Author: Shaun Williams

Zeekr  launched pre-sales of its updated Zeekr 001 shooting brake in China, introducing major upgrades to its powertrain and battery systems while keeping exterior styling largely unchanged. Customers can reserve the model with a deposit of RMB 2,000 ($280) and will receive a RMB 7,000 discount on the final payment, the company said. Showroom models will be available starting October 4, ahead of the official launch on October 11. Zeekr did not disclose pricing details but said they are expected to remain unchanged from the current range of RMB 259,000 ($36,410) to RMB 329,000. The updated Zeekr 001 is built…

The Australian government will provide AU$40 million ($26 million) to support the rollout of public kerbside and fast electric vehicle (EV) charging points, with a focus on both urban and regional locations. The funding aims to accelerate deployment by easing grid connections and expanding charging access. The government said the first stage will involve identifying suitable installation sites and options to cut connection costs. Later steps include developing models to serve regional “black spots” and initiating kerbside charging using existing electricity poles. The program will prioritise areas with “immediate and short-term need for charging,” with final delivery plans shaped by…

Aachen-based startup Voltfang, which specialises in stationary battery storage systems from requalified electric vehicle batteries, has entered into a partnership with infrastructure investor Palladio Partners to develop and operate large-scale storage facilities in Germany, with planned investments of €250 million by 2029. Founded in 2021, Voltfang has built a customer base that includes Aldi Nord, McDonald’s, Schaltbau and the Jet petrol station chain. With a new factory in Aachen increasing production capacity, the company is expanding its role from manufacturer to operator of grid-connected storage systems. “Implementing projects of this magnitude requires two things: scalable battery expertise and solid financing.…

Agentic AI firm Tensor said it will debut the world’s first personally owned Level 4 autonomous vehicle at the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport in 2025, marking a shift toward private ownership in advanced driverless technology. The Tensor Robocar, developed from the ground up for autonomy, incorporates more than a decade of proprietary innovation, the company said. Unlike fleet-based robotaxis, the vehicle is designed for individual use, with features aimed at privacy, control, and off-grid independence. The Robocar is equipped with 37 cameras, 5 lidars and 11 radars, enhanced by radar-transparent materials to maintain visibility in harsh environments such…

Bot Auto, a Houston-based autonomous trucking startup, has completed its first humanless hub-to-hub validation run in the city, marking a milestone in its push toward commercial deployment of Level 4 self-driving technology. The test, carried out at sunset, saw the truck navigate real-world traffic without a safety driver or remote assistance. The company said the run validated the maturity of its autonomy stack and safety protocols, supported by redundant systems, continuous health monitoring and fallback measures. Founded in 2023, Bot Auto has been developing its Transportation-as-a-Service model with a focus on operational efficiency and safety. “Autonomy must outperform human drivers…

China’s GAC Group has officially launched a new premium electric vehicle brand, Qijing, developed in partnership with Huawei, as the two companies expand their cooperation in the fast-growing EV market. GAC said it has created a standalone company to operate Qijing and will make the brand its top priority. “We will put our best resources toward ensuring the brand’s long-term development,” the automaker said in a release. Huawei, meanwhile, has assigned senior staff to the project, which will integrate the company’s Qiankun intelligent technologies across all Qijing models. The collaboration signals a departure from Huawei’s existing cooperation models with automakers.…

Canadian manufacturer Taiga Motors has introduced two new electric jet skis, expanding its lineup with the two-seater Orca P2 and the three-seater Orca WX3. The launch took place in Monaco, marking the company’s latest step in bringing high-performance electrification to the watercraft market. The Orca P2, priced from $20,999, succeeds the Orca Performance and is marketed as a benchmark for handling and acceleration on a lighter, more refined platform. The completely new Orca WX3 is built for versatility and family use, offering seating for three, reinforced towing for water sports, and up to two hours of runtime. It starts at…

Nissan is studying the cost competitiveness of Chinese suppliers and exploring how to apply their practices globally, the company said, as it seeks to reduce variable costs by 250 billion yen ($1.71 billion) in a wider efficiency initiative. Tatsuzo Tomita, Nissan’s chief of total delivered cost transformation, said the automaker is learning from Chinese suppliers’ use of standard parts and close collaboration with designers. “We’ve gained access to Chinese-style ways of working, and my current challenge is figuring out how to apply those methods to parts for our current and upcoming vehicles,” Tomita told reporters at Nissan’s head office in…

AUDI, a new brand created by Volkswagen’s Audi and China’s SAIC Motor, launched its first model, the E5 Sportback, at an event late Monday, drawing strong early demand. The E5 Sportback, a mid-size sedan, starts at RMB 235,900 ($33,180), matching its pre-sale pricing. SAIC Audi said the model received 10,153 orders within the first 30 minutes of the launch. Built on the Advanced Digitized Platform co-developed by Audi and SAIC, the vehicle measures 4,881 mm in length, 1,960 mm in width, and 1,479 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,950 mm — dimensions comparable to Nio’s ET5 Touring. The…

Nio has raised $1.16 billion through its latest share offering, with underwriters fully exercising their over-allotment option, underscoring strong market demand for the issuance. The company said it issued a total of 209,090,918 class A ordinary shares. This comprised 160,823,190 American Depositary Shares (ADSs) – each representing one class A ordinary share – and 20,995,000 class A ordinary shares. The underwriters also took up an additional 27,272,728 ADSs as part of the over-allotment option. The ADSs were priced at $5.57 each, while the class A shares were offered at HK$43.36. Nio said proceeds will be used to fund research and…

Alphabet’s Waymo has secured a permit to begin testing autonomous vehicles at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), a key step toward launching commercial ride-hailing services at the hub, city officials said Tuesday. The “Testing and Operations Pilot Permit” follows years of negotiations between SFO and Waymo, and comes just weeks after the company was cleared to test at San Jose Mineta International Airport. Waymo has operated service at Phoenix Sky Harbor since 2023 but has long targeted SFO, the main gateway for its Silicon Valley home base. https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/1967984942761001026 The permit outlines a three-phase rollout: initial tests with a trained specialist…

Scottish public transport operator McGill’s said it has added 30 new Yutong E12 electric single-decker buses to its Midland Bluebird brand, part of a £14 million investment aimed at reducing emissions across its network. The new buses, each with capacity for up to 70 passengers, feature 422 kWh battery packs, air conditioning, USB charging ports and noise reduction systems. They will operate across several routes in the Forth Valley, including the Falkirk to Stirling service, which the company said will see increased frequency to every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday. The order takes McGill’s electric bus fleet to 151…