Nevera R: Rimac turns the Nevera into a hypercar

With an output of 1,400 kilowatts and an acceleration of 1.81 seconds from a standstill to 100 kph, the Rimac Nevera is certainly no unsportsmanlike electric car. However, Rimac Automobili has deliberately developed the vehicle as a “hyper-GT” – with the aim of being able to drive a record lap on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife one moment and then set off on a road trip of over a thousand kilometres across the continent a short time later. With the corresponding space and comfort in the interior. “However, we continue to develop the car relentlessly with customer wishes in mind,” explains Rimac CEO and founder Mate Rimac. “Many were looking for a car that would emphasize the Nevera’s cornering stability even more and make the most of all the advanced technologies on board. We are responding to these requests with the Nevera R.” According to the company boss, the R model will retain the DNA of the Nevera, “but will be lighter, faster and more concentrated”. The power output of the drive has been increased to 1,571 kW, the battery system has been further developed with a view to performance and Rimac’s own torque vectoring of the all-wheel drive (R-AWTV) has also been optimized. New brakes have also been installed to trim the Nevera R for fast cornering. The design of the R version has only been subtly refined, but the large, fixed rear wing and the large diffuser at the rear are striking. The “aggressive aerodynamics package” (quote from the press release) is intended to increase downforce by 15 per cent and aerodynamic efficiency by ten per cent. In addition, new Cup 2 tires from Michelin are fitted, which are intended to improve lateral grip and the tendency to understeer on corner entry. An initial result: on the handling circuit in Nardò, Italy, the Nevera R is 3.8 seconds faster than the “base model”, if one can call the million-euro Nevera that. The Nevera R has not yet been on the Nordschleife racetrack of the Nurburgring, where the Nevera achieved a lap time of 7:05:298 minutes last August. Although the R has been optimized for cornering, it is also slightly faster than the Nevera on the straights: from a standing start, it should reach the 300 kph mark in 8.66 seconds. The Nevera takes a little longer at 9.22 seconds. Incidentally, the top speed ex-works is 350 kph. As with the Nevera, the 412 kph of the R model is only permitted under the supervision of the manufacturer. Source: Info via email

Over 1,200 electric cars involved in V2G project in China

As reported by the state news agency Xinhua, these electric cars charge during off-peak times and make electricity available to the grid again in the event of impending bottlenecks. According to the grid operator State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power, participants were recruited for the project through discount vouchers, meaning that 1,277 electric vehicles at 482 charging stations are now involved in the project. An employee of the grid operator is quoted by Xinhua as saying that the number of electric vehicles in Jiangsu is expected to exceed 10 million units by 2030. “If just 10 per cent of these vehicles participate in reverse discharging, they could provide over 1 million kilowatts of peak-shaving capacity, equivalent to plugging in a 1 million-kilowatt ‘portable power bank’ to the grid.” State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power is also currently conducting a V2G test with electric buses. However, only two vehicles are involved in this case. “Compared to ordinary new energy vehicles, buses offer advantages such as larger single-charge discharge capacity, stable charging times, and scalability, providing a novel technological approach to green transportation, clean energy consumption, and power supply security in the region,” said Jiang Renxin, Director of the Marketing Department of State Grid Zhenjiang Yangzhong Power Supply Company. english.news.cn

Natron Energy to build Na-ion battery factory in North Carolina

So far, Natron Energy has only presented the plans for the 1.4 billion dollar battery factory in eastern North Carolina. However, there was no timetable – so it remains unclear when construction will begin, when production will start or when the final capacity of 24 GWh will be reached. One thing is clear: at 24 GWh, the plant’s capacity is 40 times what Natron Energy can produce today. Sodium-ion batteries are seen as an alternative to the lithium-ion batteries that are widely used today, as they do not require materials such as lithium, cobalt, copper or nickel, are non-flammable and are also cheaper due to the better availability of sodium. Natron Energy also confidently states that its own high-performance cells should “outperform lithium-ion batteries in terms of power density and charging speed”. Natron Energy sees a broad sales market for its battery cells, for example in the field of industrial energy supply, “including data centers, mobility, EV fast charging, microgrids, and telecom, among others”, according to Natron Energy. United Airlines invested in Natron Energy in 2022 – as it also sees potential in aviation. In addition to electric aircraft, United is also focusing on the electrification of ground vehicles. “Natron’s patented Prussian blue electrodes store and transfer sodium-ions faster, and with lower internal resistance than any other commercial battery on the market today. The Company’s battery chemistry presents zero strain during charging and discharge, 10x faster cycling than traditional lithium-ion batteries, and 50,000+ cycle life,” the company says. Natron Energy uses aluminum, iron, manganese and a sodium electrolyte for its cells, modules and packs. The 177-hectare site in Kingsboro is located near US Highway 64, where battery cells are to be manufactured in the future on around 110,000 square meters (original specification: 1.2 million square feet) – it would be the first battery factory on a gigawatt-hour scale for sodium-ion cells in the USA. The published images and Google Maps show an area that has already been levelled but is still undeveloped and already connected to the road network. “After evaluating over 70 sites across 9 states, we found that North Carolina, with its leadership in the clean energy revolution, would make the perfect home for this project,” said Colin Wessells, founder and co-CEO of Natron Energy. “We are proud to partner with the state on this ambitious project to deliver high-quality jobs to the community while advancing the electrification of our economy. We look forward to joining the Edgecombe County business community.” The total investment of nearly $1.4 billion is also supported by a grant from the state. North Carolina’s Economic Investment Committee has approved such funding through the Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG). Up to 1,000 jobs are expected to be created in Edgecombe County. “With today’s news, North Carolina’s momentum in the clean energy economy is reaching epic proportions,” said Gov. Roy Cooper (Democrat). “Natron Energy’s decision to build this large and unique battery plant in our state will help the country reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating good jobs in Rocky Mount, Nash and Edgecombe counties, as well as many other places in eastern North Carolina.” businesswire.com

SNE Research: Only 5,621 new FC vehicles in the first half of the year

The 5,621 FCEVs sold in the first half of the year were not only passenger cars, but also commercial vehicles. This is particularly relevant in the world’s largest FCEV market – China. According to SNE Research, a total of 2,501 fuel cell vehicles were sold in China between January and June. Of these, 2,478 units were commercial vehicles such as buses or lorries. This leaves only 23 units for the passenger car sector. These are the Haima 7X-H, the fuel cell version of the Haima 7X, a 4.82-metre-long combustion van. While FCEV sales in China only fell by 16.5 per cent, the second-largest market, South Korea, suffered a drop of 41.8 per cent. While China and South Korea were still very close to each other after the first half of 2023 (2,996 and 2,992 sales respectively), South Korea only achieved 1,742 new FCEVs after six months this year. SNE Research attributes this to sluggish sales of the Hyundai Nexo on its home market – in addition to the fuel cell SUV, the Elec City FC bus is also included in the Hyundai balance sheet. Country H1 2023 H1 2024 Delta Marketshare 2023 Marketshare 2024 China 2,996 2,501 -16.5 % 35.1 % 44.5 % South Korea 2,992 1,742 -41.8 % 35.1 % 31.0 % Europe 489 594 21.5 % 5.7 % 10.6 % USA 1,825 322 -82.4 % 21.4 % 5.7 % Japan 202 440 117.8 % 2.4 % 7.8 % Other 20 22 10.0 % 0.2 % 0.4 % Total 8,524 5,621 -34.1 % 100% 100 % Source: SNE Research In Japan, FCEV sales have more than doubled compared to the previous year. With 440 units, Japan is now even ahead of the USA. The rest of the world does not play a significant role with 22 FCEVs. With the exception of the coronavirus year 2020, sales of hydrogen vehicles rose steadily until 2022. At this (provisional) peak, there were 20,704 vehicles worldwide. By 2023, sales had already fallen by 20.7% to 16,413 vehicles. The first half of 2024 represents a further decline of 34.1 per cent. “The fluctuating price of hydrogen; increasing cost of charging; and shortage of infrastructure; all of these, hindering consumers’ convenient use of hydrogen vehicles, are deemed as main reasons for such decline in the FCEV market,” writes SNE Research with regard to the South Korean market. “Unlike the roadmap proposed by the government, distribution of hydrogen vehicles has slowed down and plans of releasing new models are not encouraging, either.” sneresearch.com

Fastned increases turnover by 45 per cent

The turnover of 37.8 million euros was generated with 2.5 million charging processes (+42.1 per cent compared to H1 2023). In other words: on average, each charging session generated revenue of around 15 euros. In the process, 62.7 gigawatt hours of electricity were sold, an increase of 49.5 per cent on the previous year. This means that, on average, slightly more electricity was charged during each charging process. In the first half of 2024, it was around 25.1 kWh per charging process, in 2023 it was 24.7 kWh with 42.0 GWh and 1.7 million charging processes. Fastned also points to above-average capacity utilisation at its own locations. “Our business model is proving to be highly efficient, as we are delivering 3 to 5 times more energy per station than many other players in Europe’s top 10 fast-charging companies,” the press release states. The turnover per station has increased fivefold over the past five years. According to the statement, the turnover of 37.8 million euros resulted in a gross profit of 29.8 million euros (+52 per cent) – in the first half of 2023, turnover was still at 26.1 million euros and gross profit at 19.6 million euros. However, as Fastned continues to invest heavily in expansion, the bottom line of the 2024 half-year balance sheet is a net loss of 11.4 million euros. This is eleven per cent more than in the same period in 2023 (-10.3 million euros). “On the verge of starting to self-fund investments in new stations” Fastned refers to the “ongoing large expansion effort” that led to the net loss. Profitability in general has improved, however, as the company’s underlying EBITDA has increased by twelve per cent to 3.2 million euros. Growth is financed by corporate bonds, among other things, of which Fastned issued bonds totalling 61 million euros in the first half of the year. The cash on the balance sheet has thus increased to 145.8 million euros. As the operating cash flow is now ‘only’ -1.0 million euros (after -2.5 million euros in the previous year), Fastned is “on the verge of starting to self-fund investments in new stations,” according to Fastned. On 30 June 2024, the Dutch company had 318 stations (+22) in operation with 1,863 charging points (+149). That is an average of 5.86 charging points per location. Important for further expansion: In the first half of the year, Fastned secured 79 additional locations where charging stations will soon be built. This represents an important milestone, as there are now 509 secured stations on the balance sheet – more than half of the 1,000 locations targeted by the company by 2030. “When looking at the facts, the electric transition is well on its way: the increasing number of electric vehicles across Europe shows drivers are embracing electric cars as they near price parity with fossil cars,” said Fastned CEO Michiel Langezaal. “The current battery development pace – still a relatively young technology – puts us on an unstoppable and accelerating path to a complete transition to electric mobility.” The Fastned Management Board has also recently undergone a change to make the company fit for further growth: The Dutch company has appointed Françoise Poggi as Chief Operating Officer (COO). She was previously responsible for Tesla’s European supply chain and, together with CEO Langezaal and CFO Victor van Dijk, forms the three-member management board. fastnedcharging.com

BYD looks to build new EV factory in Pakistan

According to an insider, BYD will soon start selling three models in Pakistan. These will include a saloon and an SUV, according to a report by Bloomberg. The insider also told the news agency that Pakistan is also planning its own car factory in Pakistan, in Karachi, the largest city in the world’s fifth largest country. If all goes as planned, the factory is to be built near the deep-water harbour Qasim, in an industrial area where there are already car factories from Kia, Suzuki and Toyota. However, when prompted by media representatives, a BYD spokesperson refused to confirm the plans for the factory in Pakistan. However, he did confirm that BYD plans to start selling cars in the country in the near future, both fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. BYD is now the most successful car manufacturer in China, having sold three million cars last year and now selling its vehicles in 80 countries. While the vehicles were previously built exclusively in China, the company opened its first foreign production sites in Thailand and Uzbekistan in July. BYD is also planning to build electric cars in Brazil, Turkey and Hungary. Meanwhile, the Chinese investment company ADM Group has announced plans to become involved in the eMobility sector in Pakistan. The company is planning to invest 250 million dollars in the sector. On the one hand, the money is to be channelled into expanding the charging infrastructure in the Asian country. On the other hand, ADM also wants to invest in a factory for electric cars, in which vehicles with a range of 300 kilometres are to be produced. However, it is still completely unclear whether ADM intends to introduce its own brand for this purpose, as the company has not yet been active as a car manufacturer. However, it is also conceivable that the company is involved as a contract manufacturer or that it is financing a new factory for an established car manufacturer. Whatever the case may be, there is clearly a lot happening in the eMobility sector in Pakistan soon. So far, sales of electric cars in the country are still marginal. However, the country has set itself the target of electric cars accounting for 30 per cent of new cars sold by 2030. Of course, this requires attractive vehicles and a well-developed charging infrastructure, which ADM intends to provide. bnnbloomberg.ca (BYD), pakistantoday.com.pk (ADM)

Acura unveils electric SUV coupé concept

The electric SUV coupé is based on a new Honda platform, but no technical data has yet been published. This is Honda’s first foray of its own after the electric car partnership with General Motors came to nothing last year. The Performance EV Concept is now intended to demonstrate the design language that will be used in future electric cars from Honda. The design of the concept was developed at the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles. We still have to wait for the technical specifications of the vehicle and the platform. Pictures show that the concept has short overhangs and a coupé-like roofline. The front is tapered and appears jagged: the ventilated bonnet is set back and flanked by further air vents. Honda itself speaks of an “aggressive front end” inspired by hydrofoils. Massive wheel arches and 23-inch wheels with 295/35R23 tread tyres also contrast with the inwardly curved side surfaces, resulting in a muscular appearance. At the rear, “an upswept decklid, full-width taillight and large diffuser pay homage to the second generation NSX.” The Honda NSX was a sports car produced between 1990 and 2005. “The Acura Performance EV Concept is the archetype of Acura Performance in the electrified era, taking full advantage of the extreme design freedom of stance and proportion offered by our next-generation EV platform to push the boundaries of Acura design even further,” said Dave Marek, Acura Design Executive. “As with our previous Acura concept vehicles, the Acura Performance EV Concept introduces a number of design themes that will be seen on future Acura vehicles.” The new EV concept makes its public debut today at The Quail motorsports gathering in California, followed by an appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Honda is currently in the process of converting several plants in the US state of Ohio for the production of electric cars. Specifically, the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP), the East Liberty Auto Plant (ELP) and the Anna Engine Plant (AEP). According to official information from the spring, the work is apparently progressing somewhat faster than originally planned, so that Honda is now aiming to start production of electric cars at the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP) by the end of 2025 instead of 2026 as previously communicated. “We began production of Acura vehicles in America almost 30 years ago, so we are excited to make an Acura SUV the first EV we build at the Honda EV Hub,” commented Mike Fischer, Senior Chief Engineer and Head of the Honda North American BEV Project. “The establishment of the Honda EV Hub represents not only the start of EV production but the complete reimagining of our approach to manufacturing that will establish our global standard for EV production.” As reported, the joint battery cell factory of Honda and LG Energy Solution in Ohio with an annual production capacity of around 40 GWh is also scheduled to go online at the end of 2025. carscoops.com, electriccarsreport.com, acuranews.com

British H2 truck manufacturer HVS partners with Hybot from China

Both companies intend to work together on vehicle development, with Hybot taking care of technical aspects and HVS handling sales and after-sales in the UK and EU. The agreement also potentially allows for the export of HVS vehicles to China and cooperation in developing other international markets. Both HVS and Hybot have already developed their own fuel cell trucks: HVS presented its HGV in 2022 (see photo above) with a range of 600 kilometres, Hybot its H49 with a range of 1,000 kilometres, making it one of the longest ranges on the market to date. Now the two companies want to join forces: The aim is to promote the use of hydrogen fuel cell trucks on the UK and EU markets and to develop hydrogen fuel cell trucks that are suitable for various transport scenarios. The aim is to create a partnership with the aim of “revolutionising the commercial vehicle industry,” according to a rather ambitious press release. Both partners want to jointly develop innovative hydrogen-powered vehicles and optimise the supply chain for them. By combining Hybot’s expertise in hydrogen fuel cell technology and HVS’s innovative approach to vehicle development, the partners aim to set new standards in the industry, the press release states no less confidently. “We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Hybot, this collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to lead in the introduction of zero-emission fuel cell trucks. Together, we will develop solutions that meet the needs of operators looking to decarbonise their fleets,” says HVS CEO Jawad Khursheed. “Partnering with HVS enhances our ability to deliver cutting-edge global logistics solutions that are environmentally friendly and highly efficient. This MoU is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation and sustainability,” added Mr Zhu, founder of Hybot. hvs.co.uk

First drive in the Nio EL8: The slightly different luxury SUV

With the EL6 and EL7 (formerly available as the ES8), Nio already has two SUV models on sale in Europe, one in the competitive but potentially high-volume mid-size class and one in the luxurious luxury class segment. The almost 5.10 metre-long EL8 now complements this luxury class offering with its own approach: while the 4.91 metre-long EL7 is a classic five-seater with a full-length rear bench and large boot, the EL8 is only available as a six-seater in two variants. Two comfortable individual seats are installed in the second row, and there are two more seats in the rear – more on this later. Like the EL7 and the large ET7 saloon, the new EL8 is also based on the so-called NPB, the ‘Nio Platform B’ – in contrast, the smaller models ET5, ET5 Touring and the EL6 use the ‘Nio Platform C’, or NPC for short. The (interchangeable) batteries are the same for both platforms, but the drive system differs: the NPC models have an output of 360 kW, while the large NPB series offers 480 kW. The power is split between a 180 kW permanent magnet motor on the front axle and a 300 kW induction motor at the rear. The two different operating principles were chosen so that the induction motor can be switched off without clutch and losses when required, while the permanently excited synchronous motor at the front runs continuously. Driving modes differ greatly In other words, in a few driving situations, the large EL8 can become a pure front-wheel drive vehicle. As Benjamin Steinmetz, Product Experience Director Europe, explains in an interview with electrive on the sidelines of the driving presentation, this can be the case when the vehicle is travelling at a constant speed on the motorway with cruise control. “However, as soon as the vehicle accelerates dynamically, the electric motor on the rear axle engages so that we have an all-wheel drive for driving stability,” says Steinmetz. Behind the wheel, the driver really doesn’t feel which engine is currently active – the changes are finely tuned and take place imperceptibly. How the engines respond also depends heavily on the selected driving mode. In the Nio, the Eco, Comfort, Individual, Sport and Sport+ modes are very different from each other, especially in terms of the response to the accelerator pedal. Even in Eco mode, it is not completely boring, but in Sport or even Sport+ mode, the 2.6-tonne SUV reacts much more directly. The driving modes not only adjust the drive but also the steering and suspension. By the way, if you briefly press and hold the two outer steering wheel buttons, you can switch directly to Sport+ mode – and back again – without having to use the touchscreen. Practical if you briefly want sportier acceleration behaviour for an overtaking manoeuvre. Our test vehicle was the standard version. The comfortable single seat could be electrically adjusted to a very comfortable position with enormous legroom. If the seat was a little further forward (so that it was still very comfortable and airy for me at 1.85 metres), I could also find a reasonably comfortable place in the rear row of seats. There was no lack of headroom, the legroom was just about ok – only the knee angle would have been a bit uncomfortable in the long run. However, it was probably one of the most comfortable seating options I have experienced in the last row of a six- or seven-seater SUV. The downside of this seating comfort is that the boot space shrinks. With all six seats, only 265 litres fit into the load compartment. The backrests of the rearmost seats can be folded down electrically, increasing the load volume to up to 810 litres when the two individual rear seats are moved all the way forward. These seats cannot be folded down completely or even removed. There is thus no continuous area and, with the backrests of seats five and six folded down, no real separation between the boot and the seating area. Once again, the orientation of the model becomes clear – it is a premium SUV for chauffeurs and families, not a packhorse. Anyone spending just under or over 100,000 euros on an electric car will probably not drive the old washing machine to the recycling centre themselves – but have it transported instead. Or you can use the towing capacity of up to two tonnes for such transport. With four people and holiday luggage, however, care must be taken to secure the load. There is an Isofix attachment on all four rear seats. Since we just mentioned the prices: The Nio EL8 is available from 82,900 euros in the standard version in Germany, but only with the BaaS offer. This means that the well-known 169 euros per month for the standard range battery or 289 euros per month for the long-range battery we tested are added. The total cost of buying a battery is 94,900 or 103,900 euros. For the ‘Executive’ model, Nio charges 87,900 euros with the same battery prices or 99,900 euros with the purchase of the small battery and 108,900 euros with the purchase of the large battery. Conclusion With the EL8, Nio is targeting a similar clientele to Kia with the EV9 – the South Korean company also offers the large SUV with six seats on request, including two individual seats in the centre. However, unlike the Nio, the EV9 is also available with five or seven seats and a classic three-seater rear bench. With the EL8, Nio has focussed entirely on comfort for four to six passengers. If that meets the requirements, the EL8 can fully fulfil them. However, if the new car is also intended to load larger objects or a large dog is to travel in the large car, things become more difficult. The advances in charging technology and software, including the assistance systems, make the Nio an interesting alternative – because it will probably be a while before you…

Share of combustion vehicles in China declines sharply

As the German publication Handelsblatt reports, citing an analysis of registration figures by automotive data specialist Marklines, 94% of all new cars in the world’s most important passenger car market were still powered by conventional fuels such as petrol or diesel in 2020. In the first half of 2024, however, it was only 59 per cent. According to the Chinese Car Association (CPCA), more new energy vehicles (BEV, PHEV and FCEV) were delivered than pure combustion engines for the first time in July. It remains to be seen whether this will continue in the second half of the year – but the trend since 2020 is clear. The new ratios become clear within the first half of 2024 alone: sales of combustion engines in China have “collapsed” by twelve per cent or 775,000 units, writes Handelsblatt, while BEVs and PHEVs have increased by 38 per cent or 1.1 million vehicles. Fuel cell cars also play only a minor role in China: with 1,000 units most recently sold in July, the absolute figures are significantly higher than in Germany, for example, but the market share of FCEVs remains very low. When people talk about new energy vehicles in China, they are practically referring to battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids – even if fuel cell cars are also formally included. Chinese manufacturers dominate the market This market trend, which has characterised the Chinese market since 2020, naturally also has consequences for manufacturers. This is because, as we regularly report in our articles on monthly registration figures, domestic manufacturers such as BYD are in the lead when it comes to new energy vehicles – and not Western car manufacturers, who have made good profits with their combustion models in China for decades. The Chinese have increased their cumulative market share from 33 per cent in 2020 to 52 per cent now – and this is mainly with (partially) electric cars. German car manufacturers, on the other hand, have lost almost six per cent in total, while Japanese brands have even lost nine per cent, according to Handelsblatt. With a market share of 20.7 per cent, Germany is still the second largest manufacturing nation in China, but the gap to China with 52 per cent has grown enormously – in 2020, Chinese manufacturers accounted for 33 per cent and German manufacturers for 26.5 per cent. In the first half of 2024, the Japanese manufacturers still had a market share of 15 per cent, US manufacturers 6.5 per cent and Korean manufacturers 1.0 per cent – Hyundai and Kia sales have more than halved since 2020. “Until now, the lack of competitive electric cars was seen as the biggest problem for the German car industry in China. In recent years, the high sales figures for vehicles with combustion engines have been able to cover this up,” the article states. “However, with the petrol business in China now collapsing, the situation is becoming increasingly precarious, especially for mass manufacturers such as Volkswagen.” Expressed in figures: in 2018, VW was still able to post an operating profit of over 4.6 billion euros from its China joint ventures with FAW and SAIC on its balance sheet. In the first half of 2024, it was less than one billion euros, almost a third less than in the same period in 2023. However, the situation is also similar for other established volume manufacturers: in 2018, General Motors still posted profits of just under two billion euros from its Chinese investments. In the first half of 2024, however, the joint ventures resulted in a loss of around 200 million euros. And Stellantis has discontinued Jeep production in China in 2022 and cancelled expansion plans for Opel. Although Stellantis does not report the China business separately, the China, India, and Pacific regions were in the red in 2023. “We are clearly seeing a displacement of conventional drive systems,” Jan Burgard, head of the automotive consultancy Berylls by Alix Partners, told Handelsblatt. In addition to the rapidly increasing share of Chinese electric cars, there is another trend: “The Chinese want to be almost overwhelmed by new technologies. For them, a car must have a smart cockpit in which the smartphone and its many apps can be easily integrated and mirrored. Otherwise, it will hardly sell.” Driver assistance systems are also becoming more important: “The Chinese are really boasting about the number of lidar and radar sensors in their cars and the performance of the processors installed,” says Burgard. “German and European manufacturers need to close this technological gap very quickly.” handelsblatt.com (in German)