Hybrids replace EVs on industry's center stage
Consumer preferences shift to hybrids and plug-in hybrids as interest in fully electric vehicles cools.
High hopes: Aviation exec sees South Florida travelers riding his electric air taxi service and new Zoom! airline
So you want to start an airline. How about two?
That’s what Miami airline executive-entrepreneur Ed Wegel proposes to do as he orchestrates what he calls “the last rodeos” of a commercial aviation career that dates back to the 1980s.
Within a little more than a week, Wegel has formally announced plans to start a South Florida air taxi service using eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, and a Miami-based scheduled airline that would serve small cities in the Northeast and Midwest, as well as destinations in the Caribbean and Central America.
The air taxi plans call for UrbanLink Air Mobility to ferry commuters among landing spots including airports in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The company has placed orders for six-passenger aircraft with the German manufacturer Lilium, which has been busy orchestrating air taxi operations in Central Florida, including at Orlando International Airport.
Wegel’s new airline, to be called Zoom!, would initially operate Brazilian Embraer 190 regional jetliners, acquiring the slightly larger, longer-range Airbus 220s later. He said the service would be akin to what JetBlue Airways has to offer; but the destinations would take travelers to cities where they would not have to struggle through massive airports.
Mitsubishi aims at adventure set with sporty passenger van, lifted Outlander
Mitsubishi plans to plug major holes in its U.S. lineup and deliver a passenger van and an entry model electrified crossover in the second half of the decade.
Honda doubles EV investment to $64B, fleshes out 7 new models in 0 Series
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe outlines the business case for achieving fat electric vehicle margins by the end of the decade as he doubles investment in next-gen EVs.
Ford built its own rallycross course to test newest Mustang Mach-E variant
Ford turned a grassy field at its sprawling Michigan Proving Grounds to create a series of winding dirt paths it used to torture test the Mustang Mach-E Rally.