Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng plans to roll out full-scenario Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving in the second half of 2025, marking a significant step in its smart driving technology strategy, Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng said in an internal letter on Monday. “I believe that L3 autonomous driving will drive AI cars into the ‘iPhone 4 era,'” He said, according to the letter obtained by CnEVPost. L3 autonomy allows vehicles to handle certain driving tasks without human intervention but requires drivers to take over when needed, raising regulatory and liability considerations. He said Xpeng’s smart driving software helped many…

Toyota remained the world’s top-selling automaker in 2024, delivering nearly 11 million vehicles despite a 3.7% decline from the previous year. However, with electric vehicle (EV) sales accounting for just 1% of its global volume, the Japanese automaker faces growing competition from EV-focused rivals like BYD and Hyundai. The company retained its crown for the fifth consecutive year, selling over 10.8 million vehicles, including its Daihatsu, Hino, and Lexus brands. While it stayed ahead of Volkswagen, which sold just over 9 million vehicles (a 2.3% decline from 2023), Toyota’s sales dropped for the first time in two years. Toyota and…

Spanish ferry operator Baleària has unveiled plans to operate the first fully electric ferry line connecting Tarifa, Spain, and Tangier, Morocco. Over the next two years, two electric catamarans will be built at the Armon shipyard in Gijón to serve the intercontinental route, marking a significant step toward zero-emission maritime transport in the region. The vessels, designed by Incat Crowther, will measure 87 meters in length and boast a capacity for 800 passengers and 225 cars. Equipped with four electric propulsion units delivering 16 MW of power, the ferries will feature 11,500 kWh battery systems, enabling them to complete the…

Tata Motors is optimistic about the future of India’s electric vehicle (EV) market as production costs decline due to cheaper battery technology, reducing the price gap with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The company, which leads the Indian EV segment, highlighted these advancements during the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, positioning itself for continued growth in a competitive landscape. The event underscored a surge in India’s EV momentum, with automakers showcasing new offerings. Tata Motors revealed near-production versions of its Sierra EV and Harrier EV, while Hyundai debuted the Creta EV, drawing significant attention. Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest…

GAC Group has announced plans to establish a dedicated subsidiary to collaborate with Huawei on the development of smart vehicles. The new company, code-named “GH,” will have a registered capital of RMB 1.5 billion yuan ($200 million), as confirmed by GAC’s board of directors on January 10. The subsidiary will focus on jointly defining and designing vehicles with Huawei, working across product development, marketing strategies, and ecological services. The partnership aims to introduce a new automotive brand based on cutting-edge technologies and a fresh vehicle architecture. The two companies will work together to launch a series of intelligent new energy…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into crashes reportedly linked to Tesla’s Actually Smart Summon feature. The probe, initiated on January 6, 2025, follows complaints and media reports suggesting the feature may fail to detect obstacles during operation. The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) cited one specific complaint involving a crash allegedly caused by Actually Smart Summon, along with at least three media reports of similar incidents. The feature is designed to allow Tesla vehicles to navigate parking lots autonomously but reportedly struggled to detect posts or parked cars in the cases under…

Hyundai has officially unveiled its highly anticipated electric vehicle, the Creta Electric SUV, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey toward a more sustainable future. Launched on Thursday, the Creta EV draws design inspiration and innovative features from Hyundai’s IONIQ lineup, featuring a sleek and modern aesthetic that sets it apart from traditional gas-powered models. With an impressive range of nearly 300 miles, this new electric SUV promises to redefine the electric vehicle landscape, especially in the Indian market. One of the standout features of the Creta EV is its local manufacturing, as Mr. Tarun Garg, CEO of Hyundai…

General Motors (GM) announced its decision to shut down its autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, following concerns over high development costs, regulatory challenges, and limited progress in a competitive space. The move ends a high-profile effort that GM once projected could generate $50 billion in annual revenue by 2030. Executives revealed on Tuesday that the decision to exit the robotaxi business was influenced by the significant investments required and challenges with regulatory relationships. Some of Cruise’s workforce will transition to GM’s development of driver-assistance technologies. Despite initial investor optimism, GM shares closed down 1.3% on Wednesday after an earlier post-announcement boost.…

The rapid growth in electric vehicle (EV) adoption is expected to significantly increase the demand for critical minerals needed for battery production, raising concerns about supply chain constraints, according to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). The report, titled Critical Materials: Batteries for Electric Vehicles, estimates that global EV sales could reach 60 million units annually by 2030, up from 14 million in 2023, in alignment with the 1.5°C climate target. This surge in demand is projected to push EV battery requirements from 850 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2023 to over 4,300 GWh by the end of the…

Tesla has outlined a series of improvements to its Supercharger network as it expands access to electric vehicles (EVs) from other manufacturers. The enhancements, detailed in a recent post on X by Tesla Charging, aim to address compatibility challenges and streamline the charging experience for all EV users. Key initiatives include upgrading to longer V4 Supercharger cables, which Tesla says will outnumber shorter cables at stations within 18 months. This upgrade responds to compatibility issues faced by non-Tesla EVs with varying charge port placements, often resulting in vehicles needing to block multiple charging stalls to connect. Tesla also highlighted recent…

BYD’s Dynasty lineup is on track to achieve record sales this year, with expectations to exceed 2 million units, according to Lu Tian, head of sales for the Dynasty series. As of the end of October, the lineup has already sold more than 1.58 million units, accounting for nearly half of the company’s total sales during the same period. In an interview with local media outlet Dongchedi, Lu highlighted that the Dynasty series is poised to surpass the previous all-time record for annual sales of fuel vehicles in China, which was set by SAIC-Volkswagen at 1.73 million units in 2017.…

Tesla has now made its highly anticipated Cybertruck available for immediate purchase, marking a notable shift from its once enormous backlog of reservations. For the first time, customers can purchase the electric pickup from Tesla’s inventory list, with select locations offering the option to drive away with a Cybertruck in just a matter of days. This development comes after years of hype and a two-million-strong reservation list that once surpassed the valuation of entire automakers like BMW. Currently, the inventory includes the higher-end Foundation Series AWD and tri-motor “Cyberbeast” versions of the Cybertruck, with prices starting below $80,000. This could…