Author: Shaun Williams

Hungarian bus manufacturer Ikarus has secured a contract to supply 150 battery-electric buses to North Macedonia, marking the largest single electric bus order in the company’s history. The contract was awarded through a tender issued by North Macedonia’s Ministry of Transport earlier this year for battery-electric solo buses and associated charging infrastructure. The tender required buses with a minimum driving range of 325 kilometres and battery capacity of at least 360 kilowatt-hours. It also included the supply of 75 charging stations, each with minimum charging output of 120 kilowatts. The package additionally requires a four-year warranty covering the buses and…

Hamburger Hochbahn plans to procure up to 240 additional battery-electric buses by 2031 as the German transit operator continues expanding its zero-emission fleet, although its earlier goal of operating a fully emission-free bus fleet by 2032 has been pushed further into the future. The company also intends to add up to 150 additional buses powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), reflecting a broader strategy focused on both fleet electrification and operational resilience. See also: EUROGATE and Embotech Launch Autonomous Terminal Tractor Pilot in Hamburg Hamburger Hochbahn has long been regarded as one of Germany’s leading public transport operators in electric…

Xpeng reported a fourth consecutive month of year-on-year delivery declines in April, although the pace of contraction slowed as the company expanded its smart driving technology and premium vehicle offerings. The company delivered 31,011 vehicles in April, down 11.51% from a year earlier but up 13.12% from March, according to figures released Friday. For the first four months of 2026, Xpeng delivered 93,693 vehicles, representing a 27.40% decline from the same period last year. The automaker said advanced driver-assistance technology is becoming an increasingly important factor in vehicle sales. Xpeng launched its second-generation Vision-Language-Action autonomous driving platform, known as VLA…

Rivian is considering developing and manufacturing its own LiDAR sensors and may work with a Chinese technology partner as part of the effort, according to comments by chief executive RJ Scaringe reported by Reuters. Scaringe said in an interview that future versions of Rivian’s upcoming Rivian R2 vehicles, expected later this year, will incorporate LiDAR sensors to support advanced driver-assistance and autonomous driving functions. LiDAR systems help vehicles generate three-dimensional environmental maps by using laser-based sensing technology. See also: EPA Filings Detail 2027 Rivian R2 Battery and Range Specifications The California-based electric vehicle company has been expanding its in-house technology…

Norway set a new monthly record for electric vehicle adoption in April, with battery-electric vehicles accounting for 98.6% of all new passenger car registrations, according to data released by the Road Traffic Information Council (OFV). Out of 11,103 newly registered passenger vehicles during the month, 10,952 were fully electric. The latest result follows previous records of 98% in February and 98.4% in March, further tightening Norway’s grip as the world’s most advanced electric vehicle market. See also: Norway to Launch Europe’s First Autonomous Bus Service Without Safety Driver The OFV said battery-electric vehicles exceeded a 95% share of new registrations…

U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is expanding plans for its second U.S. production facility in Georgia, increasing the site’s planned annual production capacity to 300,000 vehicles from an earlier target of 200,000. The California-based company, which partners with Volkswagen, currently operates a manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, producing the EDV electric delivery van, R1 models, and the recently introduced R2 midsized electric SUV. The Illinois facility has a total annual production capacity of 215,000 vehicles. See also: Rivian Details Launch Package for R2 Performance as Production Begins Rivian broke ground on the Georgia site near Atlanta in September, although work…

Moto Hospitality said it plans to significantly expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across its UK sites, targeting a fourfold increase in charging bays over the coming years while developing dedicated hubs for electric freight vehicles. The company, the UK’s largest motorway service station operator with more than 60 locations nationwide, said the expansion forms part of a broader £500 million investment programme aimed at upgrading its network to support growing demand for electric mobility. Its sites, traditionally offering fuel, retail, and rest services, have increasingly become key charging points for long-distance EV travel. Moto said it has already installed…

Rivian has provided additional details on the Launch Package for its Rivian R2 Performance variant, outlining a set of features included at no additional cost for early customers. The automaker said the package will be available for a limited time and is intended to offer added value to initial buyers. Among the included features is a standard tow package, enabling the R2 Performance to tow up to 4,400 lbs (1,996 kg). This compares with the Jeep Recon, which has a lower stated towing capacity. See also: Rivian R2 Named 2026 Electric Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal…

Audi is recalling 96,180 units of its Audi e-tron quattro and Audi Q8 e-tron models worldwide due to a potential issue with the brake pedal mechanism that could affect deceleration performance. The recall includes both SUV and Sportback variants built between February 2018 and June 2024. According to report from Germany’s Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), 14,601 vehicles in Germany are impacted. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said 18,853 vehicles are subject to recall for inspection. See also: Audi Begins China Pre-Sales of A6L E-Tron Electric Sedan The issue stems from a potentially faulty screw connection on…

Porsche has agreed to sell its stake in Rimac Group and the joint venture Bugatti Rimac to a consortium led by HOF Capital, backed by the Sawiris family, marking the end of a multi-year partnership in the high-performance electric vehicle sector. Porsche first invested in Rimac in 2018, acquiring a 10% stake that was later increased to 21%, and deepened the relationship in 2021 by contributing the Bugatti brand into a joint venture controlled by Rimac. Under that structure, Rimac held a 55% majority stake and operational leadership. The decision to divest comes amid shifting strategic priorities. “In setting up…

Audi has discontinued production of its smallest internal combustion engine models, the A1 and Q2, as the company accelerates its transition toward battery-electric vehicles, the automaker said. Production of the A1, previously built at the Martorell plant operated by Seat, has come to an end after nearly 1.4 million units were produced since its launch in 2010. The model was initially manufactured in Brussels before being relocated to Spain following the conversion of the Belgian facility for electric vehicle production and its subsequent closure. Meanwhile, the Q2 compact SUV, assembled at Audi’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, has also ceased production after…

Porsche Motorsport has unveiled its interpretation of the upcoming Gen4 regulations for Formula E, presenting the 975 RSE prototype ahead of the 2026/27 season. The electric racing series’ next-generation cars, first introduced in November, are expected to deliver what organizers describe as the largest performance leap in the championship’s history. Under the Gen4 framework, core components—including the chassis, battery, and most suspension elements—remain standardized across all teams. Manufacturers retain freedom to develop key areas such as software, rear powertrain, rear suspension, and electric motor systems. Porsche has already taken its 975 RSE to the track for initial testing and promotional…