Her company, Broad Union, signed joint ventures and supplied the ministry with train wheels, sound barriers, and more.

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And without any grand programme, Mr Smith is also cutting the number of basic car platforms (the chassis and drive-train mechanical bits that make the wheels go round) from 16 to eight, in line with best practice at firms such as Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota.

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Each of the four wheels contains an electric motor, drive train, suspension and steering and braking mechanisms.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The company also is developing four-wheel-drive technology that powers two wheels with an internal combustion engine and two with an electric motor, eliminating the need for a drive train that takes up floor space, Ho said.

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