Avis Budget Begins Test of Connected-Car Tech

Avis Budget Group Inc. has begun a test that will enable all 5,000 vehicles in its rental fleet in Kansas City to communicate with each other and the company.

Extra, Extra: Volvo Launches XC40 Subscription Plan

Volvo Cars Corp. is launching its Care by Volvo subscription service in Europe and the U.S. with the all-new XC40 compact crossover vehicle.

S. Korean Energy Company Plans EV Battery Plant in Hungary

Seoul-based oil refiner SK Innovation Co. says it will spend 840 billion won ($773 million) to launch electric-vehicle battery production in Hungary.

New Weatherstripping Materials Launched

Three new materials for weatherstrip applications have been developed by Dow Elastomers.  The NORDEL EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer) materials can be used in sealing applications including car doors, glass and window, and truck and hood seals.

U.S. Military Tests Lockheed Martin Autonomous Vehicle Tech

Lockheed Martin Corp. says its Autonomous Mobility Applique System (AMAS) has logged more than 55,000 testing miles during U.S. Army war game maneuvers.

Autonomy, Electrification & Car Design

I expect the design of upcoming autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be dramatically different from our cars of today.

Autonomy Is Coming, But . . .

There seems to be incredible momentum behind the move toward the development of autonomous vehicles across the board.

BMW Ponders Making Mini an All-Electric Brand in U.S.

BMW AG, which plans to introduce a battery-powered version of its Mini small car in 2019, may eventually offer the brand in the U.S. as 100% electric.

Volvo-Geely May Build Lynk Brand Cars in Europe, U.S.

China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. and its Volvo Cars affiliate are studying plans to eventually produce their new Lynk & Co brand in Volvo factories in Belgium and South Carolina.

Lincoln to Test Month-to-Month Subscriptions in 2018

Next year Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln luxury brand will test a plan that gives U.S. customers the option of “subscribing” to access to an array of vehicles month by month, Automotive News reports.