Author: Shaun Williams

Elektrobit and ETAS have introduced a pre-integrated software foundation for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), combining Elektrobit’s EB corbos Linux for Safety Applications with the ADAS profile of the ETAS Vehicle Software Platform Suite. The companies unveiled the joint software stack during the Automotive Engineering Exposition held in Yokohama, Japan, from 27 to 29 May 2026. Linux-Based Foundation for ADAS Development The new offering integrates Elektrobit’s safety-enabled Linux distribution with ETAS’s middleware platform designed for ADAS applications. According to the companies, the solution is intended to provide vehicle manufacturers and suppliers with a Linux-based alternative to proprietary operating systems while…

Rivian has confirmed that deliveries of its highly anticipated R2 electric SUV will begin on June 9, marking a major milestone in the company’s efforts to expand beyond its premium R1 lineup and reach a broader customer base. The R2 is widely viewed as a pivotal product for Rivian, offering a more affordable entry point into the brand’s electric vehicle portfolio while targeting significantly higher production volumes than the existing R1T pickup and R1S SUV. Rivian’s Most Important Launch Yet Founder and Chief Executive Officer RJ Scaringe has previously described the R2 as a critical vehicle for the company’s future…

BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) has marked the production of its seven millionth vehicle at its Shenyang Production Base, underscoring the importance of the Chinese market as the company prepares to begin local production of its next-generation Neue Klasse models later in 2026. The milestone vehicle was a BMW 3 Series Horse Edition, produced at the joint venture’s manufacturing hub in Shenyang. BMW said the achievement reflects more than two decades of expansion since local vehicle production first began in China. Milestone highlights BMW’s manufacturing footprint in China BMW Brilliance started producing vehicles in Shenyang in 2003 and has since developed…

Hyundai and Kia are partnering with Vattenfall to launch a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot project in the Netherlands, as automakers and energy companies continue exploring how electric vehicles can support electricity networks through bidirectional charging. The six-month field trial, scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026, will involve up to 80 households using either a Kia EV9 or Hyundai Ioniq 9 equipped with bidirectional charging technology. The project aims to evaluate how electric vehicle batteries can act as flexible energy storage assets, helping balance electricity supply and demand by returning power to the grid during peak consumption periods. Under…

Seat and Cupra have appointed Joost Kessels as Chief Development Officer, a newly created position that will oversee research and development activities for the Spanish brands as they assume a larger role in the Volkswagen Group’s electric vehicle strategy. Kessels will take up the role on Aug. 1, 2026, succeeding Dr. Werner Tietz, who previously served as Seat’s Board Member for Research and Development. Tietz, who has also led Volkswagen Group-wide research and development since 2025, will now focus exclusively on his responsibilities at the group level. The appointment comes as Seat and Cupra prepare to take on additional technical…

Latin America and the Caribbean are approaching a milestone of 10,000 electric buses in operation, underscoring the rapid expansion of zero-emission public transport across the region, according to a new analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The study, titled Electric Bus Market in Latin America, 2025, found that the region had 9,115 electric buses in operation at the beginning of the year, a 40% increase compared with 2024 and ten times the number recorded in 2017. More recent data from February showed the fleet had already grown to 9,909 electric buses, suggesting the 10,000-unit threshold may have…

Electric vehicle charging network operators are increasingly prioritizing profitability, reliability and operational efficiency over rapid infrastructure expansion, according to Driivz’s 2026 State of EV Charging Network Operators Report. The report, released by Driivz, a subsidiary of Vontier, is based on responses from 300 senior EV charging professionals across North America and Europe. It found that the industry is moving beyond a phase focused primarily on deploying charging stations and toward what the company describes as “intelligent profitability” — maximizing charger uptime, utilization rates and operational performance. According to the survey, 59% of respondents identified charger reliability and stability as the…

Swedish public transport operator Bergkvarabuss has ordered 47 Volvo 8900 Electric buses from Volvo Buses for use on regional transport routes in Skåne and urban services in Helsingborg. The new buses will support commuter and city transport operations across southern Sweden as Bergkvarabuss continues expanding its zero-emission fleet. Bergkvarabuss previously invested in battery-electric buses through orders from BYD and Daimler Buses. In 2021, the company ordered 79 electric buses from BYD, while in 2019 it introduced five Mercedes-Benz eCitaro buses into operation in Kalmar. The operator currently manages a fleet of around 1,350 buses across several Swedish regions. Martin Spjern,…

Spanish public transport operator EMT Palma has presented 23 battery-electric buses supplied by BYD and Spanish bodybuilder Castrosua as part of a broader fleet renewal programme aimed at expanding zero-emission public transport services in Palma. The new 12-metre buses are based on the BYD Castrosua Nelec model, which combines BYD chassis technology with bodywork developed by Castrosua under a partnership agreement announced in 2022. The vehicles were officially presented on May 21 by Jaime Martínez Llabrés, mayor of Palma, alongside local and regional transport officials. EMT Palma said the buses are being progressively introduced into service across multiple urban routes.…

Chinese automaker Geely Auto said it conducted a beyond-compliance crash test of its Starray EM-i sport utility vehicle at a Euro NCAP-accredited testing facility in France, using a collision scenario designed to exceed current side-impact assessment standards. The test took place at the UTAC automotive testing centre and combined a side-impact collision with a far-side rigid pole impact, a sequence Geely described as the first live demonstration of its kind in Europe. According to the company, the vehicle was struck by a moving deformable barrier at 60 kilometres per hour before being pushed into a rigid pole positioned on the…

Fuel Transport and Kenvue are testing an electric freight delivery route in the Greater Toronto Area through a joint pilot programme aimed at evaluating electric truck performance in urban and winter operating conditions. The project, known as eLoop, began operating in January and uses an electric truck on a short-haul, multi-stop delivery route across the Greater Toronto Area, the companies said in a joint statement. The pilot is designed to assess operational performance, energy efficiency and emissions impacts of electric freight transport in dense urban environments and cold-weather conditions. “This is an exciting milestone and important step forward for our…

The global electric vehicle market is continuing its rapid expansion, with battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids reaching record sales levels and steadily increasing their share of new car registrations worldwide. According to data from the International Energy Agency, around 21 million battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were sold globally in 2025, more than double the level recorded in 2022 when worldwide EV sales first surpassed 10 million units. The figures mean that roughly one in four new cars sold globally now features an electrified drivetrain, pushing the combined global market share of EVs and plug-in hybrids to 25%, up sharply…