Cardo Systems founder and co-owner Dr. Abraham Glezerman and his existing investor, Israeli tech investor Fortissimo Capital, have sold the Tel Aviv business to London based EMK Capital.
Modena based electric sport bike manufacturer Energica says its sales increased 91% in 2020. Additionally, the company has a new strategic partner in the shape of NASDAQ listed e-mobility investment specialist Ideanomics, who has provided some € 15m to fund the next stages of product development and growth.
The biennial Tokyo Motor Show has been cancelled for the first time in its 67-year history. First staged in 1954, it drew 1.3m visitors in 2019 and had been due to be staged again in October this year. Japan is facing a surge in COVID-19 cases, driven by more infectious variants of the virus, and was expected to declare a state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and two other prefectures from 25 April to 11 May.
In contrast, April saw the world's first major global car exhibition go ahead since the start of the pandemic. Auto Shanghai 2021, the biggest motor show in China, was open to the public but with attendees having to take COVID-19 tests to gain entry. Described as a "Petri dish for Electric Vehicles", the show is a bellwether for the change of direction the car industry and its shows are taking. Some 1.3m EVs were sold in China in 2020 - around 40% of the global market.
Internationally respected vehicle and performance engineer Ricardo has opened an Electrified Propulsion Research Centre (EPRC) as a global centre of excellence for electrified transport engineering. "It is enabling the research and development of the next generation of electrified vehicles, from component level subsystems to fully integrated powertrain." It is servicing vehicles across all platforms including automotive, commercial vehicle, defence, industrial and off-highway, high performance and motorsport, and motorcycle.
Figueres-based Spanish moped and off-road motorcycle manufacturer Rieju has announced the death of its 84-year old former president Jordi Riera Baró. The business was founded by his father Luis Riera Carré. Riera joined in 1968 and when he succeeded as president, he subsequently masterminded its expansion and development into being a major international player in the small displacement market with distributors in some 40 countries.
Kawasaki Racing Team and Catalan brake system specialist J.Juan have signed a new two year deal to extend their eight year technical partnership for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In those eight years, KRT has won seven WorldSBK championships and six manufacturer titles, with J.Juan supplying the KRT WSBK team with mesh type hydraulic hoses.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com
