Author: Shaun Williams

CATL and BYD maintained their positions as the two largest electric vehicle battery suppliers globally in the first half of 2026, although CATL strengthened its lead while BYD’s market share declined. Global EV battery installations reached 608.5 GWh during the first six months of the year, an increase of 20% from the same period in 2025, according to data from South Korean market research firm SNE Research. CATL accounted for 242.7 GWh of installations, up 25.3% year on year. Its global market share increased to 39.9%, compared with 38.2% a year earlier, although it was slightly below the 40.2% share…

Strabag has tested a partially electric construction site in Oberhausen, Germany, using 11 fully electric construction machines and a mobile battery storage system as part of the refurbishment of an existing soil treatment plant. The trial was designed to evaluate the performance of battery-electric construction equipment under real-world operating conditions and identify practical requirements for broader electrification of construction sites. 11 Electric Machines Used At Oberhausen Site The project involved the redevelopment of a soil processing facility that recycles demolition waste into materials used for road construction. Once the upgrade is completed, the plant’s annual processing capacity is expected to…

South African company Thula Solutions has introduced a purpose-built electric safari vehicle designed to provide quieter and emission-free wildlife tours at Kruger National Park. Unlike electric vehicles adapted from conventional off-road models, the Thula was developed from the ground up specifically for safari operations, with a focus on reducing noise and emissions during wildlife observation. Electric Vehicle Designed For Safari Operations The battery-electric off-road vehicle is equipped with a 65 kWh battery and has an estimated driving range of about 200 km. Thula Solutions said the range could support roughly three days of typical safari operations before the vehicle needs…

BMW has started series production of the new all-electric BMW i3 at its main plant in Munich, marking the launch of the second model based on the automaker’s Neue Klasse vehicle architecture. Series production officially began on August 6, with BMW preparing for a rapid production ramp-up to meet strong demand for the electric sedan. The company said interest in the model has been high since pre-orders opened ahead of its market launch. BMW Prepares For Rapid i3 Production Ramp-Up The BMW i3 follows the electric BMW iX3 as the second Neue Klasse model and represents the next stage of…

Kia has launched a global recall for the first-generation e-Niro to address a battery management system issue that could allow the high-voltage battery to overheat and increase the risk of fire. The recall covers 14,117 vehicles produced between May 19, 2020 and March 18, 2022. Of those, 11,331 are located in Europe, including 1,791 vehicles in Germany. Battery Management System Under Review The recall concerns insufficient monitoring logic in the battery management system (BMS), which controls and monitors the high-voltage battery. Under certain operating conditions, the system may lose control of battery monitoring, potentially allowing battery cells to overheat. The…

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) reached record market shares in both the UK passenger car and light commercial vehicle markets in July, as registrations continued to grow despite broader challenges facing the automotive industry. Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that BEV registrations increased by 44.5% year-on-year in the passenger car segment and by 74.1% in the van market. However, the industry body warned that electric vehicle adoption remains below the pace required to meet the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Passenger Car Registrations Reach New High The UK registered 156,571 new passenger cars in…

SAIC Motor and General Motors have renewed their long-standing joint venture agreement in China, extending the partnership behind SAIC-GM for another 20 years through 2047 as the companies accelerate their transition toward new energy vehicles (NEVs) and intelligent mobility. The agreement was signed in Shanghai on August 5 during a ceremony attended by senior municipal officials, reaffirming the companies’ commitment to the Chinese automotive market amid rapid industry transformation. Partnership Extended Through 2047 The renewed agreement builds on nearly three decades of cooperation since SAIC-GM was established in June 1997 as a 50:50 joint venture between SAIC Motor and General…

Chinese automaker Chery has agreed to invest US$75 million in South Korea’s KG Mobility (KGM), strengthening a strategic partnership aimed at expanding vehicle development, manufacturing cooperation and international sales. The investment, which will be made through convertible bonds, could give Chery a stake of around 10% in KGM if fully converted. Strategic Investment in South Korea The agreement was signed in Seoul on 2 August during a ceremony attended by executives from both companies, including Chery Chairman Yin Tongyue and KG Mobility Chairman Kwak Jae-sun, as well as senior government representatives. KGM said the investment marks another step in its…

Cellcentric has appointed long-serving Volvo Group executive Lars Ljungström as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and member of the executive management team, strengthening the fuel cell company’s leadership as it advances the commercialisation of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty transport solutions. Ljungström succeeds Niklas Ekström, who stepped down at the end of July 2026 after returning to Sweden to become Chief Financial Officer of the Manufacturing Intelligence business unit at Hexagon. https://evmagz.com/toyota-plans-to-join-cellcentric-fuel-cell-venture-with-daimler-truck-and-volvo-group/ Experienced Volvo Group Executive Ljungström joins Cellcentric after more than 20 years with the Volvo Group, where he held a variety of finance, strategy and business development positions, primarily in…

Devon County Council (DCC) and Torbay Council have appointed Believ, char.gy and Wenea to install nearly 3,000 public electric vehicle (EV) charging points across Devon and Torbay as part of a major infrastructure programme backed by public and private investment. The rollout, supported by £8 million from the UK Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund and approximately £30 million in private sector investment, is scheduled to begin within the next few months. Public Charging Network Expansion The charging infrastructure will be installed over the coming years across communities, public car parks, residential streets and existing street lighting columns. Under…

US electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive reported a 27% increase in second-quarter revenue while significantly narrowing its net loss, supported by growth in its software business and the launch of deliveries for its new R2 electric vehicle. The company generated revenue of US$1.658 billion during the second quarter of 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier. Software Business Drives Growth Automotive revenue rose 23% year-on-year to US$1.143 billion, while Rivian’s Software & Services division recorded a 37% increase in revenue to US$515 million. https://evmagz.com/rivian-raises-2026-delivery-forecast-on-strong-r2-suv-and-commercial-van-demand/ The company said approximately US$308 million, representing 60% of Software & Services revenue, was…

Great Wall Motor (GWM) posted modest sales growth in July as record overseas deliveries continued to offset declining demand in its home market. The Chinese automaker sold 108,067 vehicles during the month, up 3.54% from a year earlier and broadly unchanged from the 108,080 units delivered in June. Overseas Business Drives Growth International markets remained GWM’s primary growth engine. The company sold 62,015 vehicles overseas in July, representing a 50.93% increase from a year earlier and a 3.07% rise from June. Overseas deliveries accounted for 57.39% of total monthly sales, the second-highest proportion in the company’s history, behind only the…

Huawei-backed Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) delivered 45,046 vehicles in July, down 4.92% from a year earlier and 11.02% from June, marking its second consecutive month of year-on-year delivery declines. The alliance delivered 50,624 vehicles in June. Deliveries Decline After Strong 2025 July was the first time since May 2025 that HIMA recorded year-on-year delivery declines for two consecutive months. From January through July, HIMA delivered 286,000 vehicles, representing a 13.7% increase from the same period last year. Cumulative deliveries across all HIMA brands have surpassed 1.48 million vehicles. The alliance noted that it continues to rank among China’s fastest-growing…

US startup Revoy has raised $27 million to accelerate production of its detachable electric truck dolly, a system designed to add electric propulsion to existing diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks without replacing the vehicles. The company plans to launch its first commercial operations later this year, targeting fleet operators seeking lower-emission transport solutions without investing in new battery-electric trucks. Electric Dolly Extends Existing Diesel Fleets Revoy’s detachable drive unit is installed between a truck tractor and trailer, providing electric assistance while allowing fleets to continue using their existing diesel tractors. According to the company, the system can propel a fully loaded truck…

ZF Friedrichshafen has announced changes to its executive board, appointing Sebastian Schmitt to oversee its Electrified Powertrain Technologies business at board level while Chief Technology Officer Peter Holdmann prepares to leave the company. The management changes come as the German automotive supplier continues implementing a broad restructuring programme aimed at improving profitability amid challenging market conditions. Sebastian Schmitt Joins Executive Board Effective 1 September 2026, Schmitt will become a member of ZF’s executive board after approval by the company’s supervisory board. https://evmagz.com/zf-decides-to-keep-electric-motor-and-inverter-production-in-house/ The 44-year-old industrial engineer has led the Electrified Powertrain Technologies division since November 2025 and will continue overseeing…

Charging infrastructure manufacturer Alpitronic and transport provider Gruber Logistics have expanded their collaboration by deploying a battery-electric truck to transport production components between facilities in South Tyrol, supporting efforts to reduce emissions across the supply chain. The electric shuttle service has been operating since spring 2026, linking Gruber Logistics’ warehouse in Auer with Alpitronic’s manufacturing facility in Bolzano. https://evmagz.com/alpitronic-unveils-1-mw-ccs-charging-dispenser-for-hyc1000-platform/ Electric Truck Supports Daily Production Logistics The approximately 20-kilometer route is served several times each day using a Scania P230 B6x2*4NB battery-electric truck, which transports components required for the production of Alpitronic’s high-power charging systems. Originally introduced by Scania for regional…

Dongfeng Motor has unveiled its first internally developed ultra-high-power electric vehicle charging system, featuring a peak single-gun charging output of 1,500 kilowatts, as the Chinese automaker expands its high-power charging technology portfolio. The company also introduced its first kilovolt electric drive system during a ceremony at the Dongfeng Global Innovation Center, marking another step in its electrification strategy. Dongfeng Introduces 1,500 kW Charging Technology According to Dongfeng, the new charging system is built around a 1.2-megawatt power unit and supports flexible cabinet configurations that allow total charging capacity to be expanded to 2.4 megawatts or higher. The charger delivers a…

Hyundai has launched a safety recall for approximately 40,000 Inster electric vehicles after identifying a defect in the model’s thermal management system that could, in rare cases, increase the risk of a vehicle fire. The recall affects 40,045 vehicles worldwide, including around 14,610 units in Germany, according to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), which has registered the campaign under recall reference 16829R. Faulty Thermal Management Component Prompts Recall The recall covers Hyundai Inster models manufactured between February 14, 2024, and April 14, 2026. Because the compact electric vehicle is produced in South Korea before being shipped to international markets,…

Smart has unveiled a significantly updated version of its #1 electric SUV in China, introducing an 800-volt electrical architecture, faster charging technology and a redesigned digital platform as it seeks to strengthen its position in the premium urban electric vehicle market. The facelifted model will go on sale in China in early August and includes more than 200 updates covering design, technology and equipment. The company said the overhaul represents an important step in its global growth strategy, although it has not confirmed when the revised model will reach Europe. New Platform Delivers Faster Charging Developed through Smart’s joint venture…

Mobileye has signed an agreement with Stellantis to supply its Cloud-Enhanced advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technology for selected vehicle models beginning in 2027. REM Platform to Support Advanced Driving Features The agreement will integrate Mobileye’s Road Experience Management (REM) platform into future Stellantis vehicles, supporting hands-free, eyes-on driving in designated operating conditions. https://evmagz.com/mobileye-raises-2026-outlook-as-adas-growth-and-robotaxi-development-progress/ REM is a crowdsourced mapping platform that currently covers more than 95% of public roads across the United States and Europe. The system collects anonymized road information using the front-facing cameras installed in EyeQ-equipped vehicles. Data gathered includes lane markings, crosswalk locations, road geometry and commonly…