Author: Christopher Harrison

China and New Zealand have held their first official dialogue on new-energy vehicles (NEVs), signalling potential expansion of bilateral cooperation in electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and low-carbon technologies. The talks were co-chaired in Wellington by Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and Siobhan Routledge, Acting Deputy Chief Executive of New Zealand’s Ministry of Transport, according to a statement released by MIIT. The Chinese ministry said it is willing to strengthen cooperation with New Zealand in NEVs, charging networks and wider low-carbon sectors. The dialogue comes as the two countries enter the second decade…

Volvo Cars reported a 10% year-on-year decline in global sales in November, delivering 60,244 vehicles amid weaker demand in key markets, particularly the United States, while electric vehicle sales showed modest growth, the company said on Dec. 3. Fully electric and plug-in hybrid models accounted for 50% of total November sales. Fully electric deliveries rose 4% from a year earlier to 14,594 vehicles, while plug-in hybrid sales fell 12% to 15,785 units. Sales of mild hybrid and internal-combustion vehicles dropped 14% to 29,865 units. “November’s sales figures highlight the ongoing structural and transformational challenges affecting both Volvo Cars and the…

ChargePoint and Dabaja Brothers Development Group have launched a new ultra-fast electric vehicle charging site in Canton, Michigan, marking the first phase of a wider fast-charging rollout across the Detroit metropolitan area, the companies said. Additional locations are planned at Dabaja Brothers-owned properties in Dearborn and Livonia as part of a broader effort to address gaps in regional EV charging access. The partnership aims to deploy more than 40 charging ports across multiple retail and commercial sites, allowing drivers to charge while shopping, dining or visiting nearby businesses. ChargePoint Chief Executive Rick Wilmer said parts of the region remain underserved…

The Kia EV5 has been awarded a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP after achieving strong results across all major assessment categories, the independent European vehicle safety body said. The fully electric sport-utility vehicle scored 83% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 74% for vulnerable road users and 80% for safety assist technologies, reflecting solid all-round performance. In adult occupant protection testing, Euro NCAP said the EV5’s passenger compartment remained stable in frontal impact scenarios, with good knee and femur protection recorded for both the driver and front passenger. See also: Kia EV5 Electric SUV Spotted Towing…

BYD has launched the Yuan Up DM-i hybrid SUV in Europe under the local name Atto 2 DM-i, expanding its offerings in one of its most competitive overseas markets. The company also unveiled a long-range battery electric version of the model, branded the Atto 2 Comfort. The move marks a strategic shift for the Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer, which only sells the Yuan Up as a battery electric model in China. See also: BYD’s Racco Mini EV Could Become One of Europe’s Most Affordable Electric Cars BYD said the introduction of a hybrid variant in Europe reflects its effort…

Flexis, the electric vehicle joint venture created by Renault, Volvo and CMA CGM, said it has formed a partnership with charging management platform Ampeco to support depot charging operations for commercial fleets in Europe. The collaboration comes ahead of Flexis’ planned rollout of its first electric vans in 2026, alongside a software suite known as Flexis Interface. Under the agreement, Ampeco’s backend system will be embedded within Flexis’ telematics, fleet management and charging oversight platform. Flexis said the integration will give fleet operators real-time visibility over charging events across multiple depot locations, including both AC overnight charging and DC fast-charging…

Porsche has presented its second all-electric SUV with the debut of the Cayenne Electric, marking a shift in the company’s long-term product strategy. Instead of positioning the electric version as the sole future of the model line, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer now describes the SUV as part of a “three-pronged drive strategy” that includes combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and fully electric models. Still, the company emphasised that the most powerful Cayenne in the range will be electric. “Inspiring customers is our top priority at Porsche,” said Matthias Becker, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing. “With the electrification of…

Grab Holdings said on Monday it will invest $60 million in Berlin-based remote driving company Vay Technology, marking its latest move to expand into autonomous and teleoperated vehicle services. The announcement sent Grab’s shares up more than 6% in premarket trading. The Singaporean firm said the investment reflects its commitment to developing a hybrid mobility model that combines human drivers with autonomous and remote-driving technology. “The future of mobility in Southeast Asia will be a hybrid model that relies on the expertise of our driver-partners alongside autonomous vehicles and remote driving services,” Grab CEO Anthony Tan said in a statement.…

Changan Automobile’s sub-brand Nevo has officially launched its A06 sedan, adding another affordable new energy vehicle option to the Chinese market. Prices for the model start at RMB 109,900 ($15,440). The Nevo A06 is available as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). The BEV offers six trim levels ranging from RMB 109,900 to RMB 149,900, while the EREV is offered in two variants starting at RMB 119,900 and RMB 129,900. The sedan is positioned to compete with models such as the BYD Qin L, Geely Galaxy A7, and Nissan N7. See also: Changan’s Deepal Launches…

Nio Inc’s premium sub-brand Firefly has shipped a large batch of electric vehicles (EVs) to Europe and for the first time confirmed plans to expand into North America, signaling the company’s growing global ambitions. The shipment departed from Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao Port bound for Europe, marking another step in Firefly’s international rollout, the company announced on its Weibo account. The brand said it is deepening its presence across Europe, North America, and Asia through Nio’s national distributor model. Firefly has already begun deliveries in the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and Denmark, and plans to open pre-orders in Austria, Greece, and Portugal. See…

Italy’s Alpitronic has appointed two senior executives to bolster its management team as the company accelerates its strategic development and international growth in the fast-charging infrastructure sector. The Bolzano-based charging specialist said on Wednesday it had named Mika Kettunen as Vice President of Service and Alessio La Rosa as Vice President of Finance, both effective November 1. The company said the appointments reflect its focus on operational reliability, customer satisfaction, and financial resilience amid rising global demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. Kettunen, a Finnish national who previously held management roles at Danfoss, will oversee Alpitronic’s global service organisation.…

Norwegian public transport operator Ruter has identified potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Yutong electric buses after conducting a series of tests on software and control systems. The findings revealed that the Chinese manufacturer has digital access for software updates and diagnostics, which, in theory, could allow remote manipulation of around 850 Yutong buses operating in Norway. “In theory, this could be exploited to influence the bus,” Ruter said in a statement. However, the operator stressed that the issue is only theoretical and clarified that “the bus cameras are not connected to the Internet – there is no risk of image or…