Author: Shaun Williams

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has adopted a harmonized international regulation for automated driving systems (ADS), establishing common safety requirements for the development, approval and operation of autonomous vehicles. According to UNECE, the regulation is expected to enter into force in about one month and is supported by major automotive markets including the European Union, the United States, China, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom. The framework is intended for automated driving systems capable of performing the complete driving task without human intervention, generally corresponding to SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicles and above. Common Safety Standards for…

Alpine has presented the first drivable prototype of its future all-electric A110 sports car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, marking the public debut of the next generation of the brand’s flagship model. The prototype, known as the A110 Future, follows Alpine’s previously announced plan to transition the A110 from an internal combustion engine to a battery-electric powertrain. Production of the current A110 has ended at the company’s Dieppe facility, with the electric successor now entering its development phase. Prototype Built on Dedicated Performance Platform The A110 Future is based on Alpine’s new Alpine Performance Platform (APP), an architecture developed…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called on autonomous vehicle developers to address safety issues involving driverless vehicles at emergency scenes, giving companies until the end of July to present plans for improving vehicle behavior. In a letter sent to developers of automated driving systems (ADS), NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison cited multiple incidents in which autonomous vehicles entered active emergency scenes or failed to respond appropriately to traffic control measures used by first responders. The agency said it plans to meet with developers before the end-of-July deadline to review proposed solutions and will continue using its enforcement…

Polestar delivered a record 30,423 vehicles worldwide during the first six months of 2026, achieving its strongest first-half sales performance to date despite regulatory headwinds and softer demand in several markets. The Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer said global retail deliveries increased 0.4% from the same period a year earlier, when it delivered 30,289 vehicles. Excluding the United States, first-half deliveries rose 3.1% year over year to 28,562 vehicles, reflecting continued growth in the company’s core international markets. Second-Quarter Deliveries Ease Polestar delivered 17,296 vehicles during the second quarter, representing a 4.0% decline compared with the same period in 2025. Sales…

Posco has launched a collaborative research project with Hyundai Motor, SL Corporation and academic partners to develop high-silicon electrical steel for next-generation electric vehicle motors. The initiative is supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and coordinated by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT). The consortium also includes several research institutes and universities. The partners have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly advance the material toward commercial application in electric vehicles. Focus on High-Efficiency Motors The project centers on developing electrical steel containing 6.5% silicon, a material designed to improve the efficiency of…

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) have developed a process that converts polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic from beverage bottles into high-quality synthetic graphite, offering a potential new source of anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The research, published in the journal Diamond and Related Materials, suggests the method could help address both plastic waste and the growing demand for battery-grade graphite. PET Waste Converted Into Synthetic Graphite The research team transformed shredded PET plastic into synthetic graphite by combining it with small amounts of graphene oxide and applying a controlled thermal process. According to the researchers, the highest-quality graphite was…

Ireland’s ICE2EV electric vehicle scrappage pilot reached its full allocation within one hour of opening, with all 2,000 available grants claimed shortly after applications began. The scheme offers motorists up to €5,000 toward the purchase of a new battery electric vehicle (BEV) when scrapping an eligible petrol or diesel car. Combined with Ireland’s existing €3,500 EV purchase grant, buyers could receive total incentives of €8,500. Strong Demand for EV Incentives Applications were submitted through participating dealerships on a first-come, first-served basis. According to Ireland’s Department of Transport, the pilot reached its capacity within an hour despite a brief website outage…

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly planning to manufacture its upcoming compact electric G-Class in Hungary instead of Germany, as the automaker continues to reorganize its European production network and reduce manufacturing costs. According to Automobilwoche, citing sources within Mercedes-Benz Group, the compact model is expected to enter production at the company’s Kecskemét plant in Hungary in 2027. The report said the Rastatt facility, which currently builds several compact Mercedes-Benz models, is not expected to receive the production assignment. Hungary Plant Expected to Play Larger Role The reported compact model is expected to be based on Mercedes-Benz’s Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA) platform for…

McMurtry Automotive has revealed the production version of its Spéirling Pure, an all-electric single-seat hyper track car engineered around a patented Downforce-on-Demand™ system capable of generating up to 2,000kg of aerodynamic downforce regardless of vehicle speed. Scheduled to make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from 9–12 July, the track-focused EV is priced at £995,000 (US$1.32 million), with customer deliveries expected to begin later in 2026. Fan-Based Downforce Redefines Track Performance The Spéirling Pure’s defining engineering feature is its patented Downforce-on-Demand system, which uses twin electric fans spinning at up to 23,000rpm to generate suction beneath the…

Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. has highlighted five major technological breakthroughs in hybrid and electric drive systems as it accelerates the transition toward low-emission heavy equipment across its construction, mining and agricultural machinery businesses. The technologies were recognized during the company’s seventh Science and Technology Innovation Conference, underscoring Zoomlion’s long-term strategy to expand intelligent and sustainable equipment solutions. Five Innovations Drive Electrification Strategy Among the technologies honored were an ultra-high-horsepower hybrid tractor, advanced electric-drive and intelligent control systems for heavy machinery, distributed electric-drive technology for mobile cranes, series-hybrid electric-drive systems for combine harvesters, and a portfolio of…

Infineon Technologies has officially opened its Smart Power Fab in Dresden, Germany, completing the company’s largest single investment to date with a project valued at €5 billion. The advanced semiconductor facility will manufacture power semiconductors and analog/mixed-signal chips used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, industrial applications and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Expanding Semiconductor Capacity The Smart Power Fab began operations several months ahead of schedule and doubles Infineon’s production capacity for power semiconductors and analog/mixed-signal technologies at its Dresden campus. The project has created approximately 1,000 new jobs and significantly expands the company’s manufacturing capabilities for next-generation semiconductor devices. According…

TU Wien has opened the eMOTION Lab, a new research hub dedicated to advancing electric drivetrain technology and power electronics, with the facility beginning operations through the launch of an inverter test bench for industry and academic partners. The laboratory is designed to support the development of next-generation electric drive systems while strengthening collaboration between researchers, automotive companies, and technology suppliers. Research Focuses on Electric Drivetrain Technologies The first phase of the eMOTION Lab became operational at the beginning of July with an inverter test bench that is available for use by industrial companies, research organizations, and university partners for…

BYD reclaimed the global battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales lead in the second quarter of 2026, outperforming Tesla despite the U.S. electric vehicle maker posting its strongest quarterly delivery performance of the year. Tesla reported global deliveries of 480,126 battery electric vehicles during the second quarter, while BYD sold 557,090 passenger BEVs over the same period. BYD Reclaims Quarterly Lead BYD’s second-quarter BEV sales exceeded Tesla’s deliveries by 76,964 vehicles, giving the Chinese automaker a lead of approximately 16%. The result marks a reversal from the first quarter, when Tesla delivered around 48,000 more battery electric vehicles than BYD. Although…

Sensata Technologies has introduced the STPS500P Series Active + Passive PyroFuse, a high-voltage protection device designed to improve safety and simplify electrical system architecture in electric vehicles. The new PyroFuse combines system-triggered and current-driven circuit interruption within a single unit, enabling rapid fault isolation while reducing the need for multiple protection components. Dual Protection Improves Fault Response Conventional high-voltage protection systems typically rely on either active devices that require signals from vehicle electronics or passive solutions that respond to thermal or current conditions. Sensata’s Active + Passive PyroFuse integrates both approaches into one device. Its passive mechanism is activated directly…

Canadian electric motorcycle manufacturer Beachman has unveiled the Aviator, a new electric café racer that will launch across North America this summer in three configurations, with prices starting at $5,499. The lineup includes a Class 2 electric bike, a light motorcycle, and a premium 125cc-equivalent model scheduled to arrive later this fall. Beachman said it is currently fulfilling more than 150 customer preorders before moving into full-scale production. Three Versions for Different Riders The entry-level Aviator E-Bike is classified as a Class 2 electric bicycle, offering a top speed of 20 mph for on-road use and up to 35 mph…

Ferrari’s first all-electric model, the Luce, remains available to order in China despite online claims that the initial allocation had sold out, according to Chinese media outlet Lanjinger. Authorized Ferrari dealers said customers can still place orders by paying a deposit to secure production slots. Orders Still Open The Luce made its Asian debut in Shanghai on June 26 and is priced from 3.988 million yuan (approximately US$587,700) in China. Shortly after the launch, several social media accounts claimed that the first batch of 88 vehicles allocated to the Chinese market had sold out. However, the reports cited no official…

Austrian bus operator Ledermair has opened what it says is the largest electric bus depot in the state of Tyrol, adding high-capacity charging infrastructure to support the expansion of its battery-electric fleet. Located in Thaur near Innsbruck, the depot features 28 charging points with a combined charging capacity of 2.4 megawatts (MW). The installation was developed in partnership with charging technology provider Kempower and energy company vlotte vkw. Charging System Designed for Fleet Growth The charging network is powered by four Kempower Power Units and managed through the company’s ChargEye software, which schedules charging sessions based on vehicle operations. According…

Waymo has established a new German subsidiary as part of its preparations for future robotaxi operations in Europe, marking the latest step in the company’s international expansion strategy. Waymo Germany GmbH was incorporated on May 13 and officially registered on June 15 in Munich, according to commercial registry filings. The company lists Google’s Munich office as its business address and has already advertised job openings for test drivers and vehicle trainers in both Munich and Berlin. No timetable has been announced for launching commercial services in Germany, and the company has not identified its initial operating cities. Early Stage of…

Waymo has ended its robotaxi partnership with Uber in Phoenix, Arizona, bringing to a close nearly three years of joint operations in the city where the companies first tested their commercial collaboration. The companies confirmed that Waymo vehicles are no longer available through the Uber app in Phoenix after reports on social media noted their disappearance. Passenger ride services through Uber concluded in May 2026, while the partnership’s food delivery operations ended in May 2025. Uber confirmed the wind-down in a statement to TechCrunch. Phoenix had been the only market where Waymo simultaneously offered autonomous rides through both its own…

A faster transition to zero-emission vehicles in the United States could prevent more than 100,000 premature deaths and substantially reduce respiratory illnesses over the coming decades, according to a new report released by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The analysis found that pollution generated from producing and consuming fuel for road transportation contributed to more than 41,800 premature deaths and 23,100 new pediatric asthma cases across the United States in 2024. According to the report, the United States records more new childhood asthma cases linked to vehicle pollution each year than any other country, with American children accounting…