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      Ola Electric Scooter Charging Network Expansion Starts

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      Ola Electric Scooter Charging NetworkEasy availability of charging stations will be crucial in nudging people to shift to electric
      After commencing delivery of its scooters earlier this month, Ola Electric has started working on expansion of its charging network. When fully completed, it will be a dense network comprising more than 100,000 charging points. It will be the largest of its kind 2-wheeler charging network in the country. There are plans to cover 400 cities across the country.
      Ola Electric Scooter Charging Network – 4k points by 2022
      The first set of charging stations are expected to become operational in the next 6-8 weeks. By end of next year, Ola Electric has set a target of 4,000 charging stations. In the initial phase, much of these charging stations will be installed at Bharat Petroleum fuel stations and residential complexes.
      The choice of location of charging stations seems perfect, as it will play a key role in motivating people to make the switch to electric. As of now, there’s significant resistance to electric two-wheelers. One key reason is range anxiety, as people are not sure about easy availability of charging stations. When people see Ola charging stations at fuel pumps and residential complexes, it will give them more confidence to switch to electric.
      In future, Ola charging stations could be made available at other public places, offices and commercial centres. Ola also has plans to setup Hypercharger towers that can accommodate several EVs simultaneously. These are likely to come up at specific business districts and city centres.
      Ola Electric Scooter Charging Network
      Free charging for 6 months
      To make it more attractive for existing users and potential customers, Ola is offering free charging at its charging points till June 2022. This will create significant savings for Ola electric scooter users. It will also motivate Ola scooter users to use the hypercharger network instead of charging their scooter at home.
      A key benefit available with using Ola’s hypercharger network is that it has fast charging. On S1, 75 km can be loaded in just around 18 minutes. In comparison, achieving the same with a home charger will take much more time. Ola scooters have a portable home charger that can be easily plugged into any standard 5 Amp socket.
      Ola Electric currently offers the S1 and S1 Pro electric scooters. While Ola S1 ARAI range is at 121 km on full charge, S1 Pro has range of 181 km. The latter has a dual-battery setup. S1 Pro has higher top speed of 115 kmph, as compared to 90 kmph of S1. It also has faster acceleration with 0-40 kmph achieved in 3 seconds. S1 takes 3.6 seconds. S1 is offered with ride modes of Normal and Sport whereas S1 Pro has an additional Hyper mode.
      Prices start at Rs 99,999 and Rs 1,29,999, respectively. Prices may vary based on the level of subsidy offered by respective state governments. Ola scooters are currently the cheapest in states like Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharastra. Ola is offering attractive finance plans in partnership with banks and NBFCs to make ownership a lot easier for users. More

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      Electric Two Wheeler Sales 2021 Jan To Nov – Hero, Ather, Revolt, Okinawa, Ampere

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      Bajaj Chetak Electric ScooterHero Electric, Okinawa Autotech and Ather Energy lead the segment while there are several newcomers entering the fray
      The two wheeler segment in India has been posting de-growth over the past several months. Rising fuel prices, increasing input costs and an otherwise challenged economic situation both among rural and urban buyers have taken their toll on petrol scooter sales. The same cannot be said about the electric two wheeler segment that has been seeing sales increase by leaps and bounds over the past several months.
      Taking the first 11 months of this calendar year into account, electric two wheeler sales have increased 355 percent YoY. Sales which had stood at 25,598 units in the same period of 2020 surpassed the 1,00,000-unit mark for the first time. A look at the attached table shows that sales of electric two wheelers have had a steady growth over the January to November 2021 period, except for the months of May and June when the second wave of the pandemic struck.
      Total sales which had stood at 4,885 units in January 2021 increased to 6,001 units in February and there on to 10,360 units in March 2021. Activity picked up again in this segment in July 2021 with 13,122 units sold  to 21,112 units in October 2021 while sales reached a peak at 1,16,669 units in November 2021.
      Hero Electric, Okinawa and Ather
      Three top players in this segment are Hero Electric, Okinawa and Ather Energy. Hero Electric has sold a total of 40,319 units during the past calendar year with Flash, Optima, Photon, NYX and Dash leading the sales graph. This was approximately 400 percent growth over 8,111 units sold in the calendar year of 2020.
      Electric Scooter Sales Jan-Nov 2021
      Hero Electric, which currently commands a 34.56 percent market share, now targets 1 million unit sales in the next 5 years while expansion of product portfolio and increase in sales outlets is also on the cards. Hero AE-47 electric motorcycle is also planned for launch in the coming year expected to be priced between Rs 1.3-1.5 lakh. The company has also entered into an alliance with Charzer, a Bangalore-based EV charging start-up, with plans to set up 1,00,000 charging stations in a year.
      At No. 2 was Okinawa Autotech with sales of 23,899 units in the Jan-Nov 2021 period. The company has also noted a steady increase in demand over the past 11 months to 5,421 units sold in November 2021 commanding a market share of 20.48 percent. Okinawa offers a range of low-speed and high-speed electric scooters that are priced from Rs 61,998 to Rs 82,995 for low-speed models among which are Okinawa R30, Lite and Dual. The high speed models are priced from Rs 64,797 to Rs 105,990 for the Ridge+, Praise Pro and iPraise+. Plans are to invest around Rs 200-250 crore on a new plant in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan with a target to achieve 100 percent localization by the end of FY2022.
      Ather Energy, another leading electric two wheeler maker in India has seen total sales of 14,152 units in calendar year 2021. Commanding a market share of 12.13 percent, the Bengaluru based e-scooter manufacturer has only two models on offer in India that include the Ather 450X and 450 Plus. Sales in September, October and November 2021 surpassed the 2,000 unit mark with a steady MoM increase. The company recently commissioned another plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, even as its first plant, opened early this year, is running at full capacity.
      Pure EV, Ampere, TVS
      Electric two wheeler makers, Pure EV, Ampere and TVS Motors followed in quick succession. Pure EV (9,363 units) and Ampere (9,155 units) have been posting steady growth over the past 11 months. TVS iQube and Bajaj Chetak have only been offered for sale in a few cities across the country.
      Lower down the order, there are several newcomers to this segment that have also seen increasing sales over the past few months. This pace is set to increase with the Government of India offering several subsidies in the form of FAME II, while state governments are also extending various schemes and subsidies to draw the attention of buyers to this clean, green segment. 
      However, it may still be pointed out that the electric two wheeler segment is still in its nascent stage. In Chinese markets, electric two wheelers account for 97 percent of the world’s e-scooter fleet while in India it makes up for less than 1 percent of total sales. With increased emphasis on charging infrastructure, established e-vehicle makers along with several startups are expecting this to change dramatically with more emphasis on e-mobility.
      EV makers in India show their optimism on the growth of this segment in the coming few years. Naveen Munjal, Managing Director of Hero Electric expects EV sales to reach the 30 million mark by 2030 while Tarun Mehta, CEO of Ather Energy states that 40 percent of petrol powered scooter sales can be converted to electric scooters by 2025.
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      2022 Tokyo Auto Salon Promises VeilSide Toyota Supra, Mitsubishi Ralliart Concept

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      Here are a few of the highlights that will be on display next month at the Tokyo Auto Salon, which can be reasonably compared to the U.S. SEMA show because of its friendliness to those ready to full-on enjoy some of the wilder aspects of car culture.Tuner VeilSide will bring a modification kit for the Toyota A90 Supra, and Subaru is going to present a vision of electrified racing with the STI E-RA concept.Kei cars—Japan’s famous regulatory-driven small cars—will be present in force, including a tiny overland camper from Daihatsu and an all-electric concept from Mitsubishi.Omicron or not, the Tokyo Auto Salon is gearing up to take place in mid-January. It was virtual in 2021, but for 2022 there’s a live event again, with a slew of modified, tiny kei cars, gussied-up hybrids, and sports cars that have been put through a tuner’s wringer all gearing up for their turns on the show’s stages. Alongside the already announced debut of the Honda Civic Type R, here are some of the highlights.

      Subaru STI E-RA concept.
      Subaru

      Let’s start with Subaru, which is combining the Salon’s traditional tuner culture with all-electric power in the STI E-RA concept. This performance concept shows one way to engage with carbon-neutral motorsports, as the E stands for electrification and the RA stands for “record attempt” and is used for track-destined vehicles. Subaru will also showcase new Levorg STI and WRX S4 STI concepts to highlight new performance parts created for these models as well as possibly previewing production-bound special editions for Japan.

      Daihatsu

      Daihatsu will bring two tricked-out kei cars: the Atrai Deck Camper with its tiny rooftop tent, perfect for overlanding where parking is tight, and the Atrai Premium van, which takes the wheel-to-grille size ratio to a place most automotive designers fear to tread. Daihatsu will also bring standard-size cars to the show with two versions of the Rocky e-Smart Hybrid subcompact SUV. One is a luxury version called the Premium while the other is called Crossfield, a fitting name for the light off-roading this thing looks capable of.
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      The tuner company VeilSide Toyota Supra will be on hand with a kit for the A90 Supra and has already posted video via social media showing off some of the changes. Action movie fans outside Japan are might know VeilSide’s work from the Fast & Furious franchise, and that association also gives us a hint at what founder Hironao Yokomaku is working on for the show. The kit’s modifications include plenty of front-end work, from the front lip spoiler to the new nose cone. A new hood, modified rear spoiler, and VeilSide-branded wheels are also part of the package.

      Mitsubishi kei-car EVconcept.
      Mitsubishi

      Mitsubishi Motors will bring out two new concept vehicles, including an all-electric kei car and a new Ralliart concept. The Tokyo Auto Salon is unsurprisingly focused on the Japan market; the last Mitsubishi to wear the Ralliart name in the U.S. was the turbocharged Ralliart version of the Lancer, which was available here from 2009 to 2014. But the Ralliart performance subbrand name was revived this past May, and whatever this new concept turns out to be, it certainly hints at something worth getting excited about. Mitsu offers two somethings if you add in the all-electric kei car concept, as we do, since small and electrified sit dead center in this writer’s enthusiasm wheelhouse.The 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon is scheduled to take place from January 14 to 16 at the Makuhari Messe.
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      One Moto Electa Electric Scooter Launch Price Rs 2 L – 150 Kms Range

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      One Moto Byka and Electa electric scooters at 2021 EV Expo IndiaOne Moto has showcased three new electric scooters at the 2021 EV Expo India – These are Electa, Byka and Commuta
      Electric mobility has witnessed a great boom in the last few months with multiple new launches, especially in the two-wheeler segment. One of the latest brands to join the EV bandwagon is One Moto which set foot in India earlier in November this year.
      With only a month in the Indian market, the British EV manufacturer has unveiled three new electric scooters in the country. One Moto has launched a new high-speed electric scooter named Electa at a price of Rs 1.99 lakh (ex-showroom). It will be available in a single variant.
      One Moto Electa Electric Scooter
      The design of Electa is a throwback to the scooters of the 1970s and 80s since it flaunts a classic retro styling. The electric scooter is reminiscent of old Vespa models of the 20th century which features similar styling elements such as a circular headlamp and taillamp, a thin and curvaceous front apron and a chunky front fender. Rear end of the scooter looks bulbous like a Vespa classic thanks to the flared rear fenders.
      A healthy dose of chrome has been used in the front apron, floorboard, rearview mirrors, headlamp bezel and rear luggage rack that bring out the electric scooter’s premium appeal. The single-piece seat is flat and looks spacious enough for the rider and pillion. Ergonomics of the scooter is very relaxed with an ample amount of space in the flat footboard.
      One Moto Electa Electric Scooter
      Features & Specs
      Despite its simple retro design, the scooter is packed with quite a few modern gizmos which somewhat justify its exorbitant price tag. These include all-LED lighting and a semi-digital instrument console which is laced with One App that offers functionalities such as geofencing, Bluetooth connectivity, IoT, maintenance alerts, riding behaviour, etc.
      One Moto Electa Electric Scooter Specs
      Coming to its specification, Electa is powered by a 4kW (5.36 bhp) QS brushless DC hub motor that draws energy from a 72V 45Ah detachable lithium-ion battery. This powertrain returns a range of 150 kms on a single charge and the scooter can attain a top speed of 100 kmph. The battery takes 4 hours to get fully rejuvenated. Interestingly, the Electa comes with a removable battery pack for more convenient charging.
      Other Details
      At 115 kilos, Electa is fairly nimble for an electric scooter and has a load-carrying capacity of 150kg. One Moto is also providing 3 years warranty on the motor, controller and battery. As far as colour options are concerned, Electa can be had in as many as five paint schemes- Matte Black, Shiny Black, Blue, Red and Grey. In India, Electa will rival the likes of Ola S1, S1 Pro, Ather 450X and Bajaj Chetak.
      Both online and offline bookings for the electric scooter have already commenced. One Moto currently has a total of 75 dealerships across India and it aims to expand exponentially by the end of this financial year. More

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      TVS Sales, Exports Breakup Nov 2021 – Apache, Raider, Jupiter, Ntorq, XL100

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      Image – Auto EraTVS sold a total of 2,56,444 units in domestic and global markets last month as against 3,11,007 units in Nov 2020
      TVS Motor Company has noted a de-growth in domestic sales while exports grew last month. Sales in the domestic market stood at 1,75,940 units, down 29 percent over 2,47,789 units sold in Nov 2020. Exports on the other hand surged to 80,504 units, up 27.34 percent YoY over 63,218 units shipped in November 2020.
      TVS Sales Breakup Nov 2021
      It was TVS Jupiter that posted the most sales with 44,139 units sold last month, down 29.52 percent over 62,626 units sold in November 2020. Jupiter currently holds a 25.09 percent share along with the recently launched Jupiter 125. In other news, the company has increased prices of Jupiter 110 scooter by Rs 600.
      TVS XL100 moped was at No. 2 with sales of 42,558 units last month, down 39.85 percent over 70,750 units sold in November 2020 with a share of 24.19 percent. At No. 3 was TVS Apache motorcycle range, with a 31.16 percent YoY degrowth to 28,608 units, down from 41,557 units sold in November 2020. More recently, TVS Motor Company announced a price hike for Apache RTR 160 4V which has been increased by Rs 1,500 across its Drum and Disc variants. They also launched a new limited edition Apache 165 RP.
      TVS Ntorq sales also dipped YoY by 33.91 percent to 19,157 units, down from 28,987 units sold in November 2020. TVS Raider, launched in India in September 2021 added 10,040 units to total sales in the past month. In domestic markets, every model in the company lineup suffered a de-growth except for iQube and RR310.
      TVS Sales Breakup Nov 2021
      TVS Sport and Radeon saw sales dip 28.10 percent and 26.95 percent respectively while sales of Star City and Pep+ also dipped YoY by 26.47 percent and 44.59 percent respectively. Even as the company noted a YoY de-growth in the case of the Zest by 27.75 percent, sales of the iQube increased by 606.06 percent to 699 units, up from just 99 units sold in November 2020.
      TVS Exports Breakup Nov 2021
      TVS Motor Company saw better exports on a YoY basis. Most of the models in the company lineup saw increased demand in global markets except for the XL, Radeon and RR310 which posted de-growth. Star City 125 saw the most demand, up 48.92 percent to 29,567 units in the past month, from 19,854 units shipped in November 2020.
      Star City also  posted a 10.78 percent YoY growth to 27,318 units while Apache exports increased 20.95 percent to 11,025 units, up from 9,115 units sold in November 2020. TVS Sport and Ntorq also saw a YoY growth of 26.02 percent and 16.94 percent respectively.
      TVS Exports Breakup Nov 2021
      TVS Victor and Wego exports increased 20 percent and 167.39 percent respectively. Jupiter was another model in the company lineup that posted an 816.67 percent YoY growth to 110 units, up from just 12 units shipped in November 2020. XL (186 units), Radeon (80 units) and  RR310 (47 units) suffered de-growth. More

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      New Bajaj EV Plant Work Starts At The Site Of Iconic Chetak Scooter

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      Bajaj Chetak ScooterEVs set to rollout by June 2022 for India and exports from new Bajaj Auto Electric Vehicle manufacturing unit at Akurdi (Pune)
      Bajaj Auto has announced a new ‘Electric Vehicle’ manufacturing unit at Akurdi (Pune). EVs are set to roll out by June 2022, and will cater to the domestic market, and exports. This entails an investment of Rs 300 Cr (USD 40 Mn) to build manufacturing capacity for 5,00,000 EVs per annum. The site is the same used as the original Chetak  scooter factory.
      Work at the Akurdi EV plant has now commenced, and in time, this site will generate incremental employment for 800 people. Bajaj will launch new electric scooters, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles in the future. These are expected to be built at this new plant. Next year, Bajaj will launch Chetak based Husqvarna electric scooter (spied in Pune recently). Post that, Husqvarna electric motorcycle e-pilen is also planned for launch.
      New Bajaj EV Plant
      Being co-located with Bajaj Auto’s Akurdi R&D centre ensures greater collaboration. The complete EV range solution ties together as a hub for design, development and manufacturing. For Bajaj, Chetak as a brand was the backbone of the manufacturer’s success for years to an end.
      As such, it came as no surprise that when an electric scooter was readied for launch, the Chetak moniker was re-introduced. The name breeds familiarity, and lives on as a great identifier in the blueprint for future mobility solutions.
      Rajiv Bajaj and Senior Management of Bajaj Auto at the new plant site
      Akurdi EV manufacturing plant is spread over half a million sq. ft. In addition to investments made by Bajaj Auto, vendors will invest an additional Rs 250 Cr (USD 33 Mn). Akurdi EV unit functionality is enhanced through robotic and automated manufacturing systems for all processes.
      This includes logistics and material handling, fabrication and painting, assembly and quality assurance. Systems are built to cater to a flexible product mix on the basis of maximum process efficiency. Systems take into account best worker ergonomics.
      EV mobility and solutions
      Bajaj has a unique business model that works wonders for the manufacturer. The company doesn’t sell scooters except Chetak electric scooter, which is a fairly recent launch. Its motorcycle market prowess sees exports at par with domestic market sales. And these ever-growing numbers are helped further with a small mix of CVs (auto rickshaws/tuktuks).
      Rajiv Bajaj – Managing Director, Bajaj Auto Ltd. said, “In 2001 Bajaj 2.0 took off on the roaring Pulsar, in 2021 Bajaj 3.0 arrived on the charming Chetak. Going forward, for the Bajaj portfolio, except for implementing one state-of-the-art ICE platform that is currently under development, all our R&D resources are now laser focused on creating EV solutions for the future.
      This alignment reflects our belief that light Electric Vehicles for sustainable urban mobility is an idea whose time may finally have come. Thus, this investment at Akurdi completes the virtuous cycle of hi-tech R&D competencies, high-efficiency engineering capabilities, world class supply chain synergies, and global distribution network which should leapfrog us into a market leading position in EVs in India and overseas.” More

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      Yamaha XSR 155 Limited Edition Custom Built Sold Out In A Few Hours

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      Yamaha XSR 155 Limited Edition
      Yamaha Thailand has teamed up with Zeus Customs to create a neo-retro cafe racer version of XSR 155
      Yamaha XSR 155 is already a very desirable motorcycle thanks to its neo-retro design and one heck of an engine underneath. However, a custom based on the same has taken its visual appeal to another level. First displayed at the recently concluded Thailand Motor Expo, the custom-built XSR 155 garnered a lot of attention.
      The motorcycle has been built by Yamaha Thailand in association with Zeus Customs who has developed the custom kit which has transformed XSR 155 into a cool retro café racer. Only 100 units of this limited edition model went on sale and all of them were sold in a matter of hours.
      XSR 155 Cafe Racer- Design Updates
      The bike witnesses plenty of changes on its skin, one of the most prominent updates includes addition of a clip-on handlebar which is typical of a cafe racer. Other notable updates include retro side panels, a custom dual-tone seat with a ribbed pattern, chopped front and rear fenders and a slightly revised headlamp cluster. The motorcycle’s aesthetic appeals are further accentuated by custom body decals.
      This custom XSR 155 has been wrapped around a matte grey paint job with the internals and running gear dipped in black paint which offers a sporty dual-tone theme. Front brake hose has been shortened to lower the handlebar height and accommodate a numbered series production plate on the upper triple clamp. The side-on upswept exhaust muffler also appears to be an aftermarket unit.
      Yamaha XSR 155 Limited Edition
      Providing the custom XSR 155 a more prominent on-road appearance is a large blacked-out engine bash plate. Finally, the muscular fuel tank dons a Zeus Customs badge which lends the bike a distinct identity. Apart from the updated design and a few ergonomic changes, almost everything else has remained intact.
      Hardware, Powertrain Specs
      Speaking of dynamics, the customised XSR 155 rolls on 17-inch front and rear alloy wheels which are suspended by conventional telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock at rear. Braking duties are carried out by single hydraulic discs at both front and rear aided by a single-channel ABS as standard.
      Powering this modified XSR 155 is a familiar 155cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled VVT motor which also powers other models such as Yamaha R15 and MT-15. This motor kicks out 19bhp of power and 14.7 Nm of peak torque and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox via a slipper and assist clutch.
      Price
      Yamaha Thailand has priced this custom XSR 155 cafe racer THB 91,500 (approx INR 2.05 lakh). XSR 155 is unlikely to reach Indian shores anytime soon. The closest replica Indian consumers have experienced is FZ-X which is a retro-style commuter based on the FZ range of motorcycles and launched earlier this year. More

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      GM Files to Trademark Classic Buick Electra Nameplate

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      General Motors filed to trademark “Buick Electra” with the United States Trademark and Patent Office.The Electra name recently appeared on an electric concept SUV.Buick ditched the Electra nameplate after the 1990 model year. The Electra name might return to Buick’s model line after sitting dormant for more than three decades. Well, that’s if a recent trademark filing by General Motors is anything to go by. The automaker filed to apply for the “Buick Electra” mark with the United States Trademark and Patent Office on December 20, 2021.

      Buick

      GM’s decision to dust off the Electra nameplate is of little surprise given the company’s pivot to electric vehicles. In fact, Buick revealed an Electra electric SUV concept car at the 2020 Beijing auto show (no doubt, the fact “Electra” and “electric” share the same prefix had something to do with Buick’s choice of name for the concept).

      As such, we wager Buick will christen its upcoming EV the Electra. Like the Electra concept, expect the production Buick Electra to use GM’s latest electric vehicle hardware, which goes by the name Ultium. In other words, the new Electra could share its battery pack options, electric motors, and basic platform with other GM EVs, such as the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq.That said, we doubt GM plans to simply swap the Lyriq’s Cadillac crest for Buick’s tri-shield badge. If the Electra concept from Shanghai is anything to go by, then the potential production Electra ought to wear distinct, brand-specific sheet metal. While we suspect the concept’s scissor-hinged doors will fail to find their way to the production vehicle, it is possible the saleable Electra EV trades the traditional two-box body style typical of most SUVs for the concept’s coupe-like shape.

      Buick

      Of course, there’s always the chance Buick deviates from the basic look of the Electra concept and pins the name to an entirely different sort of vehicle—possibly one with an internal combustion engine. Likewise, there’s always the chance GM simply filed to trademark “Buick Electra” for no other reason other than it could. Still, we think it’s no coincidence GM is trademarking a name it recently pinned to a concept vehicle designed to show off the future of the Buick brand.
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