Author: Shaun Williams

Nio said on Monday it will hold Nio Day 2025 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in late September, when the company will officially launch the third-generation ES8 sport utility vehicle. The event, traditionally held at the end of the year, is being moved to the fall for the first time, with the host city chosen without the company’s usual community vote. https://twitter.com/NIOGlobal/status/1959819235481514460 Hangzhou, home to automakers Geely Auto and Leapmotor as well as technology giant Alibaba, will also serve as the backdrop for potential new product announcements, including a possible special edition of the Firefly EV, according to local media reports.…

Alphabet-owned Waymo has received authorization to test its self-driving cars on public roads in New York City, the first time the city has granted such approval. The permit allows the company to deploy up to eight Jaguar I-Pace SUVs in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September, according to the mayor’s office. Each vehicle must have a trained safety operator in the driver’s seat with at least one hand on the wheel. Waymo is not permitted to carry passengers without additional licensing from the Taxi and Limousine Commission and must report data regularly to the city’s Department of Transportation. https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/1958914347310489791…

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi reported a 30.5% increase in second-quarter revenue on Tuesday, helped by strong demand for its YU7 electric SUV and steady smartphone sales. Revenue for the three months ended June 30 rose to 116 billion yuan ($16.16 billion), above the 114.7 billion yuan forecast by analysts polled by LSEG. Adjusted net profit climbed 75.4% year-on-year to 10.8 billion yuan, also topping the average estimate of 10.1 billion yuan. The company’s smartphone and AIoT businesses generated revenue of 94.7 billion yuan, up 14.8% from a year earlier. Its smart electric vehicle, AI and new initiatives segment contributed 21.3…

Alphabet’s autonomous ride-hailing unit Waymo has begun testing its new Robotaxi equipped with sixth-generation self-driving hardware, featuring a wider range of sensors designed to improve safety and reliability. The new hardware integrates more than 13 cameras, six radar systems, and four LiDAR sensors, according to a video posted on social media platform X by technology influencer Sawyer Merritt. “The new Waymo Robotaxi will also have ‘heaters, wipers and sprayers’ to keep the self-driving tech clean,” Merritt wrote in his post. A safety driver remains on board during testing, the footage showed. https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1957655074865377293 The trial comes as self-driving vehicles gain traction…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng on Tuesday reported record second-quarter revenue and its narrowest quarterly net loss in five years, as robust deliveries and cost efficiencies helped strengthen margins. The company’s net loss for the three months ended June 30 was 480 million yuan ($70 million), the lowest since the third quarter of 2020, compared with a 1.28 billion yuan loss a year earlier. On a non-GAAP basis, net loss came in at 390 million yuan. Revenue rose 125.3% year-on-year to 18.27 billion yuan ($2.55 billion), driven by higher deliveries of its latest models. Vehicle sales accounted for 16.88 billion…

Transit authorities in San Mateo County have approved a $36.3 million charging infrastructure agreement aimed at supporting the district’s growing fleet of electric buses, the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) said. The project will begin with upgrades at SamTrans’ South Base facility, including high-capacity chargers, overhead pantograph dispensers and enhanced electrical and communication systems. While detailed specifications of the hardware have not yet been disclosed, the investment is expected to cover charging for the 37 electric buses currently operating and accommodate up to 110 additional zero-emission buses in the future. “This investment is about more than just buses –…

New electric car registrations in the United States rose sharply in July, marking the second-highest monthly total since records began, data from Cox Automotive showed. The momentum, however, may prove temporary as federal tax credits are set to expire in September. Cox Automotive reported 130,082 new EV registrations for July, up 26.4% from June and 19.7% from a year earlier, lifting the market share of electric cars to 9.1%. Eleven brands posted their best EV sales of the year, with Tesla leading at 53,816 vehicles, followed by Chevrolet, Hyundai, Ford and Honda. Volkswagen and Audi also posted notable gains, with…

Tesla plans to roll out an update to enable the B-Pillar camera on its Cybertruck as part of its Sentry Mode security feature, addressing a gap that owners have been requesting the company to close for months. The upgrade, expected in an upcoming software release, will enhance the pickup’s ability to monitor surroundings and deter vandalism. Sentry Mode, available across Tesla’s lineup, turns the vehicle into a mobile surveillance system, recording incidents occurring nearby. While the system has aided in solving crimes such as vandalism and theft, the Cybertruck has been missing support for the B-Pillar camera since launch. This…

The Palo Alto Police Department has received its first patrol-ready Rivian R1S electric SUV for testing, marking the debut of the model as a U.S. police cruiser. Assistant Chief James Reifschneider said the vehicle aligns with the city’s technology-focused approach. “This car works perfectly with a lot of the other technologies we use here in Palo Alto that I think separate us from other agencies,” he told local broadcaster KRON4. The department’s R1S, finished in gloss black with white door panels and police insignia, was unveiled at a recent event at Rivian’s headquarters. The vehicle will be fitted with additional…

V4Smart, the battery company acquired and renamed by Porsche in March 2025, has unveiled its second-generation cylindrical battery cell, aiming to broaden its customer base with two performance-focused versions that incorporate new silicon-based anode technology from Porsche partner Group14 Technologies. The German sports car maker purchased Varta’s battery subsidiary V4Drive on March 4, taking a majority stake and renaming it V4Smart. Varta AG retains a minority interest but no operational control. The company, founded in 2022, previously offered a single product — the V21700 UHP-26 booster cell — designed to provide high power for short bursts rather than serve as…

Toyota plans to introduce three battery electric models in South Africa in 2026, a senior company executive said on Thursday, marking the Japanese automaker’s entry into a nascent market where Chinese and European rivals are stepping up competition. Volvo currently leads electric vehicle (EV) sales in South Africa, followed by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, while Chinese manufacturers such as BYD are rapidly increasing their footprint. Toyota, which dominates the country’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid market with a 67% share in 2024, currently only sells hybrid models locally, including the Corolla Cross. “We’re launching battery electric vehicles at the beginning of 2026,…

Daimler Truck, Volvo, Paccar and International Motors have filed a lawsuit against the state of California, challenging the strict emissions regulations that they say conflict with federal standards and hinder production planning. The move coincides with the dissolution of the Clean Truck Partnership, a coalition formed in 2023 to comply with California’s tighter vehicle standards. The lawsuit, submitted to a federal court in Sacramento on Monday, comes after President Donald Trump revoked California’s exemption for stricter emissions rules in June. The manufacturers said they are now “caught in the crossfire” between state and federal authorities, creating regulatory uncertainty. The Clean…