News Automotive

In 2016, the Chinese government shocked German car makers with a draft proposal to provide binding production quotas for electric cars. The plan could now apparently be defused. 

At the IAA 2017, car maker Daimler will unveil its first pickup: the 5,340-millimetre-long vehicle balances both payload and lifestyle according to the car maker.  

Solar and wind energy can be converted into hydrogen and then stored to drive fuel cell vehicles, for example. A newly developed material should allow more efficient production. 

The Chemnitz Institute of Lightweight Structures is researching the ecological recycling of elastomers from used tyres. For this kind of recycling, the researchers have also developed a new processing technology.

The Red Bull Formula One racing team around designer Adrian Newey and Aston Martin have co-developed a hybrid super sports car. The Aston Martin Valkyrie incorporates considerable know-how from Formula 1 racing.

The charging speed of batteries can be significantly increased by using porphyrin in the electrodes. This molecule also occurs in chlorophyll, blood and vitamin B12.

The Dodge Challenger GT is the first muscle car with all-wheel drive: Borgwarner’s torque-on-demand transfer case drives all four wheels when needed.

Daimler is paving the way for electric cars in China. Together with BAIC, the Stuttgart-based company intends to invest in the localisation of battery electric vehicles and in battery production.

Volvo will phase out vehicles equipped solely with an internal combustion engine and instead focus completely on electrification. From 2019, each new Volvo model is to have an electric motor.

A new consortium is researching the industrial production of fuel cell stacks. The joint project aims to lay the foundation for the commercial introduction of fuel cell vehicles.

The British car maker has confirmed that the RapidE will enter production in 2019. Set for a limited production run of 155 cars, it will be the marque’s first electric model.

French car maker Peugeot is re-entering the pickup truck segment after a hiatus. However, this new vehicle is intended exclusively for sale in Africa at first.

Bosch has signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Tianjin. The partners intend to make this northern Chinese seaport into a smart city. This pilot project is intended to be a blueprint for further projects in China.

Michelin has unveiled its Michelin Visionary Concept wheel-and-tyre study. The airless concept tyre is made of biodegradable materials and is connected with the driver.

Bosch plans to produce semiconductors based on 12-inch technology at its new location in Saxony, Germany. The company is making the largest single investment in its history.

Nuance has expanded the conversational and cognitive capabilities of its Dragon Drive speech recognition software. From now on, all occupants can operate personalised functions in their car with voice control.

Through its start-up subsidiary, InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover is investing in Lyft in order to collaborate on mobility services. As part of the deal, JLR is to provide a fleet of vehicles for Lyft users.

Scania is introducing a new range of V8 engines for its latest generation of trucks unveiled last year. The company has reduced overall weight and fuel consumption in its latest generation of engines.

In a new laboratory, researchers at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt – DLR) are investigating how additive manufacturing processes and fibre-reinforced composite manufacturing technologies can be combined.

Bosch and TomTom have created a map that uses radar signals for automated driving. Radar road signature will enable automated vehicles to reliably determine their location at all times.