Weekly Roundup: 3rd-9th December
- Karachi to get Electric Trains for new Mass Transit System
- Pakistan’s first plastic waste road inaugurated
- Toyota to build $1.3B EV battery plant, commits to sell only zero-emission cars
An Electrified Future
Karachi Circular Railway to get Electric Trains for new Mass Transit System
To provide modern transport to the people of Karachi, the Federal Government has decided to start Electric Trains for a 43-KM long mass transit system. Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar chaired the meeting to review the present situation of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and revealed the vision of a 43-km long affordable electric mass transit system. Read more about it here.
Toyota to build $1.3B EV battery plant in North Carolina
Toyota Motor Corp. announced it would spend $1.3 billion to build an electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing plant in North Carolina. The EV plant facility will be the company’s first plant in North America and will support the 14 auto manufacturing plants in the United States and Canada. Currently, Toyota’s batteries are built in China and Japan. Find out more about it here.
Volkswagen closes three partnerships to amp up EV plans
The Volkswagen Group has announced that three different partnerships to amp up their electric future plans. The three partnerships are with battery specialist 24M Technologies, Vulcan Energy Resources, and materials technology group Umicore. The German automaker also announced half the money the company spends in the next five years will go towards electric vehicle developments and 25% of its vehicles will be electric by the end of 2026. Read more here.
BMW hits 1M EV sales figure, aims for Tesla’s record
BMW has reached a new milestone in its electrification plans. The brand has sold more than one million electrified vehicles and it’s only the start. The firm says it plans to double the figure by next year and wants to roll out over two million electric vehicles on the road by 2025 to end Tesla’s market domination. Read more about this here.
Intel announces plans to take self-driving car unit public
Intel Corp. has announced its plans to take self-driving-car unit Mobileye public. Chip giant Intel makes safety systems for some automakers with Mobileye and hopes that by listing the shares on the stock market, the company will be able to unlock more value for the shareholders. However, Intel will remain the majority shareholder in Mobileye. Read more here.
Lamborghini’s first EV to arrive in 2027 or 2028, says the CEO
The transition from internal combustion engines to fully electric vehicles seems inevitable for the automakers now. Lamborghini, The Italian automaker has finally decided to step into the market. Stephan Winkelmann, CEO Lamborghini has announced the company’s first pure-electric car will arrive in 2027 or 2028. The EV range will contain four models according to the CEO. Check out more here.
Towards Sustainable Future
Pakistan’s first plastic road goes functional in Islamabad
Pakistan has inaugurated its “first plastic road” made with 10-tonne bottles in Islamabad. Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed inaugurated the 1-KM paved road in the presence of a large number of people, especially youngsters who came to support with placards. The one-of-a-kind project aims to provide a solution to the country’s huge plastic waste problem. Check out more here.
Toyota commits to sell only zero-emission cars in Europe by 2035
Toyota has been leading the automotive industry with eco-friendly cars for years. But the company joined the EV transition late. However, the company has now announced its commitment to sell only zero-emission cars in Europe by 2035. They outlined their plan for 100% carbon reduction in their new vehicle sales. Read more about it here.
On Mass Transit
Peshawar BRT to be extended to Pabbi and Nowshera
TransPeshawar spokesperson Muhammad Umair Khan said BRT Peshawar will be extended to Pabbi and Nowshera soon. The milestone project has been facilitating more than 220,000 commuters on a daily basis in Peshawar. He also announced the feeder routes within the city will be operationalized soon. Read more about this story here.
Lahore High Court considers using Metro Bus track for ambulances
Lahore High Court (LHC) sought recommendations from the provincial and city district government officials to use the metro bus track for ambulances. Hearing petitions on the traffic issues in the provincial metropolis, he asked the government for suggestions over the issue. Earlier, the Senate of Pakistan issued a decision to pass a bill to enable smooth passage for emergency vehicles on busy roads. Read more here.
About Us
This week in Transport is a weekly round-up of everything happening in the transportation world; from sustainable transport initiatives to expansion plans, and implementation of an intelligent transport system. Watch this space for more sector news!