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Vietnamese information technology company FPT Software has partnered with Yamaha Motor and urban developer Ecopark to self-driving electric vehicles (EVs). The partners say they are seeking to accelerate the adoption of autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies and bring smart public transport to Vietnam. Hoang Nam Tien, FPT’s chairman, says: “We hope this collaboration would bring us to the day where autonomous cars using our technologies could travel across urban areas, luxury resorts, factories and warehous

Toyota Motor, Denso and the Softbank Vision Fund (SVF) will invest $1billion in Uber Advanced Technologies to accelerate the development of automated ride-sharing services. Under the current terms, Toyota and Denso will invest $667 million and SVF will put in $33m. Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, says: “The development of automated driving technology will transform transportation as we know it, making our streets safer and our cities more livable.”

Union Tank Eckstein (UTA) has introduced UTA One in Germany as part of its stated aim to provide a single toll solution for Europe. The company says UTA One allows transport firms to pay toll fees with one single invoice and offers single trip reporting, including an analysis of the covered toll routes of individual heavy goods vehicles. Currently, UTA One supports the toll systems in Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Portugal and Spain. The solution is to be extended to include Czech Republic,

Alarm has been expressed by MPs over the UK government’s decision to allow Chinese firm Huawei to work on the UK’s 5G network. Prime minister Theresa May has banned Huawei from supplying ‘core’ parts of the country’s 5G infrastructure – but is believed to have given the green light for it to help deliver what are being called ‘non-core’ parts. As well as being for mobile phones, 5G is the technology which will be used to improve connectivity of autonomous vehicles and traffic controls. However, there ar

Karhoo has partnered with Carey to allow users to book executive chauffeured services across London including to all airports in the UK capital. The deal is set to expand Karhoo’s current offering of around 25,000 taxis and cars which are operating in London. Sandy Miller, CEO of Carey, says users can now access the company’s service on the Karhoo platform in Europe, Asia and Latin America. The partners plan to expand the integration to incorporate Carey's network in more than 1,000 cities worldwide.

ADN Mobile Solutions has developed Bled, a technical solution which – in conjunction with bespoke training and gamification tools – is designed to help bus drivers improve their driving efficiency. The goal is to reduce public transit emissions and provide cost savings, monitoring the way that vehicles are driven, and picking up on activities such as sharp braking or acceleration, giving personalised recommendations based on driving context. Electronic and mechanical data from buses is analysed and presente

EVgo has deployed Autocharge technology in North America in a bid to allow customers to charge electric vehicles (EVs) without using apps or credit cards. Autocharge instantly recognises the EV and begins charging automatically, the company says. It is being launched on EVgo’s dedicated Maven Gig network – which offers rental cars for drivers who need a car to work for ride-share and delivery services. The technology will be rolled out across the US by the end of 2019 to all EVgo account holders with a

The government of Canada says it is to invest CAN$300 million over three years in zero-emission vehicles. Marc Garneau, minister of transport, says: “The Government of Canada is working to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles to help make it easier for Canadians to be part of the solution to climate change and to reduce their daily driving costs.” The federal purchase incentive is part of this year’s budget and applies to vehicles that are purchased or leased on, or after, 1 May. To be eli

The US state of New Hampshire has selected Opus subsidiary Gordon-Darby to implement and operate the State Motor Vehicle Inspection Management System. The five-year contract covers the state’s emissions and safety training programme which tests approximately 1.3 million vehicles a year and includes an automated on-board diagnostic inspection and electronic recording of all safety inspection requirements. The contract will be effective in January 2020 and allows for one additional two-year extension.

Plug’n Drive has launched a programme which offers CAN$1,000 off the purchase of a used electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (EV) for drivers in Ontario, Canada. Cara Clairman, president and CEO of Plug’n Drive, a non-profit organisation, says: "Used EVs are affordable and available, and this incentive will help more people join the EV revolution." The programme was realised through a collaboration with environmental organisation Clean Air Partnership and local business M.H Brigham Foundation.

Connected car company Zubie has partnered with technology start-up CarAdvise to launch a programme designed to give small and mid-sized fleets a way to manage fleet maintenance. Zubie says its Smart Maintenance programme will allow fleets to utilise a network of 20,000 services facilities, delivering average savings of 26%. Zubie will provide fleet managers with a digital solution to detect and identify vehicle problems, then pay for vehicle service and repair. Fleet owners will have access to reporting