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Driving innovation and accelerating the future

Driving innovation and accelerating the future

Time of India2 days ago
Bosch Bets Big on AI
€2.5 Billion Investment to Boost
Automated Driving
&
Smart Manufacturing
Bosch has announced a major €2.5 billion investment in artificial intelligence through 2027. The focus: advancing technologies in automated driving and AI-enabled manufacturing, underlining the company's long-term vision for intelligent mobility and Industry 4.0.
Read more
Autonomous Driving: A Deep Dive
From Driver Assistance to Full Autonomy
As global players push toward full autonomy, the industry is grappling with real-world complexities — including regulation, infrastructure, and AI decision-making. The road to Level 5 remains ambitious but increasingly within reach.
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Toyota Champions Hydrogen in India
Microgrid Pilot Signals Clean Energy Shift
Toyota's new hydrogen microgrid initiative in India could redefine how clean energy supports mobility. The pilot strengthens the brand's commitment to multi-pathway sustainability and builds early momentum for a hydrogen infrastructure ecosystem.
Read more
Tesla's Robotaxi Under Scrutiny
Testing Challenges Raise Safety Questions
Tesla's robotaxi trials in Texas are facing criticism after reports of significant driving errors. Footage of a vehicle entering an opposing lane has prompted regulators to re-evaluate autonomous testing protocols and safety standards.
Read more
Sodium-Ion Batteries Gain Traction
A Viable Future for Clean Heavy-Duty Transport?
With raw material advantages and growing interest in alternatives to lithium, sodium-ion batteries could power the next wave of electric trucks. Researchers and manufacturers are now exploring scale-up potential in commercial EVs.
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Accenture and IIT Madras' CAAR introduce skilling programme for SDVs
Accenture, in collaboration with the Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology (CAAR) at IIT Madras, has rolled out a specialised skilling programme aimed at building talent for
Software-Defined Vehicles
(SDVs). The initiative is designed to equip engineers with cutting-edge capabilities in automotive software, embedded systems, and vehicle intelligence — critical areas shaping the next generation of mobility.
Read more
As mobility continues its rapid technological evolution, the focus is not just on speed or automation, but on building systems that are safe, sustainable, and future-ready. From AI and autonomy to clean energy and chip sovereignty, the automotive world is rewriting its own rules — and we're here to keep you updated, every step of the way.
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‘Notice the difference': Elon Musk claims major upgrade to Grok chatbot's question-answering abilities
‘Notice the difference': Elon Musk claims major upgrade to Grok chatbot's question-answering abilities

Mint

time2 hours ago

  • Mint

‘Notice the difference': Elon Musk claims major upgrade to Grok chatbot's question-answering abilities

Tech mogul Elon Musk has announced significant improvements to his artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, as part of a wider strategy to challenge what he perceives as ideological bias in existing AI platforms. In a post shared on X on Friday, the tech billionaire stated, 'We have improved @Grok significantly. You should notice a difference when you ask Grok questions.' The update is the latest development in Musk's bid to position Grok, developed by his AI venture xAI, as a credible alternative to tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Last month, the Tesla CEO unveiled plans to retrain Grok using what he described as a 'cleaner and more accurate version of human knowledge'. This retraining effort forms the backbone of an ambitious initiative to revise and enhance the global knowledge base. Writing on X, Musk suggested that the next major release of the system, potentially named Grok 3.5 or Grok 4, will feature heightened cognitive abilities. 'We will use Grok 3.5 (maybe we should call it 4), which has advanced reasoning, to rewrite the entire corpus of human knowledge, adding missing information and deleting errors,' he stated. Central to Musk's vision is a pledge to build an AI that is free from what he calls the 'mind virus', a term he uses to describe ideological slant in current AI models. To that end, he is encouraging users to submit so-called 'divisive facts', claims that may be politically controversial but, in his view, reflect reality. xAI's Grok has positioned itself as a more unfiltered and open alternative to other chatbots, often adopting an edgier tone in responses. With this latest update, Musk is doubling down on his plans for a radically different model of AI, one that he argues is more truthful and less constrained by what he sees as prevailing cultural or institutional norms.

Is Musk angry with Trump or is he just trying to save Tesla from One Big, Beautiful Bill?
Is Musk angry with Trump or is he just trying to save Tesla from One Big, Beautiful Bill?

First Post

time2 hours ago

  • First Post

Is Musk angry with Trump or is he just trying to save Tesla from One Big, Beautiful Bill?

The legislation has reportedly triggered a furious reaction from Musk, raising questions about whether his political gamble is backfiring — and whether his outrage is personal or purely financial, according to a report read more While Elon Musk donated more than $250mn to elect Donald Trump, the billionaire is now facing a legislative threat that could cost Tesla billions. According to a Financial Times report, Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' puts at risk a crucial source of profit for Tesla by neutering rules that allow the electric-vehicle maker to sell billions of dollars of emissions credits. These credits, which the company sells to automakers that don't meet environmental standards, have brought in billions over the years. Removing them could strike a major blow to Tesla's profitability, added the report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The bill comes at a time when Tesla is already under pressure, with falling sales and the rollback of EV tax incentives compounding its troubles. The legislation has reportedly triggered a furious reaction from Musk, raising questions about whether his political gamble is backfiring — and whether his outrage is personal or purely financial. As Trump pushed to get the bill passed in Congress this week, Musk called it an 'abomination' and warned that he might go after lawmakers who support it by funding their opponents — or even start his own political party. In response, Trump shot back, saying that 'without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.' Their escalating feud threatens critical parts of Musk's business empire — and leaves Republican legislators caught in a tussle between the US president and the world's richest man. 'All family fights are ultimately about money,' Financial Times quoted San Francisco-based tech entrepreneur Trevor Traina, who served as ambassador to Austria during Trump's first term, as saying. 'This one seems to be no different . . . Billions in subsidies versus hundreds of millions in primaries,' Traina added. Musk publicly slammed bill Publicly, Musk has criticised Trump's fiscal bill for its impact on the US deficit, but the real danger lies in what it means for Tesla's bottom line, according to Financial Times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The bill threatens to dismantle all three of the country's emissions credit systems — including those run by the Environmental Protection Agency, the state of California, and the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. These programmes are essential to Tesla's profitability. They reward companies that produce low or zero-emission vehicles by allowing them to sell credits to less efficient automakers. If the bill passes, that revenue stream could vanish. In the first quarter of 2025, Tesla made $595 million from credit sales — more than its total net income of $409 million, meaning it would have reported a loss without them. Last year, Tesla earned $2.8 billion from selling regulatory credits, up from $1.8 billion in 2023, accounting for 39 percent of its $7.1 billion in annual net income. Since 2015, those credit sales have brought in more than $11 billion — a financial cushion now directly under threat. The budget bill negates Cafe by setting fines at zero. Tesla worries that traditional automakers will largely stop buying credits as a result, reported FT, citing people familiar with the company's internal debates. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'If there's no penalty for cheating, there's no reason to buy compliance credits,' FT quoted Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign at the Center for Biological Diversity, as saying. 'I'm not sure how costly these (changes) will be compared to the damage that Musk did to Tesla by becoming Trump's Tweedle Dee and a pariah,' he added. Tesla's credit profits Tesla doesn't disclose where its regulatory credit profits come from, but insiders say up to 75% are from US programmes now under threat from Trump's new bill. While existing multiyear contracts may delay the financial hit, some deals could be voided due to clauses tied to legal changes, reported FT. Tesla will still earn from credit sales abroad, including a new EU emissions pooling deal with automakers like Stellantis and Toyota, potentially worth over €1 billion. But in the US, the outlook is bleak. Trump's bill guts federal emissions credit systems, and while California is suing to protect its own program — where Tesla holds the most credits — the long-term market has collapsed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beyond credits, the bill strips away nearly all federal support for Tesla's broader business: EV tax credits, manufacturing incentives, charging infrastructure, and solar energy subsidies. Only energy storage incentives remain. The loss of the $7,500 EV credit alone could hit sales hard when it ends in September. In response to Musk's criticism, Trump mocked Tesla's reliance on subsidies and threatened to cancel federal contracts with both Tesla and SpaceX. He also accused Musk of hypocrisy, citing Musk's own Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which Musk left in May amid rising tensions. Tariffs and a looming trade war with China further endanger Tesla's supply chain and margins. A former Tesla executive summed it up: 'This is a devastating blow — not just CAFE, but everything: tariffs, tax credits, manufacturing, charging, and solar. Elon's waking up, but it's too late.' Despite Musk's threat to fund primary challenges against Republican supporters of the bill, few have broken ranks. The legislation passed with 50 of 53 GOP senators backing it, and a tiebreaker from VP JD Vance. Even some of Musk's former allies now support the bill, citing the importance of preventing tax hikes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The bill passed Congress on Thursday and heads to Trump's desk. As one Trump ally put it: 'I respect Elon, but Trump carries the bigger stick.' With inputs from agencies

Jan Bures drives brand love at ET Brand World Summit 2025
Jan Bures drives brand love at ET Brand World Summit 2025

Time of India

time5 hours ago

  • Time of India

Jan Bures drives brand love at ET Brand World Summit 2025

At the ETBrandEquity's Brand World Summit 2025, Jan Bures , executive director of sales, marketing and digital at Skoda Auto Volkswagen India , bridged the gap between the vibrant world of marketing and the dynamic automotive industry. Bures connected the dots between brand building, cultural resonance, and the core principles of business success. Bures kicked off his address by celebrating the marketing industry, immediately drawing parallels to the automotive sector. He posed a compelling question: "When is it that an Indian brand becomes a global brand known to everyone?" The answer, he noted, often boils down to culture and love. "Whenever you develop a brand that drives on the basis of love and on values, then it should be able to make that brand truly, really global," Bures asserted, offering yoga as a powerful Indian example that has achieved universal recognition. This set the stage for a broader call to action: imagine more Indian cultural contributions becoming global brands. The address moved to the essence of brand equity . Bures emphasised that building a "timeless brand" with strong awareness and loyalty is crucial for sustained revenue and profit. "When I have a strong brand equity... people come to me to buy my products. Then I have brand equity, and I can command different prices," he explained, highlighting its undeniable power in the marketplace. The 5 Ps: Automotive's roadmap to success Bures then delved into the "Five Ps" of automotive marketing – Product, Price, Promotion, Place and People – revealing how these pillars drive the industry forward. Product: The heart of the brand For Bures, the product is paramount. He showcased examples like the Volkswagen Golf, selling over 35 million units since 1974, and the Toyota Corolla, with 50 million sales. He echoed Steve Jobs's sentiment: "Design is not just what it looks like and feels but also how it works." Bures also stressed the importance of learning from missteps, quoting Bill Gates: "The most unhappy customers are the greatest source of learning." Price: Navigating India's sensitive market In a market as price-sensitive as India, Bures acknowledged the delicate balance required. He cited the enduring success of the Volkswagen Beetle and the Ford Model T, both priced perfectly to convey immense value. He shared a past misjudgment at Skoda Auto Volkswagen India: "We have underestimated the demand in one segment that led to inventory build up, which we had really difficulties to fix... That is one of the learnings." Place: Redefining the buying experience Bures lauded Tesla's direct-to-consumer sales model, which eliminated middlemen and streamlined the car-buying process. "Making your products easy to buy [is] just as important as making it easy to want," he declared, championing online purchasing and doorstep delivery. He also commended Maruti Suzuki for its strategic positioning as a brand synonymous with value and mobility. Conversely, he recounted the misstep of trying to launch a luxury Volkswagen sedan in the US, where the product, price, and place simply didn't align. Promotion: The art of storytelling Bures articulated his belief in the power of promotion. He quoted Leo Burnett: "Make it simple, make it memorable and make it inviting to look at, make it fun to read." He highlighted the 'Think Small" campaign for the Volkswagen Beetle and the Audi Quattro ski jump clip, an authentic stunt showcasing the car's formidable four-wheel drive. People: The unsung hero The final 'P' – People – was arguably the most poignant. Bures emphasised the critical importance of a team that shares core values, especially during challenging times. He acknowledged the automotive industry's current headwinds, citing a significant "16 per cent decline" in the sub-four-meter SUV segment in June alone. "Here we have to somehow find the people who can fix it, and we found them already," he affirmed. Bures concluded his address with a plea to the marketing community. "We need you to help us in the industry to run campaigns that are really worthwhile."

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