Author: Shaun Williams

Austrian supplier Resch has developed a new battery module that eliminates the need for adhesives and welded connections, offering a potentially lower-cost and more sustainable alternative to conventional battery assembly methods. The company estimates up to 30% cost savings if the module enters large-scale production. The technology, developed by the family-run firm in St. Stefan, Styria, replaces traditional bonding and welding techniques with a fully mechanical assembly system. “Instead, the cells are assembled mechanically – allowing for targeted replacement of individual defective cells without needing to discard the entire module. Think of it like Lego,” said managing director Gerald Resch,…

Firefly, a sub-brand of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio (NYSE: NIO), has launched a public road test across seven European countries as it gears up to introduce its first small EV model in the region later this year, the company announced on Tuesday. The 15-day road test began on June 9 from Berlin, with two product managers driving through Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, and Austria. The route will span more than 5,500 kilometers, underscoring Firefly’s strategy to build brand awareness and gather localized feedback ahead of its European debut. “Firefly is accelerating its global expansion and will…

British autonomous vehicle startup Wayve and ride-hailing giant Uber plan to launch a fully driverless robotaxi service in London, building on the U.K. government’s newly accelerated timeline for self-driving commercial pilots, the companies said on Tuesday. The announcement comes as the U.K. moves to advance autonomy trials, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirming the government will now fast-track deployment of commercial AV pilots to spring 2026, bringing the schedule forward by more than a year to spur private investment. Details of the upcoming Wayve–Uber collaboration remain sparse, including the fleet size, vehicle manufacturers, and pilot start date. However, Wayve previously…

BYD has appointed former Stellantis executive Gianluca Zampese to lead its light commercial vehicle (LCV) business in Europe, the company said on Monday, as it accelerates efforts to expand in the region’s commercial transport sector. Zampese, 56, brings over two decades of experience in the European LCV industry and will also serve as BYD’s country manager for Italy. His appointment is part of the Chinese electric vehicle maker’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in Europe by bringing on board experienced industry leaders. The company, which became the world’s top EV seller in 2024, has been revamping its European operations…

Fang Cheng Bao, the sub-brand of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, teased a new SUV model in a recent Weibo post as the brand celebrated delivering its 100,000th vehicle. The teaser poster suggested that the new model’s name will include the number 7, sparking speculation among fans and industry watchers that it could be the Tai 7 — the anticipated second model in the Tai series, following the Tai 3 family SUV launched in April. Fang Cheng Bao officially debuted on August 16, 2023, alongside BYD’s DMO technology platform. The brand introduced its first model, the Bao 5 off-road SUV,…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio is expected to supply battery packs for British automaker McLaren’s future hybrid models, local media outlet Yiou reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, Nio will develop battery packs based on its in-house 4680 large cylindrical cells, with small-scale production planned to begin in 2025. A sample battery pack is expected to be delivered to McLaren next month. The collaboration comes as both Nio and McLaren share a common investor, CYVN Holdings, an Abu Dhabi government fund. CYVN became Nio’s largest shareholder in 2023 after investing $3.3 billion…

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, the world’s largest NEV manufacturer by sales, expects strong overseas demand to bolster profitability this year as the company ramps up exports and accelerates its global footprint, its chairman said on Friday. At the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting, BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu said overseas sales are likely to remain on an upward trajectory, supported by stable pricing strategies and growing international market presence. “Overseas sales last month were about 90,000 units, and this year’s data is expected to be very robust,” Wang told shareholders. See also: BYD to Triple South African Dealerships by…

Finnish retail group Kesko, operator of K-Market and other grocery stores across Finland and Europe, has unveiled an ambitious plan to electrify up to 30% of its commercial vehicle fleet by 2030. The company plans to introduce 70 electric vans and trucks by 2026, growing to 300 electric vehicles (EVs) in total within four years. This fleet transformation will support deliveries to approximately 1,100 K Group grocery stores. Finnish national data forecasts that electric vehicles will constitute 11% of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations and 17% of medium-duty trucks by 2030, positioning Kesko ahead of broader market trends both domestically…

Rivian’s $5 billion software partnership with Volkswagen Group will go far beyond shared technology development, with the German automaker planning to base all future electric vehicles across its brands on Rivian’s upcoming R2 platform, a senior Rivian executive said. The platform underpinning Rivian’s forthcoming R2 SUV will serve as the foundation for Volkswagen’s future EV models, Rivian Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid said in an interview with Yahoo Finance. While the partnership was initially viewed as a way for Volkswagen to modernize its software offerings and close the gap created by delays at its Cariad unit, the scope of the…

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…