Author: Shaun Williams

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…

Electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group has unveiled a new robotaxi concept called the Lucid Lunar, offering a preview of how the company plans to compete in the emerging autonomous ride-hailing market. The concept vehicle was presented during Lucid’s Investor Day event, where the company showcased Lunar as a purpose-built robotaxi designed specifically for fully autonomous ride-hailing services. The two-seat vehicle features a minimalist cabin with no steering wheel or pedals and centers its interior around a large display. Lucid said the Lunar concept is built on the same upcoming midsize platform that will underpin future vehicles such as the Lucid…

Electric vehicle maker Rivian has unveiled full specifications and pricing for its upcoming Rivian R2, confirming details that surfaced in an earlier leak and outlining a lineup designed to broaden the brand’s reach in the U.S. electric vehicle market. The first model to launch will be the R2 Performance with Launch Package, starting at $57,990, with U.S. deliveries expected in spring 2026. The company also confirmed that deliveries in Canada are scheduled to begin in 2027. The R2 is built on an all-new mid-size platform intended to make Rivian’s electric vehicles more accessible while preserving the off-road capability and adventure-focused…

Dutch energy firm DCB Energy is building a public charging network for electric trucks across the Benelux region, deploying technology from Finnish charging equipment manufacturer Kempower to support heavy-duty transport electrification. The project will establish 64 high-power charging points across eight locations in Belgium and the Netherlands, each capable of delivering up to 400 kilowatts (kW). Seven sites will be located in the Netherlands and one in Belgium, according to information released by Kempower. Some charging hubs are already operational. A flagship site featuring 10 truck charging points and two car charging points opened in summer 2025 along the E19…

Ford Motor has released additional details about the updated version of its electric Explorer SUV in Europe while opening order books for the model in Germany, where the new entry-level variant equipped with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery starts at €39,990. The updated Explorer introduces improvements in range and performance, supported by a revised electric drive unit and a newly adopted battery configuration. Power output in the base version increases from 125 kW to 140 kW, while peak torque rises to 350 Nm. The improvements stem largely from the adoption of Volkswagen Group’s APP350 electric motor, which replaces the…

Lucid Motors said it has started rolling out support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to owners of the Lucid Gravity through an over-the-air software update. The update is part of Lucid UX 3.5 and will initially be available to customers in North America starting Thursday, with availability expanding to Europe and the Middle East later this month, the company said. Once installed, drivers will be able to connect smartphones via wireless or USB connection, allowing apps such as navigation, music, messaging and phone calls to appear directly on the vehicle’s infotainment display. See also: Lucid Reports Record Revenue and…

Volkswagen Group plans to eliminate around 50,000 jobs in Germany as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs across its brands. Group chief executive Oliver Blume outlined the scale of the job reductions in a letter to shareholders published alongside the company’s 2025 financial results. The planned workforce reductions affect multiple divisions, including the Volkswagen passenger car brand, Audi, Porsche and the group’s software subsidiary Cariad. According to the company’s annual report, Volkswagen Group employed approximately 293,000 people in Germany at the end of 2024. If the announced measures are implemented as planned, the…

Chinese LiDAR manufacturer RoboSense said its digital LiDAR systems have been selected for WeRide’s Robotaxi GXR platform, with production expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026. The Robotaxi GXR is being developed by autonomous driving company WeRide in collaboration with Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group, a commercial vehicle unit of Geely. The companies plan to deploy 2,000 vehicles in domestic and international markets. According to RoboSense, the robotaxi will be equipped with two of its sensors: the EM4 thousand-beam digital LiDAR and the E1 fully solid-state LiDAR. The EM4 will serve as the main LiDAR unit in…

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…