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Ashok Leyland is not keen to participate in the sub-one tonne CV segment claim industry sources. They draw attention to Nitin Seth, President – LCV and Defence, Ashok Leyland, having mentioned that the respective segment is shrinking, and they would therefore not be keen to look at it. With Ashok Leyland said to be keen to double its LCV market share from 15 per cent to 30 per cent over the next three to four years, a strategy to concentrate on a segment between two and 7.5-tonne would help. Apart from operators looking at moving up in anticipation of better earning potential by carrying higher load, and quickly, the reason for the sub-one tonne segment to shrink is said to be the tightening emission standards. In FY2012-13, the total volumes in the sub one-tonne segment were 2.47 lakh units with Tata Ace accounting for about 83 per cent of the market share. Total sales of pick-up segment (above one-tonne payload) were about 1.93 lakh units. In FY2016-17, sales of sub one-tonne vehicles were about 1.17 lakh units. Pick-up truck volumes were .08 lakh units. If this indicates a shift to higher tonnage CVs, it is also about the growing shortage of drivers, said a source.
Ashok Leyland has developed iEGR for its CVs to comply with BSIV emission regulations.
Ashok Leyland achieved the feat of complying with BSIII emission regulations when they were enforced in 2010 with an in-line mechanical fuel pump. The fuel governing system of the engine was suitably tweaked. To meet the BSIV emission norms that came into force pan-India from April 01, 2017, the commercial vehicle manufacturer has taken the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) route. It has developed what it would like to term as intelligent Engine Gas Recirculation (iEGR). Rather than adapt a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, the company chose to tweak the engine combustion management system and EGR of both its engine families – H and N, that range between 130 hp and 400 hp. Announced Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director and CEO, Ashok Leyland, that the technology was developed over four years, and with the view of eliminating challenges pertaining to SCR system in terms of weight and operational costs. Claiming that his were the only company in the world to comply with BSIII emission norms using a mechanical pump, Dasari mentioned, “Better fuel efficiency (of up to 10 per cent), and reliability from the absence of SCR associated electronics are the two outcomes of the iEGR endeavour.” With the elimination of POC, and additional sensors, the BSIV trucks, the company offers, promise to deliver higher payload because of the weight saved. Stating that they have been offering SCR since 2010, and came to conclude that it is useful in long runs at constant speeds, Dasari averred, “India is a value conscious market.” What makes iEGR interesting is the low acquisition cost of the vehicle as compared to the one that is equipped with a SCR system.
Impact of SC order
Like other Indian automakers, Ashok Leyland was also affected by the Apex Court’s order to stop selling BSIII vehicles beginning April 01, 2017. Not the one to push inventory on to its dealers, the company, according to Dasari, was left with 10,664 BSIII CVs. “It was panic”. “The successful development of iEGR over the last four years helped us to retain our confidence,” said Dasari. A decision to swap the BSIII engines in BSIII CVs was taken. The engines taken out will be sold in the aftermarket, mentioned Dasari. He claimed that no major financial impact was had, and even though the development was painful. “It is a pain, not fun, but we will get over it,” averred Dasari. Till date, 220 BSIII CVs have been converted to BSIV. The cost of swapping the engine per vehicle is roughly Rs.20,000. The BSIII engine costs Rs.1.4 lakh according to Dasari. In the aftermarket, it is expected to fetch a price of Rs.2.2 lakh. Ashok Leyland vehicles, expressed Dasari, are virtually sold on cash and carry basis.
An endeavour to invade new markets overseas has proved to be of much use to Ashok Leyland in its effort to averse risk. With the Indian market showing signs of much cyclicity off late, the company, which according to Dasari, is the ninth largest truck maker and fourth largest bus maker in the world, is looking at increasing its export thrust. Said Rajive Saharia, President – Global Sales and Distribution, that the company is keen to export one CV for every two CVs sold in the domestic market. Expressed T Venkataraman, Senior Vice President – Global Bus, that the domestic and export sales ratio as far as buses are concerned is 58:42. Buses are exported, he averred, to the Middle East, SAARC, and African markets. Stressing upon the next quarter looking tough, Venkataraman expressed, “We are supplying Euro 5 vehicles to Ukraine, and are going to Latin America.” Quipped Saharia, that more trucks were sold overseas last year than buses. “ Close to 60 per cent of export sales was through trucks,” announced Saharia. The company is looking forward to export LCVs. When it does, the exercise would help it to inch closer to the target of exporting one CV for every two CVs sold in India. Apart from the Middle East, SAARC and African markets, Ashok Leyland is looking at Russia and Ukraine too. In an effort to arrive at streamlined manufacturing processes and higher efficiency, Ashok Leyland has replicated the Ras Al Khaimah plant at Bangladesh. A 200 to 300 unit market will make an attractive export market (in Bangladesh) according to Saharia.
If Bangladesh is the largest truck export market for Ashok Leyland, the company has began exporting the Boss to Russia. Said Saharia, “Supply of bus kits to Ukraine is on, and local converters are building bodies on them.” Ashok Leyland’s strategy to averse risk and grow faster than the industry reflects from its decision to exit some of the STU businesses. This, for a leading bus player in the country was not an easy task. Said Dasari, “We exited some STU businesses for low profitability.” In its quest to put the Dollar where the returns are, Ashok Leyland made it a point to concentrate on innovative products. The result of this is the introduction of Captain, Guru, Circuit electric bus, Sunshine school bus with roll-over protection, and the Oyster (safest) school bus in the Gulf. Due to its growth potential, Ashok Leyland paid attention to the coal tipper and construction truck market.
Selling over 200 Guru ICVs till date, Ashok Leyland witnessed good uptake in 10×2 and 8×2 mining tippers and construction trucks. It sold over 1500 units according to Dasari. The share of Ashok Leyland’s mining tipper and construction truck market, claimed Dasari, grew by 50 per cent over the industry average of 30 per cent. From the time it was launched, the company has sold over 3000 Sunshine school buses. There is a waiting list of 500 vehicles. Despite a single product (Dost), Ashok Leyland’s LCV portfolio, said Dasari, witnessed a growth of 4 per cent. Expressed Nitin Seth, President, LCV and Defence, “We are now looking at running faster. We will launch the passenger version of Dost followed by the bigger version of Dost called the Dost+. An eight-metre long bus on the Mitr platform will be introduced. We will also address the demand for 32-seater school bus and a CNG vehicle. These would be developed in left-hand drive variants as well by keeping in mind the export markets.” Ashok Leyland is keen to tap world’s 80 per cent LCV market that is left-hand drive oriented. To cater to the market for smaller buses, the left-hand drive Mitr will be Ashok Leyland’s ace card.
Apart from expanding the three LCV platforms the company currently has, the plan, according to Seth, is to develop new LCV platforms by 2019-2020. Well aware of the domestic LCV market turning eight-per cent positive for the first time this year, Seth is looking at hitting a six-lakh volume by 2021. Seth is also hoping the LCV to be a bigger player with the coming of GST. In the export markets, Seth is keen to leverage the fact that Nissan LCVs are marketed in many markets making them a familiar sight. With stress on filling up the gaps in the LCV product portfolio by developing new platforms, Ashok Leyland is looking at quadrupling the sale of LCVs with the Nissan joint venture behind it. Keen to sell one LCV for every two LCVs sold in the Indian market, the company is banking on Dost+, which offers a 1400 kg capacity and rides on 15-inch dia. wheels to further increase its LCV market share in the near future. The Dost+ comes equipped with six leaf spring suspension at the rear, and a four-leaf spring suspension at the front.
Providing further impetus to its defence strategy, the supply of Stallion vehicle kits grew 7.4 per cent, from 3076 numbers to 3304 numbers. With an ambition to cater to 25 per cent of the defence budget, the company has invested in a new defence vehicle facility at its Ennore plant. Special focus is on catering to defence vehicle market. Close to 95 per cent of the UN peace keeping forces in Africa, informed Dasari, use Ashok Leyland vehicles. The company has received 4×4 mine protected vehicle order from the Indian Army, he revealed.
Investing in the right solutions
Happy with the genset volume growth of six per cent on the back of new product variants, Ashok Leyland has begun selling automotive engines. It has received first customer order from USA. Said Gopal Mahadevan, Chief Financial Officer, Ashok Leyland, “We have been doing away with all those inside processes, which do not add value to a shareholder, vendor, customer or a large investor. We are automating a lot of them, eliminating, and streamlining them. With limited resources, we have been judiciously investing employee cost in product development and marketing. Much focus is being paid to achieve a high rate of success.” Claiming that Ashok Leyland is one of the few companies in the world to possess sub-BSIII capabilities since it caters to such markets, Mahadevan averred, “We have BSIII in-line and common-rail tech, and we have BSIV EGR and SCR.”
Owning German SCR specialist Albonair, which supplies Euro6 SCR systems to Volvo, Ashok Leyland, it is surprising, chose to develop iegr rather than to deploy SCR. Said Dasari that stress was laid on offering what would best suit the Indian market. He gave an example of trucks being washed by the river-side with buckets of water. Expressed Mahadevan, “We are attributing growth to addressing the exacting needs of the market. We are the only manufacturer to increase the price of our products in January 2017 by four per cent. We are the only one to gain maximum market share in March 2017.” Averred Dasari that the company’s market share grew from 24 per cent to 32 per cent. Of the view that they have seen good growth despite hiking product prices, Gopal averred, the solutions we offer are about total cost of ownership. Working on multiple channels, Ashok Leyland, to tap growth, worked on increasing the points of presence. “50 to 1,600 is a disruptive force,” said Mahadevan. Putting money on channel expansion rather than discounts, the company concentrated on efficient breakdown services, he added. This, mentioned Gopal, was necessary because the vehicles sold by them are often misused, and are therefore prone to a breakdown.
Apart from investing in the channel, Ashok Leyland has also invested in new products. The Boss, Captain, Partner, Janbus, Mitr, Guru, and others are a point in case. The company leveraged technology to address the requirements of the customers at any given time. This helped the company to secure an order from USA. Claiming that dealers appreciated company’s policy to not push inventory, Gopal opined that a clear focus is on return on investment at Ashok Leyland when it comes to technology. He explained, “As far as technology is concerned, ours is the only electric bus that climbed the Rohtang pass without a breakdown.” Ashok Leyland is building its capabilities in parallel. It is digitising. Mentioned Rajive Saharia, that Ashok Leyland is banking on digital initiatives for growth.
Digitisation for Ashok Leyland, apart from common-rail engines, means telematics and a slew of ‘support’ technologies. Mentioned Dasari, “We developed a new way of providing telematics in the form of a single device that works on any Ashok Leyland vehicle, and without any kind of engine or associated architecture. It provides driver information, diagnostics, etc., and is found on BSIV CVs.” Ashok Leyland has developed a scan tool for onboard diagnostics for a fraction of a cost, and sans the need for a laptop. The company has also developed Ley Assist, which according to Dasari is a Bluetooth operated phone based tool to diagnose error without any physical connection. Looking at autonomous vehicles and vehicle platooning technologies as the future, the folks at Ashok Leyland are working in that direction, albeit with limited resources. Expressed Mahadevan, “I have limited Dollars, and I am spending them efficiently.” “Our net price realisation in March was better than in February, and it is something that is hard to believe but true,” he added. Ashok Leyland is paying attention on logistics and supply chain. It is also paying attention to improve the capabilities of tier 2 suppliers. Revealed Mahadevan that stress is on pertinent technology; technology that will sell. “We are thus keen to build an engine portfolio, and turn it into a separate line of business. A lot of our engines are used for marine applications besides gensets,” he signed off.
After a tumultuous last year, the CV industry is looking at a rare new period.
Story by: Ashish Bhatia
Supreme Court’s judgement to stop the sale of BSIII emission compliant vehicles on April 01, 2017, led to an unprecedented situation. CV manufacturers and dealers were left with an estimated inventory of 96,700 (and 40,048 three-wheelers) BSIII emission compliant CVs as on March 30, 2017, amounting to a sum of Rs.2500 crore approximately. With the Supreme Court order clearly stating that on and from April 01, 2017, such vehicles that are not BSIV compliant shall not be sold in India by any manufacturer or dealer, led CV industry stakeholders to look at quick ways of off-loading as many BSIII emission compliant CVs as they could in a short span of three-to-four days; from the time the Supreme Court gave the order and from the time BSIV emission norms came into force on April 01, 2017. The scope of the Supreme Court judgement can be had from the fact that it ordered all the vehicle-registration authorities under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to not register such vehicles on and from April 01, 2017, that do not meet BSIV emission standards, except on proof that such a vehicle has already been sold on or before March 31, 2017. It was no secret that BSIV emission norms will come into force from April 01, 2017. The CV industry knew it. What the CV industry did not know, claimed an industry source, was if they should discontinue manufacturing BSIII vehicles such that there will not lie a single unit with them or their dealers on April 01, 2017. He drew attention to the fact that manufacturers were entitled to manufacture BSIII emission compliant vehicles till March 31, 2017. He also drew attention to the Centre’s response on pleas filed by Bajaj Auto and Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) in the Supreme Court, that the sale and registration of BSIII vehicles can continue after March 31, 2017, and the cut-off applies to manufacturing only. During the March 24, 2017, hearing, claimed an industry source, the court had considered allowing registration of BSIII vehicles by imposing a compensatory cess. The Centre’s response is said to have been based on two earlier instances of upgrading to BSII and BSIII emission norms respectively. Then, the sale of existing stock was allowed.
Bone of contention
Mentioning in its order that the health of the people of India is of greater importance than the losses the auto industry would suffer (sic), the Supreme Court was not impressed by the argument that manufacturers be allowed to sale BSIII vehicles even after the BSIV regulation was implemented.
Claimed an industry source that the ministry of transport issued a notification on August 19, 2015, to switch to BSIV emission compliant vehicles on April 01, 2017. It did not however clarify whether production of BSIII vehicles would have to be stopped, or also their sale. Interestingly, the Supreme Court did not fail to observe the fact that an expenditure of Rs.30,000 crore was incurred by refineries to produce BSIV grade of fuel. The Court in its order stated that manufacturers failed to take pro-active steps despite being aware of the timelines. Much confusion prevailed until the Supreme Court issued an order on March 28, 2017, to stop the sale of BSIII vehicles on March 31, 2017.
Dealing with the impact
Left with no choice, CV industry stakeholders came up with the prospect of fire-sale. With the Court order coming out three-to-four days before April 01, 2017, the auto industry, and not just the CV industry saw fire-sale as a promising prospect, which is not surprising. Many two wheeler manufacturers too resorted to fire-sale of their BSIII vehicles as well.
Expressed Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ashok Leyland, and President, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), that they are looking at exporting the leftover (BSIII vehicles) inventory to emerging markets, currently complying with BSIII norms. Claimed an industry source that those (vehicles) that are left behind will be dismantled. Some of the aggregates could be rescued. Alternatively, the vehicles could be upgraded to BSIV if possible. A statement issued by Mahindra & Mahindra announced that the Group is ramping up BSIV vehicle production. The OEM, the statement read, is also exploring options within the framework to minimise the impact. The brisk discount sales and incentives CV makers offered to off-load BSIII vehicles in the three-to-four days costed them in the region of Rs.2500 crore, claimed an industry source. According to a report by research firm Crisil, companies sold a little over half of their BSIII inventory by March 31, and have lost Rs 1,200 crore on discounts and incentives. They are expected to lose another Rs.1,300 crore to dispose off the unsold inventory.
Mentioned a Tata Motors source that the ban would have a material impact on all the CV industry stakeholders. They are, he mentioned, assessing unsold inventory that lies with the company and the dealerships. According to the Tata Motors spokesperson, the decision to ban the sale of BSIII vehicles was unprecedented and unexpected. Erich Nesselhauf, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), expressed that they planned a year in advance to meet the BSIV deadline. The company, he added, has sold its 1000th BSIV truck in the state of Kerala recently. Kerala migrated to BSIV emission norms in November 2016, much before the pan-India BSIV regulation came into force last month. Despite prior planning, DICV has come to have an unsold inventory of 200 BSIII CVs, said Nesselhauf on the sidelines of the launch of BSIV BharatBenz HDTs at Chennai. DICV had its CVs shed 400 kgs to accommodate BSIV apparatus. The company has adapted SCR technology to meet BSIV emission norms unlike Ashok Leyland, which has adapted intelligent EGR technology to meet BSIV emission norms. DICV is supplying AdBlue solution to its dealers (and to petrol pumps) to ensure quality and reliability. The price of BharatBenz BSIV CVs is the same as the price of the
The impact on CV dealerships was considerable. Dealers came under immense pressure to off-load BSIII CVs. If slow moving inventory made for a higher impact, dealers panicked at least in the beginning. Averred Piyush Jain of A V Motors, a SML Isuzu dealer, that the ruling is hard hitting, and has rendered dealers helpless. Jain compared the development with that of demonetisation. Demonetisation too hit us hard in the third quarter of FY2016-17, he said. “A strong (and clear) judgment should have been passed about discontinuing the manufacture of BSIII vehicles in 2016 itself,” opined Jain. “Had such a ruling been passed in 2016, it would have not resulted in the quantum of losses that we are staring at today,” he added.
Jain also touched upon the fear of electronics among CV buyers and operators. “The customer here is far from being accustomed with the high level of sophistication (electronic engine) BSIV emission regulation will call for,” said Piyush. He informed that he had an inventory of 20 BSIII vehicles. Apprehensive of the volumes in the first quarter of FY2017-18, Tej Ghatge of Chetan Motors, a Tata SCV dealer from Kolhapur said that he held an inventory of 55 vehicles as on March 31, 2017. Of these, he managed to fire-sale 20 vehicles. Huge discounts were offered. Discounts of Rs.50,000 on a Tata Ace was offered. Vimal Gujral of Cargo Motors, a Gandhidham-based Tata CV dealer, expressed that the development was shocking. He held an inventory of 500 vehicles as on March 31, 2017. If his regional centres would be accounted for, the count would go up to 700 vehicles. Not a happy prospect for certain, opined Gujral. With unsold inventory accounting mainly for Small Commercial Vehicles (SCVs) and pick-up trucks, Gujral revealed that they have hiked the discounts considerably.
Stating that the higher price differential between BSIII and BSIV emission compliant CVs is yet to result in a clear picture as far as the demand in CV industry goes, Gurjral said, “We are yet to witness demand for BSIV CVs.” Mentioned a prominent CV dealer, that they have been advised by their principal to register (BSIII) vehicles in their name. “There is a limit to the number of vehicles we can register in our name,” he said. Suresh Jain of Veerprabhu Marketing, a CV dealer from Jodhpur, expressed that inventory levels are usually higher at the end of the financial year. This is done to realise depreciation benefits by billing the inventory over the financial year end. With customers expecting unrealistic discounts, and at times below the cost of goods sold, it is not a happy prospect since the dealer has already been billed for local transportation, local taxation and sales tax among other charges, averred Jain. Jain’s dealership held an inventory of 200 vehicles as on March 31, 2017.
As a desperate measure CV dealers are known to give an extended credit of up to 30 days to some of their large fleet operator clients to off-load BSIII inventory. Said a dealer on the condition of anonymity, that the impact of Supreme Court’s order and the slow demand for BSIV CVs will reflect in the sales statistics for the first quarter of FY2017-18. The CV industry, he averred, will perform worst than when it was impacted by demonetisation.
With the Crisil report pegging the CV industry loss at Rs.2,500 crore, the total impact of the Supreme Court order is claimed to be 2.5 per cent of the annual revenues of listed CV manufacturers. According to the Crisil report, an expense of another Rs.1,300 crore will be incurred to dispose off unsold inventory of BSIII CVs. The effect of this development, claimed an industry source, will be spread across FY2017-18. The discounts offered during the fire-sale of BSIII vehicles is also expected to negatively impact EBITDA margins by 100 bps (one per cent) in FY2017-18. Expressed Rakesh Batra, Partner and automotive sector leader at Ernst and Young Services, that it is necessary to consider that the CV industry works globally on 20 to 30 days of inventory. This is within the distribution channel, and should have been accounted for as part of the plan to transition from BSIII to BSIV emission norms. An ICRA report pegged unsold inventory of BSIII CVs to between Rs.4600 and Rs.5800 crore approximately. Despite being caught off-guard by the SC ruling, SIAM’s latest report states the overall commercial vehicle segment to have registered a 4.16 per cent growth in FY2016-17. Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (M&HCVs) grew by 0.04 per cent over the same period last year. Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) witnessed a 7.41 per cent growth while CV exports registered a 4.99 per cent growth.
Looking for clarity
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a meeting, claimed an industry source. The letter, he mentioned, speaks about the auto industry wanting to thrive in an environment where there is policy clarity and certainty. Especially, due to the long gestation period involved. Claimed a source on the condition of anonymity that the recent Supreme Court ruling contradicts the 2015 notification by the transport ministry. He mentioned that this has been mentioned by SIAM in the letter it wrote to the Prime Minister. The fact is, the die has been cast. BSIII CVs are history. The road ahead lies on the frame work of tightening regulations starting with BSIV. With the crash regulations said to come into force from next fiscal, the road ahead for the Indian CV industry is going to be as challenging as it has been for sometime now. With GST round the corner, the CV industry, it is looking like, is already anticipating big changes. In 2020, the bridge to BSVI emission norms will have to be crossed too.
Ashok Leyland has announced that it plans to consolidate its presence in the state of Jharkhand on the back of substantial growth over the past one year. The commercial vehicle major, claim industry sources, has witnessed a 50 per cent jump in sales in the last one year. From around seven per cent to 16 per cent initially. Anuj Kathuria, President, Global Trucks, Ashok Leyland, is known to have said that the growth has provided a big boost to expansion plans in the state. Kathuria is also known to have pointed at a significant rise in demand for tippers. The company is said to be looking at doubling production in the next two years in anticipation of growth brought about by government’s focus on big ticket infrastructure projects. Tippers especially. With 32 per cent market share, the company has recorded a two per cent increase in the sales volumes of M&HCVs, and four per cent in Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) for FY2016-17.
Despite the dissent of his parents, Karan Shergill, played by Hrithik Roshan, enrolls in the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in the Hindi movie ‘Lakshya’. Released in 2004, ‘Lakshya’ (goal in English) was a war movie that focused upon Karan Shergill, a young lad attracted to the Indian Army after learning of his friend having joined the army. Karan finds a place at the IMA. A few days into the training, and he drops out. Once opposed to his decision of joining the army, Karan’s parents express their displeasure about him quitting. Karan’s girlfriend deserts him. Shaken by the turn of events, Karan rethinks his decision. He rejoins the course and completes it successfully. He joins the army ranks as a Lieutenant, and is posted at the base camp leading up to the war grounds of Kargil. Upon the news of armed Pakistani infiltration at Kargil, Karan’s battalion receives orders to move to the Line of Control (LoC). His battalion begins their journey to the LoC across the hostile mountainous terrain in jeeps and army trucks. A part of this convoy are the Ashok Leyland Stallion four-wheel drive 4×2 trucks. When the Kargil war broke out in 1999, the Indian Army pressed numerous Stallions that it had in its fleet to transport soldiers, ammunition, cargo, and more, to the war zone.
Ashok Leyland Stallion is claimed to have entered into the Indian Army service in 1997. The Indian Army was looking at replacing its aging fleet of Shaktiman trucks based on an old MAN truck design. Derived from a civilian version of a light-duty truck that Ashok Leyland introduced in 1987 in association with Iveco that traced its roots to the Ford Cargo, the Stallion range resulted out of Ashok Leyland’s ambition to pursue defense business. The Stallion was inducted in the army as a 5-tonne 4×4 high ground clearance truck. On hard surfaces the truck could carry up to 7.5 tonne. With an impressive payload-to-weight ratio in its class, over 70,000 Stallions are said to have been inducted into the army till date.Assembled by the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) from CKD kits provided by Ashok Leyland Defence Systems (ALDS), the Stallions are serving multiple logistical and tactical applications. The standard troop and cargo carrying body is fitted with drop sides and tailgate, removable bows and tarpaulin. The vehicle is fitted with a two-person sleeper cab, similar to the previous Stallion Mk.3. Powered by a Ashok Leyland W06DTI 177 bhp, 5.7-litre turbocharged diesel engine, the Stallion’s operation range is between -40 degree Celsius and +55 degree Celsius, and at altitudes of up to 5500 m. Transmission is a five-speed synchromesh unit with a transfer case. Propeller shafts route power to a full-floating, single-speed Hypoid drive front and rear axle. The hypoid drive allows for unique gear configurations. Cabin and the superstructure are bolted to an all steel and ladder type frame. Apart from the baseline Stallion, which is capable of accepting a wide variety of body types or shelters, the military truck has also come to have a 6×6 (Stallion HMV) version. The payload capacity is the same. Powering the vehicle however is a 260 hp diesel engine with improved mobility over difficult terrain. A 12×12 Super Stallion version is said to be in the works.
As for Karan, and if he achieved his ‘Lakshya’, it may be well worth to watch the movie. It is thrilling as well as interesting for certain.
Ashok Leyland has launched Guru in the ICV space. It is in-line with the company’s aspiration to carve out a bigger share of the CV market.
Story by: Bhargav TS
Ashok Leyland has launched the ‘Guru’ truck in the ICV space. It marks yet another significant launch for the company after the Sunshine school bus in an effort to carve out a bigger share of the CV market. Ashok Leyland missed industry expectations for the third quarter (Q3) of the current financial year. Profit After Taxes (PAT) declined 13 per cent Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) to Rs.185.88 crore. With the CV industry exposed to the effect of demonetisation, that did not affect the cash flow as much as it disrupted the supply chain, the introduction of Partner truck in the LCV space apart from Guru hints at a smart strategy. If the sharp decline in M&HCV sales post demonetisation is considered, the launch of Guru ICV and Partner LCV mark a smart move indeed. The two trucks are claimed to have been designed and built on four important pillars – mileage, payload, reliability and comfort. Available in BSIII and BSIV variants, the Guru can cater to a wide range of applications in the 12-tonne and 13-tonne category. The truck comes with different load body options to choose from. Powered by a new ‘H Series’ three-cylinder 2800 cc common-rail turbo-diesel engine that develops 115 hp of peak power at 3700 rpm and 320 Nm of peak torque at 1500-2200 rpm, the Guru, fitted with a six-speed manual transmission, is claimed to deliver best-in-class fuel efficiency and the most payload in the segment.
The Partner, at the other end, marks the arrival of India’s first air-conditioned LCV. Promising best in class comfort, the LCV, with a 7.2-tonne GVW, builds over the earlier version of the Partner. Tracing its roots to the Nissan Atlas, the Partner originated out of the company’s joint venture with Nissan. The joint venture is no longer active, and the rights to Partner have been retained by Ashok Leyland. Powering the Partner is a BSIV ZD30 2953cc common-rail turbo-diesel engine that produces 115 hp peak power at 2750 rpm. Peak torque is 320 Nm is produced at 1600-2400 rpm. Aimed at applications like parcel goods, durables, perishables and FMCG products among others, the Partner enters a segment that is estimated to amount to 35,000 units per year. The target, according to Ashok Leyland sources, is to carve out a 15 to 20 per cent market share. Transmission is a five-speed manual unit. Speaking at the launch, Vinod K Dasari, CEO and MD, Ashok Leyland Ltd., expressed that his company has upped the ante over the last few years. He described Guru and Partner as two indispensable products that will further strengthen the company’s position in the market. “We are closer to our vision of emerging as one of the top 10 truck makers, globally,” said Dasari. Anuj Kathuria, President, Global Trucks, Ashok Leyland, mentioned that the ICV segment is one of the key focus areas. With Partner, we have offered the Indian customer a contemporary product that delivers best-in-class user experience and exceptional efficiency, he added.
The ‘Guru’ is priced in the range of Rs.14.35 lakh to Rs.16.72 lakh including Value Added Tax (VAT). The ‘Partner’, six-tyre, 14 feet and High Side Deck (HSD) body, BSIV variant is priced at Rs. 10.59 lakh. The four-tyre, 14 feet and HSD body, BSIV variant is priced at Rs.10.29 lakh, ex-showroom, Chennai.
Ashok Leyland has announced the setting up of its assembly plant at Dhaka, Bangladesh. Built over a period of 15 months, the plant, spread over an area of 37 acres, is a strategic joint venture between Ashok Leyland and IFAD Autos Limited, Bangladesh. An important market according to Vinod K. Dasari, CEO and MD, Ashok Leyland Ltd., the new plant is expected to enable the Chennai-based company to carve a larger share of the CV market. A part of the company’s vision to strengthen its overseas presence, the Bangladesh facility will have a capacity to roll out 600-800 vehicles each month. Supporting the plant activities will be a bodybuilding and vehicle testing facility. The two are expected to be functional in the next two years. IFAD Autos has been selling Ashok Leyland vehicles in Bangladesh through 12 dealers.


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Target buys same-day delivery service Shipt for $550mn
Target Corp has agreed a $550mn deal to acquire Shipt, Inc., a leading online same-day delivery platform.
Target will leverage its network of stores and Shipt’s proprietary technology platform and community of shoppers to quickly and efficiently bring same-day delivery to guests across the country.
The acquisition significantly accelerates Target’s digital fulfillment efforts, bringing same-day delivery services to guests at approximately half of Target stores by early 2018. The service will be offered from the majority of Target stores, and in all major markets, before the 2018 holiday season.
At launch, Target will offer same-day delivery of groceries, essentials, home, electronics and other products, while expanding the products offered over time. By the end of 2019, same-day delivery will include all major product categories at Target.
“We laid out an ambitious strategic agenda in early 2017, which included a focus on giving our guests a number of convenient ways to shop with Target, whether it’s ordering online and picking up in one of our stores, driving up to pick up an order, or taking advantage of services like our new Restock programme,” said John Mulligan, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Target.
“With Shipt’s network of local shoppers and their current market penetration, we will move from days to hours, dramatically accelerating our ability to bring affordable same-day delivery to guests across the country.
“By the 2018 holiday season, we will be servicing every major market across the country with same-day delivery, and Shipt’s service-oriented approach aligns well with Target’s commitment to delivering an exceptional shopping experience for our guests.”
The deal is expected to be rubber-stamped by the end of the year.
- SAP: US, UK & India elections 'will impact supply chain'Technology
- US Invests $5bn in R&D to build homegrown AI chips supplySupply Chain Risk Management
- One to Watch: Nowports - LatAm's go-to Freight ForwarderLogistics
- Chips Trade War 'Will See Surge in E-Recycling' - DeloitteSupply Chain Risk Management

domain: news


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Vicarious announced that its social VR content sharing platform is now available on Google Daydream. The company has plans to launch Vicarious apps for other VR platforms “in the coming weeks and months.”
Your web browser is also a VR platform. Most conversations about VR surround specific headsets, like Oculus Rift or Google Daydream. WebVR, as the name suggests, is bringing immersive experiences to anything with a browser. It's a lot...Show More Summary
The countdown to Daydream with a Galaxy S8 has begun, are you ready? Samsung's Galaxy S8 will soon be the only phone capable of using both forms of high quality mobile VR, so if you've been eager to see if the grass really is greener...Show More Summary
This morning at Google I/O, we went into more detail about the investments we're making in the core technologies that enable VR and AR, and in platforms that make them accessible to more people. Tango Tango enables devices to track...Show More Summary
VRJournal confirms in a new report that Google is pushing forward with a new standalone Daydream headset. At its developer’s conference last week, the digital giant hyped a “cable-less virtual-reality headset” that works without a corresponding phone or PC. Show More Summary
Google is focused on a moving target in ways no other company seems prepared for right now. VR and AR got prime-time Keynote energy at Google I/O, as well as a separate keynote the next day with heaps of extra details. And as cool as...Show More Summary
Google's updates to its Daydream platform include a big emphasis on sharing content and dedicated headsets.
While Google announced a bunch of interesting new things at Google I/O 2017's keynote, much like WWDC, there's always interesting things coming out of other sessions. Such as, information the 2.0 software update for Google Daydream, codenamed Euphrates. There's two particularly interesting features to come in this update. One is that Google's trying to bring
Google’s Daydream VR platform is getting a major update this year to v2.0. It’s called Euphrates and Google says to expect a bunch of new features, like Casting of your VR session to a nearby TV. In the revamped menu in Daydream 2.0,...Show More Summary
Google is expanding its Daydream VR platform at the same time that it’s looking to both improve the quality of VR content and make developing great experiences easier.
Google has announced a few upcoming features for Daydream and YouTube that will help make social VR more of a reality.
Google is continuing to refine and expand Daydream, its VR-specific platform and interface.
Playing catch-up with Facebook Inc., Google plans to make virtual reality more of a social experience in its next generation of VR headsets. The tech giant, which announced plans for its first standalone VR headsets Wednesday at itsShow More Summary
For starters, LG's next flagship will probably use an OLED screen. At the Google I/O 2017 keynote presentation, Google let slip (well, it was surely intentional) an important clue about an unannounced Android phone. In addition to confirming...Show More Summary
Google announced some big updates that are coming later this year for its Daydream VR platform, including support for using the Chrome web browser.
Google's mobile VR platform, Daydream, is getting some major updates. During its I/O developer conference Thursday, Google unveiled the next version, Daydream 2.0, which aims to turn the inherently isolating medium of VR into something...Show More Summary
At Google I/O 2017 developer conference yesterday, the company announced a standalone Daydream VR headset in partnership with Qualcomm, with Lenovo and HTC slated to release commercial versions later this year. Today, the company shared more details, including what developers can expect in Daydream 2.0. Google also shared a small tidbit: Developers have built “more […]
The benefit of a tethered, desktop-powered virtual reality setup is that you can get significantly more visual fidelity from a PC with a GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card plugged into a power outlet as opposed to the tiny, battery-powered GPU in a phone. But Google is claiming that could change. Google has developed a technology […]
Google is prepping big things for the future of its mobile virtual reality program. The company revealed plans to update Daydream, the hardware-software platform that powers Google’s VR services, to version 2.0 in the near future. This update, which Google is calling Daydream Euphrates, is about making VR easier to explore and experience. One of […]


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Tech News Summary:
– SoftBank Group is partnering with supply chain service provider Symbotic to establish AI-powered warehouses, investing a total of $100 million in the initiative.
– SoftBank will hold a majority stake of 65% in the joint venture named GreenBox Systems, with Symbolic retaining ownership of the remaining portion.
– The partnership reflects SoftBank’s proactive approach to embracing AI technologies and positioning itself at the forefront of AI advancements in supply chain operations.
In a groundbreaking move, SoftBank has partnered with Symbotic to revolutionize the warehousing industry. The collaboration aims to unleash the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in distribution centers to optimize operations and streamline the supply chain.
As the demand for faster and more efficient order fulfillment grows, traditional warehousing methods have struggled to keep up. This collaboration between SoftBank, a global technology conglomerate, and Symbotic, an industry-leading robotics and automation solutions provider, aims to reshape the landscape of the warehousing industry.
By incorporating cutting-edge AI technologies into distribution centers, the partnership aims to enhance the overall efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of the supply chain. SoftBank’s extensive expertise in AI and robotics technology, coupled with Symbotic’s innovative automation solutions, are set to disrupt the traditional warehousing model.
AI-powered distribution centers have the potential to significantly reduce lead times, enhance inventory management, and optimize the allocation and movement of goods within the facility. Leveraging machine learning algorithms, robotics, and data analytics, these centers can intelligently manage and coordinate the complex flow of inventory to meet customer demands seamlessly.
The collaboration between SoftBank and Symbotic opens up a world of possibilities for the future of warehousing. Leveraging AI capabilities, businesses can expect improved order accuracy, reduced manpower requirements, and increased productivity within distribution centers.
While traditional warehouses typically rely on manual labor and human decision-making, the introduction of AI in this domain will enable automation at an unprecedented level. This technology-driven approach eliminates the potential for human error and streamlines operations by efficiently managing inventory, optimizing storage, and automating order fulfillment processes.
SoftBank’s significant investment in Symbotic’s AI-powered warehousing solutions demonstrates the immense potential and confidence in this cutting-edge technology. By optimizing supply chain operations through AI, businesses can expect to see reduced costs, increased profitability, and improved customer satisfaction.
The collaboration between SoftBank and Symbotic is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI in the warehousing industry. Their combined efforts have the potential to reshape the future of distribution centers, charting a course towards more efficient, streamlined, and cost-effective operations.
As the demand for e-commerce continues to surge, businesses must adapt to the evolving landscape of logistics and supply chain management. With SoftBank and Symbotic leading the charge, AI-powered distribution centers are set to revolutionize the warehousing industry and shape the future of efficient order fulfillment and logistics.


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April 23, 2014
Mobile reading revolution' takes off in developing world
Unesco is pointing to a "mobile reading revolution" in developing countries after a year-long study found that adults and children are increasingly reading multiple books and stories on their phones. The Guardian reports.
Nearly 5,000 people in seven countries – Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Zimbabwe – took part in the research, the largest study of its kind to date, which found that 62% of respondents are reading more, now they can read on their mobile phones. One in three said they read to children from their mobile phones, and 90% of respondents said they would be spending more time reading on their mobile phones in the next year.
The study, says Unesco in its report, found that "people read more when they read on mobile devices, that they enjoy reading more, and that people commonly read books and stories to children from mobile devices.
The Permanent Link to this page is: https://textually.org/textually/archives/2014/04/032836.htm


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Bloodborne’s servers went back online today after “emergency maintenance” to patch out an exploit.
From Software shut down Bloodborne‘s online servers yesterday for “emergency maintenance”, only a week after The Old Hunters DLC was launched. No explanation was given, not even a mention on Sony’s PlayStation Blog or Twitter account, but we now know that they were busy patching out an exploit that let Hunters play the DLC for free.
The Old Hunters costs $20, but a loophole, supposedly discovered after the DLC went live, allowed players to unlock the new content by summoning into the game of someone who already owned it. While I haven’t been able to confirm it personally as I had already paid for the DLC, many players online had wrote about the exploit and it seemed legit.
Though it’d originally been announced Bloodborne might be down for several days, it came back rather quickly. A patch updating Bloodborne to version 1.08 went live last night, and the ability to play online with others soon followed.
The emergency server maintenance which occurred from yesterday (1-Dec, Tues, around 15:00) has been completed.
Also in regards to the issues like NPC survivor state not handed over properly which occurred in the previous update, we have provided a latest update (1.08) where such issues have been fixed. We are deeply sorry to cause such inconvenience.
Please apply the latest update (1.08) and enjoy playing “Bloodborne”.
While Bloodborne’s servers were down, one of the game’s developers took to reddit to explain that they had received information about “an exploit and serious issues that exist in the game.” Losing millions of $20 payments would definitely quality as an exploit and a serious issue.
From Software has closed the DLC loophole, with players who previously took advantage of it reporting they are now locked of the DLC.
Well, I guess it’s true, nothing gold can stay. At least a few hunters got to try the DLC for free.


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As cars have become more computerized people have raised legitimate concerns about hacking. The Tesla Model S, with its 17-inch touchscreen display, has potential to be taken over by a hacking wiz. That's why the 2014 SyScan Conference is offering $10,000 to whoever can hack the touchscreen to browse the Internet and access the car's controls.
Tesla has no part in the competition, but if anyone is successful they could become valuable to the electric car company. After all, the best way to protect your systems is to find out how to break into them.


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The Next Wave Of Fintech Will Be A Tsunami vs The First Fintech Wave
(Editorial Note: This is a high-level, big picture post that might not be suitable for hardened financial technology geeks. Don’t worry, we’ll have more for you in subsequent posts.)
It used to be that financial services intermediaries were to a large extent immune to outside innovation. While entire industries have been obliterated or reimaged over the last 30 years by waves of technological innovation (think retail, entertainment, or travel), financial services has remained relatively unscathed. Yes, electronic exchanges have replaced physical trading pits, online brokers and ETFs have replaced stock brokers, and cards have largely replaced paper checks. But even today, despite the hype around fintech, the core systems, operations, and players (outside of payments) remain fundamentally the same. We do not believe this will be the case a decade from today.
We are very pleased to announce the launch of Nadifin, a new European fintech accelerator. Nadifin will be based out of Luxembourg and will offer a yearly accelerator program based on multiple workshops in different European cities.
From time to time,


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France is the first country in Europe to get a 3D porn video on demand service, courtesy of Paris-based Marc Dorcel Television.
Marc Dorcel is set to launch the first 3D Porn subscription video-on-demand (VoD) service in Europe via French IPTV platform Free.
‘Regardless of whether 3D adult movies are a good idea, er, artistically, this service is certainly cutting-edge in that it’s VOD,” says deputy editor of Home Cinema Choice magazine, Mark Craven.
“3DTV looks certain to head down that route. There isn’t enough content to fill dedicated channels, and consumers aren’t likely to sit and watch hour after hour of 3D anyway.
“It’s more of an event. Indeed, we expect eventual 3D offerings from the BBC (which probably won’t be porn!) to be distributed via iPlayer, rather than a BBC 3D channel.”
The French porn producers also plan to roll out 3D adult video-on-demand programming to other TV partners in France, as well as other countries across Europe.
Rest assured, we will be the first to bring you the news on when a 3D porn VoD service is set to arrive in the UK.
Much as many strait-laced and prudish cultural and tech commentators may wish to deny it, adult entertainment and gaming are often cited with being two key forms of content that drive the uptake of new consumer technologies in the home.


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Google Offers Beta of Sync Product to S60
Today Google announced a new beta version of Google Sync for the S60 mobile platform. Google Sync allows users to wirelessly sync contacts and calendar information between their mobile device and their desktop Google account. It provides push-based, real-time, two-way syncing, so changes made on the device are reflected online, and vice versa, within a matter of minutes. The beta software is a free download and requires additional software from Nokia to be installed, as well.
Mar 23, 2021
OnePlus today announced the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, its newest flagship phones. The 9 Pro is a true flagship-class phone with a QHD AMOLED display with variable refresh from 1 to 120 Hz, and IP68 water rating, starting at $969.
Dec 5, 2018
Microsoft today revealed a wholly redesigned version of Outlook Mobile for iOS devices. Not only did Microsoft give the app a fresh coat of paint, it tweaked many of the tap and swipe actions to help speed up and simplify users' daily routines.
Jun 18, 2019
Facebook today announced Libra, a new digital currency that aims to combine the best features of other cryptocurrencies in order to be more consumer-friendly. The currency will be administered by the Libra Association, a new non-for-profit based in Geneva.
Jun 3, 2019
Apple today announced iOS 13 with a long list of new features for iPhones. The Apple text keyboard now supports swipe gesture typing, which Apple calls Quick Path.
Feb 11, 2020
Samsung today announced its new flagship phones for 2020: the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra. In the US, all three models support 5G and are powered by Qualcomm's newest top-end Snapdragon 865 chipset paired with 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM.
where to get it


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Mrs Oldbucks Pantry in Berrima has picked up a big award at the Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
The team took out the Specialised Retail Small Business category and Owner Carol Brown said they pride themselves on offering customers something that’s uniquely different.
“We take them on a childhood journey really,
“We’ve got over 180 different varieties of jams, chutneys and pickles, that so many people remember from their childhood,
“We’ve also got more than 200 varieties of tea and a fantastic range of old fashioned lollies,”Ms. Brown said.


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Europe Developed New Data Privacy RulesAdded: Wednesday, June 17th, 2015
Category: Bit Torrent Freedom > The Right To Share
Tags:ET, p2p, Torrent, Piracy, Peer To Peer, Network, Hackers, Internet, BitTorrent, Google, utorrent, bitcomet, extratorrent, www.extratorrent.cc, 2015
All 28 member states of the EU Council have agreed to new pan-European data protection laws. This approach will allow to unify tough new regulations across the union. In other words, this move would allow to create a single pan-European framework for privacy and the handling of EU citizens’ data, while now data privacy is regulated by watchdogs in the country of operation.
The first efforts towards creating such framework were made by the European commission 3 years ago and aim to build a single digital union. The European parliament approved the scheme a year ago, but the EU Council has struggled to come to agreement. While the EU Council suggests new fines for breaches of the European privacy and data protection law of up to €1m or 2% of the firm’s global annual turnover, the European Parliament wants them to be €100m or 5% of turnover. The ongoing negotiations will be the responsibility of Luxembourg, because this country takes over the presidency of the EU council.
Some welcome the unified regulations, but lobbying, which has delayed proceedings, has revealed some aspects that the companies are worried about. For example, under a new scheme, users will be able to sue companies who process data, such as cloud storage providers, along with those who own it or collect it. Amazon and IBM worry that this can hurt Europe’s cloud computing industry.
It is not a secret that many US tech giants have based their European operations in Ireland, because if Irish data protection authority regulates their compliance with local laws, the tech firms are then able to operate in any European member state. The new scheme assumes the creation of a single nominated authority that could regulate data protection issues.
Wednesday, June 17th, 2015No comments
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Microsoft’s Surface RT to finally … er, surface in Malaysia
By Digital News Asia April 19, 2013
- First 300 customers at April 25 launch event to get RM300 worth of giveaways
- No announcement yet on when, or if, Surface Pro to launch in Malaysia
MICROSOFT Malaysia has announced that its highly anticipated Surface RT entry-level tablet computer will be available in Malaysia from April 25 onwards.
The RT device was one of two tablets the Redmond, Washington-based announced last year to lead the charge of its re-imagined operating system, Windows 8. The company has not announced any launch date for the more high-end Surface Pro.
“The anticipation for Surface has been exciting to see – we have already received a lot of interest from our consumers, clients and partners,” Microsoft Malaysia managing director Carlos Lacerda (pic) said.
The Surface RT will be launched on the evening of April 25 at Publika, a ‘lifestyle mall’ in Kuala Lumpur. The first 300 customers in line at the launch event to purchase Surface RT will also be rewarded with free giveaways worth at least RM300, Microsoft Malaysia said in a statement.
Following the launch, the device will be made available through selected stores nationwide from three participating retail partners: Challenger Malaysia, Harvey Norman and Thunder Match Technology.
Microsoft describes the Surface RT as having the portability of a tablet with many of the functionalities of a laptop. It features a Touch Cover that provides a super-thin, spill-resistant keyboard in a variety of colors, ultra-light durable casing and an integrated kickstand for hands-free entertainment.
Surface RT has the ability to run apps from the Windows Store, SkyDrive cloud connectivity, games, a full-size USB port, a microSDXC card slot for adding additional storage, a 16:9 widescreen high-definition display for optimal viewing and sharing content easily, as well as the productivity of Office Home & Student 2013. Battery life is typically eight hours, the company claims.
Additional details on Surface are available at http://www.Surface.com/my (which goes live on April 25), the Surface Blog and Surface on Facebook.


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Solar energy developer and manufacturer Solar Power, Inc. (SOPW) announced today that the company will build its 100,000 sq ft, 50 mW capacity solar panel plant at the McClellan Business Park in Sacramento County, California. The company settled on Sacramento earlier this month as the home for its new facility and has plans to build a 10 mW solar farm in the county as well.
This week, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) announced yet another solar incentive for the state: rebates on Jersey-manufactured solar equipment. From the BPU's press release (PDF) yesterday:
Massachusetts-based solar cell manufacturer Evergreen Solar, bellwether of the Bay State’s push for clean energy, announced on Wednesday its plans to move solar panel assembly to China. The statement, appearing in the company’s filing of earnings for the third quarter of 2009, arrives less than a year after Evergreen opened the doors to its much-lauded plant in Devens, the recipient of $58.6 million in state aid. Of the 577 full-time and 230 contract workers at the Devens location, half are involved in assembling the panels, though the company declined to comment on how many would lose their jobs as a result of the move.
Evergreen Solar, the solar panel manufacturer lured to Massachusetts by a generous incentive package from Governor Deval Patrick, may be facing fiscal trouble and downsizing, the Boston Globe reports. The plant was built in a repurposed old Army base at Fort Devens two summers ago. While its welcome to the neighborhood could have been warmer, the plant has so far been making the state proud with more than 700 local employees.


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These Are the Top Spring Cleaning Tools You Need to Have, According to TikTok
It’s officially March, which means spring is right around the corner… even if it doesn’t quite feel that way where you live. If you’re looking to get ahead on spring cleaning, the shopping and payment pros at Klarna have shared the top items you must have on hand to tackle spring cleaning with ease.
Using data compiled from online Klarna purchases in the U.S. between February 2022 and February 2023, these items are all making waves on TikTok due to their usefulness and ability to transform your space as the seasons change. TikTokers are leaving no stone unturned or tub unscrubbed, and the data makes a great jumping off point for your own cleaning projects ahead.
Dusting is one of those annoying but necessary cleaning tasks, with the pros noting that purchases of dusters have increased by 205 percent in the past six months amongst Klarna shoppers. In the last month alone, lint rollers (a lifesaver for both clothes and furniture alike) have seen a 144 percent boost, proving that dirt, dust, and lint is no match for TikTokers and Klarna shoppers.
Keeping your kitchen essentials clean, sparkly, and well-organized is also of utmost importance, with the data showing a 178 percent spike in purchases of the TikTok-beloved Scrub Daddy in the past six months, while purchases of glass rinsers have also jumped 166 percent in the past year. In the last two weeks, Klarna buyers have purchased plastic bag holders 39 percent more frequently than the two weeks prior, and there has been a 47 percent bump in the buying of cereal dispensers within the past month, both of which eliminate common pantry annoyances and disarray.
Any of these items would make for a worthy addition to your deep cleaning arsenal, so if you don’t already have ‘em on hand, now’s your chance to click “add to cart.”


text: This year’s Black Friday sale is less than two weeks away, and we still have much to reveal. This week, we’re giving you a sneak peek of the secret Black Friday discounts waiting to be unlocked. These discounts include up to 50% off products in the Divi Marketplace. However, they will only be available to those participating in our Black Friday Sale on November 21st at 7 a.m. PT. So don’t forget to mark your calendars. Also, there is still time to win a free iMac or Divi AI membership, so get as many entries in the raffle as possible before it’s too late.


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DETROIT » The race to fill vehicles with the latest technology is hurting quality.
Buyers reported more problems in their new cars and trucks this year than last year, according to rankings released Wednesday by the consulting firm J.D. Power. It was the second straight increase since 2012, when the average number of problems in new cars and trucks hit an all-time low.
Car makers are feeling pressure to add new technology and update vehicles quickly so they don’t get stale. But car buyers are frustrated with Bluetooth systems that won’t connect to their phones, voice recognition systems that don’t understand them and navigation systems that aren’t getting them where they need to go.
"Anytime you make a significant change to a vehicle you have the opportunity to introduce more problems," said David Sargent, vice president for global automotive at J.D. Power.
Porsche, Jaguar, Lexus and Hyundai and Toyota were the best-performing brands in this year’s survey. The worst performers were Fiat, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Scion and Mazda.
Sargent said younger buyers are more likely to complain about problems than older drivers, who are more tolerant of mechanical issues.
"Younger drivers didn’t grow up in an era where cars had things that fell off," Sargent said. On the flip side, he said, younger drivers are less frustrated by the technology in their cars.
This year’s rankings were compounded by the harsh winter in the Northeast and Midwest. In those areas, there were more complaints than usual about heating systems, engine and transmission problems and exterior trim and paint problems, Sargent said.
Buyers reported an average of 116 problems per 100 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership, up 3 percent from last year. J.D. Power surveyed 86,000 owners between February and March of this year. One major brand, Tesla, isn’t included because J.D. Power didn’t have enough data from owners.
The survey is the first major assessment of quality for 2014 vehicles, and it’s closely watched by car shoppers. Consumer Reports magazine’s influential quality study comes out in October and includes other years.
Among the findings:
WINNERS AND LOSERS: Porsche, which won for the second year in a row, had 74 problems per 100 vehicles. Fiat was last with 206.
MOST IMPROVED: Ford climbed 11 spots to 16th in the rankings, more than any other automaker. Sargent said the company’s MyFordTouch infotainment system is seeing fewer complaints as Ford makes improvements. Ford’s luxury Lincoln brand also climbed seven spots into the top ten.
BIGGEST SLIDES: Acura and Infiniti both slid 19 spots in the rankings as they introduced several new models, including the Acura MDX crossover and the Infiniti Q50 sedan.
BEST CORPORATE PERFORMANCE: General Motors had six winners in the segment awards, including best small SUV (Buick Encore), best midsize car (Chevrolet Malibu) and best heavy-duty pickup (Chevrolet Silverado HD). Hyundai earned five, including best small car (Elantra) and midsize premium car (Genesis).


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Apple has reported its first profit decline in a decade. It earned $9.6bn in the first quarter, an 18% drop from a year earlier. Revenue rose 11% to $43.6bn. iPad sales jumped by 65% year-on-year, but iPhone revenue grew by just 6%.
The tech giant tried to appease investors rattled by the share price slide by promising to return an extra $55bn to them over three years. That comes on top of $45bn already in the pipeline. There has been a 15% hike in the dividend and the rest will come in the form of share buybacks.
What the commentators said
A slowdown in Apple's performance seems inevitable after years of rapid growth, said Richard Blackden in The Sunday Telegraph. Earlier this year, one analyst noted that if the group sustained its annual sales growth for another five years, its revenue would match the GDP of Australia.
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But now various challenges seem to have cropped up at once. For one thing, said Sheraz Mian on Zacks.com, "competitors are finally catching up with it". Apple's smartphones and tablets "no longer have the field to themselves". Not only are Samsung and Nokia phones increasingly good, but they are also cheaper. No wonder Apple's gross profit margin has fallen to a two-year low of 37.5%.
Meanwhile, Apple is struggling with product innovation, said Rolfe Winkler in The Wall Street Journal. The iPhone hardware may have improved, but the software "has remained largely the same for years", allowing rivals to close the gap. And three years after the emergence of the iPad, Apple "is in urgent need of a new product" to make consumers "fall in love with it again", added Blackden.
"Execution appears to be stumbling" too, said Keith Fitz-Gerald on America's Moneymorning.com. The error-ridden mapping application on the iPhone 5 "was an unmitigated disaster and shattered Apple's reputation for invincibility. The public noticed."
While Apple is hardly in crisis, some are now wondering whether its days at the top of the tech pile are numbered.
Pension withdrawals on the rise, HMRC data reveals
Pension withdrawal data has led to some raising concerns over savers ‘raiding’ their pensions unsustainably.
By John Fitzsimons Published
ONS: UK economy recovered from pandemic faster than previously thought
Revisions from the ONS showed the UK economy has grown since the pandemic, while the latest data showed GDP grew in the second quarter of 2023.
By Nicole García Mérida Published


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Android 12 update is rolling out now on Asus Zenfone 8 series and older Samsung Galaxy devices
More smartphones from different OEMs have started receiving Android 12 updates just before 2021 ends. Asus announced on Wednesday that the software update is already rolling out on the Zenfone 8 series. Samsung has also reportedly expanded the rollout to older premium Galaxy phones this week.
Android phone users who do not have a Pixel device are always waiting for their phone’s manufacturers’ announcements whenever a new version of the operating system is launched. The good news is more OEMs are announcing the release of the updates, such as a post from an Asus ZenTalk forum admin (via XDA Developers) on Wednesday confirming Android 12 is ready to download for the Zenfone 8 with model number ZS590KS.
The firmware version carrying Android 12-based changes and improvements is named version 31.1004.0404.73 and can be downloaded from the official Asus website. The same page indicates that this version supports WW/TW/EU/RU SKUs and that it will need 3.04GB space to be installed.
Aside from upgrading the Zenfone 8 operating system to Android 12, the update also delivers a number of new features and improvements in the Mobile Manager, Contacts, Phone, File Manager, Calculator, Clock, Gallery, Weather, Sound recorder, Settings, and other stock apps.
Android 12 will also add new privacy features to the Zenfone 8, including the privacy dashboard and indicators when apps are using the device’s camera and microphone. The notification center, volume slider, and Quick Settings panel will be redesigned. But Asus notes that some third-party apps might not be compatible with Android 12 yet.
Samsung previously encountered compatibility issues following the initial release of the Android 12-based One UI 4.0 update on Samsung Galaxy S21 series and 2021 Galaxy Z phones. Luckily, Samsung appeared to have resolved the problem as the stable update became available again earlier this week.
9To5Google also indicates that the Android 12 stable update has started rolling out for older Samsung phones series: Galaxy S20 (including Galaxy S20 FE), Galaxy S10 (including Galaxy S10e), Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Z Fold 2, and Galaxy Z Flip. But the availability of the update might vary per region.
Motorola confirmed 30 of its existing phone models, including Business Edition devices, will receive the Android 12 update as well. But the rollout is slated for 2022.


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Bar sells $15 40-oz Colt 45 in a brown paper bag — so it has some explaining to do
It's often the drink of choice for people with very little pocket money — but now it'll cost you the price of a pretentious cocktail.
A California bar is offering a 40-oz. Colt 45 complete with a brown paper bag for $15. Earlier this week, one Twitter user shared a photo of the audacious beverage option. The tweet caused such an outrage that it's since gone viral, earning more than 21,000 retweets.
"Dawg, gentrification at its finest. Wow!!" the caption accompanying the tweet reads.
Several other Twitter users shared a similar reaction to the beer's price tag and presentation:
While food appropriation is nothing new — this year alone, Vietnamese pho and the iconic New York chopped cheese sandwich have fallen prey to the phenomenon — this one conjures images of structural issues like urban poverty, alcoholism and more. However, the owner of St. Felix, the Hollywood bar offering the pricey Colt 45, told Mic that's not the case.
"That was jut the way people drank cheap alcohol, like we did when we were kids," John Arakaki said in a phone interview. "And I used to say when I opened up a bar, I'll serve drinks like this."
Arakaki said they began carrying the item eight years ago and that this is the first time he's ever heard any negative feedback about it. For him, it's all about memories of the good ole days.
"It's just kind of a nostalgic thing because you'd go to shows and if you had a drink before you went inside, you had to cover it up in the parking lot," he said. "This is the funny hook about it — one person buys it then other people buy it. They can't believe that they're drinking a 40 ounce!"
That fun, nostalgic memory does come with a somewhat hefty price tag. As most people mention in their tweets, the average cost of a 40-oz. beer is probably closer to $4 than $15. And you can't blame the paper bag for the over-400% increase in price.
"The intention [of the price] wasn't to gouge the customer at all," Arakaki said of the beer, which is offered alongside $8 IPAs and $7 Blue Moons . " [It's] 40oz of alcohol so that's three 12 ounce beers and 4 extra ounces. That's a huge presentation and that's more than enough for one consumer in an evening."
In this case, one person's nostalgic memory may inadvertently poke fun at other people's drinking habits — and that may not be a memory worth sharing.


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“It’s a controversial thing, right? But a lot of this stuff will get destroyed or thrown away, and we’re able to learn from it.” True crime hobbyist Taylor James talking about collecting Jeffrey Dahmer memorabilia to "Daily Hive" in February 2022
“we are proud to announce the launch of Department X – Sneakers, Streetwear & Collectibles... I am excited for new and existing clients of Christie’s to embark on this journey with us.” -Caitlin Donovan, Christie’s Head of Handbags, Streetwear, and Sneakers
Ernie Barnes’ iconic painting “The Sugar Shack” has been featured on Marvin Gaye’s I Want You album and the sitcom Good Times. (There’s also a mock version of it featured on the cover of hip hop duo Camp-Lo’s debut album Uptown Saturday Night.) Now, the painting has been sold for $15.3 million, and it sits […]
The huge sale, specifically of a game-worn University of North Carolina MJ jersey, was arranged by Heritage Auctions; head inside for more details.
On March 11, 2021, Christie’s made history by selling the digital piece Everydays: The First 5000 Days by Beeple (real name Mike Winkelmann) for an astounding $69.3 million, so far the most ever for a digital asset with an NFT. But three years earlier, the concept of crypto art was apparently lost on attendees of […]


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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Two people charged with stealing guns from a Braceville sporting goods store were sentenced Tuesday in federal court.
Daquante Kimbrough, 25 and Jalen McCall, 18, were each sentenced to 18 months by U.S. Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio on a count of theft of firearms from a federal firearm licensee.
A fourth defendant, Yaniya Hill, no age given, was also sentenced on the same charge but the sentence has yet to be entered into online court records.
A fourth defendant, Brendon Nichols 28, received a two-year sentence last week from Judge Brennan.
The four were indicted by a federal grand jury for the March 6 theft of 34 guns from Rattlesnake Sporting Goods in Braceville.
Ten of the guns were found in a Boardman home where Nichols was arrested on March 6 after a brief standoff.
Authorities said they found some of the stolen guns in McCall’s Campbell home.
When questioned, Nichols told investigators where he put the guns in his home. He also told them he went to the store March 5 with a co-defendant, Daquante Kimbrough, 25, and two other people not named, then went back early March 6 after he had been drinking.
Nichols said he tried to grab all the guns he liked when he visited the store the day before, the criminal complaint in his case said.
All four were also ordered to pay $9,579 restitution.
A request for restitution filed last week with the court said that of the 34 guns taken, 24 have been found so far, with 20 of them found in the early stages of the investigation. The other four were found as the case has been pending in Youngstown, Lordstown, Columbus and Trumbull County, the request said.
The store will receive the guns back once the case is closed except for the gun found in Youngstown, which was outside and exposed for 30 days and can no longer be sold even as a used firearm, the request said.


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Well it took a few near misses, but Bitcoin prices on most major Bitcoin exchanges rose above the $300 threshold early Wednesday for the first time since mid July.
Earlier this month we reported that Bitcoin prices were being pushed higher alongside the rising tide of commodity prices. That trend steadily continued through much of October.
And last week’s ruling by the EU Court of Justice seems to have pushed Bitcoin prices over the top. In its ruling, the ECJ ruled that exchanging traditional currencies for Bitcoin should be exempt from consumption taxes like value added tax (VAT).
The ruling was made in response to a case that originally arose in Sweden, leading the Swedish tax authorities to turn to the top EU court to decide on whether Bitcoin transactions should be covered by a European Union directive exempting currency transactions from VAT. The court ruled that Bitcoin should be treated as a means of payment, and as such should be protected under the directive.
Bitcoin bid/ask prices. Source: Bitstamp.
Will Bitcoin continue its climb from here? Stay tuned to LeapRate…


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A California legislator proposes banning sale of incandescent light bulbs by 2012. This, coupled with the Wal-Mart plan to sell 100 million compact fluorescent bulbs by 2008 would give the CFL and LED bulb markets a gigantic boost while saving huge amounts of energy as well.
Traditional lights are cheaper, put out better light, and can be put place the newer bulbs can’t. But given a mass push to the new technologies, then those problems can no doubt be overcome.
If we are serious about stopping global warming, then these are the directions we have to go towards, doing more with less energy as old technologies are replaced by better, more efficient ones.


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Posted Mon Aug 26, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by Steven Cohen
The 54.6 inch OLED display is hitting the European market.
LG's first OLED display is now making its way across Europe. The 55EA9800 will be available for purchase in Germany starting this week. From there, the curved screen TV will expand to more areas throughout the continent in the fourth quarter, making it the first advanced OLED television to be available in the European market.
Like its U.S. counterpart, the 55EA9800 uses OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology and comes complete with full 1080p resolution, 3D capabilities, LG's proprietary WRGB four-color pixel system, THX certified picture, and Smart TV functions. The set has also been awarded the Red Dot: Best of the Best design honor.
Suggested retail price for the TV is 8,999 euros (about $12,000) though individual pricing may vary across Europe. The television is currently available in select Best Buy Magnolia stores in the United States for a suggested retail price of $15,000.
Competing manufacturer Samsung also recently released their first OLED display, the KN55S9C, in the States for a suggested retail price of $9,000, but there is no official word on a European release date at this time.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


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Zillow lets homeowners, agents post sales info / Web site hopes free service will increase visitors
Published 4:00 am, Thursday, December 7, 2006
Real estate voyeurs who visit Zillow.com today will find that the Web site has added a feature that allows homeowners and agents to indicate that a house is for sale and post pictures for free.
Company founders Richard Barton and Lloyd Frink say they can't predict how many people will use the feature, but they are clear about one thing: adding real estate listings doesn't mean that Zillow is moving into the brokerage business.
The company, which has yet to turn a profit, relies on advertising revenue and says that for-sale listings will draw more users and in turn increase revenue.
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How soon the listings may help the company make money, though, Barton declined to predict.
"It won't be too long," said Barton, who also founded the travel site Expedia.com. "We're years, not decades, away."
Zillow competes with dozens of other online realty sites including Trulia.com, RealEstateABC.com and others. The site also faces competition from search portals such as AOL and MSN, according to Greg Sterling, an analyst for Sterling Market Intelligence, a market research firm.
With its well-known founders and $57 million in venture capital, Zillow has managed to capture a place in the spotlight. Zillow has also drawn its share of critics, who complain that its home estimates, calculated from public records, are inaccurate.
Barton said that Zillow comes within 10 percent of a home's selling price 76 percent of the time in the Bay Area.
"That's pretty darned good," he said.
The success of the new listings feature will depend on how fast Zillow builds its database, Sterling said.
"If Realtors show up and bring listings, ultimately that plugs a hole in the site," Sterling said. "The question is how many listings and how quickly."
As real estate agents and homeowners scramble to add sales information to Zillow today, one challenge may be keeping the site from crashing. During its highly publicized opening, the site was overwhelmed by the number of visitors.
"We've done lots of testing and we're hopeful," Frink said.
Zillow is also rolling out another tool that's a bit more playful called "make me move" that will allow homeowners to post the price at which they'd be willing to sell their houses.


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March 2020 brought dramatic changes to the U.S. economy with stay-at-home orders, the temporary closing of non-essential businesses and spikes in unemployment insurance claims. As a result, lenders today are grappling with the unknown as the economic crisis at hand has challenged credit strategies regarding modern risk management.
LexisNexis® Risk Solutions and ID Analytics examined the early impacts of the spring 2020 lockdown to better understand the rapidly changing landscape. Our newly combined organizations have unique insight into U.S. consumer credit behaviors that allows us to obtain a more complete view into emerging risk trends which might impact businesses and consumers.
We monitored our data networks in March and April 2020 and the initial data revealed surprising new trends in how consumers altered their credit-seeking behaviors during this time.
One of the most surprising trends is that while consumers with prime credit scores reduced their credit seeking in March and April 2020, prime consumers ages 18-30 increased their credit seeking by as much as 36%.
What does this pattern indicate? One possible answer is that younger consumers, even those with prime credit scores, may lack the same financial flexibility as older consumers. This may require them to rely more heavily on credit during times of financial stress. It is also important to note that younger consumers may have more comfort seeking and managing credit through digital channels relative to older consumers, which may have played a role when businesses were closed for in-person transactions.
Our data networks are providing important early learnings about how consumers altered their behavior in the months immediately following the spring 2020 lockdown. We will continue to monitor these trends in the coming months to help our clients navigate the uncertainty of today’s credit environment and regain confidence in assessing consumer creditworthiness.
For more information download our new white paper, The Changing Shape of Credit Risk. Watch for our next study that will evaluate the effectiveness of alternative data sources in evaluating credit risk during a time when consumer credit standing, and the traditional credit scores we rely on to evaluate them have been heavily disrupted.
Solomon Semere is Senior Director, Credit Risk and Marketing Strategy at LexisNexis Risk Solutions.


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Premium fruit is an industry unto itself in Japan, where gift-giving has long been a tradition marked with deep meaning and deeper pockets. A 15,000 yen muskmelon might just be a starting point; in 2019, a pair of Yubari King melons from Sapporo was auctioned for a breathtaking 5 million yen (over RM190,000)!
But what has this got to do with farmers in Putrajaya? Enter Mono Premium Melon, a wholly Malaysian-owned endeavor focused on locally farmed muskmelons. The fruits are grown from the seeds of Arus muskmelons, considered the most expensive melons in the world, that are sourced from Japan.
Mono’s co-founders are a team with a substantial background in agriculture: hydroponics and fertilizer expert Seh Cheng Siang, 40, is joined by Mohd Sofian bin Ali, 47 (agriculture engineering), Yeo Chen Swee, 51 (agrochemical and pest & disease management), and Michael Lo, 42 (sales and marketing).
Seh says, “We decided to start up our first melon farm in Putrajaya. It houses close to 10,000 melons. We would like to showcase that many Malaysian growers can produce equivalent if not better-quality fruits compared to imported fruits.” One of the challenges in farming muskmelons in Malaysia as compared to other countries, according to Seh, is the selection of melon varieties that will suit our hot and humid weather.
He explains, “We have tested more than 100 varieties of melons. A few types have been selected based on their suitability to grow in tropical weather, resistance to disease, eating quality, and shelf life.” Other considerations include technical know-how and growing techniques; precise water and nutrient management; as well as the perennial issue of manpower.
Exactly how premium are these melons? Well, for one, the farmers will only keep one fruit per plant to concentrate the nutrients absorbed. Seh says, “We have a limited quantity of 200 premium Japanese melons grown with full care. ‘We dare to reject’ which means we only select the most well-grown melons and reject the balance.”
These are grown in “a fully environmental control greenhouse” where they are watered and fed by a plant-driven hydroponics system called Autopot. Seh says, “It helps regulate the watering and feeding based on plants’ requirement; not water and fertilizer run-off and wastage.”
Read the complete article at www.malaymail.com.


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US: Kia Motors America - a "bit player" with ambition
Living large: Kia America HQ reflects size of market with big campus adjacent to San Diego freeway in Irvine, Orange County
Kia Motors America may be marking 20 years in the US this year but, despite 535,179 sales in 2013 (down 4% on 2012), the recent hit of 5m cumultative, half year 2014 volume up 7.2% to 297,413 and around 765 dealers in all 50 states, still insists its main mission is "awareness" and that the brand is "still a bit player".
Against Toyota's H1 tally of 1,165,607, Honda's 739,436, Nissan's 704,477, Subaru's 238,008 and Big brother Hyundai's 364,434, yes, but the "bit player" nonetheless creamed Mazda (156,431) and Mitsubishi (39,672) as well as premium groups BMW (181,534) and Daimler (167,754) plus VW group (287,719). And all of those have been in the US from anywhere since the dawn of time to the 50s and 60s (Japanese) or '70s (Hyundai).
Chief spokesman Scott McKee's relative modesty is despite the record monthly sales of 60,087 units in May when the Optima - made locally in Georgia - set a Kia single nameplate monthly record of 16,483 and the brand, which 20 years ago was essentially recycled Mazdas, this year reached seventh in JD Power's Initial Quality Survey behind Porsche, Jaguar, Lexus, Hyundai, Toyota and Chevrolet.
The recent history McKee lays out for his UK visitors suggests a brand making carefully measured steps with some big local spends in the last decade. The Mojave hot weather test centre - shared with Hyundai - opened in 2005, the US plant was announced in 2006, the new corporate HQ in Irvine, California and adjacent design centre were opened in 2008, the first US design, the Soul, was launched in 2009, the year Georgia production started, and 2010 saw the locally made Sorento on sale while the Sedona [aka Carnival] minivan completed the launch of new model lines with the '[Peter] Schreyer' styling touches including the now-distinctive 'tiger' nose. The first Superbowl ad (a sign you made it; the most premium TV slots you can buy in the US) screened in 2010, the year the three millionth Kia was sold and the first turbocharged model went on sale.
Milestones in 2011 included NBA promotional links, the first hybrid, local Optima production and racing successes, 2012 4m sales, the first half million in a year, and an 87th place rating on the Interglobal 100 brand charts; 2013 a rise to 50th on the same table (ahead of US icon Chevrolet) and the announcement of the K900 luxury car (pitched as premium luxury for a medium luxury price) while 2014 will see, among other things, the first [Soul] EV, 5m US sales and the launch of a redesigned (and much better looking) Sedona as well as the roll-out of the very credible V8 K900 to more states.
Although Nissan has fled to Tennessee and Toyota soon will be packing for Texas, Kia is happy for now in California, though McKee and fellow executives do acknowledge the state can be an expensive place in which to do business. As well as the headquarters, design centre and hot test centre, there's a western region office and Kia University training centre for dealer staff in Irvine and a distribution centre (in Riverside in what is known in the LA region as 'the inland empire').
Some US$1.4bn has been spent on Kia's US facilities and the Georgia plant's 360,000 capacity means some 40% of vehicles sold in the US are assembled there.
Among McKee's tales is the one about Kia initially being mistaken for the Swedish flat-pack furniture retailer IKEA; less of a problem in 2013 when seven new or major redesign models made their entrances.
The K900 - essentially a V8-powered, glass roof version of Korea's K9 - is the US unit's biggest gamble yet "defying industry convention" to challenge the likes of Lexus "somewhere between premium mid-luxury and luxury" sector at US$66,000-ish versus the Japanese brand's $80,000 for an LS460 (it likely will sell for $76,000, according to Edmunds.com, vs $64,500 for the Kia). Brave Kia also targets the BMW 7-series, Audi A8 and Mercedes S-class but isn't giving any targets or making ridiculous claims as the model - its first V8 and rear wheel drive car for the US - is still being launched. And quite a step up from previous top dog, the $35,000-$42,000 Cadenza.
McKee said Kia's current US strategy is to concentrate on quality, strengthen the brand, elevate the ownership experience and identify new segments for further growth though, when you look at the range, the menu is already pretty much soup to nuts.
Product planning chief Orth Hedrick said the US is the largest of Kia's five main markets and has two models - Sedona and Optima - which can easily top 100,000 units a year. Specific US conditions for which models need tailoring include the fact that local buyers travel longer distances more frequently with more people in the car - Americans "will drive four to five hours before they get on a plane".
The three global studios - Seoul, Frankfurt and Irvine - compete to win the design work and this is then finalised in Korea. Hedrick travels a lot to Korea in the inception to two years out design freeze phase of a new car and, 18 months out, early prototypes start their testing phases - including hot and humid at Mojave - in the US to tweak suspension setting, HVAC and other local specifics.
"The big variables now are supplier quality, assembly quality now is quite uniform," he notes. As part of the job, he attends all the major auto shows, spotting future trends. Almost all of the European brands are positioned as premium in the US and he is noting more sneaking down into the "mainstream space" as well.
That's one reason for the K900 - the lines between segments are "blurring and you don't need to pay for the label" with a car like the new Kia. The size of the US market gave the local unit a larger percentage of influence over what it got - hence the V8 and transparent roof - as head office could see the potential in such a 'halo car''. V6 variants may be added later.
Diesel - a mainstay of Kias in Europe and a growing proportion of European premium brands' sales in the US - may come around 2017/18 when US and EU emissions standards coincide.
The Optima hybrid currently takes 3-5% of the nameplate's sales, the Soul EV is soon to be launched as a 50-state car (unlike some rival EVs) and plug-ins "are being worked on".
McKee likes the way Korean head office responds to requests for changes to new models. With premium import brand experience prior to Kia, he said: "I've never seen a manufacturer move more quickly than Kia." He noted that the parent made 17 changes in six months to the original US-spec Soul and that feedback from customers, dealers and the media is "taken very seriously, listened to closely and put into action".
Despite that, the US unit would like to be more involved in the design process a little earlier, having a say in decisions like the type of suspension used, rather than only tweaking springs, antiroll bars and dampers, as at present. Other running changes made quickly for the US have includes things like distinct radio tuning knobs, shut off flaps in vents, switch locations and seat design.


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NEW YORK -- Dana Perfumes is hoping to put some color into its pallid lipstick business.
Earlier this month, Dana started shipping its second entry in the category, a line called Color Performance Lipstick.
The collection consists of eight shades, each imbued with moisturizers and carrying a suggested retail price of $1.99 per tube. Dana first ventured into color cosmetics in the late Forties.
At that time, it extended its Tabu women's fragrance into a collection of lipsticks with the same name.
But Tabu lip color, at $4.75 a tube, represents only a small fraction of the $545 million lipstick market and is distributed in just 4,000 doors. Color Performance will initially have the same distribution.
The line will be rolled out to Dana's total distribution of 15,000 doors by the end of the year, according to Elizabeth Cohen, vice president of marketing.
"We are hoping to drive Tabu lipstick sales by expanding our shelf space in stores and offering more variety," Cohen said.
Company executives are expecting Color Performance to command at least 1 percent of the category, or at least $5 million in sales in its first year.
"We think this brand will do well because of its low price point and because of its moisturizing formula," Cohen said.
@fearofgod and @maxfieldla have teamed up on a pop-up installation. The store, located in the gallery space across from Maxfield’s Melrose Ave location, is the site of the brand’s House of God pop-up in which Fear of God founder @jerrylorenzo has created a church-inspired installation. A dozen vintage church pews sit in front of an LED screen playing 90s gospel singers in an effort to re-create an environment akin to a Southern Baptist Church, Lorenzo explained. Read more about the pop-up on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: Jennifer Johnson)
Known for his sleek, sophisticated American glamour, Norman Norell is the subject of an upcoming exhibition at @fitnyc. “Norell: Dean of American Fashion,” which runs from February 9 through April 14, will feature approximately 100 ensembles and accessories. His best work is exemplified by the designer’s glittering “mermaid” gowns frosted with thousands of hand-sewn sequins – like the one pictured. (📷: William Helburn) #wwdfashion
For pre-fall 2018, @balmain didn’t let go of the glitz. A crystal embroidered baseball jacket priced at around $40,000 hangs in the “couture” section of the brand’s first men’s pre-collection. Sporting the words “Balmain Army” across the back, the item took around two months to make. “When it was completed, it was like Christmas, it was like, ‘It’s done, it’s exactly what I wanted,’” said Balmain’s creative director @olivier_rousteing during a tour of the collection in a Paris showroom on Monday. #wwdfashion
Eighty degree temperatures and outdoor installations at the annual Art Basel Miami Beach called for bright, elevated beachwear. See more street style pictures on WWD.com. #theyarewearing #ABMB (📷: @lifeinreverie)
Following September’s emotional tribute to her brother Gianni, Donatella Versace wanted to bring the spring show’s deep sense of intimacy to her @versace_official pre-fall collection. Donatella found inspiration in Versace Palazzo in Milan and from Gianni’s opulent apartment. Archival patterns and new motifs were splashed on silk shirtdresses and fitted jersey frocks. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com. #wwdfashion
Demna Gvasalia continues to shake up the Paris fashion calendar — and experiment with new runway timetables for his @vetements_official brand. WWD has learned that Vetements plans to stage its next coed show for the fall 2018 season on January 19 during Men’s Fashion Week in the French capital. Details about the timing and venue have not been confirmed — stay tuned on WWD.com to catch the latest. #wwdnews (📷: @giovanni_giannoni_photo)
@zacposen's go-to holiday gift? Cookies! "I'll usually bake cookies and send them as a gift," said the designer, who recently released his cookbook "Cooking With Zac: Recipes from Rustic to Refined." Get the recipe for his Brown Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies via link in bio 🍪🍪🍪 #wwdeye #cookingwithzac
For @monsemaison’s pre-fall 2018 collection, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim honed in on the brand’s many signatures — men’s wear, which was tweaked and feminized through deconstruction, proportion play and lots of bare shoulders. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
On Friday night, @yohjiyamamotoofficial received the Design for Asia Lifetime Achievement Award in Hong Kong. The 75-year-old designer has been celebrated for many years and is best known for his dark and avant-garde tailoring. “In my long career, in design, architecture, [I’ve been to] so many parties, this is the very first time that I have such a warm feeling, I really appreciate this,” Yamamoto said. #wwdfashion (📷: @dominiquemaitre)


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A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released today asserts that the human body is a disease- and bacteria-ridden, going-nowhere piece of s#*t and needs to be replaced.
“Biology is our own worst enemy, and the doctors and scientists at CDC refuse to ride the dying horse of humanity to the grave of a thousand sorrows,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, CDC director. “I’m proud to announce the CDC will partner with the Russian government and Amazon to redevelop the human species as non-biological life.”
The jointly developed BOOB (Blind Obedience from Obsolete Biology) program offers financially qualified citizens the opportunity to have their consciousness uploaded to an Amazon server where, as a virtual entity, they can endlessly browse the Internet, go on weeklong benders and spank their virtual children, all without consequence.
BOOB gets firm support
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to act quickly, unconstrained by the inconveniences of human rights and national sovereignty, made CDC’s defection to Russia the right decision, said Frieden.
“We are dealing with a species that won’t even wash its hands after going to the bathroom. If we waited for the U.S. government to do something, humans would disappear and the CDC would wind up like those poor bastards at the Postal Service just waiting for technology and Congress to finish them off.”
In Russia, BOOB will avoid the wishy-washiness of unbridled democracy and benefit from the natural cooling temperatures of Siberia, where Amazon will locate its servers.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said his company’s cloud computing platform is the right match for maintaining virtual humanity. Amazon Prime members will enjoy faster processing speeds and no ad pop-ups while they navigate their new world, he added.
Wall Street analysts concerned that Amazon might become profitable were reassured by Bezos that BOOB would not impact the company’s ability to lose money.