Author: Shaun Williams

German AI startup, Kopernikus Automotive, has secured a €3m investment from Continental and Technologiegruenderfonds Sachsen (TGFS). Continental had previously invested in the company in 2021 and is now marketing a Kopernikus-based system worldwide. Kopernikus specializes in Automated Valet Parking and Level 4 autonomous maneuvering using camera and computer monitoring systems installed in parking or logistics facilities. Following successful pilot projects at two Ford Automotive factories and being awarded a contract to equip a new test facility for Automated Valet Parking Type 2 in Wolfsburg by Volkswagen’s CARIAD software group in 2022, Kopernikus is moving towards serial application with the new…

Tesla’s upcoming Investor Day on March 1st is expected to be a pivotal event that could impact the growth of the company’s stock, according to a recent note from Morgan Stanley. The investment firm, led by analyst Adam Jonas, says that while Tesla’s stock has been performing well, the “window of opportunity” for valuation has closed and a more substantial narrative change is needed after the Investor Day to drive further growth. Tesla’s ability to adjust prices with its high margins has driven up demand for the company’s vehicles in 2023, a trend that is expected to continue. The automaker…

Volvo Trucks has supplied CEMEX with its first fully electric and zero-emissions heavy-duty concrete mixer truck. This battery electric truck is a result of a 2021 agreement between Volvo and CEMEX to collaborate globally in electromobility solutions for reduced carbon emissions and improved productivity. At a recent event in Berlin, Germany, the Volvo FMX electric heavy-duty truck was handed over to CEMEX. It has the ability to complete a full day’s work with just one top-up charge during the regular break. The truck will begin operating at a ready-mix concrete plant in Spandau, Berlin, starting this month. The electrification of…

Ram’s first electric pickup has finally been officially named. The truck, set to go into production in 2024, will be referred to as the 1500 REV. Ram CEO Mike Koval made the announcement at the Chicago Auto Show, stating that the name is easy to market and clearly differentiates it from their traditional ICE models. Koval considers the REV to be a direct descendant of the 1500 Revolution concept that was unveiled at last month’s CES expo in Las Vegas. The REV title is straightforward and easy to understand, according to Koval, who believes it will appeal to both current…

Volkswagen’s subsidiary, Electrify America, which manages a charging network for electric vehicles, has declared a hike in their charges. The changes will take effect from March 6 and will result in an increase in the cost per kilowatt, as well as per minute of charging. The new pricing will see the cost per kilowatt rise from $0.43 to $0.48 and per minute charging increase to $0.16 to $0.19 for up to 90 kWh or $0.32 to $0.37 for up to 350 kWh. The increase in price, while not significant, equates to a 11.5% rise in the cost per kilowatt. This…

Liminal has secured $17.5 million in a Series A2 funding round, led by ArcTern Ventures and featuring new investors Northvolt and Ecosystem Integrity Fund. The round also saw continued support from Chrysalix Venture Capital, Good Growth Capital, University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, Volta Energy Technologies, Impact Science Ventures, and Helios Climate Ventures. The funding will be used to expand Liminal’s EchoStat® inspection systems into integrated solutions for global battery manufacturers, capitalizing on the increasing demand for safe, reliable, and cost-effective EV batteries. “Our mission is to catalyze a clean energy future in which EVs are the default option for…

Wolfspeed, the US semiconductor manufacturer, has confirmed its plans to build a 200mm wafer plant for SiC semiconductors in Saarland, Germany, in partnership with local supplier ZF Friedrichshafen. The highly automated plant will be the first of its kind in Europe and will replace a former coal-fired power plant in Ensdorf, Saarland. The project is still waiting for government funding from the European Commission, however it has the support of the German government, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck joining Saarland’s Minister-President Anke Rehlinger at the announcement event. As part of the partnership, ZF will make a…

BYD, the leading Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced plans to potentially acquire Yi’an P&C Insurance Co. The insurer was taken over by Chinese authorities in a financial sector crackdown two years ago. According to Caixin, a reputable Chinese publication, BYD is expected to fully acquire the insurer with the intention of launching an insurance business specifically for EVs. The information was sourced from anonymous insiders. “The acquisition is ongoing,” BYD said in a statement on Tuesday, referring to the reported deal. It said it would release more details later. See also: BYD in Talks with Ford to Acquire German…

B-ON, an electric vehicle (EV) solutions provider, is teaming up with Karma Automotive, a luxury EV producer based in the US, to manufacture B-ON’s electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs) at Karma’s facility in California. The partnership is set to kick off this year, with pre-production starting in July and full-scale production beginning in 2024. The Karma Innovation and Customization Center, a 555,000 sq ft facility with the capacity to produce up to 30,000 vehicles annually, will initially produce a run of delivery truck vehicles for B-ON in 2023. “Demand for our electric light commercial vehicles is quickly expected to outstrip…

US battery manufacturer Nanotech Energy is planning to construct a gigafactory in the UK, which could cost up to £1 billion. Seven potential sites are being evaluated, though no specific locations or regions have been named by the company. The final decision will be based on technical factors and partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The plant will be Nanotech Energy’s second production facility for its graphene-based, non-flammable lithium-ion batteries. The company’s first plant, in Nevada, will begin mass production in 2024. See also: Britishvolt’s Failure Raises Concerns for the Future of Automotive Industry in the UK Dr. Jack Kavanaugh,…

Alfa Romeo is working on a new fully electric vehicle (EV) that will be larger than the Giulia and Stelvio models and will be aimed at the US market, according to the brand’s CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato. Imparato revealed the plans on the sidelines of the launch of the Tonale compact crossover in Japan, stating that Alfa Romeo needs such a model to be successful in the US and that it will arrive around 2027. He emphasized that the brand’s US lineup currently tops out with a D-segment entry in the Giulia sedan, but in order to expand sales in North…

NEO Battery Materials, a developer of low-cost silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, is in the process of establishing a US subsidiary called NBM America. The new subsidiary, which will be fully owned by NEO Battery Materials, will actively seek expansion opportunities in the US, including the company’s core silicon anode business and new value-added projects in the battery materials industry. The first phase of the US business expansion plan will include the addition of an Ohio R&D Center and office. NBM America will begin active business development to enter the US market for the core silicon anode business and…