Tesla launches the refreshed Model 3 'Highland' in North America with updated design and features, while Honda unveils its ambitious Zero series EV lineup, including futuristic concepts and a new logo. Mercedes introduces an AI-powered MBUX virtual assistant with customizable personalities and advanced interaction. Chinese automaker Xpeng and Hyundai's air mobility division Supernal reveal innovative electric VTOL aircraft, and Kia debuts versatile PBV commercial vehicles with interchangeable bodies and AI-enhanced fleet management. The episode also covers market share shifts in China and Kodiak Robotics' driverless semi truck deployment plans.
Topics:tesla model 3 refreshhonda zero ev seriesmercedes ai virtual assistantxpeng electric vtolshyundai supernal air mobilitykia pbv commercial vehicleschina ev market shareautonomous truckingev platformsfleet management technology
- Tesla Launches New Model 3 In U.S. - VW and Toyota Lose Market Share in China - 1st Driverless Semi-Truck for Scaled Deployment Debuts - Mercedes Intros New AI-Powered Virtual Assistant - Honda Unveils New EV Lineup - Xpeng To Start Producing eVTOLs Next Year - Hyundai Reveals New eVTOL - Hyundai Debuts New Modular Vehicle Lineup
"... one until nineteen sixty nine. Chinese automaker Xpong revealed that this giant six wheeled ev Tall carr..."
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This is out Aline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry. The refresh version of the Model three, code name Highland, is
now available in North America. Tesla is taking orders for it on its website
and will begin deliveries this month or in February. The model features an updated
design, a new backseat screen, ambient lighting, and more. Like in
Europe, the new Model three is only available in rear drive in dual motor versions. The rear drive model starts just under thirty nine thousand dollars and has
two hundred and seventy two miles of range, the same as before, while the dual motor starts just under forty six thousand and has a range of three hundred and forty one miles, eight more than before. There's no word yet
if the new version qualifies for the seventy five hundred dollars federal tax credit.
Volkswagen and Toyota are two of the largest automakers in the world, but they're both losing ground in China, according to the China Passenger Car Association. The
VW Group, along with its joint venture partners FAW and Saiic, had a combined fourteen point two percent share of the market last year. That's down from
fourteen point eight percent in twenty twenty two. Meanwhile, Toyota and its joint
venture partners GAC and FAW had a combined seven point nine percent share in twenty twenty three, down from eight point six percent the year before. The automakers
are losing market share to local Chinese automakers, mostly because they're not as competitive in the EV segment. BYD, for example, saw its share surge from
eight point eight percent in twenty twenty two to twelve and a half percent last year, and while VWA and Toyota are still in the top ten when it comes to overall sales in China, neither of them are in the top ten in e V sales. Autonomous trucking company Codiac Robotics, which is based in
the US, introduced what it claims is the world's first driverless semi truck that's designed for scaled deployment. The truck features redundant safety hardware including braking, steering,
and sensors, as well as the software needed for driving autonomously at scale.
This is the six gen version of the truck, and Kodiak has been conducting real world tests for the past five years, which includes five thousand loads carried more than two and a half million miles. The new truck will be
used for Codiac's driverless operations that start sometime this year and will see it traveling between Dallas and Houston, Texas. Mercedes introduced a new AI powered virtual assistant
for its vehicles, which it claims provides a more human like interaction with the car. Called the MBUX Virtual Assistant, it runs on the automaker's MBOs and
has four different personality traits which the driver can tailor themselves. The assistant can
even offer suggestions ahead of time based on the situation, learn behavior of the user and generative AI. The system also features three D graphics to visually communicate
with the driver for navigation and root guidance. The new virtual assistant will first
be available on vehicles based on its MMA platform, which includes the concept cla class that was revealed last year and is making its North American premiere at CES at CS January ninth through twelve, twenty twenty four and Trumpet's looking forward to seeing you at our Booth three six sixty sixth Las Vegas, Convention Center in the West Hall. We'll be demonstrating the latest and greatest in the software defined
vehicles and journal architectures, automotive ethernet technologies like ten based two one S and multi gigibbit CUSCS twenty twenty five, Las Vegas Convention Center in West Halbooth three six sixty six or visit INTREPIDCS dot com slash sales. Well, I think
we know why Honda is considering investing up the fourteen billion dollars to build a second EV hub in North America. It announced that it will come out with
an all new EV lineup under the Honda Zero series and revealed two new concepts, one of which will get a production version in twenty twenty six. That
model will be based on the Saloon concept, which will first launch in North America, followed by Japan, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Honda says the styling will remain close to the concept.
Now. I don't know about you, but I'm getting a bit of
an eighties vibe from the design, which is topped off with gullwing doors.
I even think the front end looks a little bit like kit from Night Rider The other concept that showed off is ca called the Space Hub. It's a
people mover that has more of a van shape and features a reconfigurable interior.
We don't know for sure yet if these models are based on a Honda developed platform or where they will be built, but we do have some important details.
The platform is a dedicated EV architecture that's both software defined and connected.
Honda says it wants a lightweight, high density battery that doesn't have a huge capacity but still provides a sufficient range, which will allow it to have a lower floor that helps improve aerodynamics and gets the driver into a sportier seating position.
The Honda Zero series will also feature e axles, as well as steerby Wire level two and higher autonomous driving capability and a Honda developed operating system that relies on AI and driver data. And lastly, Honda's next generation of evs
will feature a new Honda logo. The h is a little bit wider and
fatter than the current logo, and it's actually closer to its first logo that it used from nineteen sixty one until nineteen sixty nine. Chinese automaker Xpong revealed
that this giant six wheeled ev Tall carrier and the aircraft itself will be going into production next year, called the Land Aircraft Carrier, each set of wheels is attached to its own e axle. It also has room for four to
five people and can recharge the EV Tall. The aircraft is fully electric and
meant to be flown at low altitudes either manually or autonomously. Xpong will start
taking pre orders for the combos starting in the fourth quarter of this year, and it could have a starting price around one hundred and forty thousand dollars.
Hondai's air mobility division, Supernal, also debuted a new ev tall called the SAT that should be pretty close to the aircraft. It plans to launch in
twenty twenty eight. It has seating for four passengers plus a pilot, and
features an all electric powertrain that drives eight tilting rotors. The craft is capable
of cruising speeds of one hundred and twenty miles an hour at about fifteen hundred feet and is meant to take twenty five to forty mile trips. Superno says
the next stage is to optimize the SA two for certification and speaking of the Hyundai group, Kia pulled the wraps off its PBV lineup, which stands for Platform Beyond Vehicle. These are vehicles that are designed specifically for commercial and fleet
needs. They will feature interchangeable bodies, so you could go from a cargo
van to a truck to a people mover, and it wants you to be able to do that fast. With its easy swap technology, Kia says you
should be able to turn the PBV into a taxi by day, to a delivery van at night, and a personal recreational vehicle on the weekends. To
enhance the ownership experience, it will offer a suite of fleet management tools that will improve over time and eventually take advantage of artificial intelligence. While Kia showed
off a number of models, including the PV one, PV five, and seven, the PV five will be the first to go into mass production sometime next year. I also saw no mention that these pbvs would be exclusively electric,
so we wouldn't be surprised to see IC versions as well. And while
that brings us to the end of this show, we'll have more videos from cees posting throughout the day, so don't miss out on that auto line daily is brought to you by Bridgetone Solutions for your Journey, Intrepid Control Systems, over the Air engineering boost your game, and by Tajin Automotive Technologies. The
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