Author: Casper Benedict

Volkswagen and Uber announced plans to deploy a fleet of autonomous electric vehicles in the United States, with a commercial rollout slated for Los Angeles in late 2026. The move marks a significant step forward in the companies’ efforts to expand autonomous ride-hailing services in a competitive U.S. market. The service will be based on Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz AD – a variant of the company’s all-electric van equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving technology developed in collaboration with Mobileye and VW subsidiary Moia. The ID. Buzz AD is already undergoing testing in several cities, including Hamburg, Munich, Oslo, and Austin,…

UK-based Fusion Processing has joined forces with Construct Invest to roll out fully automated electric buses for airport passenger transport, as the industry looks to streamline ground operations through automation and sustainability. The collaboration combines Fusion Processing’s CAVstar® Automated Drive System with Construct Invest’s expertise in autonomous vehicle deployment, delivering Level 4 autonomous vehicles capable of operating without human input in designated environments. The initiative will be formally showcased at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Madrid in April 2025. See also: DHL Partners with Oxa for Successful Autonomous Vehicle Trial at Heathrow Airport Over 90,000 kilometers of operation, Fusion’s system…

Stellantis has introduced a retrofit program in France that allows owners of diesel-powered light commercial vehicles to convert them into fully electric models. Developed in partnership with French retrofit specialist Qinomic, the initiative targets mid-size vans including the Fiat Scudo, Opel Vivaro, Peugeot Expert, and Citroën Jumpy. See also: Electric Conversion Transforms Classic Fox-Body Ford Mustang While Retaining Manual Transmission The retrofit program is managed by Stellantis’ Pro One unit, which focuses on business customers, and was created in collaboration with the automaker’s circular economy division, SUSTAINera. The conversion involves replacing over 200 components, including the engine, transmission, and exhaust…

Electric vehicle infrastructure company ChargePoint has introduced a new AC charging platform designed to significantly enhance EV charging capabilities through innovations such as bi-directional Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) support and charging speeds twice as fast as standard AC units. The new architecture, intended for commercial, residential, and fleet applications in North America and Europe, includes features like dynamic load balancing, solar and smart home integration, and a charging speed of up to 19.2 kW. According to the company, this allows a typical EV battery to be charged from 0 to 100 per cent in approximately four hours. See also: ChargePoint to Open…

Rivian has revealed new details about the battery pack design of its upcoming R2 electric SUV, which is expected to become the company’s most affordable and best-selling model. CEO RJ Scaringe shared that the R2 will utilize larger 4695 battery cells, significantly reducing the number of cells needed per vehicle compared to the R1 platform. The R2 battery pack will contain 768 cells in total, divided into three modules with 256 cells each. The larger-format 4695 cells, supplied by LG Energy Solution, are 46 mm in diameter and 95 mm tall, offering approximately six times the capacity of the 2170…

Volvo Cars’ sales declined by 3% year-on-year in December, reaching 73,804 units, as the demand for hybrid vehicles experienced a downturn. Despite the overall sales decline, the automaker saw a notable increase in the sale of electrified cars, including fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which rose by 20% compared to the same period last year. While fully electric vehicles (EVs) saw a boost, sales of mild hybrids, which rely solely on internal combustion engines, fell by 16%. The Swedish automaker, which is majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding, reported that its total sales for 2024 rose by 8% compared to…

Maextro, a new automotive brand established through a collaboration between Chinese tech giant Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC), is set to debut its first luxury model, the Maextro S800, on November 26. The unveiling will coincide with the launch of Huawei’s Mate 70 smartphone series, the company announced on Sunday. The Maextro S800, positioned as a high-end executive sedan, aims to compete with established luxury models, including the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, and Nio ET9. At approximately 5.5 meters in length, the S800 stands as a prominent contender in its segment. Richard Yu, Huawei’s managing…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD plans to proceed with the fourth phase of its industrial park in the Shenzhen-Shanwei Cooperation Zone, aiming to enhance its production capabilities, the Shenzhen municipal government announced on Tuesday. Once fully operational, the third and fourth phases of the facility are projected to generate an annual output exceeding 200 billion yuan ($27.63 billion), the Shenzhen government stated in a post on its official WeChat account. The announcement follows a significant milestone for BYD earlier this week, as the company celebrated the production of its 10 millionth new energy vehicle (NEV). “This marks a historic moment…

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in Australia fell by 25% in the third quarter, as car buyers increasingly shifted to hybrid models, according to data from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA). EV registrations declined from 25,353 units in the second quarter to 18,990 in the third, reducing their market share from 8.1% to 6.6%, the lowest level in two years. By comparison, the broader car market saw a less pronounced decline of 7.6% over the same period, the AAA said. Petrol-powered vehicle sales also fell, dropping 9.2%, but hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) gained momentum. Hybrid sales increased by…

Tesla plans to equip all its best-selling U.S. vehicles with customized 4680 battery cells manufactured domestically, aiming to produce the cheapest EV batteries in the United States, according to recent company statements. The automaker anticipates reaching full-scale production of the 4680 battery by 2025, including four distinct battery types. These versions are tailored for different vehicles, with one variant designed for the high-demand Cybertruck and others intended for a 40 kWh pack expected to power a future Robotaxi, as well as the widely popular Model 3 and Model Y. Tesla’s 4680 cell production, initially plagued by delays and leadership changes…

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced on Tuesday that the Department of Energy (DOE) is working swiftly to finalize $1.7 billion in grants aimed at converting factories to produce electric vehicles (EVs) and related components. Speaking on the sidelines of the Reuters Next conference, Granholm emphasized the urgency of the department’s efforts, saying, “We are working as fast as we can to finalize as much as we can — to get the commitments in contract with all of those who have been selected.” In July, the DOE revealed plans to allocate funds to major automakers. General Motors is set to…

Mini, a subsidiary of BMW, has introduced two new models under its John Cooper Works (JCW) performance sub-brand at the Paris Motor Show. The new three-door Mini John Cooper Works Electric and five-door John Cooper Works Aceman bring racing-inspired technology to the electric vehicle (EV) segment, offering high performance and enhanced standard features. Both models are powered by a 190 kW electric motor, delivering 350 Nm of torque and a top speed of 200 kph. The three-door Mini John Cooper Works Electric accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 5.9 seconds, while the five-door Aceman achieves the same in 6.4…