
Can You Powder Coat An Engine Block?
Powder coating can be used to change the color of an engine block, but it requires the block to be removed from the vehicle and fully disassembled. The process involves thorough degreasing, applying a powder via an electrostatic gun, and curing the coating in a heat chamber above 400 °F. Specialized equipment such as a contaminant‑free air compressor, curing oven, and engine hoist are essential, making the job impractical for most DIY shops. Professional finishers often offer mail‑in services for engine components.
Horse Powertrain Reveals Lightweight Hybrid V6 System at Beijing Auto Show 2026
Horse Powertrain unveiled the HORSE W30, a 3‑liter lightweight hybrid V6 delivering 350‑400 kW and 600‑700 Nm, weighing just 160 kg—about 10 kg lighter than any rival. The engine can be mounted transversely or longitudinally and is paired with the 199 kg HORSE 4LDHT four‑speed hybrid transmission....

Fuel Surcharges Jump as Airlines Tighten Schedules
Rising jet‑fuel prices have forced airlines in Thailand to slash capacity and double fuel surcharges. The International Air Transport Association reports global jet‑fuel averaging $184.63 per barrel, a 105% year‑on‑year increase, while Japan Airlines and ANA lifted Thai‑route surcharges to...

Why Do People Fill Engine Blocks With Epoxy?
Mechanics sometimes fill engine blocks with epoxy resin to boost structural rigidity and create a closed‑deck design common in high‑performance builds. The epoxy bonds to metal, seals cracks, and can be machined after curing while still allowing coolant flow if...

United Airlines Slashes 2026 Forecast as Fuel Costs Surge
United Airlines slashed its 2026 adjusted earnings outlook to $7‑$11 per share, down from $12‑$14, as jet‑fuel prices surged following the Iran conflict. The carrier posted a strong first quarter, delivering $1.19 adjusted EPS and $14.61 billion in revenue, a 10%...

Australia's New Regulations and Elevated Oil Prices to Boost Chinese Auto Manufacturers
Australia is tightening vehicle efficiency standards while oil prices remain volatile, accelerating the shift toward electric and hybrid cars. The market, heavily reliant on imports, is seeing Chinese OEMs gain traction with competitively priced EVs and hybrids. Analysts project Chinese...

How the Iran Energy Crisis Is Supercharging Southeast Asia’s EV Transition
The Iran‑driven energy crisis has pushed fuel prices to record highs across Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, prompting motorists to consider electric vehicles as a cheaper alternative. At the Bangkok Auto Show, Chinese EV maker BYD secured the most orders,...

Google Wallet Adds Live Update for Flight Tracking
Google Wallet on Android now provides Live Updates for flight tracking, displaying real‑time status, estimated arrival and a progress bar on the lock screen and always‑on display. The feature activates shortly before take‑off for users who have added a boarding...
Lufthansa Axes 20,000 ‘Unprofitable’ Flights to Save Jet Fuel
Lufthansa will cancel 20,000 short‑haul flights through October, aiming to save more than 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel. The airline cites jet fuel costs that have doubled since the Iran conflict began and has already retired its 27‑aircraft CityLine...

Trump Seeks Suitors for Spirit Airlines While Dismissing Another Merger
President Donald Trump publicly rejected a merger between United Airlines and American Airlines while urging a buyer for Spirit Airlines, which is in its second bankruptcy filing. He suggested the federal government could assist in rescuing Spirit, citing the airline’s...

Denver International Airport and Southwest Airlines Launch TSA PreCheck Touchless ID Bag Drop
Denver International Airport and Southwest Airlines have introduced a TSA PreCheck Touchless ID Bag Drop, adding dedicated lanes at the airport’s West and East security checkpoints. The system uses facial‑comparison technology to verify a passenger’s identity, allowing eligible travelers to...

Volotea and Immfly to Launch Next-Gen High-Speed Connectivity for Enhanced Inflight Experience
Volotea and Immfly announced a joint rollout of next‑generation inflight connectivity, beginning with a trial of Gogo’s ESA antenna on the Eutelsat LEO satellite constellation slated for the second half of 2026. The high‑speed, low‑latency link will be installed on...

Delta Enhances Airport Experience with Seamless Connections, Touchless Security and Faster Bag Drop
Delta Air Lines is rolling out a suite of ground‑experience upgrades, including Seamless Baggage Transfer for additional international routes, TSA PreCheck Touchless ID at more than 60 airports, and an App‑based bag‑drop that rewards pre‑check‑in. Passengers traveling from Incheon to...

Nice Côte D’Azur Airport Inaugurates Terminal 2 Extension for Enhanced Passenger Experience
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has opened a 23,000 sqm extension to Terminal 2, raising its annual capacity from 14 million to 18 million passengers. The first phase, completed ahead of the 2025 summer season, adds a larger non‑Schengen lounge, a new passport‑control zone, retail...

Air India Retrofit Programme Enhances Comfort with RECARO Seating on Boeing 787-8
Air India has begun a fleet‑wide retrofit of its 26 Boeing 787‑8 aircraft, installing RECARO’s PL3530 seats in Premium Economy and CL3710 seats in Economy. The customised seats add adjustable headrests, deeper recline and personal device charging, enhancing passenger ergonomics....

Verona Airport Expands Premium Customer Experience with Aspire’s Catullo Lounge
Verona Airport’s Catullo Lounge has been rebranded and is now operated by Aspire Pre‑Flight Hospitality, Swissport’s airport hospitality arm. The revamped space offers 95 seats, panoramic runway views, local Veneto cuisine, high‑speed Wi‑Fi, showers and dedicated work zones. It is...
EU Eyes Rules Excluding Existing Corsia Phase 1 Supply
The European Commission is drafting rules that could render the entire existing pool of CORSIA Phase 1 credits ineligible for EU airlines. The proposal targets credits generated under high‑forest, low‑deforestation (HFLD) methodologies and those from projects with a non‑renewable biomass fraction...

SiFly Drones Now Appear on ADS-B Exchange
SiFly Aviation announced that its cloud‑connected Q12 drones now appear on ADS‑B Exchange’s live airspace map, placing unmanned aircraft alongside traditional planes. The drones transmit telemetry via secure cloud connectivity, eliminating the need for onboard ADS‑B transponders. Live tests have shown...
One Challenge, Five Startups: Better Public Transport for India
India’s Transport4All (T4A) Challenge, launched in April 2021 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Smart Cities Mission, mobilized over 240,000 citizens, 130 cities and 28 startups to tackle chronic bus‑service unreliability. The competition split the problem...

BART Ridership Surged While I-80 Was Closed Through San Francisco
BART saw a 46% surge in weekend ridership on both Saturday and Sunday as eastbound I‑80 through San Francisco was closed for 48 hours. The closure also reduced westbound Bay Bridge traffic by about 7% on Saturday, indicating a shift...

China's Robotaxi Fleet to Nearly Triple in 2026, Goldman Says
Goldman Sachs projects China’s robotaxi fleet to surge from 5,000 in 2025 to 14,000 in 2026, nearly tripling in a year. By 2035, robotaxis are expected to account for 36% of all ride‑sharing vehicles, while the robotruck fleet could expand...

Seeds | Boundary.AI Closes Series B Round Exceeding 100 Million Yuan
Boundary.AI, a Chinese developer of high‑safety flight control systems for eVTOL aircraft, closed a Series B round exceeding 100 million yuan (about $14 million). The round was led by Xiamen C&D with participation from Zhangke Yaokun, Xingqi Weilai, and existing backers Yida...

China Deploys Robot Dogs, Drones, and Humanoids to Run a ‘Full-Space’ Metro System
During February’s Spring Festival rush, Hefei’s metro deployed a coordinated fleet of robot dogs, drones and humanoid assistants, forming China’s first “full‑space” robot cluster for rail transit. Managed by a single AI‑driven dispatch platform, the machines handle platform patrols, tunnel...
![[Gasgoo Express] Public Consultation Opened for Mandatory National Standard on L2 Driver Assistance; Report: Stellantis Plans Cooperation with Dongfeng Motor...](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://gascloud.gasgoo.com/production/2026/04/c107f8b9-ac80-4b96-8ae3-1692d7d53165-1776793772.png)
[Gasgoo Express] Public Consultation Opened for Mandatory National Standard on L2 Driver Assistance; Report: Stellantis Plans Cooperation with Dongfeng Motor...
China has opened a public consultation (April 16‑22) on its first mandatory national standard for Level‑2 driver‑assistance systems, targeting implementation on Jan. 1, 2027. The draft, co‑authored by Huawei, Xiaomi, BYD and Tesla, categorises L2 assistance into three types and sets...

UPS & Happy Returns: ‘Expansion to 10,000 US Locations’
UPS announced it will expand the Happy Returns reverse‑logistics network to 10,000 locations across the United States, embedding the service within its existing parcel infrastructure. The rollout leverages UPS’s 1,800 retail partners and more than 2,000 Access Point sites, giving...

Airlines Demand UK Relax Noise Rules and Cut Flight Tax as Fuel Shortage Looms
Airlines UK, representing carriers such as British Airways and easyJet, has lodged a formal request with the UK government to relax noise restrictions, suspend the emissions trading scheme, and cut air passenger duty as a looming jet‑fuel shortage threatens operations....
Amtrak to Get $4.7B for Northeast Corridor Projects, Opens Bids for New Long-Distance Trains
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $4.7 billion in grants for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and $2 billion for nationwide passenger and freight rail upgrades, funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The first round targets New York Penn Station and...

He Xiaopeng Responds to Autonomous Driving Route Debate: Iterating Directly From L2 to L4 Is the Safest Path
He Xiaopeng, XPeng's chairman and CEO, argued that the safest route to full autonomy is to iterate directly from Level 2 to Level 4, bypassing the traditional Level 3 bridge. He emphasized extending the distance between driver interventions from 100 km to 1,000‑10,000 km to...

Venture Launches Alcohol Detection System
Mobile Innovation Co Ltd and Human Technologies (Thailand) have launched the Trac Online Alcohol Checker, a cloud‑based SaaS solution that ties breath‑alcohol testing to GPS‑tracked employee check‑ins and identity verification. The system supports Thailand’s upcoming 2025 Road Safety Law by...

The Middle Corridor Emerges as a Strategic Lifeline for Global Trade
The World Bank and partners pledged $3.3 billion on April 14‑15 to upgrade the Middle Corridor, including $1.9 billion for Turkey’s Istanbul North Rail Crossing and $1.4 billion for Kazakhstan’s Karagandy‑Zhezkazgan highway. Geopolitical tension around the Strait of Hormuz and Russia’s war in Ukraine...
Kiewit JV Picked for Segment of $7B Texas Light Rail
Austin Transit Partnership awarded a joint venture led by Kiewit Building Group and Austin Commercial the contract to build the operations and maintenance facility for its inaugural light‑rail system. The overall project is valued between $6.8 billion and $7.1 billion, funded by...
Europe, Atlantic Crude Tanker Rates at Pre-War Levels
Atlantic and European crude tanker rates have retreated to pre‑war levels as surplus vessels shift from the Middle East Gulf to other routes. The Black Sea‑Mediterranean Suezmax price fell from $57.19 per ton to $27.69 per ton within two days....

A&K Robotics Announces $8M Series A Round
A&K Robotics, a Vancouver‑based developer of indoor autonomous mobility solutions, closed a CAD 8 million ($5.9 million USD) Series A round led by BDC’s Industrial Innovation Venture Fund and Vantage Futures. The funding will accelerate the rollout of its Cruz self‑driving pods, already deployed...
$1B Virginia Airport Upgrade Project Reaches Milestone
Norfolk International Airport announced a milestone in its $1 billion TransformORF modernization, unveiling a three‑gate expansion in Concourse A that adds nearly 19,000 square feet of space. The new gates, designated A10‑A12, will initially serve American Airlines, with Breeze Airways slated to...

Valeo to Expand Investment in Wuhan
Valeo announced a renewed commitment to its Wuhan operations, pledging higher investment in the local headlight factory and accelerating the rollout of new lighting, electrification and ADAS technologies. The Wuhan hub, which houses a 1,500‑engineer R&D center and a global...

UBTECH Signs Partnership with Terra Robotics, Humanoid Robots Deployed in European Retail Logistics Scenarios
UBTECH Technology has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Terra Robotics to sell its full‑size embodied intelligent humanoid robots across Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Terra is deploying dozens of Walker S series units in ROSSMANN’s retail logistics centers, marking the...
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Introduces 1000–1500 V MLCCs for EV Inverter and OBC Designs
Samsung Electro‑Mechanics has entered mass production of ultra‑high‑voltage multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) rated between 1000 V and 1500 V. The new 1210‑size parts deliver 1.2 nF to 33 nF with C0G or X8G dielectrics, offering near‑zero temperature drift from –55 °C to 150 °C. Designed for...

Porsche Unveils Future Formula E Racing Car: The 975 RSE
Porsche unveiled its Gen 4 Formula E contender, the 975 RSE, ahead of the 2026/27 season. The new car features permanent all‑wheel drive with a 250 kW front unit supplied by Lucid and a 350 kW rear powertrain, delivering a combined 600 kW (≈ 816 hp). A standardized...
Svitzer Balder Completes Sea Trials of Electric Escort Tug with 6 MWh LFP Battery System
Svitzer Balder, a harbor tug built in Turkey, has completed sea trials using AYK Energy’s 6 MWh LFP battery system, which the company touts as the world’s most powerful electric escort tug and the first battery‑methanol hybrid. The AriesA battery pack offers...
ECRI Spins Off Supply Tech Company
ECRI has spun off its healthcare spend and recall management unit into a new independent company called Staritas. Staritas will deliver data‑driven supply chain intelligence, leveraging AI and real‑time analytics used by nearly 90% of top U.S. hospitals and providers...
Mercedes-Benz Secures Multi-Year EV Battery Supply Deal with Samsung SDI
Mercedes‑Benz announced a multi‑year supply agreement with Samsung SDI to provide high‑energy nickel‑manganese‑cobalt (NCM) batteries for its upcoming electric models. The partnership, unveiled alongside the all‑new electric C‑Class in Seoul, includes joint development of next‑generation battery technology. Samsung SDI will supply its...
Aisin Contract Manufacturing Mazda 6-Speed Auto Transmission in US
Aisin announced it has started contract manufacturing of Mazda's new six‑speed automatic transmission at its Aisin Drivetrain, Inc. (ADI) plant in Crothersville, Indiana. The Indiana facility will produce the transmission for the North American market, leveraging Aisin's established drivetrain expertise....

Germany’s CSU Mocked over Call for ‘End to the End of the Combustion Engine’
Germany’s Bavarian CSU parliamentary group called for ending the “end of the combustion engine” and urged the EU to relax the 2035 CO₂ car standards. The party shared an AI‑generated graphic that featured an Audi e‑tron GT, a battery‑electric vehicle,...

Slow Travel and Cultural Immersion with Paul Gauguin Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises is promoting sustainable luxury cruising in French Polynesia with 7‑night itineraries that prioritize cultural immersion and low‑impact travel. Guests can explore lagoons by traditional outrigger canoes, attend Polynesian cooking classes, and visit archaeological sites across Tahiti, Bora Bora,...

Trump Says 'Maybe' Government Should Help Struggling Spirit Airlines
President Donald Trump told CNBC’s Squawk Box that the federal government could intervene to help Spirit Airlines, which is facing liquidation after filing its second bankruptcy in August. The discount carrier’s turnaround plan aimed for a mid‑2026 emergence, but soaring...

Wärtsilä Launches New NTPRO 7 Bridge and Shiphandling Simulator
Wärtsilä unveiled NTPRO 7, its latest bridge and ship‑handling simulator, aimed at modernizing maritime training amid rapid digitalization. The platform leverages Unreal Engine 5 for high‑fidelity sea visualisation and incorporates AI‑driven voice commands, S‑100‑ready digital navigation, and Wärtsilä’s Navi‑Sailor ECDIS. DNV awarded...
CATL’s Latest LFP Battery Blows The Competition Out Of The Water
China's CATL unveiled its third‑generation Shenxing lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) battery, capable of charging from 10% to 90% in just 6 minutes and 27 seconds. The pack retains over 90% of its original capacity after 1,000 ultra‑fast charging cycles and boasts an...
LG Innotek Secures Automotive Wi-Fi 7 Supply Agreement
LG Innotek has landed a $68 million supply deal to provide its automotive Wi‑Fi 7 communication module to an unnamed European parts maker, with mass production slated for 2027. The compact module, roughly one‑sixth the size of a credit card, supports a...

Globe Air Cargo Is New GSSA to airBaltic in UK
Globe Air Cargo UK has signed a General Sales and Service Agreement (GSSA) to manage the belly capacity of airBaltic’s 17 weekly flights from London‑Gatwick to Riga and Tallinn, effective 6 March 2026. The agreement also adds two weekly Aberdeen‑Riga services from...

Bleckmann to Open Another Giant Distribution Centre in UK
Bleckmann announced the opening of a new 761,932‑sq‑ft multi‑client distribution centre in Leicestershire, slated for July 2026. The facility sits in the Midlands’ logistics “golden triangle” and joins existing UK sites in Swindon, Bury St Edmunds, Burton‑on‑Trent, Crick and Corby. Designed...