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      Mahindra-Owned Pininfarina Designed PF40 Electric Bike At EUR 13.4k (Rs 12 L)

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      With its top-speed capped at 45 km/h, Pininfarina Eysing PF40 electric moped should not need a motorcycle license in EuropePininfarina Designed PF40 ElectricElectric bikes are springing up in recent times with the popularity of 2W EVs on the rise. Electric scooters still offer a lot of flexibility in terms of packaging, though. That said, we don’t often see too many retro-futuristic electric motorcycles. Sure design elements decades before are being incorporated.What if you wanted an electric motorcycle with almost a century-old design language? Something that would offer something beyond just 2 wheels driven by an electric motor? That is where Eysing PF40 electric motorcycle comes in. This motorcycle is designed by none other than Mahindra-owned Pininfarina. Let’s take a look.Pininfarina Designed Eysing PF40To design this blast from the past, Pininfarina based this build on an Eysing Pioneer electric moped. Eysing is a Dutch electric moped manufacturing company that builds its vehicles by hand. The company is based out of Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands.Eysing electric moped range starts from 7070 Euro for the Pioneer Original, 7790 Euro for Pioneer S Sport, 9160 Euro for Pioneer S Exclusive, 10,110 Euro for Tailor Made Original and topping up the range, we have Pininfarina PF40 which costs a whopping 13,780 Euro (approx Rs. 12 lakh).Pininfarina Designed PF40 ElectricPininfarina PF40 looks the most radical and is the only one to get alloy wheels while the rest of the range gets spoked wheels. These wheels are shod with vertically ribbed tyres that look retro and classy. PF40 gets a different headlight cowl surrounding its round headlights that get LEDs and a redesigned front fender that looks minimal.PF40 is the only one to feature a futuristic-shaped fuel tank and an extra storage element at the bottom. Rest of the Pioneer lineup makes do with a conventional teardrop-shaped fuel tank. This fuel tank is a design aesthetic and doesn’t hold gasoline, though.Specs & FeaturesPininfarina designed Eysing PF40 electric moped comes equipped with a 1.72 kWh battery pack that is capable of covering up to 100 km of range from a single charge. This is a 48V system that powers the 2 kW motor. This motor is capable of taking this electric moped to speeds up to 45 km/h. This means that in Europe, one doesn’t require a motorcycle license.Charging times are pegged at 8 hours from a regular charger and 4 hours from a fast charger. PF40 weighs just 60 kg and has a maximum payload of 110 kg. Both brakes are drum and only the front is suspended while the rear is kept rigid. For 13,780 EUR, it is quite expensive for what it packs. But as a piece of art that it is, it is well worth it. More

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      Driving a Car Covered in Snow Can Lead to a Chilling Fine, So Stop Doing It

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      We get it. You think if you scrape a porthole in the mass of snow on your car’s windshield, you think you’ll be able to reach your destination safely. Maybe you will, maybe you won’t. But people can be killed if you decide to take that chance.There are laws on the books in some states requiring drivers to keep the snow off their car windows and roof, but even in places without such rules, police can still issue unsafe driving tickets or something similar.There are at least two states with laws named after someone who was killed in a crash caused by falling ice. Don’t be the driver who sets another such chain of events in motion.We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, don’t drive with too much snow covering your car. Perhaps you remember the New Hampshire driver who got the Internet’s attention two years ago when they were charged with vehicular assault, reckless conduct, and negligent driving for the unusual situation where snow and ice flew off the roof of the box truck they were driving that injured the driver of the following car when it broke their windshield.This content is imported from twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.#KitsapCounty: A trooper stopped this driver on SR 16 after the vehicle was observed to be completely covered in snow. The driver received a $553 ticket for negligent driving in the 2nd degree.Please take the time to remove all snow from your vehicle before you leave the house. pic.twitter.com/pRHAbdxc8p— Trooper Katherine Weatherwax (@wspd8pio) December 4, 2022 Seattle Timesget a $553 ticket from the Washington State PatrolThis past week, another driver was ticketed for unsafe winter driving in Washington State. No one was injured this time, according to the, but a driver did because their windshield was almost completely covered in snow. The picture posted by a State Patrol trooper (above) shows the driver didn’t seem to try very hard to clear more than a periscope view through the snow. The person apparently drove more than five miles with this limited view, which got the police involved. As you can see, driving in the winter without cleaning any snow from your vehicle can have negative effects, either on your wallet or on nearby people. While only a handful of states have actual laws against driving without clearing off ice and snow, you can still be stopped in other states if law enforcement believes that the white stuff preventing you from seeing where you’re going falls into.Winter Is ComingSome States Have Cracked DownOne of the strictest state snow removal laws is in effect in New Hampshire. Known as Jessica’s Law after the woman (Jessica Smith) who was killed when falling ice caused a multi-vehicle crash, this 2001 law charges first-time offenders with a minimum fine of at least $250. The second offense comes with a potential $1000 fine, and after that—for whatever kind of driver needs a third strike here—a driver may face points on their license or a short-term loss of license. A Pennsylvania law, known as Christine’s Law, for a similar unfortunate case of yet another innocent road user who was killed by ice falling from another vehicle, took effect earlier this year. This new law requires drivers to clean snow and ice off their vehicles at least 24 hours after heavy snowfall. Fines start at $50 (but can reach $1500).LWA/Dann Tardif|Getty ImagesGiven the repeated deaths from people not scraping their cars clean in the winter, it’s obvious people need help keeping themselves and others safe. Even if you don’t consider a monetary fine a good enough reason to scrape your car, listen to Linda Smith, who spoke with media in 2015 after the death of her daughter, Jessica.”It takes not even five minutes to clean off your car,” she told WMUR at the time. “It can take three seconds to kill somebody.”This content is imported from twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

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      2W Retail Sales Nov 2022 – Honda, RE, Yamaha, Hero Electric, Ather, Jawa

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      Two wheeler retail sales in Nov 2022 have grown exponentially over the past two years – There is an increased demand for electric vehiclesTVS ApacheAs has been reported by Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) for the month of November 2022, retail sales of two wheelers increased to 18,47,708 units in Nov 2022 up 23.61 percent from 14,94,797 units sold in Nov 2021. It was also a 20.96 percent growth from 15,27,551 units retailed in Nov 2020 while sales dipped marginally by 0.86 percent when compared to 18,63,731 units sold in Nov 2019.Hero MotoCorp headed the list with 6,36,064 units sold in Nov 2022, up from 5,49,443 unit retail sales in Nov 2021. Market share dipped to 34.42 percent from 36.76 percent YoY. Hero models such as the Splendor, HF Deluxe, Hero Passion and Glamour received good attention while sales are set to be boosted in the scooter segment with the VIDA electric scooter, currently offered in cities of Bengaluru, Delhi and Jaipur.2W Retail Sales Nov 2022At No 2 was Honda with sales of 4,62,163 units in Nov 2022, up from 3,66,486 units sold in Nov 2021. Market share improved to 25.01 percent from 24.52 percent YoY.TVS Motor sales were up to 2,70551 units in the past month from 2,20,779 units sold in Nov 2021. Market share stood at 14.64 percent from 14.77 percent held in Nov 2021. TVS Apache, new Raider and TVS iQube electric scooter having received a great deal of attention boosted sales for TVS Motor.Two Wheeler Retail Sales Nov 2022 – FADA / VAHANBajaj Auto at No. 4 saw sales of 2,10,251 units in Nov 2022, up from 1,72,029 units sold in Nov 2021. Best selling two wheelers from Bajaj Auto include the likes of Pulsar, Platina, CT, Dominar, Avenger along with the Chetak electric scooter.There was also Suzuki at No. 5 with sales of 72,172 units marking significant YoY growth over 48,982 units sold in Nov 2021 while Royal Enfield saw sales of 69,211units in the past month from 37,149 units sold in Nov 2021. India Yamaha Motors retail sales stood at 53,560 while sales in Nov 2021 had been at 47,168.Electric Two Wheeler Retail Sales Nov 2022Outstanding sales growth was seen in the case of electric two wheelers. Ola sales stood at 16,308 units with a 0.88 percent market share while Ampere sales were at 12,257 units from just 1,990 units sold in the same month last year. There was also Okinawa (9,059 units), Hero Electric (9,014 units) and Ather (7,765 units).Lower down the list was Classic Legends (Jawa / Yezdi) with 3,673 units sold, Piaggio with retail sales of 3,523 units and Okaya with 1,783 units sold in Nov 2022. The list also included Jeetendra EV (1,254 units), Benling (1,215 units), PUR Energy (924 units) and Twenty Two (854 units). Kinetic Green sales stood at 838 units while there were a total of 5,271 units of others which included EVs also retailed in the past month. More

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      GM Developing Ultium-Based EV Sedan That Could Replace the Chevy Malibu

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      GM president Mark Reuss recently revealed that an electric Chevy sedan is being developed for China, as first reported by GM Authority.Ruess said the new Ultium-based EV is still early in development and suggested it might make it to the U.S. as a Malibu replacement.With the Chinese debut of the Chevy FNR-XE sedan concept (shown here), we think its design could preview a Malibu EV.As SUVs and crossovers have surged in popularity over the past decade, Chevrolet’s previously healthy sedan lineup has dwindled down to a single vehicle, the Malibu. The mid-size sedan is growing long in the tooth, having been on sale since 2016 with a light refresh in 2019. However, now there’s hope for the Malibu’s future, with General Motors president Mark Reuss revealing during a recent Investor Day presentation in China that Chevy is working on a “low-roof” EV that will feature sedan-like proportions, according to a report by GM Authority.GMThe upcoming electric sedan is just entering the early stages of development, but Reuss called the design “pretty dramatic” and said the EV will occupy the same mid-size segment as the current Malibu. This possible replacement has already been confirmed for the Chinese market, where sedans are still in high demand, but Chevy may eventually offer the EV in the United States. Reuss appeared to leave the door open for U.S. availability, saying at the event, “… we’ll see the desirability as we clinic this.” Chevy recently debuted an electric sedan concept in China called the FNR-XE (pictured above). Its design could offer a preview of the EV referenced by Reuss, and the concept is based on the Ultium battery platform. The overall shape is similar to the Honda e:N2 concept revealed for China in November, and Honda and GM are already collaborating on electric crossovers, with the Chevy Blazer EV and Honda Prologue sharing the same platform.GMThe Malibu’s potential all-electric replacement will debut for the Chinese market at the end of 2024, so U.S. sales—if GM decides to bring it here—likely wouldn’t start until at least 2025. More Chevy EVsAlthough many customers have gravitated towards SUVs in recent years, the Malibu still represents a decent chunk of sales for Chevy. After a massive decline in 2021, dropping from 102,651 units sold in 2020 to just 39,376 units, the Malibu has rebounded in 2022, with nearly 80,000 units sold through the third quarter. There is still a market for sedans in America, so an electric Malibu may end up making sense for Chevrolet to bring to our shores as the company pivots away from gas-powered vehicles.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

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      BMW India Launches S1000RR, M340i, XM Hybrid SUV – JoyTown 2022

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      BMW launched S1000RR in India alongside M340i sedan and XM hybrid SUV at the JoyTown festival earlier todayBMW S1000RR launchedBMW has launched a trio of products today. One is the S 1000 RR track motorcycle, second is the XM hybrid-electric SUV and lastly, we have the M340i X-Drive which is the first high-performance BMW with an M engine. The launch event took place at JoyTown 2022, a one of a kind festival for automotive enthusiasts in India.2022 BMW S1000RRStarting with S 1000 RR, it is brought here via CBU route. Bookings are open at authorised BMW Motorrad dealerships. Deliveries of which will commence in February of 2023. It will surpass its forerunners owing to comprehensive updates to its chassis, engine, suspension, aerodynamics, design, electronics and assistance systems.The design is radical as ever and looks ravishing in White colourway. Higher windscreen and side winglets allow shedding a split second of its lap times. It is powered by a 999cc 4-cylinder water and oil-cooled engine and generates 210 bhp of power, up by 3 bhp from previous iterations. It has stupendous levels of kit and technology to offer the ultimate track day experience.It gets a slipper clutch, quick shifter and four modes – Rain, Road, Dynamic and Race and optional pro modes. Other features are launch control, pit lane limiter, hill start assist, dynamic traction control, flex frame, dynamic damping control, ABS Pro with new Brake Slide Assist, a Coloured TFT Screen and a lot more. Prices start from Rs. 20.25 lakh for S 1000 RR, Pro costs Rs. 22.15 lakh and Pro M Sport costs Rs. 24.45 lakh (all prices ex-sh).BMW M340i Launched2022 BMW M340iNext is BMW M340i which is locally assembled at company’s Chennai plant. Prices start from Rs. 69.2 lakh (ex-sh), bookings are open via BMW dealers and deliveries will commence from January 2023. Offered as a sporty product, its design is well judged and accentuates the car’s nature. M aerodynamics package features a body-colored M rear spoiler as well.Interiors are fitting to the price and segment that M340i will fall into. It gets a floating type BMW Curved Display which is the main highlight of this car’s interior. Other bits include Sports seats with M-specific upholstery in a Sensatec/Alcantara trim, an M leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, carbon fiber bits, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon music system.Under the bonnet, BMW M340i xDrive gets a 2,998 cc straight-six petrol engine that makes 374 hp and 500 Nm torque, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/hr in 4.4 seconds. It is coupled with an 8-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox and BMW X-Drive AWD system to ensure maximum traction. M Sport exhaust unit completes the package.BMW XM LaunchedBMW XM Hybrid SUV LaunchedJust like S 1000 RR, XM is also brought in via CBU route and hence a price tag of Rs. 2.6 crore (ex-sh). Bookings are open via BMW dealers and deliveries will commence in May 2023. Just like M1, XM has been developed fully independently by M GmbH, with no baseline from BMW model range. It gets BMW’s modern design philosophy with a massive M Kidney Grille at front.Speaking of grille, they’re illuminated as well. BMW is offering M light alloy wheels that are 22” in size and also offers optional 23” M light alloy wheels in Night Gold accents. M Sports Brakes with Black Callipers are standard and optional red or blue calipers are offered too. M Hybrid system consists of a new V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo and an electric motor integrated into the 8 – speed M Steptronic transmission. Combined output is 653 bhp and 800 Nm of torque. The 25.7 kWh battery is rated for a claimed 88 km range from a single charge.Interiors provide both cockpit-like sportiness and a luxurious ambiance at the same time. All the dashboard equipment mentioned with M340i is present here as well. Interior features Coffee Brown Vintage leather which is unique. Door trim panels come with soft Nappa leather. Music system is taken care of by Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with 20 speakers and a 1,475-watt amplifier, along with illuminated elements. More

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      Unhappy TVS Apache 160 Owner Threatens To Bury His Motorcycle – Here’s Why

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      While few defects across the manufacturing process are unavoidable, problems arise when service centres and OEMs don’t take appropriate action to fix the issueUnhappy TVS Apache OwnerIn yet another example of generalized apathy for consumers, a TVS Apache 160 owner has claimed that his bike is yet to be fixed despite multiple visits to the service centre. Most of the bike’s digital systems and lighting apparatus had stopped working after a few months of use.The bike is currently around 8 months old and under warranty. Critical systems such as headlamp, indicators, horn, digital instrument console and SmartXonnect connectivity platform are not working, even though a fix was provided by the dealer around a couple of weeks back.Manufacturing defect identifiedAccording to the owner, he had purchased the bike from a showroom in Palwal, Haryana. It was a good experience initially, as performance of the bike was quite exciting. Mileage was also satisfactory at around 50 kmph. However, the story changed when much of the bike’s electrical and electronic systems stopped functioning.The only parts working included the LED DRLs. Mechanically, there was no issue with the bike. However, it is pretty difficult to imagine riding a bike without a headlamp, indicator and horn. The issues occurred even when the owner had not customized his bike in any form. Take a look at the detailed video below, credited to Arun Panwar.[embedded content][embedded content]When the bike was taken to a nearby TVS service centre, the owner was asked to pay Rs 500 for checking the wires. This was quite odd, as the bike was still under warranty. The bike was later taken to the original dealer in Palwal , where a ‘jugaad’ fix was provided. It worked for some days, but problems reappeared.According to the owner, he noticed that other TVS products were also being brought in the service centre for wiring related issues. He feels that the wiring issue may be a more widespread problem and not limited to his bike. But the dealer did not have the necessary replacement parts to fix the bike. According to the dealership in Palwal, the problem is a manufacturing defect and not a wire-cut issue.Replacement wiring awaitedA replacement wiring has been ordered, which will take around 15 days to reach the dealership. Hopefully, the replacement should be able to ensure a permanent fix. Things like wiring are pretty basic and it’s surprising that such issues have surfaced. For most bikes, the wiring is supposed to last the entire lifespan of the bike.While the owner waits for the new wiring, he is not happy with the overall service experience. If one has to wait months to get critical issues fixed, it puts a question mark on the quality of post-sales service. The owner also feels that rewiring the bike may create new problems, as most of the parts will need to be taken out and refitted again. We hope the service centre takes this on priority and is able to provide a satisfactory, permanent solution. More

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      Ola Electric Scooter To Beat Honda Activa In Sales By Aug 2023 – CEO

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      Right now, Honda Activa is the highest-selling scooter in India with sales easily crossing 2 lakh units per monthOla Electric ScooterOla Electric scooter range consists of recently launched S1 Air which forms base spec model, standard S1 which is mid-spec and S1 Pro at the top end with all bells and whistles. Ola Electric is expanding aggressively and is set to be the No. 1 player in electric vehicles in India.Ola Electric has revealed its plan to launch electric cars as well. Development time for which is just a couple of years. If Ola pulls it off, it is a great feat. We have seen teasers for the electric car which claims to be the fastest car made in India. Now the company claims to surpass the highest-selling ICE scooter sales collectively with its S1 lineup.Ola Electric Scooter To Beat Honda ActivaCEO Bhavish Aggarwal took to social media and announced that the Ola S1 lineup will become the best-selling scooter in India by August 2023. He further states that Ola S1 lineup sales will even surpass best-selling ICE scooters. This is a very tall claim by Ola Electric. That said, Ola has a track record of making very tall claims. Also, they have a track record of fulfilling most of their claims. Can Ola pull it off and beat the highest-selling ICE scooter? We can’t say that as of now.Ola has ramped up its production capacity significantly and is in a position to maybe pull it off. Looking at the target, Honda Activa is currently the highest-selling ICE scooter in India and is likely to stay that way till August 2023. Ola seems to be directly targeting Activa as its goal.Bhavish Aggarwal Recent AnnouncementHonda Activa sold 2.45 lakh units in September 2022. In the same month, Ola sold just 9,649 units collectively. Looking at the gap, Ola has to climb beyond the tip of Everest to achieve something like this. Now that base S1 Air is revealed at around Rs. 85K, Ola is optimistic about its growth in India.Is It Achievable?There is a possibility of this happening. By August 2023, Honda will have forayed into EVs with swappable battery tech. This is likely to shift a lot of ICE Activa buyers towards the new electric Honda Scooter. Hence ICE Activa sales could take a hit and even halve when compared to 2.1 lakh units sold in October 2022.With the push for EVs getting more mainstream, Ola is at the forefront right now. If the same winning streak is maintained by Ola and Honda’s upcoming electric scooter gobbles ICE Activa’s sales, Ola has a chance of beating the highest selling ICE scooter sales in August 2023.As of now, Activa sales are unrivalled and have a lead over other highest-selling scooters by a gargantuan margin. In Sep 2022, Activa sales alone were almost as much as 2nd highest selling scooter to 9th highest selling scooter sales combined. Currently, Ola has 3 electric scooters in its arsenal. The base S1 Air starts from Rs. 85,000, S1 starts from Rs. 1 lakh and S1 Pro starts from Rs. 1.4 lakh. S1 Air can be reserved for Rs. 999 and deliveries will commence in 2023. More

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      Jeep Cherokee's Future Hangs in the Balance after Reports of Plant Closure

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      Stellantis will indefinitely idle its plant in Belvidere, Illinois, where the Jeep Cherokee is built, as first reported by Automotive News.The company cites several reasons for the plant closure, including the COVID-19 pandemic and related supply-chain shortages.There will be a short run of 2023 Cherokees, but the move suggests the SUV’s place in the Jeep lineup could be vacant for 2024.A longtime Chrysler-FCA-Stellantis assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, will be indefinitely shut down as the company pursues options to “optimize operations,” according to a report today by Automotive News. The Belvidere plant is currently the only manufacturing facility responsible for the production of the Jeep Cherokee SUV, which calls into question the crossover’s future. A representative from Jeep told Car and Driver when the plant is closed, the Cherokee will remain in production through the end of February 2023, and the models being produced now are 2023 models. “The segment is very important to us and we plan to stay committed to it long-term,” a Jeep spokesperson said when pressed on future plans for the Cherokee nameplate. Demand for the Cherokee has fallen sharply over the past few years. In 2019, 191,397 copies found homes, while in 2020, only 135,855 were sold; in 2021, sales dwindled to 89,126. Meanwhile, Jeep dealers moved just 30,852 Cherokees in the first nine months of 2022, a fraction of the 189,727 Grand Cherokees—a more expensive and likely more profitable model—sold in the same time period. Jeep’s Electric FutureThe next compact Jeep SUV may be an EV. Jeep has detailed plans to shift to electric vehicles in recent months, including an Avenger EV for European and other global markets and a Wrangler-inspired Recon EV for North America. Time will tell, but the iconic, albeit problematic, nameplate could find itself emblazoned on the liftgate of an electric off-roader.The plant closure will impact the nearly 1300 employees, many of which are UAW union members, when the facility is idled on February 28, 2023. According to the AN report, layoffs are likely, although reassignment to other manufacturing facilities may be a possibility for some of the plant’s workforce. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More