With automakers committed to overhauling their fleets with electric vehicles, some are looking toward customization to separate themselves from the competition and to attract consumers.
Volkswagen, the German manufacturer is rolling out its first fully electric sedan with the Volkswagen ID.7. The car stands out with its electrical paint job that allows an owner to customize its color and glow, which is best seen at night.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, told Cheddar News that customization will be critical in the future of electric cars.
"There's less and less that you [ can do] to differentiate yourself so you need to look for what other features and ways that people and brands can differentiate themselves from each other," he said.
BMW also revealed a concept car, the iVision Dee, that has electrically powered paint which allows an owner to create custom patterns and looks of their own.
For Volkswagen, pairing customization with an optimal ride is essential. The I.D.7 has a range of 435 miles. The series production version is set to go into production in Q2.
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Spain's government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros or $75 million for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals. The consumer rights ministry announced the fine on Monday. The ministry stated that many listings lacked proper license numbers or included incorrect information. The move is part of Spain's ongoing efforts to regulate short-term rental companies amid a housing affordability crisis especially in popular urban areas. The ministry ordered Airbnb in May to remove around 65,000 listings for similar violations. The government's consumer rights minister emphasized the impact on families struggling with housing. Airbnb said it plans to challenge the fine in court.
Roomba maker iRobot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but says that it doesn’t expect any disruptions to devices as the more than 30-year-old company is taken private under a restructuring process. iRobot said that it is being acquired by Picea through a court-supervised process. Picea is the company's primary contract manufacturer. The Bedford, Massachusetts-based anticipates completing the prepackaged chapter 11 process by February.
Serbia’s prosecutor for organized crime has charged a government minister and three others with abuse of position and falsifying of documents related to a luxury real estate project linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The charges came on Monday. The investigation centers on a controversy over a a bombed-out military complex in central Belgrade that was a protected cultural heritage zone but that is facing redevelopment as a luxury compound by a company linked to Kushner. The $500 million proposal to build a high-rise hotel, offices and shops at the site has met fierce opposition from experts at home and abroad. Selakovic and others allegedly illegally lifted the protection status for the site by falsifying documentation.
