Clever Structural Engineering for EV Motorcycle
Although the Vector is an innovative, electric, high-performance café racer, it also happens to be extraordinarily well-designed.
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, Automotive Design & Production
Hitachi, Honda Merge 4 Partsmaking Units
Hitachi Ltd. and Honda Motor Co. are creating a new company that combines four of their automotive and motorcycle components businesses.
Mahindra Buys Out Peugeot Motorcycles
A European subsidiary of India's Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has agreed to buy the remaining 49% of Peugeot Motorcycles it didn’t already own.
Yamaha to Stick with Motorcycles
Motorcycle specialist Yamaha Motor Corp., which has partnered with Gordon Murray Design Ltd. on several concept cars, is no longer pursuing any automotive projects.
Honda Accelerates EV Plans
Honda Motor Co. expects all of its European sales will come from hybrid and pure electric vehicles by 2022, three years earlier than previously planned.
Polestar Names 1st N. American Retail Partner
Volvo Cars Corp.’s Polestar Polestar electric vehicle unit has selected Groupe Park Avenue in Montreal as its first retail partner in North America.
Harley-Davidson Stops Output of Electric Bike
Harley-Davidson Inc. has stopped production and delivery of its first electric motorcycle model, the LiveWire, because of an undisclosed flaw.
What’s C-V2X?
While you might not think about Ducati, Ford and Audi in the same context (OK, they all provide vehicles, but there are differences between motorcycles, mass market vehicles and premium products) but the three companies were literally—or perhaps that should be digitally—linked together via C-V2X technology from Qualcomm.
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, Automotive Design & Production
VW Considers Options for Lamborghini Unit
Volkswagen AG reportedly is studying a possible sale, initial public offering or merger into another legal entity for its Lamborghini super car unit.
Honda Relocates HR-V Output in Mexico
Honda Motor Co. says it will move Mexican production of its HR-V small crossover next spring from El Salto, Jalisco, to Celaya, Guanajuato.
Paris Readies “Noise Radar” Tech
Paris has begun testing a device that can automatically measure a vehicle’s noise level and issue a ticket if local laws have been violated.
Amazon Ponders a Stake in Indonesia’s Go-Jek
Amazon.com Inc. reportedly may acquire a stake in Indonesian ride-hailing service Go-Jek Group.
Honda to End Carmaking in Argentina Next Year
Honda Motor Co. says it will stop making cars in Argentina next year and convert its factory there to a motorcycle plant.
Japan’s Musashi Invests in Solid-State Battery Developer
Japan’s Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co. has made an unspecified investment in KeraCel Inc., a Silicon-Valley-based startup developing solid-state batteries that can be produced via 3D-printing technology.
Tesla Sales and the Triumph Over High Seating
The most remarkable thing about Tesla’s announcement today of its 2018 performance was not that it manufactured 86,555 vehicles in Q4, which is 8 percent more than its previous record quarter (Q3), of which 61,394 were Model 3s and 25,161 were Model S and X, nor that it is reducing prices for all of its models sold in the U.S. starting today by $2,000, in order to address the reduction in the federal tax credit that customers can receive from $7,500 to $3,750.
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, Automotive Design & Production
Honda’s Net Profit Falls 29%
Honda Motor Co.’s adjusted net profit dropped 29% to 172 billion yen ($1.6 billion) in the fiscal first quarter ended June 30.
Mitsubishi Invests in Go-Jek Mobility Services
Mitsubishi Corp. and affiliate Mitsubishi Motors Corp. have made an unspecified investment in Go-Jek, an Indonesia-based multi-service mobility platform.
Singh Named CEO of BMW India
BMW AG has appointed Rudratej Singh as the president and CEO of the company’s operations in India, effective Aug. 1.
Uber Debuts “Qute”-based Ride-Hailing Service in India
Uber Technologies Inc. has launched a low-priced ride-hailing service in Bengaluru, India, that uses tiny vehicles touted as “greener” than cars and more comfortable than three-wheel rickshaws.
India Pushes Electrification for Commercial Cars
India could require ride-hailing services such as Ola and Uber to switch to electric power for 40% of their vehicles by April 2026.
U.S.-Japan Trade Talks Off to a Shaky Start
Working level talks about avoiding hefty U.S. tariffs on cars from Japan began with the two sides far apart, The Nikkei reports.
Alternative Designs & Safety Considerations
The Arcimoto is like a motorcycle growing in size, while the SOLO is like a car shrinking in size.
Daniel Sturges
Transportation Designer, Entrepreneur and Educator
First-Quarter Results Sag for Harley-Davidson
Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc.’s first-quarter consolidated revenue fell 10% to $1.4 billion, and net earnings plunged one-third to $128 million.
Honda Files Patent for Fuel Cell Motorcycle Tech
Honda Motor Co. has filed a U.S. patent application for an air-intake system for a fuel cell-powered motorcycle.
London Adds New Emission Tax on Older Vehicles
Beginning next week, London will chargedrivers of older cars, vans and motorcycles £12.5 ($16) to gain access to the city center’s “ultra-low emission zone.”
Japanese Developer Plans Flying Motorcycle
A Japanese startup hopes to begin selling a motorcycle-like “hover bike” in its home market by 2022.
BMW Unveils Leaner Board
BMW AG says it is “future-proofing” itself with a leaner top management structure.
Harley-Davidson Buys Maker of Electric Bikes for Kids
Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc. has acquired StaCyc Inc., a California-based producer of electric bicycles for children.
