So, it is not surprising that the ambitious German automaker has big EV plans — no, huge EV plans — in China. The latest update on that came this week in coordination with the Auto China 2024 motor show in Beijing (aka the Beijing Auto Show). It now plans to have 30 fully electric models on sale in China by 2030. That’s across Volkswagen Group plans, not just from the Volkswagen brand(..)

P.S. Legacy automakers are famous for their plans and advertising campaigns, but we know talk is cheap..., very cheap! Let's see how this works out in practice...

Every month or so, some Tesla-stan youtube account makes a clickbait video about how Elon is definitely going to buy GM. TOTALLY REAL! A deal is in the works now! Just you wait!

If his dumbshit antics, online hysterics, and people generally waking up to Tesla being a shit automaker, really does send the stock price into a death spiral, GM should offer to buy the company off him.

1955 Chrysler C-300

1955 Chrysler C-300: A Glimpse into the Golden Age of American Automobiles

The year 1955 marked a significant milestone in the history of American automotive engineering and design. It was a time when automakers were pushing the boundaries of performance, style, and innovation, and one car that epitomized this spirit was the 1955 Chrysler C-300. Often regarded as the first modern American muscle car, the C-300 not only represented a radical departure from conventional automobiles but also left an enduring legacy in the world of automotive enthusiasts. In this extensive exploration, we delve into the history, design, performance, and cultural impact of the 1955 Chrysler C-300, a symbol of the golden age of American automobiles.

The Birth of a Legend

The 1955 Chrysler C-300, where "C" stood for "Continental," was more than just a car; it was a statement of power, luxury, and style. Born out of Chrysler's desire to reclaim its position as a dominant force in American automobile manufacturing, the C-300 was a bold departure from the brand's previous offerings. It was the brainchild of Chrysler engineer and visionary, Bob Rodger, who saw an opportunity to marry a high-performance V8 engine with a full-sized luxury car, creating a new breed of American automobile.

Design: Classic Elegance with a Touch of Sport

The design of the 1955 Chrysler C-300 was a harmonious blend of classic elegance and sporty aesthetics. The car featured clean, uncluttered lines with a distinctive grille that became one of its signature design elements. The iconic, vertically stacked quad headlights and a wide, bold grille made a bold and unmistakable statement on the road. The subtle yet pronounced fins at the rear added a touch of sophistication and conveyed a sense of motion even when the car was at a standstill.One of the most striking design elements of the C-300 was its two-tone color scheme. Many C-300s featured a contrasting roof color, which accentuated the car's sleek profile. The attention to detail and craftsmanship in the exterior design set the C-300 apart as a true luxury automobile.

The interior of the C-300 was equally impressive. It featured sumptuous materials, tasteful chrome accents, and a driver-centric dashboard. Plush leather seats provided both comfort and support, making long drives a pleasure. The cabin was spacious, allowing passengers to enjoy the ride in style and luxury.

Performance: The Birth of American Muscle

What truly set the 1955 Chrysler C-300 apart was its groundbreaking performance. Under the hood, it was powered by the legendary Hemi V8 engine, which had already gained a reputation for its power and efficiency. In the case of the C-300, the Hemi V8 was tuned to deliver a staggering 300 horsepower, an unprecedented figure for a production car of its time. This made the C-300 the most powerful American car of 1955.The combination of a high-performance engine and advanced engineering made the C-300 a formidable force on the racetrack. In fact, it dominated the NASCAR circuit in its debut year, winning eight of the 16 races it entered. This racing success solidified the C-300's reputation as a true performance car, earning it the nickname "Banker's Hot Rod."

Engineering Innovations

The 1955 Chrysler C-300 introduced several engineering innovations that set the stage for future developments in the automotive industry. The Hemi V8 engine was at the forefront of these innovations. It featured hemispherical combustion chambers, which allowed for better airflow and combustion efficiency. This, in turn, contributed to the engine's remarkable power output and smooth operation.

Another notable innovation was the use of power-assisted brakes and power steering, both of which enhanced the car's drivability and safety. These features were a testament to Chrysler's commitment to providing a superior driving experience.

Cultural Impact and LegacyThe-1955-Chrysler-C-300

The 1955 Chrysler C-300 had a profound cultural impact that reverberates to this day. It represented a paradigm shift in American automotive manufacturing, heralding the dawn of the muscle car era. The C-300's racing successes on the NASCAR circuit elevated its status and contributed to the popularity of stock car racing in the United States.The car's blend of luxury and performance appealed to a new generation of consumers who desired both power and style. It embodied the American spirit of innovation and ambition, and its success inspired other automakers to explore the concept of high-performance production cars.

The legacy of the C-300 extends beyond its time. It laid the foundation for the muscle car movement of the 1960s and 1970s, influencing iconic models like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Charger. The C-300 remains a coveted collector's item, a symbol of an era when American automakers pushed the limits of engineering and design.

Conclusion

The 1955 Chrysler C-300 is a testament to the ingenuity, ambition, and creativity that defined the golden age of American automobiles. It represented a bold departure from the norm, marrying luxury with high-performance engineering in a way that captured the imagination of a generation. As a cultural icon and a pioneering force in the automotive world, the C-300 continues to inspire and captivate enthusiasts and collectors, ensuring its enduring legacy in the annals of automotive history.

There’s a missing kind of car out there today. It’s called the affordable sports car. Back in the day, anyone with an even moderately-cozy office job could afford to plunk down some greenbacks and pick up a Porsche 911 to park next to their significant other’s boring daily driver. Nowadays, it costs more than a house, unless you live somewhere that has a functioning public transit system, in which case the Porsche costs just slightly less than half of a house.

It was a great time, I’m sure, with so much selection: weird British garbage, weird German garbage, and the occasional rear-engined, air-cooled nightmare from a country that may or may not be Communist at this exact moment. There’s cheaper sports cars now, sure, but they’re an endangered species. Like everything, the killer of this glorious era was margin.

The automakers will tell you that there isn’t enough demand for these things anymore, that the mean old government forced them to make them safer and so they can no longer afford to sell them for your salary. They’ll have financing, of course, which will make up for the fact that your wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living since 1983. That financing goes mostly to the fattened price: a hundred grand or so will make up for all the SUVs they won’t be able to park in that spot and clear out. And the sports cars nowadays are too capable: you’ll feel like an idiot if you’re just using it to beat on slowly around rural backroads, instead of going directly to Sebring and fighting off DTM cars somehow also driven by architects.

Don’t worry. There was a solution a long time ago: the locost. This inventive do-it-yourself sportscar had a great model. Find an old, shitty regular car, with the biggest engine you can find. Take all the greasy parts that make it go out. Shove all that shit into a car whose construction is most generously described as “lightweight.” You’ll spend twenty years wiring it. And then you’ll drive it twice and be afraid to ever take it out again after you find out your skill as a vehicle operator does in fact top out at “130 horsepower.” That’s the affordable sports car legacy.

Now if only I could afford a locost kit. They’re sort of expensive now.

🇬🇧 Buckle up for a journey through the illustrious history of the Bentley Brooklands—a true icon of luxury and performance in the world of automotive excellence! Crafted by the esteemed British automaker Bentley Motors Limited, the Brooklands represents the epitome of elegance, power, and sophistication.

🏁 Introduced in 1992, the Bentley Brooklands took its name from the legendary Brooklands motor racing circuit in Surrey, England—a fitting homage to Bentley's rich heritage in motorsport. From the moment it rolled off the production line, the Brooklands captivated enthusiasts with its timeless design and impeccable craftsmanship.

🎩 Designed as a grand tourer, the Bentley Brooklands exuded understated luxury and refined elegance, with its sleek lines, sumptuous interior, and handcrafted details. Whether cruising along the open road or gliding through city streets, the Brooklands offered a driving experience like no other, blending comfort, performance, and prestige with effortless ease.

⚙️ Under the hood, the Bentley Brooklands boasted formidable power, courtesy of its potent V8 engine, delivering exhilarating performance and effortless acceleration. Combined with advanced suspension and braking systems, the Brooklands offered a smooth and refined driving experience, allowing drivers to conquer any journey with confidence and grace.

👑 The Bentley Brooklands was renowned for its exclusivity, with production limited to just a handful of examples each year. Hand-built by master craftsmen at Bentley's renowned Crewe factory, each Brooklands was a bespoke masterpiece, tailored to the exacting specifications of its discerning owner.

🌟 Today, the Bentley Brooklands remains a symbol of automotive excellence and refinement, cherished by collectors and enthusiasts around the world. With its timeless design, unparalleled performance, and unwavering commitment to luxury, the Brooklands continues to uphold Bentley's legacy of craftsmanship and prestige on the road.

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

Tesla, you may have heard, is going through a rough patch, and the company represents a large enough share of U.S. electric vehicle sales that its problems could lead to a down year for the entire market.

But that hasn’t happened—at least not yet—partly because several other brands’ EV sales have risen to take the sting out of Tesla’s decline.

Ford is looking especially good, with year-to-date sales through April of 28,252 EVs, an increase of 97 percent from the same period last year. That makes Ford the country’s second-leading EV brand, although Tesla still outsells Ford’s EVs at a rate of about seven to one.

Ford’s shift to an electric future is far from a smooth ride. The company’s EV division posted a $1.3 billion loss in the first quarter, and has a long way to go before this part of the business is profitable. It’s a familiar situation for legacy automakers who must invest billions of dollars for research and development and to retool factories and sometimes need years to see an adequate return on those investments.

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Ford’s EV sales surge is being led by the Mustang Mach-E, a crossover SUV, of which 14,482 were sold, an increase of 107 percent, as of April, compared to the prior-year period. The F-150 Lightning pickup also gained momentum with sales of 9,833, an increase of 75 percent. Ford’s other EV, the E-Transit van, had sales of 3,927, an increase of 128 percent.

A lot of the company’s sales gains can be attributed to a price cut for the Mach-E that Ford announced in February. After cuts of $3,100 to $8,100, the model’s prices range from $39,895 to $57,395. (The Mach-E is not eligible for the federal tax credit of up to $7,500 because the model is assembled at a plant in Mexico.)

“The bottom line is that we’re more competitive and doing well in the marketplace,” said John Lawler, Ford’s chief financial officer, speaking about EV sales in an April 24 conference call with analysts.

Ford also is emphasizing gas-electric hybrids as an option for customers. The company sold 56,418 hybrid vehicles as of April, an increase of 47 percent.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-lay-off-more-than-10-its-staff-electrek-reports-2024-04-15/

BERLIN, April 15 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab is laying off more than 10% of its global workforce, an internal memo seen by Reuters on Monday shows, as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for electric vehicles (EVs).

"About every five years, we need to reorganize and streamline the company for the next phase of growth," CEO Elon Musk commented in a post on X. Two senior leaders, battery development chief Drew Baglino and vice president for public policy Rohan Patel, also announced their departures, drawing posts of thanks from Musk although some investors were concerned.

Musk last announced a round of job cuts in 2022, after telling executives he had a "super bad feeling" about the economy. Still, Tesla headcount has risen from around 100,000 in late 2021 to over 140,000 in late 2023, according to filings with U.S. regulators.

Baglino was a Tesla veteran and one of four members, along with Musk, of the leadership team listed on the company's investor relations website.

Scott Acheychek, CEO of Rex Shares - which manages ETFs with high exposure to Tesla stock - described the headcount reductions as strategic, but Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors, deemed the departures of the senior executives as "the larger negative signal today" that Tesla's growth was in trouble.

Less than a year ago, Tesla's chief financial officer, Zach Kirkhorn, left the company, fueling concerns about succession planning.

Tesla shares closed 5.6% lower at $161.48 on Monday. Shares of EV makers Rivian Automotive (RIVN.O), opens new tab, Lucid Group (LCID.O), opens new tab and VinFast Auto also dropped between 2.4% and 9.4%.

"As we prepare the company for our next phase of growth, it is extremely important to look at every aspect of the company for cost reductions and increasing productivity," Musk said in the memo sent to all staff.

"As part of this effort, we have done a thorough review of the organization and made the difficult decision to reduce our headcount by more than 10% globally," it said.

Reuters saw an email sent to at least three U.S. employees notifying them their dismissal was effective immediately.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

MASS MARKET

The layoffs follow an exclusive Reuters report on April 5 that Tesla had cancelled a long-promised inexpensive car, expected to cost $25,000, that investors have been counting on to drive mass-market growth. Musk had said the car, known as the Model 2, would start production in late 2025.

Shortly after the story published, Musk posted "Reuters is lying" on his social media site X, without detailing any inaccuracies. He has not commented on the car since, leaving investors and analysts to speculate on its future.

Tech publication Electrek, which first reported, opens new tab the latest job cuts, said on Monday that the inexpensive car project had been defunded and that many people working on it had been laid off.

Reuters also reported on April 5 that Tesla would shift its focus to self-driving robotaxis built on the same small-car platform. Musk posted on X that evening: "Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8," with no further details.

Tesla could be years away from releasing a fully autonomous vehicle with regulatory approval, according to experts in self-driving cars and regulation.

Tesla shares have fallen about 33% so far this year, underperforming legacy automakers such as Toyota Motor (7203.T), opens new tab and General Motors (GM.N), opens new tab, whose shares have rallied 45% and about 20% respectively.

Energy major BP (BP.L), opens new tab has also cut more than a tenth of the workforce in its EV charging business after a bet on rapid growth in commercial EV fleets did not pay off, Reuters reported on Monday, underscoring the broader impact of slowing EV demand.

WORKS COUNCIL

A newly elected works council of labour representatives at Tesla's German plant was not informed or consulted ahead of the announcement to staff, said Dirk Schulze, head of the IG Metall union in the region.

"It is the legal obligation of management not only to inform the works council but to consult with it on how jobs can be secured," Schulze said.

Analysts from Gartner and Hargreaves Lansdown said the cuts were a sign of cost pressures as the carmaker invests in new models and artificial intelligence.

Tesla reported this month that its global vehicle deliveries in the first quarter fell for the first time in nearly four years, as price cuts failed to stir demand.

The EV maker has been slow to refresh its aging models as high interest rates have sapped consumer appetite for big-ticket items, while rivals in China, the world's largest auto market, are rolling out cheaper models.

China's BYD (002594.SZ), opens new tab briefly overtook the U.S. company as the world's largest EV maker in the fourth quarter, and new entrant Xiaomi (1810.HK), opens new tab has garnered substantial positive press.

Tesla is gearing up to start sales in India, the world's third-largest auto market, this year, producing cars in Germany for export to India and scouting locations for showrooms and service hubs in major cities.

Tesla recorded a gross profit margin of 17.6% in the fourth quarter, the lowest in more than four years.

Brazil going green amid US$8bn local electric vehicle production plans

Brazil is turning the page toward electric vehicles (EV) with nearly US$8 billion in private sector investments aimed at kicking off the production of new EV models and their components on Brazilian soil. 

In addition to new EV models from traditional legacy brands such as Audi (Q8 e-tron), BMW (iX1, i7), Chevrolet (Bolt), Fiat (500e Abarth), Ford (Mach E), Mercedes Benz (EQE SUV), Renault (Megane E-tech) coming to the Brazilian market in 2023, three automakers will actually be producing EVs locally in the country in 2024. 

While US-based Argentine owned BMC (Bravo Motor Company) is investing US$5bn in local production, Chinese automaker GWM (Great Wall Motors) is injecting some US$2bn toward production, and its Chinese counterpart BYD (Build Your Dreams) is investing approximately US$600mn, the latter two taking place in existing factories.  

Continue reading.

Elon Musk hasn’t been sighted at the picket lines in Missouri, Ohio, or Michigan, where autoworkers are striking against the Big Three US carmakers. Yet the influence of Musk and his non-unionized company Tesla have been everywhere since the United Auto Workers called the strike last week. In some ways, Tesla—the world’s most valuable automaker by market capitalization—set the whole thing in motion.

Tesla’s pioneering electric vehicles kicked off a new era that has turned the entire auto industry on its head. In a scramble to compete with Tesla and make that transition, the legacy automakers targeted by the current strike, General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, have each pledged billions in global investment and have begun dramatically restructuring their operations. For workers, the “green jobs” being created can be scarcer and worse paying. Electric vehicle powertrains have many fewer moving parts than conventional gas-powered ones, and so they require 30 percent fewer vehicle assembly hours, according to one estimate. Plants that make EV batteries are generally outside the core, unionized auto supply chain. The United Auto Workers has seen a dramatic drop in membership due to jobs moving outside the US—it lost 45 percent of its members between 2001 and 2022. A future with more electric vehicles could mean fewer union jobs overall. “This strike is about electrification,” says Mark Barrott, an automotive analyst at the Michigan-based consultancy Plante Moran.

The new assembly plants that the legacy automakers need to pull off the transition have been stood up mostly in US states hostile to union organizing, such as Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. And because many of these plants are joint ventures between automakers and foreign battery companies, they are not subject to previous union contracts.

The UAW did not respond to a request for comment, but UAW president Shawn Fain told CNBC last week that the electric transition can’t leave workers behind. “Workers deserve their share of equity in this economy,” he said.

Tesla’s rise over recent years has also put ever-ratcheting pressure on the legacy automakers to cut costs. Including benefits, Musk’s non-unionized EV company spends $45 per hour on labor, significantly less than the $63 per hour spent in the Big Three, according to industry analysts.

Musk’s willingness to upend auto manufacturing shibboleths has also forced his legacy competitors to seek new efficiencies. Tesla led the way in building large-scale car casts, stamping out very large metal components in one go rather than making a series of small casts that have to be joined together. And it pioneered an automotive chassis building process that can be easily adapted to produce different makes and models.

Tesla’s Silicon Valley roots also helped it become the first automaker to envision the car as a software-first, iPhone-like “platform” that can be modified via over-the-air updates. And the company aims to automate more of its factories, and extract more of the materials it needs to build its batteries itself.

Tesla’s novel production ideas could soon lead the company to put even more pressure on legacy automakers. Musk said earlier this year that Tesla plans to build a new, smaller vehicle that can be made for half the production cost of its most popular (and cheapest) vehicle, the Model 3.

Musk says a lot of things, and many don’t come to pass. (The world is still waiting for the 1 million Tesla robotaxis promised by the end of 2020.) But Tesla has been disruptive enough to leave legacy automakers, including Detroit’s Big Three, “in a quest for capital,” says Marick Masters, who studies labor and workplace issues at Wayne State University's School of Business. Detroit’s automakers have made good money in the past decade—some $250 billion in profits—but also paid a significant chunk of it out in dividends. Pressure from Tesla and the EV transition it catalyzed has left them feeling as if they need every penny they can corral to keep afloat as the industry changes.

“They have little money to concede for union demands,” says Masters. The UAW’s wants include significantly higher wages, especially for workers who have joined the companies since their Great Recession and bankruptcy-era reorganizations, which left some with less pay and reduced pension and health benefits.

So far, the UAW has shown little patience for the idea that the automakers it is pressuring are cash-strapped and under competitive pressure. “Competition is a code word for race to the bottom, and I'm not concerned about Elon Musk building more rocket ships so he can fly into outer space and stuff,” UAW president Fain told CNBC last week when asked about pressure from Tesla. He has argued that production workers should receive the same pay raise received by auto executives over recent years.

When automakers have taken the opposite tack, insisting that they’re well capitalized and making plans to put them ahead of the electric car maker—well, that set up conditions for this strike too. The three American automakers are forecasted to make $32 billion in profits this year, a slight dip from last year’s 10-year high. “The more they toot their own horns about profitability, the more the union looks at them and says, ‘We want our rightful share,’” says Masters.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment, but Musk has, in typical fashion, chimed in. He posted on X last week to compare working conditions at his companies with the competition, apparently seeking to turn the dispute he helped foment into a recruiting pitch. “Tesla and SpaceX factories have a great vibe. We encourage playing music and having some fun,” he wrote. “We pay more than the UAW btw, but performance expectations are also higher.” A UAW attempt to organize Tesla workers in 2017 and 2018, as the company struggled to produce its Model 3, failed. The National Labor Board ruled that Tesla violated labor laws during the organizing drive; the carmaker has appealed the decision.

On the eve of the long-promised electric-vehicle revolution, the myth is due for an update. Americans who take the plunge and buy their first EV will find a lot to love, just as I have. (I purchased a Tesla Model 3 in summer 2019.) They may also find that electric-vehicle ownership upends notions about driving, cost, and freedom, including how much car your money can buy. No one spends an extra $5,000 to get a bigger gas tank in a Honda Civic, but with an EV, economic status is suddenly more connected to how much of the world you get to see—and how stressed out or annoyed you’ll feel along the way. A new Ford F-150 Lightning—the electrified version of America’s long-time best-selling vehicle, and one of the most important vehicles for persuading the majority of the country to ditch gasoline—starts at $55,000 in its most basic form. (Yes, EVs remain expensive. But consider that the average price of any vehicle snuck up to $47,000 by the end of last year, and Americans are already paying luxury prices on formerly utilitarian pickup trucks.) Choosing the F-150’s extended-range battery, which stretches the distance on a charge from 230 miles to 320, raises the cost to at least $80,000. The trend holds true with all-electric brands such as Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid, and for many electric offerings from legacy automakers. The bigger battery option can add a four- or five-figure bump to an already accelerating sticker price.

Electric Vehicles Are a Status Symbol Now - The Atlantic

Discover NVIDIA cuOpt: Power of Accelerated Data Analytics

NVIDIA cuOpt

AI is driving innovation across industries via machine-powered computation. Bankers are using AI to detect fraud faster and keep accounts safe, telecommunications providers are improving networks to deliver better service, scientists are developing new treatments for rare diseases,Utility companies are developing more dependable and clean energy infrastructures, while automakers are improving the safety and accessibility of self-driving vehicles.

The foundation of top AI use cases is data. Training AI models on large datasets is necessary for accuracy. AI-powered enterprises must create a data pipeline to extract data from many sources, standardise it, and store it efficiently.

Data scientists use several tests to optimise AI models for real-world use. To work in real time, voice assistants and personalised recommendation systems must analyse massive data quantities quickly.

Complex AI models that handle text, audio, pictures, and video require speedy data processing. Data bottlenecks, rising data centre expenses, and limited processing capabilities hinder innovation and performance in legacy CPU-based organisations.

Accelerated computers is helping many companies implement AI. This technology uses GPUs, specialised hardware and software, and parallel processing to raise computing performance by 150x and energy efficiency by 42x.

Accelerated data processing is powering groundbreaking AI developments at top companies.

Financial institutions detect fraud in milliseconds

Financial institutions struggle to detect fraud due to the large amount of transactional data that needs speedy processing. Training AI models is also problematic due to the lack of labelled fraud data. Fraud detection data volumes are too huge for traditional data science pipelines to accelerate. This slows processing, preventing real-time data analysis and fraud detection.

American Express, which processes over 8 billion transactions annually, trains and deploys LSTM models using accelerated computing to tackle these issues. These models are useful for fraud detection because they can adapt and learn from fresh data and sequentially analyse abnormalities.

American Express trains its LSTM models faster using GPU parallel computing. GPUs allow live models to process massive transactional data for real-time fraud detection.

To secure customers and merchants, the system functions within two milliseconds, 50x faster than a CPU-based design. American Express increased fraud detection accuracy by 6% in certain segments by merging the accelerated LSTM deep neural network with its existing approaches.

Accelerated computing can lower data processing expenses for financial companies. PayPal showed that NVIDIA GPUs may save cloud expenses by 70% for big data processing and AI applications by running Spark3 workloads.

Financial organisations can detect fraud in real time by processing data more effectively, allowing speedier decision-making without disturbing transaction flow and reducing financial loss.

The telcos simplify complex routing operations by NVIDIA cuOpt

Telecommunications companies create massive amounts of data from network devices, client contacts, invoicing systems, and network performance and maintenance.

Managing national networks that handle hundreds of petabytes of data daily involves intricate technician routing for service delivery. Advanced routing engines compute millions of times, including weather, technician skills, client requests, and fleet dispersal, to optimise technician dispatch. These operations require careful data preparation and enough computational power. It introduced the NVIDIA cuOpt

NVIDIA cuOpt

AT&T, which has one of the nation’s largest field dispatch teams, is improving data-heavy routing operations with NVIDIA cuOpt, which calculates difficult vehicle routing problems using heuristics, metaheuristics, and optimisations.

In early experiments,NVIDIA cuOpt delivered routing solutions in 10 seconds, reducing cloud expenses by 90% and allowing personnel to perform more service calls everydayby using NVIDIA cuOpt . NVIDIA RAPIDS, a package of software libraries that accelerates data science and analytics pipelines, speeds NVIDIA cuOpt, allowing organisations to use local search methods and metaheuristics like Tabu search for continuous route optimisation.

NVIDIA RAPIDS

AT&T is using NVIDIA RAPIDS Accelerator for Apache Spark to improve Spark-based AI and data pipelines. The organisation can now train AI models, maintain network quality, reduce customer churn, and detect fraud more efficiently. AT&T is decreasing cloud computing spend for target applications, improving performance, and lowering its carbon footprint with RAPIDS Accelerator.

Telcos need faster data pipelines and processing to boost operational efficiency and service quality.

Medical researchers condense drug discovery timelines

Medical data and peer-reviewed research publications have exploded as academics use technology to explore the 25,000 genes in the human genome and their effects on diseases. Medical researchers use these publications to restrict their hunt for new medicines. Such a huge and growing body of relevant research makes literature reviews impractical.

Pharma giant AstraZeneca created a Biological Insights Knowledge Graph (BIKG) to help scientists with literature reviews, screen hit rate, target identification, and more. This graph models 10 million to 1 billion complex biological interactions using public and internal datasets and scholarly publications.

Gene ranking using BIKG has helped scientists identify high-potential targets for novel disease treatments. AstraZeneca presented a lung cancer treatment resistance gene discovery initiative at NVIDIA GTC.

Data scientists and biological researchers defined criteria and gene features for therapy development gene targeting to narrow down potential genes. A machine learning algorithm searched the BIKG databases for genes with treatable properties listed in literature. NVIDIA RAPIDS was used to decrease the gene pool from 3,000 to 40 target genes in seconds, a task that previously took months.

By using accelerated computers and AI, pharmaceutical companies and researchers may finally leverage the massive medical data sets to produce breakthrough treatments faster and safer, saving lives.

Utility Companies Create Clean Energy’s Future

Energy sector shifts to carbon-neutral sources are widely promoted.The cost of harvesting renewable resources, such as solar energy, has decreased over the last ten years, making the transition to clean energy more straightforward than before.

Integrating clean energy from wind farms, solar farms, and household batteries has complicated grid management. Grid management is more data-intensive as energy infrastructure diversifies and two-way power flows are required. New smart grids must handle high-voltage vehicle charging locations. Distribution of stored energy sources and network usage changes must also be managed.

Utilidata, a leading grid-edge software business, and NVIDIA developed Karman, a distributed AI platform for the grid edge, employing a bespoke Jetson Orin edge AI module. This special chip and platform in electricity metres turns them into data gathering and control points that can handle thousands of data points per second.

Karman handles real-time, high-resolution metre data from the network edge. This lets utility firms analyse system conditions, estimate usage, and integrate distributed energy resources in seconds. Inference models on edge devices allow network operators to quickly identify line defects to predict outages and do preventative maintenance to improve grid reliability.

Karman helps utilities create smart grids using AI and fast data analytics. This permits tailored, localised electricity distribution to satisfy variable demand patterns without substantial infrastructure modifications, making grid modernization more cost-effective.

Automakers Improve Safety and Accessibility of Self-Driving Vehicles

Automakers want self-driving vehicles with real-time navigation and object recognition. This involves high-speed data processing, including feeding live camera, lidar, radar, and GPS data into AI models that make road safety navigation decisions.

Multiple AI models, preprocessing, and postprocessing make the autonomous driving inference pipeline difficult. These processes were traditionally done by CPUs on the client side. This might cause severe processing speed bottlenecks, which is unacceptable for a safety-critical application.

Electric vehicle manufacturer NIO added NVIDIA Triton Inference Server to its inference pipeline to improve autonomous driving workflows. Inference-serving, open-source NVIDIA Triton uses multiple frameworks. NIO centralised data processing operations to reduce latency by 6x in some essential areas and enhance data throughput by 5x.

NIO’s GPU-centric strategy enabled updating and deploying new AI models easier without vehicle changes. The corporation may also employ numerous AI models on the same photographs without sending data over a network, saving money and improving efficiency.

Autonomous vehicle software engineers employ rapid data processing to achieve high performance to reduce traffic accidents, transportation costs, and user mobility.

Retailers Forecast Demand Better

Data processing and analysis are essential for real-time inventory adjustments, customer personalisation, and price strategy optimisation in retail. Larger retailers with more products have more sophisticated and compute-intensive data processes.

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, used accelerated computing to increase forecasting accuracy for 500 million item-by-store combinations across 4,500 shops.

Walmart’s data science team constructed stronger machine learning algorithms to tackle this massive forecasting task, but the computing environment started to fail and produce erroneous findings. Data scientists had to delete characteristics from algorithms to finish them, the company found.

Walmart used NVIDIA GPUs and RAPIDs to improve forecasting. A forecasting algorithm with 350 data variables predicts sales across all product categories for the company. These include sales statistics, promotional activities, and external factors like weather and the Super Bowl that affect demand.

Walmart improved prediction accuracy from 94% to 97%, eliminated $100 million in fresh produce waste, and reduced stockout and markdown scenarios with advanced algorithms. GPUs ran models 100x faster, finishing projects in four hours that would have taken weeks on a CPU.

Retailers can reduce costs and carbon emissions while offering shoppers the finest options and lower prices by moving data-intensive operations to GPUs and accelerated computing.

Public Sector Prepares for Disasters

Public and corporate organisations use immense aerial image data from drones and satellites to predict weather, follow animal movements, and monitor environmental changes. This data helps researchers and planners make better decisions in agriculture, disaster management, and climate change. If it lacks location metadata, this imagery is less useful.

A federal agency collaborating with NVIDIA sought a solution to automatically locate photos without geolocation metadata for search and rescue, natural disaster response, and environmental monitoring. Like finding a needle in a haystack, pinpointing a small location in a bigger aerial photograph without information is difficult. Geolocation algorithms must account for image lighting and time, date, and angle variances.

NVIDIA, Booz Allen, and the government agency used computer vision algorithms to scale the picture similarity search challenge to find non-geotagged aerial photographs.

A Python-based programme was utilised by an NVIDIA solutions architect to overcome this challenge. CPU processing took over 24 hours initially. GPUs parallelized hundreds of data processes in minutes, compared to a CPU’s few. The application was 1.8-million-x faster after switching to CuPy, an open-source GPU-accelerated library, producing results in 67 microseconds.

A technology that can process photographs and data of enormous land masses in minutes can help organisations respond faster to emergencies and plan ahead, saving lives and protecting the environment.

Accelerate AI and Business Results

Accelerated computing for data processing promotes AI initiatives and positions companies to innovate and outperform.

Accelerated processing speeds up model training and algorithm selection, improves live AI solution accuracy, and handles larger datasets.

It can achieve better price-performance ratios than CPU-based systems and help companies deliver better results and experiences to consumers, employees, and partners.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

Deese: Risk of US Automakers Falling Behind on EVs

Brian Deese, MIT Innovation Fellow and Former National Economic Council Director says that the demise of the vehicles are "greatly exaggerated," but cautions that legacy US automakers risk falling behind on the technology needed to compete on EVs.

P.S. A bit of a misleading title, because in fact, America's "leading" legacy automakers have been hopelessly behind in the field of electric car technology for a long time ago, already in 2017/2018, (That was the last time the old companies had any hope of saving themselves! Now you've completely missed everything!!!) and the old companies with their current strategy do NOT and WILL NOT have any chance to overcome this backwardness...

The specificity of the structure of the American car market is that almost no one outside of America needs huge pickup trucks and SUVs. For the rest of the car world already, the big three American car manufacturing companies are almost completely unimportant...

Ford ICE vehicle sales are already slowly "dying" in Europe and elsewhere. GM has fled the European market because it was unable to produce competitive ICE vehicles. In the field of electric cars, the fate of Eastman Kodak awaits the old American legacy automakers...!

Customs barriers will not save you because you do NOT have a competitive product - a good electric car at a reasonable price... Tesla - the only American car company worth paying attention to...!!!

The Ultimate Destination: Volkswagen Showroom in Calicut

Introduction

When it comes to purchasing a car, the experience at the showroom plays a pivotal role. For car enthusiasts and potential buyers in Calicut, the Volkswagen showroom stands out as the ultimate destination. Not only does it offer a wide range of models, but it also provides an unparalleled customer experience that reflects the brand’s global standards.

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The Legacy of Volkswagen

Volkswagen is a name that resonates with quality, reliability, and innovation. Founded in 1937, this German automaker has carved out a significant place in the global automotive industry. Known for its iconic models like the Beetle and the Golf, Volkswagen has consistently pushed the boundaries of automotive design and technology.

Volkswagen’s Presence in India

Volkswagen entered the Indian market in 2007 and quickly gained a foothold with its robust and stylish vehicles. The brand has since grown in popularity, catering to the diverse needs of Indian customers. With a range of models designed for Indian roads and preferences, Volkswagen has become a trusted name in the country.

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Why Calicut?

Calicut, or Kozhikode, is a city of immense historical and economic significance. Its strategic location on the Malabar Coast makes it a bustling hub for trade and commerce. Establishing a showroom here allows Volkswagen to cater to a growing market of automobile enthusiasts and potential buyers who appreciate quality and performance.

The Volkswagen Showroom Experience

Walking into the Volkswagen showroom in Calicut is like stepping into a world of automotive excellence. The showroom is designed with a modern aesthetic that complements the brand’s sophisticated image. Every aspect, from the layout to the amenities, is crafted to provide customers with a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Showroom Location and Accessibility

Conveniently located in the heart of Calicut, the Volkswagen showroom is easily accessible from all parts of the city. Whether you’re driving in or taking public transportation, reaching the showroom is a hassle-free experience. The prime location also means that customers can combine their visit with other activities in the vibrant city center.

Range of Models Available

At the Volkswagen showroom in Calicut, you’ll find an impressive range of models to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a compact car like the Polo, a stylish sedan like the Vento, or a spacious SUV like the Tiguan, there’s something for everyone. The showroom keeps up with the latest releases, ensuring that customers have access to the newest and most advanced vehicles.

Sales and Service Excellence

The sales team at the Volkswagen showroom in Calicut is known for their professionalism and expertise. They are well-trained to assist customers in finding the perfect vehicle to meet their needs and preferences. Beyond sales, the showroom also offers comprehensive service packages that ensure your Volkswagen remains in top condition.

Test Drive Options

One of the highlights of the Volkswagen showroom experience is the opportunity to test drive your preferred models. Booking a test drive is simple and can be done through the showroom’s website or a quick call. Test driving allows you to get a feel for the car’s performance, comfort, and features, helping you make an informed decision.

Special Offers and Promotions

To make the car buying experience even more appealing, the Volkswagen showroom in Calicut frequently rolls out special offers and promotions. From discounts on select models to loyalty programs for returning customers, there are plenty of opportunities to save and benefit.

Community Engagement

Volkswagen believes in giving back to the community, and the showroom in Calicut is no exception. The showroom actively participates in local events, sponsors sports teams, and supports various social initiatives. This engagement fosters a strong relationship between the brand and the local community.

Future Plans and Expansions

Looking ahead, Volkswagen has ambitious plans for its presence in Calicut. The showroom is set to expand its facilities and services, ensuring that it remains the top destination for car buyers. Future projects include adding more models to the lineup and enhancing the overall customer experience.

Conclusion

The Volkswagen showroom in Calicut is more than just a place to buy a car; it’s a destination that offers a blend of quality, service, and community spirit. With its wide range of models, excellent customer service, and strategic location, it stands out as the ultimate choice for car buyers. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a long-time Volkswagen fan, visiting the showroom is a must.

How Legacy Automakers Can Solve Their Software Problems - Autoline Exclu...

Porsche enthusiasts in India rejoice! The iconic German automaker has launched the much-anticipated new generation of the 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 GTS in the Indian market. These latest iterations of the legendary sports car boast a captivating blend of refined powertrain options, subtle design enhancements, and a technologically advanced interior. Porsche Unleashes the New 911 Carrera Powertrain Innovations: Hybrid Power Joins the Legacy (Carrera 4 GTS) The 911 Carrera 4 GTS takes a bold step toward the future with an innovative new T-Hybrid powertrain. This advanced system combines a 3.6-liter, six-cylinder turbocharged boxer engine with an electric motor cleverly positioned to spool up the turbocharger rapidly. An additional electric motor seamlessly integrated into the 8-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission further elevates performance. This exhilarating combination unleashes a remarkable 541 horsepower and 610 Nm of torque, propelling the Carrera 4 GTS from 0 to 100 km/h in a heart-stopping 3.4 seconds. Retained Powerhouse: The Revamped 3-Liter Engine (Carrera) The 911 Carrera stays true to its heritage with a meticulously re-engineered 3-liter, twin-turbo boxer engine. This powerhouse delivers a potent 394 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque, offering an exhilarating driving experience without venturing into hybrid territory. The familiar 8-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission continues to ensure smooth and responsive gear changes. A Timeless Silhouette with Subtle Enhancements The new 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 GTS retain the instantly recognizable and universally admired silhouette that has cemented the 911's status as a design icon. However, Porsche has incorporated subtle yet impactful design tweaks that elevate the car's aesthetics. New LED Matrix headlights enhance nighttime visibility and add a touch of modern sophistication. The Carrera 4 GTS boasts a more aggressive look with larger lower air intakes, ten active air flaps for optimized performance, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) sensors discreetly relocated under the license plate. At the rear, a sleek new tail lamp design is elegantly connected by a light bar that seamlessly integrates with the Porsche badge above. A revised rear grille and an adjustable rear spoiler further refine the aerodynamic form. The Carrera 4 GTS comes standard with a sports exhaust system that promises a thrilling soundtrack. A Driver-Centric Interior Embraces Technology Step inside the new 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 GTS, and you'll be greeted by a driver-centric cockpit that seamlessly blends luxury with cutting-edge technology. The most striking change is the fully digital instrument cluster featuring a stunning 12.6-inch curved display that delivers vital driving information and customizable settings within your line of sight. The infotainment system receives a significant upgrade with a 10.9-inch touchscreen featuring an updated control unit for effortless access to drive modes, vehicle settings, and entertainment options. Wireless phone charging with a capacity of up to 15W and high-power USB-C PD ports ensure your devices stay connected and powered on the go. The standard Carrera offers a drive mode switch conveniently located on the steering wheel for quick and intuitive adjustments. The Carrera 4 GTS pampers occupants with an all-black interior adorned with embossed GTS badges on the seats and other distinctive GTS-specific elements, creating a truly special and sporty ambiance. Pricing and Availability The new Porsche 911 Carrera starts at Rs 1.99 crore (ex-showroom, India), while the Carrera 4 GTS carries a starting price tag of Rs 2.75 crore (ex-showroom, India). Bookings for both models are now open, with deliveries expected to commence by the end of 2024. The Legacy Continues: The New 911 Takes on the Competition The arrival of the new 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 GTS further intensifies the competition in the high-performance sports car segment in India. These latest offerings from Porsche will undoubtedly challenge established rivals like the Ferrari 296 GTB and McLaren Artura, offering a captivating blend of heritage, cutting-edge technology, and exhilarating performance. FAQs: Q: When can I expect to take delivery of a new 911 Carrera or Carrera 4 GTS? A: While bookings are open now, deliveries are expected to commence by the end of 2024. Q: How much does the new 911 Carrera cost in India? A: The starting price for the new 911 Carrera in India is Rs 1.99 crore (ex-showroom). Q: What are the main competitors to the new 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 GTS? A: The new 911 will compete with established rivals in the high-performance sports car segment, such as the Ferrari 296 GTB and McLaren Artura.

🇺🇲 Step into the mesmerizing world of vintage advertising posters from the legendary Studebaker-Packard Corporation (USA, mid-20th century), where innovation and luxury intertwined to redefine automotive excellence.

🏭 Studebaker's journey began in 1852 as the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, crafting wagons, buggies, and carriages in South Bend, Indiana. By 1902, they boldly ventured into electric vehicles, paving the way for gasoline cars in 1904 as the "Studebaker Automobile Company."

💡 Teaming up with prestigious entities like the Garford Company and later with the E-M-F Company, Studebaker became a pioneer in automotive innovation, unveiling their fully manufactured gasoline automobiles by 1912.

🌟 Packard, founded in 1899 in Detroit, Michigan, stood as an epitome of luxury and innovation in the automotive industry. Packard vehicles were renowned for their high-quality craftsmanship and pioneering features, including the modern steering wheel and air-conditioning in a passenger car.

🚗 After World War II, Packard faced challenges against the domestic Big Three automakers but maintained its reputation for luxury and innovation.

🤝 Packard's merger with Studebaker in 1953 formed the Studebaker-Packard Corporation, intending to consolidate with American Motors Company. Despite disagreements among executives, this merger showcased the blending of two iconic brands, leaving a lasting legacy in American automotive history.