Author: Shaun Williams

Tesla posted a sharp rebound in China sales in March as demand in the world’s largest auto market recovered from February’s slowdown, while exports from its Shanghai factory also rose strongly. Tesla sold 56,107 China-made vehicles in the domestic market in March, up 46.9% from February, though down 24.3% from a year earlier, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association on Thursday. Exports from Tesla’s Giga Shanghai plant rose to 29,563 vehicles in March, up 528.9% from a year earlier and 45.0% higher than in February. Combined domestic sales and exports brought Tesla China’s wholesale deliveries for…

Dongfeng Nissan has launched the NX8, its first model to offer extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) technology, as the automaker intensifies efforts to compete in China’s rapidly evolving EV market. The mid- to large-size SUV, introduced on Wednesday, is available in both battery electric (BEV) and EREV variants. Official prices range from 159,900 yuan ($23,380) to 209,900 yuan, with a limited-time promotional starting price of 149,900 yuan. The pricing strategy appeared to drive early demand, with the company reporting 8,423 orders within 30 minutes of launch. Deliveries of the BEV versions began immediately on April 8, while EREV variants are scheduled…

Intel is joining the Terafab initiative, a large-scale semiconductor manufacturing project led by companies associated with Elon Musk, including Tesla, SpaceX and xAI, according to company statements and media reports. The Terafab project, unveiled in March, aims to construct and operate two chip fabrication plants in Texas with an estimated investment of between $20 billion and $25 billion. The facilities are intended to deliver a combined computing output of one terawatt per year—roughly double the current annual semiconductor production capacity of the United States. One of the planned plants will focus on producing chips for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, its…

Volkswagen will postpone the introduction of new battery-electric models from its core brand in the United States until the end of the decade, prioritizing its current offerings and a next-generation vehicle platform, the company said. Speaking at a media roundtable in New York, U.S. chief Kjell Gruner said the automaker will continue to emphasize the Volkswagen ID.4 and Volkswagen ID. Buzz in the near term, while seeing limited demand for smaller electric vehicles such as the upcoming ID. Every1 in the U.S. market. The company’s headquarters in Wolfsburg later confirmed the strategy to Automobilwoche. The report attributed the delayed rollout…

Jaguar has begun a new phase of winter testing for its upcoming all-electric four-door grand tourer, as engineers finalize key systems ahead of a planned global debut later this year. Prototypes are undergoing validation in Arctic Circle conditions in northern Sweden, where temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius. The test program is part of Jaguar’s most extensive development cycle to date, involving around 150 prototypes covering hundreds of thousands of miles across extreme climates and virtual simulations. The vehicle will feature a tri-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain producing more than 1,000 PS, making it the most powerful production model in…

Certification filings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, first identified by users on the Rivian Forums, show that the 2027 Rivian R2 will feature an 86.8 kWh battery pack capable of delivering more than 300 miles of driving range. The documents indicate a usable battery capacity of 86.8 kWh, exceeding earlier expectations for the company’s dual-motor platform. The system supports peak DC fast charging of up to 210 kW, according to the filings. Range performance varies depending on wheel configuration. Models fitted with 21-inch all-season tires are rated at up to 335 miles, while versions equipped with 20-inch all-terrain tires…

Volkswagen Group introduced a series of electric vehicle concepts and a China-specific platform at its Group Night event in Beijing, underscoring its push to localize technology and accelerate development in the world’s largest EV market. The company unveiled the China Main Platform (CMP), a new architecture aimed at entry-level electric vehicles, alongside the Volkswagen ID. CODE, a concept model featuring Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities and AI-powered user interaction systems. The announcements form part of Volkswagen’s “In China, for China” strategy, which emphasizes localized research and development to better compete with domestic EV manufacturers. The automaker said it has established…

Tesla has launched a seven-seat configuration for the Model Y in the United Kingdom, reintroducing the three-row option exclusively on the Long Range all-wheel drive variant. The model is priced from £54,490, with the additional third-row seating available for a £2,500 premium over the standard five-seat version. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in May 2026, in line with the five-seat Long Range variant. The seven-seat layout reduces the WLTP driving range from 391 miles to 372 miles, reflecting the added weight. The configuration remains limited to the Long Range all-wheel drive version, with no confirmation on availability for other variants.…

Kia has launched the second-generation 2027 Seltos at the New York International Auto Show, introducing a hybrid powertrain and expanded dimensions to its small SUV lineup. The updated model will be offered with three powertrain options, including a newly added hybrid system. The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine is paired with an intelligent variable transmission, while a 1.6-litre turbocharged variant delivers an estimated 190 horsepower through an 8-speed automatic. Both are scheduled to go on sale in the United States in the second quarter of 2026, with the hybrid variant expected in the fourth quarter. The hybrid combines a 1.6-litre four-cylinder…

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors has launched plans to join the Philippine government’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS), with the aim of producing a new hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) at its Santa Rosa plant in Laguna by mid-2028, subject to approval. The plan was announced during a meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Mitsubishi Motors Chief Executive Takao Kato. The project will be carried out by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC), which is also planning additional investments to upgrade facilities in support of electrification. The initiative is expected to strengthen the local supply chain and create employment opportunities. “The Philippines…

Ford Motor reported a sharp decline in electric vehicle sales in the first quarter, with volumes falling nearly 70% year-on-year as affordability pressures and reduced incentives weighed on demand. The drop comes amid higher financing costs, elevated vehicle prices and the expiry of federal tax credits for EVs, factors that have made electric models less accessible to consumers despite rising fuel costs. Overall, Ford’s U.S. vehicle sales fell about 9% to 457,315 units in the January–March period. Truck sales declined 11.3% and sport utility vehicles fell 7.8%, reflecting weaker demand across key segments. Industry-wide trends were also softer. Total U.S.…

Mercedes-AMG has launched final winter testing of its near-production electric GT 4-Door Coupé at its test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden, ahead of a planned global debut in the coming weeks. The fully electric sports car introduces a new driving dynamics control system called AMG Race Engineer, designed to give drivers granular control over vehicle behaviour. The system features three rotary controls that independently adjust response, cornering balance, and traction slip. Drivers can tailor electric motor response to accelerator inputs, vary handling characteristics from understeer to controlled oversteer, and configure traction control across nine stages. Full functionality is available when the…

Green Car Journal has named the Rivian R2 as its 2026 Electric Green Car of the Year, highlighting the model’s positioning in the growing electric vehicle segment. The award is part of the publication’s 2026 Green Car Awards program, which evaluates vehicles based on environmental performance, technology and sustainability. Other winners this year include models from Lexus, Jeep, Ford Motor and Bintelli. The Rivian R2, developed by Rivian Automotive, is a compact electric SUV aimed at a broader customer base. Pricing ranges from $45,000 to $57,990, with a maximum estimated range of up to 340 miles depending on the variant.…

Lucid Group said it has introduced updates to its 2027 Gravity sport utility vehicle lineup, adding more standard features and revising packaging across trims as it refines the model’s positioning in the premium EV segment. The update comes less than a year after the model began customer deliveries, with Lucid adding more standard equipment rather than redesigning the vehicle. The company has made its DreamDrive 2 Premium advanced driver-assistance system standard across all variants, alongside the inclusion of an additional key fob that was previously optional. DreamDrive 2 Premium offers Level 2 driver-assistance capabilities, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency…

BMW design chief Adrian van Hooydonk said recent interior concepts from Ferrari support the view that a mix of physical controls and digital interfaces remains relevant in vehicle design. In an interview with Top Gear, van Hooydonk referenced the Ferrari “Luce” interior concept, developed by designers Jony Ive and Marc Newson. He described the design as consistent with expectations for designers approaching automotive interiors with a technology-oriented perspective, while still retaining physical inputs alongside screens. The Ferrari concept has drawn attention due to Ive’s background at Apple, where he helped define minimalist, screen-centric product design. Observers say the inclusion of…

Japanese automaker Subaru has unveiled a new battery-electric SUV, the Getaway, at the New York International Auto Show, marking its latest step in expanding its electric vehicle offering in the United States. The three-row SUV, designed to seat up to seven passengers, is scheduled to arrive at dealerships across the US by the end of 2026. The model has been developed in collaboration with Toyota and shares key technologies with the recently introduced Toyota Highlander. Like its Toyota counterpart, the Getaway is expected to be based on a modified version of Toyota’s TNGA-K platform, originally developed for internal combustion engine…

Bogotá has begun operating a new fleet of battery-electric buses within its TransMiZonal public transport system, marking the first deployment of locally assembled electric buses in the Colombian capital, transport authorities said. The initial delivery of 68 buses is part of a broader order of 711 units scheduled for completion next year, according to TransMilenio. The buses are expected to replace older diesel-powered vehicles that have been in service for more than 15 years, in a move aimed at improving air quality and passenger experience. “Bogota is not stopping in the modernisation of its transportation system. This is a very…

The REDSEL research project, led by Silicon Austria Labs in collaboration with Infineon Technologies Austria and AVL List, has developed a new electrical system architecture for electric vehicles that eliminates the need for a conventional 12-volt battery. The proposed system replaces the traditional low-voltage battery—commonly used to power functions such as lighting, infotainment and central locking—with a configuration based entirely on the vehicle’s high-voltage system. The redesign aims to address reliability concerns associated with 12-volt batteries, which are considered a critical point of failure in both combustion-engine vehicles and EVs. At the core of the concept is a redundant architecture…

The joint venture between Chery Automobile and Jaguar Land Rover has announced the revival of the Freelander marque, outlining plans to position it as a new independent brand focused on China’s luxury electric vehicle market. At a launch event in Shanghai, the partners said Freelander will introduce six new electric models over the next five years, with a cadence of one vehicle every six months. The first model is expected to debut in China in the second half of 2026. To support the expansion, the joint venture will invest an additional 3 billion yuan ($436 million) into its Changshu manufacturing…

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…