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The $370,000 'EarthCruiser' off-road RV has 2 kitchens, a full bathroom, and can sleep up to 5  — see inside

<keyword id="86015" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Daimler">Daimler</keyword> AG, the German multinational automotive corporation and <keyword id="6359474" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Volvo">Volvo</keyword> AB, the Swedish multinational manufacturing, will most probably feature among the biggest success stories of the Make-in-India campaign of the Indian government. Both established names in the global heavy-duty transport industry are eyeing India as the export hub for their large trucks and luxury buses. <keyword id="25952" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mercedes-Benz">Mercedes-Benz</keyword>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/finance/carlos-ghosn-saved-nissan-heres-his-plan-to-do-it-again-at-mitsubishi/articleshow/58438154.cms">Mitsubishi</a> Fuso, <keyword id="3504038" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Freightliner">Freightliner</keyword> and <keyword id="1550420" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="UD-Trucks">UD Trucks</keyword> are all being manufactured for buyers located across the globe, thus helping India step out of its comfort zone of exporting compact cars and two-wheelers to emerging economies. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/transportation/daimler-has-figured-out-that-taking-on-tesla-is-about-more-than-just-cars/articleshow/57433490.cms">Daimler</a> has its Indian subsidiary called Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) and exports Mercedes-Benz-badged trucks and buses from its suburban Chennai (Oragadam) facility. These orders are primarily placed by Southeast Asian markets. On the other hand, it exports the India-made <keyword id="522332" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mitsubishi-Fuso">Mitsubishi Fuso</keyword> range of trucks to 28 countries. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/transportation/mercedes-most-affordable-cars-are-about-to-get-a-stylish-new-update/articleshow/58250599.cms">Mercedes' most affordable cars are about to get a stylish new update</a> Later this year, it will also begin exporting the Freightliner-branded giant trucks to Mexico, people in the know told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/news/commercial-vehicle/daimler-volvo-making-india-export-hub-for-its-heavy-vehicles/articleshow/58450799.cms">ET</a>. "DICV has been awarded significant responsibilities within Daimlers' global truck and bus businesses. With the launch of a third product line for exports in 2017 at DICV, we will enter the next stage in the strategic collaboration of DICV and Mitsubishi Fuso Trucks &amp; Buses Corporation, under <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/tech/robot-delivery-company-starship-technologies-raised-17-2-million-in-a-round-led-by-daimler/articleshow/56504574.cms">Daimler</a> Trucks Asia," said Erich Nesselhauf, MD of DICV. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/made-in-india-mercedes-benz-e-class-launched-at-rs-56-15-lakh/articleshow/57389919.cms">‘Made-in-India’ Mercedes-Benz E-Class launched at Rs 56.15 lakh</a> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/tech/volvo-will-launch-its-first-all-electric-car-in-2019-to-take-on-tesla-heres-everything-we-know/articleshow/58270671.cms">Volvo AB</a> will also begin overseas sales of the light-duty UD Trucks later this year, locally made at its Indian joint-venture plant at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh. These trucks and buses that have been made in India have been praised by international buyers. Apart from these foreign players, India’s own truck makers <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/transportation/cars/tata-motors-compact-sedan-tigor-launched-for-rs-4-7-lakh/articleshow/57893428.cms">Tata Motors</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/markets/Shares-of-Ashok-Leyland-fell-for-the-3rd-day-Know-why/articleshow/48757510.cms">Ashok Leyland</a> are also in the process of building modern truck ranges so that they can gain a competitive presence in the export markets. (Image source Team BHP)

Daimler and Volvo are making India their export hub

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Mitsubishi FUSOThe E-FUSO Vision One is an electric heavy duty truck concept designed by Mitsubishi FUSO.</div></div></div><ul><li>Mitsubishi FUSO, a trucking division owned by Daimler, just unveiled an electric heavy duty truck concept at the Tokyo Motor Show.</li><li>Mitsubishi FUSO is already leasing a smaller electric truck called the FUSO eCanter.</li><li>Tesla plans to unveil an electric semitrailer on November 16.</li></ul>Daimler just showed off an electric truck concept at the Tokyo Motor Show - and it could compete with Tesla's semitrailer that the company plans to reveal in early November.Daimler is best known as the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, but the German company also owns Mitsubishi FUSO, a truck unit. Most recently, the trucking division <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daimler-beats-tesla-electric-truck-launch-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">launched an electric light-duty truck</a> that can drive up to 80 miles on a single charge. Called the FUSO eCanter, the truck has been leased by municipalities and private companies in Tokyo, Lisbon, and New York.Now Daimler is gearing up to put an electric, heavy-duty truck on the market. It revealed a prototype of the truck at the motor show on Wednesday in Tokyo. Mitsubishi FUSO didn't say when the vehicle will come to market.The Class 8 concept, dubbed the E-FUSO Vision One, weighs 51,150 pounds and can drive 220 miles on a single charge, according to Mitsubishi FUSO. It will likely compete with Tesla's electric semitrailer that the company plans to unveil on November 16 after delaying the launch twice.Tesla's truck is said to have a 200- to a 300-mile driving range and self-driving capabilities, according to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-semi-delay-model-3-production-2017-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>.It's still too early to tell how Mitsubishi FUSO's truck will stack up to Tesla's semi, but the Daimler-owned company is a considered a leader in the heavy duty trucking industry. Freightliner Trucks, FUSO's heavy-duty trucking division, has secured 40% market share in the US.Get the latest Tesla stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote"> here.</a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daimler-mercedes-bosch-automated-parking-garage-ai-2017-7">Automated valet parking is coming sooner than you think</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Daimler just unveiled an electric heavy-duty truck concept that could rival Tesla's semi

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/teslamotors/comments/73y3up/repost_of_tesla_testing_semi_picture_user_deleted/">Reddit/itookapicofarocket</a>A potential prototype of Tesla's future semi truck.</div></div></div><ul><li>Tesla shares are down more than 3% on Wednesday.</li><li>Mitsubishi FUSO, a unit of Daimler, unveiled a new electric semi-truck concept that could rival Tesla's planned truck.</li></ul> <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote">Tesla</a> shares are down 3.34% on Wednesday after Daimler showed off an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daimler-electric-heavy-duty-truck-concept-2017-10">electric heavy duty truck</a> concept that could compete with Telsa's future semi truck.The truck was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show by Mitsubishi FUSO, a Daimler unit. The company did not provide details about a potential release date. The truck will have a range of 220 miles on a single charge and is fully electric. Tesla's new truck is expected to have a range of about 200-300 miles.Tesla plans to announce its new semi-truck on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-electric-semi-truck-preview-details-2017-8">November 16 after several delays.</a> The company has had to focus on its production ramp up for its Model 3, which is way behind the company's expected production numbers.Mitsubishi FUSO already has a smaller electric on the market which is capable of ranges up to 80 miles, called the FUSO eCanter.Tesla is up 51.62% this year.<h2><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daimler-electric-heavy-duty-truck-concept-2017-10">Read more about the new semi truck here...</a></h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote"></a><a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote">Markets Insider</a></div></div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-turnill-blackrock-cio-says-avoid-small-cap-stocks-2017-10">A $6 trillion investment chief reveals the one area of the stock market to avoid</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Tesla is falling after Daimler front runs its electric semi

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Business Insider/Danielle MuoioThe eCanter is equipped with six batteries that produce a collective 74kW of energy.</div></div></div>Tesla already has some competition in the nascent electric truck space.Mitsubishi FUSO, a truck unit run by Mercedes' parent company Daimler, launched its battery-powered truck in lower Manhattan on Thursday. Called the eCanter, the small truck can drive up to 80 miles on a single charge. UPS, the Bronx Botanical Garden, Habitat for Humanity, and Big Reuse have all leased a handful of trucks for the next two years.The eCanter can carry a little over three tons (7,000 pounds) and reach a top speed of 50 mph. Municipalities and private companies in Tokyo and Lisbon have <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daimler-reveals-electric-truck-plans-beat-tesla-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">also leased the truck</a>.Mitsubishi FUSO will produce 10,000 eCanter trucks once it enters full-scale production in 2019.The launch came a half-day after Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he would <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-semi-truck-reveal-date-electric-semi-truck-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">unveil an electric semi in October</a>. Tesla's big-rig truck is rumored to have a 200- to 300-mile electric range and self-driving capabilities, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-exclusive-teslas-long-haul-electric-truck-aims-for-200-to-300-miles-on-a-charge-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters reported</a> in August.Mitsubishi FUSO's eCanter truck is much smaller than a semi, but the company plans to unveil a heavy duty truck in October at the Tokyo Auto Show that could more closely compete with Tesla's semi reveal, Marc Llistosella, Head of Daimler Trucks Asia, told Business Insider."We like that we have someone that's pushing us and this is a competition of innovation: who can do it first, who can do it faster, who can do it more sufficiently," Llistosella said of Tesla in a Thursday interview. "In light duties, I would say it looks good. In heavier [duties], we have the Tokyo Auto Show and then we will also have something to tell."Get the latest Tesla stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote"> here.</a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ohio-tech-company-built-a-massive-drone-than-can-carry-people-around-2017-7">An Ohio tech company that builds electric pickup trucks has built a massive drone than can carry people around</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Daimler just beat Tesla to the punch with an electric truck that's already hitting NYC streets

DaimlerDaimler's battery-powered Fuso eCanter truck can drive for 62 miles on a single charge.Just a month after Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company was pursuing an electric truck in his "<a href="https://www.tesla.com/blog/master-plan-part-deux" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Master Plan, Part Deux</a>," Daimler revealed a stylish one of its own.During a German trade show for electric vehicles last September, a Daimler trucking unit showed off its eCanter: a light-duty, electric truck that has since undergone over 60,000 kilometers (roughly 37,000 miles) of testing on public streets in Germany and Portugal.Daimler is launching a limited series production run of the eCanter later this year in Tokyo, Lisbon, and New York. The ultimate goal is to begin mass production in 2019, around the same time Tesla plans to reveal its semi-truck."In trucks, of course [Elon Musk's] stepping into it, but we don't see him as someone who is threatening us because you need a whole infrastructure," Marc Llistosella, Head of Daimler Trucks Asia, told Business Insider. "You need dealerships, you need infrastructure, you need maintenance.""It's not so easy like a consumer good, it's an industrial good, so it will be very difficult for him," he continued.<h2>'The game is just starting'</h2>DaimlerAn inside shot of the Urban eTruck, an electric truck being developed by Mercedes-Benz Trucks.The move is a natural progression for a company that has sought to diversify its portfolio with investments in trucking since the early 2000s. Daimler's truck unit now oversees four different brands: Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Freightliner Trucks, Mitsubishi FUSO, Western Star, and BharatBenz.Freightliner Trucks, Daimler's heavy duty trucking division, has secured 40% market share in the US. Mitsubishi FUSO, which has <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-11/daimler-reports-surge-in-first-quarter-profit-on-mercedes-sales" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">struggled with declining demand</a>, sells light-, medium-, and heavy- duty trucks to 172 markets."In class 8, with freightliner, we are the number one in America, so we have something to defend," Llistosella said. "In the smaller ones, the game is just starting."The eCanter is being developed by FUSO, which Daimler acquired a majority stake of in 2004. Llistosella is also the president and CEO of Mistubishi FUSO.Llistosella said FUSO will lease a total of 150 trucks to municipalities and private companies this year. Convenience chain 7-eleven bought 25 trucks in Tokyo, but Llistosella declined to name other buyers. Daimler will begin full-scale series production in 2019.The eCanter has an expected range of over 100 kilometers (62 miles) and can carry between two to three tons (4,000-6,000 pounds). It can charge in under an hour with a DC fast charger.Daimler's ultimate goal is to launch an entire line of electric trucks, including a heavy-duty truck, as battery tech improves over time.The truck industry is ripe for massive disruption in the next decade as companies look to electrify and automate trucks.Within Daimler, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is currently testing its battery-powered <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-electric-truck-photos-2017-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Urban eTruck</a> in Germany and plans to bring it to market in 2020. Meanwhile, in 2015, Freightliner Trucks tested a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-self-driving-big-rig-on-a-public-highway-2015-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">semi-autonomous big rig</a> on a public highway - a first for the trucking industry.But <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-semi-truck-companies-helping-design-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tesla</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/timeline-of-uber-otto-acquisition-2017-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Uber</a> also have plans to automate and electrify trucks. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nikola-one-hydrogen-truck-photos-features-2017-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nikola Motor</a>, a startup, is aiming to release a hydrogen-powered truck by 2021."We said, 'just do a truck.' Other companies are doing the same, let's do it right, let's be a frontrunner in something," Llistosella said.Get the latest Tesla stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote"> here.</a> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-benz-innovation-windshield-wipers-2017-1">Mercedes finally has a solution to the most annoying thing about windshield wipers</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Mercedes' parent company is building a truck that will rival Tesla - and an exec says Elon Musk isn't a threat

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Michael Probst/APMercedes-Benz's Concept EQA is an electric SUV that will serve as the basis for a production model launching in 2020.</div></div></div>News broke last Thursday that Daimler, Mercedes' parent company, was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-daimler-to-invest-1-billion-in-alabama-plant-create-over-600-jobs-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">investing $1 billion in its Alabama plant</a> to start building an electric SUV in 2020.Many outlets said the check was an obvious challenge to <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/tsla-quote" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tesla</a>, a formidable competitor in the US' electric space that plans to build its own compact SUV, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-y-strategy-change-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Model Y</a>, in 2020. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, however, begs to differ."That's not a lot of money for a giant like Daimler/Mercedes. Wish they'd do more. Off by a zero," <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/912036765287845888" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Musk said</a> on Sunday on Twitter.Musk has long welcomed competition in the electric-vehicle space, saying it will help <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-tesla-motors-to-share-patents-to-spur-electric-car-development-2014-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">speed the growth of sustainable transportation</a>. He open-sourced patents in 2014 as part of that aim.Musk's comment supports his stance that automakers with a bigger cash cushion should do more to advance electric cars."It doesn't really harm Tesla but helps the industry," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-tesla-motors-to-share-patents-to-spur-electric-car-development-2014-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Musk said</a> during a 2014 call, "And I think actually it will help Tesla, mostly with respect to attracting and motivating the world's best technical talent."Daimler has been cutting checks to help advance divisions that go after Tesla's core businesses, from home energy to electric vehicles. In May, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-vivint-partner-on-solar-storage-solution-to-take-on-tesla-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercedes partnered with Vivint Solar</a> to sell smart solar ecosystems to California residents, a challenge to Tesla's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-solar-roof-orders-open-features-photos-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">solar-roof rollout</a> on its home turf. Mitsubishi FUSO, a truck unit run by Daimler, beat Tesla to the punch with the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daimler-beats-tesla-electric-truck-launch-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">launch of its battery-powered truck</a> on Sept. 14. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-semi-truck-reveal-date-electric-semi-truck-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tesla plans to unveil an electric semitrailer</a> in October.Mercedes will also <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-mercedes-benz-to-offer-electric-option-for-every-car-by-2022-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">offer an electric version of all its models</a> starting in 2022. Daimler is shaping up to be Tesla's biggest competitor yet, but Musk's tweet indicates he isn't wary of the mounting challenge.Get the latest Tesla stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote"> here.</a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/adorable-tiny-house-fits-inside-van-mercedes-benz-2017-1">This tiny house fits into the back of a Mercedes-Benz van</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Elon Musk throws down the gauntlet and challenges Mercedes to spend more than $1 billion on electric cars

<ul><li>Pascal Le Segretain/GettyTesla CEO Elon MuskMercedes will compete with Tesla in 2018 in three key areas: electric SUVs, at-home batteries, and electric trucks</li><li>Tesla has generated brand loyalty and excitement for sustainable tech, but Mercedes thinks it can win on execution</li></ul>It's hard to go a day without seeing a headline about a company that's going after Tesla.But it's far from surprising that so many are looking to emulate the Tesla secret sauce. For a company that built <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/important-details-tesla-q4-earnings-2017-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">83,000 cars last year</a>, a fraction of what GM and Ford sell in a quarter, <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tesla</a> has witnessed meteoric rises in its stock price.People are enamored with the Tesla storyline: Elon Musk's commitment to building a company that can profit while ultimately serving the good of the planet.So while Musk continues to thrive on the premise of selling the future, many are hoping to beat Tesla when it comes to execution. Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes, has already said so much.<h2>Musk 'isn't threatening us'</h2>TeslaTesla's at-home battery, the Powerwall.Musk is a certifiable professional at popularizing concepts that have already existed and failed to gain mainstream appeal. The electric car is the obvious example; Tesla was the first to prove an EV could be sexy.But it's apparent with other nascent technology as well, like the solar roof. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sunpower-ceo-skeptical-about-elon-musks-tesla-solar-roof-price-2017-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SunPower and Dow Chemical</a> all tried, and failed, to make the solar roof a reality. It's not clear what kind of demand Tesla has seen for the solar roof, but it certainly got more media attention than any attempts of the past.Mercedes took a direct shot at Tesla's solar and battery push in May when it announced its <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-vivint-partner-on-solar-storage-solution-to-take-on-tesla-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">partnership with Vivint Solar</a>. The German automaker will use the partnership to introduce its at-home battery option to the US market, while Vivint will provide solar installation.This is the same model first coined by Tesla when it acquired SolarCity last November, allowing it to combine solar installation with its Powerwall sales.Now that Musk has gotten people's attention about certain products, Mercedes is looking to adopt Tesla's strategies and win by exploiting Tesla's biggest weakness: a lack of infrastructure to support Musk's big ideas.Boris von Bormann, CEO of Mercedes' energy division, made that much clear in a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-vivint-partner-on-solar-storage-solution-to-take-on-tesla-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">previous interview</a> with Business Insider:DaimlerDaimler's battery-powered Fuso eCanter truck can drive for 62 miles on a single charge.Von Bormann's comments echo those made by Marc Llistosella, head of Daimler Trucks Asia, when asked how he feels about the competition Tesla poses in the electric trucking space.Mitsubishi FUSO, a Daimler trucking brand, is launching a limited series production run of its <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daimler-reveals-electric-truck-plans-beat-tesla-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">electric semi-truck</a> this year with plans to begin mass production in 2019. Tesla plans to unveil its own semi in September.Daimler is positioning itself to go head-to-head with Tesla on all fronts. Not only in nascent spaces, but also in the luxury car market: Mercedes will release an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-electric-suv-photos-2016-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">electric SUV</a> in 2019.Both Daimler execs reveal that the company plans to beat Tesla by exploiting its greatest weakness: an inability to launch products on a mass scale.<h2>Manufacturing arms race</h2>TeslaTesla Fremont factory.Tesla does have a noticeable weakness when it comes to manufacturing cars. As Business Insider's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-gigafactory-problems-for-carmaking-2017-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matt DeBord</a> has pointed out, this is primarily due to two issues: breaking into the car manufacturing business is genuinely difficult, with most automakers investing billions to produce in a month what Tesla can in a year; and Tesla has shot itself in the foot by making overly-complicated car designs, as was the case with the Model X.Tesla has started hitting its stride with vehicle manufacturing, but bringing a Tesla semi to life requires the construction of a completely different assembly line at a time when Tesla is contending with Model 3 production.For a company that has struggled to execute on manufacturing, throwing a semi in the mix seems like a massive distraction. That doesn't even touch upon the infrastructure needed to support trucks, as Llistosella said.Tesla seems better equipped when it comes to battery production.The Gigafactory will be highly automated, capable of churning out cells "faster than bullets from a machine gun," Musk <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm3q5ABMP14" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has said</a>. The plant is already producing batteries, but full production will begin in 2020.Daimler, however, broke ground on its second massive battery plant in Germany in May, <a href="http://www.motortrend.com/news/daimler-unveils-battery-plant-challenge-tesla/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Motor Trend</a> reported. The facility will begin production in mid-2018.Naturally, the main purpose of both battery plants is to support ambitious electric car plans; the home battery division is just a small slice of both companies' portfolios.But what's apparent is that Daimler is trying to beat Tesla on all fronts simply by having the better supply and infrastructure.Tesla has had quite a run as the only valid contender in the luxury, electric space. That's bound to change as early as next year as major brands like Mercedes pose competition on all front, from electric SUVs to at-home batteries, with better supply and distribution.If Tesla can't supply the demand for the products Musk has generated excitement for, Daimler is poising itself to step in as the next best luxury provider. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/driverless-truck-drives-german-autobahn-daimler-mercedes-benz-2015-10">A self-driving Mercedes-Benz truck drove on Germany's Autobahn</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Mercedes is quietly ramping up its efforts to become Tesla's biggest battery rival

<a href="http://pictures.reuters.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&amp;VBID=2C0BXZJVMBEQF&amp;SMLS=1&amp;RW=1452&amp;RH=901&amp;RW=1452&amp;RH=901#/SearchResult&amp;VBID=2C0BXZJVMBEQF&amp;SMLS=1&amp;RW=1452&amp;RH=901&amp;POPUPPN=1&amp;POPUPIID=2C0408WNYYMMG">REUTERS/Rick Wilking</a>Hiring and job searching as we know it will change dramatically.<ul class="summary-list"><li>Due to the coronavirus pandemic, companies are shifting gears dramatically when it comes to hiring, with two major trends emerging: businesses are either implementing immediate hiring freezes or fast-tracking key C-level roles.</li><li>With a looming recession, businesses across industries at a standstill, a steep dropoff in new job openings, and a rise in unemployment claims, six veteran recruiters reveal what will happen with hiring trends over the next weeks to months.</li><li>For the last few years it's been a job-seeker's market - that's no longer the case, so candidates should be prepared for a company-driven market where employers have greater leverage and where compensation takes a dip.</li><li>Those currently looking for new career opportunities should be patient and double the expected job-search timeline or stick it out with current employers until hiring picks up again.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prime?module=article&amp;area=summary">Click here for more BI Prime stories.</a></li></ul>The current <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-virus-everything-we-know-deadly-2019-ncov-wuhan-spread-2020-1">coronavirus</a> pandemic has had an immediate and unprecedented impact on the world and the global economy at large.Given the <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/economic-outlook-us-already-in-coronavirus-recession-employment-forecast-ucla-2020-3-1029003617">predicted recession</a>, the staggering number of businesses that have been brought to a halt, the <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/job-openings-falling-sharply-coronavirus-shuts-down-economy-decline-decrease-2020-3-1029009440">steep dropoff in new job openings in the US</a>, and the <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/jobless-claims-preview-data-early-coronavirus-impact-labor-insurance-unemployment-2020-3-1029010357">rise of US unemployment claims</a>, Business Insider reached out to six veteran recruiters with dozens of years of experience combined - dating back to the Great Recession and earlier - and who have placed candidates across industries to share what they think hiring will look like over the next few months and what this new climate means for job seekers.<h1>The immediate trends: Hiring freezes and fast-tracking key executive roles</h1>In the short term, businesses are reacting to the pandemic by shifting gears dramatically, with two clear camps emerging - companies either implementing immediate hiring freezes or escalating hiring for key leadership roles, according to Claire Telling, the CEO of the marketing, media, and communications executive search firm <a href="https://graceblue.com/">Grace Blue Partnership</a> whose clients include Amazon, Coca-Cola, Ford, The New York Times, Ford, Spotify, and Lego.Claire TellingClaire Telling."Those companies with hiring freezes have adopted a short-term bunker mentality to see what plays out in the weeks ahead, before committing to increased staff costs," said Telling. She noted that the businesses that have been the most impacted among her clients include those in the manufacturing, customer service, and retail industries, while she noted "stay-at-home industries" - that is, companies that will fare the best in the new stay-at-home economy such as Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix, Activision, and Zoom - are "doubling down on mission-critical leadership hires." That is, the positions they need in place right away, such as CEO roles and revenue-generating positions.Other hiring veterans echoed seeing similar trends. Bryan Zawikowski, a recruiter with 25 years of experience and the vice president and general manager of the military-transition division for executive-recruiting firm <a href="https://www.lucasgroup.com/">Lucas Group</a> who has helped place candidates at global companies like Microsoft, 23andMe, Tesla, Stryker, and Honeywell, explained the reason for the dramatic change: "It isn't the coronavirus so much as it is economic uncertainty," he said.Bryan ZawikowskiBryan Zawikowski.From his view, healthcare, food, and pharma companies are the few industries not currently affected, and he predicted all others will be affected in some way ("except maybe toilet paper manufacturers," he added).Similar to Telling's take, Zawikowski shared that "urgent and essential hires," such as C-level roles that are essential to a company's operations, like CEOs, CFOs, and chief product officers (CPOs), will continue to be in demand.Tom McGeeTom McGee.Some candidates with accepted offers, however, now have had these rescinded as a result of the current economic climate, said Tom McGee, the general manager of the sales and marketing division at <a href="https://www.lucasgroup.com/">Lucas Group</a>. McGee has 35 years of experience in recruiting and has placed candidates at global companies like True Value, Ashley Furniture, and Thomson Reuters.Overall, it's "highly likely" that the job market will slow for the next two months, until there's more clarity on the pandemic and the state of the economy, said Telling.<h1>It's no longer a candidate's market - expect lower compensation packages and more competition</h1>Over the last few years it's been a candidate-driven market where job seekers have had the upper hand, but now those looking for new opportunities should mentally prepare for an employer-driven market, said Bob Prather, the CFO and general manager of the accounting and finance recruiting division for Lucas Group who transitioned to recruiting after working in finance roles for Ernst &amp; Young, Spectrum Brands, and more. Now candidates will have less leverage throughout the process and around compensation as job openings diminish.Telling shared that candidates should be prepared for lower offers, particularly in industries struggling to avoid layoffs. Bob PratherBob Prather."There may be instances where the base compensation you would normally expect to get will be a bit lower," she said, noting that candidates may be able to ask for stock options or other incentives to help round out the overall compensation package. Not only that, there will likely be more competition if predicted layoffs come to fruition. <h1>Also expect hiring process changes and delays. If you're actively looking for jobs, double your projected search timeline. </h1>In some instances, the overall hiring process could be delayed for several weeks - particularly as decision makers address their companies' immediate needs and chief talent officers handle the logistics of keeping team members safe - while for other companies it may be sped up for fast-tracked roles where the executive hiring process may close in under a month compared to the usual three-month timeline, said Telling.Kerri McKinneyKerri McKinney.Part of the slowdown is because companies are taking the time to figure out what positions they can truly afford to hire and trying to predict what shifts in strategy they may need to make moving forward - particularly with the current emphasis on "remote work dominating the status quo for the moment," said Kerri McKinney, the director of global sourcing for <a href="https://terminal.io/">Terminal.io</a>, a remote engineering staffing company, who has over 10 years of experience in the recruiting industry, hiring for high-growth companies like Indeed, PayPal, and Amazon. Given the general call for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/your-questions-about-social-distancing-during-the-coronavirus-answered">social distancing</a>, for interviews that aren't on hold almost all will be moved online, said Telling, something she predicted will be a trend for the foreseeable future. "So, get your technology ready for online meetings, and make sure to do a test run of what you look like on your laptop's camera before your next interview," she added.And that's another reason for delays, as companies scramble to get videoconferencing in place and figure out how they can handle remote onboarding, said McGee. If you've never had a video interview before, he suggested practicing ahead of time.McKinney advised that candidates secure a noise-free space, nice lighting, and a strong internet connection for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-do-a-video-job-interview-2016-3">virtual interviews</a>.For those actively looking for roles, Zawikowski said that start dates originally planned for March and April may be pushed to May or June. Whatever your current projected job search timeline is, you should double it, he noted. "People need to understand it is going to take a lot longer than you think to land an opportunity," he explained.<h1>Be patient and ready to adapt, focus on companies most likely to survive a recession, and consider sticking with current employers</h1>"If you don't have to leave your job, don't. At least [not] for the next three to four months," said Zawikowski. Not only will there be delays in the process, if you do get a new job and the new company goes through layoffs, you will find yourself on the unfortunate end of the "last in, first out" practice common among many employers, where the most recent hires are let go first, he explained."At times like this, it's perfectly fine to put your career dreams on hold while you maintain a steady job," said Telling.For those who plan to continue to look during this time, the recruiters Business Insider interviewed shared a variety of strategies for moving forward.Many recruiters repeated the same advice: be patient, expect delays, and plan for changes.Patrick CahillPatrick Cahill.It's not personal, said Patrick Cahill, the founder of <a href="https://twonice.com/">#TwiceAsNice Recruiting</a> who created his company after 10 years of consulting for recruiters and has worked with hundreds of companies, including Schunk Group, Harpoon Brewery, and Mitsubishi Fuso. The fact is, companies are figuring out the impact of the pandemic in real time, he added. He recommended focusing on seeking out companies that might see growth during this time, such as those that support remote working or virtual learning. To get a feel for how companies are being impacted, he suggested checking out the news sections of company websites as well as their social media posts and other public announcements. Look at the roles "recession-proof" companies, such as those mentioned earlier, are hiring, said Telling, "so you are prepared to jump immediately when you see the right job posted." She also suggested candidates become more flexible about what types of roles to consider - including freelancing and contract work, which "will certainly see an increase," and ensure resumes are up to date and references are on hand to be ready to apply when potential opportunities arise. Given the new mandate for remote working across so many companies, there will be a new focus on looking for candidates who can be successful in autonomous working environments, said McKinney. "Employee experience in remote work may soon become more of a requirement than a 'nice-to-have,'" she said. To stand out, highlight your unique skill set and experiences that demonstrate self-motivation and strong communication skills, she added.Many recruiters suggested candidates focus on maintaining their mental and physical health during this time, to be ready for the next career opportunity when hiring picks up. <h1>How to follow up with recruiters if you're in the job search process</h1>If you've spoken to companies about roles and you expect to move forward in the process, Cahill suggested sending an email checking in on how current events are affecting the company's hiring timeline to set expectations. This could alleviate anxiety for candidates and won't come across as too pushy, he added.McGee shared that this is a good time for candidates to take stock as well. Ask questions like, "Are the companies I'm interviewing at financially stable?" "Do they have a plan to handle the coronavirus pandemic and unstable market?" "How did they fare during the last recession?" <h1>How long will hiring be in a state of flux? That's anyone's guess.</h1>Given the current state of the pace of change due to the global pandemic and how businesses are shifting as a result, Telling shared that she expects her views on these trends to change in the weeks ahead, given there are no clear market indicators for what might happen next week, let alone the next month. That said, she noted that the companies she works with are anxious to resume hiring as normal - as soon as they're financially able. Zawikowski, who weathered recruiting during the Great Recession's hiring downturn, said, "although it has been reported that some companies are over leveraged, the financial aspects of this coming recession do not appear to be nearly as significant as the crisis that exacerbated the depth and length of the 2008 to 2009 recession, in addition to [the] 'slow-motion' recovery" that followed.For Cahill the big question is: How long will this coronavirus-related disruption affect businesses for? The further the disruption, he explained, the further hiring for new roles will be pushed back. "We just don't know enough to truly predict where we'll be in a month or two," he said. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-prep-for-self-quarantine-coronavirus-preppers-network-2020-3">Head of NYC Prepper's Network explains how to prepare for a self-quarantine</a></h3>

Recruiters who've worked with companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and PayPal reveal how job seekers can prepare for the worst as the pandemic changes how companies hire

Getty ImagesThere's a better way to land a new gig without sifting through countless job listings.<ul class="summary-list"><li>Job searching can be a cumbersome process - unless you get poached by a recruiter.</li><li>Getting poached means a recruiter reaches out to you for a job opening, whether or not you're actively job seeking.</li><li>Expert recruiters for top companies like WarnerMedia, Intuit, Microsoft, Tesla, and more shared their best tips for getting on a recruiter's radar for your dream job.</li><li>They suggested building relationships with recruiters online and offline, keeping your LinkedIn up to date, and joining talent communities.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prime?module=article&amp;area=summary">Click here for more BI Prime stories.</a></li></ul>Let's face it: Job hunting can be stressful and a lengthy process. According to December 2019 data from the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, over 60% of unemployed job seekers hunt for five weeks or more until they land their next job. And a 2017 <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/research/time-to-hire-in-25-countries/">Glassdoor analysis</a> of the hiring process found that it takes the average candidate about 24 days to find their next role. If you're looking for a new job, you may be wondering if there's another way to land a gig without sifting through countless job listings for months on end. And yes, there is - getting poached.<h2>What does it mean to be 'poached'?</h2>The business term "poach" originates from the traditional definition - to steal someone else's prized game or fish. In the recruiting world, it refers to when a recruiter snatches up another company's prized talent."If a recruiter is reaching out, that means that they've read through your profile and have identified some things in your background and experience that aligns with the current and future needs of his or her company," explained Dwayne Cash, a director of talent acquisition in the news and sports department at WarnerMedia who has 13 years of experience in recruiting. Dwayne CashDwayne Cash.Prospective candidates benefit from getting poached by having leverage "even if the role isn't the perfect match," said Cash. You can (and should) use that leverage to have a conversation with the recruiter and make the connection, which will then, in turn, "give you permission to reach out to the recruiter in the future in the event something more fitting surfaces versus submitting [an application] online," added Cash.Your goal is to become a "pipeline candidate," explained Cash. That is, someone a recruiter will keep on their radar and readily reach out to before new opportunities are posted publicly. If you find yourself in the position of being poached, use the opportunity to tell your career story, outline what your ideal next role looks like, and explain how the recruiter can sell your experience and background to potential hiring managers. "On average, depending on the role, a recruiter can easily receive a couple hundred resumes in one day, especially for entry-level and creative roles," explained Cash. "Being poached is one way to cut through the clutter and establish a direct line to the gatekeeper (recruiter)."Sounds great - but how do you go about getting poached if no one's reaching out to you? Cash has experienced some pretty unique approaches from individuals attempting to get poached by him. One candidate sent him an express-mail envelope addressed to him that required a signature to open it - inside was a resume. Another candidate sent him a pink-and-magenta-painted box containing a resume. And one time, a guy wearing a walking advertisement that read "Dwayne Cash HIRE ME" paced back and forth in front of his office building. While these were all creative ideas, he doesn't necessarily recommend any of them.To find out what does work and help job seekers stand out, we asked Cash and other top recruiters from both the internal side - in-house recruiters who work directly for companies - and the external side - recruiters from third-party recruiting agencies who work on placing candidates for client companies - about strategic ways to get poached. <h2>Establish relationships with recruiters that specialize in your industry</h2>"The best long-term strategy to stay top of mind for recruiters is to develop a relationship with two or three recruiters that specialize in your industry," said Tom McGee, general manager of the sales and marketing division at the executive recruiting firm <a href="https://www.lucasgroup.com/">Lucas Group</a>, who has 35 years of experience in recruiting and has placed candidates at global companies like True Value, Ashley Furniture, and Thomson Reuters.Tom McGeeTom McGee.While recruiters may be the first to contact you, you can initiate these relationships and introductory calls as well, said Pete Sosnowski, head of HR and cofounder of the resume-building website <a href="https://zety.com/">Zety</a>. He suggested searching LinkedIn for recruiters by industry and inviting them to connect - try using keyword phrases that are relevant to your field or profession or for specific companies you're interested in. "Recruiters are used to getting such invites, so it is absolutely fine to make the first move," Sosnowski explained. Once you're connected, feel free to keep in touch. Some great ways to do so are by referring friends and colleagues, checking in about what companies the recruiter is now sourcing candidates for, and sharing updates about your employment or job search. "If you don't have new information to share, limit contact to once per quarter," said McGee.You can keep in touch online via LinkedIn as well by liking, commenting on, and engaging with your new recruiter contacts' updates, suggested Sosnowski.Pete SosnowskiPete Sosnowski.The important thing to keep in mind is that this is not a strategy you should employ only when you're ready to make a career move - it should be an ongoing practice. "If you only reach out to recruiters when you have decided to make a change, the right opportunity may not be there," said McGee. "You have to actively promote yourself on a regular basis and keep in touch, otherwise the relationship disappears." <h2>Optimize your LinkedIn</h2>In a nutshell, recruiters are looking for keyword matches, completeness, professionalism, and a fit for the roles they're looking to fill when they review LinkedIn profiles. Don't just include your past and current job titles. Make sure your job descriptions and summary are complete as well. Cash of WarnerMedia said he gets frustrated when he encounters incomplete profiles - if he has to think too hard, he'll move on to other profiles that are more colorful. "I also assess the way a candidate tells the story about who they are. I encourage everyone to include lots of detail around technical skills and knowledge," he added.In addition, recruiters are looking for you to demonstrate your leadership and management style, showcase recent projects you've successfully completed along with the main metrics or KPIs for these achievements, and your newest capabilities (such as learning new programming languages), said Kim Hoffman, a talent acquisition director at <a href="https://www.intuit.com/">Intuit</a> who has 20 years of recruiter and talent experience. Patrick CahillPatrick Cahill."At Intuit, managers who need positions filled connect with recruiters to explain what qualities and skill sets they are looking for in a new hire," she said. "If you have your skill sets, accomplishments, and expertise listed on LinkedIn, you make yourself more accessible to recruiters."Be discoverable (searchable), not clever. That means using common industry titles, terms, and skills. Using the title "VP of Sales" will help you get discovered, while describing yourself as a "fun Chief Connection Maker" won't, explained Patrick Cahill, founder of <a href="https://twonice.com/">#TwiceAsNice Recruiting</a>, who, after 10 years of consulting for recruiters, launched his business two years ago and has worked with hundreds of companies, including Schunk Group, Harpoon Brewery, and Mitsubishi Fuso.Finally, mark yourself as open to new opportunities on LinkedIn. "When I'm working on any roles, my first target is those who are actively looking," said Cash. "This increases the likelihood that they will respond to my outreach." He explained that your current company won't be able to view that you've selected this option: "They'd have to set up a separate account that is not tied to the company in order to find out that you're 'open to new opportunities,'" said Cash.<h2>And get feedback on it</h2>Ask a few colleagues for honest feedback on your LinkedIn profile, advised Bryan Zawikowski, a recruiter with 25 years of experience and the vice president and general manager of the military transition division for Lucas Group who has helped place candidates at global companies like Microsoft, 23andMe, Tesla, Stryker, and Honeywell. "People often have blind spots when reviewing their own profile," he explained.Bryan ZawikowskiBryan Zawikowski.Some questions Zawikowski suggested asking colleagues include:<ul><li>"When you look at my profile photo, what is your first impression?"</li><li>"Is this a professional photo?"</li><li>"When you look at my profile in general, what is your first impression (professional, sloppy, disorganized, confusing)?"</li><li>"Are my LinkedIn posts professional? If not, what stands out?"</li></ul>"First impressions matter. Your headshot on LinkedIn is the first impression people have of you. When you look up someone on LinkedIn, the first thing you do is look at their picture," said Zawikowski. <h2>Build your personal brand via other online channels</h2>Start making yourself more searchable for recruiters by searching your name online and seeing what comes up. "The first place many recruiters go to search for talent is the internet - so consider your entire <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-build-personal-brand-increase-income-reach-experts">digital brand</a> presence," said Claire Telling, CEO of the marketing, media, and communications executive search firm Grace Blue Partnership, whose clients include Amazon, Coca-Cola, Ford, the New York Times, LEGO, and more. Claire TellingClaire Telling.She suggested job seekers looking to bolster their online presence write articles and thought-leadership pieces on places like LinkedIn or Medium to increase the likelihood of coming up for Google searches relevant to their professions.Online, you also have the chance to showcase other work you're doing outside of your current role that can boost your reputation and authority, such as serving as a chair member of a board or raising awareness for a specific cause. One digital channel to seriously consider is Instagram, especially for millennials as well as artists, photographers, creatives, marketers, audience development professionals, and influencers, said Cash. "Considering I hire for more creative areas, I spend time on the platform to find, connect with, and follow potential talent. I look for profiles with high engagement (likes, comments, shares)," he said. "These are the people who can inspire others to action (purchase and influence brand perception)."<h2>Join prospective employers' talent communities</h2>Hoffman explained that companies are starting to create "talent communities" that are worth joining if you get the chance - think of these as private social networks open to prospective employees to network with companies and their employees online. Their goals are to host events, share company news, and provide opportunities for candidates to connect with current employees to get a sense of the company culture.Kim HoffmanKim Hoffman.By joining, you'll become part of a pool of engaged candidates that recruiters tap into over time as roles become available, said Hoffman.For those looking to join a talent community, enterprise companies - such as <a href="https://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers/talent-community.html">PWC</a>, <a href="https://www.shell.com/careers/shell-talent-community.html">Shell</a>, and <a href="https://jobs.mayoclinic.org/talent-community/">Mayo Clinic</a> - often feature these within the career section of their website and they're free and open to join. (A Google search, such as "[Name of company] talent community," should help you find it if the company offers one.)<h2>Network offline as much as you do online</h2>"Most recruiters attend conferences and events to connect with top talent," said Cash. He noted that recruiters are particularly looking to vet keynote speakers, panelists, presenters, and other subject-matter experts - so becoming a sought-after and highly visible participant can also be a strategy for getting poached.While industry-specific events can be expensive to attend, Cash said his company has hired people on the spot at some events and has kept in touch with others for future opportunities - so the payoff may be worth the upfront cost. "As important it is to have a good online presence, it is equally as important to make in-person connections," said Hoffman. "Go to events [and] meetups and take advantage of free networking services." Doing so will help you not only see what's out there and gain knowledge of industry best practices from other professionals, but foster relationships with hiring managers and recruiters who otherwise may not be accessible. The most important part? As with reaching out to recruiters, it's important not to wait to network only when you're looking for a job. If you wait too long, "candidates miss a prime opportunity to understand the different company cultures available, as well as available roles that their skills may translate [to], but may not be an obvious career choice," said Hoffman.<h2>Think long term and be responsive</h2>Remember, the goal of getting poached isn't necessarily to be hired for the first role a recruiter reaches out about - it's about finding the best fit. "Recruiters are sourcing candidates for hundreds of roles, and they may think you are a better fit for another one," said Hoffman.Being patient and open and transparent about your experiences "makes the process much more collaborative and ultimately helps you find a better long-term position," noted Telling.What will help you most in the long run is being responsive, as recruiters don't like being ghosted, said Telling - just like candidates don't like to be ghosted by their dream companies. Communicative candidates will be more likely to be considered for future opportunities. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/maye-musk-on-raising-successful-children-leveling-up-her-career-2020-1">Elon Musk's mother, supermodel Maye Musk, talks about raising successful children and leveling up her career at every age</a></h3>

Here's exactly how to make yourself 'poachable' and land on a recruiter's radar for your dream job

Welcome to <keyword id="34991" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="transportation">Transportation</keyword> &amp; Logistics Briefing, a new morning email providing the latest news, data, and insight on how digital technology is disrupting transportation and delivery, produced by BI Intelligence.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/top-5-disruptive-trends-shaping-transportation-and-logistics?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=content_marketing&amp;utm_term=content_marketing_subscription_text_link_transportation-and-logistics-briefing-gms-first-self-driving-car-model-new-regulatory-guidelines-for-self-driving-cars-thermal-sensors-for-fully-driverless-vehicles-2017-9&amp;utm_content=content_marketing_subscription_text_link&amp;utm_campaign=content_marketing_subscription_link&amp;vertical=transportation">Get the free Top 5 Disruptive Trends Shaping Transportation &amp; Logistics report and start receiving our brand new Transportation &amp; Logistics newsletter.</a>Have feedback? We'd like to hear from you. Write me at: <a href="mailto:jcamhi@businessinsider.com">jcamhi@businessinsider.com</a>.RUMORS SWIRL AROUND NEW INVESTMENTS IN UBER AND LYFT: Last week, multiple media outlets reported ongoing discussions Uber and Lyft are each having with new investors at a pivotal moment in their competition. <ul><li>Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank, US investment firm Dragoneer, and Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing are working on finalizing a major investment in Uber through a new joint venture, Tech Crunch <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/13/softbank-dragoneer-didi-close-to-finalizing-investment-in-uber/">reported</a>. The group - led by SoftBank - is looking to invest as much as $10 billion into Uber, which would be the largest investment in the ride-hailing company to date. The deal would involve both a direct investment in Uber, and a purchase of shares from existing investors and employees. However, SoftBank is reportedly looking to buy shares from investors and employees at a 30% discount from Uber's most recent valuation of $70 billion, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-shareholders-divided-over-softbanks-investment-offer-1505409810">according to</a> The Wall Street Journal. It's unclear if investors and employees are willing to part with their shares at that discount. Additionally, existing shareholders have reportedly expressed concern that such a discount could devalue Uber as it gears up for an IPO by 2020. SoftBank has already invested in several other ride-hailing firms, including Didi, as well as Ola and Grab, which compete head-to-head with Uber in India and Southeast Asia, respectively.</li><li>Meanwhile, Lyft is reportedly <a href="https://www.axios.com/google-in-talks-to-invest-in-lyft-2485369946.html">in talks</a> with Google's parent company Alphabet to inject a $1 billion investment in the ride-hailing player. The investment negotiations follow the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lyft-moves-into-driverless-cars-with-new-division-and-building-2017-7">announcement</a> earlier this summer that Waymo, Google's self-driving spinoff, would partner with Lyft on developing autonomous technology. Google was also an early investor in Uber, but the two are now in the midst of a drawn-out <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-update-1-ubers-bid-to-move-waymo-court-fight-to-arbitration-denied-by-appeals-court-2017-9">legal battle</a>. </li></ul>Uber's recent scandals and leadership troubles have given Lyft's business a significant boost in recent months. Uber's share of the US ride-hailing market fell from 84% at the beginning of this year to 77% at the end of May, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/b4fb76a6-52dd-11e7-bfb8-997009366969">according to</a> Second Measure, which analyzes anonymized credit card data. Meanwhile, Lyft booked more total rides in the first half of this year than in all of last year. It also grew its gross bookings by 25% sequentially in Q2, compared to Uber's 17% growth in the quarter.New funding could help Uber achieve its twin goals of both defending market share and cutting its losses, while Lyft could use a cash injection to press its advantage. The two companies have relied heavily on providing discounts and incentives to attract new riders and drivers, resulting in steep operating losses for both. Uber needs to improve its balance to steer towards a potential IPO, but cutting back on new user discounts could stall growth and further Lyft's momentum. Extra cash could provide a cushion, allowing it to continue attracting new users while it fills out its rather <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-travis-kalanick-resignation-leadership-2017-6">empty</a> c-suite and formulates a strategy for long-term financial health. Lyft, meanwhile, could use new cash to expand geographically and put Uber on the defensive in more markets outside the US. Media outlets reported on Friday that Lyft plans to <a href="http://fortune.com/2017/09/14/lyft-canada-expansion/">enter</a> Canada by the end of this year, and is <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/lyft-said-to-be-eyeing-international-expansion/?ftag=COS-05-10aaa0b&amp;linkId=42255887">exploring</a> other markets, including Australia and the UK.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="BI Intelligence" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59bc1e7038d20d2a008b6cc6-960/uber lyft rides updated logo.png"></a>BI Intelligence</div></div></div>AUTOLIV'S STRATEGY FOR THE ELECTRIC AND AUTONOMOUS AGE: Auto parts supplier Autoliv is mulling separating its electric and self-driving technology and its core safety businesses into two separate, standalone companies, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/autoliv-considers-split-into-two-listed-companies-1505384846?mod=djemlogistics">The Wall Street Journal</a>. The firm's core safety business manufacturers parts such as seat belts and airbags, while its electric and self-driving technology arm makes radar and positioning systems for self-driving cars. The Swedish company supplies parts and components to some of the world's largest automakers, including Volkswagen and Ford. Company executives say the split would leave both groups well-positioned to maximize their revenue potential. CEO Jan Carlson argued that the move would allow the firm's electric and autonomous driving business to innovate and continue to improve its offerings without stealing too many resources from its core safety business. Further, having a business dedicated to electric and self-driving technologies might help the firm to attract top engineers and developers so it can out-innovate, and pull ahead of, competitors.That'll be valuable as growth in the electric and self-driving car market outpaces Autoliv's core safety parts market in the coming years. While industry experts <a href="https://poseidon01.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=25510008108711508212011212301501002301603906003901008710011509807006808902910106502201911710306100803002711211601810210409506404307507805105400500311002410309012010500307901608700808802410002212209300111">expect</a> individual car ownership to decline in the coming decades, which would cause car sales to plummet and dent Autoliv's core business, automakers are increasingly adding electric and semi-autonomous vehicles to their lineups. That trend that will only accelerate in the next few years - the head of the German automakers' lobby said last week that automakers and suppliers alone will devote about $47.6 billion for electric vehicles through 2020, and BI Intelligence forecasts that 2.4 million fully autonomous cars will be on US roads in 2025. A standalone company specifically devoted to building these technologies could allow Autoliv to capitalize on this forthcoming growth.That could also push other large auto suppliers to follow Autoliv's lead. Many other legacy automotive suppliers - including Bosch, Delphi, and Magna International - are also building technologies for electric and autonomous cars while also remaining committed to building the core legacy components that they've supplied for decades. If Autoliv indeed splits up its business and it proves to be valuable, that could prompt some of these other players to mimic the company's move.Enjoy reading this briefing? <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/transportation-and-logistics-briefing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up and receive Transportation &amp; Logistics Briefing to your inbox.</a>THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO USING DRONES AT CONSTRUCTION SITES: Construction has been one of the foremost industries in adopting commercial drones, with the sector making up a significant <a href="http://www.constructiondive.com/news/construction-drone-use-taking-off-as-industry-scores-40-of-all-faa-exempti/417421/">portion</a> of commercial drone exemptions granted by the FAA. Drones have helped make construction sites safer by automating dangerous safety inspections, while also delivering real-time imaging that helps managers track a site's progress.Hensel Phelps, one of the largest construction management companies in the US, has used drones to improve safety and measure progress at several of its construction projects. The company has been using drones for nearly four years to survey its sites and perform safety inspections. Using drones has cut the time it takes to perform safety inspections at Hensel's sites from a week down to a matter of hours. It also takes away much of the risk of a worker getting injured in an accident while performing an inspection, which can be a dangerous task requiring inspectors to climb high scaffolding.However, regulatory requirements have posed a major challenge from the start, Richard Lopez, a virtual design and construction manager who leads Hensel Phelps' drone program, told BI Intelligence. Putting drones to use at Hensel's sites required gaining pilot certifications and <a href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/beyond_the_basics/section_333/">Section 333</a> exemptions from the FAA. It also required documenting every detail of every drone flight - including flight path, altitude, and duration - in order to show regulators that Hensel Phelps' drones were operating in full compliance with current regulations. The company partnered with Skyward, a commercial drone software and services provider acquired by Verizon earlier this year, to help plan and document all of its drone sorties. This has been vital to Hensel's drone operations - Lopez says the drone program probably would not have won approval without Skyward's tools for logging all of its drone flights.Despite proper licensing and all of the documentation Hensel and Skyward collect, compliance can still be a time-consuming and frustrating task, Lopez says. Many of Hensel's projects take place in controlled airspace. Getting permission to fly a drone around such projects can take up to 120 days, despite FAA <a href="https://www.uaslawblog.com/2015/03/10/faa-streamlines-coa-process-for-section-333-exemptions/">efforts</a> to streamline its approval processes, he reports. Additionally, Lopez says Hensel could derive more benefits from doing more drone flights during the day, but has to limit its flights to before work crews arrive for the day, or after they leave. That's because companies can't fly commercial drones over people under current regulations. While companies hope that the FAA will resolve some of these issues in updated commercial drone regulations the FAA is scheduled to release next year. However, there are growing concerns that the updates may not arrive on schedule, or may not address some of these issues, because of the intervention of law enforcement agencies.In other news…<ul><li>Renault-Nissan <a href="https://www.alliance-2022.com/news/alliance-2022-announcement/">announced</a> it will roll out 12 electric cars, 40 cars with autonomous driving technologies, and intends to become a global leader in ride-hailing services powered by autonomous cars by 2022. The company previously <a href="https://redirect.viglink.com/?format=go&amp;jsonp=vglnk_150549555939112&amp;key=5571228bb04e008b467a126d6af6bf81&amp;libId=j7m11tvn01011kx5000DAav8lkr0w&amp;loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnet.com%2Froadshow%2Fnews%2Frenault-nissan-to-start-autonomous-car-sharing-service-">said</a> it plans to launch a ride-hailing service rather than partner with an existing service, which is likely why it <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/12/karhoo-rides-again-nissanrenault-buys-failed-on-demand-ride-startup/">bought</a> the assets of failed ride-hailing startup Karhoo earlier this year. It's worth noting that these plans <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/companies-making-driverless-cars-by-2020-2017-1/#volvo-is-aiming-to-make-its-cars-deathproof-by-2020-by-rolling-out-semi-autonomous-features-in-its-cars-eventually-working-up-to-fully-driverless-ones-6">are slightly behind</a> many other automakers' - Audi, Daimler, and Honda all plan on bringing at least partially self-driving cars to market in 2020, while Tesla may <a href="https://www.tesla.com/blog/all-tesla-cars-being-produced-now-have-full-self-driving-hardware">issue</a> an over-the-air update to make many of its cars fully autonomous as soon as next year.</li><li>Alphabet has spent more than $1.1 billion on self-driving car technologies since it started working on the technologies in 2009, according to <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self-driving/waymo-vs-uber-8-things-i-learned-from-anthony-levandowski-taking-the-5th">court documents</a> filed in its lawsuit against ride-hailing giant Uber. This has vaulted the company's self-driving car project, now a standalone company known as Waymo, ahead of many automakers and arch rival Uber in terms of technological progress. This sheds light on just how expensive it is to build a self-driving system, a potential barrier to startups without the cash to spend that are eyeing the space.</li><li>Mitsubishi is bringing its Fuso eCanter electric delivery trucks to the US for the first time, according to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/14/daimlers-electric-short-haul-city-trucks-are-coming-to-the-u-s/">Engadget</a>. The Daimler-owned company will first lease the trucks to UPS and a handful of non-profits in New York City, but plans on making them available to other companies later this year. The trucks can handle a payload of up to 10,000 pounds, but can only travel for 60 miles on a single charge - which makes them ill-suited for long haul trucking, and likely too large for last-mile deliveries. Instead, the trucks are designed for inter-city deliveries of heavy goods, such as between a storage facility and a distribution center. Such local and short-haul trips make up the <a href="https://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/programs/freight_transportation/html/length_of_haul.html">majority</a> of the US trucking industry.</li></ul><div id="categorypromo"><h2><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/top-5-disruptive-trends-shaping-transportation-and-logistics">Click here to receive a FREE download of The Top 5 Disruptive Trends Shaping Transportation and Logistics from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service.</a></h2></div>

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