Author: Shaun Williams

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…

KG Mobility has launched the Musso EV in the UK, marking its entry into the growing electric pickup segment as demand rises for zero-emission commercial vehicles. The Musso EV starts at £42,495 including VAT and incorporates the UK’s Plug-in Van Grant. The model will be available for customer test drives from May 2026. The vehicle is powered by a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system delivering 152 kW and 339 Nm of torque. It is equipped with an 80.6 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery supplied by BYD, offering a WLTP range of up to 240 miles. The battery uses cell-to-pack technology and supports…

DS Automobiles will withdraw from the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship after the 2025/26 season, ending more than a decade of participation as part of a broader strategic shift by parent company Stellantis. The French brand, one of the most successful teams in Formula E history, has competed in eleven of the championship’s twelve seasons, securing four titles, 18 race wins, 55 podium finishes and 26 pole positions. “At the end of Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the Stellantis group’s French brand is evolving its sporting and technological strategy,” Stellantis said in a statement.…

French energy company TotalEnergies has installed electric vehicle charge points across 80 locations in the London borough of Camden, expanding its urban charging network as part of broader electrification efforts. The newly deployed chargers range in capacity from 22 kW to 100 kW, including 18 rapid charge points at the higher power level. TotalEnergies said all units will be powered بالكامل by renewable energy, though it did not specify whether the installations are located on-street or within public parking facilities. The addition brings TotalEnergies’ total number of charge points in London to around 3,000, including approximately 500 dedicated charging bays…

Rimac Technology has appointed Nurdin Pitarević as its new chief executive, succeeding founder Mate Rimac, who will remain President of Rimac Group and focus more closely on the Bugatti Rimac business. The leadership change marks an internal promotion, with Pitarević stepping up from his role as chief operating officer. His deputy, Marko Brkljačić, will assume the COO position. Rimac said the transition follows a record year in which the company delivered tens of thousands of battery and powertrain systems to global automotive manufacturers, reflecting its growing role as a Tier 1 supplier. Mate Rimac said Pitarević has demonstrated strong leadership…

DS Automobiles has unveiled the DS N°7, a redesigned compact SUV that replaces the DS 7 and introduces a broader electrified lineup, as the French marque advances its premium positioning within the Stellantis portfolio. The DS N°7 marks a transition to Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform, moving away from the EMP2 architecture used in its predecessor. The model will be offered in three battery-electric configurations as well as a hybrid variant, with orders in Germany expected to open in May 2026 and market launch scheduled for the autumn. The battery-electric range includes front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants with varying performance levels. Entry-level…

Hesai reported its first full-year profit, driven by rising demand for its sensors used in electric vehicles and robotics applications. The company posted a net income of 435.9 million yuan ($62.3 million) for 2025, compared with a net loss of 102.4 million yuan a year earlier. Hesai said it is the first LiDAR manufacturer globally to achieve full-year profitability under GAAP standards. Annual revenue rose 45.8% to 3.028 billion yuan, supported by strong demand in both domestic and international markets. However, gross margin edged down slightly to 41.8% from 42.6% in the previous year, reflecting a higher contribution from advanced…

BYD surpassed Tesla in new car registrations in Europe for February, marking the second consecutive month the Chinese automaker has led its US rival in the region. In the broader European market, including the European Union, the European Free Trade Association and the UK, BYD recorded 17,954 new registrations in February, up 162.3% from a year earlier, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. This lifted its market share to 1.8%, compared with 0.7% in the same month last year. Tesla registered 17,664 vehicles in the same market during February, representing an 11.8% year-on-year increase. Its market share…

Chinese LiDAR manufacturer Hesai Group has partnered with Niu Technologies to supply sensors for electric two-wheelers, marking a shift in the adoption of advanced driver assistance technologies into lower-cost mobility segments. Hesai said its fully solid-state FTX blind-spot LiDAR will be integrated into Niu’s vehicles, starting with the newly launched NXT2 model. The system is designed to improve safety by enhancing perception in complex urban traffic environments. The FTX sensor offers a wide field of view of 180°×140° and is capable of detecting pedestrians, vehicles, and other obstacles in various weather conditions. Hesai described the system as enabling “all-weather, high-definition…

Nvidia has announced a series of new and expanded partnerships with automakers and mobility providers, as its Drive Hyperion platform gains adoption for advanced driver assistance and Level 4 autonomous driving applications. At its GTC 2026 conference, the U.S. technology company said automakers including BYD, Geely, Isuzu, and Nissan plan to deploy its platform in future vehicles, while Hyundai and Kia will deepen their collaboration. Ride-hailing platforms Uber and Bolt are also expanding their use of Nvidia’s technology for robotaxi services. See also: Cyngn Uses NVIDIA Isaac Sim to Accelerate Validation of Autonomous Industrial Vehicles Nvidia’s Drive Hyperion platform combines…

Xiaomi has unveiled the next-generation SU7 electric sedan, pricing the model from 219,900 yuan ($31,870), as the Chinese technology group intensifies competition with Tesla in the world’s largest electric vehicle market. At a launch event on Thursday, the company said the Standard, Pro, and Max variants are priced at 219,900 yuan, 249,900 yuan, and 303,900 yuan, respectively. The entry price is 10,000 yuan below the previously announced pre-sale level and remains lower than the starting price of the Tesla Model 3 in China. Shortly after the event, founder and CEO Lei Jun said the model received more than 15,000 locked-in…

RWTH Aachen University’s Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM), in collaboration with industry partner Röscher, has launched a new research project aimed at improving the manufacturing process of axial flux motors, a compact and efficient electric motor technology that has so far been costly to produce. The project, named REFORMAT and funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for a period of two and a half years, will focus on developing a new winding process for producing motor coils directly on stator cores using profiled litz wires. See also: RWTH Aachen Launches DigHy Project to…

Ford Motor has opened orders for its updated Capri electric SUV, introducing a new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and upgraded drivetrain to improve range and efficiency in the European market. The Capri, positioned as a sportier counterpart to the Ford Explorer electric SUV, starts at €42,400 in Germany, while UK pricing begins at £37,485. Both models are built on Volkswagen Group’s updated MEB+ platform, reflecting closer technical integration between the two automakers. See also: Ford Introduces Updated Electric Explorer With LFP Battery and New Collection Model In its base configuration, the Capri Standard Range now offers up to 464…

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the California Air Resources Board (CARB), escalating a long-running dispute over the state’s authority to enforce stricter vehicle emissions standards than federal regulations. The legal action seeks to block California from implementing its own rules aimed at reducing automotive pollution, with the federal government arguing that such measures exceed the state’s authority under U.S. law. See also: California Weighs New EV Incentives as State Moves to Offset Loss of Federal Tax Credits “Oppressive, expensive electric vehicle mandates drive up costs for American consumers and violate federal law,” said…

Chinese automaker Chery has opened a new research and development centre in Paris aimed at supporting the development of future compact urban vehicles for its Omoda and Jaecoo brands in the European market. The new site will focus on B-segment models as part of Chery’s broader expansion strategy in Europe, complementing its existing engineering and design centre in Raunheim, Germany. The Paris facility will concentrate on adapting vehicles to European customer preferences, regulatory requirements, and local market conditions. See also: Chery Opens Pre-Sales for New QQ3 Electric City Car With ADAS “The new R&D centre in Paris is an important…

Ford Motor’s commercial vehicle division Ford Pro has partnered with charging infrastructure provider ChargePoint to deliver tailored electric vehicle charging solutions for fleet customers in Germany and the United Kingdom, the companies said. The collaboration aims to support businesses transitioning to electric fleets by offering integrated charging options across home, depot, and workplace environments. The companies said the initiative is designed to improve operational efficiency while reducing the total cost of ownership for fleet operators. See also: RAW Charging Partners With ChargePoint to Install Over 300 Fast Chargers in the UK “By combining specialised services and advanced charging technology, this…

Volkswagen Anhui has started series production of the all-electric ID.UNYX 08 in the Chinese city of Hefei, marking the first vehicle developed in collaboration with Xpeng, in which Volkswagen holds a minority stake. The launch follows a partnership announced in 2023, when Volkswagen Group acquired around 5% of Xpeng and began jointly developing a new China-focused electronic architecture alongside its software unit Cariad. The platform, known as China Electronic Architecture (CEA), reached production readiness in January 2026. See also: EU Accepts Volkswagen Anhui Price Undertaking, Exempts Cupra Tavascan From Tariffs While the CEA platform is set to debut in the…

BYD plans to deploy its first batch of ultra-fast charging stations outside China in the coming weeks, as part of a broader push to expand its advanced charging infrastructure globally, according to a report by InsideEVs. The rollout is expected to coincide with the European debut of the updated Denza Z9GT, which is scheduled to be unveiled in Paris on April 8. The model will be among the first to showcase the company’s latest charging and battery technologies in overseas markets. See also: BYD Launches 1,500 kW Supercharger and Expands Flash-Charging Network in China BYD’s flash-charging stations are designed to…