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Stellantis wants to outfit cars with AI software to drive revenue

MILAN — Carmaker Stellantis announced a strategy Tuesday to embed AI-enabled software in 34 million vehicles across its 14 brands, hoping the tech upgrade will help it bring in 20 billion euros ($22.6 billion) in annual revenue by 2030. CEO Carlos Tavares heralded the move as part of a strategy that would transform the car company into a “sustainable mobility tech company,” with business growth coming from features and services tied to the internet. That includes using voice commands to activate navigation, make payments and order products online. The company is expanding existing partnerships with BMW on partially automated driving, iPhone manufacturer Foxconn on customized cockpits and Waymo to push their autonomous driving work into light commercial vehicle delivery fleets. StellantisÂ’ embrace of artificial intelligence and expansion of software-enabled vehicles is part of a broad transformation in the auto industry, with a race toward more fully electric and hybrid propulsion systems, more autonomous driving features and increased connectivity in automobiles. Ford and General Motors also are banking on dramatically increased revenue from similar online subscription services. But the automakers face immense competition for monthly consumer spending from movie and music streaming services, news outlets, Amazon Prime and others. Stellantis, which was formed from the combination of PSA Peugeot and FCA Fiat Chrysler, said the software would seamlessly integrate into customers' lives, with the capability of live updates providing upgraded services over time. New products will include the possibility to subscribe to automated driving features, purchase usage-based car insurance or even increase the power of the vehicle with a tune-up to add horsepower. As a baseline, Stellantis generates 400 million euros in revenue on software-generated services installed in 12 million vehicles. To meet the targets, Stellantis will expand its software engineering team of 1,000 to 4,500 in North America, Asia and Europe. More than 1,000 of the expanded team will be retrained in house. Stellantis also announced a new partnership with Foxconn to develop semiconductors to cover 80% of the companyÂ’s needs and simplify the supply chain. The first microchips from the partnership are targeted to be installed in vehicles in 2024.

Hero gets his truck back better than new thanks to community support [w/video]

You ever hear a story and start cringing before you hear the end because you know how it's going to turn out? That could very well have been the case with the story from a few weeks ago in West Valley City, Utah, where a 14-year-old kid stole his grandfather's Hyundai Veloster and took it for a joyride - through a park full of children. But instead it turned into a heart-warming tale of heroism and a community banding together to do what's right... and then some.
Bryson Rowley was that hero who identified the danger and, rather than sit idly by and watch the joyrider potentially run over a child, got into his truck and drove it into the menacing runaway hatchback. The collision caused some $7,500 to his 2008 Dodge Ram 2500, but instead of getting stuck with the bill - one which his insurance may very well have refused to pay since the crash was, technically speaking, intentional - his community pitched in a helping hand.
Bryan Ellison, who owns West Valley Carstar with his brother, saw the news on television and wanted to help. So he brought Rowley a rental car, picked up his truck and brought it back to his auto repair shop. People from around the community donated parts, and when all was said and done, some $15,000 of work and upgrades were performed on the Ram that was returned to an overwhelmed Bryson Rowley better than new. Watch the video below for the full story.

2018 Ram 1500 Hydro Blue Sport is here to brighten your day

The 2018 Ram 1500 is the Baskin Robbins of trucks. There's a look and flavor for just about everybody. Whether you want something clean and bright or done up in chrome and gold, there's a Ram for you. Today, Ram revealed another new variant, the 2018 Ram 1500 Hydro Blue Sport. This bright blue bomber is based on the Sport model, and Ram said this is the final Sport edition model, following trucks like the Sublime Sport. While we haven't heard anything official, we do know a new Ram is coming sometime soon. Like the Sublime Sport, the Hydro Blue Sport takes a standard Ram 1500 Sport and paints nearly every exterior surface in a fantastic shade of blue. No one outside of maybe Lamborghini does paint colors quite like FCA. That's a trait that goes back decades, and we commend the automaker for not following the silver/white/black/beige trend of so many others. All the badging and small horizontal lines in the grille are painted black. The headlights and wheels, too, are dark rather than silver or chrome. The final exterior touch is two black stripes on the Sport's hood. The interior is the exact opposite of the exterior. The mostly black trim is accented with Hydro Blue touches on the vents, center console and doors. The seats have blue Ram badges and stitching. The Ram 1500 Hydro Blue Sport starts at $47,455 and comes in just one configuration, a crew-cab short-box model with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Two-wheel drive is standard, though four-wheel drive is optional. Optional features include 22-inch (4x2 only) and 20-inch gloss black aluminum wheels, black side steps, chrome side steps, air suspension, parking sensors and the RamBox bed storage areas. Production will be limited to just 2,000 units in the U.S. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Ram 1500 Hydro Blue Sport Design/Style RAM Truck