Author: Shaun Williams

India is in talks with companies to establish long-term stockpiles of rare earth magnets and is drafting fiscal incentives to promote domestic production, in a bid to reduce its reliance on Chinese imports, sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters. The move comes in response to China’s April 4 decision to tighten export controls on rare earth materials, a development that has rattled global industries, especially automotive and clean energy sectors. China currently accounts for about 90% of global rare earth magnet processing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is exploring production-linked incentives and price-gap subsidies to attract investment, two sources…

Tesla’s vice president overseeing the Optimus humanoid robot program, Milan Kovac, is departing the company after nearly a decade, he announced Friday in a post on social media platform X. Kovac, who has led the development of the Optimus robot since 2022, cited personal reasons for his decision. “I’ve been far away from home for too long, and will need to spend more time with family abroad,” he wrote. “This is the only reason—I have nothing but ironclad support for Elon [Musk] and Tesla.” https://twitter.com/_milankovac_/status/1931097888995807554 The news was first reported by Bloomberg. Tesla has not publicly commented on the leadership…

Chinese sodium-ion battery startup Jiangsu Zoolnasm Energy Technology has completed its Series A2 financing round, raising nearly RMB 300 million ($42 million) in total Series A funding, the company announced on Thursday. The latest round attracted investment from Tiande Investment and existing shareholder Saize Capital. Zoolnasm said the funds will be primarily used for technology research and development, capacity expansion, and market development. Founded in January 2021 and based in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, Zoolnasm aims to expand its presence in the emerging sodium-ion battery market. The company broke ground on its first mass production facility in Guangde, Anhui province, in…

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has pledged to crack down on unfair competition in the country’s electric vehicle (EV) market, warning manufacturers to halt excessive discounting practices that are fuelling a deepening price war. The government held a meeting earlier this week with executives from more than a dozen automakers, including Geely and Xiaomi, urging them to avoid irrational price cuts and below-cost sales, according to people familiar with the matter. Officials from MIIT, the country’s top economic planning body, and the market regulator reportedly participated in the talks. In a statement published Tuesday, MIIT said it…

The London Borough of Barnet has started the installation of 1,000 new on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging points in collaboration with UK chargepoint operator char.gy, aiming to increase the borough’s total charging infrastructure to 2,500 units. Work on the first 500 chargers is already underway and is expected to be completed within three months, Barnet Council said in a statement on Thursday. The remaining 500 charge points will be installed over the following three years. The units are lamppost-mounted chargers developed by char.gy, which can be retrofitted to existing streetlights. The devices, which provide 5kW AC charging, are designed for…

Autonomous driving technology company Pony.ai has formed a strategic partnership with Shenzhen Xihu Corporation Limited to launch more than 1,000 seventh-generation Robotaxis in Shenzhen, marking one of the largest such deployments in China to date. The collaboration, announced on Monday, is expected to significantly expand the footprint of Pony.ai’s autonomous services in the southern tech hub, integrating cutting-edge AI systems with one of China’s most established urban transportation networks. Pony.ai described the initiative as a major step toward accelerating the large-scale commercialization of intelligent mobility. See also: Pony.ai Confidentially Files for Hong Kong Listing Amid Expansion Plans “We’re working with…

Chinese electric vehicle makers Nio and Zeekr have reached an agreement to share charging infrastructure, a rare move between two direct competitors aimed at enhancing user experience and service accessibility. Nio’s energy arm, Nio Power, and Zeekr Power signed a cooperation agreement on May 29 to enable interconnection of their respective charging facilities, Nio said in a statement on Monday. Under the partnership, users of Nio’s three brands — Nio, Onvo, and Firefly — will be able to access Zeekr Power’s charging stations through Nio’s apps and in-car systems. “Users can now enjoy a wider and more efficient charging service…

Li Auto reported a year-on-year rise in first-quarter net income despite largely flat revenue, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker reduced sales and operating expenses. Net income for the quarter rose 9.4% to RMB 646.6 million ($89.1 million), while non-GAAP net income fell 20.5% to RMB 1 billion. Quarterly revenue reached RMB 25.9 billion, slightly ahead of Bloomberg’s analyst consensus of RMB 25.11 billion and above the company’s guidance range. This marked a 1.1% increase from the same period a year earlier but a sharp 41.4% decline from the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting seasonal trends such as the Spring…

Daimler Buses has unveiled the next generation of its Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric bus, now equipped with fourth-generation NMC battery technology. All versions of the eCitaro lineup are set to receive the upgraded batteries beginning in 2026, the company announced. The new NMC4 battery packs, which feature higher energy density within the same size envelope, will be publicly showcased for the first time at the UITP Summit in Hamburg from June 15 to 18, 2025. The batteries will be presented in a two-door solo demo bus, ahead of their market introduction across the full eCitaro range, including the long eCitaro G…

Chinese automaker Changan Automobile has delivered the first 1,000 Oshan 520 electric sedans equipped with CATL’s Choco-SEB swappable battery system to a taxi company in Chongqing, marking the commercial debut of the battery technology. The delivery comes as battery giant CATL and Changan accelerate rollout of the Choco-SEB ecosystem. Chongqing is currently home to 34 exchange stations compatible with the system, with the number expected to reach 50 by year-end. Each station can hold up to 30 batteries and enables swaps in under 100 seconds, significantly faster than the three-minute average for rival systems such as those from Nio. “The…

Stellantis said Xavier Chardon will take over as CEO of Citroen on June 2, 2025, replacing Thierry Koskas, who has led the French automotive brand since 2023. The company did not disclose Koskas’s future within the group or whether he would remain at Stellantis. Chardon will report to Jean-Philippe Imparato, Stellantis’s Chief Operating Officer for the Enlarged Europe region. The company indicated that it does not plan to significantly alter Citroen’s direction following the leadership transition. Chardon is expected to continue “the development of the brand by building on the recent launches of the C3, C3 Aircross and the all-new…

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD  reported sales of 382,476 new energy vehicles (NEVs) in May, marking a 15.27% increase compared with the same period last year and a modest 0.63% rise from April, according to data released by the company on Sunday. The May figures reflect stable domestic demand and rapid expansion abroad, as BYD continues its transition away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The company halted production of ICE-only models in March 2022 and has since focused exclusively on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). See also: BYD Overtakes Tesla in European BEV Sales…

Porsche has issued a stop-sale notice to its UK dealers for a specific batch of its Taycan electric vehicles due to a potential fire risk linked to battery short-circuiting, according to a statement and documents from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The DVSA, the UK’s automotive safety regulator, cited a risk of thermal events stemming from a possible short-circuit in the high-voltage battery pack. The issue could lead to fires in the affected vehicles, prompting Porsche to take pre-emptive action. While not all Taycan models are impacted, sales of those within the identified batch have been suspended until…

Hyundai Motor Group and Incheon International Airport Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pilot AI-powered electric vehicle charging robots at South Korea’s busiest air transport hub, marking a step toward more automated mobility infrastructure. The trial will see Hyundai deploy its automatic charging robot (ACR) system at Incheon International Airport for public demonstration and real-world testing. The initiative is part of the airport’s broader digital transformation strategy under its ‘Incheon Airport 4.0 Era’ development plan, aimed at improving operational efficiency through smart technologies. The ACR, developed by Hyundai’s Robotics LAB, autonomously connects electric vehicles to existing charging stations…

The Ontario government has allocated an additional C$92 million to its ChargeON programme, raising total investment in public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to C$180 million, as part of its 2025/2026 budget. The funding increase comes amid broader efforts to strengthen the province’s position in the EV supply chain and respond to economic and geopolitical pressures. ChargeON is Ontario’s flagship initiative to expand access to public EV charging. The programme operates through two streams: a competitive grant process for municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-profits, and private entities, and a government stream for deploying chargers at provincial sites such as rest stops,…

Norwegian electric delivery vehicle manufacturer Paxster has inaugurated a new production facility in Sarpsborg, aiming to expand its annual output by 2,250 vehicles as it eyes further growth in European and global markets. The factory, built at a cost of 55 million Norwegian kroner (approximately 4.78 million euros), will bolster Paxster’s manufacturing capabilities on a 3,800-square-metre site with a workforce of 56. The company noted that the facility could scale production further with the introduction of an additional shift, depending on market demand. “This investment marks a significant step forward in our mission to support sustainable last-mile delivery solutions,” Paxster…

Dutch public transport operator Qbuzz is expanding its zero-emission fleet with a second batch of 62 electric buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong, following a successful initial deployment that outpaced European competitors in reliability and delivery. The new order comes after 50 Yutong electric buses entered service in December 2024 on the South Holland North concession. Qbuzz praised the Chinese-made vehicles for their strong technical performance and high satisfaction among passengers and drivers. “Yutong brings the sustainability goals in South Holland North within reach again,” said Annemarie Zuidberg, General Manager at Qbuzz. “Early results from a customer satisfaction survey show improved…

Fiat has unveiled its first all-electric three-wheeler, the TRIS, targeting last-mile delivery in urban areas across Africa and the Middle East. Designed for small businesses and independent workers, the vehicle is being introduced exclusively in the MEA region, with a potential European rollout under consideration. The TRIS was developed at Fiat’s Centro Stile in Italy and is manufactured in Morocco. It comes in three variants – flat-bed, pick-up, and chassis-cabin – allowing for customisation based on logistics needs. All configurations share a compact 3.17-metre frame, a 6.9 kWh battery (the same used in the Fiat Topolino), and a 9kW peak-output…

Lexus has officially introduced the latest generation of its ES sedan to European audiences, confirming the inclusion of two all-electric models, the ES 350e and ES 500e. The launch marks the first time the luxury sedan will be available as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the region, with sales set to begin in spring 2026. Building on its global debut at Auto China in April, Lexus has now released additional technical specifications for the European market. Contrary to earlier expectations, the ES 350e and ES 500e will feature slightly different battery capacities. The front-wheel drive ES 350e houses a…

Rivian has begun real-world testing of its upcoming R2 compact SUV, marking a significant milestone ahead of the vehicle’s scheduled 2026 launch. Production-intent prototypes are now undergoing trials across public roads and rugged terrain throughout North America, as the electric vehicle maker collects data to refine performance, durability and user comfort. Source: Rivian’s Upcoming R2 Model Features Streamlined Body Harness to Cut Costs and Boost Efficiency While pre-production vehicles are typically camouflaged to conceal final design elements, Rivian is taking a creative approach with nature-inspired wraps that double as both concealment and brand expression. “We wanted to wrap the R2…