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":"8ddf1c29a222a58d9acaad964ee23777","s":"856ba6c089307e9d"}
Share your thoughts. Click here