Author: Shaun Williams

Chinese tech giant Baidu announced on Tuesday that it has reduced the production cost of its Apollo RT6 self-driving vehicle to 250,000 yuan (US$34,525) per unit, a milestone aimed at accelerating the adoption of autonomous driving in China. Speaking at a trade event in Wuhan, Baidu co-founder and CEO Robin Li Yanhong highlighted the RT6’s status as the world’s only mass-produced Level-4 autonomous vehicle. “Tesla represents another technology roadmap … [it] wanted to go from L2 to L4, and is still working on it,” Li said, emphasizing Baidu’s lead in self-driving technology, according to local media reports. Level 4 autonomy,…

Daimler Buses has announced that a new battery generation, the ‘NMC4,’ will be available for all eCitaro variants starting in 2026, offering significant improvements in range. Additionally, the eCitaro with a fuel cell range extender will be able to operate solely on hydrogen in a new operating mode, enhancing its efficiency and flexibility for transport operators. The new ‘NMC4’ battery generation is set to provide a six percent higher energy density compared to the previous ‘NMC3’ batteries, thanks to a new cell chemistry. This improvement will allow the eCitaro to achieve a range of up to 500 kilometers, a substantial…

Dutch electric bus manufacturer Ebusco has secured a €5 million investment from Chinese battery maker Gotion as part of a strategic partnership aimed at stabilizing Ebusco’s finances and ensuring supply chain continuity. Under the terms of the agreement, Gotion will acquire a 9.3% stake in Ebusco through the purchase of rump shares. If insufficient shares are available, an extraordinary general meeting in early 2025 will determine whether additional shares can be issued exclusively for Gotion. The deal also grants Gotion board representation, with rights to appoint members to Ebusco’s Supervisory and Management Boards, subject to shareholder approval. The investment comes…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) announced its entry into the UK automotive market through a distributor agreement with International Motors Ltd (IML). This move marks another step in Xpeng’s broader international expansion strategy. Xpeng plans to introduce the G6, its flagship SUV, to the UK market in early 2024. The company described the UK as a critical entry point into the broader European market. IML, a long-established automotive distributor with operations across the UK, Ireland, and northern Europe, will facilitate Xpeng’s debut in the region. The G6 was previewed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024 earlier…

The U.S. utility industry is advocating for the preservation of clean energy and electric vehicle (EV) tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as the incoming Trump administration signals potential rollbacks. Pedro Pizarro, CEO of Edison International, underscored the importance of the IRA at the COP29 climate summit, stating that maintaining the legislation would benefit businesses and consumers alike. “One of our big priorities as an industry is going to be to articulate the benefits of the IRA,” Pizarro told Reuters. He highlighted that most benefits “don’t actually accrue to our shareholders. They go straight to our bills and…

tozero, a European startup focused on lithium-ion battery recycling, has secured €11 million in an oversubscribed seed round, led by NordicNinja. This funding will enable the company to build its first industrial deployment plant, scale commercial production of recycled lithium, and expand its team. New investors in the round include In-Q-Tel, Honda, and JGC Group, while existing investors such as Atlantic Labs, Verve Ventures, and Possible Ventures have also increased their commitment. The global demand for lithium is projected to quadruple by 2030, creating significant challenges for the supply chain, particularly in industries like electric vehicle (EV) batteries. At present,…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is poised to enter South Korea’s passenger car market early next year, aiming to build on its established presence in the country’s commercial vehicle sector. BYD Korea, the automaker’s South Korean subsidiary, stated it has “completed review to release passenger car brands in the domestic market,” according to Yonhap news agency, which cited a company press release. BYD initially entered the South Korean market in 2016, focusing on commercial vehicles such as buses, trucks, and forklifts. Now, the company is advancing preparations to launch passenger EVs by setting up a regional sales and service network,…

Volkswagen Anhui, the Chinese joint venture majority-owned by Volkswagen, is set to shift from the MEB (Modular Electric Drive Matrix) platform to the CEA (China Electric Architecture) for its upcoming electric vehicle (EV) models. This change comes amid disappointing sales of its ID.UNYX model, which launched in July. Local media outlet AutoPix reported that only a few hundred units of the ID.UNYX have been sold, despite some large customer orders. The first model based on the new CEA architecture is expected to begin production in late 2025, with a market launch slated for 2026. Consequently, the rollout of Volkswagen Anhui’s…

Automaker Stellantis and German chipmaker Infineon announced on Thursday that they will collaborate to advance the power architecture for Stellantis’ upcoming vehicle models. The two companies have signed supply and capacity agreements to lay the foundation for this partnership. As part of their cooperation, Infineon will provide smart power switches that will enable Stellantis to implement intelligent power network management and silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors. This collaboration aims to standardize power modules, enhancing electric vehicle (EV) performance and efficiency. As the automotive industry increasingly turns to electrification and interconnection, the demand for advanced technology and semiconductors continues to rise. “We…

Xpeng’s latest flagship model, the P7+, has enjoyed a strong reception, breaking the electric vehicle manufacturer’s previous sales records. Within the first three hours of its official launch on November 7, the P7+ secured 31,528 firm orders, marking a significant milestone for the company. This figure was shared by Xpeng on Weibo, underscoring the sedan’s popularity. Xpeng chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng highlighted the success of the launch, revealing that more than 10,000 orders were placed within the first 12 minutes of the event. The P7+ is available in two standard variants priced at RMB 186,800 ($26,150) and RMB 198,800.…

Avatr Technology, the electric vehicle (EV) brand backed by Changan Automobile, CATL, and Huawei, has launched its first showroom in Thailand, following its recent announcement to enter the Southeast Asian automotive market. The EV maker has begun delivering its flagship Avatr 11 SUV to over 100 customers in Thailand, marking a milestone in its regional expansion. At a launch event in Bangkok on September 17, Avatr introduced the right-hand drive version of its Avatr 11 SUV, available in Standard Range and Long Range variants, priced at 2,099,000 baht ($60,940) and 2,299,000 baht, respectively. “We are confident that Thailand will become…

The Mobility House and Monta have joined forces to advance smart charging solutions for electric vehicle (EV) fleets and private users. This collaboration will see The Mobility House integrate Monta’s advanced billing software into its offerings, aimed at providing fleet managers and EV owners with streamlined, transparent control over charging processes. The partnership responds to Germany’s growing demand for electrified company cars, which represented 41% of the nation’s auto market last year, with 1.2 million vehicles leased or purchased. Commenting on the expanded focus, Heiko Bayer from The Mobility House noted, “With additional use cases such as company car charging…

German automotive supplier Schaeffler has announced plans to reduce its European workforce by 4,700 jobs, with 2,800 positions impacted in Germany alone. The restructuring, prompted by challenges in the automotive and industrial sectors and the integration of newly acquired Vitesco, will see relocations minimize net reductions to 3,700 positions. The majority of the measures will be rolled out between 2025 and 2027. Schaeffler’s restructuring plan affects ten German sites and five additional locations across Europe, with two of these expected to close. Details on specific locations will be provided by the company before year-end. At Vitesco, redundancies will focus on…

Tesla has expanded access to its Supercharger network for non-Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) in Sweden, marking the Scandinavian nation as the second European country to allow all EV brands to charge at Tesla stations. The move comes after the company previously opened its charging network in the Netherlands, and it aligns with Tesla’s global ambition to extend its charging infrastructure to non-Tesla users. The U.S. automaker shared the development on Tuesday through its Tesla Charging account on X, offering a promotional day of free charging on Wednesday to all EV brands at Swedish Superchargers. “Tesla has officially opened all Superchargers…

Xiaomi’s electric vehicle (EV) production is ramping up to meet rising demand, with monthly output of its SU7 model expected to hit 24,000 units by the end of 2024, local media reported on Tuesday. This marks a significant increase in production capacity as the company works to fulfill growing orders for its first EV model. The SU7, which was launched in March 2024, is manufactured at Xiaomi’s Beijing-based factory, with phase one having an annual capacity of 150,000 units. In October, the plant operated at 160% capacity, producing over 20,000 units, which suggests a near doubling of production targets. To…

Suzuki has revealed its first all-electric vehicle, the e Vitara, marking its official entry into the electric SUV market. Launched in Europe, this global electric model is the latest result of an expanded collaboration between Suzuki and Toyota to meet rising demand in the EV sector. The two automakers recently extended their alliance, with Suzuki set to supply Toyota with the new SUV. Built on a new electric platform co-developed by Suzuki, Toyota, and Daihatsu, the e Vitara is designed as a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) and draws inspiration from the eVX Concept that Suzuki introduced at the Auto…

A research team from the University of Kassel, in partnership with Daimler Truck AG, is developing a specialized electric drive system for commercial vehicles, aiming to address current limitations in electrifying minibus and delivery van sectors. The initiative, part of the project “Scale-E-Drive,” introduces a novel two-speed gearbox designed for energy-efficient operation and compatibility with existing electric passenger car drives. While electric vehicles for cars and heavy-duty trucks have progressed, the University of Kassel highlights challenges in transitioning minibuses and delivery vehicles to electric options. Existing electric van models, while available, often come with either high costs or limited battery…

Kempower has secured a contract to provide fast charging stations to ABC-Lataus, a Finnish charging operator, which aims to establish multiple charging parks this year. Additionally, a sales and service agreement has been formed with Turkey’s Ecoline Group, which is also working on developing charging infrastructure in the country. Under the new order, Kempower will supply fast-charging solutions to ABC-Lataus. In October, ABC opened Finland’s largest public fast-charging station for electric vehicles in Heinola, featuring 32 charging points with a combined output of 2.4 MW. Kempower provided 27 high-power charging stations for this site, along with the remaining charging infrastructure.…

Volkswagen has announced the rollout of bidirectional charging capabilities for its ID series electric vehicles in Switzerland, with Sun2Wheel designated as the first officially authorized provider of this technology. Bidirectional charging enables electric vehicle owners to utilize their cars as large mobile batteries. This feature can be particularly advantageous in regions with decentralized power supplies or solar setups that lack adequate energy storage. In such cases, electric vehicles can supply power when solar generation is insufficient. To facilitate this initiative, Volkswagen will enable bidirectional charging for its ID models, including the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.7, and ID Buzz, all equipped…

Cadillac has announced the introduction of the Lyriq-V, a high-performance variant of its Lyriq electric SUV, set to debut in the 2026 model year. This marks the first time GM’s luxury brand will release a hot version of an electric vehicle, with the unveiling scheduled for early next year. While the announcement provided limited details on specifications, it included two images and a teaser video, hinting at the performance-oriented features of the new model. The Lyriq-V showcases a subtly aggressive exterior with enhanced bumpers and a color-coded body kit, setting it apart from the standard version. The vehicle also features…