Author: Shaun Williams

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…

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…