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Lordstown Motors Begins Commercial Production of Endurance Pickup Truck

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Lordstown Motors

Lordstown Motors Corp. (Nasdaq: RIDE), (“Lordstown Motors” or the “Company”), an original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) of electric light duty vehicles focused on the commercial fleet market, today announced that it has started commercial production of its Endurance full-size pickup truck, and provided a business update.

  • Start of production of commercially saleable Endurance vehicles at the Foxconn EV Ohio plant
  •  Production volume will ramp slowly as a result of supply chain constraints; engineering readiness, quality, and part availability will continue to govern the speed of launch
  • FMVSS confirmation crash testing successfully completed
  • EnduranceTM has been named as one of only three semi-finalists in the North American Truck of the Year competition
  • Confirming Q4 start-of-sales, subject to full homologation testing and required certification
  • Expect to end the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of approximately $195 million
  • Continue to explore capital raising alternatives, including in connection with initial Foxconn JV program and strategic partnership discussions

Executive Commentary


Lordstown is pleased to announce that our first two commercial release production (CRP) EnduranceTM vehicles have rolled off the production line at the Foxconn EV Ohio plant, with the third expected to be completed shortly. These vehicles are part of the first batch of up to 500 saleable vehicles that we intend to build.
“We will continue to build at a slow rate as we address remaining part pedigree and part availability issues. We expect to increase the speed of production into November and December,” said Edward Hightower, Lordstown CEO and President. “Our homologation and certification processes are proceeding as planned.”


FMVSS crash testing has been completed successfully, and EPA and CARB applications have been submitted. We also continue to accumulate test miles on the vehicles, finalize other certifications, and complete software updates as we work to ensure the best experience for our customers. We expect to deliver approximately 50 units to customers in 2022 and the remainder of the first batch in the first half of 2023, subject to raising sufficient capital.

We are also excited to be named a semi-finalist in the North American Truck of the Year competition. We look forward to the judges’ evaluations of the EnduranceTM this fall.
We anticipate ending the third quarter with approximately $195 million in cash and cash equivalents, including $27.1 million of proceeds from equity issuances during the third quarter of 2022.

We now anticipate ending 2022 with approximately $110 million in cash and cash equivalents, excluding both any additional capital raises and funding of any contingent liabilities. Our cash outlook is better than our previous outlook by approximately $75 million and we continue to explore opportunities for capital raising alternatives, including in connection with the initial Foxconn JV program and strategic partnerships.

About Lordstown Motors Corp. 

Lordstown Motors is an electric vehicle (EV) OEM developing innovative light duty commercial fleet vehicles, with the Endurance all electric pickup truck as its first vehicle and being launched in the Lordstown, Ohio facility. Lordstown Motors has engineering, research and development facilities in Farmington Hills, Michigan and Irvine, California.

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CITROËN OLI [all-ë] – Not a car – a multi-purpose everyday extension to your life that is as useful when you aren’t driving

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CITROEN OLI All-E
Copyright Arnaud TAQUET @ Continental Productions

IMPETUS:

  • Citroën ‘oli’ [all-ë] is a striking conceptual manifesto of intelligent ideas challenges the status quo; a destination for versatile and enjoyable all-electric mobility to enhance the lives and lifestyles of all kinds of people
  • Citroën ‘oli’ dares to say ‘enough’ by bucking industry trends for heavier, more complex and expensive zero-emission family vehicles to meet societal and mobility challenges of tomorrow
  • Builds on innovative Ami with compelling ways to make mobility joyful, affordable, responsible and multi-useful

AMBITION:

  • Targets ‘best-in-class’ Life Cycle Assessment through reduced weight and complexity,recycled and recyclable materials, affordability, durability and longevity
  • Optimistic ‘laboratory on wheels’ is a multi-faceted manifesto of intelligent ideas for tomorrow
  • Target weight of 1000kg to deliver 400km range; top speed limited to 110km/h for maximum efficiency and 10kWh/100km consumption; 20% to 80% charging in around 23 minutes
  • Prompts new approach to Citroën electric vehicle ownership customer services and partnership experiences
CITROËN OLI [all-ë]

INGENUITY:

  • Not a car – a multi-purpose everyday extension to your life that is as useful when you aren’t drivingit as when you are
  • Lifestyle enabler: electric device with smart V2G and V2L capability and power for enjoyable driving and living
  • Unconventional silhouette heroes honest aesthetics driven by functionality, efficiency and durability
  • Strong personality embodies clever industrial product design approach and embraces multi-activity versatility
  • Efficient with identical front doors, bumpers and protective elements, flat panels and glass, low weight materials
  • Strong flat bonnet, roof and pick-up bed panels you can stand on made from re-cycled honeycomb cardboard
  • Unique steel/aluminium hybrid wheels shod with sustainable and intelligent Goodyear Eagle GO concept tyres
  • Spacious, innovative interior with beam dash, ‘Smartband’ HMI projector and ‘bring your own device’ infotainment
  • Comfortable ‘mesh’ backed seats, washable floor and low-weight, recyclable materials
  • Circle of life: can be refurbished, upgraded and repaired with recycled parts and resold for several owners

MISSION:

  • Demonstrates Citroën’s mission to deliver straightforward all-electric mobility for all, to enhance people’s daily lives and with the lowest possible impact on the environment
  • Expect to see oli ideas, design details and interior advances represented in future production models
  • Symbolically introduces new interpretation of Citroën’s ‘deux chevrons’ logo to be adopted in all new product reveals and a new corporate identity

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Amid more EV battery fires, Natrion unveils new solid-state battery components that would dramatically reduce fire risk

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Cycling performance of a two-layer pouch cell at C/3 charge and discharge using LISIC278 with an NMC532 cathode and natural graphite anode.
  • Lower fire risks
  • Equivalent coulombic efficiency
  • Faster charge/discharge time

Natrion, a leader in solid state electric vehicle battery technology, today unveiled performance metrics for its patented solid-electrolyte separator in state-of-the-art Li-ion battery cells using graphite anode. This comes as more and more reports of lithium battery fires make headlines.

The new material, LISIC278, is a version of Natrion’s patented Lithium Solid Ionic Composite (LISIC) electrolyte made to mimic the exact specifications of a standard polyolefin separator while utilizing significantly less liquid electrolyte. LISIC accomplishes this by delivering high ion transport capability at ambient conditions while having a thermal resilience in excess of 200°C and being fully dense (zero porosity). The result is a near-zero fire risk for batteries built with LISIC, and a significantly reduced ability for a thermal event to intensify or expand. 

“Reducing our reliance on flammable liquids in EV batteries is key to reducing fire risk and ultimately making mass EV adoption more viable. So the fact that this data shows we can produce battery cells that are just as efficient with only a small fraction of that liquid is a huge win,” said Natrion Co-Founder and CEO Alex Kosyakov. “We’re confident that this indicates the potential for many more milestones to be achieved.”

Natrion tested its new material over multiple controlled lab experiments using pouch cells up to 11 layers in thickness. In one controlled experiment, Natrion compared its LISIC278 against a standard separator at the one-layer pouch level.

The control used was a standard pouch containing NMC532 cathode, LP40 liquid electrolyte, and a natural graphite anode with a conventional state-of-the-art separator. The Natrion pouch was identical but used the LISIC278 separator in place of the conventional one.

Compared with the conventional cell, Natrion’s LISIC278 demonstrated:

  • 40% faster charge time: At a given capacity, the Natrion cell took just 3 hours to charge, compared with 5 hours for the conventional one at the same capacity
  • Exponentially lower fire risk: The Natrion cell achieved this fast charge time with only about 1/10th of the flammable liquid as the conventional cell
  • High initial coulombic efficiency: Conventional Li-ion cells typically discharge less energy than they are charged with during the first few times that they are cycled which contributes to permanent capacity loss (i.e. lower available energy or range). Natrion cells exhibited higher initial coulombic efficiencies and resultantly improved capacity retention at higher C-rates.

“Achieving high coulombic efficiency while using 70-90% less liquid electrolyte is difficult, not to mention given this capacity and C-rate threshold,” said Dr. Jon Tuck, Holistic Energy Scientist and energy storage consultant at Silent Koala. “These results are highly promising and show a versatility of use for LISIC that we have yet to see from other solid-state electrolyte materials. It signals the potential of Natrion’s materials to really advance the industry and the technological feats being developed.”

In sum, Natrion’s cell was able to deliver more energy at higher charge/discharge rates while using less flammable material. Importantly, this was accomplished using a solid electrolyte separator that is built to the exact same specifications of existing separators, for rapid integration in current battery manufacturing processes.

The company will be unveiling its results for Lithium-anode data in the coming weeks.

About Natrion

Natrion is a solid-state EV battery component maker headquartered in Binghamton, New York with operations in Champaign, Illinois. It was started out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Indiana University in 2018 by founders Alex Kosyakov and Thomas Rouffiac. Natrion develops solid-state lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery components for electric mobility and defense applications. The company is backed by Mark Cuban, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, Tamarack Global, and others.

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Digital world premiere of the new EQE SUV on Mercedes me media

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Mercedes-EQ. EQE SUV. Interieur. Mercedes-EQ. EQE SUV. Interior.

On Sunday, October 16, 2022, at 8:00 pm (CEST), Mercedes‑Benz and Mercedes‑AMG will unveil the new EQE SUV on the Mercedes me media platform at https://media.mercedes-benz.com/EQE-SUV and other digital channels. Afterwards, the digital world premiere will be available as video-on-demand. The new EQE SUV is the all-round EV model for both brands, expressed in the world premiere film through an entertaining alternation between dream scenes and reality. The fourth model on the electric vehicle architecture provides SUV enthusiasts with another entry point into the electric age.

The EQE SUV is the multi-purpose variant of the EQE business saloon. It offers a highly versatile interior space equipped with innovative features for comfort and convenience. The modular drivetrain concept facilitates a wide performance spectrum with a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive.

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The extensively adaptable interior and the performance-oriented drive concept make the Mercedes‑AMG EQE SUV the most multi-faceted electric vehicle from Mercedes‑AMG. Two powerful electric motors and the fully variable all-wheel drive form the basis for the hallmark AMG dynamic driving experience. The Mercedes‑AMG development specialists have also given a host of other parameters their own distinctive flavour. They include the suspension with rear-axle steering as standard, the AMG SOUND EXPERIENCE and the design of both the exterior and interior.

The digital world premiere will be streamed on the Mercedes me media online platform and simultaneously for the public and multipliers on several Mercedes-Benz channels, such as YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. Media representatives will also be able to access in-depth information and services on Mercedes me media. As well as the original version in English, transcripts will be available in multiple other languages to read and download. A range of press materials such as videos, images and press texts round off the comprehensive package.

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Uber joins forces with Free2move

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Uber join forces with Free2move

Free2move, a leader in mobility solutions, is supporting Uber in its ambition to convert 50% of the vehicles available on the platform into electric vehicles by 2025. Created to offer its professional customers rental solutions by the minute, the day, the month or the year, Free2move is assisting drivers in their transition to EVs with a special new program.

Thus, Free2move offers drivers a wide array of solutions designed to meet specific needs with leasing, long-term rental, and monthly subscription offers, empowering drivers with access to the Stellantis most recent electric models. Additionally, Free2move programs offer diesel vehicle trade-ins, making the transition to EVs even smoother.

Ambitious environmental and economic objectives

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Uber aims to offer 100% green vehicles (hybrid or electric) on their platform by 2025. To support drivers’ transition to EVs, Free2move is going the extra mile with exclusive offers to access Stellantis wide range of electric vehicles: e2008, ë-C4, Mokka-e, Zafira-e, e-SpaceTourer, e-Traveller, e-Rifter, e-Berlingo, Combo-e Life, Vivaro-e. More specifically, the new Citroen eC4 X perfectly meets the needs of EV drivers. By joining forces, Free2move, Stellantis and Uber are positioned to make a true impact on the ambitious environmental and economic objectives the companies aim to reach.

An offer designed to meet the needs of the EV drivers

In order to facilitate drivers’ transition towards EVs, Uber has set up an Electric Mobility Plan which includes a financial contribution and a specialized ecosystem. Uber is now partnering with Free2move to allow drivers to benefit from flexible solutions to acquire or rent EVs from Stellantis many brands that they appreciate so much. Stellantis currently accounts for 25% of vehicles available on Uber in France.

Laureline Serieys, General Manager Uber France, explains “Free2move has developed attractive offers for both rental formulas and vehicles selection. We are delighted to run this partnership, which strengthens our ability to reach our goal of 50% electric vehicles on the app by 2025. With our combined expertise we are making the transition to electric a reality!”

The partnership between Free2move and Uber in France underlines the Stellantis plan to halve its carbon emissions by 2030, with the ultimate goal to reach a net zero carbon footprint with 100% electric vehicles in Europe by 2038.

“Our partnership will facilitate greener fleets, to achieve European objectives and accelerate the transition to all-electric vehicles. We are proud to align with Uber and look forward to supporting their drivers with mobility choices today that position us to meet the goals of tomorrow!” shares Brigitte Courtehoux, CEO Free2move.

“The Citroen e-C4 X is particularly suited towards EV drivers. Produced in Europe, this spacious vehicle features a convenient large trunk as well as a roomy interior, under the elegant silhouette of a fastback with the modern attitude of an SUV. Complete with rapid charging, this is clearly a vehicle that combines comfort and efficiency, both of which will be appreciated on a daily basis,” shares Vincent Cobee, Managing Director of Citroen.

Highlights of the partnership, for Uber drivers:

  1. The ability to trade in diesel vehicles for electric vehicles.
  2. Access for drivers using the Uber platform to exclusive offers and best prices for Stellantis vehicles.
  3. Financial support from the Uber Electric Mobility Plan, deducted from the price paid by the driver.
  4. Custom support and advice on options, access to the Stellantis group dealer network, driver, test and demo days dedicated to EVs…
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NEW e-208 100% ELECTRIC: MORE FUN, MORE EFFICIENT, AND UP TO 400 KM OF RANGE WITH A NEW ELECTRIC ENGINE

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100% ELECTRIC PEUGEOT e-208
  • EXCELLENCE: The new electric technology of the e-308 is arriving with the e-208!
  • EXCELLENCE: Ultra-efficient, average consumption of 12 kWh/100 km
  • EMOTION: 15% more power and 10.5% more 100% electric range
  • ALLURE: Electric champion in France and Europe

After an initial optimisation at the end of 2021, which increased its range by 6.5% (+22 km), the PEUGEOT e-208 will benefit from a major technological shift in 2023 to incorporate the new PEUGEOT e-308’s engine: maximum power will increase by 15%, from 100 kW/136 bhp to 115 kW/156 bhp, while major work on efficiency will reduce average energy consumption to just 12 kWh, increasing the range by 10.5%, or 38 km, to reach up to 400 km. Very significant improvements for the enjoyment, budget and daily life of users!

The PEUGEOT e-208, the 100% electric version of the 208, looks fantastic, contains state-of-the-art equipment and is great fun to drive thanks to its electric technology as well as its PEUGEOT i-cockpit® with its compact steering wheel. This guarantees direct sensations and unparalleled handling. Its many qualities have made it a huge success with customers: almost 110,000 have been produced since its launch in 2019, but above all, the PEUGEOT e-208 has been leading sales in the electric B segment in Europe since the beginning of 2022 and, over the same period, in 1st place for all segments combined of electric vehicles sold in France.

Up to 400 km range thanks to major technological developments
In 2023, the PEUGEOT e-208 will adopt the PEUGEOT e-308’s new drivetrain . It will then offer up to 38 km and 10.5% more range, enabling it to reach up to 400 km on the WLTP cycle (certification in progress).

The new version of the 100% electric PEUGEOT e-208 will come with:
• a new engine with 115 kW/156 hp, an additional 15 kW/20 hp and 260 Nm of torque available from 0 km/h for immediate reactivity. The result is even greater driving enjoyment, with no vibration, no noise, no shifting, no smell and no CO2 emissions.
• a new, more efficient high-voltage battery, with a gross capacity of 51 kWh (48.1 kWh useful) and operating at 400 volts.



Efficiency was at the heart of the designers’ concerns for this new powertrain and the PEUGEOT e-208, since all of these developments make it possible to aim for remarkably low average energy consumption of around 12 kWh per 100 km.

The advantages from the first optimisation in 2021 remain
At the end of 2021, the PEUGEOT e-208 had already benefited from an initial technological development aimed at increasing its efficiency, which enabled it to offer up to 362 km of WLTP range – 22 km more than the very first version released at the end of 2019. Since its launch and thanks to these two successive developments, the PEUGEOT e-208 offers 17.65% more range and 15% less energy consumption! The first stage of optimisation implemented a series of measures, which are of course still present in the new e-208:

A heat pump coupled with a humidity sensor installed on top of the windscreen maximises the energy efficiency of the heating and air conditioning. The information transmitted by the sensor makes it possible to control the air recirculation in the passenger compartment more accurately and, ultimately, to preserve the amount of energy contained in the battery when heating and maintaining the temperature inside the vehicle.
• A class “A+” tyre, 16-inch wheels which minimises energy loss through friction.
• A transmission ratio of the gearbox that increases the range on road and motorway journeys.

The effectiveness of this first development is particularly noticeable at low outside temperatures. But beyond the substantial increases in range on the WLTP cycle, there are significant benefits for customer usage as well. Including 40 km in urban traffic at temperatures close to 0°C.

Easy to buy and use every day
Two types of on-board chargers are available on the PEUGEOT e-208, to suit all uses and all charging solutions: as standard, a single-phase 7.4 kW charger and, as an option, a three-phase 11 kW charger. In addition, the PEUGEOT e-208 is capable of fast charging: from a 100kW public charging point, it is possible to go from 20% to 80% charge in less than 25 minutes.

Thanks to a push button on the centre console, the driver can select one of the three available driving modes (ECO, NORMAL and SPORT) to increase range or performance.

Via the ‘BRAKE’ mode, activated by another button on the gearbox control line, the user can also increase energy recovery while accentuating deceleration on release of the accelerator pedal.
Depending on the country of sale, the new PEUGEOT e-208 can be purchased on the Brand’s online sales site. This means customers can have a 100% digital experience (“Selling On line”) that is entirely secure. Customers can purchase their new vehicle, trade-in their old vehicle and finance their new vehicle from their smartphone, tablet or PC. Each customer has the freedom to choose to have their vehicle delivered to their home free of charge.


A range of services is available to make customers’ daily lives easier:
• The MyPeugeot smartphone application allows customers to communicate with their vehicle and schedule a remote charge or launch a thermal pre-conditioning remotely.
• The Free2Move eSolutions smartphone application allows users to plan their journey, in particular by anticipating when to charge since the charging stations along the journey are listed.

The new PEUGEOT e-208 will arrive on the market in 2023.

Study reveals how recognisable these 5 AI-generated electric car images are to the public

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Of the five electric cars in the research, survey results showed that the Tesla Model 3 was the most recognisable AI-generated EV image – with 51% of respondents correctly identifying it

Overall, however, the average rate of recognition of the electric car models in the study was 38%. By comparison, the average recognition rate of the petrol and diesel models was 63%. 

1.Tesla Model 3 – Recognised by 51% of respondents

As the very first EV to top one million sales, it’s perhaps not surprising that the Tesla Model 3 was the most recognisable all-electric model in Vanarama’s research. The Model 3 also racks up 255,000 online searches every month.

2.Tesla Cybertruck – Recognised by 42% of respondents 

Tesla’s Cybertruck, one of the most highly anticipated EVs, was the second-most recognisable all-electric car in the research. Described on Tesla’s website as having ‘better utility than a truck with more performance than a sports car’, it’s no doubt that once the car is released it will become one of the most recognisable cars on the road. 

3.Nissan Leaf – Recognised by 33% of respondents 

Despite the majority of respondents (33%) correctly recognising the AI generator’s attempt at a Nissan Leaf, many struggled. A quarter of those surveyed (25%) believed the AI tool was recreating a Toyota Corolla, while 22% were left totally stumped by the image and couldn’t identify it as any model.

4.BMW iX – Recognised by 32% of respondents 

The Nissan was only a fraction more recognisable than the BMW iX, which was correctly identified by 32% of respondents. The BMW iX is a fairly new EV, with a design that’s unlike the rest of the carmaker’s lineup, so it’s not surprising that it wasn’t as easily recognised as the Tesla Model 3.

5.Honda e – Recognised by 31% of respondents 

Following just behind the BMW iX is the Honda e, with 31% of respondents correctly identifying the AI-generated image of the car. The model is Honda’s first mass-market, pure-electric car – but despite being launched in Europe it is not yet available in America. 

Methodology: 

Vanarama used an AI image generator to recreate ten car models using only the model names and editions – e.g. ‘Porsche 911 2022’. The AI images were then used in a 2,001-person survey, in which respondents were presented with each image and asked to correctly identify the car model that the AI image generator had attempted.

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DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE TAKES THE INNOVATION AWARDAT CHANTILLY ARTS & ÉLÉGANCE RICHARD MILLE 2022

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1/4 DS SERVICE PRESSE – 2-10 BOULEVARD DE L’EUROPE – 78 300 POISSY (FRANCE) ds-press@dsautomobiles.com – France http://fr-media.dsautomobiles.com – International : http://int-media.dsautomobiles.com DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE TAKES THE INNOVATION AWARD AT CHANTILLY ARTS & ÉLÉGANCE RICHARD MILLE 20

• After a successful testing programme covering more than 3,000 kilometres, DS E-TENSE
PERFORMANCE collected the Innovation Award at the Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille
2022.
• DS Automobiles contributed to a beautiful day in the Château de Chantilly gardens with DS3
CROSSBACK, DS 4, New DS 7 and DS 9, as well as classic DS and SM models.

Designed as a high-performance laboratory, DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE was created by DS PERFORMANCE after winning two Drivers’ and two Teams’ titles in the Formula E championship.
During its first testing programme, DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE has already covered more than 3,000 kilometres and recorded a 0 to 100km/h time of 2.0 seconds! After taking part in the 6th Chantilly Arts & Elégance Richard Mille, DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE received the Innovation Award, commending its technology and stylistic biases.

The drivetrain comprises two electric motors with a total power of 600 kW (250 kW at the front and 350 kW at the rear) corresponding to 815 horsepower and 8,000 Nm of torque to the wheels. Derived directly from DS PERFORMANCE developments in Formula E, these two motors demonstrate exceptional efficiency.
The battery is one of the fundamental parts of the very high-performance DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE laboratory. It’s very small and housed in a carbon-aluminium composite envelope designed by DS PERFORMANCE, located in a central rear position. It hides an innovative chemistry and an immersive cooling system for cells, at odds with current technology.


This battery permits phases of acceleration and regeneration of up to 600 kW and enables the exploration of new avenues for future generations of production vehicles.
The front reveals a new area for expression in place of the grille. This treatment shows the DS Automobiles logo in a three-dimensional effect – like a display case – with a special welcome sequence. On both sides, the new daytime running lights combine flair and technology with unprecedented finesse to give a wide span to the lighting. The combination is
made up of 800 LEDs. Two cameras positioned instead of headlamps finish DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE’s visual identity, while enabling the acquisition of useful data for this moving laboratory.

Supporting the aerodynamic lines, the bodywork showcases a beetle-effect interference colour. Depending on exterior conditions and viewing angle, the sense of colour develops and produces a striking contrasting effect with the gloss black surfaces that extend to the bonnet. The 20-inch wheels feature an aerodynamic profile with unique inserts.
The cockpit errs on the side of efficiency. Bucket seats and a Formula E steering wheel give a high-performance feeling.
Comfort and attention to detail also figure with the special black leather upholstery insert.
Part of DS Automobiles heritage, the 1972 SM Mylord Cabriolet Chapron also received the FFVE Special Award for Originality during this year’s Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille.

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IKEA commits to zero-emission on heavy-duty vehicles

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IKEA joins forces with four global companies by committing to EV 100+ to transition to zero-emission electric trucks by 2040.

Electrification of road transport is one of the key solutions to decarbonise the transport industry. Although the electrification of heavy-duty road transport is still in an early stage, it’s accelerating in many countries, together with the increasing availability of renewable energy sources.

IKEA’s goal is to become climate positive by 2030. As a big transport buyer with more than 2 million shipments per year, IKEA has the responsibility to reduce its emissions and also the opportunity to show the way and speed up the decarbonisation of the transport industry.

At Climate Week NYC, IKEA announced, together with four globally recognised businesses (Unilever, JSW Steel, Maersk and DPD), to commit to EV100+, a new transport leadership commitment to electrify fleets, launched today by the international non-profit organisation The Climate Group.

The five companies have committed to transition their fleet of vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, known as medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs), to zero-emission by 2040 in OECD markets, China and India.

“The key to accelerating the deployment of zero-emission trucks is to collaborate confidently across the transport industry and create clarity on the direction. The electrification of transport plays a big role in phasing out fossil fuels in the IKEA supply chain. We are joining EV100+ to magnify the movement toward sustainable transport. It is urgent and doable”, says Elisabeth Munck af Rosenschöld, Sustainability Manager, Supply Chain Operation, IKEA Supply AG.

EV100+ builds on the success of The Climate Group’s global EV100 initiative, launched in 2017, now celebrating its fifth anniversary. It brings together companies committed to making electric transport the new normal. EV100 gathers over 120 businesses across the globe, with a combined fleet of over 5.5 million vehicles.

“We’re very excited to launch EV100+ at this year’s Climate Week NYC alongside IKEA. The EV100+ commitment is a great demonstration of leadership from all the founding members and builds on the work we have already done with IKEA on EV100. MHDVs represent the final frontier of zero-emission road transportation, and EV100+ will tackle the heaviest, most polluting vehicles across the world”, says Sandra Roling, Director of Transport at Climate Group.

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Scania and HAVI in first European pilot of fully autonomous vehicles carrying commercial goods on public roads

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Scania is partnering with HAVI Supply Chain for a ground-breaking new trial that sees an autonomous truck being used in the transport of commercial goods. The pilot, carried out under regular traffic conditions, aims to learn about the effectiveness of autonomous truck transport as part of hub-to-hub operations.

In what is a first for Europe, Scania and HAVI Supply Chain are piloting the use of a fully autonomous vehicle to transport commercial goods in regular traffic conditions between logistics hubs. The pilot will see the autonomous truck drive between Södertälje and Jönköping, a three-hour journey of around 300km, and the route forms part of a longer logistics flow for HAVI, with the first and last mile being handled by manually driven vehicles.

The pilot is a first step in showing how autonomous trucks can form part of a viable hub-to-hub logistics flow and allows Scania and HAVI to evaluate the effectiveness of the technology in their operations.

“We know the transport system will change in the coming years and that the industry faces challenges of driver shortages and diminishing margins, so the transformation process towards autonomous technology needs to start happening right away. We need to learn about autonomous operations now so that we are ready as soon as the technology is ready. We believe this pilot will be a hugely important stepping stone,” says Robert Melin Mori, the Scania project manager in charge of this initiative.

“This is an autonomous transport solution being used under real operating conditions with commercial goods for a third party. No one has done that before in Europe. We are delighted to be working with HAVI on this pilot,” adds Peter Hafmar, Head of Autonomous Solutions at Scania.

HAVI is a natural partner for Scania in this bold project. The two companies have already established a strong track record of cooperation in several forward-thinking initiatives around electrified transport, in keeping with their shared commitment to decarbonising the transport system and exploring innovations to improve the efficiency and sustainability of commercial transport operations.

“We have built up a strong understanding through the initiatives we’ve already undertaken together, and we are very happy to be in partnership on this latest pilot, which we believe holds enormous promise for our future relationship and for the future of the supply chain industry as a whole,” says Massimo D’Alessandro, Director of Sustainability & Innovation at HAVI.

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