Author: Christopher Harrison

Audi has reversed its prior commitment to phase out combustion engine vehicles by 2033, with CEO Gernot Döllner affirming a more flexible approach driven by market readiness and evolving consumer demand. The automaker will continue producing internal combustion engine (ICE) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models well beyond previously announced timelines. “Audi is launching from 2024–2026 a completely new line-up of internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and that gives us complete flexibility for at least another seven, eight, maybe 10 years, and then we will see how our markets develop,” Döllner told Autocar in an interview. He added, “We…

Tesla is ramping up preparations for the European launch of its Semi electric truck, appointing Usuf Schermo as Head of Business Development for the EMEA region, a move that signals growing momentum ahead of the truck’s anticipated market debut in 2026. Schermo, an experienced electric vehicle executive with prior roles at Volta Trucks and EVUM Motors, announced his new position via LinkedIn. His appointment was first reported by U.S.-based EV news portal Electrek. In his new role, Schermo will be responsible for building Tesla’s commercial vehicle market presence across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The Tesla Semi, first…

Tesla and BYD retained the top two spots in the International Council on Clean Transportation’s (ICCT) 2024 Global Automaker Rating, while several Chinese carmakers continued their climb up the rankings, highlighting their growing dominance in the global transition to electric vehicles (EVs). The ICCT’s annual report, which evaluates the 21 largest original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across six major car markets — China, Europe, India, Japan, South Korea, and the United States — found that Chinese OEMs such as Geely, Chery, and Changan posted the most significant improvements in electric vehicle strategy, technology, and performance. “Geely and Chery increased their sales…

The UK government has pledged significant investment in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, allocating £381 million through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to install more than 100,000 on-street charge points across England. The new initiative is focused on supporting EV users who lack access to private off-street parking, with most of the charge points expected to be alternating current (AC) units designed for overnight charging. The program is being implemented in partnership with local councils and private businesses, and aims to make EV adoption more accessible in residential areas. The rollout is part of a broader strategy to streamline…

MAN Truck & Bus has started full-scale production of its electric heavy-duty trucks, the eTGX, eTGS and eTGL, at its main facility in Munich. The company launched production on a mixed assembly line alongside diesel models, aiming to deliver more than 1,000 electric trucks by the end of 2025. Calling it a “historic moment,” CEO Alexander Vlaskamp said, “We have invested almost €400 million in R&D to bring our battery-electric drive into series production… We aim to deliver the first 1,000 electric trucks by the end of the year.” The shift represents a strategic milestone in MAN’s electrification roadmap as…

Rivian Automotive is recalling 27,882 of its R1S and R1T electric vehicles after identifying a defect in the front turn signal lamps that could lead to failure during operation. The issue, linked to components supplied by Myotek North America, was found to violate U.S. federal safety regulations. The affected vehicles include 2025 model year R1S units produced from April 29, 2024, to May 13, 2025, and R1T units manufactured from July 10, 2024, to May 13, 2025. An internal investigation launched earlier this year revealed that the signal lamps may fail due to an unspecified internal malfunction, prompting the recall.…

Renault has unveiled a new electric prototype developed specifically for fire and rescue services, showcasing its latest concept vehicle, the Vision 4rescue, based on the upcoming Renault 4 E-Tech electric vehicle. Created in collaboration with Software République and emergency response professionals, the demonstration car aims to serve as a mobile, connected command centre for use in crisis scenarios. The Vision 4rescue is Renault’s attempt to bridge modern electric mobility with mission-critical emergency services needs. The prototype was presented as a fully integrated response unit, capable of establishing on-site communications, deploying observation drones, and housing essential emergency equipment in the field.…

Cariad, the software subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, is showing signs of recovery after years of delays and heavy losses, its Chief Executive Peter Bosch said in an interview published by Automobilwoche on Friday. The unit has faced scrutiny over its role in setbacks for key models such as the electric Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 E-Tron. Over the past three years, Cariad reported operating losses exceeding $7.5 billion, while generating revenues of nearly $3.5 billion. Bosch, who took over as CEO in 2023 after previously leading Bentley, said improvements are visible in vehicle performance and internal operations. “The cars are…

BYD maintained its position as the world’s top electric vehicle (EV) seller in the first four months of 2025, as global EV registrations rose sharply, driven by strong performances from Chinese manufacturers and a recovering European market, according to data released by SNE Research. Worldwide EV registrations reached approximately 5.81 million units by the end of April, up 34.6% year-on-year, the South Korean research firm said on Wednesday. China’s BYD led the pack with around 1.24 million units sold, marking a 43.2% increase compared to the same period last year. The automaker is targeting 6 million vehicle sales in 2025…

Mercedes-Benz has officially launched series production of its all-electric CLA at the Rastatt plant in Germany, marking the start of a new generation of electric vehicles for the company, the automaker said on Thursday. The new CLA is the first model based on Mercedes-Benz’s Modular Architecture (MMA) platform, initially offered as the rear-wheel-drive CLA 250+ with a range of up to 800 kilometres (WLTP). The vehicle is equipped with a 200-kW electric motor on the rear axle, an 85-kWh battery, and features 800-volt technology that allows fast charging from 10% to 80% in approximately 22 minutes. A 260-kW all-wheel-drive version,…

Philippines-based green logistics provider Mober has expanded its operations to Thailand, launching an electric truck delivery service in Bangkok in partnership with Swedish retailer IKEA. The company deployed 21 electric trucks in the Bang Na district as part of the initiative to promote zero-emission urban logistics. IKEA plans to increase the fleet with 30 additional electric trucks later this year, aiming to make at least 40% of its deliveries in Bangkok completely free of tailpipe emissions. While neither company disclosed the exact electric vehicle models, images suggest the trucks resemble the Chinese-made GAC X200 EV, which features a payload capacity…

Mitsubishi Fuso, the Daimler Truck subsidiary, and Japanese energy firm Iwatani have announced a joint effort to develop and deploy refuelling technology for liquid hydrogen (subcooled liquid hydrogen or sLH₂) aimed at accelerating hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle adoption in Japan. The collaboration focuses on sLH₂ technology, which offers benefits over traditional gaseous hydrogen by providing higher storage density, longer driving ranges, faster refuelling times, and reduced infrastructure costs. Smaller, lighter tanks operating at lower pressure enable more efficient payload management and installation flexibility for trucks. Key cooperation areas include technical development, regulatory compliance analysis, and commercial framework assessment. The partners also…