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Tesla opens its patents for everyone to share EV knowledge

By Michael Karkafiris Motor Industry 13 June 2014 10:43 Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and one of the most talked-about personalities in the automotive industry, announced today that his company has opened all of its patents to make way for the competition to catch up and promote electric mobility for a wider audience. Open-sourcing your patents is a rather unusual strategy in the automotive world but Musk says that ‘Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal.

Logbook loans signal increasing debt risk

CONSUMERS who buy second-hand cars are at risk of unwittingly inheriting debts taken out by the previous owner that could end up with their vehicle being seized, Citizens' Advice is warning. The charity said one in five people who reported a problem to it about “logbook loans”, where a person places their car as security against a loan, ended up having their car repossessed – despite not being the one who borrowed the money. Citizens' Advice warned someone who buys a car which is still the subject of an outstanding logbook loan taken out by a previous owner could end up being chased for the debt – leaving them with the choice of making the repayments or having their vehicle repossessed.

Audi TT Coupe & Roadster Black Edition get Amplified Black Package Option

Audi has launched an extra package for the TT Coupe and Roadster Black Edition – the Amplified Black Package – with extra spec for £700. Car makers like a ‘Black’ edition, but what do you do when you’ve already got a ‘Black’ Edition and want to gild it a bit to get punters to spend a few bob more? Do you call it ‘Super Black’ or ‘Black Plus’ or ‘Ultimate Black’?