Author: Shaun Williams

Kia has launched the second-generation 2027 Seltos at the New York International Auto Show, introducing a hybrid powertrain and expanded dimensions to its small SUV lineup. The updated model will be offered with three powertrain options, including a newly added hybrid system. The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine is paired with an intelligent variable transmission, while a 1.6-litre turbocharged variant delivers an estimated 190 horsepower through an 8-speed automatic. Both are scheduled to go on sale in the United States in the second quarter of 2026, with the hybrid variant expected in the fourth quarter. The hybrid combines a 1.6-litre four-cylinder…

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors has launched plans to join the Philippine government’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS), with the aim of producing a new hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) at its Santa Rosa plant in Laguna by mid-2028, subject to approval. The plan was announced during a meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Mitsubishi Motors Chief Executive Takao Kato. The project will be carried out by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC), which is also planning additional investments to upgrade facilities in support of electrification. The initiative is expected to strengthen the local supply chain and create employment opportunities. “The Philippines…

Ford Motor reported a sharp decline in electric vehicle sales in the first quarter, with volumes falling nearly 70% year-on-year as affordability pressures and reduced incentives weighed on demand. The drop comes amid higher financing costs, elevated vehicle prices and the expiry of federal tax credits for EVs, factors that have made electric models less accessible to consumers despite rising fuel costs. Overall, Ford’s U.S. vehicle sales fell about 9% to 457,315 units in the January–March period. Truck sales declined 11.3% and sport utility vehicles fell 7.8%, reflecting weaker demand across key segments. Industry-wide trends were also softer. Total U.S.…

Mercedes-AMG has launched final winter testing of its near-production electric GT 4-Door Coupé at its test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden, ahead of a planned global debut in the coming weeks. The fully electric sports car introduces a new driving dynamics control system called AMG Race Engineer, designed to give drivers granular control over vehicle behaviour. The system features three rotary controls that independently adjust response, cornering balance, and traction slip. Drivers can tailor electric motor response to accelerator inputs, vary handling characteristics from understeer to controlled oversteer, and configure traction control across nine stages. Full functionality is available when the…

Green Car Journal has named the Rivian R2 as its 2026 Electric Green Car of the Year, highlighting the model’s positioning in the growing electric vehicle segment. The award is part of the publication’s 2026 Green Car Awards program, which evaluates vehicles based on environmental performance, technology and sustainability. Other winners this year include models from Lexus, Jeep, Ford Motor and Bintelli. The Rivian R2, developed by Rivian Automotive, is a compact electric SUV aimed at a broader customer base. Pricing ranges from $45,000 to $57,990, with a maximum estimated range of up to 340 miles depending on the variant.…

Lucid Group said it has introduced updates to its 2027 Gravity sport utility vehicle lineup, adding more standard features and revising packaging across trims as it refines the model’s positioning in the premium EV segment. The update comes less than a year after the model began customer deliveries, with Lucid adding more standard equipment rather than redesigning the vehicle. The company has made its DreamDrive 2 Premium advanced driver-assistance system standard across all variants, alongside the inclusion of an additional key fob that was previously optional. DreamDrive 2 Premium offers Level 2 driver-assistance capabilities, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency…

BMW design chief Adrian van Hooydonk said recent interior concepts from Ferrari support the view that a mix of physical controls and digital interfaces remains relevant in vehicle design. In an interview with Top Gear, van Hooydonk referenced the Ferrari “Luce” interior concept, developed by designers Jony Ive and Marc Newson. He described the design as consistent with expectations for designers approaching automotive interiors with a technology-oriented perspective, while still retaining physical inputs alongside screens. The Ferrari concept has drawn attention due to Ive’s background at Apple, where he helped define minimalist, screen-centric product design. Observers say the inclusion of…

Japanese automaker Subaru has unveiled a new battery-electric SUV, the Getaway, at the New York International Auto Show, marking its latest step in expanding its electric vehicle offering in the United States. The three-row SUV, designed to seat up to seven passengers, is scheduled to arrive at dealerships across the US by the end of 2026. The model has been developed in collaboration with Toyota and shares key technologies with the recently introduced Toyota Highlander. Like its Toyota counterpart, the Getaway is expected to be based on a modified version of Toyota’s TNGA-K platform, originally developed for internal combustion engine…

Bogotá has begun operating a new fleet of battery-electric buses within its TransMiZonal public transport system, marking the first deployment of locally assembled electric buses in the Colombian capital, transport authorities said. The initial delivery of 68 buses is part of a broader order of 711 units scheduled for completion next year, according to TransMilenio. The buses are expected to replace older diesel-powered vehicles that have been in service for more than 15 years, in a move aimed at improving air quality and passenger experience. “Bogota is not stopping in the modernisation of its transportation system. This is a very…

The REDSEL research project, led by Silicon Austria Labs in collaboration with Infineon Technologies Austria and AVL List, has developed a new electrical system architecture for electric vehicles that eliminates the need for a conventional 12-volt battery. The proposed system replaces the traditional low-voltage battery—commonly used to power functions such as lighting, infotainment and central locking—with a configuration based entirely on the vehicle’s high-voltage system. The redesign aims to address reliability concerns associated with 12-volt batteries, which are considered a critical point of failure in both combustion-engine vehicles and EVs. At the core of the concept is a redundant architecture…

The joint venture between Chery Automobile and Jaguar Land Rover has announced the revival of the Freelander marque, outlining plans to position it as a new independent brand focused on China’s luxury electric vehicle market. At a launch event in Shanghai, the partners said Freelander will introduce six new electric models over the next five years, with a cadence of one vehicle every six months. The first model is expected to debut in China in the second half of 2026. To support the expansion, the joint venture will invest an additional 3 billion yuan ($436 million) into its Changshu manufacturing…

Spanish public transport operator EMT Madrid has ordered 120 new electric buses from Daimler Buses, Irizar and Solaris, as it moves to increase the share of zero-emission vehicles in its fleet. The buses will be delivered gradually through the first half of 2027. Once deployed, the proportion of battery-electric buses in EMT Madrid’s fleet is expected to exceed 25%, up from the current base of 452 electric buses already in operation. The largest contract was awarded to Irizar, which will supply 50 units of its ieBus model for up to €30.75 million (excluding VAT). Daimler Buses secured an order for…

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars and its electric vehicle affiliate Polestar plan to consolidate global production of the Polestar 3 electric SUV in the United States, ending parallel manufacturing in China. The companies said the Polestar 3, previously produced in both Chengdu and the US, will in future be built exclusively at Volvo’s Ridgeville plant near Charleston, South Carolina. Production in Chengdu, China, where the model has been manufactured since early 2024, will be phased out. Volvo Cars and Polestar did not provide explicit reasons for the shift, but Volvo indicated the move is aimed at strengthening the strategic role of…

Google is expanding the electric vehicle capabilities of its Maps platform, introducing artificial intelligence-based battery prediction and route planning designed to support more than 350 EV models via Android Auto, the company said. The rollout initially covers vehicles from more than 15 brands in the United States, with further geographic and model expansion planned. The feature is compatible with models from manufacturers including BMW, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. See also: Google Introduces Gemini AI to Android Auto, Replacing Google Assistant Unlike systems that rely on direct vehicle integration, Google’s approach allows drivers to manually input their starting battery charge. The…

Uber has agreed to acquire Blacklane, a Berlin-based provider of chauffeur-driven black-car services, as the U.S. ride-hailing company expands its presence in the premium mobility segment. The companies said the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of the year. Financial terms were not disclosed. See also: Uber and Rivian Partner to Deploy Robotaxis at Scale Founded in 2011, Blacklane operates a global chauffeur platform offering pre-booked executive transport services in major cities across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America and South America. The company has raised more than $100 million from…

Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), the joint venture between Sony Group Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd., has discontinued development of its first two electric vehicle models under the Afeela brand, citing strategic changes at Honda that affected the project’s viability. The decision brings an end to plans for the Afeela 1, which had been nearing production, as well as a second model still under development. SHM said it would now reassess the future of the venture and provide further updates “at the earliest possible opportunity.” “SHM’s decision comes following discussions between its parent companies, Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”) and Honda…

Jörg Menges will become chief executive of Audi FAW NEV Company Ltd. on April 1, 2026, succeeding Helmut Stettner at Audi’s first China-based facility dedicated exclusively to electric vehicle production in Changchun. Menges brings more than three decades of experience in the automotive industry and currently serves as Head of Product Engineering at AUDI AG in Ingolstadt, a role he has held since 2022. He previously worked in China as Plant Manager at FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. in Changchun, giving him direct operational experience in the local market where the joint venture operates. The leadership transition comes as Audi advances…

The Scottish Government has committed £45 million under the third round of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB3) to support the deployment of more than 330 zero-emission buses and coaches, alongside associated charging infrastructure. The funding will enable the rollout of 334 vehicles, including 227 electric buses and 107 electric coaches, as part of efforts to accelerate the decarbonisation of heavy-duty transport across Scotland. The programme combines public and private investment, with each £1 of government funding expected to leverage more than £2.50 in private capital. Several major operators are participating, including First Bus, Stagecoach Group, Lothian Buses,…

A consortium of GreenCell Mobility and EKA Mobility has received a Letter of Award from Telangana State Road Transport Corporation to supply and deploy 915 electric buses in Hyderabad. The project will be implemented under the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE scheme, coordinated by Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), which aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and reduce urban emissions. The order includes 100 nine-metre and 815 twelve-metre standard-floor, non-air-conditioned buses designed for urban operations. The companies said the vehicles are intended to improve operational efficiency and passenger transport services while delivering zero-emission mobility. Rohit Srivastava said the…

New registrations of battery-electric vehicles in the European Union rose 20.6% year-on-year in February to 158,280 units, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, reflecting continued growth in the region’s transition to electrified mobility. In the first two months of the year, a total of 312,369 battery-electric cars were registered, marking a 22.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Electric vehicles accounted for 18.8% of all new car registrations during this period, out of a total market of 1.66 million units, which declined by 1.2%. ACEA said the figures highlight “the continued potential for further growth,”…