
Kingsport Times-News -- The next big startup ideas in 21st Century auto technology got a test drive during a recent event held at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. Six of those ideas were pitched to a group called autoXLR8R — an auto business startup program based in Middle Tennessee — plus members of AccelNow, located at the Kingsport chamber.
Both autoXLR8R and Accel-Now are focused on bringing new auto technologies to market, and at least getting those ideas to the business incubator stage to draw interest from investors.
The timing of those ideas being aired couldn't have been better as Tennessee's auto industry continues to expand, with the latest growth marked by Volkswagen's recent decision to invest another $600 million and add 2,000 more jobs to its Chattanooga production facilities to create a new line of SUVs.