BMW has nailed its 2023 sales target, setting a record for the Group. Now, they say they're on track for their 2024 EV goals.
What about Germany? Glad you asked. In Germany, BMW is retooling its Munich headquarters for all-electric production starting in 2027.
Honda's new Sony car isn't all they have been showcasing lately. In addition to showing off their 33% sales increase in the US, they revealed two concept cars called "The Space-Hub" and "Saloon." They preview the brand's electric lineup, which is expected to launch in North America in 2026.
New Platform. Both concepts use the "Thin, light, and wise" Honda 0 Series. They will debut in Japan, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America after the 2026 North American release.
Cowboys vs. Aliens?? Each concept features autonomous driving features and yoke steering wheels that can be hidden in the dash. The company says charging a 0 Series battery from 15% to 80% should take 10-15 minutes.
Saloon: Features a sleek, futuristic design reminiscent of the "Tron" movies, neon lighting, and a redesigned Honda logo. It has a minimalistic digital cockpit and a yoke steering wheel. Access is through a falcon wing door.
Space-Hub: Resembles a minivan/shuttle with similar design characteristics to the Saloon, but larger. It offers lounge-type seating in a spacious back area.
Tesla
Tesla is also enjoying some nice 2023 stats. Apples to Oranges, the brand outpaces several well-established automakers in the US market.
Enough about 2023. The company has plans for 2024, including more Cybertrucks, the updated "Juniper" Model Y, and the recently launched Model 3 refresh that will begin delivering this month.
MBUX Sound Drive. Ever wish your car would make more choices for you? We neither, but apparently Mercedes-Benz asked somebody who does because they are working with Black Eyed Pea, Will.i.am on a feature that will sync in-car music with driving functions like acceleration and steering.
Lucky for us, it is an opt-in feature.
Hey, Mercedes? The company is also upgrading its MBUX Virtual Assistant with, you guessed it, generative AI. The voice will come with 4 options: natural, predictive, personal, and empathetic, which should be one of the choices you select from when calling customer service.
Press 1 for "Cares about your silly problem."
Press 2 for "Doesn't care but can also probably fix the problem."
Determining the exact range of an EV battery is evidently even more of a guess than determining MPG because nobody seems to trust or experience the ranges advertised by manufacturers.
As with most of life's little problems, Google has the answer. The tech giant will add real-time battery information to its Google Maps app.
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The ability to provide whole new experiences to customers with the push of a button and a decent wifi signal is more real each day.
How do dealers stay in meaningful contact with “constantly connected” people in a way that respects their need to own their boundaries, unplug from time to time, and set the tone of their consumer relationships?
You may think this is a really good place for a simple answer, but complicated opportunities take thoughtful answers and teamwork. So, let’s keep the conversation going and our eyes on the changing seasons.