Marcus Ekman to join Mercedes-Benz Trucks as head of engineering from Volvo Group Marcus Ekman, currently senior vice president of truck quality at Volvo Group, will take the reins as head of engineering at Mercedes-Benz Trucks from October this year. Mercedes-Benz Trucks is changing the leadership in its engineering division, with the appointment of Marcus Ekman as the brand's new head of engineering. The 51-year-old Swede joins from Volvo Group and will assume the role on October 1, 2026, replacing the retiring Rainer Müller-Finkeldei. The move represents a cross-industry hire, drawing talent directly from one of Mercedes-Benz Trucks' competitors in the global commercial vehicle market. Ekman brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience spanning engineering, product development and quality management – much of it accumulated operating within the Scandinavian truck industry. At Volvo Group, Ekman has served in a succession of high-profile roles, most recently as senior vice president of truck quality. Prior to that, he held responsibility for complete vehicle development and global product development at the same company. Before joining Volvo Group, he accumulated further engineering leadership experience at Scania. Through this experience Ekman has overseen end-to-end vehicle development, validation, modularisation, quality management and industrialisation across global engineering operations. He holds an MBA from Stockholm School of Economics and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Luleå University of Technology in Sweden. Achim Puchert, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, made clear the strategic importance of the hire. "We are excited to welcome Marcus Ekman to Mercedes-Benz Trucks," Puchert said. "His leadership in transformation and ability to connect technology, product strategy and execution will be essential to Daimler Truck's journey towards becoming the best truck and bus company in the world." While engineering functions typically sit outside logistics teams, their decisions have a significant influence on logistics performance and
Apr 8, 2026 · via automotivelogistics.media
Intelligent Commerce Connect, part of the Visa Intelligence Commerce program, serves as a “network, protocol, and token vault-agnostic ‘on ramp’ to agentic commerce for agent builders, merchants, and enablers,” Visa said in a Wednesday (April 8) news release. The company said the new offering aims to help businesses meet rising consumer use of artificial intelligence (AI) agents for making purchases, allowing for payment initiation, tokenization, spend controls and authentication through an integration with Visa Acceptance Platform. The solution integrates Visa Intelligent Commerce APIs, used to process agent purchases using Visa cards, as well as other networks’ APIs, letting agents pay with Visa and non-Visa cards. “From small businesses to the world’s biggest retailers, Visa powers how people pay every day, millions of times over,” said Andrew Torre, president of value‑added services at Visa. “Intelligent Commerce Connect brings that same, trusted payment acceptance infrastructure into the emerging world of AI-driven commerce, so businesses can let AI agents buy on behalf of consumers, securely and at scale.” Visa says the tool is now being piloted with a select group of partners, including AWS, Diddo, Highnote, Mesh, Payabli and Sumvin, with more to be added later in the year. Advertisement: Scroll to Continue Visa debuted the Intelligence Commerce program last year, opening its rails to developers building AI agents that search, recommend and pay on behalf of consumers. As noted here at the time, the stakes are substantial, with generative AI platforms influencing what people buy. The missing link, PYMTS wrote, is a payment mechanism invisible to consumers and accepted by merchants. “This is going to transform shopping and buying — we’re letting AI developers and engineers use the Visa network to allow AI agents to find, and buy, on [the consumer’s] behalf in a seamless and safe way,” Mark Nelsen, Visa’s global
Apr 8, 2026 · via pymnts.com
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Apr 8, 2026 · via youtube.com
As payments move deeper into the artificial intelligence economy, fraud is evolving alongside it, adopting the same technologies that power faster, more seamless commerce. James Mirfin, SVP, Head of Risk and Security Intelligence Solutions at Visa, said the transformation is fundamental. “Fraud has become a business, an economy,” he told PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster, adding that technology has shifted criminal activity from ad hoc schemes to coordinated, professionalized operations. Advanced technology has not only empowered defenders. It has given fraudsters new weapons. Mirfin pointed to the rise of agents, deepfakes and voice cloning as tools that allow scams to scale faster and appear more convincing. Criminals are automating activities that once required human labor, enabling attacks to run continuously and at massive volume. Advertisement: Scroll to Continue Equally concerning is the patience of modern fraud operations. “These guys are patient,” Mirfin said. Credentials may be tested, shelved and sold months later, after consumers believe the risk has passed. Fraud is no longer about quick wins but sustained exploitation. An Asymmetric Battle for Banks The challenge for banks is structural asymmetry. Fraudsters move quickly because they can. Banks move carefully because they must. “Banks aren’t notorious for being fast,” Mirfin said. Legacy systems, regulatory obligations and operational complexity limit how quickly institutions can adapt, even as fraud typologies evolve daily. Criminals, by contrast, can experiment, fail and pivot with little consequence. The problem has grown more complex as payments choice expands. Consumers now move fluidly between cards, faster payments and other rails, often assuming the same protections apply across all of them. That fragmentation makes intent harder to determine and increases the risk of misclassifying legitimate behavior. False Positives, False Declines and Payments Choice The result is a flood of false positives and false declines that frustrate consumers, cost merchants sales
Apr 8, 2026 · via pymnts.com
Kia India Crosses One Lakh Paid Renewals for Connected Car Subscription Service Retention rate surpasses 30% as Kia Connect transitions from a complimentary offering to a paid subscription model, signalling sustained consumer demand for in-vehicle connectivity in India. Kia India has recorded over 100,000 paid subscription renewals for its Kia Connect connected car platform, the automaker announced on Tuesday. The milestone reflects a retention rate of more than 30% among subscribers whose complimentary three-year access period has expired, indicating that a notable share of customers are opting to continue paying for the service. Originally launched in 2019 under the name UVO, Kia Connect has undergone several iterations since its introduction and currently bundles more than 100 features across navigation, remote vehicle control, vehicle management, convenience functions, and safety and security tools. Capabilities include over-the-air software updates, digital key access, connected navigation, surround-view monitoring, and multilingual voice recognition. Kia India's Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Atul Sood, attributed the renewal figures to everyday utility delivered through the platform. In a statement released with the announcement, Sood noted that the continued adoption beyond the complimentary period reflected the practical value customers derive from features centred on convenience, safety, and vehicle control. The subscription is available in three tiers, Standalone, Basic, and Premium, with pricing options spanning one, two, and three-year durations. Annual pricing begins at INR 1,890 for the Standalone plan and goes up to INR 9,090 for a three-year Premium subscription. The company separately disclosed that cumulative connected car sales in India have surpassed 500,000 units. Kia India currently operates a distribution network spanning 821 touchpoints across 369 cities and has dispatched approximately 1.5 million vehicles from its manufacturing facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, since production commenced in August 2019. The renewal figures arrive as automakers globally pursue recurring
Apr 8, 2026 · via autocarpro.in
GM recalls over 270K Chevrolet Malibu cars for rearview camera issues General Motors is recalling more than 270,000 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles connected to a rearview camera screen that could display a distorted or blank image. In a National Traffic Safety Administration letter, obtained by The Associated Press, the federal agency said that a rearview image that doesn't display properly can lower the driver's view behind the car, raising the risk of a crash. RELATED: Corvette recall: GM pulls vehicles over faulty software issue The NHTSA letter also stated that a General Motors supplier identified a problem with the bonding process used to assemble the camera housing that may weaken the adhesive bond on some assemblies. The automaker’s latest recall includes Chevrolet Malibu cars manufactured between 2023 and 2025. General Motors noted in the NHTSA letter that it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the recall. Are repairs available for the recalled Chevrolet Malibu vehicles? What you can do: Owners of the affected cars can take them to their local dealership to have the rearview camera replaced for free. Moreover, owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on May 18, and consumers with questions about the recall can also contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. Information can also be found at www.nhtsa.gov. The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, which obtained a National Traffic Safety Administration letter about the recall. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
Apr 8, 2026 · via fox4news.com
A new survey from Mazda finds that Americans are increasingly drawn to vehicles that offer comfort, safety, and intuitive technology — and are growing skeptical of paying a premium simply for a prestigious name. For decades, the luxury car market has run on aspiration: the belief that a certain logo on the grille signals something meaningful about the person behind the wheel. But a new survey suggests that calculus may be shifting — and the automakers who built empires on badge prestige might want to take note. Commissioned by Mazda North American Operations, the survey of recent car buyers found that 81 percent of respondents said the experience of driving — comfort, performance, and the feel of the cabin — is what makes a vehicle stand out. Only 19 percent said a brand’s badge was the defining factor. The findings, released Monday, arrive as the American automotive market contends with elevated prices, evolving consumer tastes, and a generation of buyers who have grown up scrutinizing value in ways their parents did not. “Drivers are shifting their focus to what genuinely improves their time on the road,” said Jennifer Morrison, director of vehicle safety strategy at Mazda North American Operations. “Comfort, safety, and features that support real life are winning out over labels.” The Practical Premium When respondents were asked what they wanted more of in a vehicle, space and practicality ranked first at 40 percent, followed by value paired with quality at 36 percent. Advanced technology, driving enjoyment, and performance each drew 30 percent. Status or social recognition, by contrast, registered at just 7 percent. That skepticism extends to the price tag attached to traditional luxury. Seventy-six percent of those surveyed said they did not believe a premium markup for a heritage luxury brand was worth it, and 83 percent
Apr 7, 2026 · via autoconnectedcar.com
Banks may find that the next phase of payments competition is less about adding new rails and more about making all rails feel like one smooth system. Drawing on the Global Payments Tracker Series report, “Moving Money Forward: The Power of Payment Hubs,” the story is not just that customers want faster payments. It is that fragmented payment infrastructure is now directly shaping who keeps those customers and who risks losing them. The report argues that payment hubs are becoming a practical answer to that pressure. A payment hub brings multiple payment types into one unified platform, helping banks route transactions more intelligently and give customers a more consistent experience across ACH, wires, debit and real-time rails. That matters because payment experience is now closely tied to customer loyalty. Pressure From Digital First Competition Banks are under growing pressure from digital-first competitors that have trained consumers and businesses to expect speed, transparency and simplicity. Payment hubs, in that context, are presented not just as an IT upgrade but as a way for banks to modernize service, reduce internal friction and compete more effectively. - 57% of organizations experience friction in payment processing at least once a week, a sign that payment pain points remain common and frequent. - 60% of banks have implemented payment hubs or are in the process of doing so, suggesting this is moving from early adoption to a more mainstream modernization track. - $98.5 million is the average annual loss businesses face due to disruptions and inefficiencies in money movement, underscoring how payment modernization affects costs as much as customer experience. What stands out beyond those headline figures is how broadly the report defines the value of a payment hub. The customer-facing case is straightforward. Faster transactions, instant confirmations and clearer information on timing and fees
Apr 7, 2026 · via pymnts.com
April 07, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
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GM preps new Buick sedan alongside redesigned Cadillac CT5, Chevrolet Camaro, source says
General Motors has begun requesting parts quotes for a new Buick sedan to be built in Michigan, a supplier said. Buick has offered only crossovers in North America since ending Regal production in 2020.
Apr 7, 2026 · via autonews.com
User taxes don’t function properly when some users are able to avoid the tax. Fuel taxes and vehicle fees are two major sources of revenue for Nevada’s State Highway Fund. This makes sense. Officials use the State Highway Fund to build and maintain roads for vehicles. ADVERTISEMENT Nevada Department of Transportation Director Tracy Larkin Thomason recently provided the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Growth and Infrastructure an overview of transportation funding . Larkin Thomason said her department needs between $1.6 billion to $2 billion annually over the next decade. That’s a big number, and, unsurprisingly, NDOT is worried about hitting it. It’s the rare government agency that will ever say it’s well-funded. But, in this case, it’s understandable. Construction costs are through the roof, and new vehicles are generally more fuel efficient. Electric vehicles avoid the gasoline tax entirely. “The fast adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles in the past several years is expected to increase and resume the dip on our fuel tax revenues,” Larkin Thomason told the committee. NDOT says that the State Highway Fund currently receives about 0.9 cents per mile driven. NDOT projects it could receive only around 0.3 cents per mile driven by 2050. That’s a major decrease. If the government takes its thumb off the scale, EVs may not continue to grow in popularity. But there remains a glaring problem. The gasoline tax is supposed to ensure that all road users pay for road construction. EVs are freeloading. “Essentially, our choices to meet this are to find ways to increase the amount of revenue that’s going into the Highway Fund or that is dedicated to transportation, increase some of the other fees that are dedicated to transportation or increase General Fund revenue for some of these purposes,” Assemblyman Howard Watts said at the meeting.
Apr 7, 2026 · via grandforksherald.com
Parsons Corporation has been awarded a 10-year contract by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to develop, implement and maintain a statewide vehicle-to-everything (V2X) maintenance and management system. The agreement, which represents a new customer relationship for Parsons, will see the company deploy its iNET software platform across Utah’s connected vehicle infrastructure.
The cloud-based system will provide UDOT with real-time health monitoring, performance analytics and operational data to support the management and scaling of V2X devices statewide. Parsons describes the deployment as an extension of its existing advanced traffic management work and part of a broader portfolio of V2X ecosystem management solutions.
In a statement, Mark Fialkowski, President of Infrastructure North America at Parsons, said: “We look forward to leveraging our proven track record in implementing iNET-based advanced traffic management solutions to help improve connectivity in collaboration with UDOT. The statewide deployment of our iNET V2X platform demonstrates our technical maturity and continued investment in innovative, scalable solutions that empower agencies to operate safer and more efficient transportation networks.”
The contract is intended to help UDOT modernise its infrastructure and prepare for connected and automated mobility at scale.
Source: Parsons
Apr 7, 2026 · via automotiveworld.com
Over-the-Air Computation Uses Radio Interference to Crunch Data Sensor networks could improve capacity faster than they grow Chad Hagen Picture a highway with networked autonomous cars driving along it. On a serene, cloudless day, these cars need only exchange thimblefuls of data with one another. Now picture the same stretch in a sudden snow squall: The cars rapidly need to share vast amounts of essential new data about slippery roads, emergency braking, and changing conditions. These two very different scenarios involve vehicle networks with very different computational loads. Eavesdropping on network traffic using a ham radio, you wouldn’t hear much static on the line on a clear, calm day. On the other hand, sudden whiteout conditions on a wintry day would sound like a cacophony of sensor readings and network chatter. Normally this cacophony would mean two simultaneous problems: congested communications and a rising demand for computing power to handle all the data. But what if the network itself could expand its processing capabilities with every rising decibel of chatter and with every sensor’s chirp? Traditional wireless networks treat communication as separate from computation. First you move data, then you process it. However, an emerging new paradigm called over-the-air computation (OAC) could fundamentally change the game. First proposed in 2005 and recently developed and prototyped by a number of teams around the world, including ours, OAC combines communication and computation into a single framework. This means that an OAC sensor network—whether shared among autonomous vehicles, Internet-of-Things sensors, smart-home devices, or smart-city infrastructure—can carry some of the network’s computing burden as conditions demand. The idea takes advantage of a basic physical fact of electromagnetic radiation: When multiple devices transmit simultaneously, their wireless signals naturally combine in the air. Normally, such cross talk is seen as interference, which radios are designed to
Apr 7, 2026 · via spectrum.ieee.org
LISLE, Ill. — For service industry business owners and operations managers responsible for field employees and company vehicles, the stakes have never been higher when it comes to driver safety. The following numbers are the reasons why: - Distracted driving costs U.S. employers an estimated $18.8 billion annually. - The average on-the-job crash costs employers $16,500 and jumps to $74,000 the moment someone gets hurt. (OSHA) - Nuclear verdicts against employers reached $31.3 billion last year, up 116% in a single year. At the center of most of those incidents: a mobile phone. TRUCE Software announced the availability of its connected employee and driver safety platform modules that together deliver a comprehensive approach to managing mobile devices, driver behavior, performance, vehicle health, and field team safety. At the center of that platform is ENFORCE, TRUCE's patented engineering control that automatically eliminates device distraction behind the wheel, every trip, without relying on drivers to do the right thing. ENFORCE is Proactive, Proven Control. Unlike driver training programs, awareness campaigns, or monitoring tools that document behavior after the fact, TRUCE said ENFORCE is a proven prevention control. When a vehicle reaches driving speed, ENFORCE automatically restricts access to distracting apps, calls, texts, and notifications. The program operates seamlessly in the background on both iOS and Android devices, including company-issued and BYOD, and restores full device functionality as soon as the vehicle stops. In 2025, TRUCE intercepted more than 97 million unauthorized app attempts and blocked over 35 million incoming notifications before they reached drivers’ devices. Companies deploying ENFORCE have reported accident reductions of 40 to 47 percent within the first year, along with decreases in accident-related costs of up to 86 percent. And when it comes to return on investment (ROI), a Forrester Consulting study commissioned by TRUCE found that organizations using
Apr 7, 2026 · via pctonline.com
- IONIQ 5 SE named Best Value EV and Palisade SE earned Best Value Midsize SUV - Veteran editorial team from leading automotive marketplace names its favorite value vehicles for 2026 - Kona SE and Elantra SE named finalists in Best Value New Cars list FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Palisade SE trim models have received the 2026 Best Value New Car award by Cars.com. The IONIQ 5 SE was recognized as the Best Value EV, while the Palisade SE earned the title of Best Value Midsize SUV. These honors emphasize affordable, non-luxury, mass-market vehicles that offer essential features, including automatic transmission, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, brake assist, and lane departure warning. Cars.com based these selections on consumer survey results and editorial judgment. For 2026, Cars.com also recognized Hyundai's Kona SE and Elantra SE as finalists in the Best Value Subcompact SUV and Best Value Compact Car categories. The Best Value New Cars of 2026 by Cars.com list acknowledges exceptional vehicles in quality, innovation, and value as judged by Cars.com's editorial team of car reviewers. The EPA's annual fuel costs are also factored into the rankings for gas-powered vehicles. "Winning the Best Value EV and Best Value Midsize SUV awards highlights our commitment to offering customers the features they want at competitive prices," said Ricky Lao, director, product planning, Hyundai Motor North America. "Hyundai delivers design, technology, efficiency, and value for buyers in today's market." The IONIQ 5 SE continues to lead its segment, distinguished by its innovative design, strong performance, rapid charging capabilities, and practical usability. Buyers may select either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive configurations, with real-world functionality enhanced by ultra-fast DC charging, reliable driving range, and
Apr 7, 2026 · via prnewswire.com
Truce Software has made six integrated modules fully available, which are a connected employee and driver safety platform. At the center of that platform is Enforce, Truce's patented engineering control that aims to automatically eliminate device distraction behind the wheel without relying on drivers to do the right thing. When a vehicle reaches driving speed, Enforce automatically restricts access to distracting apps, calls, texts and notifications. There is no opt-in, no override and no reliance on employee discipline. Enforce operates in the background on both iOS and Android devices, including company-issued and BYOD, and restores full device functionality as soon as the vehicle stops. Truce's modular platform includes Enforce, and: - Empower - Drivers have real-time access to their personal driving scores, skills progression, and team rankings, turning safety and performance data into individual accountability and self-directed improvement. - Engage - Delivers personalized, in-app coaching workflows that automatically connect supervisors and drivers around scored events, creating a continuous feedback loop that drives measurable behavior change at scale. - Engage Plus - Automatically detects when driving ends and field work begins, extending real-time location visibility, workforce communication, and incident escalation to the jobsite for full-workday duty-of-care coverage. - Defend - Combines road-facing and driver-facing AI dashcams with real-time in-cab alerts, voice-activated capture, and verified incident evidence to protect drivers, accelerate claims resolution, and reduce liability exposure. - Maintain - Monitors vehicle diagnostics, fault codes, and location data in real time through connected vehicle telematics, shifting fleet operations from reactive repairs to proactive asset management that reduces downtime and extends vehicle life Each module is available independently or as part of a fully integrated platform. "15 years of Truce data shows drivers face a device distraction opportunity once every 10 miles behind the wheel," says David Coleman, head of commercial solutions at
Apr 7, 2026 · via lawnandlandscape.com
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Apr 7, 2026 · via openpr.com
These four European car giants are going BIG in China as they look to grow a bigger foothold in world's biggest market Chinese cars flooding Europe is a common theme, as car giants from the Far East take on legacy brands with cheap, tech-laden alternatives But some of Europe's biggest automotive power players have invested, and are continuing to invest, millions if not billions into China's car market. In 2025, Chinese automobiles accounted for 35.6 per cent of the world market share. The total global car sales were 96.47 million units, and China sold 34.35 million units, a 9 per cent increase year-on-year, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes and Volvo are four of the household marques that are expanding at huge rates in China - the world's largest car market. So, what are European car giants doing to take on Chinese automotive players on their own turf? Strategy, investment and product alignment – we take a look. Volkswagen has one of the most targeted Chinese expansion plans of them all: It's 'In China, for China' strategy Volkswagen Volkswagen Group is the second largest car manufacturer in the world by sales, ranking behind Toyota. The Group turned over €321.9billion (£280bn) sales revenue in 2025 and processed nine million vehicle sales. But to take on the world's largest car maker, even Volkswagen has had to come up with something big: It's 'In China, for China' strategy. Through the plan, the Group has been steadily building momentum in China through a new energy vehicle (NEV) product portfolio and locally developed Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICV) technologies. VW has also been reinforcing its local R&D capabilities and integrating into the local ecosystem with strategic partnership, not least through its long-term partnership with Chinese AI Smart Tech company and EV
Apr 7, 2026 · via thisismoney.co.uk
U.S. President Donald Trump has been warned by three Democratic senators that allowing Chinese automakers to set up manufacturing plants locally “would trigger a national security crisis.” They have asked to classify BYD and other Chinese brands as “military-connected entities,” given their alleged link to China’s defense forces. The warning arrives after Trump said early this year that he was open to Chinese manufacturers setting up production plants in the country. MotorBiscuit reported his comment: “If they want to come in and build a plant and hire you and hire your friends and your neighbors, that’s great, I love that.” Currently, Chinese electric vehicles are not allowed to enter the U.S. due to cybersecurity laws that prohibit their import or sale. Read More from MotorBiscuit: - General Motors Forced to Stop Corvette Sales With No Fix In Sight For Issue Related to Rear Turn Signal - Speeding in Colorado? This New $75 Fine System Tracks You for Miles - Iran Puts Tesla and Major U.S. Firms on Target List in Retaliation Warning However, Trump’s statement suggests a willingness to allow manufacturers from China to produce and sell their cars locally in the future, a point that has been red-flagged by senators Tammy Baldwin, Elissa Slotkin, and Chuck Schumer. Reuters reported the contents of a letter they wrote to President Trump, which read: “We must be clear-eyed that inviting China’s automakers to set up shop in the United States would confer an insurmountable economic advantage impossible for American automakers to overcome, and it would trigger a national security crisis that could never be reversed.” The letter added: “While a new plant opened by a Chinese automaker in the United States may create some assembly and temporary construction jobs, that small number of jobs will not make up for the lasting job
Apr 7, 2026 · via motorbiscuit.com
James Wong 2026 MG 4 Electric: Update coming 'very soon' for familiar EV hatch 2 Hours Ago MG's new cut-price EV feels anything but budget, with impressive driving manners and a fulsome spec sheet for not a lot of money. CarExpert brings together reviews, research tools and trusted buying support, guiding you from research to delivery with confidence. Chinese EV price wars continue to rage at the lower end of Australia's new-vehicle market, and one of the OGs – MG – is getting in on the action again. The 2026 MG 4 EV Urban arrives as the second 'MG 4' model in Australia, with a starting price of just over $30,000 drive-away. And that's for a battery-electric hatchback roughly the size of a Volkswagen Golf. Its sharp price point puts it up against the likes of the BYD Atto 1 and Dolphin, as well as the GWM Ora and new GAC Aion UT electric hatchbacks. You could even throw in MG's own MG 4 Electric (confused yet?) for good measure, too. MG says it will sell the new front-wheel drive MG 4 EV Urban alongside the existing rear-drive MG 4 Electric, which is in line to get an update in the coming months as well as a range restructure that could better structure the two model lines under one MG 4 banner. But even though this is the entry-level car, it's far from entry-level in terms of equipment. If anything, it's almost fully specced for base-model money. As we've found with a lot of cheap new vehicles, cheap doesn't always mean 'cheerful' – so, we attended the Australian media launch of the new MG 4 EV Urban to see if it's worth considering for those looking at an EV on a tight budget. How does it fare? Read on to
Apr 7, 2026 · via carexpert.com.au
After helping connect 1 billion people and 65 million small businesses to the digital economy over the past decade, Mastercard has committed to connect another 500 million people and small businesses by 2030. This effort will help provide financial resilience to more of the 2 billion people who remain underbanked or unbanked, the company said in a Monday (April 6) press release. “Financial health doesn’t happen all at once,” Jon Huntsman, vice chair and president, strategic growth at Mastercard, and Jorn Lambert, chief product officer at Mastercard, said in the release. “It’s a journey, from obtaining a payment credential and building transaction history to accessing more advanced services like credit, loans or insurance that help people absorb shocks and manage risks. We’d love to be your preferred source for news. Please add us to your preferred sources list so our news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Thanks! “Paths may differ, but secure infrastructure, confident digital engagement, and an expanding credit profile are what make financial resilience possible,” they said. As Mastercard works to connect more people and small business, the company will leverage its Essential Debit and Essential Prepaid programs that are live in Nigeria and Colombia and will expand to more countries within months; its acceptance and issuance offerings for small businesses; its support for a growing network of digital wallets and partners; and its resources that help small businesses better understand and manage cyber risk, according to the release. In addition, Mastercard recently launched the Global Financial Health Coalition, which brings together financial institutions, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), telecommunications companies, wallet providers and other industry leaders to promote healthy financial behavior and long-term resilience for consumers and small businesses. Advertisement: Scroll to Continue When announcing the coalition in November, Mastercard said the group will help consumers
Apr 7, 2026 · via pymnts.com