In 1908, there were very few automobiles in the US, roads were rutted and driving them was much like driving over a washboard. Consequently, road signs and maps were almost non-existent and there were no petrol pumps - drivers purchased petrol in canisters from a general store.
In order to convince the public about usefulness of automobiles, Robert Guggenheim announced in 1909 that he would sponsor..., from New York to Seattle. It took the competing vehicles 23 days to cross the country from New York to Seattle on roads that were rudimentary at best. It was won by a Ford Model T. However, the vehicle was disqualified later because the car had made an engine change along the route.
Still, Henry Ford immediately launched a marketing campaign touting the fact that his lightweight, affordable Model T was the superior car!
Ocean-to-Ocean Being Reimagined for Ford EV
Just as the prevailing road-anxiety of 1909, these days electric vehicles EVs are facing range anxiety. So, Ford is taking a pair of its electric-powered new Mustang Mach-E models on a coast-to-coast drive that it is calling “Ocean-to-Ocean Reimagined”, a tribute to the 1909 Ocean-to- Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest.
The cross-country trip by the electric-powered Mach-E begins in New York City, works down the East Coast to Amelia Island, Florida, and then goes to Las Vegas before ending in Seattle. This route will cover 6,500 miles and will involve crossing 20 states, Ford said.
On February 25, 2021, another Mustang enthusiast, Sergio Rodriguez began a road trip from Murrieta, in California, towards the Atlantic Ocean, a distance of nearly 2,500 miles in a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E EV. The Mach-E consumed 790 kWh in the road trip, which gives it an energy consumption of 3.1 miles per kWh.
Rodriguez also kept track of how much time he spent charging and the amount of money the trip cost him in electricity. Charging at the “Electrify America” network took 586 minutes, or a little less than 10 hours, and it cost the Mach-E owner USD 160 value in INR needs to be mentioned? He also noted that he never spent more than 35 minutes at a charging station, thanks to the network of Electrify America fast-chargers along his route.
According to Rodriguez, range anxiety should not be a concern for people that are considering an EV as their next vehicle. Although he used the Electrify America chargers for more than 90 percent of the charging, the Mach-E owner said there were plenty more to choose from, such as “EVGo”, “ChargePoint”, “Greenlots”, “Volta” and many more!
At present, there are more than 26,000 electric vehicle charging stations open to the public in the US with more than 90,000 outlets. But the country, and the world, will need thousands more if drivers are going to adopt vehicles powered by batteries alone. “The automakers, more and more of them, are committing to manufacture electric vehicles,” said Mike Moran, spokesman for Electrify America, builder of charging station network. “Last year, automakers announced a combined $225 billion in investments in electrification.” With more than 40 fully electric vehicles on the market in the US or coming within the next three years, the demand growth for charging infrastructure is assured. (MT)
Dylect Launches Flow Prime Professional-Grade Pressure Washer For INR 5,499
- By MT Bureau
- December 15, 2025
Dylect, a lifestyle tech brand, has launched Flow Prime, a new pressure washer designed to bring professional-grade cleaning power to everyday Indian households at INR 5,499.
The compact unit is driven by a 1800W copper-winding motor, which delivers 130 Bar pressure and a 6.5-litre a minute flow rate. This makes it ideal for a wide range of cleaning tasks, including washing cars, bikes and cleaning balconies, patios, storefronts and outdoor furniture.
A standout feature is the Flow Prime's ability to operate from either a tap or a bucket, offering flexibility to clean in virtually any location. It also boasts IPX5 waterproofing, automatic shut-off for motor safety, and built-in heat protection for longer cleaning sessions.
Anuj Bhatia, Founder, Dylect, said, “Responsible innovation has always shaped the way we build our products. With Flow Prime, our focus was to deliver powerful, high-quality cleaning while promoting more mindful water usage. Its optimised flow technology significantly reduces water consumption compared to conventional methods, enabling homes and small businesses to adopt cleaner, more sustainable practices without sacrificing performance.”
Dylect stated it has established community of over 100,000 customers. Every Flow Prime unit is shipped with a comprehensive accessory kit, including an 8-metre outlet hose pipe, a soap bottle and various connectors.
Automoto Launches InspektAI To Drive Tech In India's Used-Car Market
- By MT Bureau
- December 03, 2025
Mobility-tech startup Automoto has launched InspektAI, a buyer-side vehicle inspection and verification platform aimed at solving the absence of trust infrastructure for buyers in India’s used-car market.
The used-car segment, currently valued at USD 36 billion and is projected to touch USD 70–100 billion. Despite the market's expansion on the seller and marketplace side, the buyer remains the least protected stakeholder, with issues such as odometer tampering, concealed accident damage, panel replacements and valuation distortion remaining largely unregulated.
InspektAI acts as a platform-agnostic verification layer, combining AI-based dent detection, ECU/OBD analytics, over 300 point mechanical & structural checks and a digital inspection passport that can plug into underwriting, insurance scoring and marketplace workflows.
Sreeraj PV, Founder & CEO, Automoto, said, “India’s used-car market has solved supply, not trust. Transaction risk still comes from information asymmetry. InspektAI is designed as a neutral, AI-backed truth layer that protects buyers and strengthens the ecosystem.”
InspektAI has launched in Bengaluru, with expansion to other metros planned over the next few quarters. The company said it is already in discussions with NBFCs, insurers, mobility platforms and EV ecosystem players to integrate InspektAI into their risk and valuation processes.
It was recently, Automoto closed the first tranche of its extended pre-seed round, backing its push into trust infrastructure for mobility. The company operates across multiple lifecycle layers including InspektAI, the Moto365 ownership stack and skill-development initiatives under Automoto Akademie. Automoto is positioning InspektAI as a potential trust API for India’s mobility-finance stack.
Uno Minda Launches Portable EV Wall Charger At INR 32,514
- By MT Bureau
- November 26, 2025
Tier 1 automotive supplier Uno Minda has launched a Portable Electric Vehicle Wall Charger designed for home charging. The Uno Minda Car EV Wall Charger will be available across retail outlets and online platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart and Unomindakart. The device has an MRP of INR 50,000 and a launch price of INR 32,514, backed by a one-year warranty.
The new charger delivers a 7.4 kW fast-charging output and is IP65-rated waterproof & dustproof design and IK-10-rated high impact-resistant body, which allows customers to charge their EVs in any weather conditions, including rain and heat.
Anand Kumar, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Uno Minda (Aftermarket), said, “The Uno Minda Car EV Wall Charger is not merely a convenience tool; it’s an essential part of India’s transition to cleaner and smarter mobility. Built with precision engineering, it delivers a 7.4kW single-phase fast-charging output at 230V AC, ensuring rapid and efficient energy transfer with superior thermal management. The charger features a Type 2 integrated socket, an IP65-rated waterproof and dustproof enclosure, and an IK10-rated high-impact-resistant body, ensuring durability and safety even in demanding conditions. The smart LED interface provides real-time charging status and error alerts, enhancing usability. On the connectivity front, it supports multiple network communication options, including cellular network, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0, offering flexibility for remote monitoring and smart integration. In addition, the system is safeguarded by comprehensive protection mechanisms against overvoltage, overcurrent, overheating, and short circuits, coupled with automatic cut-off and restart features to ensure uninterrupted performance.”
Autorox And Bosch Partner To Digitise Global Vehicle Repair
- By MT Bureau
- November 26, 2025
Autorox and Bosch Mobility Platform and Solutions have announced a global strategic collaboration aimed at transforming the management and scaling of vehicle repair and maintenance operations worldwide.
Under the partnership, Bosch Mobility Platform and Solutions will serve as the exclusive global distributor for Autorox and Autozilla.
Founded by Vijay Gummadi, these two platforms focus on garage management and B2B parts commerce.
The collaboration seeks to digitally enable over 25,000 repairers and spare parts sellers to collectively deliver over 100 million vehicle services per year by 2030.
The initiative addresses the inefficiency and fragmentation in the global vehicle repair and maintenance ecosystem. In India alone, the passenger car service sector includes over 100,000 independent garages, which this partnership aims to formalise and digitise.
Vijay Gummadi, Founder & CEO, Autorox, said, “Great products and great distribution - that’s the formula for lasting success. Bosch brings unmatched global credibility and reach, while Autorox brings deep product and domain expertise in how modern workshops run. Together, we’re reimagining the future of vehicle repair - from manual, fragmented systems to intelligent, connected operations.”
As per the understanding, Bosch will provide structure, credibility and scale using its global network and standards. Autorox will provide the digital backbone, connecting repair shops, parts sellers, insurers and fleets. This covers intelligent job scheduling, procurement, connected customer experiences and predictive analytics.
Pradeep Ramachandra, CTO, Bosch - Mobility Platform & Solutions, said, “Bosch has long championed innovation that simplifies mobility. Through this collaboration with Autorox and Autozilla, we aim to digitise and connect the global workshop ecosystem, improving service efficiency and transparency. By combining Bosch’s enterprise presence with Autorox’s modern technology, we are addressing a challenge that has remained unsolved for decades.”
The partnership will expand into North America, Europe, and other global markets in phases, building on the platforms' success in India and the Middle East. The collaboration will also leverage Bosch’s existing work with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to ensure enterprise-grade scalability and security.
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