Car News

Rival German car makers Mercedes-Benz and BMW have paused their partnership to jointly-develop autonomous driving technology. The alliance – announced in 2019 – plotted to develop ‘next-generation’ autonomous driving (up to 'fully-autonomous' Level 4), with the first cars fitted with the technology slated for launch in 2024. However, citing exceeding costs and adverse economic conditions, the brands announced they would pause their partnership indefinitely.

A Brisbane-based company has become the first charging provider to develop technology that will allow electric car owners to access all public charging stations from any brand or provider without the need for credit cards or multiple accounts.

As Australian sales of electric cars continue to rise and industry bodies urge the Federal Government to make charging infrastructure a national priority, it appears EVs (electric vehicles) have progressed beyond buzzword status to present-day reality.

Hyundai Motor Group has won a Product Design award at the Red Dot Design Awards for its Vest Exoskeleton (VEX) – a wearable, robotic exoskeleton. VEX was designed in collaboration between Hyundai’s Robotics Lab and its Design Centre as an aid for its factory workers to reduce fatigue and strain during overhead labour.

Volkswagen's 'Local Hazard Warning' system has become the first piece of technology in almost six years to win a Euro NCAP award, claiming the safety body's ‘Advanced’ award in recognition of its unrealised potential to protect motorists from hazards. The communication system enables Volkswagen cars to warn fellow road users of upcoming road safety risks by transmitting a signal to nearby cars, emergency vehicles and road infrastructure.