Author: Christopher Harrison

Tesla said on Thursday that vehicles produced at its Giga Berlin plant can now autonomously drive themselves to designated lanes in the outbound lot, streamlining factory logistics by removing the need for human drivers in post-production handling. The company explained that the system enables cars to independently move across the factory site. “They stop by the on-site Supercharger, then park in the outbound lot,” Tesla said. https://twitter.com/Tesla_AI/status/1963308798765838809 The feature is designed to streamline logistics and reduce manual handling at the site near Berlin, which serves as Tesla’s main European production hub. The announcement comes after Tesla completed what it called…

Great Wall Motor (GWM) said on Monday its August sales rose to 115,558 vehicles, the highest monthly tally this year, as demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs) and overseas shipments continued to expand. The figure marked a 22.33% increase from a year earlier and a 10.72% gain from July, the company said in a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Overseas sales reached a record 45,166 units in August, up 11.65% year-on-year, and made up 39.09% of total sales. NEV sales climbed to 37,495 units last month, an increase of 50.92% from a year ago and 8.39% higher than…

Vietnamese vehicle maker Kim Long Motor said it is building a battery assembly plant in central Vietnam and will use cylindrical NMC cells supplied by South Korea’s LG Energy Solution to produce packs from 2026. The facility, located in the Kim Long Motor Industrial Park in Hue, is currently under construction and expected to begin operations in early 2026 with an initial capacity of 1 GWh per year, the company said in a statement. Production will be scaled up in subsequent years. Both companies have signed a letter of intent covering the supply of cells. “Through cooperation with LG Energy…

SAIC Audi has completed construction of its new AUDI production base in Anting, Shanghai, with an annual capacity of 360,000 units, marking a step forward for the brand as it expands its electrification and smart manufacturing strategy in China. The plant, built on an Advanced Digitized Platform, will begin operations with the AUDI E5 Sportback, the first model to roll off the line. The factory incorporates technologies such as AI visual inspection, digital twins and laser measurement, and has achieved full automation in critical processes alongside 100% data traceability throughout production, the company said in a statement. The AUDI E5…

Rivian may develop a smaller electric pickup truck built on its upcoming R2 platform, though the California-based EV maker is currently prioritizing the R2 crossover as it seeks to expand its customer base, Chief Executive RJ Scaringe said in an interview. “I mean, we haven’t announced anything, but… it doesn’t take a huge amount of imagination to think of, like, if there’s R2 what are the other R2 variants?” Scaringe said on the Plugged-In Podcast this week. “And we sort of hinted at that with R3, where we did an R3X. You could imagine X versions, you can imagine other…

South Korean autonomous driving firm Autonomous A2Z said it signed a partnership with Kia Motors in July to produce Level-4 autonomous vehicles, with the first units scheduled to debut at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju. The project will be based on Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) lineup, a customized mobility solution that began mass production in July at the automaker’s Hwaseong plant. Autonomous A2Z will convert Kia’s PV5 model into a fully autonomous version as part of the collaboration. Under the agreement, Autonomous A2Z will roll out 10 different Level-4 autonomous models in Gyeongju from late…

Xpeng launched the facelifted version of its G6 electric SUV in Thailand on August 21, marking the one-year anniversary of the brand’s presence in the country, the Chinese electric vehicle maker said in a statement. The updated G6 comes equipped with 5C ultra-fast charging capability on an 800-volt platform and introduces the AI-powered Tianji XOS system. Two variants are available in Thailand: the Long Range model starting at 1.349 million baht ($41,310) and the AWD Performance version starting at 1.489 million baht. Both carry an 80.8-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, which can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in…

Nio premium compact electric vehicle (EV) brand Firefly has started its first deliveries in Europe, marking the sub-brand’s official entry into overseas markets. The initial handovers took place on August 14 in Norway and the Netherlands, two of the region’s more mature EV markets. The rollout signals the beginning of Firefly’s global expansion as part of Nio’s multi-brand strategy. Originally launched in China on April 19, 2025, the brand was introduced to target the compact EV segment and compete with models such as BMW’s Mini and Mercedes-Benz’s Smart. Firefly began Chinese deliveries on April 29 and reached 10,000 units delivered…

British automotive design firm ECD Automotive Design has unveiled Project Powder Keg, a custom all-electric version of the Land Rover Defender 110, blending the model’s traditional overlanding heritage with modern electric vehicle (EV) technology. The vehicle is powered by ECD’s in-house Electric Direct EV drivetrain, producing over 300 horsepower and 368 lb.-ft. of torque, and is equipped with an 84 kWh battery capable of up to 200 miles of range. Fast charging allows the battery to recharge from 10% to 80% in under an hour. Project Powder Keg retains the Defender’s rugged character while incorporating several enhancements for performance and…

Beijing Hyundai will introduce its first battery electric vehicle (BEV) for the Chinese market in September 2025, unveiling the production model of its electric SUV under the new name “EO.” The launch marks a significant step for the joint venture, which currently has no all-electric models on sale in China and plans to introduce more than five BEVs priced between 100,000 and 300,000 yuan over the next three years. The EO, previously announced under the name Elexio, will feature a driving range of 700 km under China’s CLTC testing cycle, enabled by an LFP battery supplied by BYD subsidiary FinDreams.…

German logistics provider Dachser has begun integrating the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 electric truck into its long-distance transport operations, with the first seven vehicles handed over at Daimler Truck’s Wörth am Rhein plant. The trucks will be deployed from Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Dortmund, and Freiburg as part of Dachser’s ongoing efforts to decarbonize its logistics network. The delivery is part of a 15-unit order placed with Mercedes-Benz Trucks, with the remaining eight trucks scheduled for deployment across additional Dachser locations and service partners in the coming months. The move marks a significant expansion in Dachser’s use of heavy-duty electric vehicles beyond pilot…

Stellantis may be excluded from the UK’s newly announced Electric Car Grant (ECG) due to concerns about the carbon intensity of its electric vehicle production in Poland, as the government moves to tie EV subsidies to environmental standards across the entire manufacturing chain. The ECG scheme, launched earlier this month, offers up to £3,750 toward eligible battery-electric vehicles priced under £37,000. However, in a shift from previous subsidies, vehicles must now meet stringent environmental and performance criteria. These include not only zero tailpipe emissions, a minimum 100-mile (WLTP) range, and a top speed of at least 60 mph (96 kph),…

China’s Ministry of Science and Technology released a set of ethical guidelines for autonomous driving technology on Wednesday, underscoring the government’s efforts to tighten oversight of the rapidly developing sector. The new framework emphasizes user safety, transparency, and responsible data practices as essential components in the development and deployment of self-driving systems. The guidelines require developers to “prioritize user safety” and “refrain from disseminating false or misleading information” when publishing research results, according to the ministry. They also mandate that algorithms and models related to autonomous driving be documented and made accessible, while data collection must be limited strictly to…

Europcar Switzerland has become the first major car rental provider to offer the compact electric Microlino to customers, targeting urban travelers in Zurich and Bern with an all-inclusive daily rental plan. The Swiss-designed two-seater electric vehicle (EV), known for its retro-inspired style and small footprint, is being offered at a daily rate of CHF 39.90 (€42.80), which includes electricity and unlimited mileage. The initiative is intended to provide a sustainable, low-cost transportation option suited to short trips and narrow city streets. “With the Microlino, we’re offering our customers in urban areas a new, attractive and sustainable mobility option,” said Hendrik…

German car subscription service Finn said it will receive 5,000 additional vehicles from MG Motor in 2025 under an expanded partnership, deepening ties that began in 2021 and strengthening its offering of electric and hybrid vehicles. The deal will allow Finn to offer “almost the entire MG Motor model range,” according to MG Motor Germany. This includes the MG4 Electric compact car and the new MGS5 EV SUV, along with petrol and hybrid models such as the MG HS, MG ZS, and MG3. The companies did not disclose how many of the 5,000 vehicles will be fully electric. “The collaboration…

Peugeot has begun accepting UK orders for the Dual Motor Launch Edition variants of its E-3008 and E-5008 electric SUVs, with prices starting at £56,290 and first deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. The new all-wheel-drive models offer a combined system output of 239 kW and are equipped with a 73kWh usable NMC battery. The E-3008 Dual Motor Launch Edition is priced from £56,290, while the larger E-5008 Launch Edition starts at £58,990. Both models incorporate a standard 156 kW front motor and an additional 82 kW rear motor, delivering 509Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0 to 62…

GreenFlux, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging management software, has expanded its roaming network to include one million charge points across Europe and Turkey. The company says the development supports broader access to charging infrastructure amid growing EV adoption. The network now spans 37 European countries and Turkey, covering more than 80% of the continent, including all EU member states. The Netherlands, Germany, France, and Belgium each have over 100,000 charge points. According to GreenFlux, the number of connected charge points has grown from 100,000 in 2019 to one million by mid-2025. “Reaching 1 million charge points is a…

Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar reported a 38% increase in second-quarter sales on Thursday, supported by promotions and renewed focus on its European market. The company sold an estimated 18,049 vehicles during the quarter, up from the same period in 2023, despite inflationary pressures and growing competition from hybrid and gasoline vehicles. “We’ve delivered another strong quarter of growth, in increasingly challenging market and geopolitical conditions,” Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller said in a statement. The company has begun shifting its strategy to emphasize Europe, where demand has remained resilient even as the broader industry faces high interest rates and economic…

Alpine has revealed the A290 Rallye, its first all-electric rally car designed for customer racing, as part of its 70th-anniversary celebrations. The new model is set to debut at the Rallye Rouergue Rodez Aveyron Occitanie and represents the French brand’s latest step toward carbon-neutral motorsport. Built on the chassis of the recently launched A290 road car, the rally-spec variant was developed by Alpine’s Viry-Châtillon technical teams and assembled at the brand’s competition facility in Dieppe. Upgrades for rally use include specific suspension tuning, ALP Racing Suspension shock absorbers, and 8 x 18-inch EVO Corse wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport…

Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley has issued a stark warning about the future of American carmakers, stating that legacy automakers like Ford risk falling behind—and potentially becoming obsolete—if they cannot keep pace with China’s rapid dominance in electric vehicle (EV) production and innovation. “We’re in a global competition with China, and it’s not just EVs,” Farley said at the Aspen Ideas Festival on Friday. “If we lose this, we do not have a future Ford.” His remarks reflect growing concern within the U.S. auto industry over China’s increasingly competitive position in the global EV landscape. Farley, who said he has…