AutoQ is our weekly round-up of automotive stories.
1. India to Order Uber and Ola Cabs To Switch to Electric by 2026
In order to reduce traffic congestion and pollution on the roads, the Indian government is reportedly going to order Uber and Ola to gradually convert their fleet into electric. According to a Reuters report, the cab-aggregators will have to switch 40 percent of their respective fleet into electric vehicles by 2026 in the country.
Ola has given a shot at going electric in the country since last year. But Uber will have to make necessary changes to its business, as well as back-end model in India to equip itself for the transformation needed to move from fossil-fuels to relying on electricity to run its fleet.
Not to forget, this will be a huge learning curve for the company, as well as the drivers, who, up until now have resorted to either petrol/diesel or CNG as their source of powering the vehicle.
Read the story here.
2. Ford vs Ferrari: What is the Rivalry Between the Two All About?
20th Century Fox has released the trailer for its upcoming movie Ford v Ferrari which is set against the backdrop of the battle between two automobile makers, Ford and Ferrari, in 1960, as both vied for the top crown at the Le Mans which put this rivalry as one of the biggest in endurance racing history.
The trailer shows famous American designer and racer Carol Shelby (Matt Damon) who is set to build one of the most revolutionary cars (Ford GT40) to be built in Ford’s garage with the help of a long-time friend and British racer Ken Miles played by Christian Bale. The car is to compete at the 24-hour Le Mans race especially to beat Ferrari.
The movie is set for a release this November.
But for those who are excited about the movie and don’t know the history between these two, read here to get a crash course in the Ford versus Ferrari rivalry.
3. Could Bajaj Relaunch ‘Chetak’ As e-Scooter for Buyers in 2019?
Remember the Chetak scooter from Bajaj? Reports suggest that the two-wheeler company might relaunch the brand in the form of an electric scooter sometime in 2019.
The scooter in its camouflaged avatar was spotted by automobile media house Rushlane few days back, and while the name is yet to be officially confirmed, Chetak seems to be the popular bet.
The report also mentions that the upcoming Bajaj scooter, most likely sporting an electric motor, was able to hit speeds up to 70km/hr, which is not bad for a two-wheeler in a segment which is slowly growing in the country.
Hopefully, Bajaj can price the yet-to-be-named scooter aggressively, giving startups like Ather and Twenty Two Motors a run for their money.
Read the story here.
4. Kia’s SP Concept-Based Mid-SUV for India Will be Called ‘Seltos’
The Kia SP Concept, showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo, will be launched as Seltos, the company confirmed in a press release early on Tuesday, 4 June.
The name, according to Kia, is inspired by Greek mythology. ‘Celtos’ means the son of Hercules. The car, according to an NDTV report, will be unveiled on 20 June.
“Seltos is all set to redefine the mid-SUV car segment with its eye-catching looks, exclusive segment first features and athletic design. We have spent a lot of time in perfecting our car to suit the taste of the Indian customers and I am glad that this originally India intended car is so perfect that it compelled us to make Seltos available globally,” Manohar Bhat, Head of Marketing and Sales at Kia Motors India said in the press release.
Read the story here.
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