Author: Shaun Williams

Hyundai’s new president and CEO, Jose Munoz, has downplayed any concerns over Elon Musk’s close relationship with former President Donald Trump, emphasizing the company’s commitment to investing in the U.S. market. Munoz, who assumed leadership of the automaker on January 1, stated that Hyundai views the U.S. as its “most important market,” noting that their substantial investments in the country are driven by strategic goals rather than government incentives, particularly those under the Biden administration. Musk, who has played a significant role in supporting Trump’s political endeavors, is expected to push for policies that could benefit Tesla while potentially limiting…

BYD has officially introduced the Xia, a new premium multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) within its Dynasty lineup. The Xia combines the company’s latest DM 5.0 hybrid technology with a standard DiPilot 100 driver assistance system, offering a modern approach to hybrid MPVs. The Xia is available in four variants, priced between RMB 249,800 ($34,070) and RMB 309,800. It features a three-row, seven-seat layout, with dimensions of 5,145 mm in length, 1,970 mm in width, and 1,805 mm in height, alongside a wheelbase of 3,045 mm. The size of the Xia is slightly smaller compared to BYD’s other MPV, the Denza D9.…

Zeekr, the electric vehicle (EV) maker, has teased the upcoming launch of its latest model, the Zeekr 007 GT, marking its continued push into the shooting brake segment. The company shared the first images of the vehicle today, revealing a sleek design that expands Zeekr’s lineup, following the successful introduction of the Zeekr 001 shooting brake model in 2021. The Zeekr 007 GT, which will be known as the Zeekr 7 GT in international markets, is positioned as a grand tourer. The company hinted at its release with a cryptic message on Weibo: “A great tour is about to start,…

Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber Technologies Inc, has resigned from the board of autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora Innovation, citing a need to concentrate on his ongoing responsibilities at Uber. The resignation, effective as of Tuesday, was confirmed by a regulatory filing on Friday. Aurora stated that Khosrowshahi’s departure was not prompted by any disagreements with the company. Khosrowshahi, who had been on Aurora’s board since 2020, joined as part of a deal when Uber sold its self-driving unit, Uber ATG, to Aurora. Uber invested $400 million into Aurora at that time, acquiring a 26% stake in the combined company.…

Lucid Motors has started deliveries of its Gravity SUV, marking the launch of its second production model. The deliveries come shortly after production began at the company’s plant in Casa Grande, Arizona. The first units of the Gravity SUV have been delivered to employees, friends, and families, according to a statement shared by Lucid on Monday. The vehicle is available in a single trim, the Grand Touring, which is priced between $94,900 and $126,500, depending on the chosen configuration. It offers an EPA-estimated range of up to 450 miles. The Gravity follows Lucid’s Air sedan, launched in 2021, and represents…

Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) has advanced its sustainability leadership, moving up to 32nd place globally in the 2024 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings while retaining its fifth-place position in Indonesia. The latest results highlight the university’s progress in promoting sustainability across education, infrastructure, and research. The recognition was presented to Prof. Dr. Amin Retnoningsih, M.Si., Head of the UNNES Conservation Subdirectorate, during the UI GreenMetric National Ranking Award Ceremony on December 17, 2024, in Bandung. She said the achievement reflects the joint effort of the entire UNNES academic community. “This achievement is not the result of one individual’s effort, but…

Tesla is set to lose its plant manager at the Gigafactory Shanghai, as Song Gang, who has been with the company for six years, confirmed his departure in an internal memo seen by Reuters. Song, who currently holds the position of Vice President of Manufacturing at the Shanghai plant, stated that his time at Tesla has come to an end. Though his LinkedIn page has not yet been updated, it now reflects his status as “EX-Tesla” under the description below his name, with his profile stating: “As the No. 1 employee in Tesla GFSH, I have built up the world…

Lilium, the German developer of electric air taxis, is in the midst of a critical phase as it negotiates with multiple potential buyers. Reports from Wirtschaftswoche indicate that Lilium received offers from investors last week, with the aim of finalizing a deal by the end of this week. However, details on the identity of the bidders and the purchase price remain unclear. With Lilium’s stock value currently at just a few cents, the transaction is expected to be valued at around one hundred million euros, similar to an alleged offer for its competitor Volocopter by Chinese car manufacturer Geely. In…

Joby Aviation, a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has joined forces with executive aviation company Jetex to establish charging systems across the Middle East. The collaboration is designed to support Joby’s growing air taxi network, connecting passengers to a network of vertiports across the region and the Emirates. As part of an agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority, Joby holds exclusive rights to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years. The initial charging installations will be located at Jetex terminals, facilitating sustainable urban air mobility and passenger convenience. “Jetex’s exceptional operational standards and commitment…

Starting in January 2025, BMW will fill all new diesel vehicles produced at its German plants with HVO 100, a sustainable fuel made from renewable raw materials such as cooking oil and residues. In partnership with Finnish manufacturer Neste, the initiative is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with HVO 100 producing up to 90% fewer emissions compared to traditional fossil diesel. BMW will implement the change at its plants in Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg, and Leipzig, where new diesel models will leave the production line with a full tank of HVO 100, replacing the previous practice of filling vehicles with…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Nio has set a goal to achieve profitability by 2026, with CEO William Li noting that the company’s progress has been slower than initially projected. Development is currently about two years behind schedule, with external factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic impacting earlier plans. Nio reported deliveries of nearly 200,000 vehicles by November 2024 and expects to reach 220,000 units by the end of the year. The company aims to double this figure in 2025, supported by its new subsidiary brands, Onvo and Firefly. Li acknowledged that these targets were originally set for 2022 during…

Tesla’s “Foundation Series” Cybertrucks are now appearing in inventory listings across multiple states, as the company seeks to sell off its initial launch edition models. At present, Tesla’s website shows these units available in California, Colorado, Florida, Texas, Minnesota, and other locations, priced higher than the non-Foundation models due to bundled features and accessories. The Foundation Series includes premium elements like subtle badges near the side mirrors, Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD), and lifetime premium connectivity. These vehicles are available in both the tri-motor “Cyberbeast” configuration for $119,990 and the dual-motor AWD trim for $99,990. In contrast, non-Foundation Cybertrucks, without these…