Author: Shaun Williams

The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) said on Tuesday that autonomous vehicles in the United States have now logged over 145 million miles on public roads, a figure that has doubled since April 2024. The milestone was announced in AVIA’s newly released 2025 State of AV report, which calls for urgent federal policy support to maintain the sector’s momentum. The report highlights accelerating commercial deployments, including robotaxis, long-haul autonomous trucks, and zero-occupancy vehicles. AVIA said the growing adoption of AVs is creating jobs, enhancing safety, and expanding mobility access across both urban and rural communities. “AVs are proving their value…

Lidar technology company Luminar Technologies has reached a funding agreement with Yorkville Advisors Global and an undisclosed investor that could provide up to $200 million through the sale of convertible preferred stock over the next 18 months, according to a regulatory filing made Wednesday. Under the terms of the deal, Luminar will immediately issue $35 million in convertible preferred stock. The company may issue additional tranches of up to $35 million every 60 days, priced at 96% of the stock’s stated value. However, Luminar is not obligated to issue the full amount. “Today’s transaction provides us with additional financial flexibility…

Just 16 months after launching its Smart Charge network, Sainsbury’s has installed more than 650 ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging bays across over 75 store locations, positioning itself as one of the UK’s fastest-growing retail charge point operators. The £25 million investment underscores the supermarket’s commitment to supporting the country’s transition to zero-emission road transport. Since its UK rollout began in January 2024, the Smart Charge network has enabled over 60 million miles of electric driving, which Sainsbury’s says equates to a reduction of 10.71 million kilograms of CO₂ compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. The charging bays operate at…

Amazon-backed autonomous vehicle company Zoox will begin testing its self-driving technology in Atlanta, Georgia, later this summer after completing initial mapping of the city’s streets, the company told TechCrunch on Tuesday. Atlanta becomes the seventh U.S. city where Zoox is deploying its autonomous vehicle program, signaling the firm’s steady expansion of its robotaxi initiative. The announcement comes just a day after rival Waymo, in partnership with Uber, said it would begin offering limited robotaxi rides in Atlanta as it gears up for a broader public rollout. Zoox is employing a phased approach to introducing its self-driving vehicles. In new cities…

Alphabet’s autonomous ride-hailing unit Waymo has completed 10 million paid trips, co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said on Tuesday, as the company doubles down on expanding operations and fending off emerging competition from Tesla. Speaking at the Google I/O developer conference, Mawakana said the milestone reflects broader adoption of the company’s autonomous driving technology across key markets. “These are all paid trips, and they represent people who are really integrating Waymo Driver into their everyday lives,” she told CNBC. The 10 million figure includes rides completed in Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the Phoenix metropolitan area. Waymo is currently delivering over…

Volkswagen plans to phase out the “ID” branding used for its electric vehicles beginning in 2026, as the German automaker seeks to simplify its product lineup and reduce consumer confusion. The decision marks a shift in strategy for one of Europe’s largest carmakers as it repositions itself in the increasingly competitive EV landscape. The move will see Volkswagen abandon the alphanumeric “ID” prefix—originally launched in 2017 with the ID.3 concept and subsequently used across models such as the ID.4, ID.5, and ID.7—in favor of more traditional model names. “The cars will get proper names again,” said Martin Sander, Volkswagen’s board…

UK transport operator Stagecoach has announced its first fully electric bus fleet and depot, to be based in Stockton-on-Tees, North East England. The facility will host a new lineup of electric vehicles, including Yutong E12 buses and Stagecoach’s first Yutong electric double-decker (DD), as the company continues efforts to decarbonise its national fleet. While Stagecoach has previously introduced electric buses alongside conventional diesel and petrol vehicles, the Stockton depot will be the company’s first location to run an entirely electric fleet. Stagecoach has not disclosed the number of EVs to be deployed at the site but confirmed that the fleet…

Xpeng announced plans to launch its next-generation P7 coupe sedan in China between July and August, aiming to capture the mid-to-high-end sedan market domestically and overseas. Internally codenamed E29, the new P7 will replace the existing P7i model, with a target price around RMB 300,000 ($41,600), the company said in a statement. The P7, Xpeng’s first sedan, debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2019 and launched in April 2020, quickly gaining popularity for its sleek design. It delivered over 60,000 units in 2021 and nearly 60,000 in 2022, making up a significant portion of Xpeng’s sales in those…

Chinese tech giant Baidu is preparing to introduce its Apollo Go robotaxi service to Europe, expanding its presence beyond Hong Kong, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal citing sources familiar with the matter. Baidu is reportedly in discussions with PostAuto, a subsidiary of Swiss Post responsible for public bus services, to collaborate on deploying Apollo Go in Switzerland. The company plans to establish a local entity in Switzerland in the coming months and aims to begin testing the autonomous driving technology by the end of 2025. Baidu also has plans to roll out Apollo Go in Turkey.…

Waymo is recalling more than 1,200 of its self-driving vehicles to address a software issue linked to collisions with roadway barriers, such as gates and chains, the company said on Wednesday. The move follows an ongoing investigation by U.S. auto safety regulators into the performance of its automated driving system. The recall affects 1,212 vehicles equipped with Waymo’s fifth-generation automated driving software. According to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Alphabet-owned firm identified 16 incidents involving contact with fixed roadside objects between 2022 and late 2024. No injuries were reported. See also: Waymo to Build…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD plans to set up a European centre in Hungary as part of its strategy to expand its presence on the continent, according to company officials and Hungarian authorities. The new facility will create approximately 2,000 jobs and serve as a base for sales and after-sales services, vehicle testing, and the development of locally tailored models. See also: BYD Launches Sealion 7 SUV in Hungary Amid Overseas Expansion The announcement was made during a joint news conference held in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. BYD, which already operates an electric bus assembly plant in…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD has overtaken Toyota to become the best-selling car brand in Singapore so far this year, government data showed, marking a significant milestone in the company’s overseas expansion strategy. From January through April 2025, BYD sold 3,002 vehicles in Singapore, accounting for 20% of total car sales, ahead of Toyota’s 2,050 units and well above Tesla’s 535 units during the same period. Toyota had previously dominated Singapore’s auto market, delivering 7,876 vehicles in 2024 compared to BYD’s 6,191 units. However, BYD’s rapid growth highlights the Chinese automaker’s push to expand globally amid intensifying competition and…

Hyundai has introduced a lease offer and financing incentives for its upcoming 2026 Ioniq 9 electric SUV, positioning the three-row vehicle as a strong contender in the growing electric vehicle market. According to dealer communications cited by CarsDirect, the new Ioniq 9 S can be leased for $419 per month over 36 months with $4,999 due at signing, based on a 10,000-mile annual limit. The effective monthly cost stands at $558. See also: Hyundai Launches ELEXIO Electric SUV in China with 700 km Range and 800V Fast-Charging While slightly higher than the newly introduced Tesla Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel…

BorgWarner has announced a significant contract with a leading global automaker to supply its advanced 400-volt high-voltage coolant heater (HVCH) technology for a range of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The deal, set to begin production in 2027, marks a major step forward for the company in the growing hybrid vehicle sector. The HVCH technology will be integrated into popular vehicle types, including mid-size pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. This contract represents BorgWarner’s largest HVCH deal for PHEVs in North America. The HVCH is designed to maintain optimal battery and cabin temperatures, crucial for ensuring performance and comfort, especially in…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) plans to raise up to $4 billion through a global offering of H-shares in its upcoming listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, according to an updated prospectus released on Sunday. The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery maker will offer 118 million H-shares between May 12 and May 15, priced at no more than HK$263 each. The shares are scheduled to begin trading on May 20 at 9 a.m. local time, with lots of 100 shares. At the top end of the pricing range, the company could raise as much as HK$31 billion ($3.99…

Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development and Technology has extended a grant offer worth approximately €290 million to U.S.-based battery recycling company Ascend Elements to support the construction of a production facility for recycled cathode precursor materials. The site for the project has already been selected, but the company has not yet made a final investment decision. The proposed plant will be built and operated solely by Ascend Elements and will use its proprietary hydro-to-cathode technology to manufacture sustainable nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) precursors from recycled lithium-ion batteries. It marks a significant expansion of the company’s European footprint, following its…

Royal Mail has begun trialling two 19-tonne electric trucks as part of its efforts to decarbonise its national logistics fleet. The vehicles, supplied by British EV manufacturer Magtec, represent the first heavy-duty electric HGVs to be tested by the postal service, which has already committed to deploying over 7,000 smaller electric vans by 2027. The Magtec MEV190 trucks will operate between Royal Mail delivery depots, focusing on middle- and last-mile logistics to complement the local routes handled by electric vans. Powered by five 60kWh battery modules for a total capacity of 300kWh, the vehicles boast a range of up to…

SSA Marine has completed the full electrification of its forklift fleet at Berth 55 at the Port of Los Angeles, marking a significant step toward clean energy operations at one of the nation’s busiest ports. The global terminal operator has replaced all 44 propane-powered forklifts with electric models, making Berth 55 the company’s first terminal to operate entirely on zero-emissions cargo handling equipment. The terminal specializes in imported fruit from South America and has been operated by SSA Marine since the 1980s. The transition includes 12 heavy-duty 10,000-pound Hyster forklifts and 32 smaller 3,000-pound units. According to the company, the…

Xiaomi has rolled back a controversial software update for its SU7 Ultra electric vehicle after owners expressed frustration over unexpected performance limitations. The version 1.7.0 update restricted the vehicle’s power output from 1,526 hp (1,138 kW) to approximately 888 hp (662 kW), unless users met specific driving criteria. The SU7 Ultra, which sits at the top of Xiaomi’s EV lineup, had gained attention for offering performance rivaling the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT at a fraction of the cost. However, following the latest update, full power became accessible only after completing a verified qualifying lap on a Xiaomi-approved track, using the…

Charging infrastructure specialist Compleo, in collaboration with parent company Kostal, will present their complete AC bidirectional charging system at Power2Drive Europe. The system is designed for car manufacturers and industrial companies, positioning Compleo and Kostal as key players in the European bidirectional charging market. The new system integrates an onboard charger in the vehicle with a matching wallbox, which will be available for the mass market in 2027. The bidirectional charging technology, which enables vehicles to feed energy back into the grid (V2G), allows drivers to charge when energy is abundant and provide energy back to the grid during peak…