Author: Casper Benedict

Luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz has announced a voluntary recall in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for approximately 14,912 electric vehicles sold in the United States. The recall affects various models from the 2023 model year or newer, including the Mercedes-AMG EQE, Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV, Mercedes-AMG EQS, Mercedes-Benz EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, EQS SUV, and Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV. The issue at hand involves the battery management system software, which can become overloaded with diagnostics requests from other control units. This overload can lead to the contactors of the high-voltage battery opening, potentially causing a loss of propulsion without…

Nio has shifted its strategy for the launch of its third brand, codenamed Firefly, opting to debut the brand in China before its European launch. The decision comes as Nio aims to accelerate the introduction of its new brand, according to a report from local media outlet 21jingji. Firefly’s inaugural model is expected to make its first appearance in China by the end of this year, with a subsequent release in Europe in the first half of next year, as per the report, which cites multiple sources. The sub-brand’s mobile app is anticipated to go live in December. Jin Ge,…

British bus retrofitting firm Equipmake has secured a follow-up contract with Golden Tours, a leading London sightseeing and UK tourism company, to convert ten Volvo B5 London Tour Buses to electric using its Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED). This new contract builds on the £2 million order received earlier this year from Golden Tours and is part of Equipmake’s strategy to make electric fleet conversions more accessible and cost-effective. The company expects to start delivering the newly electrified buses in the coming months. Equipmake’s approach focuses on repurposing existing bus chassis and bodies, making it a more sustainable and economical choice compared…

China has granted approval to nine automakers to conduct tests on vehicles equipped with advanced autonomous driving technologies on public roads. This move is part of a broader plan to accelerate the adoption of self-driving cars in the country. According to a statement from the industry ministry on Tuesday, the tests will focus on so-called level three autonomous driving technologies. Automakers involved in the tests include BYD, Nio, Changan Automobile, GAC, and SAIC, among others. Fleet operators, such as ride-hailing companies, will also participate in the tests. See also: XPeng Aims for Level 4 Autonomous Driving in China by Next Year…

Wayve, a British champion in driverless car technology, is gearing up to introduce its autonomous vehicles to the streets of San Francisco, aiming to rival US tech giants such as Tesla and Waymo on their home turf. The self-driving car company, which recently secured over $1 billion for its technology, is making preparations to deploy its fleet in the US. Wayve is in the process of hiring staff to manage its test drivers and safety operators as it lays the groundwork for its US operations. A spokesperson for Wayve confirmed the company’s plans, stating, “We will be doing data collection…

French roaming platform Gireve has secured 20 million euros in fresh capital, with the funds earmarked for the platform’s expansion and the development of new services. Among the investors is the US investment platform Partech, alongside existing backers. The capital infusion is aimed at accelerating the platform’s growth across Europe and beyond, with a focus on integrating new features like plug & charge and clearing. Additionally, Gireve plans to broaden its roaming services to include data and consulting solutions. Currently active in 35 countries, Gireve connects over 500,000 charging points and boasts partnerships with industry players like Hubject, Tesla, and…

BYD continued its strong performance in May, recording its second-highest sales ever with a total of 331,817 new energy vehicles (NEVs) sold. This marks a 38.13% increase from the same period last year and a 5.93% increase from April. BYD’s focus on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) has been a significant factor in its recent success. The company ceased production and sales of vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines in March 2022, shifting its focus to PHEVs and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). See also: BYD’s Workforce Surges as China Leads Global Electric Vehicle Market In May, BYD’s passenger NEVs saw…

Chinese battery manufacturer SVOLT has announced the cancellation of its plans to set up a manufacturing site in the German state of Brandenburg. The decision was made as part of a reassessment of the company’s location strategy, with SVOLT citing difficulties in planning exacerbated by German politicians. The company’s press release pointed to challenges such as “an already low level of planning security at various levels,” including threats of international punitive tariffs and market distortions due to subsidies. Additionally, a significant customer project cancellation and discussions about the end of combustion engines in the EU were mentioned as factors influencing…

Swiss upfitter Antidoto has inked a deal with American electric vehicle manufacturer Mullen to purchase 40 Mullen-GO electric urban delivery vehicles. Antidoto, known for its specialization in outfitting vehicles for on-demand food delivery, has set its sights on expanding its fleet to meet the growing demand for efficient urban delivery solutions. “We are thrilled to partner with Mullen Automotive to bring their innovative Mullen-GO vehicles to Switzerland and beyond,” stated a representative from Antidoto. “These vehicles align perfectly with our commitment to providing top-notch solutions for on-demand food delivery, and we are confident that they will help us meet the…

Sysco, the US food delivery company, has added ten new electric heavy-duty trucks to its fleet at its operating site in Houston, Texas. The new Freightliner eCascadia vehicles from Daimler Truck North America bring Sysco’s electric truck fleet to nearly 120 EVs worldwide. These new electric trucks will join Sysco’s fleet in Houston, with an additional ten trucks expected to arrive next month. Sysco’s existing electric truck fleet consists of over 100 vehicles operating in various locations across the US, with the remaining 20 units in service in Canada, the UK, and Sweden. Neil Russell, Chief Administrative Officer at Sysco,…

RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian, anticipates a resurgence in electric vehicle (EV) adoption with the introduction of new models in the coming years, including Rivian’s R2 crossover slated for launch in 2026. Speaking at the annual Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, Scaringe noted that the current slowdown in EV adoption is partly due to the lack of compelling options in the market. Scaringe emphasized the importance of offering choices to consumers, especially in the face of Tesla’s dominant market position. He stated, “We haven’t had choice, so we’ve had a singular dominant market-share player in the space today. But I also…

Tesla has officially launched its first store and showroom in Qatar, as part of its expansion efforts in the Middle East after commencing sales in the country late last year. Announcing the opening, Delivery Operations Supervisor Momo Elmegrahi shared the news in a LinkedIn post on Friday, revealing photos of the new store located at the Doha Festival City mall in Doha. According to Tesla’s website, the store is open seven days a week. In his post, Elmegrahi stated, “This milestone marks a significant step in our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Our Qatar store will…