Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

Bosch has extended the contract of its Chief Executive Officer Stefan Hartung, ensuring his continued leadership of the German automotive supplier. The company confirmed the extension but declined to provide details on the duration, citing its status as a privately held limited liability company (GmbH) not bound by the disclosure requirements of a listed corporation. A spokesperson at Bosch’s headquarters in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, said Hartung’s employment contract had been renewed “some time ago.” While the company did not reveal further information, Germany’s Handelsblatt reported that the extension could last until 2031, effectively giving Hartung a decade-long tenure at the…

Austrian health company Biogena has started deploying its new all-electric fleet of 126 Mini Cooper SE vehicles, set for delivery by early 2026. The move establishes Austria’s largest electric Mini fleet and the second largest in Europe, underscoring the company’s long-term focus on sustainability and innovation in corporate mobility. The rollout also represents the first major fleet handover under Mini’s new direct sales model, introduced in Austria in 2024. Under this agency model, retail partner AutoFrey manages both sales and delivery, while parent company BMW oversees brand operations. Mini has seen strong momentum in the Austrian market, with overall registrations…

French sporting goods retailer Decathlon has expanded its electric bike portfolio in Europe with the launch of the Van Rysel E-GRVL AF Discover, a new electric gravel bike designed for both daily commuting and long-distance adventures. Described by Decathlon as “the Swiss Army knife of electric bikes,” the E-GRVL AF Discover is equipped with a 250W brushless rear hub motor delivering 35 Nm of torque and pedal assistance up to 25 kph (16 mph). See also: Decathlon Expands Van Rysel E-GRVL AF HD E-Bike Lineup With New Black Edition Riders can choose between three modes — Eco, Tour, and Sport…

Unity China and Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer Leapmotor have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly develop next-generation intelligent cockpit systems, the companies said. The partnership will focus on advancing human–machine interaction by integrating perception, cognition, and predictive technologies into the in-car environment. Using the Unity engine, large-scale AI models, and biosensors, the collaboration aims to accelerate the deployment of multimodal interaction technologies across vehicle applications. See also: Opel Reportedly Evaluating Leapmotor B10 as Affordable Electric SUV under Stellantis plan Leapmotor has been one of China’s fastest-growing NEV manufacturers, delivering about 396,000 vehicles between January and September 2025.…

Chinese automotive technology company ECARX has announced a strategic partnership with Victory Giant Technology to jointly develop next-generation automotive computing platforms, the companies said on October 22. The collaboration will merge Victory Giant’s expertise in high-precision printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing with ECARX’s intelligent computing ecosystem to accelerate the global deployment of advanced automotive technologies. See also: Volkswagen in Talks with Ecarx to Integrate Digital Cockpit Technologies  Victory Giant Technology is a leading manufacturer of high-density interconnect and multilayer boards used across industries including smart vehicles, artificial intelligence, and data centers. With production facilities in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, the…

Rivian’s micromobility spinoff Also has unveiled a new line of four-wheeled, pedal-assist electric quads designed for both commercial and consumer use, signaling a push into the growing small electric vehicle segment. The new platform, called TM-Q, features sleek, tech-forward designs intended for bike lanes rather than congested streets. The commercial TM-Q is aimed at delivery fleets operating in dense urban areas, where full-size vans are less practical. Also said the model is optimized for throughput, operational cost efficiency, and nimble handling in tight city spaces. See also: Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe Takes on Interim Marketing Role Amid Company Restructuring and…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that production of the Cybercab, the company’s fully autonomous vehicle, is set to begin in the second quarter of 2026, according to statements made during Tesla’s Q3 2025 earnings call on Wednesday. The Cybercab, first unveiled in October 2024 at the ‘We, Robot’ event in Hollywood, will be produced without a steering wheel or pedals, confirming that the initial production model will exclude traditional driving controls. See also: Tesla Developing Wheelchair-Accessible Robotaxi to Expand Inclusive Mobility “At this point I feel 100% confident that we can sell unsupervised full self-driving at a safety level…

France and Spain have reaffirmed their commitment to the European Union’s 2035 zero-emission target for new cars, rejecting pressure from Germany, Italy and parts of the auto industry to delay or weaken the phase-out of internal combustion engines. Both governments said Europe’s automotive future must remain focused on electrification. In a joint paper presented to EU climate ministers in Luxembourg and disclosed by French media, Paris and Madrid said the upcoming review of CO₂ standards should “preserve the 2035 cap and the environmental ambition of the CO₂ emissions trajectory that underpins it.” The document described the target as “a central…

Kia Motor plans to significantly increase electric vehicle production in Europe over the next two years, driven by the launch of its new EV2 and EV4 models. The automaker expects combined annual output of the two vehicles to reach around 200,000 units globally by 2027. The EV2, Kia’s smallest and most affordable electric car, will be produced at the company’s Zilina plant in Slovakia, with an expected annual output of approximately 100,000 units. Kia describes the EV2 as designed to “redefine urban electric mobility” with a flexible interior and updated connectivity features. See also: Kia Europe Tests Cell-Level Battery Passport…

AM General, Carnegie Robotics, and Textron Systems have announced a joint effort to develop a modular unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for the U.S. Army, designed to enhance logistics, mobility, and energy support on the battlefield. The vehicle will be developed under the Army’s Medium Modular Equipment Transport Trailer (M-MET) program, which seeks to close logistics gaps by autonomously delivering supplies and operational energy to forward units. The platform is expected to provide over 30 kW of exportable power while transporting critical supplies, and will be based on the HUMVEE chassis with a modernized powertrain and suspension. See also: Applied Intuition…

Kindred Motorworks has introduced its proprietary Grayback Electric Vehicle Platform (EVP), an in-house developed system designed to enable advanced electric conversions of classic vehicles. The platform makes its debut in the company’s first customer delivery of the Kindred EV Bronco Edition and will serve as the foundation for all future Kindred electric models. Developed over five years through a multimillion-dollar engineering program, the Grayback EVP integrates a range of proprietary and off-the-shelf components to manage core vehicle functions such as heating, cooling, battery management, and charging. The system’s name pays tribute to the USS Grayback submarine, built at Mare Island…

Nissan Motor is in discussions with Ford Motor and Stellantis about jointly developing an electrified version of its Rogue SUV, as the Japanese automaker seeks new partners following the collapse of its earlier tie-up with Honda, two people familiar with the matter told Automotive News. The talks reportedly center on a hybrid Rogue using Nissan’s third-generation e-POWER system, a technology that combines a small gasoline engine to charge the battery with an electric motor to drive the vehicle. The system, introduced earlier this year, is said to deliver 15% better highway fuel efficiency and lower emissions than its predecessor while…

Cornish Lithium has secured new equity investment backed by the UK’s National Wealth Fund (NWF) and existing partner TechMet, providing a boost to its efforts to advance two major lithium projects in Cornwall towards commercial production. The funding aims to strengthen the UK’s position in the global battery materials supply chain, supporting its transition to a net-zero economy. The company plans to direct the capital towards its Trevalour Lithium Project, where it operates a £15 million demonstration plant producing lithium hydroxide from granite extracted from an old clay pit. The funds will help complete a feasibility study and refine the…

German mechanical and plant engineering specialist Dürr announced that its new dry coating technology for battery electrodes, X.Cellify DC, is now ready for industrial pilot projects. The company says the method significantly reduces active material waste and could transform how lithium-ion and future solid-state batteries are produced. The X.Cellify DC process eliminates the need for solvents and drying ovens by using a dry powder mixture to create electrodes. This powder is pressed into a self-supporting film using the Activated Dry Electrode process developed by Dürr’s partner, LiCAP Technologies. The process covers all steps — from dosing and film formation to…

Nissan is reportedly exploring the possibility of launching a new LEAF NISMO, this time based on the recently upgraded 2026 LEAF. The automaker has previously discussed similar plans, though no production version of the performance-focused electric hatchback has yet materialized. According to Carscoops, Nissan executives noted that the NISMO sub-brand varies by region, with Japan serving as the strongest market for its electric performance lineup, including the Ariya NISMO SUV. See also: Nissan to Drop Ariya EV in U.S. for 2026, Shifts Focus to New Leaf Amid Market Pressures In contrast, the U.S. market has traditionally emphasized performance models such…

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 23.2% of all new car registrations in the United Kingdom in September, with just under 70,000 units sold, marking the second-highest monthly total on record, according to data from New AutoMotive. The figures show that BEVs remain ahead of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate trajectory, with a year-to-date share of 22.16% compared with the required 21.76% once CO₂ credits are included. New AutoMotive said this indicates manufacturers are generating surplus credits, helping to keep compliance costs down. See also: One in Three UK Drivers Ready to Switch to EVs, Renault-Backed Study Shows The…

MINI USA has introduced the MINI ChargeForward program, a smart-charging initiative that provides financial incentives to electric vehicle (EV) owners for optimizing charging times. The program is designed to reduce carbon emissions and support a more efficient energy grid by drawing power when renewable energy is most available. Fully integrated into the MINI App, the program allows customers to set departure times and automatically optimize charging schedules using utility and grid carbon signals. Participants can earn financial rewards for enrolling in both local utility and National Carbon Dividend programs, while ensuring their vehicles are charged and ready when needed. The…

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has introduced a straddle carrier powered by a hydrogen fuel cell at its Container Terminal Tollerort, expanding efforts to test zero-emission technology in heavy port operations. The vehicle, developed by Finnish manufacturer Konecranes, is part of the Clean Port & Logistics (CPL) innovation cluster, which is trialing alternative drives for container transport. It follows two hybrid straddle carriers delivered by Konecranes to Hamburg in 2019. The new carrier mirrors that design but operates on hydrogen fuel cells, with the option to convert to hybrid or fully battery-electric systems. See also: Clean Energy Fuels to…

The Croatian government will invest €21 million in electric bus charging facilities in Zagreb, as part of a €27.4 million initiative to support the capital’s shift to low-emission transport. The funds will be allocated under the country’s national recovery and resilience plan. The investment will be directed to Zagrebački Električni Tramvaj (ZET), the city’s public transport operator, to install 62 double chargers with a total of 124 charging bays at the Podsused bus depot. The project will also cover installation, construction, testing and the integration of smart charging modules to optimize energy use. Completion is scheduled for June 2026. The…

Bosch said it will eliminate a further 13,000 jobs worldwide, adding to the 9,000 cuts already announced, as the world’s largest automotive supplier steps up efforts to reduce costs and adapt to the shift toward electric mobility. The company, headquartered near Stuttgart, confirmed the plans after German business daily Handelsblatt first reported them. The Power Solutions and Electrified Motion divisions will be most affected, with sites in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, Schwieberdingen, Waiblingen, Bühl and Homburg facing reductions. Together with earlier cuts, about 22,000 positions will be shed by 2030. Bosch’s Mobility division employs around 70,000 people in Germany. The group aims to…