Author: Christopher Harrison

Tesla has been granted permission to sell automotive emission credits domestically in South Korea by the Ministry of Environment, starting this year. This move is expected to bolster the electric vehicle maker’s revenue stream in the South Korean market. According to a report from Korea Economy TV, Tesla holds approximately 4 million grams/km of tradable emission credits in South Korea. This could potentially translate into a value of up to 200 billion won (approximately $145 million) based on current penalty rates. Under South Korean regulations, automakers must ensure that their vehicles’ average greenhouse gas emissions are below the country’s standard.…

Hyundai Motor Group has inked a 15-year power agreement with Spain’s Matrix Renewables to power its under-construction Georgia Metaplant with solar energy, as the South Korean automaker shifts focus from electric vehicles (EVs) to hybrids. According to the agreement, Matrix Renewables will supply up to 147 MW of energy from its Stillhouse Solar Project in Bell County, Texas, to Hyundai, accounting for 70% of the project’s 210 MW solar energy generation capacity. The solar project is slated to commence commercial operation by October 2025. The power purchase agreement will run from 2025 through 2040, providing Hyundai with 378 GWh of…

Nio showcased strong delivery growth last month, emerging as the top performer among the trio of Chinese EV manufacturers listed in the US. In April, Nio delivered 15,620 vehicles, marking a 31.64 percent increase from March and an impressive 134.60 percent surge year-on-year, according to the latest data released by the company. The deliveries comprised 8,817 SUVs and 6,803 sedans, highlighting Nio’s diverse product lineup. The company currently offers eight models, including the ES8, ES7, ES6, EC7, EC6, ET7, ET5, and ET5 Touring, with the first five being SUVs and the last three sedans. Deliveries of the ET9 sedan, unveiled…

North American bus manufacturer New Flyer has secured a significant order to supply 80 electric buses to Boston, with an option for an additional 380 buses. The contract is part of a broader framework agreement with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for up to 460 electric buses, representing a major step forward in the electrification of public transportation in the region. New Flyer’s agreement with MBTA follows a similar framework agreement with the New York City Transit Authority (NYCT) for the delivery of up to 1,420 electric buses within five years. These developments underscore a growing trend towards electrification…

Stellantis, the multinational automotive manufacturer, is set to significantly expand its production capacities for fuel cell vehicles, with a goal of producing 100,000 such vehicles per year by 2030, primarily focusing on light commercial vehicles. The company has already introduced fuel cell drives for its medium-sized and large vans, produced at plants in Hordain, France, and Gliwice, Poland, with production of the fuel cell versions commencing at the beginning of this year. However, this is just the beginning, as Jean-Michel Billig, head of Stellantis’ hydrogen programme, revealed to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. Billig stated, “This year, we are starting…

Swedish electric-vehicle maker Polestar Automotive has announced a second delay in the publication of its fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 financial results. The company, known for its high-performance electric cars, did not provide a specific date for the release but confirmed its intention to publish first-quarter financial results on May 23. The delay is attributed to the need for additional time to finalize its financial statements due to accounting misstatements in 2021 and 2022, which will be rectified in the 2023 report. As a result of these restatements, Polestar expects its net loss for 2021 to decrease by less than 5%…

In a series of significant developments, Tesla, Inc. has announced further layoffs, including senior executives and long-time veterans of the company. This news follows a previous round of layoffs that saw “more than 10%” of its global workforce being let go. Among the notable departures is Drew Baglino, former VP of Powertrain and Energy Engineering, who had been with Tesla for 18 years and led the 4680 cell project. Additionally, Rohan Patel, head of policy and business development, and the entire new ad team have also left the company. The most recent round of layoffs includes Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s Senior…

Xpeng, a prominent Chinese rival to Tesla in the autonomous driving sector, has expressed its anticipation for the potential entry of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology into China. He Xiaopeng, Xpeng’s chairman and CEO, welcomed the prospect, stating that the last decade saw the rise of new energy vehicles, while the new decade will be defined by smart cars. “Today quite a few friends asked me what I think about FSD entering China, and I am especially welcoming Tesla FSD entering China,” He Xiaopeng said on Weibo. He emphasized that the recent surge in large model adoption has accelerated the…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a preliminary investigation into Ford Motor’s hands-free driving technology, BlueCruise, following two incidents involving Mustang Mach-E cars colliding with stationary vehicles. The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened the evaluation to probe BlueCruise, which offers partial driving automation while requiring the driver to actively supervise its performance. Both collisions occurred during nighttime lighting conditions, resulting in at least one fatality in each incident. ODI’s initial investigation confirmed BlueCruise’s engagement in each vehicle right before the collision. BlueCruise, available only on certain roadways, utilizes a camera-based driver monitoring system to…

A feasibility study titled ‘Dynacov’ is set to evaluate the potential of dynamic wireless charging for electric vehicles in Coventry, England. The project, using technology from Electreon, will convert a section of Kenilworth Road into an inductively charging test stretch. In the ‘Dynacov’ project (Dynamic Charging of Vehicles), Coventry University will assess the viability of using metal coils installed under the road surface to charge electric vehicles while in motion, focusing on buses and logistics vehicles. The initiative will utilize technology from specialist Electreon, with tests centered on a section of Kenilworth Road at the A45 junction. Part of a…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand HiPhi, which ceased operations at the end of February, has reportedly secured a new investment and is preparing to resume operations and production. According to a report from local automotive media outlet Auto Home, HiPhi has received a strategic investment from a Hong Kong-based organization, enabling it to resume operations and production. The brand is expected to officially resume activities in late April or early May. HiPhi’s store in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has already started inviting potential customers to test drive its cars, while preparations are underway at a HiPhi store in Shanghai for its…

According to data from the California New Car Dealers Association, registrations of Tesla vehicles in the state dropped by about 8% in the first quarter of 2024, marking the second consecutive decline. Despite this, Tesla’s Model Y crossover emerged as the best-selling new vehicle in California. The data revealed that approximately 50,000 new Tesla vehicles were registered in California in the quarter ending March 31, highlighting the state’s significance as a key market for the electric vehicle (EV) maker led by Elon Musk. However, globally, Tesla experienced a decline in quarterly deliveries for the first time in almost four years,…