Author: kirklandc008@gmail.com

As organizations invest in workplace technology and artificial intelligence, a more basic issue continues to undermine performance: Employees are missing critical information that affects how they work. According to the Appspace2026 Workplace Experience Trends & Insights Report, nearly all employees surveyed (97 per cent) reported that failing to receive key workplace updates negatively impacts their work. Appspace described the trend as a growing “missed memo” economy, where information breaks down across teams, tools and systems. “When organizations struggle to keep people informed, everything downstream suffers,” said Holly Grogan, president of Appspace. “This research makes it clear that companies can’t out‑innovate…

An Xpeng Iron humanoid robot on display at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026. Credit: CnEVPost One former employee faces a massive claim of nearly 10 million yuan ($1.48 million) from Xpeng for an alleged breach of contract. The move comes as Xpeng ramps up research and development spending and accelerates talent acquisition. Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) is stepping up the protection of its core technologies by launching an internal non-compete investigation targeting former employees. The probe is primarily focused on key research and development departments, such as Xpeng’s general AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics centers, aiming to ensure that…

Luxury American SUVs are famous for being big, brash, heavy, filled to the rafters with in-your-face opulence, and equipped with a stonking great engine. While we love American SUVs for this, the market is in a different place than when everyone wanted the Escalade’s massive size and its supercharged V8 in their luxury SUV. You could argue that luxury American SUV offerings have become more refined, in line with what other brands from around the world are doing, and they are even getting more efficient. In an age where everyone is trying to squeeze every last drop of fuel out…

Here’s one from the sales charts we’re not used to seeing. Over at Hyundai, sedans are on fire. Sales of the Elantra were up 7% in May, and the numbers for the midsize Sonata were up 39%. Hyundai credits the gains to buyers looking at more affordable options, but a look at other spots in the brand’s lineup suggests that might not be the whole story. Hyundai’s Sedans Flying Off Lots 2026 Hyundai Elantra N-Line frontHyundai With sales of the Elantra sedan up 7% to 16,819 last month and up 4% to 64,660 on the year, the compact sedan is…

Mini has “almost finished” work on a range of significant facelifts that will herald a new era for the brand under design chief Holger Hampf.  The German joined Mini from Designworks, BMW’s Californian design consultancy, in October 2024 but has yet to have an opportunity to make his mark, given how new the British marque’s range is (the Cooper hatchback and Countryman SUV arrived in 2023 and the Aceman crossover a year later).  In his first meeting with UK media, Hampf told Autocar that “you will see my work in an upcoming LCI” – ‘life cycle impulse’ being the BMW…

Automotive The evolution of excellence is rarely about dramatic change. More often, it is about refining what is already exceptional. That philosophy sits at the heart of the new Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II, a carefully enhanced version of the brand’s groundbreaking all-electric super coupe that further strengthens its position as one of the most desirable luxury vehicles in the world. Since its debut in 2022, the Spectre has become a defining product for Rolls-Royce, proving that electrification can seamlessly complement the brand’s core values of silence, effortless performance, and uncompromising luxury. Now, with the arrival of the Spectre…

Photo: Electrify America Electrify America is changing how EV drivers pay for charging sessions, and it’s ditching one of the more confusing parts of its app in the process. The company says it’s removing account balances and automatic reload functions from the Electrify America app over the coming weeks. Going forward, charging session costs will be billed directly to the credit or debit card tied to a user’s account. If drivers still have money left in their current Electrify America balance, that money won’t disappear. The remaining balance will automatically be applied to the next charging session. If the balance…

“Take all the barriers away. Let’s talk about what we need to do to actually convince customers: the charging infrastructure; talk positively about the advantages of electric vehicles and possibly do something around the energy prices. Over time, more and more customers will be convinced. Then, if by 2035 or whatever, there’s three, four, five per cent of customers who still want to buy a vehicle with a combustion engine…”  Volkswagen is further down the EV path than many legacy manufacturers, but is well aware of the impending threat from China. Yet, as Sander was keen to reiterate, VW’s success…

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 continues to be one of the best-selling non-Tesla EVs. Hybrid trims of the models like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage saw record monthly sales. The Kia EV9 comfortably outsold the mechanically similar Hyundai Ioniq 9.  The impressive sales streak for Hyundai and Kia’s electrified vehicles rolled into May, with both brands posting record numbers across their electrified lineups. Hyundai reported total sales of 87,468 units in the U.S. last month, a 3% growth year over year. The automaker said electrified vehicles, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric models, helped drive this growth.  It’s a…

Power outages have a way of reminding you just how dependent your home is on electricity. Anker is trying to change that with the Solix S2000, a new portable power station now available on its website and Amazon at a launch price of $680, down from a regular price of $1,200. The headline claim is impressive: up to 35 hours of continuous refrigerator backup from a single charge. What makes the S2000 different from other power stations Most portable power stations compete on capacity, but Anker is making the case that runtime matters more than raw storage numbers. A survey…