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GM’s Cruise Automation unveils new driverless electric vehicle

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Cruise Automation, the driverless car startup acquired by General Motors, has unveiled its first vehicle.

The Cruise Origin, as it is called, is electric, autonomous, driverless with no steering wheel, and designed to carry several people – about six in spacious comfort.

The company says the Origin is the answer to the many problems of motoring today. Cars today use fossil fuels which pollute the atmosphere, and are designed in a way that limits the space available. [Read more…] about GM’s Cruise Automation unveils new driverless electric vehicle

Amazon now has 200,000 robots working in its warehouses

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Online retail giant Amazon now has 200,000 robots in operation within its warehouses in the US, according to a report published by Associated Press.

The article, written by Matt O’Brien, doesn’t say where it got the figure, but it could be inferred from the rest of the article that it was provided by Amazon itself.

Amazon first became interested in warehouse robots in a big way when it bought Kiva Systems for $775 million, in 2012. [Read more…] about Amazon now has 200,000 robots working in its warehouses

$50 billion merger of leading automakers creates global behemoth

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Leading automakers Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Groupe PSA have agreed a $50 billion merger, creating the biggest automaker in Europe and the fourth-largest in the world in the process.

Completion of the proposed merger is expected to take place in 12-15 months, subject to regulatory requirements and approval by both companies’ shareholders.

Carlos Tavares, chairman of the managing board of Groupe PSA, says: “Our merger is a huge opportunity to take a stronger position in the auto industry as we seek to master the transition to a world of clean, safe and sustainable mobility and to provide our customers with world-class products, technology and services. [Read more…] about $50 billion merger of leading automakers creates global behemoth

BMW orders €10 billion of battery cells for its 25 models of electric car

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BMW has placed orders for around €10 billion worth of battery cells for its planned line-up of 25 electric car models by 2023

The BMW Group is forging ahead with electromobility and deepening its existing business relationships with battery cell manufacturers Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and Samsung SDI.

The original CATL order volume of €4 billion agreed in mid-2018 will now be increased to €7.3 billion (contract duration from 2020 to 2031), with €4.5 billion for the BMW Group and €2.8 billion for the Chinese production site of the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture in Shenyang.

The BMW Group is the first customer of the CATL battery cell plant currently under construction in Erfurt, Germany. [Read more…] about BMW orders €10 billion of battery cells for its 25 models of electric car

Alibaba increases stake in Cainiao by $3.3 billion

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Alibaba, the world’s largest e-commerce company, has increased its equity stake in Cainiao, a provider of automated logistics systems. The two companies have been partners for some time and last year opened what was reported to be the largest robot-operated warehouse in China. 

The additional investment in Cainiao Smart Logistics Network totals RMB23.3 billion (US$3.3 billion) and increases Alibaba’s equity from approximately 51 per cent to approximately 63 per cent.

The investment method used involved subscribing for newly issued Cainiao ordinary shares in its latest financing round and purchasing certain equity interest from an existing Cainiao shareholder. [Read more…] about Alibaba increases stake in Cainiao by $3.3 billion

Traton plans to invest more than €1 billion into autonomous and digital innovations

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Traton, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, says it plans to invest more than €1 billion into autonomous and digital innovations.

Andreas Renschler, Traton CEO and member of the board of management at Volkswagen, says: “We want to move into the digital fast lane and are continuing to evolve from a hardware supplier to a provider of software and services.”

Traton says it is making strides with networked vehicles, logistics, and autonomous driving. [Read more…] about Traton plans to invest more than €1 billion into autonomous and digital innovations

Robot end-effector market forecast to grow to $6.5 billion by 2025

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The global market for robot end-effectors is forecast to grow to $6.5 billion by 2025, according to research done by Global Market Insights.

The revenue of Robot End-Effector Market crossed $2.5 billion in the year 2018 and is predicted to grow to $6.5 billion by 2025, growing at 14 percent between the years 2019 and 2025.

The advent of industry 4.0 in manufacturing industry which includes the inclusion of technological trends such as cloud robotics, automation, cyber-physical systems, big data, and IoT is driving the demand for advanced end-effectors. [Read more…] about Robot end-effector market forecast to grow to $6.5 billion by 2025

Robotics market to exceed $150 billion by 2025, says report

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The global robotics market is set to exceed $150 billion by 2025, according to a new report, Disruption in Human-Robot Collaboration.

PreScouter, a Chicago-based research intelligence company, has released a detailed report on the recent advances in robotics and how these advances will be disrupting the workforce, promoting improved collaboration between man and machine.

The researcher says the global robotics market will exceed $150 billion by 2025 and the industrial robot sector will account for nearly $13 billion of that in North America alone. [Read more…] about Robotics market to exceed $150 billion by 2025, says report

Collaborative robot market forecast to grow beyond $11 billion by 2030

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The collaborative robot market will exceed $11 billion by 2030, representing 29 percent of the total industrial robot market, according to ABI Research.

Buoyed by early innovators and adopters, the collaborative robotics market will become increasingly mainstream over the next 10 years.

The new analysis from global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research finds that the yearly revenue for cobot arms will reach $11.8 billion by 2030, an enormous increase from $711 million in 2019. [Read more…] about Collaborative robot market forecast to grow beyond $11 billion by 2030

GM to invest additional $20 million in Texas plant

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General Motors is investing an additional $20 million at Arlington Assembly to upgrade plant conveyors in preparation for the launch of GM’s new SUVs.

GM has invested more than $1.4 billion in Arlington Assembly since 2015 to build a new paint shop and for body shop and general assembly area upgrades.

The new upgrades at Arlington are scheduled to be completed next year.

[Read more…] about GM to invest additional $20 million in Texas plant