AD #3722 - Honda Unveils New EV Lineup; Tesla Launches New Model 3 In U.S.; Mercedes' New AI-Powered Virtual Assistant

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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AD #3722 - Honda Unveils New EV Lineup; Tesla Launches New Model 3 In U.S.; Mercedes' New AI-Powered Virtual Assistant

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