Author: john@provenroi.com

Mercedes-AMG is set to unveil its new electric sedan, and a teaser video has been released to give enthusiasts a taste of what’s to come. The prototype featured in the video showcases a unique feature – V8 interior sound and simulated shifts. This innovative approach aims to bring back some of the excitement and thrill of driving a combustion engine vehicle, which is often missing in electric cars due to their silent nature. Many automakers have started incorporating artificial sounds and simulated gears in their performance EVs to enhance the driving experience. Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N, for example, features a…

Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) rebate program is set to make a comeback, as confirmed by Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin this week. The original federal rebate program, known as the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program, was launched in 2019 and provided Canadians with up to $5,000 off the purchase of a new EV. Unfortunately, the program ran out of funding earlier this year, leading Ottawa to temporarily suspend it. Dabrusin revealed that the government is actively working on reintroducing the rebate, although it may not necessarily be named iZEV. She emphasized that there will be a consumer rebate, acknowledging the…

Volvo has issued a recall for 14,014 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the United States due to a potential brake failure issue. The problem stems from a software glitch affecting the Brake Control Module in certain 2020-2026 vehicles running software version 3.5.14. Specifically, the brake failure can occur after coasting downhill for at least one minute and 40 seconds in B mode on PHEVs or One Pedal Drive mode on EVs without using the brake or accelerator pedal. Owners of affected models such as the S60, V60, S90, XC60, XC90, XC40, C40 plug-in hybrids, as well as the…

SpaceX’s preparations for its highly anticipated tenth Starship test flight took a fiery turn on Wednesday night, as “Ship 36” — the vehicle designated for the mission — exploded during a static fire test at the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The incident occurred at approximately 9 p.m. PT / 12 a.m. ET on June 18. SpaceX reported a “major anomaly” during a routine engine firing sequence on the test stand. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as a safety perimeter had been established in advance to ensure the safety of all personnel. The company is currently working with…

Oracle Cloud Partners with xAI’s Grok 3 to Deliver Advanced AI Model to Corporate Customers xAI’s Grok 3 has teamed up with Oracle Cloud to bring its advanced AI model to corporate clients, marking a significant collaboration in the artificial intelligence space. The partnership, announced by Oracle earlier this week, utilizes Oracle’s robust infrastructure to offer xAI’s Grok 3 as a transformative tool for various business applications. Clay Magouyrk, Executive Vice President at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, stated on LinkedIn, “Today, we announced xAI has chosen Oracle to provide xAI’s Grok models through OCI Generative AI service, catering to a wide…

Plug-in hybrids have always been a topic of debate among car enthusiasts. Some believe they offer the best of both worlds, while others argue they represent the worst aspects of both electric and combustion vehicles. Personally, I find plug-in hybrids to be a practical choice, especially when used in the right circumstances. Over the past two months and 3,100 miles, I’ve been driving a used 2023 Volvo V90 T8 Recharge, replacing my aging 2001 Volkswagen Golf and 2006 Land Rover LR3. The decision to switch to a PHEV has proven to be a smart move for me. Not only have…

After years of anticipation, Tesla is finally dipping its toes into the world of autonomous ride-hailing with the launch of its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. The company, known for its innovative electric vehicles and cutting-edge technology, is taking a cautious approach with just 10 vehicles on the road initially. According to a report from the Financial Times, Tesla’s robotaxis will operate within geo-fenced zones in Austin and will avoid complex intersections. Each vehicle will also have a remote human teleoperator on standby to take control in case of any issues. This cautious rollout is a far cry from CEO…

Texas lawmakers ask Tesla to delay Robotaxi launch ahead of new autonomous driving law Tesla’s plan to launch its first fleet of fully driverless robotaxis in Austin may not happen on June 22, as several Texas lawmakers have asked the company to delay the rollout until new state regulations are in place. The new autonomous driving law, which is set to come into effect on June 21, aims to provide guidelines and regulations for autonomous vehicles operating on public roads. The lawmakers are concerned that Tesla’s Robotaxi launch may not comply with these regulations and could potentially pose a safety…

Oracle Cloud Partners with xAI to Bring Advanced AI Model to Corporate Customers xAI’s Grok 3 has teamed up with Oracle Cloud to provide its state-of-the-art AI model to businesses. This collaboration was officially announced by Oracle earlier this week, with the aim of utilizing Oracle’s powerful infrastructure to offer xAI’s Grok 3 as a game-changing tool for various business applications. Clay Magouyrk, Executive Vice President at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, shared on LinkedIn, “Today, we announced xAI has chosen Oracle to make xAI’s Grok models available through OCI Generative AI service for a wide range of use cases. We will…

Amazon’s subsidiary Zoox has recently made a significant move in the autonomous vehicle industry by opening its first dedicated robotaxi factory in Hayward, California. This 220,000 square feet facility, equivalent to 3.5 football fields, is poised to produce up to 10,000 robotaxis annually at full capacity. What sets Zoox apart from its competitors like Waymo and Tesla is its unique approach to designing purpose-built vehicles. The Zoox pods are specifically engineered to operate autonomously, with no steering wheels or pedals. These toaster-shaped pods feature wheels on the extreme corners and sliding doors, creating a communal interior space with flat bench…