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| Here is your Transportation briefing: - 🚁 Pivotal unleashed sales for its eVTOL Helix.
- 🌐 Google introduced real-time battery tracking in Maps for EV drivers.
- 🛻 VinFast revealed its electric pickup concept, the VF Wild.
Thanks for reading! Robel
p/Robel-Kelkile | |
| 1 | | NASA's Artemis lunar program has delayed its upcoming missions by approximately a year due to contractors' ongoing work on necessary technology for moon landings. Artemis 2 is now slated for a September 2025 launch, and Artemis 3 for September 2026. More: - Artemis 2, initially planned for a four-person crew launch in November, and Artemis 3, set for December 2025, will follow the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022.
- The program involves a sequence of missions escalating in objectives, intending to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era.
- Contractors like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Axiom Space, and RTX's Collins Aerospace have been instrumental in developing vehicles, equipment, and spacesuits.
- Setbacks involving battery issues in Lockheed's Orion capsule and SpaceX's in-space refueling challenges with Starship have contributed to program delays and budget overruns.
- NASA has invested over $42B since 2012 in developing Artemis, with estimated costs of $4.2B per launch for initial missions.
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| 2 | | Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast debuted its electric pickup concept, the VF Wild, at CES 2024, announcing plans to distribute its compact EV, the VF3, globally. Details regarding these vehicles' production timelines, pricing, and specific launch countries remain undisclosed. More: - VinFast unveiled the VF Wild, an electric pickup with mid-size dimensions featuring a folding mid-gate to extend the five-foot bed closer to an eight-foot bed when the rear seats are down.
- The VF3, a compact two-door EV announced earlier in Vietnam, aims for a global launch with its limited range and an estimated price below $20,000.
- VinFast's expansion plans have included building factories in North Carolina, Indonesia, and India while developing multiple other vehicle models.
- The company, backed by Vietnam's wealthiest individual, Pham Nhat Vuong, has undergone shifts since its establishment in 2017, transitioning from combustion-engine vehicles to EVs.
- However, its initial attempt at introducing the VF8 SUV in the U.S. had received poor reviews, leading to sales challenges.
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| 3 | | Google unveiled a real-time battery tracking feature for EV drivers in Google Maps, available through Android Auto. The feature will provide estimated battery levels, charging suggestions, and durations based on destinations. More: - The new Google Maps feature via Android Auto displays real-time battery info for EVs, estimates battery levels upon arrival, suggests charging stops, and provides charging duration estimates based on the vehicle's capabilities.
- This functionality bypasses the in-car navigation, displaying Google Maps instead and integrating with Android Auto, which operates as a secondary interface projecting navigation, media, and messaging from Android smartphones to vehicle displays.
- Initially rolling out on the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, the feature will expand to more EV brands in the following months, enhancing driver navigation.
- The move comes as the company continues to expand its automotive services, which include Google built-in, an embedded product in vehicles with the Android Automotive OS, offering Google apps, services like Assistant and Maps, and third-party apps like Spotify.
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| 4 | | Pivotal, backed by Larry Page, launched Helix, a lightweight electric personal aircraft available for online sales. The eVTOL will start at $190,000 and require minimal training for buyers. More: - The aircraft weighs approximately 348 pounds and falls under the FAA Part 103 (Ultralight) category, bypassing the need for pilot certification but subject to specific regulations like flying over noncongested areas and away from airports.
- Prospective buyers must undergo Pivotal's training, be at least 18 years old, weigh under 220 pounds, and have a maximum standing height of 6 feet 5 inches.
- The Helix has a range of over 20 miles with a 75-minute charge time from 20% to 100% battery using a 240V charger, offering three configurations starting at $190,000 with different features, such as exterior finishes, enhanced cameras, air traffic systems, and warranties.
- The purchase process involves a $250 nonrefundable application fee, followed by a $50,000 deposit within five business days to secure a production slot.
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| A message from our sponsor, Placer.ai. |  | | 8 Retail Trends to Watch in 2024 2023 was another tumultuous year as inflation, high interest rates, and general economic headwinds continued to constrain consumer behavior. Still, this year also revealed many bright spots across various consumer-facing sectors, from retail to dining to advertisement to entertainment. Which of these developments are likely to shape the consumer landscape in 2024? Read the white paper to find out: - Why will events continue creating significant opportunities for their surrounding areas?
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| 5 | | The European Commission has endorsed a €902M ($989.4M) German state aid plan to secure Northvolt's new EV battery manufacturing plant in Heide, Germany. The move aligned with the Green Deal Industrial Plan and was approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. More: - The aid aims to prevent Northvolt from establishing its plant in the United States through funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.
- The plant in Heide is expected to start production in 2026 and reach full capacity by 2029.
- It will have an annual output of 60 GWh, powering around 800,000 to 1 million electric vehicles based on battery sizes.
- Aid for the project comprises a €700M direct grant and a €202M guarantee, deemed proportionate and limited to the minimum required to attract the investment to Europe, ensuring parity with potential subsidies for similar investments in the United States.
- The Commission assessed the aid's impact and concluded it wouldn't significantly disrupt competition or trade within the EU, emphasizing the EU's approach to establishing a battery production plant without causing market overcapacity.
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| 6 | | The Biden administration introduced a labor rule aiming to prevent worker misclassification as independent contractors, potentially enhancing legal protections and compensation for millions in the U.S. workforce. Major gig platforms like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash expressed confidence in avoiding reclassification. More: - The new Labor Department rule replaces a previous Trump-era standard, broadening criteria for worker classification to prevent misclassification in a move to ensure wages and benefits for employees.
- Independent contractors typically lack guaranteed minimum wages, health coverage, and paid sick days, a situation in the past some labor advocates have argued allows employers to exploit workers by avoiding proper compensation.
- The rule's criteria involve aspects like employer control, required skills, relationship permanence, and worker investment, providing a framework for employers to assess classifications.
- Despite the rule's introduction, platforms like Uber and Lyft maintained that it won't alter their operations, emphasizing that the law they operate under remains largely unchanged.
- The companies did caution the new ruling increased complexities in compliance.
- The move comes at a time when numerous gig platforms have contended lawsuits in states around mandatory minimum wages and reclassifications.
Note: Inside.com Founder and CEO Jason Calacanis is an investor in Uber. | | | |
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- Uber Freight reduced its workforce by 40 to 50 employees.
- Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have enlisted Nvidia for AI technology as they compete in developing advanced infotainment systems and autonomous vehicles.
- Toyota unveiled pricing for its 2024 bZ4X, including enhanced features and a newly introduced dual-voltage charging cable.
- The FAA announced Boeing will update inspection guidelines for the grounded 737 Max aircraft.
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