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San Francisco, July 30: Elon Musk-run Tesla has started a new email campaign to urge Tesla owners who have the Full Self-Driving (FSD) package to upgrade to a new car and transfer the FSD package. The transfer terms and the email campaign reveal that what Musk called an “offer of amnesty” is nothing more than Tesla triggering a demand surge, according to Electrek. Last week, when he announced Tesla’s decision to permit the transfer of an FSD package to a new vehicle, it sparked speculation that the company was finally taking a step in the right direction regarding this matter.  Tesla Staff in Texas’s Austin Facility Evacuated After Reports of Shooting. But it quickly started to sound more like a demand trigger, the report said. The tech billionaire soon followed up his remark by emphasising that this is a “one-time” deal that will expire at the end of the quarter. “This is a one-time amnesty, so it needs to be – you need to take advantage of it in Q3, but – or at least place ...

AI can allow auto dealers to weed through the complex language of state statues and ensure they are compliant when it comes to document fees. States use varying terms to describe services, including documentary, processing, conveyance, handling, administrative and doc fees.   Documentary fees are the fees that dealers charge consumers for the costs of closing a vehicle sale. They include fees for transferring a vehicle’s ownership; verifying, clearing and certifying vehicle titles; perfecting and satisfying liens; complying with state security and privacy requirements; and engaging in administrative and clerical services. According to a report by the state of Connecticut, at least 15 states put a cap on dealer document fees, with allowable fees ranging from $70 to more than $560 .  For insight into industry compliance, Informed conducted a case study earlier this year with a large national indirect auto lender. We examined dealer documentary fee charges in Oregon and M...

The German manufacturer introduced a decent upgrade for its W14 at Spa-Francorchamps last weekend, which included new sidepods and an updated floor . However, the arrival of that coincided with Mercedes battling the return of bouncing on the straights , which proved to be its biggest headache throughout 2022. Wolff says the team needs to find answers quickly as to why the phenomenon it felt it had got on top of made a return, as he opened up on just much it had overshadowed its weekend. PLUS:  Why the painful process of Mercedes’ F1 B-spec shift isn’t over yet “The main limiting factor was the bouncing – the car was just bouncing literally on every straight,” explained Wolff. “Even Blanchimont was a corner where Lewis had to lift, and it is an easy flat normally. So, you’re bouncing on the straight, you overheat the tyres under braking, and that is a vicious circle. “It was the main limiting factor this weekend. It’s frustrating to check out for the holidays like this but [t...

Electric Chevrolet Silverado shown at the New York Auto Show, April, 2022. Scott Mlyn | CNBC With unsold electric vehicles backing up on the lots of rivals’ dealers, General Motors’ electric-vehicle rollout strategy for the fall is shaping up to be a key moment for Detroit when it comes reading an uncertain EV adoption curve. GM , so far, is acting as if it can withstand a current shakeout in the EV world, says analyst Brian Downey, executive editor of Autotrader, a division of auto-data company Cox Automotive. EV inventories were 92,000 as of June 26, up 350% from mid-2022, as models from automakers newer to the EV market like Kia, Porsche, Jaguar and Hyundai saw sales fall short of expectations and sales of Ford ‘s Mustang Mach E dropped.   But GM reiterated in its earnings this week that it will double production of EVs in the second half of the year, to 100,000 units – including the long-awaited introduction of an electric Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and ...

Ford’s price tag for the Bronco Sport has gone up by over $2,000. According to Ford’s latest order data, the base Bronco Sport has been discontinued, resulting in a significant increase in the model’s starting price. The move could make the Bronco Sport even more expensive than competing SUVs for potential buyers. At the entry-level, 2024 Ford Bronco Sport prices will start at $32,825 including destination. The Big Bend trim is the new starting point now that the Bronco Sport Base has been discontinued. In its base form, the current SUV starts at $30,810. While that’s a difference of $2,015, the Big Bend’s MSRP is unchanged. At $32,825, the cheapest Bronco Sport is $3,200 more expensive than the most affordable Toyota RAV4 . Even when you make a more apples-to-apples comparison with an all-wheel-drive 2023 RAV4 , the Bronco Sport is still $1,800 more expensive. It’s also $1,830 more than an all-wheel-drive 2023 Escape . Having said all of that, not all shoppers may miss the base B...

This week we saw the reveal of the Nichols N1A supercar . It’s the first product from the sports car company of Steve Nichols, an American race car designer and one of the key men responsible for the 1988 McLaren MP4/4, the most successful car in F1 history. 2024 Subaru BRZ tS A new 2024 Subaru BRZ tS made its debut at Subiefest in California. It features a number of performance upgrades and will reach showrooms next spring. Subaru WRX by Prodrive Another Subaru in the headlines this week was a Prodrive-tuned WRX , which we were able to test. Prodrive is the company which used to build Subaru’s World Rally Championship cars, and its modifications made to the WRX may be headed to showrooms. 2024 Ford Mustang GT We also tested the redesigned 2024 Ford Mustang this week, in both 4-cylinder EcoBoost and V-8-powered GT guises. It’s a tech-filled muscle car turned sports car, and it’s a blast with either engine. 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling Edition Another Ford i...

Looking for even more great savings? Head over to Today’s Best Deals page to see all our top deals from today and sign up for our Daily Deals newsletter . If you’re looking for furniture a couple steps up from a big box store that doesn’t cost thousands of dollars per item, then Article is one of our favorite DTC online furniture brands for its sleek, modern designs and quality construction. And right now its sale section is full of over 100 items — chairs, sofas, tables and more — for up to 40 percent off. Furnish your patio , level up your living room and so much more with this under-the-radar sale. For those not in the know, Article specializes in beautiful, high-quality contemporary and mid-century modern furniture. And there are many, many gorgeous, well-constructed pieces you can add to your home — both inside and out — while saving big at this sale. Whether you just need a few more pieces to add to your home or you want to revamp entirely, now is the time to make that h...

This week we traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to check out the new Hyundai Santa Fe (more on that Aug. 10) and the heat index in the high desert was the same 106 degrees as our return flight back into the Chicago area. It really makes us appreciate everything from cooled seats to emission-free tailpipes.  We hit the road for a Midwest weekend of fun, and while the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV impressed in all the right ways, the EV charging infrastructure left us wanting the convenience of internal combustion engines and its attendant gas stations. It’s coming, they say. On the other side of big heavy vehicles, we tested the F-150 Tremor and loved its V-8 despite the shortcomings of its towing capability.  We’re pitting some popular three-row SUVs against each other, checking up on the latest price increases, and sharing the latest safety recalls. Here’s everything that moved us this week.  New car reviews Test drive: Charging pains road-tripping in the Mercedes-Benz...

It turned out that Carlos Ghosn was not the perfect CEO after all.  On the run for nearly five years and living in exile in Lebanon for part of that time, Ghosn’s story — he was the former global chief of Nissan and Renault — and his subsequent dramatic escape from Japan is the stuff that … well, documentaries are made of. On August 25, Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn , a series in four parts, will begin streaming on Apple TV+. This new screen story (there have been others previously) hones in on his rise to fame, his multiple arrests for financial misdeeds and his made-for-Hollywood escape from Japan. Ghost had contacted a former Green Beret and was hustled out of the country by private jet in December, 2019, hidden in a musical instrument box. originally designed to hold a trombone. Ghosn has lived in Lebanon, where he has citizenship, ever since. To this point Lebanon has refused requests to extradite him. The Apple TV+ documentary will cover all of this, with n...

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On July 26th, Geely Xingji, an independent bus brand under Geely’s Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group (“Farizon Auto”), saw its in-house developed methanol-hydrogen-powered range-extended city bus roll off the production line at the plant in Nanchong city, Sichuan province, the first-of-its-kind in the world, said the automaker. Photo credit: Farizon Auto The latest move marks a significant breakthrough in the R&D and application of critical new energy bus technologies in China, said Farizon Auto. The 8.5-meter methanol-hydrogen-powered range-extended city bus aims to address the industry’s range anxiety issues and open up a new path in the field of new energy vehicle. According to Farizon Auto, this bus model adopts a brand-new methanol-hydrogen hybrid technology with a high compression ratio of 12.5 and low friction technology, achieving a thermal efficiency of up to 41.5%. It can automatically match the optimal control strategy under different o...

NASA announced that it’s just under 100 days away from launching a spacecraft designed to study an asteroid potentially worth $10 quintillion.  The space agency’s Jet Propulsion Lab said on Tuesday it recently completed a comprehensive test of the flight software and installed it on the spacecraft. That cleared a key hurdle that earlier caused the probe to miss its original 2022 launch date. Known as 16 Psyche, the 173-mile-wide asteroid is thought to be made up of gold, iron and nickel. Weighing 2.72 × 10^19 kg, its ore has been estimated to be worth around 1 followed by 18 zeros in dollars. In 2020, NASA announced a collaboration with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to reach the metal-rich body, Business Insider reported.  Companies have a legal right to any materials mined from celestial bodies, through the 2015 US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act. And firms have already sprung up to test technology that could theoretically make this work. NASA claims its mission is...

Other highlights include front and rear tow hooks, reinforced jacking points, underbody tie-down hoops for easy transport, a Recaro FIA-approved race seat, a Sparco quick-release steering wheel, a Sparco FIA racing harness, and a Sparco FIA fire-suppression system. Safecraft supplies the FIA safety nets, while MoTeC makes the data display and logging system. A fuel cell is also included. A roll cage, Multimatic DSSV dampers, adjustable front camber plates, adjustable anti-roll bars, and additional seam welding have stiffened the chassis, and the entire package is completed by Ford Performance Parts R1 flow-formed 19×10.5-inch front wheels and 19×11-inch rear wheels, all wrapped in bespoke Michelin slick tires developed specifically for the Mustang Challenge (sold separately). The rolling assembly is fastened together with MSI wheel studs and open lug nuts. What does all this cost? No less than $145,000. Deliveries begin later this year. https://ift.tt/ZIcmlYN Ford Mustang Dark Hors...

UK commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturing grew 16.0% in the first six months of the year as 58,675 units rolled off factory lines, with June marking the third consecutive month of growth, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) UK commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturing grew 16.0% in the first six months of the year as 58,675 units rolled off factory lines, with June marking the third consecutive month of growth, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 11,748 units were produced in June, up 23.0%, and it also marks the best first half year for UK van production since 2011, as supply chain constraints continue to ease. 1 First half year production was 67.0% up on pre-pandemic 2019 volumes, with growth driven by overseas demand, exports of the latest British-built CVs rising 26.7% compared to the same period last year, at 37,803 units. 2  Overseas shipments...

The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport arrives with a new Free Wheeling special edition that gives off ’70s vibes and starts at $35,325. The Free Wheeling model features sunset-like graphics inside and out along with funky red-accented wheels. For 2024, the Bronco Sport also gains a Black Appearance package that, you guessed it, dresses the compact SUV with dark details. UPDATE 7/27/23: A Ford spokesperson confirmed to Car and Driver that the Bronco Sport’s base trim level has been discontinued for the 2024 model year. “We simplified our offerings to align with customer demand while ensuring quality is our top priority,” said Alison Davis, assistant brand manager for Bronco Sport. Dropping the entry-level model means the baby Bronco’s base price rises by about $2000 for 2024. The Big Bend trim, which starts at $32,825, is now the lineup’s entry point. Remember the 1970s? Whether you do or don’t, the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport will give people a little taste of the vibes in those days with th...

Classic cars hold a timeless charm, evoking nostalgia and admiration for their exquisite designs and engineering prowess. While many vintage automobiles have a storied history, some stand out for their extraordinary price tags, making them the epitome of luxury and exclusivity. The most expensive classic cars ever made are more than just vehicles; they are symbols of prestige, history, and the embodiment of automotive artistry. Bugatti Type 41 Royale (1927) Topping our list is the Bugatti Type 41 Royale, often dubbed “The King of Cars.” Created during the 1920s, this masterpiece was conceived to be a symbol of luxury and grandeur for European royalty. With an initial price tag of $42,000 (equivalent to around $610,000 today), only six units were ever produced. The car’s massive 12.7-liter engine and its exceptional craftsmanship make it a rare gem and one of the most expensive classic cars in history. Take a momentary break from using your 20Bet login to appreciate this true classic...

“The (Federal Open Market) Committee will continue to assess additional information and its implications for monetary policy,” the Fed said in language that was little changed from its June statement and left the central bank’s policy options open as it searches for a stopping point to the current tightening cycle. As it stated in June, the Fed said it would watch incoming data and study the impact of its rate hikes on the economy “in determining the extent of additional policy firming that may be appropriate” to reach its 2 percent inflation target. Meanwhile, new-vehicle interest rates rose from 4.5 percent in March 2022 to 7.2 percent in June 2023, and used-vehicle APRs went from 8.1 percent to 11 percent, according to Edmunds. A new-vehicle lease grew from charging the equivalent of 4.2 percent interest to 5.8 percent, Edmunds said. The day before the Fed’s decision, Edmunds insights Executive Director Jessica Caldwell noted growth in automaker loan subsidies offered some relie...

The coast guard said the Fremantle, which had departed from the German port of Bremerhaven, had been towed out of shipping lanes and could sink. It was 27 km (17 miles) north of the Dutch island of Ameland when the fire started. The fire spread so quickly that seven crew members jumped overboard, said Willard Molenaar of the Royal Dutch Rescue Company (KNRM), which was among the first at the scene. Molenaar told Dutch broadcaster NOS some people were injured jumping the long way down into the water, while one crew member had died in the flames. “There was lot of smoke and the fire spread quickly, much faster than expected,” he said. “The people on board had to get off quickly … We fished them out of the water.” A helicopter airlifted the remaining people from the 23-member crew off the burning ship. The injured were being treated for breathing problems, burns, and broken bones, local Dutch authorities said. Coast guard spokesperson Edwin Granneman said salvage experts were trying...

New Delhi, July 24: Automaker Maruti Suzuki, has recalled 87,599 vehicles over a suspected defect in parts of steering tie rods, an official release of the company said. In a release, the automaker on Monday announced to recall 87,599 vehicles (S-Presso and Eeco) manufactured between July 5, 2021, and February 15, 2023. “It is suspected that there is a possible defect in a part of the steering tie rod, used in suchvehicles, which is a rare case, may break and affect vehicle steerability and handling,” the automaker said in the release.  Maruti Suzuki Upcoming Launches: From Jimny to Next-Gen Dzire, Find Key Details of the 4 New Cars Coming Our Way From the Top-Selling Car Maker in India. They also noted in the release that the affected vehicle owners would be receiving communication from Maruti Suzuki authorized workshops for immediate attention.  Maruti Suzuki FRONX To Launch Officially Next Week; From Specs to Safety Features, Here’s All You Need To Know. “Affected vehi...

An issue that continues to captivate the electric vehicle manufacturing and financing industry is state law that prevents vehicle manufacturers from directly selling vehicles to buyers.    In many states, a vehicle must be sold by a licensed dealership, but state law also prohibits a manufacturer from obtaining a dealer license or owning, operating or controlling a dealership. This means that a manufacturer cannot sell its cars directly to buyers , despite a desire to do so.   Over time and as a result of focused lobbying efforts, some states have amended their laws to eliminate roadblocks for EV manufacturers to directly sell their cars to buyers. For example, Colorado amended its dealer law with laser precision in 2020 to allow a manufacturer to own and operate a dealership if the manufacturer only manufactures EVs and has no franchised dealers of the same line-make in Colorado.    A few other states have amended their laws to allow manufacturers — often ...