Author: Christopher Harrison

China-based self-driving technology company WeRide is planning to go public in the United States. The Guangzhou-based start-up, incorporated in the Cayman Islands, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Founded in 2017, WeRide has gained momentum recently with its diverse range of autonomous driving products and plans to expand globally. While the company has not disclosed its target amount for the listing, Bloomberg reported last year that it aimed to raise $500 million. Speculation suggests the IPO could be the largest involving a Chinese company since ride-hailing giant Didi’s $4.44 billion listing in…

German chemicals group BASF has paused its planned battery recycling project at its Tarragona site in Spain. The company cited delays in the expansion of battery manufacturing facilities across Europe as the primary reason for this decision. In its second-quarter 2024 report, BASF stated, “We have also decided to pause our large-scale metal refinery project for battery recycling at BASF’s Tarragona site in Spain. We are ready to start as soon as the build-up of cell capacities and the spread of electric cars regain momentum in Europe.” BASF CEO Markus Kamieth echoed these remarks during a conference call. https://evmagz.com/basf-and-whw-recycling-collaborate-to-boost-sustainability-in-battery-cell-production/ The…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has unveiled a significant investment package totaling $9.5 billion aimed at advancing the country’s future technologies, including $5 billion dedicated to electric vehicle (EV) production and $4.5 billion for battery manufacturing. Erdogan’s announcement, reported by Reuters, outlines plans to ramp up Turkey’s EV production to one million units annually. The $5 billion investment is part of a broader $30 billion incentive program targeting various high-tech sectors. https://evmagz.com/byd-to-build-1-billion-ev-plant-in-turkey-boosting-access-to-european-markets/ The Turkish President highlighted Turkey’s growing appeal to electric car manufacturers, citing BYD’s recent commitment to establish a $1 billion production facility in the country. The factory, slated…

Leapmotor International, a joint venture between Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Leapmotor and Stellantis NV, has started shipping Leapmotor C10 and T03 EVs to Europe. The vehicles are set to be available for sale from September. According to a press release from Stellantis, the first batch of C10 and T03 models departed from Shanghai this month. The joint venture aims to launch these models in nine European countries, expanding its sales outlets to 200 by the end of 2024. “Leapmotor International plans to increase its sales outlets in Europe to 500 by 2026,” the release stated. In addition to Europe,…

Tesla has initiated a recall of approximately 1.8 million vehicles due to a defect that may prevent the detection of an unlatched hood. The recall, announced through a Safety Recall Report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will be addressed with an over-the-air (OTA) software update. The recall affects several models, including the 2013-2024 Tesla Model S, 2016-2024 Tesla Model X, 2017-2024 Tesla Model 3, and 2020-2024 Tesla Model Y, totaling 1,850,363 units. However, only about 1% of these vehicles are estimated to have the defect. https://evmagz.com/tesla-model-y-juniper-update-images-leak-online/ The NHTSA report indicates that the issue involves the hood latch…

A Tesla Cybertruck has been spotted with what appears to be the first emergency medical service (EMS) wrap, marking a new adaptation of the electric vehicle (EV) for emergency services. The vehicle was seen in New Jersey with a red, white, and blue wrap, a siren on top, and text indicating its role as an emergency vehicle. According to Reddit posts from Friday and Monday, the Cybertruck is reportedly donated to Hatzulas Nefashos, an ambulance service in Lakewood. It features additional text in Hebrew and English, stating that it was “donated in memory of the Kedoshim killed on October 7th.”…

In a significant development for the mining industry, Liebherr and Fortescue have announced plans to jointly develop a fully autonomous haulage solution (AHS) for their 264-ton battery electric vehicle (BEV) converted haul trucks. The collaboration aims to create a zero-emission fleet capable of operating without human intervention. On-site validation of four Liebherr T 264 autonomous trucks equipped with AHS began earlier this month at Fortescue’s Christmas Creek mine. This facility, designed for testing and development, is also trialing Liebherr’s BEV-converted excavator. “With our teams now fully integrated, Liebherr is excited to formally announce our partnership with Fortescue to collectively develop…

General Motors’ self-driving unit, Cruise, plans to resume driverless ride-hailing operations this year, following a suspension triggered by an accident involving one of its robotaxis. Cruise aims to offer driverless rides later this year, with paid driverless services projected to restart in early 2025, according to sources cited in a Bloomberg report. The company had its permit to offer self-driving rides revoked in October after a robotaxi hit and pinned a pedestrian, who had already been struck by another vehicle. In the wake of the accident, Cruise has been engaged in regulatory investigations and hearings as it seeks to restore…

Aito, a car brand backed by Chinese tech giant Huawei, has produced its 400,000th vehicle, an M9 SUV, just two and a half years after its launch on December 2, 2021. The milestone vehicle, the most expensive in Aito’s lineup with a starting price of RMB 469,800 ($64,760), was rolled off the production line at the Seres Group plant in Chongqing and delivered to Li De, one of Aito’s top supply chain executives. “Aito’s growth is accelerating, and delivery of the brand’s 1 millionth vehicle is expected soon,” said Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s smart car solutions business unit, during…

South Korea’s LG Energy Solution (LGES) is exploring the production of cost-effective lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells for the European market. This strategic shift comes as European car manufacturers increasingly demand cheaper battery options to reduce electric vehicle costs. LGES, traditionally focused on nickel-based batteries, is reportedly in discussions with three unnamed Chinese suppliers to develop LFP cathode materials. “We are having talks with Chinese firms who will develop LFP cathode with us and produce them for Europe,” said Wonjoon Suh, head of LGES’s advanced automotive battery division, in an interview with Reuters. He added, “We are considering various…

Elon Musk announced a new anticipated launch date for Tesla’s supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) software for the Cybertruck during a virtual appearance at the X Takeover event in San Luis Obispo, California. Participating in a Q&A session with Tesla Owners Silicon Valley leaders John Stringer and Kelvin Gee, Musk responded to inquiries about the availability of FSD for the Cybertruck. “I think that should be coming out in August,” Musk stated. Stringer humorously noted that August was “technically two weeks” away, prompting Musk to provide additional clarification. “Yeah. At some point in the next two to four-ish weeks, it should…

Rivian has received more than 100,000 pre-orders for its upcoming R2 line, according to a statement made by Tim Fallon, Vice President of Manufacturing, during the company’s Family and Friends Day event at its Normal, Illinois factory on Sunday. The announcement underscores the growing interest in the new vehicle lineup, which is expected to be a smaller, more affordable alternative to the current R1 models. See also: Rivian Aims for 155,000 R2 SUVs Annually, Bolstering Production to 215,000 Units “We’re well over a 100,000 pre-orders for R2, and those continue to climb — and they really climb organically,” Fallon said. “As…