WUHU, China, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From October 19 to 21, over 300 Test Drive Ambassadors from worldwide joined LEPAS’s test drives and technology demonstrations at Squirrel Town in Wuhu. Part of the inaugural LEPAS Global Elegant Lifestyle Week, the event featured multiple NEV models across urban driving, successive turns, intelligent parking and everyday technology applications. Alongside the L6 EV’s first-ever LEPAS Global Journey of Elegant Driving, which explored intercity travel, these activities showcased Elegant Technology across diverse mobility scenarios.

Putting Effortless Control to the Test

From braking at intersections to navigating speed bumps, Test Drive Ambassadors experienced vehicle responsiveness, suspension performance and ride comfort over uneven surfaces. Figure-eight slaloms, U-shaped turns and S-bends further put steering response and body control to the test. Together, these exercises made Effortless Control tangible through every turn and change of direction.

Intelligent Parking Takes Center Stage in Everyday Driving

Demonstrations featured Automated Parking Assist (APA), Remote Parking Assist (RPA) and the LEPAS L8 PHEV’s exclusive Super Intelligent Valet Parking (SIVP) system, highlighting ways to simplify parking and vehicle retrieval. After trying APA, José Planelles, a Test Drive Ambassador from Borjamotor in Spain, commented: “Automated parking was what impressed me most today. It performed really well, and I think it’s a great solution for people who find parking difficult.”

Test Drive Ambassadors also experienced SIVP in realistic parking settings. Using digital garage mapping and navigation technology, supported by optimized multi-sensor fusion for enhanced environmental perception, SIVP enables autonomous parking within designated enclosed parking areas. Users can summon their vehicles through a smartphone app to have them pull out of parking spaces automatically. After users exit at a parking area, the system can identify available spaces, plan routes and park autonomously. It can also cruise in search of vacant spaces and maneuver into tight spots, reducing the hassle of searching for parking or getting in and out of vehicles in confined spaces.

More Than a Test Drive: Technology Meets Everyday Life

Between test drives, vehicles used Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology to power coffee machines and catering equipment. Test Drive Ambassadors enjoyed coffee and hot food while discovering how NEV technology can bring convenience and comfort to everyday moments.

Under the theme “TOGETHER IN ELEGANCE,” the event also connected product experiences with user co-creation. Feedback from Test Drive Ambassadors across global markets will help LEPAS better understand real-world mobility needs and work with users to explore new expressions of elegant mobility, bringing “Drive Your Elegance” closer to everyday life.

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About LEPAS

LEPAS is Chery Auto’s Premium NEV brand, dedicated to creating elegant mobility experiences for users worldwide. Committed to becoming the Preferred Brand for Elegant Mobility Life, LEPAS brings together Leopard Aesthetics, Elegant Technology, and Exquisite Space – transforming elegance into a driving experience you can see, feel, and trust. Supported by a growing global dealer network of more than 500 sales and service outlets, LEPAS is expanding its international footprint through localized operations, delivering products and experiences tailored to users across global markets.

About Chery Auto

Founded in 1997, Chery Auto is a global automotive manufacturer specializing in vehicle development, intelligent technologies, and new energy solutions. The company operates in more than 130 countries and regions, supported by a strong international network of research, production, and strategic partnerships. Chery Auto has remained China’s No. 1 passenger vehicle exporter among Chinese brands for 23 consecutive years. Guided by its global philosophy of “In somewhere, For somewhere, Be somewhere,” Chery Auto is committed to advancing sustainable mobility through continuous innovation and global collaboration.

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SOURCE Chery Auto

XGIMI’s latest ultra-short-throw laser TV lineup combines advanced picture technology, true 4K 120Hz support, and flexible screen options for a premium home entertainment experience.

NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XGIMI, a global leader in premium smart projection and home entertainment, today announced that its AURA 3 Series has surpassed $15 million in pledges within 23 hours of launching on Kickstarter on October 20. The campaign reached $10 million in just two hours, setting a new Kickstarter record for the fastest campaign to reach this funding milestone.

Since launch, the campaign has attracted more than 5,800 backers worldwide, signaling strong early demand for the AURA 3 Series and its vision for next-generation home entertainment. Combining ultra-short-throw projection, advanced picture technology, and true 4K 120Hz support, the lineup brings cinema-scale viewing and immersive gaming into the modern living room.

“Reaching this milestone on Kickstarter in such a short time is a strong sign of the excitement around the AURA 3 Series,” said Apollo Zhong, Founder and CEO of XGIMI. “We’re grateful for the support from backers around the world and look forward to bringing the AURA 3 Series into more homes.”

Building on the reception of its TITAN Noir Series, XGIMI is bringing its Dynamic Dual Iris technology to the ultra-short-throw category for the first time. Originally introduced in the TITAN Noir lineup, the technology dynamically adjusts light output to enhance contrast and deepen black levels, helping reveal greater depth and detail in dark scenes. Its introduction to the AURA 3 Series brings this approach to picture performance to a new form factor, offering home cinema enthusiasts another way to experience premium projection in their living spaces.

The AURA 3 Series also advances motion performance in ultra-short-throw projection through Texas Instruments’ dual DLPC controller architecture, enabling true 4K 120Hz support. This combination delivers detailed 4K visuals and smoother motion, enhancing the viewing experience across movies, sports, and high-frame-rate gaming. With these advancements, XGIMI continues to push the boundaries of ultra-short-throw projection, bringing high-resolution imagery and fluid motion together for immersive big-screen entertainment.

The AURA 3 Series Kickstarter campaign runs through December 4, 2026, giving backers a limited-time opportunity to save on XGIMI’s latest ultra-short-throw laser TVs. The AURA 3 Pro is available for $2,199 (MSRP $3,999), while the flagship AURA 3 Max starts at $2,399 (MSRP $4,999), offering savings of up to $2,600 on the projector alone. Backers can also choose exclusive bundles pairing the projectors with premium screens to create a complete big-screen entertainment setup.

Available bundles include:

AURA 3 Max + 120″ XGIMI Ascend UST: $4,999 (MSRP $8,998)AURA 3 Max + 100″ XGIMI Ascend UST: $4,299 (MSRP $7,998)AURA 3 Max + 120″ Fresnel ALR Screen: $3,699 (MSRP $6,998)AURA 3 Max + 120″ Spectra Vantage ALR Screen*: $3,999 (MSRP $7,498)AURA 3 Max + 140″/150″ Fresnel ALR Screen: $5,799 (MSRP $9,998)

* Previously listed as the 120″ Black Grid ALR Screen. The name has been updated to 120″ Spectra Vantage ALR Screen; pricing remains unchanged.

Additional screen options and a motorized cabinet for ultra-short-throw projectors are also available as add-ons, giving backers more flexibility to customize their setups.

Projector shipments are expected to begin in December 2026, followed by fixed ALR screens in January 2027 and XGIMI Ascend floor-rising screens in February 2027.

To learn more and explore the available bundles, visit the official XGIMI AURA 3 Series Kickstarter page.

About XGIMI
Since 2013, the state-of-the-art XGIMI projectors have helped countless people worldwide to create genuinely immersive audio-visual experiences. Working with reputable partners like Google, Harman Kardon, and Texas Instruments, XGIMI builds all-in-one entertainment devices, perfected due to their user-oriented philosophy. Through industry-leading innovation, streamlined setups, and unique designs, XGIMI always strives to develop the best home and portable projectors for everyone to enjoy. XGIMI is also expanding their expertise into commercial projector technology to bring immersive experiences to more spaces. Learn more at XGIMI Projector Technology.

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SOURCE XGIMI

TACOMA, Wash., Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sound Credit Union (Sound) and the Milgard Center for Business Analytics at the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) welcomed college and university students from across Washington state to the second annual HuskyHack over the weekend. More than 100 students registered to participate in the 24-hour hackathon, where they worked to create a financial technology (FinTech) solution designed to help consumers manage their finances with confidence and ease.

Students gathered at William Philip Hall on the UWT campus at 9am on Saturday, October 17, to kick off the competition. The event began with a panel discussion featuring business and industry leaders who shared insights from their careers and offered advice to participants before the challenge began.

Students then learned their assignment: create a solution that would enable Sound Credit Union to recognize when a member is being manipulated, compromised, or deceived and develop a FinTech tool that could intervene before money is lost to fraud. Participants had the option to compete individually or as part of a team.

There were two phases to HuskyHack. During Phase 1 on Saturday, presented their initial concepts to the judges. Students were presented with the challenge and then delivered a two-minute pitch to the judges. The top three pitches were recognized, and each received a $1,000 cash prize.

Following feedback from the judges, participants had the opportunity to further develop their concepts during Phase 2 of the competition. At stake was a $15,000 cash prize and a six-month membership to CoMotion Labs in Seattle, where the winning team can continue developing its concept alongside other entrepreneurs and innovators.

On Sunday, each individual and team delivered a five-minute presentation to a panel of judges. After reviewing the solutions, the judges selected Scout as the winner of the 2026 HuskyHack. Created by Colin Sica and Noah Soepardi, both finance students at UWT, Scout is a live scam-detection service that monitors phone conversations for common fraud tactics. When a caller requests money, passwords, account information, verification codes, or remote access, Scout places the caller on hold and privately alerts the member to potential fraud. The member can then choose to continue the call, end it, or safely connect with Sound Credit Union.

“We were thrilled not only by the number of students who participated, but also by the passion and innovation they brought to the competition,” said Jennifer Reed, Vice President of Public Relations at Sound Credit Union. “The judges had a difficult decision to make. Several submissions demonstrated tremendous potential. In the end, Colin and Noah developed a solution that we believe could help financial institutions better protect consumers from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.”

The competition showcased an impressive level of innovation and creativity, with the top five submissions finishing within just one-half point of each other. In addition to Scout, the top five solutions included Flowgate by Chau Dang Le, Harbor by Halim Lee, Wire Assist by Rithin Karthik, Arnav Mittal, and Gabrael Ramos, and Vantis by Dheeraj Tallapragada and Bhargava Perumalla. A complete list of participants and project teams can be found on DevPost, the website used to host the competition.

“Winning the 2026 HuskyHack reinforced the value of our idea,” said Colin Sica and Noah Soepardi, founders of Scout. “As finance students entering our first hackathon, we knew that creating a solution that was unique, feasible, and scalable would be critical to our success. We enjoyed every step of the process, from brainstorming and whiteboarding concepts to building and testing our solution in less than 24 hours. Seeing Scout work live in front of the judges proved that a strong idea, combined with a willingness to learn and adapt, can compete with anyone.”

Over the past decade, Sound and UWT have built a strong partnership that continues to benefit both students and the broader community. Events such as HuskyHack provide students with valuable opportunities to collaborate, apply their knowledge to real-world challenges, and build relationships with business and industry professionals as they prepare for their future careers.

Sound and UWT are already looking ahead to the next HuskyHack, which is anticipated to return in fall 2027.

About Sound Credit Union

Sound Credit Union was founded in 1940 and today is one of Washington State’s largest credit unions. With 26 full-service branch locations throughout the Puget Sound area, Sound provides its more than 186,000 members with authentic and trusted financial support and services. Sound is driven by the purpose of standing with members, employees and the community through all waves of life.

About University of Washington Tacoma Center for Business Analytics
The Center for Business Analytics (CBA) in the Milgard School of Business at University of Washington Tacoma serves as a catalyst for research, education and innovation. It advances the use of “analytics”, “big data” and “smart machines” for actionable insights and business decision-making. The CBA draws on the expertise of the Milgard School’s faculty in Accounting, Business Analytics & Operations, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing. The Center works directly with corporate partners to identify, frame and study critical business issues and opportunities. 

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SOURCE Sound Credit Union