Author: David Smith

Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr aims to double its sales in 2023 to approximately 140,000 vehicles and expand into Europe, according to CEO Andy An. Zeekr, a brand owned by Chinese automaker Geely, sold 72,000 vehicles in 2022, mostly in China. Its 001 model, which costs about $43,600, competes with the Tesla Model Y and other luxury models in the competitive Chinese market. Tesla has cut prices and production in China as it faces increasing competition from Chinese brands such as Zeekr. The 2023 Zeekr 001 comes in four basic configuration options: two WE Editions, one ME Edition, and one…

Lightyear has opened a waitlist for its second production model, the Lightyear 2, a solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) that aims to make electric driving more accessible and convenient at a more affordable price than other long-range EVs. The Lightyear 2 will be launched in the US, UK, and EU, with production set to begin by the end of 2025 and an estimated price point of under €40,000. Consumers can now join the waitlist on the company’s website and be among the first to pre-order the Lightyear 2. “Lightyear 2 will fast-track our mission of delivering clean mobility to everyone, everywhere.…

Ram has previewed the upcoming production model of the 1500 Revolution with a concept vehicle that was revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The concept truck features a futuristic design that departs from previous Ram models while still maintaining recognizable elements. The front fascia has large daytime running lights that are divided into upper and lower parts, a prominent illuminated 3D Ram badge, and a rugged appearance. The front of the truck appears to be shorter than the current ICE Ram 1500, a design change that increases the size of the passenger compartment for improved spaciousness.…

Mercedes-Benz has entered into a strategic partnership with Wolfspeed to supply silicon carbide power semiconductors for use in the electric car manufacturer’s drive systems. The use of these semiconductors, which are more efficient and generate less waste heat than traditional silicon components, will allow for smaller and lighter cooling systems, resulting in longer ranges and faster charging times for electric vehicles. Wolfspeed will supply Mercedes-Benz from its production facilities in North Carolina and New York, with the North Carolina location set to significantly increase the company’s SiC production capacity upon completion of its first phase of construction in 2024. No…

Hyundai Motor America announced that it achieved record-breaking sales in December, selling a total of 72,058 units. This represents a 40% increase compared to December 2021 and is the highest number of units ever sold by the company in the month of December. Retail sales also saw a 27% increase, marking the fifth consecutive month of record-setting retail sales for the company. SUVs made up 74% of retail sales, with over 47,800 units sold. Several of Hyundai’s models saw their best-ever retail and total sales in December, including the Venue, Elantra HEV, Elantra N, IONIQ 5, Santa Fe HEV, Tucson…

Tesla’s Giga Shanghai factory in China has made significant improvements to its production practices, enabling it to produce a Model Y body-in-white in approximately 40 seconds on average. These upgrades to the assembly lines have allowed the automaker to speed up production, giving workers extra time off at the end of 2022. The factory uses large “Giga casting” machines and die-casting technology to streamline and accelerate body production, with the ability to even incorporate the EV’s battery pack into the vehicle’s frame. Despite not meeting its target for 50% delivery growth from 2021 to 2022, the Giga Shanghai factory has…

NIO Capital has invested in Ruilong Technology, a battery recycling company, as it looks to expand its presence in the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry chain. The investment comes as part of a Series A funding round worth hundreds of millions of RMB, which was led by NIO Capital and also included participation from Midea Capital and other investors. The funding will allow Ruilong to increase its efforts in developing waste battery procurement channels and technology. According to Zhu Yan, managing partner of NIO Capital, battery recycling has important environmental, economic, and supply chain security implications as the NEV market…

Maserati’s second-generation Levante SUV, set to arrive by 2025, will be fully electric and expand the Folgore range, according to recent reports. The new Levante, which will be released one year after the next-generation Quattroporte, will reportedly be built on a modified and electrified version of the Giorgio architecture used by the Alfa Romeo Grecale SUV and GranTurismo sports car. Maserati CEO Davide Grasso stated that the development of the Levante will “benefit heavily from synergies between Stellantis’ 14 brands” and expressed excitement about this opportunity. The second-generation Maserati Levante is expected to offer a range of power outputs and…

Hyundai Motor Group plans to significantly increase its production of electric vehicles (EVs) in the coming year as it works to transform itself into a provider of future mobility solutions. In a statement, Executive Chair Euisun Chung said the company will make “aggressive” investments in new technologies and hire talented individuals in new growth sectors in an effort to become a market leader in the future mobility industry. “The company will make an aggressive investment to hire proven talents in new-growth business sectors and develop new technologies to become the first mover that leads the future mobility market,” said Euisun…

SK On, a subsidiary of SK Innovation, has raised KRW 2.8 trillion ($2.5 billion) in paid-in capital. This includes KRW 2 trillion from SK Innovation andKRW 0.8 trillion from Korea Investment Private Equity. SK Innovation plans to invest KRW 1 trillion this month and the remaining amount next year in order to enhance SK On’s corporate value and meet the anticipated mid to long-term increase in demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. SK On is expanding its business by securing orders from major companies such as Ford, Hyundai Motor, and Volkswagen, and SK Innovation believes that the additional investment will…

The first batch of 999 VinFast electric vehicles has arrived in the US, after 26 days at sea from Vietnam. The first 999 VinFast vehicles that arrived are the VF 8 City Edition, a limited edition for the US to enable direct customer experience of VinFast vehicles from 2022. With all the features of the standard VF 8, the VF 8 City Edition is a platform that connects all aspect of life through modern technology features such as Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Smart Services. It will also be updated regularly over the air (FOTA) to improve vehicle functionality…

Two-wheeled vehicle manufacturer from China, Davinci Motor, is rumored to be introducing the Davinci DC100 electric motorbike at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which will take place in the United States. “We are pleased to announce that CES 2023 represents our first appearance in the United States market,” said Rosanna Libya, International Business Manager, Davinci Motor. The DC100 will be DaVinci’s first electric motorcycle developed to go head-to-head with a conventional 1,000 cc engine. Davinci not only promises maximum performance but also a long distance. This electric motor is claimed to be able to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in…