VW Puts Pedal Down on EVs; Robocall Deadline Looms; Venmo Small Sellers; Bigger iPad, Maybe

Volkswagen plans to stop selling combustion engines in Europe by 2035, a board member told German newspaper. According to theverge.com, Klaus Zellmer, Volkswagen’s board member for sales, said the company would “exit the business with internal combustion engine cars in Europe between 2033 and 2035.” But, he added, it would take longer to stop selling combustion engines in the US and China— that will come “somewhat later.” He wants to see electric vehicles to account for 70 percent of the company’s total sales in Europe by 2030. 

A big deadline in the fight to beat back those annoying robocalls is coming June 30. As of that date, every major voice provider in the US, including phone companies AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile and cable provider Comcast, will have to implement a technology called Stir/Shaken, according to cnet.com. That’s good news for everyone whose phone has been jangling with bogus phone calls involving health-related scams, expiring car warranties and fake banks offering nonexistent interest-rate discounts for credit cards. Robocalls are the No. 1 consumer complaint and a top priority at the Federal Communications Commission. 

Venmo is changing its policies to let you sell goods and services through your personal account as long as you’re willing to pay the same 1.9 percent plus 10 cents fee that applies to business users. Engadget says The change takes effect July 20th. There will be a toggle that lets you indicate whether money transfers are meant for business. Any payments marked with that toggle will qualify for Venmo’s purchase protection plan. Venmo had 70 million accounts as of February. 

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that Apple is exploring future iPad designs with larger displays. The current iPad Pro maxes out at 12.9-inches diagonally…already the size of a small MacBook. Any new iPad screen size change is at least a ‘couple of years down the road’ and has not yet left the exploratory stages. Apple is currently developing a redesigned iPad chassis with a glass back for 2022, to support wireless charging—those will ship in the existing 11-inch and 12.9-inch screen sizes.