Automotive
April 4, 2024
New, unrelated initiatives center on the outdoors and rugged terrain. Image credit: Mercedes-Benz
By Zach James
German automaker Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Corp.’s Lexus are taking a similar approach to platforming their new vehicles.
{"ct":"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","iv":"695a40595186f1efcc27ba77a6b6d0aa","s":"31b07fe333834547"}
Share your thoughts. Click here