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":"41ff149603e52c3ad757772a64adad19","s":"88da0b79622fcdb1"}
Share your thoughts. Click here