CBL teams with Volta for EV sites
Chattanooga-based shopping center company CBL Properties and Volta Inc. are partnering to bring electric vehicle charging stations to some of its locations.
"We have seen increased interest in EV charging stations as sales of electric vehicles have increased. This is an additional amenity that we can offer our tenants and customers and is another example of our focus on sustainability across our portfolio," said Stephen D. Lebovitz, chief executive officer at CBL Properties.
Volta builds and operates a nationwide EV charging network that has among the best utilization per station in the EV charging industry for the United States, according to CBL.
New Volta charging stations will be installed at Arbor Place in Atlanta; Pearland Town Center in Houston; and Laurel Park Place in Detroit with an opportunity to expand to additional properties in the future, according to CBL.
Construction on the stations is underway and operational in the next few months. CBL currently has 72 EV charging stations at properties across its portfolio.
Sedgewick to acquire Temporary Accommodations
Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, has acquired Temporary Accommodations, which provides temporary housing and related services to displaced policyholders.
Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Atlanta, Temporary Accommodations locates temporary housing options for insurance policyholders and helps to manage additional living expenses during home insurance claims following fire, water, wind and storm damage and emergency evacuations.
"Temporary Accommodations is a natural fit with the Sedgwick team, and joining forces will allow us to work together to support the entire claims journey and recovery process. We look forward to this partnership and to providing clients with end-to-end property claims solutions," said Steve Powell, Sedgwick executive vice president.
Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
Ford, Rivian split over EV development
Ford Motor Co. and Rivian Automotive Inc. on Friday said they have scrapped plans to develop an electric vehicle together on the EV startup's platform as both automakers work to expand their production of EVs.
Rivian made a splash last week on Wall Street with the biggest initial public offering of the year, surpassing the market capitalizations of traditional competitors like Ford. But Ford says it is confident it has what it needs to be an EV leader by developing its own vehicles.
"Over a period of time, obviously, Rivian has done some extensive and impressive developments of its technology, and Ford has done likewise," Ford spokesman TR Reid said. "They have a pretty ambitious vehicle out there, and we have two high-volume vehicles and others to follow. As things have evolved, we decided what is best for us and to proceed from there."
Ford offers the all-electric, Mexico-built Mustang Mach-E SUV and is assembling the electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck in Dearborn. Irvine, California-based Rivian in September began delivering its R1T pickup truck from its plant in Normal, Illinois, where it also will assemble SUVs and delivery vans.
"We've decided it's best to further develop separately," Reid said.
US rests its case against Holmes
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The government has rested its case in the trial of fallen Silicon Valley star Elizabeth Holmes. The move came after prosecutors spent more than two months trying to prove Holmes bamboozled investors, patients and business partners into believing that her startup, Theranos, was about to reshape health care.
The pivot point opens the door for Holmes and her team of lawyers to counter evidence that cast her as a greedy, fame-obsessed swindler. Holmes could take the stand to tell her side of the story and avoid a potential 20-year prison sentence, if convicted.
Google reaches deal on publisher content
Google said Friday it has signed agreements with several large German publishers to avoid copyright disputes over the use of their material.
The Internet giant said it reached deals with publishers including news weeklies Der Spiegel and Die Zeit, technology portals Golem and Netzwelt, as well as the business publications WirtschaftsWoche and Manager Magazin.
"Numerous conversations with various publishers are at an advanced stage," Google added in a statement.
- Compiled by Dave Flessner