Author: Shaun Williams

Waymo has secured new approval to operate fully autonomous vehicles across wider regions of California, the company confirmed in a post on Friday. The updated authorization, issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, significantly expands the areas where the Alphabet-owned robotaxi service can test and deploy its driverless vehicles. According to newly published DMV maps, Waymo can now operate across much of the East Bay and North Bay — including Napa and surrounding Wine Country regions — as well as Sacramento in Northern California. In Southern California, its permitted territory now stretches from Santa Clarita to San Diego. The…

Germany’s small electric vehicle market is being led by Hyundai’s Inster, the carmaker’s most affordable EV, after strong demand helped the model become the country’s best-selling small electric car so far in 2025. The compact EV, launched in Europe in late 2024, has also emerged as one of the region’s more popular electric models, industry data show. According to figures from JATO Dynamics, the Inster ranked as Europe’s 19th most popular EV in June, outselling several established competitors including the Dacia Spring, Hyundai Kona, and Toyota bZ4X. In Germany, the vehicle has received additional recognition after winning the Golden Steering…

Volkswagen of America said the 2025 ID. Buzz has received a 5-star overall safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), placing the electric van among eight Volkswagen vehicles awarded the agency’s highest designation for the 2025 model year. NHTSA evaluates vehicles under its New Car Assessment Program using a one-to-five-star scale that measures crash protection and rollover resistance. The agency says five stars represent the highest achievable safety performance. Volkswagen noted the rating reflects the model’s integration of both active and passive safety systems. Safety Systems and Equipment The ID. Buzz includes six airbags, Automatic Post-Collision…

Outrider announced enterprise-class support services for its autonomous yard operations, designed to maintain uptime and performance for logistics hubs using driverless technology. The services will support the commercial rollout of the Outrider System in 2026, targeting large enterprises implementing yard automation across their supply chains. The service combines autonomous operational features with technical support, enabling continuous operation. The system includes self-diagnostic monitoring, remote troubleshooting, and AI-enabled learning from support interactions. Todd Lewis, Senior Vice President at Prologis Ventures, said automation in logistics yards requires a support structure to maintain uninterrupted operations. Outrider’s autonomous system provides trailer tracking, parking optimization, automated…

Archer Aviation said on Wednesday it has entered a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company (THC) and luxury tourism developer Red Sea Global to develop and test electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the Kingdom. The collaboration will establish a structured testing environment, or “sandbox,” where Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft can conduct flights under real-world conditions. The initiative will assess aircraft performance, operational viability, regulatory compliance, passenger acceptance, and integration into the broader transport ecosystem. Red Sea Global, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, will lead the sandbox testing to explore how eVTOLs could fit into…

DiDi Autonomous Driving announced a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) on November 12, marking the company’s first major expansion step into the Middle East. As part of the agreement, DiDi has joined the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster in Abu Dhabi. The collaboration focuses on advancing autonomous driving technologies, supporting AI talent development, and contributing to broader ecosystem growth. Both parties plan to extend cooperation across the Middle East over time. See also: Didi Reports Q2 Net Loss of $350 Million on Lawsuit Provision, Revenue Rises 10.9% The SAVI cluster—operated by the Abu Dhabi…

Germany’s Baden-Württemberg region has launched a research initiative to develop silicon-based anode materials aimed at significantly increasing the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, the project partners said on Monday. The project, known as FACILE, brings together four regional partners including the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW). The consortium is “focusing on proven processes from paper and nonwoven production, combined with state-of-the-art industrial coating techniques from semiconductor technology and photovoltaics,” the group said. See also: Hydrohertz Debuts Multi-Zone Battery Valve to Cut EV Charging Times and Boost Range FACILE aims to boost practical anode-side energy density by…

Leapmotor reported its second consecutive quarterly profit as strong sales growth and improved operational efficiency lifted its third-quarter performance. The company posted net income of RMB 150 million in the July–September period, reversing a RMB 690 million loss a year earlier. The latest result follows a profitable second quarter, when the company recorded RMB 160 million in net income, and marks continued recovery after a brief return to losses in the first quarter amid broader industry weakness. See also: Leapmotor Hits 500,000 Sales Ahead of Schedule, Moves Up Launch of Lafa 5 EV The company delivered a record 173,852 vehicles…

Leapmotor has released the first teaser images of its upcoming A10 model, with the small SUV scheduled to make its public debut in one week. Senior vice president Cao Li shared two images of the vehicle on Weibo, showing a LiDAR sensor mounted on its roof — the first official design detail revealed for the new model. The A10 will be unveiled at the 2025 Guangzhou auto show, which runs from November 21 to 30 at the Canton Fair Complex, with the opening day reserved for media. Leapmotor confirmed earlier this month that the A10 will be the inaugural model…

Daimler Truck has entered the second phase of real-world testing for its Mercedes-Benz GenH2 fuel cell truck, placing vehicles with five logistics partners across Germany. The move comes a little over a year after the company launched initial customer-oriented trials, as it works toward small-series production of hydrogen-powered long-haul trucks. Hornbach, Reber Logistik, Teva Germany, Rhenus and DHL Supply Chain will each operate a GenH2 Truck on their regular routes for one year. The latest testing stage follows earlier trials that began in 2024, but with higher performance and operational requirements. Daimler Truck said the aim is to validate a…

German manufacturer Tadus unveiled its near-production T16.20 electric tractor at Agritechnica 2025 in Hannover, targeting agricultural, municipal and yard applications as interest grows in zero-emission machinery. The company said the tractor is engineered for continuous operation through a multi-motor electric driveline and a fast battery-exchange system. The T16.20 delivers 80 kW of continuous output and up to 120 kW peak power, using a decentralised multi-motor setup. Its lithium-ion battery, rated at roughly 196–200 kWh, enables between five and eight hours of work. Tadus said its swap module allows operators to replace the battery in under five minutes, reducing downtime. “The…

London will raise its daily Congestion Charge from £15 to £18 beginning 2 January 2026, ending the full exemption for electric vehicles while introducing a tiered discount system intended to manage increasing traffic volumes. Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London confirmed the structure, which replaces the Cleaner Vehicle Discount introduced in 2019. Under the revised scheme, electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles registered for Auto Pay will be eligible for a 50% discount, while electric cars and Private Hire Vehicles will receive a 25% reduction. TfL said a second phase beginning 4 March 2030 will adjust these discounts…

General Motors has restarted production of the Chevy Bolt after a multiyear pause, with the second-generation model now rolling off the line at the Fairfax plant in Kansas. The company began assembly on 10 November, and the first units are scheduled to arrive at dealerships in January 2026, according to a report from GM Authority. Although it will reach showrooms in 2026, the vehicle will be marketed as a 2027 model year. GM previously outlined the Bolt’s main updates during a customer event in October, highlighting an estimated range of 255 miles (410 km) and a significant boost in fast-charging…

Italian public transport operator ASF Autolinee has expanded its electric bus fleet with the addition of seven new Yutong vehicles and completed a high-power charging hub at its Lazzago depot, the company said. The latest delivery brings the number of Yutong e-buses in service to 32 as the operator accelerates its transition to a predominantly electric network. See also: Iveco Bus Wins Contract to Supply 87 Electric School Minibuses in Italy’s Campania Region The new E10 and E12 models follow earlier batches delivered in March and September. ASF said the vehicles feature technology aimed at increasing operational range and improving…

Seyond Holdings, a LiDAR supplier to Nio, has cleared the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s listing hearing, paving the way for trading to begin on December 10, according to a filing document on Wednesday. Seyond will become the third Chinese LiDAR manufacturer to debut in Hong Kong, following RoboSense Technology (HKG: 2498), which listed on January 5, 2024, and Hesai Group, which went public on September 16 this year. Unlike the other two, Seyond’s listing will take place through a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) TechStar Acquisition Corporation. See also: Seyond Faces Patent Lawsuit From Hesai Ahead of Hong…

Boston-based startup Teradar announced on Wednesday that it has raised $150 million in new funding and introduced its “terahertz-vision” sensor, which it says could transform the automotive radar and lidar market. The company claims the new technology delivers lidar-level resolution and radar-grade durability at a lower cost, providing a compact, bumper-mounted solution that functions reliably through rain, snow, and dust. See also: Einride to Go Public in $1.8 Billion SPAC Deal with Legato Merger Corp III The funding round was led by VXI Capital, with participation from IBEX Investors, Capricorn Investment Group, The Engine Ventures, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, according…

Bosch Engineering has introduced a new 800-volt electric drive system for agricultural machinery at Agritechnica 2025, offering up to 188 kW of continuous power and designed for both fully electric and hybrid applications. The drive system integrates the Bosch SMG230 electric motor and a high-efficiency inverter featuring silicon carbide (SiC) power modules. The motor supports system voltages ranging from 400 to 850 volts, delivering 188 kW of continuous power and approximately 250 Nm of torque, with short-term peaks reaching 550 Nm. Bosch said the 800-volt design enhances power density, providing up to 80 kW more output than comparable 400-volt systems…

At COP30 in Belém, the Traton Group and Volkswagen Truck & Bus announced the launch of the e-Dutra corridor, Brazil’s first zero-emission freight route connecting Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The initiative unites logistics companies, infrastructure providers, and government partners under a joint effort to decarbonize heavy-duty transportation in one of South America’s busiest freight corridors. Volkswagen Truck & Bus, one of the key initiators of the project, recently completed the first electric truck trip along the 800-kilometre route between Resende and Sorocaba in partnership with the LOTS Group. The journey used existing charging infrastructure to evaluate the corridor’s…

Xpeng has unveiled the X9 Ultra, a high-performance all-electric variant of its X9 MPV, according to new filings published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The model features cutting-edge hardware, including three in-house Turing AI chips that deliver a combined 2250 TOPS (trillion operations per second) of computing power. See also: Xpeng P7+ Electric Sedan Surpasses 85,000 Deliveries Since Launch Two of the chips will power Xpeng’s VLA large model for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), while the third supports the VLM intelligent cockpit model, providing enhanced responsiveness and personalized in-car interaction. The X9 Ultra will be offered…

BYD aims to sell between 1.5 million and 1.6 million vehicles in overseas markets in 2026, according to a report from Citi that cited a recent meeting with the Chinese automaker’s management. The target represents strong double-digit growth from BYD’s expected 2025 overseas sales of 900,000 to 1 million units, Citi said in the report, as quoted by Reuters. The expansion will be largely driven by the introduction of new models across global markets. See also: BYD Reaffirms Focus on LFP Batteries, Highlights Safety and Reliability Citi noted that BYD’s overseas sales are becoming more regionally balanced, with Europe, North…