Category Archives: connected vehicles

First Look – Mercedes-Benz 2027 C‑Class EV

Posted on 20 April 2026 by Ken Zino

The all-new 2027 Mercedes-Benz C 400 4MATIC Electric arrives at U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2027 as MBUSA (MBG.DE, MBGAF OTC U.S.) is posting sales declines and all global automakers are wrestling with the negative trade and war policies of the Trump mis-administration. [Makers are also facing a marked shift in consumer presences to hybrid vehicles – AutoCrat].

“The all-new electric C‑Class is redefining the mid-size segment for electric vehicles. Customers will get exactly what they expect from this new version of the beloved model: the perfect blend of performance, comfort, dynamics, and intelligence. On top of that, it is the most powerful and sportiest C‑Class we’ve ever built, offering pure driving pleasure and outstanding real-world range, all while being the perfect sanctuary for our customer,” claimed Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management, Mercedes‑Benz Group AG. Continue reading →

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IONNA Partners with Circle K on EV Charging

Posted on 14 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“We are honored that Circle K has recognized IONNA as a leader in the industry and entrusted us to serve their customers with the same care and commitment to excellence that they show now,” said Aaron Wolff, COO of IONNA. “Circle K’s scale, customer focus, and quality of location make them an ideal partner as we rapidly expand high-power charging where drivers already want to stop.” Continue reading →

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April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Posted on 3 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“No one should ever get hurt or lose their life because of a text or a phone call,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO. “By keeping our eyes on the road and our hands on the wheel, we all have the power and responsibility to make our roads safe for everyone. The National Safety Council calls on every driver to travel distraction free – doing so will save lives.” Continue reading →

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Electric Vehicle Experience Home Charging Study Released

Posted on 26 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“While users of more advanced features on Level 2 systems do encounter more problems due to things like Wi-Fi and mobile app connectivity issues, their overall satisfaction levels are so much higher because they are scheduling charge times, monitoring results and engaging more actively in getting the most out of the home charging experience,” said Gruber. Continue reading →

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First Look – Genesis GV60 Magma Performance EV

Posted on 18 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“In a very short period of time, our engineers achieved something truly remarkable,” stated Manfred Harrer, President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group’s R&D Division. “They created a car that is not only fast, but truly Genesis; a car that inspires confidence and provides a true emotional connection.” Continue reading →

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J.D. Power – Dealer Service Satisfaction High, But…

Posted on 13 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“While it’s no surprise that customers gravitate to operations that serve them well, the study clearly shows that good service leads to loyal customers,” said John Tenerovich, director of automotive retail at J.D. Power. “This phenomenon proves true across all service types – oil changes, repair, tires and brakes. While complimentary maintenance programs drive strong retention, the level of intent to return for actual customer-paid service depends on the service experience delivered by the dealer.” Continue reading →

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Volvo Cars to Increase EX60 SUV Production to Meet Demand

Posted on 4 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“That so many customers ordered the EX60 in the first month has surpassed our expectations, and it’s a good ‘problem’ to have,” said Erik Severinson, chief commercial officer at Volvo Cars. “We are very encouraged to see such strong demand for our game-changing electric SUV, and we are now reviewing our production plans for 2026, as we gear up for the start of customer car production next month. Continue reading →

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Volvo Cars – 2.5 Million Software Upgrades Are Now Free

Posted on 3 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“This update is one of the largest over-the-air updates in automotive history, leveraging years of investment in Volvo Cars’ tech stack to improve life with their cars for millions of people,” says Anders Bell, chief engineering and technology officer at Chinese-owned Volvo Cars. “Our new user experience delivers significant updates and improvement in areas most used by drivers, and directly addresses the needs and desires of our customers.” Continue reading →

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Toyota Debuts Home EV Charging With Treehouse

Posted on 27 February 2026 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA – NYSE:TM) this week announced the use of Treehouse, a software operating system with the stated goal to make home EV charger purchase and installation easy. All 2026 and newer Toyota and Lexus BEVs and … Continue reading →

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EV Owner Satisfaction at New High Amid Sales Slump

Posted on 18 February 2026 by Ken Zino

The JD Power 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study,SM released today, notes that overall satisfaction among current battery electric vehicle (BEV) owners is at its highest level since the study’s inception in 2021. “Notably, nearly all owners of new BEVs (96%) say they would consider purchasing or leasing another BEV for their next vehicle,” J.D. Power said in a release. Continue reading →

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Toyota bZ Woodland Mid-Size SUV EV Priced at $45,300

Posted on 17 February 2026 by Ken Zino

“The 2026 bZ Woodland brings a different twist to the existing bZ’s style. It adds rugged black over-fenders to the Toyota hammerhead front end, has nearly 6-inches of additional length, and just under one inch of additional height in the rear. The extra length gives it a bit more space than its bZ sibling, with 74.3 cubic feet of storage with second row seats folded flat, versus the bZ model’s 67.1 cubic feet,” Toyota Motor said. Continue reading →

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Stellantis Sells NextStar Energy Canadian Battery Plant

Posted on 9 February 2026 by Ken Zino

NextStar Energy was established as a joint venture by the two companies in 2022 to build Canada’s first large-scale battery manufacturing facility in Windsor, Ontario, NextStar Energy’s facility is one of Canada’s  most advanced manufacturing venture in the clean-energy sector. At its inception it was said to support Canada’s long-term industrial competitiveness. More than $CAD 5 billion has been invested in the facility to date, and it employs over 1300 employees, with a long-term target of 2500 employees as it scales to full production. [ That was before the Trump Administration’ war on Global Warming disregarding its planet threatening consequences – AutoCrat. ] Continue reading →

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Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class Robotaxi Advances

Posted on 2 February 2026 by Ken Zino

“Mercedes‑Benz is the pioneer in safe autonomous driving. The next step on our roadmap is to enable a robotaxi experience based on the new S‑Class. To accomplish our goal, we have strong industry-leading partners at our side. For us, these partnerships mark the beginning of our entry into the robotaxi market with the S-Class and MB.OS as the ultimate platform,” said Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Continue reading →

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Volvo EX60 Mid-Size SUV Debuts

Posted on 21 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Volvo Cars* today revealed the all-electric Volvo EX60 mid-size SUV. This is Chinese owned Volvo Cars’ first entry in the largest electric segment globally.** In theory this allows it to substantially increase its addressable market and electric market share. [Sales … Continue reading →

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Chinese RoboVan Maker Neolix Debuts Next Gen Products

Posted on 7 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Neolix, a maker of autonomous logistics products (RoboVan), today announced the debut of its next-generation AI-powered autonomous logistics products at CES 2026. Its full  RoboVan lineup is said to enable large-scale, end-to-end urban logistics. Neolix thinks that autonomous is the cornerstone of the future urban infrastructure.

“Autonomous logistics has reached a critical tipping point, transitioning from experimental pilots to true commercial scale,” said YU Enyuan, Founder and CEO of Neolix. “2025 was a milestone year where we achieved mass deployment, refined our mapless technology, and expanded our global footprint. At CES 2026, we are presenting the global market with our fully integrated autonomous solution in action, showcasing a new generation of urban infrastructure that is always-on, highly efficient, and ready for global growth.” Continue reading →

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