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Money-losing Japanese automaker Nissan is banking on its latest “e-Power” technology for a turnaround.A kind of hybrid, e-Power comes equipped with both an electric motor and gasoline engine, much like the Toyota Motor Corp. Prius. It’s different from a Prius in that it doesn’t switch back and forth between the motor and engine during the drive.That means the car always is running on its EV battery, ensuring a quiet, smooth ride.“Nissan has a proud history of pioneering innovative technology that set us apart,” Chief Technology Officer Eiichi Akashi told reporters on the sidelines of a test drive at its Grandrive course outside Tokyo.The advantage of e-Power vehicles is that they never need to be charged like EVs do. The owner just fuels up at a gas station and the car never runs out of a charge.Nissan Motor Corp., which racked up a $4.5 billion loss for the fiscal year through March, sorely needs a hot-seller, especially in the lucrative North American market. But the U.S. market is proving a big headache for all the Japanese automakers because of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.To achieve a turnaround, Nissan is working on reducing costs, strengthening business partnerships and redefining its lineup. That’s where e-Power fits in, according to Akashi.Yokohama-based Nissan announced earlier this month that it’s slashing about 15% of its global work force, or about 20,000 employees, and reducing the number of its auto plants to 10 from 17, under an ambitious recovery plan led by its new Chief Executive Ivan Espinosa.Nissan officials did not give a price for the upcoming e-Power models. The one other automaker that offers a similar technology is “kei,” or tiny car, manufacturer Daihatsu Motor Co.E-Power is already offered on the Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail model in Europe, and the Note in Japan. The upgraded version will be offered in the new Rogue in the U.S.Nissan, a pioneer in EVs with its Leaf, which went on sale in 2010, is also preparing beefed up EV models. It’s also working on a solid-state battery which is expected to replace the lithium-ion batteries now widely used in hybrids, EVs and e-Power models.Analysts say Nissan is in danger of running out of cash and needs a partner. Speculation is rife its Yokohama headquarters building will get sold, or one of its Japan plants will be turned into a casino.Nissan started talks last year with Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. for a business integration but announced in February that it was dropping the talks. Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer
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E-Commerce
Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a multistate investigation of a Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers believed to have been grown by Bedner Growers Inc. of Boynton Beach, Florida. That outbreak has so far sickened 26 people in 15 states. And now, that outbreak has caused Walmart to recall a select cucumber product from some of its stores. Heres what you need to know about Walmarts cucumber recall. Whats happened? On May 22, Walmart announced that it was recalling a select cucumber product over fears that it had the possibility of being contaminated with Salmonella. The notice about the recall was published by the FDA a day later. According to the notice, Walmart is voluntarily recalling a cucumber product because it is believed Bedner Growers, Inc. may have supplied the cucumbers in the product. What cucumber product is Walmart recalling? The recall involves just one cucumber productMarketside Fresh Cut Cucumber Slices that were produced in select Texas-area stores between May 13, 2025 and May 20, 2025. Here are the details of that product: Product Description: Marketside Fresh Cut Cucumber Slices UPC/PLU: 62969 Av. Unit Weight: 1.5 lbs Date Codes: All date codes up to 5/24/2025 A photo of the recalled Marketside Fresh Cut Cucumber Slices can be found here. Has anyone been harmed by the recalled product? Unlike with the wider cucumber recall, no known illnesses have been specifically linked to the recalled Walmart cucumber product. More than two dozen individuals are known to have been sickened by the cucumbers involved in the wider recall. What should I do if I have the recalled Walmart cucumber product? If you have the recalled Marketside Fresh Cut Cucumber Slices, you should not consume them or let them be consumed by anyone else, nor should you give them away. Instead, you should throw out the product or return it to Walmart for a refund. The recall notice also states that you should clean and sanitize surfaces that the recalled product has come into contact with in order to reduce the chances of cross-contamination. What is Salmonella? Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause potentially fatal infections in people. While most Salmonella infections can resolve within a week, individuals who are young or elderly, or those who have weakened immune systems, can experience more severe consequences from a Salmonella infection. You can find out more details about Salmonella infections on the CDCs website here.
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E-Commerce
Salesforce is buying AI-powered cloud data management company Informatica in an approximately $8 billion deal.Informatica’s shareholders will receive $25 per share, a premium of about 11% from Friday’s closing price of $22.55.The transaction will give Salesforce access to Informatica’s data management capabilities.Informatica was taken private in 2015 by private equity firm Permira and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for about $5.3 billion. It went public again in 2021.“Joining forces with Salesforce represents a significant leap forward in our journey to bring data and AI to life by empowering businesses with the transformative power of their most critical asset their data,” Informatica CEO Amit Walia said in a statement on Tuesday. “We have a shared vision for how we can help organizations harness the full value of their data in the AI era.”Robin Washington, president and chief operating and financial officer at Salesforce, said in a statement that the acquisition will look to take advantage of Informatica’s capabilities quickly, particularly in areas such as the public sector, life sciences, health care, and financial services. San Francisco-based Salesforce is set to report its quarterly financial results Wednesday after the bell.Both companies’ boards have approved the deal, which is expected to close early in Salesforce’s fiscal 2027.Shares of Salesforce rose slightly before the market open, while Informatica’s stock jumped 5.7%. Michelle Chapman, AP Business Writer
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E-Commerce
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