EV test drives Saturday at the Bend racetrack
The Company Lab is teaming up with Tennessee dealerships on Saturday to offer to the first-ever Experiential EV Ride & Drive at The Bend racetrack on the Westside, starting at 11 a.m.
“We’re very excited about demonstrating to the community all of the benefits and excitement around this trend towards electrification and what that means,” said CO.LAB CEO Tasia Malakasis. “We want to expose the Chattanooga community to the benefits of sustainable mobility and have them experience the power of it firsthand.”
Attendees of the event will have the unique opportunity to explore a variety of local EV models, from dealerships like Tesla, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz. By immersing participants in the world of electric vehicles, the event aims to demystify common misconceptions surrounding EVs, such as limited range, charging availability, and performance issues. The hands-on experience will allow attendees to discover firsthand the smooth acceleration, quiet operation, and environmental benefits that electric vehicles offer, while also addressing their concerns regarding charging infrastructure and range anxiety.
This event is free and open to the public. People wishing to test drive an electric vehicle must bring a drivers license and car insurance card to the event.
FDA issues warning on Elf Bar cigarettes
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it has sent warning letters to dozens of retailers selling fruit- and candy-flavored disposable e-cigarettes, including the current best-selling brand, Elf Bar.
It’s the latest attempt by regulators to crack down on illegal disposable vapes that have poured into U.S. stores in recent years.
Last month, the FDA issued orders allowing customs officials to seize shipments of Elf Bar, Esco Bar and two other brands at U.S. ports. None of the products have received FDA authorization and they come in flavors like cotton candy, which regulators say can appeal to teenagers.
In the latest action, the FDA said it issued warnings to 189 convenience stores, vape shops and other retailers.
“We’re not going to stand by as bad actors are profiting off the sale of illegal products that are addicting our nation’s youth,” Brian King, the FDA’s tobacco center director, said in an interview. “Today’s action is just part of our long-standing efforts to address those products, particularly flavored disposable products.”
Report says Temu using forced labor
A Congressional report published Thursday offered a blistering critique of popular Chinese retailer Temu, with lawmakers accusing the company of failing to maintain “even the façade of a meaningful compliance program” to deter forced labor from its supply chains.
In the report, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party said Temu’s business model allows it to avoid responsibility in complying with U.S. law that restricts imports from China’s Xinjiang region. Among other things, the report said Temu admitted it “does not expressly prohibit” the sale of goods from China’s Xinjiang region.
The report comes a week after two bipartisan bills were introduced in Congress seeking to make changes to a century-old trade rule that benefits both Temu and the Chinese retailer Shein.
TikTok’s COO quits after 5 years
TikTok’s Chief Operating Officer and one of the company’s most public faces, V Pappas, is leaving the popular social media company after nearly five years at the company.
In a note sent to employees Thursday morning and later shared on Twitter, Pappas said now that the company has achieved a lot of success, she felt it was the right time to move on and focus on “entrepreneurial passions.” TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a note sent to employees that Pappas will continue to serve as a strategic advisor.
Chew also said a Disney veteran will join TikTok as the chief brand and communications officer, overseeing the company’s marketing and public relations arm.
— Compiled by Dave Flessner
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