Author: Christopher Harrison

Audi’s new electric car series, developed specifically for the Chinese market, will not feature the brand’s iconic four-ring logo, according to two sources familiar with the plans. This decision by the German automaker, part of Volkswagen Group, stems from “brand image considerations,” one source said. The move also reflects the use of automotive architecture co-developed with Chinese partner SAIC and a greater reliance on local suppliers and technologies. It remains unclear whether the new series, internally codenamed “Purple,” will have a different logo or simply carry the Audi name. A concept car for the series is expected to be unveiled…

Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car subsidiary of Xpeng, has announced the successful closure of a $150 million Series B1 funding round. This marks its first major financing effort since securing over $500 million in Series A funding nearly three years ago. The company has also launched a Series B2 round. The new funding will be directed towards the development, mass production, and commercialization of Xpeng Aeroht’s flying cars. The company plans to build the world’s first factory capable of mass-producing flying cars using assembly lines in the Guangzhou development zone. Initially, this facility will focus on producing the flying body…

Alpitronic is set to reduce production of its charging stations due to declining demand, according to CEO and co-founder Philipp Senoner. While an official statement has not been released, the adjustment is considered certain based on Senoner’s remarks to the German publication WirtschaftsWoche. Senoner revealed that the company had anticipated revenue growth of around 80 percent for 2024, mirroring previous years’ performance. However, actual growth is now expected to be significantly lower, with Senoner projecting an increase of “ten to 20 percent” for 2024. He described the first half of the year as “very strong” but noted that production in…

Hyundai Motor India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Charge Zone to enhance its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the country. Under the agreement, Charge Zone will install DC fast chargers at 100 Hyundai dealerships nationwide. The DC fast chargers, offering up to 60 kW, will be accessible to all EV brands. Users will need the ‘myHyundai’ or ‘Charge Zone: EV Charging India’ apps, available on the App Store and Google Play, to utilize the chargers. Currently, Hyundai operates 34 EV fast-charging stations in India, with a peak output of up to 180 kW. The automaker has…

Hertz has unveiled a new strategy to rapidly offload its Tesla rental cars in an effort to mitigate financial losses. This move follows the company’s realization of the challenges associated with maintaining a large inventory of electric vehicles. The initial announcement of Hertz purchasing 100,000 electric cars from Tesla significantly boosted Tesla’s market capitalization to $1 trillion. However, Hertz encountered difficulties as Tesla’s frequent price cuts accelerated the depreciation of its fleet, impacting Hertz’s financial health. The electric vehicle deal, initially hailed as historic, resulted in the departure of former CEO Stephen Scherr. In the first quarter of 2024, Hertz…

Nio reported delivering 20,498 vehicles in July, marking the third consecutive month with deliveries above the 20,000-unit threshold. The company’s monthly deliveries were marginally higher by 0.18% compared to the 20,462 units delivered in the same month last year but decreased by 3.35% from 21,209 units in June. The company’s SUV models accounted for 11,964 units delivered in July, a 3.31% increase from the 11,581 units delivered in June. In contrast, deliveries of Nio’s sedan models totaled 8,534 units, reflecting an 11.36% decline from 9,628 units in June. Nio’s current lineup includes eight models: the ES8, ES7, ES6, EC7, EC6,…

Tesla has achieved a significant milestone, producing its 10 millionth drive unit. The announcement was made by the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer on the social media platform X, where a photo was shared showing the drive unit team posing with the 10 millionth unit. While Tesla did not specify the production location, it is believed that the unit was manufactured at Giga Shanghai. Tesla CEO Elon Musk congratulated the drive unit team on X, stating, “Congrats to the Tesla drivetrain team!” https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1818667670449144308 This milestone follows closely on the heels of Tesla’s announcement less than two months ago that Giga Nevada…

Audi has introduced its latest electric vehicle, the A6 e-tron, available in both Sportsback and Avant versions, marking a significant expansion in its electric vehicle (EV) offerings. This move aligns with the German automaker’s revised naming strategy, where even numbers designate electric models and odd numbers represent internal combustion engine vehicles. Following its primary focus on electric SUVs such as the Q4, Q6, and Q8, Audi is now shifting attention to sedans, with the A6 e-tron set to join the existing e-tron GT. This new model is the second Audi EV built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, developed…

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…