Author: Shaun Williams

Spanish public transport operator EMT Madrid has ordered 120 new electric buses from Daimler Buses, Irizar and Solaris, as it moves to increase the share of zero-emission vehicles in its fleet. The buses will be delivered gradually through the first half of 2027. Once deployed, the proportion of battery-electric buses in EMT Madrid’s fleet is expected to exceed 25%, up from the current base of 452 electric buses already in operation. The largest contract was awarded to Irizar, which will supply 50 units of its ieBus model for up to €30.75 million (excluding VAT). Daimler Buses secured an order for…

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars and its electric vehicle affiliate Polestar plan to consolidate global production of the Polestar 3 electric SUV in the United States, ending parallel manufacturing in China. The companies said the Polestar 3, previously produced in both Chengdu and the US, will in future be built exclusively at Volvo’s Ridgeville plant near Charleston, South Carolina. Production in Chengdu, China, where the model has been manufactured since early 2024, will be phased out. Volvo Cars and Polestar did not provide explicit reasons for the shift, but Volvo indicated the move is aimed at strengthening the strategic role of…

Google is expanding the electric vehicle capabilities of its Maps platform, introducing artificial intelligence-based battery prediction and route planning designed to support more than 350 EV models via Android Auto, the company said. The rollout initially covers vehicles from more than 15 brands in the United States, with further geographic and model expansion planned. The feature is compatible with models from manufacturers including BMW, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. See also: Google Introduces Gemini AI to Android Auto, Replacing Google Assistant Unlike systems that rely on direct vehicle integration, Google’s approach allows drivers to manually input their starting battery charge. The…

Uber has agreed to acquire Blacklane, a Berlin-based provider of chauffeur-driven black-car services, as the U.S. ride-hailing company expands its presence in the premium mobility segment. The companies said the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of the year. Financial terms were not disclosed. See also: Uber and Rivian Partner to Deploy Robotaxis at Scale Founded in 2011, Blacklane operates a global chauffeur platform offering pre-booked executive transport services in major cities across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America and South America. The company has raised more than $100 million from…

Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), the joint venture between Sony Group Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd., has discontinued development of its first two electric vehicle models under the Afeela brand, citing strategic changes at Honda that affected the project’s viability. The decision brings an end to plans for the Afeela 1, which had been nearing production, as well as a second model still under development. SHM said it would now reassess the future of the venture and provide further updates “at the earliest possible opportunity.” “SHM’s decision comes following discussions between its parent companies, Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”) and Honda…

Jörg Menges will become chief executive of Audi FAW NEV Company Ltd. on April 1, 2026, succeeding Helmut Stettner at Audi’s first China-based facility dedicated exclusively to electric vehicle production in Changchun. Menges brings more than three decades of experience in the automotive industry and currently serves as Head of Product Engineering at AUDI AG in Ingolstadt, a role he has held since 2022. He previously worked in China as Plant Manager at FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. in Changchun, giving him direct operational experience in the local market where the joint venture operates. The leadership transition comes as Audi advances…

The Scottish Government has committed £45 million under the third round of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB3) to support the deployment of more than 330 zero-emission buses and coaches, alongside associated charging infrastructure. The funding will enable the rollout of 334 vehicles, including 227 electric buses and 107 electric coaches, as part of efforts to accelerate the decarbonisation of heavy-duty transport across Scotland. The programme combines public and private investment, with each £1 of government funding expected to leverage more than £2.50 in private capital. Several major operators are participating, including First Bus, Stagecoach Group, Lothian Buses,…

A consortium of GreenCell Mobility and EKA Mobility has received a Letter of Award from Telangana State Road Transport Corporation to supply and deploy 915 electric buses in Hyderabad. The project will be implemented under the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE scheme, coordinated by Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), which aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and reduce urban emissions. The order includes 100 nine-metre and 815 twelve-metre standard-floor, non-air-conditioned buses designed for urban operations. The companies said the vehicles are intended to improve operational efficiency and passenger transport services while delivering zero-emission mobility. Rohit Srivastava said the…

New registrations of battery-electric vehicles in the European Union rose 20.6% year-on-year in February to 158,280 units, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, reflecting continued growth in the region’s transition to electrified mobility. In the first two months of the year, a total of 312,369 battery-electric cars were registered, marking a 22.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Electric vehicles accounted for 18.8% of all new car registrations during this period, out of a total market of 1.66 million units, which declined by 1.2%. ACEA said the figures highlight “the continued potential for further growth,”…

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has stepped back from its plan to transition to an all-electric lineup by 2030, citing continued demand for combustion-engine models and changing market dynamics, its chief executive said. Chief Executive Officer Chris Brownridge indicated that the British luxury carmaker is adapting its strategy to align with customer preferences and regulatory developments, following a significant decline in sales of its first fully electric model, the Spectre. “For every client that loves an electric vehicle there is one who does not,” Brownridge said. “Some clients do want an electric vehicle, we build what is ordered.” The shift places Rolls-Royce…

Ionity has opened two new high-power charging sites in Scotland, expanding its regional network to 12 locations as it targets improved electric vehicle access in remote areas. The new hubs, located in Fort William and Inverness, offer charging capacities of up to 400 kW and are positioned along key transport routes to support both long-distance travel and local usage. The Fort William site is situated near Ben Nevis, making it strategically positioned to serve tourism traffic in the Highlands. Ionity said the location is intended to enable electric vehicle drivers to travel through the region with greater confidence. Meanwhile, the…

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor is recalling more than 100,000 units of its Hyundai Kona Electric worldwide to update battery management software, after authorities warned of a potential fire risk linked to insufficient detection of thermal instability. According to the recall database of Germany’s federal motor authority, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), a total of 104,011 vehicles produced between Jan. 24, 2018, and July 15, 2023, are affected globally, including 13,523 units registered in Germany. The KBA said faulty battery monitoring software may fail to detect thermal instability in the high-voltage battery in time, “increasing the risk of fire.” To address the…