Renault SA yesterday posted its biggest full-year loss on record as restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 wrecked auto sales in its key market Europe.
The French manufacturer reported a net loss of 8 billion euros (US$9.7 billion) for last year, worse than the 7.85 billion euros deficit forecast by analysts. Much of the damage was done during the first half, when lockdowns crippled auto shipments.
This year “is set to be difficult given the unknowns regarding the health crisis, as well as electronic components supply shortages,” CEO Luca de Meo said in a statement. “The priority is profitability and cash
VW-Audiâs Spanish brand breaks into the two-wheeled market.
The Seat Mó 125 escooter is now rolling off the assembly line.
Seat
About one year ago, the Spanish brand Seat unveiled its concept of an electric-powered scooter at the 2019 edition of the Smart City Expo World Congress held in Barcelona. The peculiar fact is that Seat is the Spanish branch of the Audi-VW Group and apparently selected to give life to a two-wheeled branch in order to respond to the demand of easily accessible zero-emission urban vehicles. Knowing Seat rather well, I was rather surprised by the announcement, but now the Seat escooter is in production and it all appears more consequential.
Jules Polonetsky: FPF December Update LinkedIn 12/23/2020
With Thanksgiving behind us, and in the midst of the holiday season, I wanted to express our thanks to so many people for helping me not only get through 2020, but to thrive and learn even during a global pandemic.
First and foremost, I am thankful for our FPF staff. Our team has produced engaging events, thought-provoking analysis, and insightful reports under the ongoing pressures of the pandemic, even as privacy-related issues have become more challenging and relevant than ever before.
I’m thankful for the FPF Board and Advisory Board members for providing us with their acumen, their experience, and the expertise of their powerful networks.
Hope for stroke and dementia patients. Israel’s BrainsGate (reported briefly here previously) has developed a technology for the treatment of ischemic strokes and vascular dementia. The Ischemic Stroke System is based on an implantable electrode stimulator that increases blood flow to the brain. Clinical trials are in progress.
Hackathon for autism. Israeli innovators and entrepreneurs participated in Hackautism 2.0 – a virtual tech marathon to create innovative technological solutions for the challenges of children and adults on the Autism Spectrum. The winning teams addressed sleep quality, non-verbal communication and job finding,
Israeli blood tests for the Gulf. The OLO finger-prick blood tests from Israel’s Sight Diagnostics (reported here previously) will soon be available in medical centers across the Gulf region. The Israeli company is partnering with Dubai’s Phoenix Capital who will install OLO initially in the UAE and then other Gulf states.