Polestar 3 SUV With 372-Mile Range Coming Late 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge Volvo C40 Recharge Chevrolet Blazer EV Chevrolet Bolt sedan, 259-mile range starting at $31,000 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric crossover Cadillac All-Electric Lyriq GMC Electric Hummer Pick-Up and SUV GM electric Silverado pickup truck GM Launches BrightDrop to Electrify the Delivery of Goods and Services GM & Honda Will Codevelop Affordable EVs Targeting Most Popular Vehicle Segments Honda pours $40 billion into electrification, targets 2 million EV production by 2030 Honda and Sony finalize 50-50 joint venture to build EVs in 2025 BMW leads off EV offensive with iX3 BMW expands EV offerings with iX tech flagship and i4 sedan BMW i7 EV, with 600 hp, will be most powerful variant of new 7 Series flagship BMW iX1 Revealed With 313 HP, 272 Miles WLTP Range Renault-Nissan alliance plows $26B into EV blitz- will jointly launch 35 new EVs Nissan vows to hop back on EV podium with Ariya Nissan LEAF e+ with 226-mile range is available now Nissan Unveils $18 Billion Electric-Vehicle Strategy Renault upgrades Zoe electric car as competition intensifies Renault Dacia Spring Electric SUV Renault to boost low-volume Alpine brand with 3 EVs Renault's electric Megane will debut new digital cockpit Stellantis promises 'heart-of-the-market SUV' from new, 8-vehicle EV platform Chrysler to go all-EV by 2028 Alfa Romeo's First Electric Car Will Arrive in 2024 Peugeote-208 PEUGEOT E-2008: THE ELECTRIC AND VERSATILE SUV Peugeot 308 will get full-electric version Subaru shows off its first electric vehicle, the Solterra SUV Citroen compact EV challenges VW ID3 on price Rivian R1T Is the Most Remarkable Pickup We've Ever Driven Maserati going fully electric by 2030 -all vehicles will offer a BEV version by 2025 Mini Cooper SE Electric Toyota's Electric bZ4X Goes On Sale in Spring 2022 Toyota will have lineup of 30 full EVs by 2030; Lexus will be all-electric brand Honda and Sony to build, sell EVs by 2025 Opel sees electric Corsa as key EV entry 2021 Vauxhall Mokka revealed as EV with sharp looks, massive changes Skoda Enyaq iV electric SUV offers range of power, battery sizes Electric Skoda Enyaq coupe to muscle-in on Tesla Model 3 Skoda plans small EV, cheaper variants to take on French, Korean rivals Nio to launch in five more European countries after Norway BYD will launch electric SUV in Europe The Lucid Air Achieves an Estimated EPA Range of 517 Miles on a Single Charge Bentley will start output of first full EV in 2025 All-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre to launch in 2023 – firm to be EV-only by 2030 Aston Martin will build electric vehicles in UK from 2025 Meet the Canoo, a Subscription-Only EV Pod Coming in 2021 Two new electric cars from Mahindra in India; Global Tesla rival e-car soon Former Saab factory gets new life building solar-powered Sono Sion electric cars Foxconn aims for 10% of electric car platform market by 2025 And In China, Where Tesla's EV Market Share Is Now Declining... BYD is #1 in Chinese EVs, selling FAR more than Tesla Volkswagen to boost Chinese EV capacity to 1m by 2023 Audi-FAW's $3.3 billion electric vehicle venture Nio Xpeng Motors Hozon/Neta Li Auto GAC Aion Leap Motors GM launches Ultium EV production platform in China Ford Mustang Mach-E Rolls Off Assembly Line in China Cheaper than Tesla: Honda takes aim at China's middle class BMW i3 Debuts As All-Electric 3 Series Only For China Hongqi Geely Zeekr Premium EVs by Geely Baidu and Geely put nearly $400 million more into their electric car venture China-made Mercedes-Benz EQE hits market BAIC Hyundai, BAIC Motor to inject $942 mn in China JV for EVs Toyota partners with BYD to build affordable $30,000 electric car Lexus RZ 450e Steers For China Dongfeng SAIC Renault launches sales of first EV in China Nissan expects 40% of sales in China to be electrified by 2026 Changan forms subsidiary Avatar Technology to develop smart EVs with Huawei, CATL WM Motors/Weimar Chery Seres Enovate Singulato JAC Motors Iconiq Motors Aiways Skyworth Auto Youxia Human Horizons Xiaomi announces plans for four electric vehicle models Here's Tesla's Competition In Autonomous Driving; The Independents All Have Deals With Major OEMs... Waymo ranked top & Tesla last in Guidehouse leaderboard on automated driving systems Tesla has a self-driving strategy other companies abandoned years ago Waymo operates robotaxis NOW GM's Cruise operates robotaxis NOW Argo AI (owned by Ford & VW) Begins Driverless Vehicle Operations in Miami & Austin Mobileye operates driverless test fleets in Europe and the U.S. Cadillac Super Cruise Sets the Standard for Hands-Free Highway Driving Ford's hands-free "Blue Cruise" Mercedes Launches SAE Level 3 Drive Pilot System Honda Legend Sedan with Level 3 Autonomy Now Available in Japan Hyundai + Motional Bringing IONIQ 5 robotaxis to the streets from 2023 Amazon's Zoox will test its autonomous vehicles on Seattle's rainy streets Baidu greenlighted for China's first-ever commercial driverless Robotaxi service Alibaba-backed AutoX unveils first driverless RoboTaxi production line in China Pony.ai approved for public driverless robotaxi service in Beijing Here's Where Tesla's Competition Will Get Its Battery Cells... Panasonic (making deals with multiple automakers) LG Samsung SK Innovation Toshiba CATL BYD Northvolt Volkswagen to Build Six Electric-Vehicle Battery Factories in Europe GM's Ultium GM to develop lithium-metal batteries with SolidEnergy Systems SK On and Ford form BlueOval SK, an EV battery joint venture BMW & Ford Invest in Solid Power to Secure All Solid-State Batteries for Future Electric Vehicles Stellantis affirms commitment to build battery factory in Italy with Mercedes, TotalEnergies Stellantis and Samsung SDI to Invest Over $2.5B in Battery Production Plant in United States Stellantis and LG to Invest Over $5 Billion CAD in Joint Venture for Li-Ion Battery Plant in Canada Stellantis and Factorial Energy to Jointly Develop Solid-State Batteries for Electric Vehicles Mercedes-Benz to build 8 battery factories in push to become electric-only automaker Mercedes-Benz and Sila achieve breakthrough with high silicon automotive battery Toyota to invest $5.3bn to make EV batteries in U.S. and Japan Toyota Outlines Solid-State Battery Tech, $13.6 Billion Investment Honda Motor, LG Energy to build $4.4 bln U.S. EV battery plant Daimler joins Stellantis as partner in European battery cell venture ACC Renault signs EV battery deals with Envision, Verkor for French plants Nissan to build $1.4bn EV battery plant in UK with Chinese partner Nissan Announces Proprietary Solid-State Batteries UK companies AMTE Power and Britishvolt plan $4.9 billion investment in battery plants Foxconn breaks ground on first EV battery plant Envision EVE Freyr Verkor Farasis Microvast Akasol Cenat Wanxiang Eve Energy Svolt Romeo Power ProLogium Hyundai Motor developing solid-state EV batteries Morrow Here's Tesla's Competition In Charging Networks... Infrastructure Bill: $7.5 billion Towards Nationwide Network of 500,000 EV Chargers Electrify America EVgo Chargepoint Ionity Europe Shell 51 U.S. electric companies commit to build nationwide EV fast charging network by end of 2023 GM, EVgo, and Pilot will install 2,000 fast chargers at travel centers GM to Expand Access to EV Charging with More than 40,000 Charging Stations Volkswagen powers up the grid to take on Tesla Volkswagen-backed CAMS eyes deployment of 17,000 charging points in China by 2025 Circle K begins North American EV fast charger rollout, plans 200-site network by 2024 Porsche to build out its own network of EV charging stations Petro-Canada Coast-to-Coast Canadian Charging Network Volta E.On BP Volkswagen and BP partner to deploy up to 8,000 EV chargers across EU/UK Smatric Allego Podpoint Instavolt Fastned Total Nio Battery Swap Stations BMW to Build 360,000 Charging Points in China to Juice Electric Car Sales Evie And Here's Tesla's Competition In Storage Batteries... Panasonic Samsung LG Energy Solutions CATL BYD AES + Siemens (Fluence) GE Hitachi ABB Toshiba Saft Johnson Contols EnerSys SOLARWATT Sonnen Generac Kokam Eaton Tesvolt Leclanche Lockheed Martin Honeywell EOS Energy Storage ESS Electriq Power Redflow Primus Power Simpliphi Power Invinity Murata Bollore Adara Blue Planet Aggreko Orison Powin Energy Nidec Powervault Kore Power Shanghai Electric LithiumWerks Natron Energy Energy Vault Ambri Voltstorage Cadenza Innovation Morrow Gridtential Villara Elestor SolarEdge Q-Cells Huawei Toyota ADS-TEC Form Energy Enphase Sumitomo Electric Stryten Energy Freyr Growatt Polarium Thanks, Mark Spiegel Stanphyl Capital.....»»
Category: blogSource: valuewalkSep 1st, 2022
A "game changer" weapon the US is now giving Ukraine began life as a battlefield terror in World War II
The Soviets called it "Katyusha" and the Nazis called it "Stalin's Organ." Eighty years later, weapons like it are still on the battlefield. Soviet Katyusha rockets firing in the Carpathian mountains in 1944.Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Ukraine has put US-supplied rocket artillery systems to effective use against Russian forces. Modern rocket artillery, like the HIMARS in use in Ukraine, have a long history on the battlefield. The Soviets' "Katyusha" is one of the most well known and had a fearsome reputation in World War II. The US-made rocket artillery that Ukraine is using to destroy Russian ammunition dumps and command posts has been called "a game changer," but the weapon is a descendent of the legendary "Katyusha" rocket launcher that Soviet troops used against Nazi invaders in World War II.In fact, Katyusha is more than a World War II-era weapon. It became an icon that evokes images of salvoes of howling, fiery rockets streaking into the sky. Since World War II, media reports frequently refer to multiple rocket launchers as "Katyushas" (perhaps because many were copies of or indeed supplied by the Soviet Union).Military rockets themselves have a long history. The Chinese used rockets as far back as AD 200. Indians used them against the British in the 1700s, and the British stole the idea to use against Americans in the War of 1812 — the "rockets' red glare" of the Star-Spangled Banner.But these early versions inflicted more psychological than physical damage, like big firecrackers rather than deadly weapons.A Soviet BM-13 Katyusha rocket launcher being readied for battle in November 1943.Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesStrangely, while Russia tends to lag the West in technology, it has long displayed a flair for rocketry. Russia employed rockets in the Russo-Turkish War of 1828 and developed the first rocket-firing submarine in 1834.Nonetheless, rockets were inaccurate and propelled by gunpowder and could be as dangerous to the operator as the target. They remained a military novelty until World War II.By the 1930s, advances in solid propellants spurred the development of Soviet battlefield rockets launched from rails mounted on a variety of platforms, including Soviet ZIS-6 trucks, clumsy tracked carriers, and even sleds.The classic Katyusha 132mm rocket was the M-13: derived from the RS-132 aircraft-launched rocket, it was almost 3 feet long, weighed 93 pounds, had a range of about 5 miles, and packed an 11-pound warhead."The fin-stabilized rocket was simple to produce, but relatively inaccurate," noted author James Prenatt in his book "Katyusha." Katyushas eventually came in several calibers, from lighter 82mm rockets to heavy 300mm projectiles, launched from trucks that could fire 12 to 48 rockets a minute.Initially treated as a secret weapon forbidden to fall into enemy hands, the BM-13 multiple rocket launcher made its combat debut at the Battle of Smolensk on July 14, 1941.German Nebelwerfer rocket launchers firing on the Eastern Front in July 1943.Berliner Verlag/Archiv/picture alliance via Getty ImagesThree weeks into the Nazi invasion of Russia, which had left a trail of shattered Soviet armies and long columns of prisoners, German troops were confident that they could conquer the "primitive" Soviets before the winter snows fell.Instead, as the ground erupted in waves of explosions, Germans soldiers fled in terror from a weapon their enemies weren't supposed to be capable of inventing.The Soviets nicknamed the weapon Katyusha, or "Little Kate," after a popular song. The Germans called it "Stalin's Organ" from the howl of its launch. Either way, the bloody road from Moscow to final victory in Berlin was paved by Katyushas.Cheaper and more mobile than towed howitzers, Katyushas were organized in special rocket brigades and divisions, which massed at key points to blast holes through German entrenchments, allowing infantry and tanks to advance across a cratered moonscape.Ironically, the Soviets' uneasy alliance with the US produced a perfect marriage for the Katyusha: The rockets were mounted atop US-made Studebaker 2.5-ton trucks. The Soviets adored their American trucks for their ruggedness, reliability, and all-wheel drive — all superior to smaller Soviet trucks.Ukrainian troops fire a Soviet-designed BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launch system in the Luhansk region on June 12.REUTERS/Gleb GaranichThe Katyusha did have limitations. The rockets were notoriously inaccurate and reloading a full salvo could take up to an hour. But Soviet doctrine called for pulverizing German defenses under a deluge of rockets and artillery shells, and accuracy was less important than massing firepower to destroy or stun the defender.A single Katyusha brigade could lay down 1,152 rockets across a square kilometer (0.4 square miles) in five minutes, according to a 1944 Soviet manual.The Germans soon deployed their own multiple rocket launcher: the Nebelwerfer ("smoke mortar"), nicknamed "Moaning Minnie" by US soldiers because of the sound it made.The Nebelwerfer typically consisted of six tubes — firing 150mm, 210mm, and 300mm rockets — mounted on a light two-wheeled trailer. Like the Katyusha, it was light, mobile, and fairly simple compared to howitzers. However, it also suffered from poor accuracy, while the smoke trails disclosed firing locations to Allied aircraft and artillery.After World War II, Soviet multiple rocket launchers became popular with militias, warlords, and terrorists across the globe, from Vietnam and Lebanon to Angola and Congo. In conflicts where civilian casualties were usually not a concern, the Katyusha's inaccuracy counted less than its devastating firepower.Perhaps because multiple rocket launchers tended to be perceived as low-tech and inaccurate, they were slow to be embraced by Western militaries.A Ukrainian soldier with a HIMARS vehicle in Eastern Ukraine on July 1.Anastasia Vlasova for The Washington Post via Getty ImagesIn 1980, the US adopted the M270 Multiple Rocket Launch System, which is mounted atop a tracked launcher. In 2010, the smaller truck-mounted M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System entered service with the US military. HIMARS is now being shipped to Ukraine.MRLS and HIMARS — and newer Russian models such as the BM-30 Smerch — are the Katyusha's smarter cousins. Today's multiple rocket launchers are sophisticated, highly computerized, and more accurate. Equally important, the rockets they fire are no longer metal tubes with warheads but precision munitions with GPS and inertial guidance.A HIMARS may only have six launch tubes, but a single rocket can hit a pinpoint target — like a Russian ammunition dump — that dozens of old-fashioned Katyusha rockets might either miss completely or hit with massive collateral damage to nearby civilians.A HIMARS rocket can strike targets up to 40 miles away, farther than the 20-mile range of a US M109A6 Paladin 155mm howitzer firing conventional shells. In turn, the US Army has developed rocket-assisted howitzer shells for extra range, which effectively turns the howitzer into a sort of rocket launcher.Nonetheless, all of these modern weapons trace their lineage to Katyusha in some way. The legacy of Little Kate lives on.Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy Magazine and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Category: topSource: businessinsiderAug 25th, 2022