Author: David Smith

Tesla has expedited the launch of its updated Model 3 Performance in China, with deliveries now expected to start in mid-June, earlier than previously planned. The company announced on Weibo, “Effective immediately, the Model 3 Performance will move from pre-sales to formal sales, with first deliveries expected to begin in mid-June.” Listed on Tesla’s Chinese website since April 24, the Model 3 Performance was initially available for pre-sale with a starting price of RMB 335,900 ($46,380), which remains unchanged for the official sales phase. Previously, local deliveries of the updated Model 3 Performance were slated to begin in the third…

DHL Group has extended its Electric Vehicle (EV) Center of Excellence network to Continental Europe with the inauguration of its first facility in Pozzuolo Martesana, near Milan, Italy. This move underscores DHL’s commitment to supporting the automotive industry’s transition to electric mobility. The DHL EV Center of Excellence in Pozzuolo Martesana is designed to streamline the sourcing, warehousing, and delivery of EV components, ensuring a swift and efficient transport process for both suppliers and buyers. The facility covers an area of approximately 10,000 square meters and is operated by DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Express. See also: DHL Freight Launches Electric…

Truck buyers eyeing electric options for their fleets should take note: leasing a 2023 model year Ford F-150 Lightning is now more than $200 cheaper per month than its gas-powered counterparts. A recent analysis by Cars Direct revealed that a surge in incentives for the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning during Memorial Day weekend has made leasing the all-electric pickup more economical than leasing a traditional gas-powered F-150. See also: Ford Files Patent for Frunk-Mounted Projector Screen in F-150 Lightning According to Ford’s online payment estimator, a 2023 Ford F-150 XLT can be leased for $578 per month for 36 months with…

In its most recent Software Update, version 2024.20, Tesla has unveiled several new features aimed at enhancing safety and entertainment in its vehicles. Among these updates are the introduction of Adaptive Headlights and improvements to the Tesla Arcade. The Adaptive Headlights feature, initially rolling out in Europe for vehicles with Matrix design, aims to improve visibility and safety by better preparing for curves in the road. According to Not a Tesla App, this enhancement will enhance the driving experience by optimizing the headlights’ illumination pattern based on the road ahead. In addition, Tesla has made improvements to its gaming experience…

Hyundai is standing firm in its commitment to electric vehicles (EVs), resisting the temptation to divest and instead focusing on its electrification strategy, even as consumer preferences show a leaning towards hybrid powertrains due to concerns about EV charging infrastructure. In an interview with The Verge, Randy Parker, Hyundai Motor America’s CEO, emphasized the company’s dedication to EVs, positioning Hyundai to be a major player in the EV sector. While some automakers are prioritizing hybrids in response to consumer demand, Hyundai is doubling down on its aggressive EV sales strategy. Parker highlighted Hyundai’s success in the marketplace, stating, “While other…

Israeli startup EVR Motors has inaugurated its inaugural factory in India dedicated to manufacturing electric motor coils, marking a significant milestone as the first Israeli automotive company to establish a manufacturing presence in the country. Situated in Manesar, a bustling industrial hub in Haryana, EVR Motors’ new plant represents a strategic move to tap into India’s burgeoning automotive sector. The facility is poised to produce trapezoidal geometry coils for approximately 20,000 electric motors per month, with plans for future expansion to accommodate production levels for up to 100,000 electric motors. These trapezoidal geometry coils are integral to EVR Motors’ Trapezoidal…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has disclosed that it is examining nine new incidents involving Alphabet’s Waymo self-driving vehicles, adding to previous concerns about their performance. This announcement comes after the NHTSA initiated an investigation earlier this month following 22 reports of Waymo’s robotaxis displaying driving behavior that potentially violated traffic safety laws or demonstrated other “unexpected behavior,” including 17 collisions. In a letter addressed to Waymo and released on Friday, the NHTSA highlighted several incidents that are under investigation, noting that some involved collisions with visible objects that a competent human driver would be expected to avoid.…

In a recent video posted on Tesla’s internal platform X, the company teased its upcoming Cybercab while highlighting key proposals for its 2024 Annual Stockholders Meeting. The meeting, scheduled for June 13, 2024, at 3:30 PM CT, will see shareholders vote on critical matters including redomestication and the approval of Elon Musk’s 2018 Performance Award package. The video featured Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen inspecting the Cybercab’s interior, which showcased two passenger seats and an infotainment system, hinting at a steering wheel-free design. Additionally, the cabin’s structure revealed ample storage space at the back, emphasizing its utility. https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1792556295670603834 Tesla…

Tesla has initiated the rollout of its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) V12.4 update, which includes a significant change highly anticipated by the electric vehicle community — the introduction of vision-based attention monitoring and the removal of steering wheel nags. Reports of the update’s initial rollout were shared on social media early Monday, with screenshots from Tesla software update tracking services such as NotATeslaApp and Tessie showing that FSD (Supervised) V12.4 was included in the 2024.9.5 release. The 2024.9.5 update brings vision-based attention monitoring and new Autopilot suspension systems. According to the release notes, Tesla’s driver monitoring system will now primarily use…

Gotion High-tech, backed by Volkswagen, launched two new batteries and announced its entry into the all-solid-state battery space at its 13th technology conference in Hefei, Anhui province, today. The announcement boosted its Shenzhen-traded shares by the 10 percent daily limit. At the event, Gotion introduced the G-Current battery, which supports 5C ultra-fast charging. In the battery industry, the C-rate refers to the charge multiplier of a battery, and a 5C rate means the battery can theoretically be fully charged in one-fifth of an hour. Gotion stated that the G-Current can charge from 0 to 80 percent in 9.8 minutes, to…

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares criticized the Biden Administration’s new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports, warning that the measures would lead to increased inflation. “Protectionism has a lot of drawbacks. They don’t appear immediately; they appear one after the other,” Tavares said, highlighting his concerns about the long-term effects of the tariffs. Earlier this week, the Biden Administration implemented new tariffs on Chinese EVs and other products, with the largest increases targeting Chinese electric vehicles, which saw over a 100% rise. The administration is also considering penalties on Chinese EV automakers moving production to Mexico. While the U.S. takes…

The Maltese government has revealed a fleet of 250 electric vehicles that will replace existing combustion engine vehicles used by its authorities. Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that these electric vehicles will replace more than 370 combustion engines currently in use. Specific details regarding the electric vehicles were not provided. The government initiated the procurement of 250 new electric vehicles for its fleet at the beginning of 2023, dividing them into four categories: 194 five-passenger cars, 30 eight-passenger vehicles, 16 small commercial vehicles, and ten large commercial vehicles. The government’s “ambitious” project aims not only to replace internal combustion vehicles…