Author: Alexander Reed

Tesla said it plans to introduce a “light” version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) 14 software for Model Y vehicles equipped with Hardware 3.0 (HW3), allowing earlier customers to benefit from new autonomous features and potentially join the company’s Robotaxi platform starting in 2026. Most Teslas currently on the road use the older HW3 computer and camera system, which cannot support the latest FSD 14 version that powers the automaker’s autonomous Robotaxi units. Instead of retrofitting HW3 vehicles with the newer HW4 (AI4) hardware, Tesla plans to adapt FSD 14 to run on existing systems. See also: Musk Signals Tesla…

Rivian has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by shareholders who alleged the company misled investors about vehicle pricing during its 2021 initial public offering, according to a court filing on Thursday. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, accused Rivian of concealing that it had underpriced its vehicles during the IPO, resulting in steep and unpopular price increases shortly afterward. The Irvine, California-based company’s share price plunged 39% over a 10-day period after it raised the R1S SUV’s price from $70,000 to $84,500 and the R1T pickup’s price from $67,500 to $79,500 in March 2022, prompting…

Korean Air and U.S.-based Archer Aviation have signed an agreement to introduce and commercialize Archer’s Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in South Korea. The collaboration will initially focus on government applications, with plans for Korean Air to purchase up to 100 Midnight aircraft as part of the rollout. The partnership combines Archer’s next-generation eVTOL technology with Korean Air’s decades of expertise in aircraft operations and maintenance. Together, the two companies aim to accelerate the adoption of advanced air mobility solutions in South Korea, positioning the country as a regional leader in the emerging urban air mobility (UAM)…

Zeekr, the premium electric brand under Geely, has opened pre-sales for its new Zeekr 7X on October 20, featuring more powerful electric motors and larger battery options. The model introduces three trim levels — two rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and one all-wheel-drive (AWD) — each equipped with advanced battery technology and Geely’s latest driver-assistance systems. The lineup includes a 75 kWh RWD Max variant powered by a 370 kW (496 hp) motor, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and delivering a 620 km CLTC range using Geely’s Golden Brick battery. See also: Zeekr Launches Updated 001 Shooting…

Ford said it has appointed Jim Baumbick, its vice president of advanced product development, cycle planning, and program, as president of Ford Europe effective Nov. 1, as the automaker continues restructuring efforts in the region amid shifting market conditions. Baumbick will lead Ford’s strategic direction in Europe, working with regional leaders to oversee product development, strengthen cost efficiency, and support the company’s commercial vehicle-focused transformation. His appointment comes as Ford scales back its passenger car operations in Europe while advancing its electrification and connected-vehicle strategies. He will report to Ford Vice Chair John Lawler. See also: Ford Shifts Autonomous Strategy…

The Mobility House and Itron have partnered on a new project in New York State that aims to accelerate the electrification of vehicle fleets through advanced smart charging technology. Supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the initiative will use intelligent load management to help utilities accommodate more EV chargers without costly grid upgrades or prolonged infrastructure delays. See also: Mercedes-Benz and The Mobility House Partner to Launch Smart Charging Services Across Europe The collaboration integrates Itron’s IntelliFLEX Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) with The Mobility House’s ChargePilot® charge management platform. The combined system…

Transdev Nederland has placed a new order for 55 battery-electric buses from Solaris, expanding its zero-emission fleet in the Netherlands. The order includes 42 Urbino 9 LE units and 13 double-articulated Urbino 24 buses, with deliveries scheduled for the second half of 2026, the Polish bus manufacturer said. The contract was commissioned by the Province of Gelderland to support public transport operations in Arnhem, Nijmegen, and the Foodvalley region. Transdev Nederland, which currently operates 50 bus lines and carries around 30 million passengers annually, aims to fully transition its fleet to zero-emission vehicles in the coming years. The Urbino 9…

Spanish electric vehicle maker Silence has opened 14 battery swap stations in Paris, allowing users to replace depleted batteries in about 30 seconds, with plans to expand across the French Riviera before the end of 2025. The rollout follows trials announced earlier this year by Silence’s parent company, Acciona, in partnership with Nissan. The network mirrors a similar operation in Spain, where Silence runs over 160 swap stations. In France, the initial sites are located in Paris and surrounding metropolitan areas, with future expansion planned for Nice and Cannes. See also: PandaGo, Silence Partner to Deploy 3,000 Electric Scooters for…

Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles surged 26% in September from a year earlier to a record 2.1 million units, boosted by robust demand in China and a last-minute rush by U.S. consumers to claim expiring tax credits, market research firm Rho Motion said on Wednesday. China remained the clear leader, accounting for about two-thirds of total sales, or roughly 1.3 million vehicles, according to Charles Lester, data manager at Rho Motion. “With the federal incentive gone, U.S. demand is expected to drop sharply in the final quarter of the year,” Lester said. See also: U.S. EV…

Curo and Monta have formed a new partnership to address the growing challenge of underutilized electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The agreement integrates Curo’s Virtual Depot platform with Monta’s EV charging network, giving commercial fleets greater access to charging stations while providing operators with increased usage and revenue potential. The partnership enables fleets using Curo’s system to locate and charge vehicles at Monta-powered sites throughout the United States. In turn, operators on Monta’s platform gain access to fleet customers with high energy demand, helping to reduce idle time for chargers and improve overall network efficiency. See also: Mercedes-Benz Tests Experimental…

Ford Motor has overhauled its approach to electric vehicle development, creating an independent “skunkworks” team tasked with cutting costs and simplifying vehicle design as part of a broader push to strengthen competitiveness and improve quality. The move is part of a wider transformation under Chief Executive Jim Farley, who said the automaker needed to rethink how it develops vehicles and attract new talent to challenge both internal inefficiencies and growing competition from China. “The evolution revolution of our thinking was to develop a vehicle for manufacturability, to radically reduce the cost and the complexity of the vehicle with all new…

Lucid Group has begun deliveries of its Lucid Gravity Grand Touring SUV in Canada, marking a further expansion of the luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker’s North American presence. The full-size SUV combines high performance, spacious interiors, and integrated fast-charging capabilities. The Gravity Grand Touring starts at C$134,500 and accommodates up to seven adults with nearly 3,400 litres of cargo capacity. See also: Lucid Delivers Record 4,078 Vehicles in Q3 2025, Production Reaches 3,891 Units as Gravity SUV Drives Growth Its dual electric motors produce 828 horsepower, allowing acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, and the SUV has a projected…

Voi Technology has launched its e-bike sharing service in Paris after winning a city tender, deploying a fleet of 6,000 shared e-bikes across the French capital since the start of October. The rollout marks the beginning of a four-year contract and represents Voi’s largest order in France to date. The Swedish company introduced a launch rate of €0.25 per minute with no unlock fee, positioning itself as a more affordable option compared to competitors that typically charge around €1 to start a ride. The company has not yet disclosed how long the introductory offer will remain in effect. See also:…

Xpeng has appointed Liu Xianming as head of its autonomous driving center, replacing Li Liyun, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker deepens its focus on artificial intelligence (AI), according to an internal memo seen by local media outlet LatePost. Li will remain with the company, though his new role has not been specified. Liu, who holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, joined Xpeng in March 2024 to lead its AI team. He previously worked at Meta and Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous driving unit, specializing in machine learning and computer vision. See also:…

Tesla has filed for approval of a new version of its five-seat Model Y SUV in China, a variant expected to deliver a significantly longer range similar to the upgraded Model 3 sedan introduced in August. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) published a new catalog on Thursday for public comment that includes the Model Y+, marking the final major regulatory step before a model can go on sale in the country. Public feedback will be accepted between October 10 and 15. See also: Tesla Releases Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Version 14.1 with Vision-Based Navigation and Expanded Driver Controls…

Kenya has unveiled a nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging programme worth 6 billion Kenyan shillings (around €39.5 million), aiming to build at least 10,000 public charging stations by 2030. The initiative, part of the country’s National Energy Compact 2025–2030, is designed to accelerate EV adoption and close infrastructure gaps that have hindered growth outside the capital, Nairobi. See also: MojaEV to Supply 100 NETA V Electric Cars to Nairobi Taxi Drivers as Part of Kenya’s EV Adoption Effort According to the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, the plan will be implemented in three phases. The first stage allocates 1.18 billion…

Ford Motor is offering a new lease deal on the 2025 Mustang Mach-E, bringing monthly payments down to $291 and including a free home charging station with installation. The regional promotion, available in California, runs until January 2026, as the automaker seeks to sustain demand following the expiration of federal EV tax credits. See also: Ford Mustang Mach-E Ranks High in Customer Loyalty, Data Shows Under the latest program, the Mustang Mach-E Select RWD can be leased for $219 per month for 24 months, with $4,499 due at signing. The deal reflects a $20 monthly drop from September’s offer, though…

Honda has sold more Prologue electric SUVs in 2025 than it did throughout the previous year, as steep discounts of up to $20,000 drive strong demand in the United States. Although American Honda’s overall sales declined 2% year-on-year in the third quarter to 358,848 units, higher demand for electric and hybrid vehicles helped offset weaker performance in other segments. See also: Honda Offers Over $20,000 in Savings on 2025 Prologue EV The company said its electrified lineup, including hybrid versions of the CR-V, Accord, and Civic, contributed to a 4.1% increase in Honda brand sales so far this year. The…

Volvo Cars reached a key milestone in September, delivering its one millionth plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as the Swedish automaker continues to position electrified models at the center of its growth strategy. PHEVs accounted for 23% of Volvo’s global sales in the first half of 2025, up sharply from nearly 46,000 units sold in 2019 to more than 177,000 in 2024. Strong demand for the XC60 and XC90, particularly in Europe, the United States, and China, has underpinned the growth. The XC60 was Europe’s best-selling PHEV in 2024 and has led the global premium PHEV segment for three consecutive years. See…

Volvo Cars said global sales of electrified models fell 2% in September compared with a year earlier, as weaker demand in Europe and the United States offset strong gains in China. The Swedish carmaker sold 29,611 electrified vehicles during the month, including fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars, out of a total 63,212 units. That marked a 1% rise in overall global sales but an 11% decline in electrified deliveries for the January-September period, which totaled 227,317 units. See also: Volvo Upgrades 2026 EX90 With 800-Volt System and New Nvidia Chips In Europe, electrified sales fell 6% in September to…