Global Software Source Sofico Reaches New Milestones
Sofico, global software provider to the automotive finance, leasing, fleet and mobility industry, has reached a new milestone with the recent completion of its 30th Miles implementation project.
Gémar Hompes, Sofico Managing Director, said: “Obviously, we are delighted to hit some of these latest milestones in our ongoing development. We believe Miles offers a unique proposition as a hybrid fleet and retail management system, perfected to meet the needs of our customers and their own customers’ expectations as the automotive market continues to grow and develop."
Volkswagen Plans Massive Electric Vehicle Rollout By 2025
Volkswagen laid out a far-reaching strategy Thursday to become a leader in the electric vehicle market -- with more than 30 new EV models rolling out by 2025 -- and is looking at annual sales of 2 million to 3 million units a year, as it tries to recover from a test-cheating scandal.
In a presentation at the company's Autostadt exhibition center in Wolfsburg, Chief Executive Matthias Mueller announced sweeping changes under a program he called Together-Strategy 2025, as the automaker tries to compete with Tesla Motors, General Motors, BMW, Nissan Motor and others in the clean energy auto market.
Automakers Enter “Gray Zone” as They Roll Out Semi-Autonomous Technologies
As the big Mercedes-Benz sedan roars down U.S. 101 south of San Francisco, it closes on an old pickup truck cruising along in its lane.
The driver flicks the turn signal for a pass, but then, unexpectedly, takes his hands off the wheel. The new sedan pauses for two seconds and then completes the maneuver on its own.
While it could be another five years or so until automakers roll out the first fully autonomous vehicles, they’re already beginning to introduce semi-autonomous features like the Auto Lane Change system on the new 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300, as well as Tesla’s new AutoPilot system.
The World’s Electric Vehicle Fleet Surpassed 1 Million Cars, Now to the Next Million
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is out with its Energy Technology Perspectives report (via Carbon Brief). The agency compiled data from the automotive industry and determined that the world’s electric vehicle fleet surpassed the 1 million cars mark last year.
Out of the 15 technology sectors to combat carbon emissions followed by IEA, the agency says that the EV sector is the only one on track for deployment.
IEA said that ‘electric cars are roughly 10 years behind wind and solar in terms of deployment’ considering the recent resurgence of electric vehicles only started about 6 years ago, but the agency also said that the sector compensates with an incredible momentum.
Skeptics of Self-Driving Cars Span Generations
The technology to make autonomous cars a reality may be ready, but American drivers don’t seem to be.
From smartphone-addicted teenagers to researchers designing the next generation of self-driving vehicles, there’s a fair amount of skepticism among consumers when it comes to letting go of the wheel and allowing a car to do the driving, several surveys over the last year have found.
Even engineers have some qualms.
