Author: Alexander Reed

In a significant development on Friday, two U.S. House of Representatives committees jointly announced their investigation into Ford Motor’s recent collaboration with the Chinese battery giant, CATL. The partnership, which was revealed in February, involves an investment of $3.5 billion by Ford to establish a battery plant in Michigan, employing CATL’s cutting-edge battery technology. The House Ways and Means Committee and the Select Committee on China, led by Republican chairs Jason Smith and Mike Gallagher, have raised concerns about the implications of this deal. In a letter addressed to Ford, they demanded answers to critical questions about the partnership and…

As automakers delve deeper into the realm of electric vehicles (EVs), a new challenge arises: How can these futuristic cars effectively communicate with drivers without the familiar sounds and sensations of traditional gasoline engines and gearboxes? For high-performance EVs destined for the race track, this issue becomes even more critical. BMW M, known for its performance-oriented models, is acutely aware of this challenge as it ventures into the development of its inaugural electric model. To bridge this communication gap, the automaker is exploring groundbreaking solutions utilizing software. BMW’s CEO, Frank van Meel, recently revealed the company’s efforts to address this…

Jaguar’s Mitch Evans and Avalanche Andretti’s Jake Dennis emerged victorious in both Formula E races held in Rome over the weekend, setting the stage for an intense battle in the world championship. Sunday’s race, in particular, could prove decisive as Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein now has only a slim chance of clinching the title. During Saturday’s 13th race of the season, Mitch Evans, a Jaguar factory driver from New Zealand, achieved an impressive feat by securing a hat-trick of wins in Rome. Having triumphed in both races last year, Evans extended his winning streak to three consecutive victories in the Eternal…

Despite the widespread media coverage and hype surrounding electric vehicles (EVs), the reality is quite different from the perception that every driver is rushing to buy an EV. New figures indicate that Ford, in particular, is encountering difficulties as it produces more Mustang Mach-Es than it can sell, leading to a mounting pile of unsold inventory. According to data from analytics firm Cloud Theory, Ford dealers experienced a significant decline in the “turn rate” of their Mach-E inventory. During the second quarter of 2022, they managed to sell 86.4 percent of their stock within 30 days. However, this figure dropped…

In a significant strategic move, Toyota, the Japanese automotive giant, has announced a shift in its hydrogen strategy, with a newfound focus on capturing market share in Europe and China instead of North America. The company has set an ambitious target of selling 200,000 fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) by 2030, primarily consisting of trucks but also including passenger cars. This decision marks a turning point for Toyota, as its previous emphasis had been on passenger cars and the North American market, a strategy that had experienced limited success. Despite launching the Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) about ten years…

In a remarkable turn of events, Rivian Automotive, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has witnessed a significant rebound in its stock prices following a challenging period marked by production and supply obstacles. The company’s stock, listed as RIVN, had experienced a downward spiral since its record-breaking $11.9 billion initial public offering (IPO) in November 2021, plunging to a low of $12.04 on April 26, 2023. However, recent developments have rekindled investor optimism for the EV manufacturer. Rivian’s resurgence began with an announcement in early July, revealing that the second quarter of 2023 had been the most successful in the company’s…

Luxury automaker Rolls-Royce is set to make a grand entrance at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed by bringing its entire lineup to the highly anticipated event. Among the highlights is the debut of the electric Spectre coupe, ready to conquer the festival’s renowned hill climb course. Alongside the Spectre, the Cullinan, Ghost, and Phantom models will also be on display, shining a spotlight on Rolls-Royce’s extensive customization options. The Spectre, boasting an eye-catching two-tone Chartreuse and Black Diamond finish, is equipped with impressive 23-inch wheels—a noteworthy feat as it marks the first time in nearly a century that such…

As the commencement of initial production draws near, sightings of the Tesla Cybertruck have been on the rise, building excitement for the upcoming handover event scheduled for the end of Q3 2023. Over the weekend, a Cybertruck prototype was spotted cruising through Austin, Texas, and to everyone’s surprise, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was seen behind the wheel at one point. Musk himself shared the excitement by posting a photo of an undisguised Cybertruck prototype on his Twitter account last Saturday. Accompanied by the caption, “Just drove Cybertruck around Austin!”, the tweet stirred curiosity among enthusiasts. Although Musk did not divulge…

The BMW Group has reported a significant increase in the delivery of fully electric vehicles (BEVs) during the second quarter, with a total of 88,289 units sold under the BMW and Mini brands. This remarkable figure signifies a remarkable achievement, as the company has more than doubled its BEV sales compared to the same period last year, representing a growth of 117.5 percent. However, while one brand thrives, another appears to be falling behind. In a recent statement by the BMW Group, it was revealed that the BMW brand accounted for 77,948 of the total BEVs delivered from April to…

Nissan is making significant strides in preparing its Canton plant in Mississippi for the electric vehicle (EV) era. With a pledge of $500 million, the company aims to remodel the facility into its primary hub for EV production in North America. Since its establishment in 2003, the Canton plant has successfully manufactured over 5 million conventional gasoline-powered trucks, crossovers, and vans. Now, after two decades, the sprawling 4.7 million-square-foot site is being revamped to cater to the production of electric vehicles. By the middle of this decade, the Canton plant will commence production of the first in a series of…

Electric vehicle (EV) startup Rivian (RIVN) experienced a significant boost in its share price, surging more than 14% on Friday following an upgrade in its price target by Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. Ives highlighted the company’s “major turning point” in executing its strategy, resulting in an upward revision of Rivian’s stock price target from $25 to $30 per share. This upward momentum in Rivian’s stock has been ongoing for over a week, with share prices witnessing a remarkable increase of over 80% since June 27, 2023. The recent surge in Rivian’s stock can be attributed to its impressive performance, surpassing…

General Motors (GM) has made a significant move by acquiring the majority of ALGOLiON Ltd’s assets, a battery software startup based in Israel. The acquisition, announced on Friday, aims to utilize ALGOLiON’s cutting-edge technology to identify irregularities in cell performance and ensure optimal battery health in GM’s electric vehicles (EVs). ALGOLiON, founded in 2014 by renowned battery experts Dr. Niles Fleischer and Dr. Alex Nimberger, has successfully developed AlgoShield, an innovative battery hazard detection and prevention software. Using proprietary quantitative algorithms, AlgoShield can detect even the most minute changes in EV battery health weeks in advance, without the need for…