Latest news with #autotech
Motor 1
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
‘I Charge Them More Every Single Time:' Tech Reveals 1 Quality Guaranteed to Make Your Mechanic Hate You
A mechanic who goes by Claw Boss (@reelclawboss) on Instagram shared a customer pet peeve: Asking non-stop questions while he works. And it seems like there are more than a few other folks in the craft who share his mindset. The auto tech's short clip is set to the tune of a song that repeatedly implores a person to 'shut the [expletive] up,' as part of its hook. Pairing this tune with the text overlay in their clip, along with a group of dancing chickens, intones that the service tech isn't a fan of this particular client interaction. 'We all have that one customer. Stands in the shop while you're working on their car and won't stop asking questions,' he captions Commenters Were Divided Folks had differing opinions on the clients they render service to in their respective auto businesses. One person remarked that a patron has the right to ask questions since they're the one paying for their car to be fixed. 'Customer's car, customer's paying,' one said. However, there was another Instagram user who seemed to concur with Claw Boss's commentary on the chatty individuals who roll into his shop. They said, 'Best part of our shop: Only staff allowed in shop.' Another person, who said that they were an auto tech themselves, echoed the aforementioned sentiment. According to them, they've never been employed in an automotive service center that allowed customers to watch the work techs were doing. 'Never in my life have I seen a shop allow customers in the shop,' they penned. 'I be on the other side of the glass like *hey, did you make sure to torq that bolt!? While I smoke my dart and continue to stare. Lol all jokes aside I do enjoy watching and learning.' But this didn't appear to be par the course for all folks getting their cars fixed. One person who got their vehicle's air conditioning system repaired expressed that they were grateful to watch their mechanic fix the issue. Moreover, they said the tech was forthcoming about the work he was completing. 'My mechanic let me watch him do my AC for my truck. I asked a few questions and he didn't mind. He seemed to like that I was trying to learn,' they said. Other Mechanics Sound Off It seems like Claw Boss wasn't the only service tech who took to social media to decry this specific customer behavior. YouTuber Barricade Garage also professed he wasn't too fond of someone looking over his shoulder while he was working on a car. In a caption for his video that touches on this same topic, he writes, 'most mechanics usually want to be left unbothered when working on your vehicle.' Additionally, Redditors in this r/MechanicAdvice post also discussed this same client phenomenon. The thread's original poster wanted to know if it was considered poor manners on his part to watch the tech replace the tires on his vehicle. One person remarked that the practice is 'a touchy subject with a lot of shops,' due to how different customers react to the work being performed on their vehicle. They said that customers might try to nickel-and-dime labor time, not considering that a mechanic who has accrued decades of experiencing fixing problems is able to rectify a problem more quickly than a less experienced tech. Thus, their complaints about inaccurate labor times are invalidated. To drive this point home, they shared an anecdote about a client who went 'ballistic' for being billed for 30 minutes of labor on a muffler replacement. They said the tech swapped out the component in around five minutes and asked why they were charged for 30 minutes of labor instead. Following this, the Reddit user explained to the customer, 'The guy who just put your muffler on has almost 30 years' exhaust experience. And has it down to an art. If I'd known you wanted to wait longer I would have done it myself - I'm a diagnostic tech and really bad at exhaust. It takes me forever,' they wrote. Some Mechanics Don't Mind Watchful Customers Another commenter in the same Reddit thread said it all boils down to the type of person who is watching them perform their work. This user said, 'I don't mind people watching because they are curious.' Although, when they begin to chime in with their own repair strategies, or when they reference other handy people they know, that's when they begin to take issue with sideline commentary. 'Don't call me a liar, and don't bring it to me to fix it if you trust [someone else] so much,' they penned. In this Quora post, some auto techs argued that barring customers from entering the shop area boils down to potential safety concerns. They said that due to heavy machinery, car lifts, and an array of moving parts, clients could be at risk of bodily harm. In order to mitigate these possible incidents from occurring and any legal actions that could be levied against the shop, many service centers will bar folks from watching their cars being worked on. Motor1 has reached out to the Claw Boss via Instagram direct message for further comment. Now Trending 'That's Exactly Why:' Florida Driver Gets Stuck Behind Toyota That Won't Turn on Green Light. She Says It's an Insurance Scam 'Don't Feel Comfortable Allowing You:' Colorado Woman Tells Discount Tire She Can't Afford Tires. Their Reply Is Shocking Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Globe and Mail
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
Tesla Cooling Off, XPeng Heating Up: Which EV Stock Wins Your Vote?
For years, Tesla TSLA has been the undisputed face of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. From sleek car designs to bold bets on self-driving tech and artificial intelligence, Tesla transformed the auto industry. Today, it still stands tall with a staggering $1 trillion market cap and a relentless push into new frontiers like robotaxis. But, the hype and buzz around Tesla is not the same anymore. Growing competition, CEO Elon Musk's headline-grabbing controversies and mixed reactions to Tesla's long-awaited robotaxi reveal are testing investor patience. Meanwhile, XPeng, Inc. XPEV — a rising EV star from China — is making serious waves. Backed by a surge in China's new energy vehicle (NEV) sales and strong government support, XPeng is delivering rapid growth and rolling out its own AI-driven innovations. And while Tesla grapples with a potentially tougher U.S. regulatory environment, including the looming end of the $7,500 EV tax credit, XPeng's momentum is building fast. Year to date, XPeng stock has surged 55%, trouncing Tesla's performance. The question is whether investors should stay with the EV pioneer or bet on the fast-rising tech-savvy challenger? The Case for Tesla Tesla might still be the first name that pops into your mind when we talk about EVs, but cracks are starting to show. After years of strong growth, Tesla's deliveries are now heading in the wrong direction. In 2024, the company posted its first-ever annual drop in deliveries. That slump has continued into 2025, with sales falling 13% year over year in the first quarter and another 13.4% in the second quarter of 2025. Europe has been a particularly weak spot, but demand has cooled in other markets too. Tesla faces a real chance of delivering fewer vehicles in 2025 than it did in 2024. That would mark a second straight year of declining sales. Tesla hasn't released a new mass-market model in years. While competitors are flooding the market with fresh EVs at various price points, Tesla's lineup is starting to feel dated. Add in rising competition from both dedicated EV makers and traditional automakers, and Tesla's once-dominant market position is slipping. Musk's public image isn't helping either. His political posts and unpredictable behavior are turning off some potential buyers. Tesla's big swing to reignite excitement—the robotaxi—hasn't landed quite right either. The service launched in a limited test in Austin last month, but reports suggest it's still very much a work in progress. Technical hiccups and the need for human safety drivers make it clear that fully autonomous rides are still some distance away. Tesla's energy and charging businesses are bright spots, but they're not yet big enough to carry the company. For now, Tesla needs to prove it can revive its core auto business before its rivals pull too far ahead. The Case for XPeng XPeng may not have Tesla's size or global brand power, but it's quickly earning its place in the EV spotlight. The Chinese EV maker is scaling fast—and smart. It's not just selling more cars; it's building them around intelligence-driven features that appeal to the tech-savvy buyer. Take the new G7, for example—a sleek crossover that fits right between XPeng's G6 and G9 models. But it's not just about filling a lineup gap. The G7 is the first vehicle powered by XPeng's own Turing AI chip, which boasts triple the computing power of typical smart driving chips. That gives it a real edge in self-driving capability. Launched in China, the G7 undercuts Tesla's Model Y by nearly $9,500, and early sales suggest it's a serious competitor. XPeng's delivery numbers are turning heads too. In 2024, it delivered over 190,000 vehicles, up 34% year over year. That growth has exploded in 2025. In just the first quarter of 2025, XPeng delivered 94,008 vehicles—a massive 331% jump from the same period a year ago. The momentum continues. Last month, XPeng delivered 34,611 smart EVs, marking a whopping 224% increase year over year. With that, XPeng's deliveries surpassed the 30,000 mark for the eighth straight month. In the three months ending June 2025, it sold a record 103,181 cars, more than double its second-quarter 2024 levels. The company is innovating fast. From its AI-powered Hawkeye Vision System to its XOS 5.4 operating system, XPEV is all-in on full-stack smart driving. It's even dabbling in futuristic tech like flying cars and humanoid robots. XPeng may still be the underdog, but it is quickly becoming one of the most exciting EV players to watch. How Do Estimates Compare for XPEV & TSLA? The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XPeng's 2025 top and bottom line suggests year-over-year improvement of 102% and 67%, while the 2026 sales and earnings estimate implies a jump of 39% and 207%, respectively, from 2025 projected levels. See how estimates for XPEV have been revised in the past 90 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tesla's 2025 top and bottom line suggests year-over-year decline of 3.7% and 27%. However, its 2026 sales and earnings estimate implies growth of 18% and 51%, respectively, from 2025 projected levels. See how estimates for TSLA have been revised in the past 90 days. Conclusion While Tesla still commands global attention, its momentum is clearly slowing. Falling deliveries, fierce competition, and a shaky start to its robotaxi ambitions have cast a shadow over its growth story. Tesla's downward EPS estimate revisions and its Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) reflect the challenges it is facing. XPeng, in contrast, is gaining speed—delivering record-breaking numbers, showcasing advanced tech, and riding strong tailwinds in China's booming EV market. With positive EPS estimate revisions and solid growth outlook, XPeng is quickly proving it's not just a rising star, but a serious player. XPeng, with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), is clearly the more attractive pick in today's EV landscape. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here One Big Gain, Every Trading Day To help you take full advantage of this market, you're invited to access every stock recommendation in all our private portfolios - for just $1. Zacks private portfolio services that closed 256 double and triple-digit winners in 2024 alone. That's about one big gain every day the market was open. Of course, not all our picks are winners, but members have seen recent gains as high as +627% +1,340%, and +1,708%. Imagine how much you could profit with a steady stream of real-time picks from all our services that cover a number of strategies to suit a variety of investing and trading styles. See Stocks Now >> Tesla, Inc. (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report XPeng Inc. Sponsored ADR (XPEV): Free Stock Analysis Report
Entrepreneur
10-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Made in the MENA Region: How Local Innovation is Going Global
"Made in MENA" no longer suggests a localized copy of something else. It's becoming a mark of originality for products built for real needs in tough markets, with potential for expansion designed from day one. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The most exciting new tech no longer needs to come from Silicon Valley. Across the Middle East and North Africa, startups are building smart, scalable solutions to urgent problems, gaining the attention of investors and global partners alike. "Made in MENA" no longer suggests a localized copy of something else. It's becoming a mark of originality for products built for real needs in tough markets, with potential for expansion designed from day one. Take Dubai-based autotech startup Seez as an example. The company started with an app that could identify any car from a single image, quickly attracting nearly three million users, before shifting focus and transforming to meet deeper industry needs. Now providing car dealerships and OEMs with software solutions to improve their customer experience and increase sales, Seez has expanded to 16 markets from Mexico to Australia, offering a complete AI- and ML-powered SaaS platform built on proprietary technology. Earlier this year, the company was acquired for $46.2 million by UK-based Pinewood Technologies. This proves homegrown tech from the region can serve underserved markets at scale, and do it faster than many of its international competitors. This pattern is becoming more common. Across MENA, startups are building with clear direction, solving long-standing inefficiencies and bottlenecks, creating products that work from the ground up and often have international potential. A standout example for those looking to scale globally is InstaDeep, the tech startup founded in Tunisia in 2014 that has grown into a global leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The company expanded steadily, opening offices in London, Paris, Lagos, Dubai, Cape Town, Berlin, Boston, and San Francisco. In May 2019, it announced a $7 million Series A funding round. InstaDeep gained recognition for its groundbreaking work, including the development of an early warning system to detect COVID-19 variants. In January 2022, it secured US$100 million in Series B funding, with participation from German biotech giant BioNTech. A year later, BioNTech acquired the company for around €500 million in cash. Since the acquisition, InstaDeep has continued to push boundaries in the AI space, launching 'Laila', an AI assistant built to automate routine scientific tasks, monitor lab devices, streamline experiments, and support scientific breakthroughs. The company's journey showed how MENA-based tech firms can make meaningful contributions on the international stage, addressing critical needs with thoughtful, scalable solutions, rather than pursuing growth for the sake of it. Some of the conditions driving innovation in parts of this region - unreliable infrastructure, limited public services, and fast-changing digital habits - are also common in of Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. That makes it easier for MENA startups to move into these markets with products that are already a good fit. The best of them aren't reworking old playbooks. They're tackling difficult, often deep-rooted issues like financial access, education gaps, and food and water security, creating tools that deliver real impact and stand the test of time. One such case is Dubai-based Dake Rechsand, which specializes in sustainability solutions for desert farming and water conservation. The company developed a sand-based material that enables desert soil to retain water, making rainwater harvesting possible and turning previously barren land into fertile farmland. It has expanded its operations from the UAE into the USA, India, China and South Africa. Another regional trailblazer is Tyro, which connects students with qualified tutors. By acquiring Nafham, a free, crowdsourced education platform aligned with school curricula in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Syria, and Algeria, the company has created the largest edtech platform in the region. This deal improved the learning experience for Nafham's 6 million users and demonstrated how local partnerships can drive substantial growth. These are not just new tech products; they are solutions for urgent, often overlooked problems that call for real innovation, and MENA startups are stepping up to meet those requirements. For many of these startups, growth is primarily demand-driven, rather than motivated merely by a desire for greater visibility. They expand into markets where their products fulfil a genuine need, guided by proven strategies, rather than a pursuit of publicity. The region's ecosystem is rapidly evolving. In Q1 2025, MENA startups raised US$1.5 billion, a 244% increase from the same period last year. This momentum demonstrates the belief that both local and international investors now have in the region's growing potential. Funding is just one part of the story. What sets the strongest startups apart is their focus on filling specific gaps in the market. Their products aren't abstract ideas; they're direct responses to challenges people face every day. The future of MENA's startup scene is bright. As the region matures, it is no longer just playing catch-up with the rest of the world. Many MENA startups now addressing universal problems are often doing so more effectively than their international counterparts. They adapt proven local ideas for international markets. By fixing real gaps where they operate, they earn trust, and prove their models work worldwide. This is how you build for today and tomorrow.
