VinFast plans US electric buses – and it’ll handle more than the ride

Green SM, a ride-hailing service based in Vietnam, launched a fleet of 500 VinFast VF8 EVs in Los Angeles earlier this week. Unlike other popular ride services such as Uber and Lyft, Green SM owns its own fleet and hires and trains full-time drivers.

Parts sharing between cars is common, and automakers do that to save money on development costs of various components. For example, within the Volkswagen Group, you'll find that the Lamborghini Urus, the Porsche Cayenne, the Bentley Bentayga, and the Audi RSQ8 all share different versions of the same 4-liter twin-turbo V8. In this case, it is the engine — in other cases, it can be the transmission or the platform itself. Spreading a single component across several models lets a company recoup its engineering budget over far more units, so the practice makes financial sense, even for brands sitting at very different price points.

Joel was previously an editor at Autoblog for nearly a decade, covering cars from humble economy hatchbacks to high-end sports cars. He has extensive driving experience with plenty of track time, and even dabbles in motorcycling. Joel has shared his experiences in the car world not just in text, but also on podcasts and web videos.

It's all dashboard lights and touchscreen warnings these days For decades, the vast majority of cars had a very simple tool to help owners properly maintain their car. That tool was a dipstick, and it enabled a quick, objective look at whether or not an engine or transmission had enough fluid inside for safe operation. Today, many cars don't offer that same simple tool to their owners. Instead, they offer digital displays that are often hidden deep in touchscreen menus. That can feel like a real step backward for DIY drivers. There is, however, a reason behind the change.

A lot of British slang doesn't seem to make a lot of sense at face value, but there is always a reason for it. Terms like 'Chelsea tractor' or 'sleeping policeman' are examples that no Brit would blink an eye at, and alongside them sits the 'jam sandwich.' Among the many key differences between American and European police cars, or in this instance, specifically British ones, is that police vehicles from a very specific era in Britain picked up the nickname 'jam sandwiches.' The reason is simple.

Brett T. Evans has more than a decade of experience driving, writing about, and evaluating automobiles. His early career comprised writing about pre- and post-war classic cars, as well as late-model performance diesel trucks. These varied experiences allowed him the chance to gain expertise in every corner of the auto world. Today, he spends much of his time on modern car culture and mass-market news. The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible is getting some special attention from a most unlikely place. The Bow Tie's Japanese business arm will build a rare special edition of the V8-powered droptop, and although the changes are primarily cosmetic, hardcore Corvette fans may want to consider moving to Hokkaido or Kyoto to get their hands on one. Although oddly, the new V8 Tourer – as it's called – doesn't even get the American market's updated 6.7-liter small-block engine. This could be the first time that JDM "forbidden fruit" is less tasty than the American varietal.