Toyota widens procurement for electric batteries with these new deals

The electrification of the auto industry is taking place at a neck breaking speed. Much of its success will depend on cost effective access to batteries which will power these electric vehicles. In a significant development, Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp has agreed to partner with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) to supply and…

Honda Motor & truckmaker Hino Motors join SoftBank Group’s and Toyota Motor’s joint venture

The development underscores a growing trend of consolidation among communications, automakers and technology companies as they grapple with the massive investment and software expertise required to develop new services for which demand has yet to be tested. On Thursday, Japan’s Honda Motor Co and truckmaker Hino Motors Ltd stated they join a joint venture of…

France to auction 5G frequencies this autumn: Agnes Pannier-Runacher

France’s 5G auction, which will in most probability exclude bids from China’s Huawei Technologies, will set the groundwork for next generation industries, including IoT. On Thursday, French news agency Le Figaro reported Junior Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher as stating, France will commence the auction of 5G telecoms frequencies this autumn, with licenses expected to be given…

Germany’s biggest network operators file lawsuit against Federal Network Agency over 5G auction

Germany’s biggest network operators, including Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica Deutschland and Vodafone have sued the market regulator for placing new preconditions in the country’s 5G auctions which are to take place in early 2019. As per a report by German newspaper Die Welt, Deutsche Telekom has filed a lawsuit against Federal Network Agency for setting preconditions…

France’s Sigfox develops tiny sensors to track and monitor endangered species

Sigfox has collaborated with conservationists and specialized groups, including the International Rhino Foundation, to develop this tiny sensor. In a development that could potentially positively impact the environment, Sigfox, a French tech company has developed a bite-size tracker that once inserted into the horns of rhinoceros can help conservationists track, monitor and protect the endangered…

Nvidia Corp partners with Chinese EV startups to develop autonomous driving technology

All 3 Chinese startups will base themselves on Nvidia’s Xavier platform which will allow them to add specific software to adapt their vehicles to local traffic and infrastructure situations. On Wednesday, U.S. chipmaker Nvidia Corp’s CEO Jensen Huang stated, the chipmaker has signed separate deals with 3 Chinese electric vehicle startups, SF Motors, XPeng Motors…

Hyundai Motor Co invests $250 million in Grab

This second investment by Hyundai Motor Co in Grab underscores the strategic growing relations between the two firms and has long term implications. In a development that marks Hyundai Motor Co’s growing confidence on Uber, the carmaker has, once again, invested Singapore’s ride hailing firm Grab. Hyundai Motor Co’s investment of $250 million in Grab…

EU must develop indigenous battery cell production facilities: Angela Merkel

With the automotive industry witnessing a shift towards greener, eco-friendly forms of mobility, the European Union must develop and ramp up the strategic production of battery cells productions to stay relevant and ahead of the competition, opined Merkel. On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, it is “extremely important” that the European Union develops its…

Toyota Group delves deeper into self-driving technologies

companies in the conglomerate are set to form joint ventures that will see them develop solutions for separate components of self-driving technologies. On Monday, four companies from the Toyota Motor Corp stated they would form a joint venture to develop software that manages components for self-driving technology including brakes, steering and others. In a joint…