Author: Clara Weiss

Ford Motor Company has appointed former General Motors executive Marissa West as vice president of vehicle programs, strengthening its leadership as it prepares a major expansion and renewal of its global vehicle lineup. Announced on November 10, West will take up the position on November 16. She will oversee vehicle program and program operations teams, supporting product development, engineering integration and global vehicle launches. Her appointment comes as Ford plans to refresh approximately 75% of its global vehicle portfolio by volume by 2029, including the introduction of new electric and hybrid models. EV and Hybrid Launches Shape Ford’s Strategy Among…

Lucid is expanding its electric vehicle service network across North America, Europe and the Middle East as the company prepares to introduce more affordable models from its midsize platform. The luxury EV maker said improvements to its after-sales operations reduced customer service wait times by 20% in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter. The expansion includes additional service centers, increased technical staffing and more mobile service technicians. Lucid currently operates approximately 40 service centers across the United States. “We are building a broader, more accessible service network that supports our guests wherever they are in the ownership journey,”…

Ford says its electric vehicle batteries retain more than 90% of their original health on average after 100,000 miles, based on real-world data collected from more than 36,000 vehicles across the United States and Canada. The automaker has tracked its EV fleet since the launch of the 2021 Mustang Mach-E, gathering data from vehicles that have collectively travelled approximately two billion miles. The findings indicate that battery degradation has remained relatively limited across its electric vehicle lineup. The Mustang Mach-E, Ford’s first purpose-built electric crossover, has retained an average of 92% battery health over five years, according to the company.…

Uber recorded only four ride bookings made through personal AI agents during its busiest week in October, indicating that automated transactions remain limited despite growing interest in AI-powered services. The figures were disclosed during Uber’s third-quarter earnings call, where Chief Financial Officer Balaji Krishnamurthy said the company handled approximately 320 million trips and orders across Uber and Uber Eats during the week of Halloween. Of those transactions, 500 Uber Eats orders were initiated by AI agents. AI-Agent Transactions Remain Limited Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described the current level of activity as an early-stage development, while expressing hope that adoption would…

Rivian is expanding its technology partnership with Volkswagen Group to include artificial intelligence voice assistant technology, adding another component to their $5.8 billion joint venture focused on next-generation vehicle software and electrical architecture. The electric vehicle manufacturer is licensing elements of its in-house AI assistant to Volkswagen, according to Rivian’s third-quarter investor presentation released Thursday. The companies have not disclosed licensing fees, payment terms or which Volkswagen models will initially receive the technology. One potential candidate is Volkswagen’s ID EVERY1, a small, affordable electric hatchback scheduled to become the first VW model to use Rivian’s software and electrical architecture developed…

Stellantis reported a modest improvement in operating income for the third quarter of 2026 as the automaker continued its turnaround efforts, although the company recorded an industrial cash outflow of €4 billion during the period. The automotive group, which owns brands including Fiat and Jeep, posted adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €256 million for the July-to-September quarter, up from €90 million a year earlier. Revenue remained broadly unchanged at €37.6 billion. Slight increases in Europe and South America offset a 3% decline in North America, historically one of Stellantis’ most profitable markets. Turnaround Efforts Continue Amid Financial…

Rhode Island plans to install solar carports, battery storage systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure at two parking areas on the Capitol Hill government campus in Providence, with construction expected to begin in 2027. The state’s Office of Energy Resources is overseeing the approximately $9 million project, which will be financed through a $4.5 million federal earmark secured by Senator Jack Reed and matching state funding. Construction is scheduled to start toward the end of the first quarter of 2027 at the main parking lot behind the Department of Administration and another lot beside the Department of Health. The new…

Voltera is prioritizing the expansion of its autonomous vehicle charging hub network across the United States following the completion of its merger with Revel, as demand for robotaxi services increases and operators seek infrastructure to support larger fleets. Frank Reig, CEO of Voltera, said the combined company aims to build a scaled national infrastructure platform by expanding in key markets, improving hub design and investing in technology to increase operational efficiency. The company is also focused on ensuring its existing facilities remain reliable as customers scale their operations. “Our priority is to turn the combined footprint into a scaled national…

Chinese automaker Chery is considering establishing local vehicle production in Canada, extending its North American expansion plans beyond a proposed sales launch in 2027. The company is evaluating options that include acquiring or using idle capacity at existing manufacturing facilities and building new factories with local partners, executive vice president Zhang Guibing said in an interview at Chery’s headquarters in Wuhu, Anhui province, according to Bloomberg on Friday. Zhang said Canada could be a worthwhile market for manufacturing operations even without access to the United States. Chery is examining potential opportunities and discussing possible arrangements with prospective partners. Chery Explores…

Rivian has acquired Third Dimension, a 15-person UK startup that uses artificial intelligence to transform images and video into realistic 3D environments. The startup’s team will join Rivian’s autonomy and AI group to support driver-assistance development and autonomous driving systems, including technology for planned robotaxis based on Rivian’s R2 platform that the company intends to supply to Uber. AI-Powered Simulation for Autonomous Driving Founded in 2024 by CEO Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokólski, Third Dimension raised $7 million in seed funding and initially developed its technology to accelerate video game production. Rivian plans to apply the technology to automotive simulation…

Volvo Car Canada has received Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) certification for the 2027 Volvo EX60 P10 all-wheel drive (AWD), with an estimated driving range of up to 531 kilometres on a single charge. Longest-Range Volvo EV in Canada The certified range exceeds Volvo’s earlier estimates and makes the EX60 the longest-range electric vehicle the company has offered in the Canadian market. https://evmagz.com/volvo-begins-customer-deliveries-of-ex60-electric-suv-in-europe/ The EX60 P10 AWD is the first model built on Volvo Cars’ new SPA3 platform, which incorporates an 800-volt electrical architecture designed to support faster charging and improved efficiency. According to Volvo, drivers can add up to 265…

Toshiba Electronics Europe has introduced the XPJ1R504PB, a new automotive-qualified N-channel MOSFET designed for 12-volt vehicle electrical systems. The device is compliant with the AEC-Q101 automotive reliability standard and is intended for applications including inverters, semiconductor relays, load switches and motor drives. Designed for Automotive Power Applications The XPJ1R504PB is rated at 40 volts and 120 amps and is packaged in Toshiba’s S-TOGL package. According to the company, the package uses gull-wing leads to help reduce mounting stress and improve solder joint reliability under the temperature variations commonly experienced in automotive environments. The MOSFET also incorporates a post-less structure that…

BMW is recalling 29,119 plug-in hybrid vehicles in the United States after identifying a potential fire risk associated with the engine starter system. The recall covers selected model-year 2016-2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, 2018-2020 BMW 530e iPerformance, 2018-2020 BMW 530e xDrive iPerformance and 2017-2019 BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Engine starter fault prompts recall According to documents filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue is unrelated to the vehicles’ high-voltage battery systems. Instead, BMW identified a potential defect involving the electrical relay integrated into the engine starter. Water intrusion may lead to corrosion inside the relay,…

Ford Motor Company is recalling 42,784 Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles in the United States after identifying a potential defect involving the rear differential that could lead to a loss of drive power or unintended vehicle movement. The recall affects certain rear-wheel-drive Mustang Mach-E models from the 2021, 2022 and 2023 model years. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected vehicles may have a rear differential pinion shaft that can fracture due to bending fatigue. If the component fails, the vehicle could lose propulsion or move unexpectedly while parked if the parking brake is not engaged,…

Lucid has announced a sweeping leadership overhaul under newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Silvio Napoli, replacing much of its executive team as the electric vehicle manufacturer works to streamline operations and improve execution following a challenging first half of 2026. The restructuring comes just over a week after the company reduced its workforce by approximately 18% and withdrew its 2026 vehicle production guidance. New Leadership Team Takes Shape Lucid said the executive changes are intended to simplify the company’s organizational structure, strengthen accountability, and better align leadership with its strategic priorities. The restructuring also reduces the number of executives reporting…

BMW Group has completed its US$1.7 billion investment in South Carolina, marking a major milestone in the company’s U.S. electrification strategy with the expansion of Plant Spartanburg and the construction of its new Plant Woodruff battery assembly facility. The investment paves the way for production of the all-electric BMW iX5, which will become the first fully electric BMW assembled in the United States when manufacturing begins in late 2026. U.S. Production of the BMW iX5 Begins in 2026 BMW confirmed that the iX5 will enter production at Plant Spartanburg following the global debut of the next-generation BMW X5. The new…

Isuzu Motors has secured a US$283 million loan to finance construction of its new production facility in South Carolina, with operations expected to begin in 2027 as the company expands its North American manufacturing footprint. The financing agreement was signed and disbursed on June 30, 2026, through a co-financing arrangement involving the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and MUFG Bank. Supporting North American Expansion The new manufacturing facility forms part of Isuzu’s mid-term management strategy, ISUZU Transformation – Growth to 2030 (IX), which aims to strengthen the company’s global production network and build a more resilient supply chain. Isuzu…

Shell has introduced the Triple 10 Challenge, a proof-of-concept battery-electric vehicle developed to demonstrate technologies aimed at improving charging performance, energy efficiency and vehicle sustainability. The compact concept vehicle is built around three performance targets: achieving energy efficiency of 10 kilometres per kilowatt-hour, limiting lifecycle carbon emissions to 10 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, and reducing DC fast-charging time from 10% to 80% state of charge to less than 10 minutes. Fast Charging and Efficiency According to Shell, the concept can recharge its battery from 10% to 80% in 9 minutes and 54 seconds using a 175 kW DC fast charger.…

Rivian has partnered with vehicle-grid integration platform ChargeScape to connect its electric vehicles with utility-managed charging programs across North America, allowing drivers to support grid reliability while potentially reducing their charging costs. The collaboration will enable Rivian owners to enroll in utility programs available through ChargeScape’s growing network of electricity providers, helping shift charging demand away from peak periods and providing additional flexibility to the power grid. Expanding Vehicle-Grid Integration Under the agreement, Rivian vehicles will be integrated into ChargeScape’s platform, which connects automakers, electric utilities and energy providers through a common vehicle-grid integration framework. The companies said the partnership…

Lucid has begun rolling out one of the most substantial software updates for its Gravity electric SUV, introducing hands-free driving capabilities alongside a range of navigation, charging, safety, and convenience enhancements. The over-the-air (OTA) update, known as Lucid UX 3.6, is now being deployed to Gravity owners across North America. The release expands the functionality of Lucid’s DreamDrive driver-assistance system while adding new tools designed to improve the overall ownership experience. Hands-Free Driving Added to Gravity The headline feature of the update is Hands-Free Drive Assist, available on Gravity models equipped with the DreamDrive 2 Pro package. According to Lucid,…