BMW Group UK has announced a partnership with Global, the Media & Entertainment Group, making BMW and MINI the first automotive brands to integrate the Global Player app into their vehicles’ built-in app stores.
The deal brings a massive library of live radio, award-winning podcasts, and curated playlists to the dashboards of over 180,000 vehicles across the UK.
By integrating the app directly into the infotainment system, the service removes the need for drivers to connect a smartphone via Bluetooth or cable. Once signed in, users can enjoy a seamless transition between listening in their car, at home, or in the office, claims BMW.
The app allows drivers to pause and rewind live radio, browse thousands of podcasts and access personalized playlists using the vehicle’s native controls. Data for streaming is included for customers with a BMW Digital Premium or MINI Connected Package subscription.
“We’re excited to offer BMW and MINI customers enhanced connectivity through the new Global Player in-car app, allowing them to enjoy their most-loved music, news and podcasts with ease,” said Chris Hollis, BMW Group Customer Digital Applications Manager. He added that the addition further strengthens the brand’s “seamless in-car entertainment experience.”
The reach of the app is expected to grow rapidly, with the number of compatible vehicles projected to exceed 300,000 by the end of 2026. This expansion will include the upcoming BMW iX3 and future “Neue Klasse” models.
Stephen Toombs, Head of In-Car Distribution for Global Player, emphasized the importance of reaching listeners on the move. “We know that in-car listening plays an important role in people’s daily routines and we want to make finding the audio they love as easy as possible,” he stated.
The partnership aligns with Global’s ambition to make its content available “everywhere our audiences are.”
BMW has officially delivered the first customer unit of the BMW Skytop, the ultra-limited targa model derived from the M8 Competition. The handover took place at BMW Welt in Munich, where Italian entrepreneur and racing driver Andrea Levy received chassis #001. The car will now head to Turin, Italy, to join Levy’s 777 Collection, marking the beginning of deliveries for BMW’s 50-unit coachbuilt masterpiece.
From Concept to Limited Production
The Skytop’s arrival marks a rare transformation from concept to reality. Exactly a year ago, BMW unveiled the Skytop concept at the 2024 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, a design study that quickly captured collectors’ attention. Following the enthusiastic response, BMW approved a small production run of just 50 cars, all of which were spoken for within weeks.
The car delivered in Munich is nearly identical to the original Villa d’Este prototype. It retains the same proportions, surfacing, and detailing, including the manually removable targa roof made of two leather-wrapped panels that can be stored in a dedicated trunk compartment.
BMW has not released official pricing, but multiple reports place the figure at around €500,000.
Design and Technical Highlights
The Skytop blends classic BMW GT proportions with modern minimalism. Its design draws inspiration from the BMW Z8 and the BMW 503, combining a long hood and short rear deck with sculpted bodywork and intricate surfacing.
It’s also the first BMW to feature electrically operated winglets instead of traditional door handles—flush elements that extend automatically from the beltline when the car is unlocked. This new design cue is expected to appear on future BMW models, including the upcoming X5 (G65) and X7 (G67).
Underneath, the Skytop uses the M8 Competition’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine paired with xDrive all-wheel drive. While official specs haven’t been shared, performance is expected to match the M8’s 617 horsepower and 0–100 km/h time of around 3.3 seconds.
A Rare Sight Already on the Road
With only 50 units planned for production, the Skytop is one of BMW’s most exclusive projects ever. Each example is hand-built, combining BMW’s design expertise with small-series craftsmanship more commonly seen in bespoke Italian exotics.
The first car now resides in Italy, and given its rarity, design significance, and connection to the final generation of the 8 Series, it’s already shaping up to be one of the most collectible modern BMWs produced in the last decade.
BMW believes that electric cars are not the only key to decarbonization and, starting from 2028, the company’s combustion engine models built in Germany will leave the factory with a tank full of synthetic e-fuel.
The manufacturer says e-fuel has a carbon footprint up to 90% lower than regular petrol, although experts point out this only applies if the electricity used to make the fuel comes from sustainable sources.
The synthetic fuel, which currently still requires large amounts of energy to create, is compatible with modern engines designed to run on E10 (a 10% ethanol blend) and will work not only in new cars but also in existing ones without modification.
Germany’s eFuel One, collaborating with BMW, is currently building a factory in the German state of Lower Saxony, where production is set to begin in 2028 with a planned annual capacity of 75 million litres.
“At the heart of this pioneering partnership is a clear commitment to the use of CO2-reduced fuels in order to actively support the climate targets of German and European legislation,” said the eFuel One statement.
The move comes amid ongoing discussion in Europe over the planned final cut-off for the sale of diesel and petrol cars.
The EU’s ban on new combustion engine cars is set to take effect in 2035, aiming to reduce carbon emissions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The measure is up for review at the end of the year.
BMW is among several German manufacturers calling for the phase-out to be postponed to allow the continued sale of petrol-electric hybrids and cars using synthetic fuels alongside battery-electrics.
“We are convinced that all drive systems must contribute to climate neutrality,” Glenn Schmidt, Head of Sustainability at BMW, told visitors at an event at the firm’s Berlin motorcycle plant, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport car magazine reported.
Since the beginning of 2025, all new BMW diesel vehicles from Germany have been sold with the more climate-friendly biofuel HVO.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) is introduced to a BMW iX3 car by BMW CEO Oliver Zipse (C) , watched by Bavaria’s State Premier Markus Soeder (R) at the German car manufacturers booth on the opening day of the International Motor Show IAA, Sept. 9, 2025, in Munich, Germany. TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images
At Climate Week NYC, BMW unveiled its new all-electric flagship, the BMW iX3, marking the U.S. debut of its Neue Klasse platform and reaffirming the automaker’s pledge to electrify more than 40 models in the coming years. The launch comes at a time when EV demand appears to be slowing and many automakers are rethinking their electric strategies.
BMW CTO Joachim Post emphasized that the iX3 is more than just another crossover. “It’s a new era for us,” Post told a small group of media, including Observer, ahead of the event this week. He explained that BMW engineers have merged technology, design and computing power into a single platform adaptable across the lineup, from sports cars to SUVs.
The iX3 promises about 400 miles of range and can add roughly 175 miles of charge in just ten minutes on a 400kW charger. Inside, it features a panoramic head-up display stretching from pillar to pillar across the windshield and four “superbrain” computers managing everything from vehicle dynamics to navigation and climate control.
Such advances come as competition in the EV space heats up. Tesla, Hyundai and BYD are rolling out efficient, long-range, fast-charging models at competitive prices. BMW is betting that it can combine performance and luxury while insulating itself from the geopolitical turbulence shaping the global auto industry.
Part of that strategy is what BMW calls its “local-for-local” footprint, with factories in Hungary, Munich, and Spartanburg, S.C. “Production follows the market and supply chain follows production,” Post said, noting the company’s $1.7 billion investment in U.S. battery and vehicle assembly plants. That approach, he added, allows BMW to adapt regardless of shifting incentives or political headwinds.
At the same time, BMW is pursuing a “technology open” philosophy. Post stressed that combustion engines and hybrids won’t disappear from the lineup, even as EVs like the iX3 and upcoming electric X5 roll out. “The customer decides which car they are buying,” he said. “Government can make regulations, but the customer will decide what they want.”
The BMW iX3 is inspired by the classic BMW 2002 kidney grilles. Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images
The iX3’s look has been met with mixed, but largely positive reviews here in the States. The new design moves away from the oversized “chipmunk” grille, with cues inspired by the classic BMW 2002 kidney grilles. Post dismissed the idea that BMW’s previous bold designs were driven by Chinese demand. “BMW makes designs that work all over the world,” he said, noting that market-specific adjustments, like longer wheelbases in China and sport packages in the U.S., have always been part of the strategy.
Inside, BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive system aims to restore its driver-centric reputation. Augmented reality projected on the windshield reimagines how drivers engage with their surroundings, addressing criticism that BMW had strayed too far from its performance roots.
Beyond luxury and design, BMW is sharpening its focus on sustainability. It has partnered with SK On and Redwood Materials (Tesla co-founder JB Straubel’s EV battery company) in the U.S. to develop closed-loop battery recycling. While large-scale recycling is still years away due to the limited supply of used batteries, BMW executives stressed its importance. “EVs are mines on wheels,” said Glenn Schmidt, BMW’s vice president of sustainability. “We need to treat vehicles as resources, where a bumper doesn’t end up as a bottle, but rather a high-value component in a future car.”
Executives also highlighted BMW’s push toward circularity as a hedge against geopolitical risk. The company is using A.I. to track the lifecycle of vehicle components, and has already mapped the complete carbon footprint of its kidney grilles.
The iX3’s debut underscores BMW’s commitment to the U.S. market, EVs and the Paris Accords—even as adoption in the U.S. lags behind Europe and China. Post acknowledged American skepticism about EVs but noted that “most customers don’t go back to combustion engines once they’ve tried an EV.” He also pointed to BMW’s sixth-generation battery technology as a path toward affordability without reliance on fading government subsidies.
In the end, the iX3 is both BMW’s calling card and a test case in an uncertain U.S. EV market. The real question is whether BMW’s strategy of flexibility—in design, powertrains and supply chains—will be enough to win over consumers who remain undecided about electric cars.
Almost 200,000 BMWs, along with some Toyota Supras, are being recalled in the U.S. by the German automaker due to the potential for a short circuit in their starters that could increase the risk of a fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday.
A total of 196,355 vehicles in the U.S. will be subject to the recall, the vast majority of them BMWs made between 2019 and 2022, in which NHTSA said “the engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit,” increasing the risk of a fire.
NHTSA said in its notice that BMW of North America was recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles, and that letters would go out to owners from November 14 to inform them of the issue.
From that day, vehicle owners will also be able to search online at NHTSA.gov/recalls, entering either their unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or the year, make and model of their vehicle to confirm whether it is subject to the recall.
“Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete” NHTSA said in its notice of the recall on Friday. “Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge.”
The agency, part of the Department of Transportation, said owners could also contact BMW’s U.S. customer service line directly at 1-800-525-7417 with questions.
The recall notice comes just over a year after BMW announced a recall of more than 720,700 vehicles in North America because they were equipped with an electric water pump that could short circuit as a result of faulty installation, posing a fire hazard.
Tucker Reals is CBSNews.com’s foreign editor, based in the CBS News London bureau. He has worked for CBS News since 2006, prior to which he worked for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C., and London.
Welcome back! Did you miss me? Yes, of course you did. There is a lot of “future of transportation” news to keep track of. Let’s jump in.
It’s comeback week, and not just because I have returned from vacation. I’m talking about the biennial IAA Mobility conference in Munich and the purposeful effort among German automakers to show the world it can still offer compelling, technologically advanced, and affordable vehicles. The subtext of the splashy event that started Tuesday: “Hey, China, we’re not out of the race.”
VW Group, Mercedes, and BMW all showcased numerous new vehicles, including electric ones. And executives made their battle cries: VW Group Oliver Blume struck a bullish tone in a few interviews with reporters and laid out the company’s plan to be competitive in China, particularly with EVs, a category where VW has lagged.
But what about on the home front? Chinese automakers have been pushing into Europe, and consumers have responded. The German automakers are hoping their latest products — including a new all-electric Mercedes GLC, the BMW iX3 with its four “superbrain” computers, and the Volkswagen ID Polo and ID Cross concept — will preserve and even grow market share. But they have some work to do. Chinese companies like BYD almost doubled their market share in Europe over the past year, JATO Dynamics reported in July.
One other IAA news item of note: Rimac Technology, the tech and parts unit of Rimac Group, has developed solid-state battery packs it says will be available by late 2027. These batteries apparently pack in the energy and can be charged from 10% to 80% in under 10 minutes.
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A little bird
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
Hyundaiappears to still be committed to Motional, according to two little birds who have shared new investment information with me.
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Hyundai and Aptiv had created a joint venture (called Motional) with an agreement to invest $4 billion in the effort. Aptiv backed out in early 2024, leaving Hyundai to either invest its own money, find other outside partners, or shutter the program altogether. Hyundai opted to invest $1 billion — $475 million directly into Motional as part of a broader deal that includes buying out joint venture partner Aptiv. Hyundai agreed to spend another $448 million to buy 11% of Aptiv’s common equity interest in Motional.
Now it appears Hyundai is investing more into Motional in two tranches. The first is being dispersed this year and is about $452 million. The second comes next year, and I’m still trying to nail down that amount. That first figure is in line with reporting from a Korean outlet. Hyundai declined (a couple of times!) to respond to my questions about the funding. That’s pretty typical for large corporations to stay mum. However, one little bird who is deep within the AV industry also noted that Hyundai might not want to make a big deal about this, considering it’s also working with Waymo.
In other little bird chirpings, there are two new hires at General Motorsthat you might find interesting. Sony Mohapatra, the former senior manager of AI compute platforms at Cruise, has landed as director of AI and machine learning engineering at General Motors. And Paul Menson, who was the senior staff account manager of Megapack at Tesla, is now director of energy storage systems business development at General Motors.
Via, the transit software startup that garnered attention for its consumer-facing on-demand shuttle service, has made its IPO debut. The company, as I have mentioned before, has been batting around plans for an IPO for years.
Earlier this year, it filed confidentially for an IPO — the second time it took this step. But this time, Via took the big IPO leap. The company, which is known for its Citymapper mobile navigation app, said it sold 10.7 million shares for $46 per share. In all, Via raised $492.9 million at a $3.7 billion valuation. That’s just slightly above its $3.5 billion valuation that it garnered back in 2023 during its last venture raise.
We had to wrap up this newsletter before it officially began trading, but I’ll be back next week with an update.
Other deals that got my attention …
Arc Boats, the Los Angeles startup founded in 2021 by former SpaceX employees, signed a $160 million contract with Curtin Maritime for new hybrid-electric tugs, which are expected to hit the waters around the Los Angeles port in 2027.
LeydenJar, the Netherlands-based battery materials startup, raised €13 million ($15.2 million) in a round led by Extantia and Invest-NL.
Standard Fleet, a fleet management software company, raised $13 million in a Series A round led by Nova Threshold with participation from WEX Venture Capital, SNR, Garry Tan (CEO of Y Combinator), Salil Deshpande (Uncorrelated Ventures), and Apoorv Bhargava (WeaveGrid). Returning investors included Burst Capital, Canvas Ventures, Liquid 2, Night Capital, Olive Capital, UP2398, and Danny Wen.
Notable reads and other tidbits
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
The Federal Aviation Administration announced a new pilot program that will let electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) startups test some operations before they receive full regulatory certification.
Hyundai’s once-buzzy electric air taxi startup Supernal is having trouble getting off the ground. The company paused work on its aircraft program after a rocky few months that saw staff cuts and the departure of its CEO and CTO, two people familiar with the matter told TechCrunch.
InDrive, the Mountain View-based startup that got its start in Siberia and is known for its bidding-based ride-hailing model across Asia and Latin America, wants to be a global super app. Here’s what and where it’s targeting.
Jaguar Land Rover said a cyberattack brought vehicle assembly lines to a standstill.
Lyft and May Mobility have launched a robotaxi service in Atlanta, the first commercial deployment in the two companies’ partnership.
Nevada’s Occupational Safety and Health Administrationopened an investigation after a Boring Company employee sustained a “crushing injury” working on one of its tunnels in Las Vegas. Work has stopped at the site.
Tesla has the proper permit to begin testing autonomous vehicle technology on public roads in Nevada. As I explain in this article, securing a testing permit in the state is straightforward and easy. (Just fill out the registry form, and make sure you have the proper $5 million insurance coverage.) Tesla will still need to complete the self-certification process to be able to roll out an entire program. And it will need separate approval to operate a commercial ride-hailing service.
Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle startup Momenta plan to start testing robotaxis in Munich starting in 2026.
TheU.S. Justice Departmentfiled a lawsuit against Uber, accusing the ride-hailing company of violating federal law by discriminating against people with physical disabilities.
One more thing …
TechCrunch Disrupt2025is right around the corner — in around six weeks or so. And we have some high-profile folks from the transportation world coming onto our stage at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The event, which will be held October 27 to 29, will include Wayve co-founder and CEO Alex Kendall, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, and Flexport founder and CEO Ryan Petersen. And more are coming. Stay tuned.
I want to be clear from the outset. I’ve never been a car enthusiast. My driving history includes a hand-me-down Volvo with a hole in the floorboards and a series of aggressively practical vehicles, including a VW Golf and a Mazda SUV in which I hauled my family around for 12 years. Then I leased a BMW i4 electric car.
What drew me to the i4? Unlike other electric vehicles, BMWs don’t look like something out of the Jetsons; I like that they’re understated cars that happen to be electric. I liked that they’re far less common than other EVs in Northern California. Plus, the i4 comes in something like a dozen colors, including “Brooklyn Gray,” which – I know I sound ridiculous – delighted me in ways that Tesla’s handful of options never could. I’d read online that early adopters were having software issues, but with visions of my sleek new BMW dancing in my head, I conveniently filed that information away. Those first few drives felt exhilarating, too. The car was beautiful, the ride was smooth, and I felt like we were going places.
Nearly two years later, I’m doing something I never thought I’d do: eagerly awaiting the end of a lease on a luxury car because its software is such a disaster that it makes my rusted-out Volvo look like a paragon of reliability.
A love story gone awry
Let me count the ways this relationship has gone wrong, starting with the most basic function: getting into my own car. On multiple occasions, I’ve stood in parking lots, unable to unlock its doors with my phone despite the BMW Digital Key being specifically designed for this purpose. This sounds trivial until you’re juggling melting groceries while looking like you’re trying to steal your own car.
Digital key issues have become so widespread that BMW owners have at times shared elaborate multi-step workarounds that read like instructions for disarming a bomb: “1. Open the BMW app on your phone and use it to unlock the door. 2. Sign in with your BMW ID in iDrive. 3. Place your iPhone in the vehicle’s charging tray. 4. Wait for the digital key to reappear in the Wallet app. 5. Double-click the side button, authenticate with Face ID, and—finally—start the car.”
The user profile system is another exercise in futility. I’ve been unable to create guest profiles without being demoted to the bottom of the user hierarchy. What this means in practice is that if anyone else drives my car – even once – the vehicle will grab their phone and playlist the moment they’re within Bluetooth range. BMW has over-engineered their profile system to the point where it requires explicit linking steps that should really happen automatically.
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The car’s CarPlay integration ranges from poor to actively dangerous. Software updates routinely break CarPlay functionality, requiring complete reboots of its iDrive infotainment system. The reverse camera issue is particularly maddening; put the car in reverse while using CarPlay navigation, and when you shift back to drive, you’re dumped onto the home screen instead of returning to your directions.
The backup camera itself is practically useless in low light conditions, and the screen frequently becomes scorching hot to the touch.
Then there’s the lights issue. Unless I remember to manually lock the car after walking away from it, I’ll occasionally notice later that the exterior lights are still ablaze in my driveway. I thought it might be human error the first time it happened. By the third time, I realized that it’s a “feature” where the i4 enters a “pseudo-sleep mode” that keeps lights and other systems running indefinitely. Multiple owners report the same issue: park the car, walk away, return later to find their vehicle lit up like a beacon and draining the battery.
Beyond the feeling on a near-daily basis that the car has amnesia, there are legitimate safety concerns. The 2022 i4 was subject to six recalls in its first year, including one so serious that BMW told owners their cars were fire risks when parked and advised them to “stop driving this vehicle immediately.” Since then, other recalls have included battery control units that can cause a sudden loss of power.
BMW releases software updates for the i4 approximately every few months, but the process is fraught with issues. Updates routinely break connected services, causing owners to lose access to traffic information, weather data, remote parking functions, and even the MyBMW app connectivity.
The over-the-air update system itself is unreliable, with owners reporting updates that get stuck at various percentages for days, forcing trips to dealers for manual installation.
What’s especially galling is that BMW positions these vehicles as premium products. If you’re buying rather than leasing, the i4 starts at over $50,000, with well-equipped models pushing $70,000 or more. Meanwhile, owners of less expensive vehicles, including Hyundais and Lexus models, report bulletproof connectivity and seamless user experiences.
I’m not saying the company rushed these cars to market without adequately testing their digital ecosystem, then decided to treat their customers as beta testers without taking their well-being into account, but I’m also not not saying that.
I genuinely wanted this relationship to work. The i4 is gorgeous, drives beautifully, and represents everything I thought I wanted in an electric vehicle. But I can’t continue a relationship where the most basic functions – unlocking doors, connecting my phone, getting directions – require the patience of a saint. (I do not have the patience of a saint.)
Even my tech-savvy husband, who is usually the first to suggest user error, recently emerged from the car after a particularly frustrating software meltdown and announced that he would “need to meditate for a bit.”
Car ownership shouldn’t be a constant source of aggravation. I shouldn’t have to maintain a mental database of workarounds for features that should just work. I shouldn’t dread software updates because they might break something that was (mostly) functional.
So BMW, I’ve had it. You made a gorgeous car, then sabotaged it with software so crummy that it’s almost comical. I thought we’d drive into the sunset together. Instead, I’m driving my i4 back to the dealership as my lease is over. I’m surprised to say I can’t wait.
Arapahoe sheriff deputies, South Metro firefighters and Colorado State Patrol investigate an injury accident on South Parker Road north of South Chambers Road on Sept. 1, 2025. (Provided by Arapahoe Sheriff Department)
A motorist driving a BMW at speeds in excess of 100 mph lost control of the vehicle Monday on South Parker Road just and ended up wheels pointed skyward between two horse trailers, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities said the driver and a passenger were seriously injured in the crash, which occurred shortly before 2 p.m. just southeast of the Cherry Creek Reservoir.
Witnesses told authorities that the driver of the BMW was speeding southbound on South Parker Road just north of South Chambers Road when the sedan left the roadway, crashed through a fence and landed upside down between the trailers. The driver and passenger were taken to a hospital.
Had it happened on another day, Glenn Cadrez figures he would be dead.
The former Super Bowl champion Broncos player was driving home from a pizza party after his 14-year-old son Kannon’s Pop Warner game on Aug. 23. He was two miles from his exit around 9:30 p.m. on Interstate 15 in California, when a huge cloud of dust caught his eye in the northbound lanes.
“It happened so quick. I was like, ‘What the (heck) was that?’ Then it slammed into the car, maybe two seconds in front of me. Just boom!” Cadrez recalled from his Temecula home Sunday night. “Normally, I would have been in that left lane. But I wasn’t on a Saturday with my kids in another car following me. I was driving slower in the middle lane. Thank God. I don’t think I would have survived.”
What happened next has caused Cadrez multiple sleepless nights. He said he swerved left to avoid the wreck, jumped out of his truck and ran to the scene. He saw a man hunched over outside the Nissan Sentra that was struck, so he raced to the BMW that was on fire. When he pulled open the door, his face became engulfed in black smoke and flames.
“I couldn’t see really anything in the car, not even the passenger seat, just the silhouette of the driver. I grabbed and felt his body and began pulling him out,” Cadrez said. “It looked like he had a compound fracture in his leg, and he was in a lot of pain. … I was able to get him out, and another guy showed up and we moved him away. A few seconds later, the car was fully engulfed.”
Cadrez’s two sons arrived with their mother not long after — and braced for the worst. When they saw his truck stopped on the shoulder, they thought he had been hit. Cadrez was overjoyed to see them, but struggled to make sense of the scene. How did that car end up here, going the wrong way?
The 25-year-old man Cadrez removed from the vehicle sustained major injuries and charges are pending, the L.A. Times reported. But he was alive.
Three others in his car — a 23-year-old woman in the passenger seat and a 14-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl in the backseat — were killed, the L.A. Times reported. The news hit Cadrez like a thunderbolt.
“It was really hard to hear that. Those are the ages of my sons. It’s so sad,” Cadrez said of the crash that also took the life of the driver in the other car, according to the CHP.
“When I got there, I was yelling to see if anyone was there. I was asking the driver if anyone else was in there. I never heard anything. No voices. Maybe I couldn’t have saved them. But I wish I could have done more to help. It hurts.”
His mind and heart racing, Cadrez barely slept in the days following the wreck. It never entered his mind, however, not to do something.
“I have got kids. Everything I do is with them in mind. I would like to think if they were in trouble, someone would help them,” Cadrez said. “So my only thought was, ‘I have to get this guy out.’ I just wish I could have been there maybe a few seconds sooner. It just torched so fast. The heat was unbelievable. I thought it was going to blow.”
Glenn Cadrez attends Big Game Kick-Off Event, hosted by Jay Glazer, Merging Vets And Players, at Academy LA on February 09, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images)
Cadrez, 55, served as a critical special teams member in 1997 and a starting linebacker in 1998 during the Broncos’ back-to-back Super Bowl championships. We like to think that we would all be good Samaritans. But let’s be honest, it takes a special person to run toward a fire.
When news spread of Cadrez’s actions, his former teammates were not surprised. This is how they described him.
“Glenn was an absolute rock star teammate. He showed us what it means to be tough and committed,” said former star fullback Howard Griffith. “He made sure we were all on the same page. And he always put the team first.”
Cadrez called Hall of Famer Steve Atwater not long after the crash. About 30 Broncos from those glory days remain in a group chat as a way to stay in touch.
“He saved a young man’s life!” Atwater said. “… Glenn was an awesome teammate, a great player.”
As the texts came in about Cadrez, they carried a common theme. Smart. Athletic. Selfless.
“He knew every position on our defense,” said edge rusher Alfred Williams. “He is a great dude.”
I covered Cadrez during those Super Bowl years, and can vividly recall how popular he was in the locker room. He was someone who could be trusted, who was more concerned with playing for his teammates than personal accolades. Told of their recollections, Cadrez paused.
“That means a lot,” Cadrez said.
What happened on that Saturday night, what he did, makes Cadrez even more special. Even if he doesn’t see it that way.
“I was there at the right time to do something. That’s it. There wasn’t really a thought process,” said Cadrez, who flies a Broncos flag outside of his home on game days and plans to attend an alumni function in Denver this season. “I am not a hero. It happened so quick. I just wanted to help. That is what it is really all about.”
Denver Broncos linebacker Glenn Cadrez celebrates the Broncos’ overtime win over the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 25, 1999. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Moss, along with partners Peter Terian, John Colgate and Serge Toumaniantz, transformed a Glen Cove foreign vehicle mechanic shop in the 1950s into Rallye Motor Company, a group of luxury car dealerships.
After starting out selling Maseratis and its parts, Rallye expanded from its storefront on Sea Cliff Road and built a flagship dealership in Roslyn. Led by Moss and Terian, Rallye added luxury automotive brands Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus and Acura.
“I valued George’s friendship and guidance over the years, Juliana Terian, CEO and president of Rallye Motor Company, said in a company statement. “I’m very proud that the principles George and our founders established over 65 years ago, continue to guide our company today.”
Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, said the auto industry is mourning the loss of a true pioneer.
“Through hard work, commitment and a visionary spirit, George helped build one of the most successful luxury dealer groups in the country,” he said. “His legacy lives on through the organization he co-founded.”
Moss always displayed great curiosity. At age 13 he got his pilot’s license and later flew various fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. During summers he worked at Grumman Long Island where aircraft were tested. Moss also served in the U. S. Army, three years at the Pentagon in the aviation research unit, which developed the Huey Helicopter (Bell UH-1 Iroquois) and eight years in the reserves.
After leaving Rallye, Moss remained lifelong friends with Peter Terian as they supported one another in their individual pursuits. For the past 35 years, Moss was a life trustee of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, an independent global nonprofit dedicated to oceanographic preservation.
Moss is survived by his two sons George Farrell Moss and Richard Buck Moss, his two grandsons George Buck Moss and Oliver Farrell Moss, his wife of 53 years Joyce Leonard Moss and he was predeceased by his brother Peter Bayard Moss.
A service celebrating Moss’s life is planned for October of this year. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Imaging Lab.
NEW YORK (AP) — BMW is lowering sales and earnings targets for the 2024 fiscal year, in a move the luxury German car maker said was partially triggered by hefty expenses of addressing a braking system recall that impacts more than 1.5 million vehicles worldwide.
A spokesperson for BMW Group says the company first identified the issue during an internal quality check — prompting an initial recall in February.
But additional cases were identified since.
Now, BMW expects that some 1.53 million vehicles across five countries are affected.
Auto supplier Continental AG confirmed that it makes this integrated brake system for BMW.
Diagnostic software should alert consumers if a brake fault is detected in their vehicle.
System replacements will be available free of charge.
Nikola Jokic isn’t just the best hoops player on the planet when it comes to dishing out dimes.
The Big Honey might be the best when it comes to dishing out bling, too.
Despite our crack staff being in the writing biz, Team Grading The Week believes actions speak louder than all the words on this page.
And GTW is firmly in the camp of backing up your brags.
Is anybody — certainly not anybody in the basketball sphere — conquering both fronts better than the Joker is, right here and now?
The NBA’s three-time MVP didn’t just help carry the Serbian hoops squad to a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics. According to the Blic newspaper in his native country, Jokic purchased Rolex watches for every one of his teammates on the national team.
Jokic’s Serbian gifts — A
The kicker? Those timepieces were reportedly worth $32,500 each. Which puts the Joker’s total purchase at an estimated $357,500 for 11 watches.
Jokic and Serbia won the men’s hoops bronze in Paris thanks to a 93-83 win over Germany in the tourney’s third-place game. The Nuggets star posted a very Jokic stat line, too — 19 points, 12 boards and 11 assists.
The Joker averaged 18.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists for his homeland, which finished 4-2 at the tourney. He led all tournament players in points, boards and dimes — the first Olympian to ever top all three categories in one campaign.
Apparently, nobody gives like Jokic gives when it comes to the gift department, either. At least the fantastic gesture was one the Joker could afford: The Nuggets center, per Spotrac.com, is slated to take up $51.4 million in cap space in ’24-’25, and $55.2 million in ’25-’26.
If you’re like the GTW staff, you don’t just want Jokic as your franchise centerpiece now. You kind of want him as your secret Santa, too.
Big Russ’ debut — D
Russell Wilson’s Steelers stats after preseason Week 2: One appearance, five drives led, zero points, three sacks taken.
Bo Nix’s Broncos stats after preseason Week 2: Two appearances, seven drives led, 30 points, zero sacks taken.
It’s early, and we’ll know in a month whether Sean Payton won the Broncos-Steelers game, head-to-head. But the coach is off to a flying start in terms of winning the argument. And in justifying one hellaciously expensive football divorce.
Valor’s Friday — A
Love ’em or hate ’em, this past Friday was a pretty good day to be an Eagle.
Earlier in the day, Valor alum and PGA star Wyndham Clark pulled himself back into the BMW Championship title picture by shooting a 68 during his second round at Castle Pines — including five birdies. Later that evening, his alma mater’s football team opened its season with a 31-14 victory over Pine Creek. The latter had beaten Valor in last September’s meeting, 31-17.
The newest version of Sonos’ mobile app is still very bad—so bad, the company is considering ditching the newly redesigned version of the app and bringing back the older version. This news, reported by The Verge, comes along with reports that Sonos is also laying off 100 employees. Indeed, not a great time for the swanky speaker company.
Things first went awry for Sonos when it released the new version of its app in May. It was met with almost universal disdain. Users found the new app format made it difficult to connect to a network, queue up songs, or even change the volume. One of the key complaints was that many of the accessibility features in the legacy app were either poorly implemented in the redesign or removed from the platform entirely. Some users say the app is nigh unusable for blind Sonos owners.
Sonos has at least acknowledged its blunder since the bungled rollout, but the company has yet to fix many of the issues at hand. CEO Patrick Spence has said the fiasco may cost the company upwards of $30 million and has led to it delaying two new hardware products.
Hence the potential frantic backtracking to a version of the Sonos app that actually worked. It isn’t clear whether Sonos will actually let users switch to the previous app version or when such a capability will be available. For now, Sonos users will just have to keep slogging through it.
Here’s some other news from the world of consumer tech this week.
BMW Uno
Great news for anybody who loves the card game Uno and also owns a BMW: You can now combine both of those interests without worrying about losing cards beneath the floor mats.
Uno Car Party! will let riders play Uno together in the vehicle, using a combination of their own phones and the display screens on the car’s dashboard. The new feature—coming to the BMW X3 and select Mini models on August 21—is a joint effort of the game company Mattel and the cloud-based game service AirConsole. This is the same partnership that brought the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? quiz game to BMW cabins a couple of years ago.
It’s sure to be good fun, but just know that you can’t play card games while driving down the road, lucky for all the other humans and robots on the road. Save it for ferry rides.
Browser Hell
Descend into Hell via Google Chrome, because Diablo is playable on a web browser now. This capability comes via a fan-made, open-source project called Diabloweb that is available on GitHub. The game includes the 1997 Diablo, along with its expansion, Hellfire. It takes a teensy bit of setup (you need to download the game and run it locally), but before long you’ll be able to hack and slash some demons on just about any browser you choose.
Sure, it’s not quite as impressive as running Doom on a pregnancy test or strain of gut fauna, but being able to smoothly play one of the most renowned video games right there in your browser is still pretty nifty.
Starlunk
Starlink, the satellite internet division of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, plans to start offering direct-to-cell access, which will beam its connectivity to cell phone users in a partnership with mobile provider T-Mobile. Other cell providers like Verizon and AT&T don’t seem to like that development very much.
This week, Starlink’s competitors filed petitions to deny Starlink’s efforts to implement its cell service with the US Federal Communications Commission, which regulates how satellite internet is distributed in the US (and beyond, once the satellites are up there).
When innovation meets creativity and design, remarkable things happen. One such marvel is the collaboration between E Ink and BMW, resulting in the stunning BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA. This groundbreaking vehicle pays homage to the iconic 1991 Esther Mahlangu Art Car, bringing together artistry and technological innovation in a mesmerizing display of color-changing brilliance. Let’s delve deeper into this fascinating fusion of art and technology.
Unveiling the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA
At the recent Frieze Los Angeles art fair, automotive enthusiasts and art aficionados alike were treated to the unveiling of the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA. Inspired by the works of South African artist Esther Mahlangu, this tribute car is a sight to behold. What sets it apart is the integration of E Ink Prism™ 3 technology, which allows segments of the vehicle to display dynamically changing colors and patterns. This marriage of traditional artistry with cutting-edge technology represents a bold leap forward in automotive design.
The Magic of E Ink Prism™ 3
E Ink Prism™ 3 is the driving force behind the mesmerizing display of the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA. Unlike traditional displays, E Ink Prism™ 3 is fully programmable, low power, and durable, making it ideal for automotive applications. By applying an electric charge, the structure and arrangement of color particles on the vehicle’s surface can be altered, resulting in a visually captivating experience. This innovation not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the car but also opens up endless possibilities for personalization and self-expression.
Evolution of Color-Changing Technology
The collaboration between BMW and E Ink marks a significant milestone in the evolution of color-changing technology in automobiles. It builds upon previous iterations such as the BMW iX Flow and the BMW i Vision Dee, showcasing the continuous advancements in this field. With the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA boasting 1,349 individually controlled segments, the potential for color combinations and pattern designs is virtually limitless. This progression highlights the ongoing commitment of both companies to push the boundaries of innovation and redefine the driving experience.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Beyond its aesthetic appeal and technological prowess, the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA also underscores the importance of sustainability in automotive design. E Ink’s display technology is not only ultra-low power but also energy-efficient and durable, making it a perfect fit for eco-conscious consumers. Furthermore, E Ink is dedicated to reaching renewable energy and carbon reduction goals, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. By leveraging renewable energy sources and minimizing carbon emissions, both E Ink and BMW are paving the way for a greener future.
Conclusion
The BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA represents a harmonious blend of art, innovation, and sustainability. Through the integration of E Ink Prism™ 3 technology, this tribute car pays homage to Esther Mahlangu’s iconic artwork while pushing the boundaries of automotive design. As color-changing technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more groundbreaking innovations that redefine our perception of vehicles. With a steadfast commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, the future of automotive design looks brighter than ever before.
The BMW Group, including BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, jumped into the in-car gaming world at CES, a consumer electronics trade show, today in Las Vegas. The ninth generation of BMW’s operating system utilizes third-party apps and games in the BMW ConnectedDrive Store to deliver the experience to customers.
In addition to games the app store will offer tools for communication, productivity, news and other infotainment. BMW joins Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and others now with ways to play in the vehicle.
“BMW is synonymous with both the ultimate driving machine and the ultimate digital experience,” said Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management responsible for BMW Group Development, in a press release.
“At the CES we are showing more content, more customization and more gaming. This is all underpinned by our in-house developed BMW Operating System. And we will take a look to the future with augmented reality and reliable artificial intelligence at the interaction between human and machine.”
BWM is adding in-car gaming to its ninth-generation operating system. BMW North America
At the electronics show BMW showed a game called Beach Buggy Racing 2, a throwback racing video game meant to feel like the home console titles of the ’80s and ’90s. Two passengers can compete against each other in the same vehicle with a split-screen setup, which the model is parked.
With connected vehicle technology becoming more advanced and popular, it wouldn’t be difficult to allow over-the-air play with other BMW drivers, experts believe.
BMW said that players will be able to connect their own favorite controllers to the vehicle via Bluetooth, a feature that is coming via an over-the-air update later this year.
All of this technology is in addition to the AirConsole App, which already lets BMW customers play single and multiplayer games in their car. Those are more casual games, like ones a player would play on their smartphone, which can also be used as a controller. The AirConsole list of games is also being constantly added to.
Games will be available via the BMW Digital Premium, and is only available for models with BMW Operating System 9. It can be found in the ConnectedDrive Store either online, in the MyBMW App or directly from the car.
BMW covers the necessary data usage from the package.
BWM will allow passengers to pair their favorite wireless controllers via Bluetooth. BMW North America
There was a lot of news about in-car gaming a few years ago, first when Tesla boss Elon Musk said that its Model S sedan could run the modern and graphically difficult video game The Witcher 3 and more recently when it added Steam compatibility.
Steam is a video game store and distribution platform and now Teslas with 16 gigabytes of RAM can download and play from a library of thousands of current-generation games.
Mercedes made news offering the casual Angry Birds smartphone game on its infotainment screen in 2023. Now at CES the luxury brand also announced a collaboration with retro games streaming service Antstream Arcade, which will integrate cloud gaming into the car.
The system is showcased in its 2024 E-Class sedan, and in an advanced future version demonstrated at CES.
Gaming formats are universal in their location within vehicles. Screens in front of the driver are not utilized. Instead, a centrally located infotainment screen and screens in front of the passenger
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Los Angeles — Jason Luu’s 2020 Volvo XC90 has state-of-the-art remote features, such as the ability to start and stop the engine and unlock and lock the car from an app on his smart phone.
But if he wants to keep using those features after a free trial, it will cost $200 a year.
“It’s a little disheartening,” Luu told CBS News.
Subscriptions are shifting into overdrive in the auto industry. For certain Toyota vehicles, the remote start option comes at a price of $8 per month after the expiration of a free trial, while BMW charges $20 a month for enhanced cruise control on certain vehicles.
While Ford offers its hands-free driving “BlueCruise” assisted cruise control option for some of its vehicles, including the all-electric F-150 Lightning, are drivers willing to pay $75 per month for it?
Alistair Weaver, editor-in-chief at Edmunds, says automakers are counting on the new revenue stream to pay for the expensive transition to electric cars.
“So if your car payment is 600 bucks a month, it’s now $675,” Weaver said.
General Motors projects subscription fees to bring in as much as $25 billion a year by 2030. For context, Netflix’s entire revenue for fiscal year 2023 was $32.74 billion.
“Part of me says, ‘Well, you’ve already bought the hardware…so just let me use it,’” Weaver said.
Alix Partners, a global consulting firm, found that more than 60% of consumers are willing to consider subscribing for enhanced safety and convenience features as long they don’t feel like they are being charged for something they already paid for.
“A lot of people in the auto industry certainly use Apple as a shining light on the hill,” said Mark Wakefield, Alix Partners CEO.
“The car has to be cheaper, plus this option of subscribing,” Wakefield added.
Weaver proposes another idea for car owners.
“Subscribe to the system, 75 bucks,” Weaver said. “Do your road trip, unsubscribe, and then you’re no longer paying for something that you’re not really going to use.”
Despite being easier to steal, Kia vehicles are not car thieves’ number-one target, a new report shows. The unfortunate distinction belongs to the Charger SRT Hellcat, which is 60 times more likely to be stolen than any other car built between 2020 and 2022.
That’s according to the Highway Loss Data Institute’s list of the most-stolen vehicles for 2020-2022 models. Twenty-five Hellcat cars from model years 2020-22 had been reported stolen in insurance claims out of every 1,000 insured vehicle years, according to the report. By comparison, the most stolen car among 2017-19 model year vehicles, the Infiniti Q60, only had 2 theft claims for every 1,000 insured vehicle years.
“If you own a Hellcat, you better check your driveway,” Matt Moore HLDI senior vice president said in a statement on the institute’s website. “These numbers are unbelievable.”
Also on HLDI’s list is the Kia Sportage, which notched the sixth-highest spot, ahead of the Land Rover Range Rover 4WD and Infiniti Q50 4WD. Other Kia models like the Sportage 4WD, Rio and Forte rounded out the ranking.
Thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles rose sharply across the U.S. over the past two years after a TikTok challenge instructing people how to steal the vehicles using a USB cord and a screwdriver went viral.
The cars’ vulnerability stemmed from the fact that from 2011 to 2022, South Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai opted not to equip their cars sold in the U.S. with “engine immobilizers,” making the cars easier to steal. The manufacturing flaw was at the center of a class-action lawsuit that the cars’ manufacturer settled for $200 million in May.
HDLI assembled its ranking using data from vehicle theft claims made to insurance companies across the U.S. The data only accounts for whole-car theft claims, and excludes claims for stolen vehicle parts and stolen items found within vehicles.
The study reveals that vehicle theft claims are rising overall. Other data also shows car thefts are surging. Vehicle thefts rose 59% across 30 U.S. from 2019 to 2022, an analysis from the Council on Criminal Justice shows.
Electric vehicles where among the 20 models with the fewest claims, along with cars manufactured by General Motors. HLDI accounts for the lower theft frequency which it says is typical of EVs, to the likelihood of their being parked “overnight in well-lit and comparatively secure areas for charging.”
View the complete lists of vehicles with the highest and lowest claim frequencies for whole-vehicle theft here.
Seven of the world’s largest automakers said Wednesday that they’re working together to build a new nationwide network of 30,000 electric vehicle charging stations, an effort to stoke already growing consumer demand for EVs.
BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes and Stellantis said the first batch of their “high-powered charging” stations will be available next summer. EV owners have long complained about a shortage of places to charge their vehicle. The automakers said they hope the stations will “make zero-emission driving even more attractive for millions of customers.”
The charging system would be public and open to all electric vehicle owners and have connectors for both Tesla’s North American Charging Standard plugs as well as the Combined Charging System plugs used by other automakers.
Motorists remain concerned about finding a charging station, while also having question about electric cars’ range and how long it takes to reach full power, auto industry experts have told CBS MoneyWatch. Automakers will need to pay as much attention to adding chargers as they have to lowering prices, Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights at Edmunds, said this week.
The car manufacturers wouldn’t disclose financial details of the network or how long it will take to build all 30,000 stations. Automakers told the Associated Press that they will “work as equals to ensure the success of the joint venture.”
There are currently just under 8,700 direct-current, fast-charging stations in the U.S. and Canada, with nearly 36,000 charging plugs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Tesla, by far the market leader ins EVs, accounts for 2,050 of the stations across the U.S. and Canada. The new network is expected to have 10 to 20 charging plugs per station.
The network is likely to boost electric vehicle sales in North America by helping ease drive concerns about long-distance travel, said Stephanie Brinley, an analyst with S&P Global Mobility.
“It’s stopping them from even exploring what EV life is like,” she said. The announcement of the network “is giving them confidence that this is going to work out.”
Bloomberg News Detroit Bureau Chief David Welch told CBS News that the automakers’ goals of selling more EVs are directly tied to how many chargers are available for drivers.
“The car companies have realized that if they’re going to get people to buy EVs, they really have to build up a network of chargers very aggressively, especially on the highways,” he said. “The big holdup for everyone buying an EV is they’re afraid they’ll be out on a road trip and they’ll run out of juice and be strained somewhere.”
In their statement, the automakers said they would use renewable energy as much as possible to power the chargers, and they will be in convenient locations with canopies and amenities such as restrooms, food service and stores.
In the U.S., consumers bought 557,000 electric cars in the first half of the year, accounting for 7.2% of all new vehicle sales. Most industry analysts predict continued growth in EV sales for the next decade or more.
Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.
