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":"5aabf72979900f6c64900dcb2f8e4ecd","s":"65ea491a1fdc4b07"}
Share your thoughts. Click here