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":"5fc9480c01ffac7ec9d47592f8254acb","s":"d3c3c6854b06c1eb"}
Share your thoughts. Click here