Author: Brandon Mitchell

Solid-state batteries could move closer to commercial use after researchers at Switzerland’s Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) presented a new production method designed to address key technical barriers that have so far limited large-scale adoption. Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte used in conventional lithium-ion batteries with a solid, ion-conducting material. The technology is widely viewed as a potential breakthrough for electric vehicles because it promises improved safety by eliminating flammable liquids, while enabling higher energy density through the use of thin lithium-metal anodes. Higher energy density could translate into longer driving ranges or lighter battery packs. See also: Finland’s Donut…

PlusAI said it has made further progress toward its planned 2027 commercial launch of autonomous trucks, releasing updated readiness metrics that indicate improvements in safety validation, autonomous operation and reliance on remote assistance. The Silicon Valley-based autonomous trucking company reported that Safety Case Readiness for its SuperDrive platform reached 90.1%, up from 86.1% in the first half of 2025. The metric reflects progress toward the company’s target of full safety validation required for commercial deployment. See also: PlusAI Wins Inc. 2025 Innovation Award as Autonomous Truck Launch Nears PlusAI also said its Autonomous Miles Percentage rose to 99.2%, indicating the…

QNX and Vector Informatik have launched Alloy Kore, a foundational software platform aimed at simplifying the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), as automakers face rising complexity in integrating safety-critical and cybersecurity-certified systems. The jointly developed platform combines QNX’s safety-certified real-time operating system and virtualization technologies with Vector’s automotive middleware, providing a modular base layer intended to reduce integration effort for vehicle manufacturers. An Early Access version is now available, with a fully certified production release targeted for late 2026, the companies said. See also: Xpeng to Begin Public Road Tests of Robotaxis Using VLA 2.0 Software Mercedes-Benz is among the…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said it will introduce a larger usable battery and additional upgrades for its electric Transporter and Caravelle vans, aligning the models with recent changes announced by partner Ford Motor for the E-Transit Custom. The German unit said the electric Transporter and Caravelle will now feature a net usable battery capacity of 70 kilowatt-hours, up from 64 kWh previously, lifting the WLTP driving range to as much as 380 kilometres, an increase of about 13%. The vehicles are produced as part of a long-standing cooperation with Ford Motor at a plant in Turkey, where the E-Transit Custom and…

Waymo has renamed its Zeekr-built robotaxi ahead of its entry into commercial service, rebranding the vehicle as Ojai, TechCrunch reported, as the Alphabet-owned company moves toward broader deployment of its autonomous ride-hailing fleet. The vehicle, previously known as the Zeekr RT, was developed in partnership with Zeekr, a Chinese electric vehicle brand owned by Geely Holding Group. Waymo said the new name was chosen because the company determined that “the U.S. public isn’t familiar with the Zeekr brand,” according to spokesperson Chris Bonelli. The name Ojai is drawn from the town of Ojai in California’s Topatopa Mountains above Los Angeles.…

Polish bus manufacturer Solaris Bus & Coach has secured an order for 20 new trolleybuses from public transport operator MPK Lublin, strengthening its position in its home market and expanding emission-free public transport in eastern Poland. MPK Lublin has selected the Solaris Trollino 12, a 12-metre trolleybus designed to carry up to 80 passengers, including 29 seated. The vehicles will be equipped with interior and exterior surveillance systems, USB charging ports for passengers and an automated passenger counting system to support detailed analysis of ridership patterns. Deliveries are scheduled for the first months of 2027. See also: Solaris Launches Retrofit…

Texas Instruments on Monday introduced a new portfolio of automotive semiconductors, including a high-performance system-on-a-chip family offering up to 1,200 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of artificial intelligence capability, as the industry pushes toward more automated and software-defined vehicles. The announcements were made during the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show, where chipmakers and automakers are highlighting technologies aimed at enabling advanced driver assistance and, eventually, higher levels of vehicle autonomy. See also: Pony.ai Grows Robotaxi Fleet to 1,159 Units, Surpassing 2025 Target At the center of the launch is TI’s new TDA5 automotive SoC family, which the company said is designed…

Benteler Group said it has agreed to acquire Ioki, the former mobility subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, as it moves to position itself as a full-service provider of autonomous transport solutions in Europe. The privately held automotive and industrial supplier said the deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, is expected to close in the near term. Following completion, Ioki’s software platforms for on-demand and public transport integration will be combined with Benteler’s vehicle, operations and financing capabilities. Benteler plans to integrate Ioki with Holon, its subsidiary that develops the Holon Urban autonomous electric shuttle, and with Benteler Mobility, which manages…

Seyond has introduced a new solid-state LiDAR product line aimed at large-scale automotive deployment, unveiling its Hummingbird series as part of a broader end-to-end sensor portfolio, the company said this week. The Hummingbird series marks Seyond’s first fully solid-state LiDAR offering designed for mass production. The company said the platform has already secured a confirmed original equipment manufacturer (OEM) design win, positioning the sensor for integration into future passenger vehicle programs and signaling a shift from pilot projects toward higher-volume adoption. See also: LiDAR Supplier Seyond Secures Supply Deal With GAC Group, Mass Production Set for 2026 The Hummingbird D1,…

Lucid Group, autonomous driving startup Nuro and ride-hailing platform Uber Technologies on Monday unveiled a production-intent robotaxi, marking a key step toward commercial deployment of their autonomous vehicle partnership. The unveiling at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas places the trio among a growing group of companies pursuing large-scale robotaxi operations in the United States, alongside rivals such as Alphabet’s Waymo and Tesla. See also: Lucid Doubles Vehicle Production in 2025 as Deliveries Rise 55% https://twitter.com/LucidMotors/status/2008312908921373139 The companies said autonomous on-road testing began in December, led by Nuro using engineering prototypes supervised by safety operators. The testing programme…

Kodiak AI said on Monday it has reached an agreement with Bosch to scale the manufacturing of its production-ready autonomous driving platform, a move aimed at accelerating commercial deployment of driverless trucks. Under the agreement, Bosch will work with Kodiak to develop a platform combining specialized automotive-grade hardware, firmware and software interfaces. The collaboration is intended to allow Kodiak’s autonomous system, known as the Kodiak Driver, to be installed either directly on vehicle assembly lines or through aftermarket upfitting. See also: Kodiak AI Expands Partnership With ZF, Acquiring 100 Redundant Steering Systems for Driverless Truck Fleet “Advancing the deployment of…

Autonomous sensing company Atomathic has launched a new radar perception system designed to improve reliability in complex driving environments, introducing what it calls a physics-constrained reasoning engine aimed at addressing long-standing challenges in automotive radar performance. The system, branded AISIR for Radar, is intended to enhance the stability and accuracy of radar-based perception in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles, particularly in scenarios involving high dynamic range, cluttered surroundings and vulnerable road users. The company said the technology enables more consistent detection by reducing false targets and intermittent signal loss that have historically limited radar performance. See also:…