All posts by Francis Mitterrand

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Honda is replacing 30% of production workers at its Chinese plant with robots

The development of artificial intelligence and the use of robots in the automotive industry is on the rise, and one of the manufacturers that has made a big step in replacing human labor with robots is Honda. The Japanese manufacturer announced that almost a third of the production workers at its plant in China will be laid off and their positions will be taken by robots.

In China, Honda produces the all-electric Ye P7, and the plant in China uses automated guided vehicles or AGVs to transport various components in its factory, including heavy batteries. The manufacturer is trying to reduce costs as much as possible, so the use of AI technology is of great importance to achieving this goal.

China is the largest market for electric cars, and their manufacturers are far ahead of all others, although most others. The Japanese manufacturer is one of them that is trying to keep up with the competition, and their model Ye P7, which is produced in China, is one of the company’s hopes.

The Ye P7 is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor with 272 hp and has rear-wheel drive. It is equipped with an 89.8 kWh battery that provides a range of 650 kilometers on a single charge. Customers can also choose a version with two electric motors with 476 hp and all-wheel drive, which thanks to the same battery has a range of 620 kilometers.

Source: Reuters

News

Volkswagen ID.4 was Europe’s best selling EV in January

Although 2024 was full of challenges and uncertainties in the automotive industry, car sales on the old continent grew by 0.8% (10.6 million), compared to 2023. However, the beginning of 2025 did not continue on that path. In January, 1.9% fewer cars (993,068 units) were registered.

If we look at individual brands, Volkswagen is the leader with 112,000 new vehicles sold (+17 percent compared to January 2024), which is an outstanding result because second-place Toyota sold only 69,966 units. It should also be noted that other brands, such as BMW with 59,859 vehicles sold or Skoda with 58,959 registrations, had a successful start to the year. Skoda could even overtake the Bavarian manufacturer by the end of 2025.

Volkswagen’s biggest assets were its ID models, such as the Volkswagen ID.4, which became the best-selling electric car in Europe with a growth of almost 200 percent, leaving behind the Tesla Model Y. As for other models, the Volkswagen ID.7 came in third with a growth of 657 percent, while the KIA EV3 finished in fourth place. Among small electric cars, the Dacia Spring achieved good results, which was seventh, and the new Renault 5 in eighth place.

The biggest loser was Tesla, with only 9,913 units sold, which is 45 percent less than in January 2024. This was mainly due to Elon Musk’s controversial statements and lower demand for the Model Y.

Source: Jato Dynamics

News

Honda demonstrated the power of Passport TrailSport tow hooks

To demonstrate the capabilities of its best mid-size off-road SUV, Honda used a crane to lift three Passport TrailSports. The cars were tied to hooks and lifted to a height of 30 meters from the ground.

Honda wanted to demonstrate the towing power of the cars, which were able to withstand a load of more than 6,350 kg. The Passport TrailSport is one of the versions of the fourth-generation Passport, equipped with a specially tuned suspension, steel underbody protection and powerful tow hooks.

These cars, unlike other off-road models, have front hooks with additional safety designed to separate in the event of a frontal collision. All three cars were equipped with a set of 31-inch all-terrain tires.

The new generation of the Passport is already on sale and starts at $ 48,450. It is powered by a V6 engine with 285 hp paired with a 10-speed transmission that allows it to navigate all off-road terrains. The car is equipped with a second-generation i-VTM4 AWD System for uncompromising stability and performance.

Source: Honda