Future Rides, Incline Village, NV (2025)

03/30/2025

Siemens Energy and Audi are enabling virtual shop floor automation with Siemens Xcelerator to scale production processes. New fail-safe virtual controllers and AI vision inspection empower Audi to improve production safety, flexibility, and efficiency.

Siemens’ virtual controllers and Industrial AI Suite run on the Industrial Edge system
Siemens and Audi are revolutionizing manufacturing processes with software-defined automation and artificial intelligence (AI). The long-standing partnership is accelerating innovation for the automotive industry by focusing on integrating virtual and hardware controllers, enhancing safety functions, and streamlining production processes. Audi has also implemented AI-driven automation for optical inspection based on the Siemens portfolio. The goal is to automate detection and removal of weld spatter on vehicle bodies using a customer-trained AI algorithm and high-resolution images. As a result, Audi has realized a higher car body quality and more efficient manufacturing processes.

Audi is using Siemens’ automation portfolio to standardize and optimize its shop floor operations, creating a more agile, flexible, and safe production environment. To speed up the transition from automated to highly adaptable production, the IT and OT levels are merged by successively virtualizing the shop floor. As software-defined factory automation is only feasible with a corresponding controller solution, Audi is using the Simatic S7-1500V – Siemens’ first entirely virtual controller – for their car body assembly line at Audi’s Böllinger Höfe factory in Neckarsulm, Germany. The automotive manufacturer has started integrating the virtual programmable logic controllers (PLCs), which are compatible with Audi’s cloud infrastructure platform Edge Cloud 4 Production. Audi is planning to roll out the virtual PLCs in their body shop at the Neckarsulm factory this year.

“A virtualized shop floor is a key enabler for a flexible production,” said Gerd Walker, AUDI AG Board Member for Production and Logistics. “Siemens’ software-defined automation portfolio empowers us to rapidly respond to market changes and optimize our manufacturing for more efficiency and flexibility.”

“Controllers are the ‘brains’ of machines and factories. Now we are virtualizing these brains and bringing them to the cloud. This accelerates Audi’s digital transformation and increases agility, efficiency, and safety in production – for more flexible, future-proof manufacturing. Together, we’re taking automotive production to a new level and significantly strengthening competitiveness”, said Cedrik Neike, CEO of Digital Industries and Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG.

The Simatic S7-1500V, part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, is designed to integrate IT and software capabilities in the automation world. As a hardware-independent solution, this virtual controller provides the same functionalities as a Siemens hardware controller. It’s fully compatible with Siemens’ Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) portfolio and can be engineered via TIA Portal. Users gain access to all the functions, interfaces, and tools they’re familiar with from previous hardware PLC use. The controller is available via Industrial Edge, and it can be directly integrated into the IT infrastructure. This allows Audi to centrally manage the virtual PLC and adapt it flexibly to meet specific needs. This makes PLC projects easier to scale, and open data interfaces mean they can be readily combined with other IT offerings.

Siemens has reached another milestone with the TÜV safety certification for its virtual PLC: The Simatic S7-1500V F is the first fail-safe virtual controller on the market. Implementing robust fail-safe functionalities in automation technologies is critical to safeguarding production workers and ensuring reliable machine operation. In the past, fail-safe components have required specialized hardware to provide the necessary functional safety. With the fail-safe virtual PLC, Siemens has now implemented safety mechanisms in an industrial edge environment. These advanced safety features allow users to migrate safety-sensitive applications to software-defined automation environments.

03/28/2025

Pebble was honored to showcase the Founders Edition of the Pebble Flow at NVIDIA GTC 2025 last week—connecting with industry leaders, professionals, investors, and, most importantly, many of our valued reservation holders. Powered by NVIDIA’s cutting-edge AI technology, the Pebble Flow represents a breakthrough in the RV industry, delivering the most intuitive and intelligent travel trailer ever built. This collaboration marks the first time automotive-grade computing has been integrated at this level in the RV space. https://bit.ly/3Y5e7b6

03/28/2025

Precision Micro a global provider of chemically etched components, has successfully secured a series production contract with a renowned German multinational engineering and technology company.

Strengthening Precision Micro’s position as a trusted partner in the mobility sector, the company has been chosen as the exclusive supplier for a function- and safety-critical component used in the hydrogen recirculation blower of next-generation fuel cell-electric vehicle powertrains.

“We are proud to have been chosen as the exclusive supplier for this critical hydrogen application,” said Markus Rettig, Sales Manager at Precision Micro Germany. “This partnership underscores the unique advantages of photochemical etching for the hydrogen sector and reflects our commitment to supporting innovative solutions for the future of mobility.”

Precision Micro’s pioneering etching process will be used to produce the component, which is designed to facilitate the recirculation of unused hydrogen in a fuel cell system. The component must be chemically etched to meet stringent customer requirements for flatness, cleanliness, and tight tolerances, making photochemical etching the only viable production method.

Ensuring the high manufacturing precision needed for reliable performance, production will follow a single-sourcing model, with Precision Micro maintaining consistent quality and supply in accordance with the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949 throughout the product's lifecycle.

This achievement represents a key milestone in Precision Micro’s continued dedication to sustainable and innovative technologies, reinforced by a recent $1.8 million investment to expand its chemical etching capacity in response to the increasing demand for components in next-generation decarbonization applications. The collaboration also emphasizes the growing importance of hydrogen as a clean energy source and the vital role of advanced manufacturing techniques in enabling its widespread adoption.

03/28/2025

The TOYOTA Mirai enters the 2025 model year with the same great cutting-edge efficiency and innovation that uses hydrogen from onboard tanks and oxygen from the outside air to generate power for the vehicle. The Mirai is the perfect companion to help reduce carbon emissions without compromising convenience – with an EPA estimated driving range rating of 402 miles.

For 2025, the Toyota Mirai will solely be offered in the XLE grade which will include an enhanced list of standard features like a Panoramic View Monitor, Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking, front-seat foot illumination, Digital Key capability and dual-tone heated outside mirrors.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 will continue to come standard on the 2025 Toyota Mirai. Designed to assist drivers, the suite of technology includes features to help drivers stay vigilant on the road ahead.

In essence, the Mirai is a “plug-less” electric vehicle. A Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) generates its own electricity onboard from hydrogen, with water as the only tailpipe emission. The fuel cell system combines stored hydrogen, along with oxygen from the air, and then a chemical reaction produces electric current and water, which drops out of a vent pipe beneath the car.

Instead of having to charge a large battery pack like in a battery–electric vehicle, which can take several hours, the Mirai’s driver fills the vehicle’s tanks with hydrogen. With an FCEV, the fuel is non-toxic, compressed hydrogen gas rather than liquid gasoline.

Electricity generated by the Mirai’s fuel cell and the regenerative braking system is stored in a lithium-ion battery. Pressing the accelerator pedal yields immediate flow of electric power from the fuel cell battery to the rear-mounted AC synchronous electric motor, which drives the rear wheels. An electric air compressor pressurizes the intake air, and a water-cooled intercooler reduces the temperature of the compressed air before it enters the fuel cell stack. A water-cooled oil cooler integrated with the air compressor helps maximize efficiency.

The intake system is designed to help mitigate noise, which is virtually unnoticeable to occupants. By necessity, the intake air for the fuel cell must be purified. And so, an electrostatic air cleaner element captures ultra-fine particles (Particulate Matter 2.5), and a charcoal filter removes chemical substances.

The Mirai is built on the premium Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) GA-L platform, creating a mid-size luxury-sport sedan. The RWD configuration helps support an engaging driving experience that also allows for the two hydrogen fuel tanks located under the rear seats.

The high-strength GA-L platform with sophisticated multilink suspension provides the foundation for superb handling agility and an exceptionally smooth, quiet ride. Laser screw welding and adhesive structure bonding, proven on many other Toyota and Lexus models, are among the construction techniques used to give the Mirai a truly premium feel on the road.

Active Cornering Assist engages the stability control to reduce understeer in certain cornering situations. Standard Hill Start Assist Control allows for smooth takeoffs from stops on hills.

The 2025 Toyota Mirai is expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships this Spring with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $51,795.

03/27/2025

TOYOTA's long-term strategy on the advancement of a hydrogen-powered society took center stage at the 2025 Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Seminar as executives presented and outlined the company’s vision and plan for achieving carbon neutrality, a plan that includes using hydrogen-powered technologies. At the event, Toyota reaffirmed its commitment to the fuel and introduced a number of applications and strategies aimed to expand Toyota’s hydrogen and fuel cell business.

In his opening remarks, Toyota’s Chief Engineer of Advanced Mobility Jay Sackett shared his goal for the seminar: to foster connections among industry leaders and advocates dedicated to promoting hydrogen as a sustainable energy solution.

“We are collaborating with companies that would traditionally have been our competition to develop standards for hydrogen fueling connections and protocols, recognizing that an industry standard was of greater benefit than our own competitive advantage,” Sackett said.

Many of Toyota’s public-facing efforts toward decarbonization have focused on hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric powertrains, though hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles and powertrains remain an important part of Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy. The company believes that hydrogen can play a role in the transition to a carbon-neutral future, particularly in sectors with significant carbon footprints, such as heavy-duty trucking.

An example shared at the event was how Toyota’s largest port vehicle processing center in the U.S., located at the Port of Long Beach, which processes upward of 200,000 vehicles per year, has applied the technology. With FuelCell Energy, Toyota built the first-of-its-kind Tri-gen system at the Port.

The system was designed to use directed renewable biogas and convert it to hydrogen, which is then used to produce 2.3 megawatts of electricity per day, part of which is used to power Toyota Logistic Services’ port operations. Some of the hydrogen produced by the system, up to 1,200 kg per day, is pumped to two adjacent stations, providing fuel for heavy-duty trucks and light-duty passenger vehicles. The third product of the facility is water. Tri-gen produces 1,400 gallons of water a day as a byproduct of the electricity being generated by hydrogen – the Toyota team members use the water to wash vehicles when they come off shipping vessels. The system offsets 9,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year from the Long Beach community.

The port has about 30 FCEV trucks in its rotation, all of which can take hydrogen produced from Tri-gen, as the station is open to trucks from competitive truck makers. While this is a small start, given the more than 20,000 heavy-duty truck routes operating daily in the area including both the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, Toyota sees a substantial opportunity to replace conventional diesel trucks with zero-emission, hydrogen-powered alternatives.

“There are as many as 20,000 opportunities every day to clean up the air with hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks,” Sackett said.

FCEV trucks are capable of not only matching the payload capacity of their diesel counterparts but also allow greater up-time for drivers through significantly quicker refueling times than pure BEV commercial trucks (15 to 20 minutes for a full fuel cell tank versus 90 minutes on the quickest chargers available for a 90% battery charge) and emit only water v***r.

Toyota has been at the forefront of hydrogen technology for more than three decades, launching the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), the Toyota Mirai, in 2014.

That vehicle showed that Toyota’s polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack could reliably convert hydrogen into electricity to power passenger vehicles. Those vehicles – and the millions of miles they’ve traversed in the ensuing decade – were only the start. Now, Toyota has shown that there are other use applications and cases to be found with the versatility and scalability of fuel cells.

Toyota’s North American Hydrogen Headquarters in Gardena, California, called H2HQ, has been co-developing the technology with Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan, from the earliest fuel cells to the semi-truck applications to mobile and stationary generators, replacing diesel-powered generators in several applications.

General Manager of Fuel Cell Solutions Thibaut de Barros Conti touched on how a Toyota fuel-cell-based generator is already in use as a backup generator in a hospital in the Pacific Northwest. On a smaller scale, a mobile generator built into a Toyota Tundra by TRD North America for motorsports and marketing activations was used to power the Hot Cocoa Village and Santa’s Workshop, presented by Lexus, at last year’s Detroit Christmas tree lighting.

03/25/2025

The Stellantis North America design team is calling all high school students interested in creating their dream Chrysler brand vehicle to enter the 13th annual Drive for Design contest. Now eligible high schoolers from around the U.S. will have the opportunity to create and share their own personal vision of a future Chrysler vehicle.

The storied Chrysler brand marks its 100th anniversary in 2025. In addition to creating groundbreaking technologies and achieving various engineering feats throughout its first century, the brand has produced some of the most iconic American automotive designs known the world over.

The inspiration behind the Drive for Design contest comes from Mark Trostle, senior vice president, Ram Truck and Mopar design. Trostle himself won an early iteration of this contest as a high schooler in 1987 and remembers it enthusiastically.

“To this day, I love to draw cars and trucks, so without a doubt I was genuinely inspired by the opportunity early in my career to create my own version of a cool futuristic car,” Trostle said. “Every year, we’re excited and proud to be able to enlist the promising young talent and to enlighten their parents about automotive design and the many opportunities this type of career path can offer.”

In addition to the summer design internship in the Ram Truck design studio, the grand-prize winner will also receive:

Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
Featured post on Stellantis North America social media channels
Invitation to serve as a student judge at the prestigious EyesOn Design car show at Ford House in Grosse Pointe, Michigan

Prizes for the second- and third-place finishers include:

Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
Virtual networking opportunity with the Stellantis Design Team
Featured post on Stellantis North America social media channels
Invitation to serve as a student judge at the prestigious EyesOn Design car show at Ford House in Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Scholarship to College for Creative Studies three-week Precollege Summer Experience "Transportation Design" program in Detroit, Michigan: July 13 - August 2, 2025

All student-created entries must be submitted by midnight EDT on Friday, April 25, 2025. One grand-prize winner and two additional finalists will be selected from all valid entries. For detailed contest rules, information on how to submit sketches and free resources for students of all ages, visit StellantisDriveForDesign.com.

03/23/2025

Honda Prologue and AcuraZDX owners will gain access to more than 20,000 selected Tesla Superchargers across the United States starting in June 2025 with the availability of the first Honda-approved NACS-CCS DC fast-charging adapter. Approved adapters will better ensure a safe and reliable charging experience for Honda and Acura customers. The adapter was tested for safety performance and compatibility with the Prologue and ZDX for use at any NACS DC fast-charging point and is the only DC fast charging adapter approved by Honda.

“Adding Tesla Supercharger network access to the charging networks already available to our EV customers means industry-leading fast-charging access for Honda and Acura EV drivers,” said Ryan Harty, assistant vice president of Sustainability & Business Development at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “By the end of this decade, we strive to provide Honda and Acura EV drivers with the most convenient and easy charging at more than 100,000 charge points nationwide, helping people choose to purchase an EV for the many benefits of driving one.”

Customers can purchase the new Honda-approved NACS-CCS DC fast-charging adapter from authorized Honda and Acura dealerships in the United States starting in June, with pricing to be confirmed closer to market introduction. Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX owners will be notified via the HondaLink® and Acura EV apps when adapters are available to purchase and, at that time, they will also be able to use the apps to locate authorized Supercharger locations. To better ensure a safe and reliable charging experience, Tesla requires1 and, accordingly, Honda strongly recommends the use of approved adapters when charging at Tesla Supercharger stations. Damage caused by using unapproved adapters may not be covered by vehicles’ limited warranties.

By 2030, Honda and Acura EV owners will have access to approximately 100,000 DC fast-charge points across North America, including the Tesla Supercharger network, all-new IONNA DC fast-charging network and the EVgo and Electrify America charging networks.

03/23/2025

How does a YouTuber compare to a full-time Fia Formula E official driver? Watch Theo Baker's lap go up against his Formula E Evo Sessions mentor, Nyck de Vries! https://bit.ly/4iNMons

03/21/2025

Spring is here, and Dodge is heading back to Spring Fest!

Started in a Southern California parking lot in 2004 by enthusiast John Fortuno, over two decades Spring Fest became a mecca for Dodge Charger, Challenger, Magnum and Chrysler 300 fans who came to celebrate their beloved rides, drawing fans from around the country and the world.

After a five-year hiatus, Spring Fest is back March 21-22, 2025. This year, Dodge is showcasing the all-new, next-gen Dodge Charger, and bringing some custom looks along for the ride. With its 1968-inspired design cues, aggressively broad stance, standard widebody frame, patent-pending R-Wing and high-impact exterior paint colors, the world’s quickest and most powerful muscle car continues to push the boundaries of design, and Dodge is pushing even further with some custom looks.

“California has been among the top-selling states for Charger and is the largest EV market in the United States with more than 376,000 EV registrations last year alone – that’s three times the number of EV registrations than the next closest state, so there’s a huge opportunity to reach new customers and Charger fans alike,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. “Spring Fest is one of the many customer events that gives us a great opportunity to meet with our owners in this region in person, give them a chance to learn about our newest products, show potential new customization options and get their direct feedback.”

Open communication and hearing directly from enthusiasts drives new ideas and collaboration, and the Dodge brand and design teams are on hand for roundtable discussions and customer clinics at Spring Fest to generate feedback on the next-gen muscle car. Attendees can also vote on potential future exterior colors for the Charger.

Stripes have long been a popular customization option for Dodge muscle lovers looking to add a distinctive look to their vehicle. Using the Fratzog logo – the new symbol of Dodge brand next-generation vehicles – Dodge brought to life a Charger modified with matte black Fratzog dual stripes that help the Charger stand apart from the pack with red trim accents and a unique, repeating Fratzog logo pattern that fills the inside of each stripe.

The stripes are compatible on Charger Daytona muscle cars with both glass and steel roofs and are specially designed to allow occupants to view the Fratzog pattern while looking through glass-roof equipped Chargers.

For complete information on the all-new Dodge Charger, consumers should visit Dodge.com.

03/20/2025

IMA Italia Assistance, the Italian branch of the French Inter Mutuelles Assistance Group, enters into an important new partnership with Desnerauto, pioneer of electric mobility and importer of electric vehicles intended for micromobility.

In particular, IMA Italia will provide new Desner vehicles with a complete roadside assistance service for the first two years, which will include important services such as towing and depannage, even in the event of a flat traction battery, with towing to the nearest charging station where on-site depannage is not possible. Among the other guarantees that complete the assistance package, the return home of passengers following roadside assistance, the payment of accommodation costs and the repatriation of the vehicle in the event of a breakdown abroad. The coverage can also be extended up to 5 years of life of the vehicle, underlining the reliability and solidity of the new Desner electric quadricycles.

This new collaboration is part of the innovation strategy of the IMA Italia Assistance offering model, which aims to integrate increasingly advanced insurance solutions and value-added services capable of accompanying customers in the evolution of their needs.

In recent months, the electric microcar market has seen a notable increase in Italy. According to the latest analyses, 2024 saw a 25.8% increase in registrations of light and heavy quadricycles, with a significant growth in the share of electric models, increasingly chosen by consumers for sustainable urban mobility. This trend reflects changing mobility habits, with greater attention to energy efficiency and low emissions. The sector is also benefiting from government incentives and an expanding charging infrastructure network, making electric microcars an increasingly viable choice for urban and commuter users.

03/17/2025

SEMA Association reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its plan on Wednesday to meet President Trump's executive order on federal electric vehicle (EV) mandates, starting with reviews of several regulations passed by the previous administration.

The EPA will reconsider the federal motor-vehicle emissions standards that require automakers and truck manufacturers to increase zero-emissions vehicle sales (known as the Model-Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles regulation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles). Today, only EVs and five plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) meet these standards.

The EPA will reconsider its March 2024 vehicle emissions regulation for model-years '27-'32, which effectively requires two out of three new vehicles sold to be EVs by 2032. The EPA will also reevaluate the 2022 Heavy-Duty Nitrous Oxide (NOx) rule, which was a centerpiece of the Biden Administration's Clean Truck Plan.

California's EV mandate and internal combustion engine (ICE) ban—known as ACCII and currently impacting 11 other states—remains in place and is not affected by these EPA actions. Congress has until mid-April to overturn the federal waiver that enables the California mandates.

03/11/2025

Join Beth Paretta, VP of Sporting at ABB Formula E , as she sits down with Alexa Rendell to reflect on the pre-season Women's Test and chat about next steps for women in motorsport. https://bit.ly/4i95N26

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