Author: Casper Benedict

SK hynix’s foundry subsidiary, SK keyfoundry, is poised to manufacture power semiconductors for Tesla electric vehicles starting in the second half of this year. The move comes as a response to China’s aggressive expansion in the legacy foundry sector, with SK keyfoundry unveiling a high-performance chip process tailored for automotive use. Industry sources revealed on May 15 that SK keyfoundry will commence the production of Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMIC) for Tesla EVs as early as July at their 8-inch wafer fab in Cheongju, South Korea. These PMICs, designed by a U.S.-based semiconductor design company, will be produced by SK…

In a bid to keep pace with Tesla and emerging Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers like BYD, Ford has announced plans to revamp its strategy, seeking cost reductions across its EV lineup. The move comes as Ford’s Model e unit continues to incur substantial losses, totaling billions in the first quarter of this year. Following in the footsteps of its competitors, Ford slashed prices significantly to remain competitive with Tesla, a strategy that has helped drive up demand but at a considerable cost. For instance, after reducing prices of its Mustang Mach-E by 17% earlier this year, sales surged by…

Tesla Model Y units at the company’s Gigafactory Berlin in Germany were seen today equipped with Hardware 4 (HW4), the company’s newest and most advanced self-driving computer. First introduced last year, HW4 is designed to enhance Tesla’s vehicles with additional cameras and potential radar systems. This latest self-driving computer processes more data to improve the accuracy and robustness of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite. HW4 cameras capture images at a resolution of 5 megapixels, a significant upgrade from the 1.2 megapixels of the previous generation. The first vehicles to feature HW4 were the Model X Plaid cars. Recently, HW4 was…

Chargepoint, an electric vehicle charging infrastructure provider, has announced the development of a new megawatt charger designed to support the upcoming Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The charger, based on Chargepoint’s Power Link 2000 series, will initially deliver 1.2 MW and is expected to later increase to up to 3 MW. The company is now offering tests of the charging system to truck manufacturers. According to Chargepoint, the MCS cables and plugs for e-trucks will be available at charging stations equipped with this type of device. The company’s partners, particularly truck manufacturers, can commence interoperability tests immediately. The charger will also…

BYD has delayed its plans to produce lithium cathodes for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in Chile by 2025, Stella Li, the firm’s Chief of Americas, told Reuters on Tuesday. Chile’s economic development agency, CORFO, announced last year that production at a new plant to be developed by BYD was anticipated to start around the end of 2025. This project represents a $290 million investment in Chile, the world’s second-largest lithium-producing country. Li expressed uncertainty about when BYD would resume its plans, citing various complications surrounding the project. The plant would manufacture components essential for EV batteries. “That plan has been…

VinFast, the Vietnamese automaker, has made a remarkable entry into the electric vehicle market with its latest offering, the VF 3. The compact electric SUV, starting under $10,000 (235 million VND), has already garnered significant attention, amassing nearly 30,000 pre-orders within just 66 hours of its launch. Unveiled at CES 2024 in January, the VF 3 is set to be released globally, including in the US, with a special promotional price before standard pricing at around $20,000. VinFast’s deputy CEO of sales and marketing, Ms. Tran Mai Hoa, emphasized the company’s vision for the VF 3, stating, “We aim to…

Volklec, a new UK manufacturing business focused on producing batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), has been launched in Coventry, West Midlands, with a commitment to manufacturing sustainable batteries for a range of vehicles, including on-road, off-highway, and track vehicles. In a strategic collaboration with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), a national manufacturing development and scale-up facility, Volklec aims to develop batteries that meet the specific requirements of the UK automotive market, particularly targeting small volume and niche vehicle manufacturers. This partnership is seen as a crucial step in the journey towards large-scale battery production, supporting the UK’s ambition to…

Mullen, a notable commercial EV manufacturer, has successfully secured a substantial $150 million capital infusion. This investment will support the company’s plans to expand its sales efforts both domestically and internationally. Additionally, it will facilitate the production of Bollinger’s electric trucks, including the Bollinger Motors B4, which is set to enter series production. The financing comprises a $100 million commitment from an undisclosed family office, along with the sale of an additional $50 million of senior secured convertible notes to family offices and high net worth investors. With this infusion, Mullen expects to meet its capital requirements for the next…

The Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen University and its spin-off company PEM Motion are set to collaborate with Chinese plant manufacturer HYNN and Bielefeld-based mechanical engineering specialist BST to advance e-mobility technologies. HYNN, specializing in post-processing in electric vehicle battery cell production, will establish a site at PEM’s Aachen headquarters Avantis on the German-Dutch border. This collaboration aims to drive product development and prototype testing for various forming systems and comparable machines in battery cell production. Professor Achim Kampker, Head of PEM, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating, “As one of the most…

The Tesla Cybertruck, despite being on the market for only about six months, has quickly established a strong presence in the electric pickup truck segment, surpassing one of its main competitors, the Rivian R1T, in registrations for the month of March. Data from S&P Global Mobility indicates that Tesla’s first all-electric pickup truck achieved 1,158 registrations in March in the United States, outpacing the Rivian R1T, which recorded 548 registrations during the same period. This marks the fourth month of availability for the Cybertruck, and Tesla’s production is steadily increasing, with the company producing 1,000 units in a single week…

Commercial electric vehicle (EV) technology developer REE Automotive has secured a significant addition to its order book with the support of global transportation provider Penske. Penske has committed to demonstrating REE’s PC-7 electric truck to its customers and assisting in sales efforts. REE Automotive, known for its modular EV platform, has been experiencing a successful year in 2024, with increasing orders and production scaling. The company’s flagship model, the PC-7 chassis cab, started deliveries in January following certification from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), making it the first “x-by-wire” vehicle to achieve this milestone. In March, REE concluded…

Baidu, a leading Chinese technology company, is contemplating leveraging Tesla’s Robotaxi technology or Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in China. Xu Baoqiang, General Manager of Baidu’s autonomous driving department, expressed the company’s interest in potential collaboration opportunities with Tesla, including the use of specific Tesla applications tailored for the Chinese market. This consideration comes on the heels of a recent announcement by the local Chinese government supporting Tesla’s FSD technology. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, reportedly proposed testing FSD functions in vehicles already in use in China, such as taxis, and rolling out the FSD software in Chinese taxi services. Baidu and…