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.
Disney content has gone dark on YouTube TV, leaving subscribers of the Google-owned live streaming platform without access to major networks like ESPN and ABC. That’s because the companies have failed to reach a new licensing deal to keep Disney channels on YouTube TV. Depending on how long it lasts, the dispute could particularly impact coverage of U.S. college football matchups over the weekend — on top of other news and entertainment disruptions that have already arrived. In the meantime, YouTube TV subscribers who want to watch Disney channels could have little choice other than turning to the company’s own platforms, which come with their own price tags.
President Donald Trump said he has decided to lower his combined tariff rates on imports of Chinese goods to 47% after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on curbing fentanyl trafficking.
Universal Music Group and AI platform Udio have settled a copyright lawsuit and will collaborate on a new music creation and streaming platform. The companies announced on Wednesday that they reached a compensatory legal settlement and new licensing agreements. These agreements aim to provide more revenue opportunities for Universal's artists and songwriters. The rise of AI song generation tools like Udio has disrupted the music streaming industry, leading to accusations from record labels. This deal marks the first since Universal and others sued Udio and Suno last year. Financial terms of the settlement weren't disclosed.
