Author: Shaun Williams

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…

Volvo Cars said on Friday that steep U.S. tariffs could severely impact its ability to sell one of its most affordable electric vehicles in the American market, as trade tensions between Washington and Brussels threaten to escalate. Chief Executive Hakan Samuelsson told Reuters that a proposed 50% tariff on European Union goods, recently floated by former U.S. President Donald Trump, would likely price the Belgium-made EX30 electric vehicle out of the market. “That would of course be almost impossible,” Samuelsson said, referring to the effect such a tariff would have on U.S. imports of the model. “The EX30 is very…

Northvolt, the Swedish automotive battery maker that filed for bankruptcy in March, will shut down its remaining battery cell production in Sweden by the end of June, the company’s bankruptcy trustee said on Thursday. Mikael Kubu, the court-appointed trustee overseeing the case, said in a statement that battery cell manufacturing at Northvolt Ett, the company’s flagship facility in Skellefteå, will be wound down due to the lack of a viable buyer willing to take over operations in the near term. “A gradual wind-down of battery cell production in Northvolt Ett will be initiated, with the objective of ceasing production by…

Chinese automaker BYD outsold Tesla in Europe’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) market for the first time in April, marking a notable shift in the regional electric vehicle (EV) landscape, according to new data from market research firm Jato Dynamics. BYD registered 7,231 BEVs in Europe during April, a 169% increase year-on-year, placing it 10th among the top BEV brands on the continent. Tesla’s European registrations fell by 49% to 7,165 units, dropping the American EV maker to 11th place. Jato’s analysis includes vehicle registration data from 28 European countries. See also: BYD Introduces Low-Cost Dolphin Surf EV in Europe, Starting…

The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) said on Tuesday that autonomous vehicles in the United States have now logged over 145 million miles on public roads, a figure that has doubled since April 2024. The milestone was announced in AVIA’s newly released 2025 State of AV report, which calls for urgent federal policy support to maintain the sector’s momentum. The report highlights accelerating commercial deployments, including robotaxis, long-haul autonomous trucks, and zero-occupancy vehicles. AVIA said the growing adoption of AVs is creating jobs, enhancing safety, and expanding mobility access across both urban and rural communities. “AVs are proving their value…

Lidar technology company Luminar Technologies has reached a funding agreement with Yorkville Advisors Global and an undisclosed investor that could provide up to $200 million through the sale of convertible preferred stock over the next 18 months, according to a regulatory filing made Wednesday. Under the terms of the deal, Luminar will immediately issue $35 million in convertible preferred stock. The company may issue additional tranches of up to $35 million every 60 days, priced at 96% of the stock’s stated value. However, Luminar is not obligated to issue the full amount. “Today’s transaction provides us with additional financial flexibility…

Just 16 months after launching its Smart Charge network, Sainsbury’s has installed more than 650 ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging bays across over 75 store locations, positioning itself as one of the UK’s fastest-growing retail charge point operators. The £25 million investment underscores the supermarket’s commitment to supporting the country’s transition to zero-emission road transport. Since its UK rollout began in January 2024, the Smart Charge network has enabled over 60 million miles of electric driving, which Sainsbury’s says equates to a reduction of 10.71 million kilograms of CO₂ compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. The charging bays operate at…

Amazon-backed autonomous vehicle company Zoox will begin testing its self-driving technology in Atlanta, Georgia, later this summer after completing initial mapping of the city’s streets, the company told TechCrunch on Tuesday. Atlanta becomes the seventh U.S. city where Zoox is deploying its autonomous vehicle program, signaling the firm’s steady expansion of its robotaxi initiative. The announcement comes just a day after rival Waymo, in partnership with Uber, said it would begin offering limited robotaxi rides in Atlanta as it gears up for a broader public rollout. Zoox is employing a phased approach to introducing its self-driving vehicles. In new cities…