Electronics brand Sony and car manufacturer Honda announced they would form a partnership, creating Sony Honda Mobility Inc.

The new company will focus on developing and selling electric vehicles in the future, with the first cars from the partnership set to go on sale in 2026.

The plan for the new company, due to be established in 2022, is to “engage in the joint development and sales of high value-added battery electric vehicles and commercialise them in conjunction with providing mobility services”.

Sony Honda Mobility Inc now claims its first car will be unveiled in Las Vegas on 4 January 2023 ahead of the Consumer Electronic Show on January 5. In a teaser video, the firm gives a very slight glimpse of the car, highlighting what looks to be the bonnet and a door edge. Honda’s expertise in production means it will take responsibility for vehicle manufacturing. Sony will bring to the table digital services for a future mobility platform.

Pre-orders for the new car should start from the beginning of 2025, with sales starting before the end of 2025. The car will be manufactured at Honda’s North American factory and the US will be the first to receive Sony Honda Mobility Inc’s car in Spring 2026.

Read Also; Honda redesigns Passport for smart driving

The firm says it will focus on ‘the three As’, which stand for autonomy, augmentation and affinity. Level three autonomy is one objective, meaning drivers can take their hands off the steering wheel. ‘Augmentation’ will focus on delivering more entertainment through virtual reality technology and ‘Affinity’ will look at building an “interactive mobility society” to help with aftersales.

Sony has previously stated its intentions of becoming a car brand by revealing its Vision S 02 concept car (pictured) at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year. The seven-seat, 4.85-metre-long prototype SUV is powered by a pair of electric motors for a total of 563bhp, offering a 0-62mph time of less than five seconds. Battery technology, size and a predicted range were not disclosed when Sony revealed the Vision S 02, alongside forming a new company, called Sony Mobility Inc.

Images of the Vision S 02’s interior revealed similar design cues to the brand’s original Vision-S concept, with a full-width high-definition display instead of a conventional fascia, and headrest screens for second-row passengers. There’s also a rotary dial in the middle of the third row – potentially allowing those in the sixth and seventh seats to control audio or multimedia functions. Whether or not the new electric car from Sony Honda Mobility Inc will take inspiration from the Vision S 02 remains to be seen.

Commenting on the announcement of the new company, Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President, Representative Executive Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Motor Co. said: “We are very pleased to have signed a joint venture agreement with Sony, which has strengths in advanced digital technology, and shares our desire to take on new challenges.”

Chief Executive Officer of Sony Kenichiro Yoshida, added, “We are excited to have met a partner, Honda, with extensive global achievements and knowledge, and to sign the joint venture agreement between the two companies.

Going forward, we aim to contribute to the evolution of mobility by combining Honda’s cutting-edge environmental and safety technologies, mobility development capabilities, vehicle body manufacturing technology and after-sales service management experience, with our expertise in imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network and entertainment technologies.”

Ford Motor is accelerating its localised electrification strategy in China by setting up a new subsidiary called Ford Electric Mach Technologies or FMeT,

Ford has committed to run FMeT independently in China, marking the first independent intelligent EV entity in China that is established by a foreign automobile brand. FMeT will focus on the research/development and operation of intelligent electric vehicles in China.

Read Also: Ogun to introduce gas-enabled vehicles, electric motorcycles

Like Nio, Xpeng and rest of Chinese electric vehicle companies, FMeT will build up its brand awareness by using direct selling model in China, meaning more direct sales stores will be opened in large shopping malls across major cities in China.

Ford Select, an exclusive direct sales network for electric vehicles, currently covers 43 Chinese cities with more than 100 sales outlets. Ford said it would open Ford Select’s first flagship store in Shanghai by the end of this year.

Ford has three new energy vehicle models by far, including Territory EV, Edge plug-in hybrid and Mustang Mach-E.

The new Honda Passport is available in EX-L, TrailSport and Elite trim levels. A 3.5-litre V6 engine (280 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque) is standard, and it’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The EX-L comes with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available as an option on the EX-L and is standard on the TrailSport and Elite trims.

Honda Passport is one of the most versatile Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) on the market. It exudes an athletic character from both a design and performance standpoint, but it also delivers a comfortable ride, plenty of cargo space and decent fuel economy. It also comes with a good number of standard features, excellent smartphone integration and plentiful interior storage.

As more people gravitate toward crossover SUVs, automakers are expanding their vehicle lineups to cater to specific customers. Several years ago, Honda added the Passport to its family of SUVs to bridge the gap between the compact CR-V and the midsize three-row Pilot.

Essentially, the Passport is a shorter version of the Pilot. It doesn’t have a third-row seat, but it does have a more rugged look and a bit more off-road capability. Able to comfortably seat five people, the Passport is a spacious midsize SUV that’s enjoyable to drive. It also offers enough ground clearance and an available all-wheel-drive system for camping excursions and foul-weather situations.

Honda makes a few changes to the Passport for 2022. Sharing a redesigned front end with the Ridgeline pickup truck and a reworked back bumper with larger exhaust outlets, the 2022 Passport adopts a new visual attitude that Honda hopes will better convey the SUV’s capability off the pavement. A new TrailSport trim also debuts for 2022, adding standard all-wheel drive, more aggressive tires and a wider track, along with orange accents and details to help distinguish it from other Passports.

Overall the Passport is a great pick for a five-passenger midsize crossover SUV.

The Passport excels in terms of the on-road driving experience. The standard V6 engine delivers punchy acceleration, and the nine-speed transmission shifts smoothly. The Passport also exhibits better-than-average handling characteristics. Its nicely weighted steering helps the SUV feel responsive and light in turns.

But there is room for improvement. While the brakes offer a consistent feel and are easy to modulate in routine driving, the pedal exhibits a bit of squishiness under hard braking. There’s also some nosedive that can make sudden stops feel a touch skittish.

The Passport is spacious and comfortable. Though the Passport has a slightly stiffer ride than the related Honda Pilot, its suspension controls large body motions and small bumps equally well. The front seats don’t offer much bolstering, but they’re wide and provide hours of comfort. The reclining rear seats are also quite comfortable.

The Passport’s cabin is well designed. Head- and legroom are abundant all around, and three adults can sit in the back with minimal discomfort. The Passport sits a little higher than competitors, which might hamper entry and exit for shorter passengers, but the sizable door openings help reduce this difficulty. Outward visibility is excellent in all directions.

The responsive and vibrant touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use. Having knobs and buttons for other controls and functions is a good thing. The unique push-button-style shifter saves space but takes some getting used to.

The Passport is packed with most of the modern technology features you’d want. The upgraded audio system — available on Touring and Elite levels — sounds great and fills the cabin space well. The navigation system responds quickly to pinch and swipe gestures for easy map zoom and rotation. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration comes standard on every Passport.

Most of today’s advanced safety systems are represented, and almost all are standard. But not all work seamlessly. The adaptive cruise control system, in particular, is troublesome because it only works above 20 mph. As such, it’s not very useful in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The Passport’s 41.2 cubic feet behind the second row is quite spacious. Fold down the rear seats and you’ll have 77.9 cubic feet. (Note that due to different measuring standards, you might also see Honda list 50.5 and 100.7 cubic feet, respectively.) The load height, however, is a bit high. As for child safety seats, there’s enough room for the installation of even bulky rear-facing seats. Car seat anchors are easily accessible.

Small-item storage includes large door pockets, a clever space in the center console, and an abundance of shelves and cubbies throughout the cabin. The all-wheel-drive model’s 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity is average for the segment. Front-wheel-drive models are limited to 3,500 pounds.

The Passport’s pricing is typical for the class, but exceptional materials and assembly quality, a spacious interior and a comfortable ride make it feel like a bargain. The cabin’s soft-touch plastics on the dash, combined with high-gloss black trim and matte-finish secondary controls, look and feel good. The panel gaps are small and even.

Like its three-row Pilot sibling, the Passport is a versatile and well-rounded SUV. It has a great combination of power and comfort, and its handling is gratifying. The Passport is also the best-looking of the Honda SUV bunch thanks to its more aggressive fascia and athletic stance.

Toyota will close its plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, and might sell it, amid shortages of key components and materials following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The automaker suspended production at the factory in March following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It also stopped vehicle imports into Russia.

Toyota said on Friday that over the last six months it has kept the factory ready to resume production if circumstances allowed but it sees no indication that it can restart output in the future.

The factory has a capacity of 100,000 units a year. It produced the Camry midsize sedans and RAV4 crossover SUVs for the Russian market with exports to Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia.

“If sold, the plant will not build rebadged versions of the Camry and RAV4,” a Toyota Europe spokesman told Automotive News Europe.

The RAV4 midsize SUV was the 11th best-selling model in Russia last year.

The automaker said it will keep a restructured organisation in Russia to provide service to existing Toyota and Lexus customers.

Employees will be offered assistance for re-employment, re-skilling and well-being in addition to financial support above legal requirements, Toyota said.

Toyota employs 2,350 people in Russia. About 1,900 work at the St. Petersburg plant and about 450 are employed in Moscow to oversee marketing, sales and finance operations.

“We think about 2,000 people will leave Toyota in Russia,” the Toyota spokesman said. The workforce retained in Moscow will mainly continue to help customers in Russia with parts import and distribution.

Toyota sold 221 vehicles in Russia in August, down 97 per cent on the same month last year, according to the Moscow-based AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee. The total market fell 62 percent to 41,698 units.

Last year, the Saint Petersburg plant built 42,235 RAV4s and 38,547 Camry sedans, according to Toyota.

With 38,441 units sold, the RAV4 was the 11th best-selling model in Russia last year, ahead of the Camry at 31,983 units, figures from the AEB show.

The factory began production in December 2007 after a 38 billion ruble investment (about $680 million at current exchange rates).

Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has prompted a mass corporate exodus from Russia, leaving behind assets worth billions of dollars.

Volkswagen and Nissan are among automakers that have suspended production, furloughed workers and halted imports, leaving a gap in the market for Chinese car companies.

More than 750 companies have announced they are curtailing operations there to some degree, according to the Yale School of Management.

In May, Renault sold its majority stake in AvtoVAZ, Russia’s biggest automaker and owner of the Lada brand, to a Russian science institute, reportedly for just one ruble with a six-year option to buy it back.

The redesigned 2024 Ford Mustang has introduced the seventh generation of the pony car, though much of the previous Mustang’s DNA is still present.

The new coupe rides on the same platform and uses the same engines (all with slight modifications), meaning that the new Mustang will, in all likelihood, drive similarly to the outgoing model.

This will be a disappointment for some, as initial rumors had hinted at additions like electrified powertrains (hybrid or even an EV) and all-wheel drive. But those sorts of revolutionary updates have been left aside for some good old-fashioned gas-powered hijinks, giving the Mustang a final generation of full internal combustion before it eventually turns electric.

According to Ford, all of the 2024 Mustang’s bodywork is new, save for the front pillars and roof, but the overall impression is one of many slight tweaks to the Mustang’s current formula.

The familiar long hood/short decklid proportions are still here, though the grille is now more squared and the rear fenders look curiously familiar to those from the Chevrolet Camaro.

The Mustang’s primary competitors are the other American muscle cars, the Dodge Challenger and the Chevrolet Camaro. But the Challenger will be discontinued after the 2023 model year to make way for an electric replacement, and the Camaro is likely to fall soon as well. And that will leave the Mustang as the only gas-powered muscle car you can buy in short order. It’s that calculus that makes the limited changes this generation of Mustang receives make a lot of sense — without any true competitors, the Mustang’s grip on American muscle will only get tighter.

The Mustang sticks to its front-engine, rear-wheel-drive setup and uses the same engines as the last-generation Mustang with a few tweaks. That means a turbocharged 2.3-litre inline-four for EcoBoost models, while the GT gets the five-litre Coyote V8. Ford wouldn’t highlight the exact changes for the EcoBoost engine, only saying that it is more efficient. The Coyote V8 adds a dual air intake box and dual-throttle body design, which Ford says will make it the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever found in the GT. How much more power it makes over last year’s 450 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque remains to be seen; Ford didn’t provide power estimates for either engine as of this writing.

There will be two available transmissions: a 10-speed automatic and a six-speed manual with standard rev matching. EcoBoost models will be automatic-only, while the GT will offer both transmissions. And once more, a Performance Pack will be offered for both EcoBoost and GT models that adds a limited-slip differential, MagneRide adaptive suspension, wider rear wheels and tires, and larger brakes. On the GT it also adds a unique rear wing and brake ducts in the front fascia for increased cooling.

Two new features have also been added for 2024. GT models with the automatic transmission and EcoBoost models with the upgraded exhaust system get a new Remote Rev feature that allows you to rev the engine via a sequence of button presses on the Mustang’s remote key fob. The second is a Performance Electronic Parking Brake, which comes on both Mustang models with the Performance Pack equipped. It looks like a traditional handbrake from inside the vehicle, but it’s electronically controlled and can be used while the car is in Track mode to help get the Mustang into sustained slides more easily.

The biggest changes are found inside, arguably where they were the most needed, as many of the complaints about our long-term Mustang Shelby GT500 center around its interior. New screens and a changed dashboard layout make the Mustang feel more modern, though it does swap out some physical controls that we like in the current model.

Behind the wheel, a large 12.4-inch instrument cluster display is now mounted side by side with a 13.2-inch touchscreen that now sits up high, rather than below a pair of air vents as it did in the outgoing car. Thankfully, a volume knob remains but the climate controls have now been integrated into the screen and that will make them a bit harder to use from behind the wheel. The new screen is large and bright, though it is placed a bit far away from the driver.

Interior size feels about the same, not surprising given that the platform is being reused.

The center touchscreen is powered by Ford’s Sync 4 system, not the new Android-based operating system that was rumored. Ford says that system will debut on a different, new model in the near future. It’s slightly tweaked but will feel similar to what is seen on the Mustang Mach-E, just in a landscape layout instead of the Mach-E’s portrait screen.

One of the few physical controls remaining below the screen is a button with the Mustang’s pony icon that opens up the car’s performance pages. This gives the driver quick access to various performance settings, including exhaust loudness, launch control, and the Performance Electronic Parking Brake if equipped.

The Mustang’s safety technology also gets an upgrade, now offering reverse automatic braking in addition to adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. No word yet on which safety features will come standard or be optional across the Mustang lineup.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Carz4Elite, Fure Ukueku, has lamented the inability to easily source for forex for auto business.

This, he said, was affecting the industry.

Ukueku spoke at a briefing on car financing partnership with Fina Trust Micro Finance Bank for Ember months.

He said: “We are here today to announce a surprise package for our clients in this Ember months with our partner, Fina Trust Micro Finance Bank. We understand that some our clients would like to buy cars in this period for Christmas but because of the economic situation of the country, it is difficult for them to pay at once for their choice of cars, so Carz4Eiite and its partner decided that if a client wants to buy a car and he or she is able to deposit 30 per cent with the Fina Trust Micro Finance, the bank will finance the 70 per cent; and the client will start off-setting the balance in instalment.”

He assured clients of the durability of these fairly used cars from the United States.

“We’re pride of our brand of cars.  Carz4Eiite is a subsidiary of Elite Atlantic Auto that imports fairly used cars from the US. Our representatives in the US ensures that our cars are the best in the market.

“However, since 2013, we started the car business, we don‘t just sell cars to our clients, we guide them on their choice, budget and lifestyle, and we do service after sales. We establish a closer business relationship with clients and that stands us out in the industry,” he said.

According to him, the fluctuation of foreign exchange rate is seriously affecting business transaction especially importation.

“And since we started experiencing this, the cost of cars had increased to 40 per cent and that affects patronage and cost of maintenance rises.  Again, the process of clearing cars at the Port is cumbersome with multiple taxation. Government can reduce import duty, give tax rebate and provide enabling environment for car dealers.

“It is also important government provides digital operating system that would lessen human interface at the port. This will help importers settle bills at their comfort zone and go to port to pick their consignments. Furthermore, government should link the port to railway transport system for easy conveyance and affordability of goods,” he said.

Fina Trust Micro Finance Bank Head of Product Buddhika Rathnayaka, assured auto lovers of flexible and quick service.

Rathnayaka said the process of securing finance for cars won’t be cumbersome.

He urged Nigerians to key into the scheme.

Off the factory line in Germany, the BMW X4 M Competition makes a boatload of power. To be specific, it generates 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. The German tuning house’s latest creation is this BMW X4 M Comp that is now more powerful than an X6 M.

All told, the BMW X4 M, which Manhart calls the MHX4 600, produces 635 hp and 579 lb-ft of torque. That’s an extra 125 hp and 100 lb-ft over the stock car. Put another way, this car will make more power than the upcoming flagship BMW XM when it arrives and will match a Lamborghini Urus.

Manhart said it can get X4 M Comp to these figures one of two ways. First, it can remap the car’s existing ECU. Problem is, that can affect warranty and resale value. So, Manhart also offers ECU tuning by way of its own MHtronik additional control unit. Shockingly enough, this is pretty much the only performance mod Manhart has to do to get these figures.

Bolt-ons are effective on modern cars, and this one certainly proves it. However, that isn’t all Manhart has done. A new stainless steel exhaust is fitted, which can be had with either carbon or ceramic tips. Given the extra speed the X4 M is now capable of, Manhart also offers a brake upgrade, though it’s not pictured here.

On top of these upgrades, Manhart lowers the X4 M Comp by 1.2 inches with some H&R springs. Of course, that new, lower ride won’t mean anything without making it fit the car. As such, Manhart supplies its own set of wheels measuring 9×22 and 10×22 inches, front and rear, with 255/35 and 295/30 tires.

If you’d like, the tuner offers concave wheels, measuring 9×21 and 10.5×21 inches with 265/35 and 305/30 tires. Also, carbon fibre is used liberally throughout, including a front spoiler, two-piece front apron add-ons, two-piece front apron inlets, mirror caps, and a rear diffuser.

Manhart also offers an interior upgrade but this show car’s cabin appears to be largely stock, apart from some carbon fiber touches added throughout. Manhart will bring your car over from anywhere in the world to be tuned, and export it as well.

Many experts believe that driverless autonomous vehicles—which are actually self-driving—will be a massive part of the future of transportation. However, a large portion of the population may not be ready to put their complete trust in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) to get them to their destination safely. Especially when companies like General Motors have to issue recalls for their robotaxi fleets after public crashes, which is what has now happened with Cruise’s Chevy Bolt EVs.

The lack of trust in autonomous vehicles is exactly why startups like Waymo and Motional are setting up test markets in high traffic locales such as San Francisco and Las Vegas. These startups not only want to build data but to also gain approval of safety regulators and prove that driverless “robotaxis” can be safely deployed at scale.

However, it looks like one of the leading autonomous driving companies just suffered a significant setback. According to a report from Reuters, the GM’s Cruise autonomous driving firm recently announced that it recalled 80 of its Chevrolet Bolt EV-based self-driving vehicles for a software update after a crash in San Francisco that injured two people.

Regulators said that Cruise’s software would “incorrectly predict” the path of an oncoming vehicle. Specifically, “in certain circumstances when making an unprotected left, cause the (autonomous driving system) to incorrectly predict another vehicle’s path or be insufficiently reactive to the sudden path change of a road user,” said NHTSA.

Cruise said the software issue caused the vehicle to brake hard while performing an unprotected left turn that it thought would be necessary to avoid a front-end collision.

Essentially, the vehicle “had to decide between two different risk scenarios and chose the one with the least potential for a serious collision at the time, before the oncoming vehicle’s sudden change of direction,” said Cruise.

The autonomous driving firm also made sure to note the police report for the crash that stated the party “mostly at fault” for the incident was the other car which was traveling at 40 mph in a 25 mph zone.

After the crash occurred, Cruise said it temporarily disabled unprotected left turns in its autonomous vehicles and reduced the area in which the vehicles were allowed to operate. After the recall and the software update, Cruise said it “gradually reintroduced” unprotected left turns on its vehicles.

Japan’s Nissan Motor Co is still analysing a new US law that restricts tax credits for electric vehicles to those assembled in North America, a company executive has said .

“We believe that we need to further accelerate our efforts in electrification and localisation, but we would like to take various measures based on a better understanding of the details,” said Joji Tagawa, Chief Sustainability Officer.

Credits ended with the new law for about 70 per cent of the 72 models that were previously eligible, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry trade group.

The Biden administration said in mid-August that about 20 models still qualified for tax credits of up to $7,500, which includes Nissan’s battery electric vehicle Leaf.

The auto industry group, however, said new restrictions on battery and mineral sourcing and price and income caps that take effect on January 1 will make all or nearly all EVs ineligible.

Nissan to temporarily halt Leaf orders, raise prices in Japan

Tagawa said Nissan needs to understand “intricate” details of the law including on procuring parts and rare metals for batteries as well as on vehicle assembly.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, a major Japanese auto lobby, said last month it was concerned about the law and would keep a close watch on developments.

China’s Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd said it aims to increase the proportion of electric vehicles (EVs) in its total sales to 50 per cent in 2023, as it accelerates a transition to electric power amid weakening demand for petrol-driven cars.

Sales of pure electric and plug-in hybrids will already account for more than 30 per cent of Geely’s monthly sales in the second half of this year, Chief Executive Jerry Gan told reporters in an online event.

One out of five vehicles Geely sold in the first half were full electric or hybrid, sales of which increased nearly fourfold, compared with a 20 per cent slump in sales of vehicles with combustion engines, according to the company.

Hangzhou-based Geely, China’s highest-profile automaker globally due to the group’s investments in Volvo Cars and Mercedes-Benz, posted a 35 per cent fall in first-half net profit.

The company said its vehicle sales, which fell nine per cent in the first half in China, were below management expectations, citing COVID-19 curbs and shortages of semiconductors.

Those challenges along with intensifying competition and rising raw material and battery costs would put pressure on sales through the end of 2022, it said.

China’s auto sector has been hit hard by government efforts to combat COVID-19, with many areas including the commercial hub of Shanghai under lockdowns of varying lengths.

Authorities have tried incentives to revive demand, and the central government has halved purchase tax to five per cent for cars priced at less than 300,000 yuan ($45,000) and with engines no larger than 2.0 litres.

Geely posted a 29 per cent rise in six-month revenue though June to 58.18 billion yuan, thanks to better product pricing and product mix which offset the sales declines.

It is also seeking to expand further into Southeast Asia and Europe. Its exports increased 64 per cent in the first half and accounted for 18 per cent of total sales.

Geely said previously its total annual vehicle sales including EV brands Zeekr and Geometry would hit 3.65 million units by 2025, with more than 30 per cent of them electrified.