Author: Shaun Williams

Japanese drivetrain component manufacturer Exedy Corporation has acquired British in-wheel motor specialist Protean Electric from the Bedeo Group, giving the electric propulsion technology company a new owner as the automotive industry accelerates electrification. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. In a document released by Exedy, Protean Electric’s share capital is listed at just over £9 million ($11.6 million), though it remains unclear whether the purchase price matched that value or included a premium. Protean Electric said the backing of a global automotive supplier will support efforts to scale its in-wheel motor technology. The company aims to meet growing…

Japanese semiconductor manufacturer Rohm has signed a licensing agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to expand production of gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors as demand rises in sectors such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Under the agreement, Rohm will combine its own device development and manufacturing capabilities with TSMC’s GaN process technology to establish a broader production system for the next generation of power devices. “By licensing TSMC GaN technology, ROHM will strengthen its supply capability to meet growing demand for GaN in applications such as AI servers and electric vehicles,” the company said. GaN power semiconductors…

Nissan has warned the British government that its Sunderland manufacturing plant could face closure if the United Kingdom is excluded from the European Union’s proposed “Made in Europe” industrial rules, according to a report by the Financial Times. People familiar with the discussions told the newspaper that the Japanese carmaker has raised concerns that new EU requirements tied to the European Commission’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act could threaten the viability of the UK facility. The legislation aims to strengthen EU industrial competitiveness and increase domestic value creation in strategic sectors including automotive manufacturing. The Sunderland plant is one of the…

Hyundai Motor will discontinue the standard versions of its Hyundai Ioniq 6 in the United States starting with the 2026 model year, leaving only the high-performance Hyundai Ioniq 6 N available in limited quantities. The company said the upcoming performance model will remain part of its U.S. lineup, though availability is expected to be restricted. See also: Hyundai Halts Kona Electric Production for U.S., Skips 2026 Model Year The Ioniq 6 sedan is currently produced in South Korea, unlike several other Hyundai electric vehicles sold in the U.S. market. Models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the recently introduced…

GM National Insurance Company reported strong premium growth in 2025 as the company expanded its insurance offering across more U.S. markets. Written premiums reached $59 million during the year, compared with $20 million in 2024, reflecting the insurer’s broader rollout of coverage tied to General Motors vehicles and services. See also: General Motors Urges Suppliers to Cut China Dependence Amid U.S.-China Trade Tensions The company also widened its geographic reach, offering coverage in 20 states in 2025, up from 12 states the previous year. However, the insurer recorded a larger net underwriting loss as it continued investing in expansion. The…

SAIC-Volkswagen has begun production of a range-extender system for the upcoming ID. Era 9X SUV in China, marking the first time a Volkswagen-branded vehicle will feature the technology. The move prompted a lighthearted response from Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto, which has long championed range-extender electric vehicles. On social media platform Weibo, a Li Auto executive mocked the development while referencing past criticism of the technology by Volkswagen executives. “Congratulations to Volkswagen on the successful mass production of a technology that is ‘outdated, highly environmentally harmful, and lacks developmental potential’ – and all in just six years!” Li Auto’s…

Fleet electrification across Europe could generate up to €246 billion in cumulative operating cost savings by 2030, according to a joint study by Eurelectric and EY. The research found that battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) can reduce operating costs by between 20% and 50% compared with internal combustion engine vehicles across corporate cars, vans and trucks. See also: Dutch Fleet Drivers Demand at Least 400 km Range for Next Electric Company Car, BMW Study Finds Operating expenses represent a significant share of the total cost of ownership for commercial fleets. According to the report, these costs account for around 60–75% of total…

Electric mobility startup Zeno has raised $25 million in Series A funding as it seeks to expand its battery-swapping network and increase production of its Emara electric motorbikes across East Africa. The funding round includes about $20.5 million in equity led by Congruent Ventures, with participation from Active Impact and Lowercarbon Ventures, according to the company. The remaining $4.5 million comes from a debt facility provided by Camber Road and Trifecta Capital. See also: Spiro Secures $50 Million Credit to Expand Electric Motorcycle Network in Africa Zeno co-founder and chief executive Michael Spencer said the capital will help the company…

The works council election at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Grünheide has resulted in a victory for the union-independent list Giga United, which received nearly 41% of the vote, according to preliminary results. The list, led by current works council chair Michaela Schmitz, emerged as the largest faction in the election, ahead of the IG Metall-aligned list Tesla Workers GFFB, which secured around 31% of votes. Despite not holding an outright majority, non-union lists are expected to control most seats on the new works council. Preliminary figures indicate that about 24 of the 37 seats will go to candidates without union affiliation.…

TomTom has reiterated its support for map-based automated driving architectures, arguing that high-definition, continuously updated maps remain a critical component of advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving systems. The company said its position is reinforced by a recent agreement with CARIAD, the software subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, which will use TomTom’s Orbis Maps in its automated driving platform. According to TomTom, lane-level mapping provides structural information about the road network that vehicle sensors alone cannot reliably detect in all conditions. Some automakers have promoted sensor-only approaches to automated driving, relying on cameras, radar and lidar to interpret the surrounding environment…

Tensor and Arm have announced a multi-year collaboration to develop the computing architecture for what the companies describe as a personal autonomous vehicle, or “Robocar,” designed to support Level 4 autonomous driving. Under the partnership, each vehicle will integrate 433 Arm-based processor cores distributed across multiple computing systems responsible for artificial intelligence processing, safety functions, drive-by-wire systems and low-power subsystem management. The companies said the architecture will form the backbone of Tensor’s planned autonomous vehicle platform, which is expected to launch commercially in 2026 across the United States, the European Union and parts of the Middle East. The Robocar is…

The administration of Barcelona has launched a four-year subsidy program aimed at replacing combustion-engine mopeds with electric models, as part of broader efforts to reduce urban emissions and promote cleaner mobility. The initiative, backed by a budget of €15 million, is designed to support the introduction of up to 20,000 electric mopeds across the city while also expanding the infrastructure needed to support them. Since March 1, 2026, buyers of L1e-B category electric mopeds—vehicles with a maximum speed of up to 45 kilometers per hour—have been eligible for a one-time subsidy of €600. To qualify for the incentive, applicants must…