Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
Is EV Startup Byton Going Bye-Bye?
Chinese carmaker and EV startup Byton seem to be in dire straits as reports have claimed the company has suspended payroll and is undergoing bankruptcy proceedings with a local court. Byton was founded by a group of ex-BMW executives and was quick to grab the attention of the press when they unraveled a massive 48-inch infotainment display in their M-Byte SUV, along with a completed factory in China. Even though the first set of pre-production vehicles rolled off the line early in 2020, Covid-19 had a severe impact on its proceedings and looks to be headed down the drain.
Alpha Motor’s Adventure Series Adds Trick Lights And Wheels To Adorable Ace And Jax EVs
Although production is expected to be no sooner than 2023, Alpha Motor Corporation decided to add a playful twist on their Ace and Jax crossovers by introducing the ‘Adventure Series,’ giving the vehicles some off-road-focused upgrades. The Adventure Series will bestow a set of industry-leading 7-inch “Gravity LEDs” by KC Lights for the main lights, and Auxiliary lights will come in the form of “Gravity LED Pro6s” or “Flex Era 4” lights. Both models are said to receive their own unique exterior paint-jobs, too, with the Ace dressed in “Cerro Blanco” while the Jax will sit proudly in “Lima.” The Adventure Series crossovers will also inherit off-road performance tires courtesy of KMC.
Lucid Makes The Very First Customer Deliveries Of The All-Electric Air
After presenting the Air back in 2016, automotive startup Lucid has been working hard to perfect their all-electric sedan. But the wait has finally paid off, as the very first Lucid Air models were handed over to customers during a special event hosted at Lucid HQ in California. Around 20 models of the flagship ‘Dream Edition’ were handed over, where the new owners participated in a ‘Lucid Rally’ before parting ways.
VW CEO Herbert Diess claimed at a recent board meeting that 30,000 jobs were at risk if there was a delay in the company’s EV transition, and this statement was not received well by management and labor representatives. The company has had to face lower than expected third-quarter earnings, and its CEO has told analysts that a reduction in the headcount would be necessary if they were to stay competitive with Tesla. A spokesperson for Volkswagen’s workers’ council labeled Diess’ claim as “absurd and baseless,” while three unnamed individuals “familiar to the matter” said that a committee would meet to determine the CEO’s future in the company.
A Fully Loaded 2022 Audi A8 Will Give Rear Passengers A Foot Massage And More
Autogefuhl was recently given the opportunity to probe a fully-loaded example of the all-new 2022 Audi A8 L, one of the most luxurious contenders in the segment. The A8 boasts its 10.1inch digital instrument cluster along with an 8.6-inch infotainment screen and a 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. As expected, Autogefuhl wasted no time jumping in the back of the A8, where rear-passenger experience is of the highest priority. Owners can expect a movable passenger-side rear seat, complete with a footrest that offers heating and massage functions that can be adjusted to one’s taste. The 2022 facelifted A8 is based on the fourth-generation car and is expected to keep the model relevant until the arrival of the next-gen EV model in 2024.
Production-Ready VW ID. Buzz Sheds Camouflage In Official Teaser
As if the debut of the ID.5 didn’t spark enough attention, VW did one more by teasing the much-anticipated ID. Buzz. The van sports a colorful wrap hiding its bodywork. It marks the first time we are able to see so much of the all-electric ID. Buzz and it inherits some familiar features seen on the ID series. Since VW has scheduled the ID. Buzz is to be launched for the European market sometime next year, the production-ready model can’t be too far off.
The First Reported McLaren Artura Crash Happened In Spain
https://www.instagram.com/p/CV1JI5Hhkg1/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=51ffb00c-e723-4712-a1a9-6758c8bd570f
The first-ever crash of a McLaren Artura has taken place in Spain when @supercar.fails posted a picture along with a video of a blue example wrecked on the wrong side of the road after a head-on collision with a BMW 3 series E90. Luckily, nobody was injured during the collision as the vehicles were reported to have been traveling at low speeds, but the severe damage to the body of the Artura is apparent. The Artura is reported to have made its way to its customers no sooner than a few weeks ago, and such a catastrophic outcome is never welcome.
What Else Is Making The News?
Joe Exotic, The “Tiger King,” Asks For Release From Jail After Cancer
https://www.instagram.com/p/CV0xfhSPc_V/
The star of Netflix’s documentary “Tiger King,” has asked for a release from jail, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Exotic was convicted of trying to have animal sanctuary owner Carole Baskin killed.
Google Invests $1BN In CME Group
Google Cloud has announced a major deal with The CME Group. The deal will see Google invest $1bn into the CME, which involves non-voting stock, but no board seat, reports Tech Crunch. It’s a significant investment for Google and could lead to more possibilities with Google Cloud and financial services.