Google’s self-driving cars are crossing the Atlantic. According to reports from the Guardian, transport officials in London are in “active discussions” with the Silicon Valley firm to make the British capital one of the trial cities for its autonomous technology. If it happens, London would become the first non-U.S. city (and one of the few, period) to play host to these self-driving cars. And if Google really is planning on world domination, then hopping over the pond seems like a logical move anyway.
The self-driving cars project, which first began back in 2009, has made considerable strides and the vehicles have been tested thus far in the streets of Mountain View, California, Austin, Texas, and soon, Kirkland, Washington. “It’s going to have to work in big cities, so why don’t we start trialling it now?” asked Isabel Dedring, the U.K.’s deputy mayor for transport. “Google have said they are focused on the US, but they’re starting to think about going elsewhere, so we’re in active discussions.”
China’s latest tiny EV costs just $6,735 and somehow squeezes in five doors
The four-seat Bestune Pony joins the cute-car crowd with rear doors and a price that puts its Wuling rival squarely in view
FAW's five-door Bestune Pony has launched in China from 44,900 yuan, roughly $6,735. The tiny EV packs four seats into a cheerful little box just 3.35 meters long.
It looks like something you'd buy in a gift shop, but the layout makes room for everyday chores. There are four passenger doors and a rear hatch, so getting into the back doesn't require folding a front seat out of the way.
Volkswagen’s smartest EVs are launching in China while the US and Europe wait
China-only models already have the software, charging, and driving technology VW’s Western cars are still waiting to receive
Volkswagen’s newest EVs in China are making its American and European models look unusually conservative.
With Xpeng’s help, VW has introduced 800-volt charging and advanced urban driving assistance. The new VEGA technology package brings its locally developed vehicle platforms and CEA electronic architecture under one umbrella. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen intends to update VEGA every three months. Western buyers can find pieces of that package, but not the whole thing in a Volkswagen.
BYD’s $12,000 Qin Plus DM-i shows how much US buyers are overpaying for their cars
A cheap commuter car that could take you from New York to Miami without refueling? Yes, please.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
