
Why depachikas in Japan are the best place to enjoy the foodie scene
In Japan, depachikas – department store food halls selling the finest food and drink – are an institution. A portmanteau of 'depato' (department store) and 'chika' (basement), these subterranean Shangri-las are the perfect place

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Otago Daily Times
09-08-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Couple get refund for Tesla that couldn't drive itself
A couple has won a refund after their new Tesla failed to "drive like a robot" as the slesman promised it would when he sold it to them. Jiahui Wang and Yuxuan Li purchased the 2020 Tesla Model 3 for $44,000 earlier this year from Bosplus Ltd in Auckland on the assurance that it had Full Self Driving (FSD) capability. This feature, contrary to its name, does not allow the car to drive itself but identifies stop signs and traffic lights and automatically slows the vehicle. Regardless, Wang and Li's Tesla didn't have this program installed, despite the salesman, Bojia Liu, assuring them it did. Liu assured them that during a trip he did from Auckland to Tauranga in a similar car, it could "drive like a robot" and he barely had needed to touch the steering wheel at all. "In other words, by spending an extra $6000, you get an additional 100km of range, 100 more horsepower, all-wheel drive, and the Full Self-Driving feature," he told them by text message when they asked why the model they were looking at was more expensive than other Tesla vehicles. When Wang and Li discovered that the car they had purchased didn't have this function, and couldn't be charged at many charging stations in New Zealand, they took Bosplus to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal to get a full refund. At a hearing held earlier this year Bosplus, represented by Liu, admitted he'd copied the information about FSD capability from Tesla's official website onto the advertisement for the vehicle and wasn't aware it didn't have it. Instead, the Tesla had autopilot, which matches speed to surrounding traffic and assists with lane steering, and advanced autopilot, which helps with parallel parking, lane changes and navigating interchanges. Tesla confirmed with the couple that their model could not be fitted with FSD. Tesla also confirmed that the car was a Japanese import and had a different charging port, which could be changed but would result in slower charging of its battery. Tribunal adjudicator Crystal Euden said in a recently released ruling that Bosplus had been misleading in selling the vehicle. "Bosplus clearly represented that the vehicle had FSD capabilities, specifically Tesla's Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control functions," she said. "Although a third party may be able to configure the vehicle to enable those features, they are not currently available on the vehicle." Euden said she was confident the buyers wouldn't have purchased the vehicle if they'd known it didn't have the advertised features. "Liu specifically told the purchasers that the vehicle was more expensive because it had these features, but that was not the case," she said. Euden ordered that Bosplus refund the couple entirely. - By Jeremy Wilkinson, Open Justice reporter from New Zealand Herald


NZ Herald
09-08-2025
- NZ Herald
New Tesla owners get refund after Bosplus salesman Bojia Liu misleads them about self-driving capability
Liu assured them that during a trip he did from Auckland to Tauranga in a similar car, it could 'drive like a robot' and he barely had needed to touch the steering wheel at all. 'In other words, by spending an extra $6,000, you get an additional 100 km of range, 100 more horsepower, all-wheel drive, and the Full Self-Driving feature,' he told them by text message when they asked why the model they were looking at was more expensive than other Tesla vehicles. When Wang and Li discovered that the car they'd purchased didn't have this function, and couldn't be charged at many charging stations in New Zealand, they took Bosplus to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal to get a full refund. At a hearing held earlier this year Bosplus, represented by Liu, admitted he'd copied the information about FSD capability from Tesla's official website on to the advertisement for the vehicle and wasn't aware it didn't have it. Instead, the Tesla had autopilot, which matches speed to surrounding traffic and assists with lane steering, and advanced autopilot, which helps with parallel parking, lane changes and navigating interchanges. Tesla confirmed with the couple that their model could not be fitted with FSD. Tesla also confirmed that the car was a Japanese import and had a different charging port, which could be changed but would result in slower charging of its battery. Tribunal adjudicator Crystal Euden said in a recently released ruling that Bosplus had been misleading in selling the vehicle. 'Bosplus clearly represented that the vehicle had FSD capabilities, specifically Tesla's Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control functions,' she said. 'Although a third party may be able to configure the vehicle to enable those features, they are not currently available on the vehicle.' Euden said she was confident the buyers wouldn't have purchased the vehicle if they'd known it didn't have the advertised features. 'Mr Liu specifically told the purchasers that the vehicle was more expensive because it had these features, but that was not the case,' she said. Euden ordered that Bosplus refund the couple entirely. Jeremy Wilkinson is an Open Justice reporter based in Manawatū, covering courts and justice issues with an interest in tribunals. He has been a journalist for nearly a decade and has worked for NZME since 2022.


NZ Autocar
05-08-2025
- NZ Autocar
Expect Formula E tech to end up in future Nismo models
Nissan may use its Formula E team to develop prototype versions of electric Nismo performance models in future. Nissan's Formula E team boss, Tommaso Volpe, said there have been internal talks about how the French team can help in this endeavour. Read our review of the Nissan Z Nismo. The Japanese firm currently offers a Nismo-badged Ariya. However, new company boss, Ivan Espinosa, stated in the past that the firm had 'exciting plans' for future sports cars. Nissan is after a handful of Nismo offerings. Evidently, the French Formula E team may develop 'some prototypes based on normal chassis that can help the Nismo division to enhance the performance of electric cars'. Nissan has even said that it is considering a collaboration for the development of future models. The Formula E team could build a prototype version. And then Nissan engineers could use that as a framework to develop future products. Expect any such vehicle to use the twin-motor all-wheel drive layout of a Formula E racer. The concept for the Formula E team would be to help Nismo optimise the efficiency of electric performance cars. They would also aid in refining traction management of the AWD layout. For the next racing season, Formula E will introduce a Gen4 technical package. The powertrains will feature permanent all-wheel drive with a pair of motors producing roughly 600kW, up from the 350kW of the current cars. In the past, Formula E cars have drawn from manufacturer experience. Henceforth, the flow would be in the opposite direction. 'The level of performance and efficiency will be pushed to the limit' said Volpe. 'There is a huge possibility of transfer with our future products. 'The regulations of Gen4 have been written in an open conversation with manufacturers, and…all-wheel drive is the trend for the core business in the future.'