Author: David Smith

Swedish electric-vehicle maker Polestar on Wednesday paused its 2025 outlook, citing rising uncertainty over U.S. tariffs that could impact supply chains and vehicle prices. The move sent shares of the U.S.-listed company down 6%. Although Polestar reported strong first-quarter sales earlier this month, CEO Michael Lohscheller cautioned that shifting American trade policy posed a growing risk. “We are responding to an increasingly volatile trade environment,” Lohscheller said, as the company works to reduce reliance on China by expanding production in the U.S. and Europe. See also: Polestar Says Carbon Footprint per Vehicle Down 24.7% Since 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump’s…

New registrations of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in the European Union rose 23.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, reaching 412,997 units and overtaking diesel-powered cars for the first time, according to data published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). The market share of BEVs now stands at 15.2% of all new passenger car registrations, up from 12% in Q1 2024. This comes despite an overall decline of 1.9% in the EU car market in the first three months of the year. The March data reflected only a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.2%,…

Electric vehicle startup Slate Auto is nearing a deal to lease a 1.4 million-square-foot former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, as it prepares to launch production of its low-cost electric truck, according to a review of public records and local economic development statements. The facility, once home to R.R. Donnelley’s printing operations, has sat idle for nearly two years. Slate Auto is expected to repurpose the site to manufacture an EV priced under $20,000 after U.S. federal tax credits. While the company has not publicly confirmed the site, it showed an aerial photo of the factory during a recent event,…

Aurora Innovation has launched its first commercial autonomous truck operations in Texas, becoming the first company in the United States to deploy driverless heavy-duty trucks for freight transportation on public roads. The company began operations this week, moving goods between Dallas and Houston for logistics partners Hirschbach Motor Lines and Uber Freight. Aurora reported that its vehicles have already covered 1,200 miles without a safety driver on board. The company plans to extend its network to El Paso and Phoenix by the end of 2025. See also: Aurora Innovation Releases US Driverless Safety Report Ahead of Commercial Launch https://twitter.com/aurora_inno/status/1917882812985909566 The…

Cellcentric, the fuel cell joint venture between Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, has announced that its Managing Director, Lars Johansson, will be stepping down from his role. Johansson, who has served as the company’s MD for four years, will be leaving of his own accord to return to Sweden, where he will take on the role of Senior Vice President at Volvo Group’s Project and Product Strategy Office. The office focuses on sustainable transport and emerging technologies, including fuel cells. As Managing Director of Cellcentric, Johansson held a dual role encompassing both Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Chief Operating Officer…

General Motors has revisited one of its early experiments in electric mobility by highlighting the XP 512E, a compact electric concept car first unveiled in 1969. Although the model never entered series production, the company is using the reintroduction to emphasize its longstanding involvement in the development of electric drive systems. The XP 512E, officially named the 512 Electric Experimental, debuted in May 1969 during General Motors’ “Progress of Power” exhibition at the Warren Technical Centre in Michigan. Measuring just 2.19 meters in length and 1.42 meters in width, the fibreglass-bodied vehicle weighed 567 kilograms and featured a removable soft…

MG Motor, a subsidiary of China’s SAIC Motor, is expected to announce the location for its first European manufacturing plant during the summer, according to people familiar with the matter, Automotive News Europe reported. The company is reportedly focusing on securing an undeveloped site rather than taking over an existing facility, despite several offers from different countries. Plans for the new factory include an initial production capacity of 100,000 vehicles annually, with manufacturing expected to commence within 12 to 16 months following project approval. See also: MG Motor Unveils MGS5 EV in Europe with Upgraded Range and Features MG Motor…

Mercedes-Benz Vans has revealed the Vision V, a concept designed to preview the top-end variant of its future electric van lineup, as the company moves to redefine luxury in the van segment. Built on the upcoming Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA), the Vision V hints at a new luxury model known internally as VLS, positioning it as a “private lounge” on wheels, comparable to the brand’s S-Class in sophistication. See also: Mercedes-Benz Launches MBUX 2.6 OTA Update with Enhanced EV Route Planning, Off-Road Features, and Google Satellite View Alongside the VLS, a premium family-oriented variant called VLE will also be offered,…

Alphabet Inc’s  autonomous vehicle unit Waymo could one day offer its self-driving robotaxis for personal ownership, CEO Sundar Pichai said Thursday, marking a possible shift in strategy for the unit that has so far focused on ride-hailing services. “There is future optionality for personal ownership,” Pichai said during Alphabet’s quarterly earnings call, without providing specific timelines or further details. The remarks come as Tesla (TSLA.O) plans to roll out its own robotaxi service this year in the United States, setting up potential competition in the autonomous mobility space. See also: U.S. Moves to Ease Safety Rules for Self-Driving Vehicles in…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor has filed a new battery-electric sedan, the B01, for regulatory approval as part of its effort to expand its B-series lineup, according to a recent filing by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The B01 appears in MIIT’s latest draft catalog for new vehicles, which is open for public comment through April 23. Inclusion in the catalog is the final major regulatory step before a vehicle can be sold in China. See also: Leapmotor Launches B10 Crossover in China, Undercutting BYD Atto 3 with 800V Tech and 600 km Range The B01 will…

China has imposed a sweeping export ban on six rare earth elements and specialist magnets made from them, escalating tensions with the United States following the latter’s recent tariff hikes. The move threatens to disrupt global supply chains for electric motors, microchips, and other technologies dependent on these critical materials. The export restrictions, effective from April 4, extend beyond the U.S. and apply to all countries, according to The New York Times, which cited unnamed industry sources and officials. The halt affects neodymium-based magnets and six rare earth elements exclusively refined in China, which together account for roughly 90% of…

HelloFresh has added 70 all-electric delivery vans from Rivian to its U.S. fleet, becoming the first major commercial customer to adopt the vehicles since the electric vehicle maker ended its exclusivity agreement with Amazon. The new Rivian vans now make up nearly a quarter of HelloFresh’s delivery fleet and have contributed to an estimated savings of 20,000 gallons of gasoline, the company said in a blog post published Wednesday. HelloFresh added that the switch to electric vehicles has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 200 metric tonnes. See also: Rivian Releases Software Update to Improve Low-Speed Ride Comfort “We’re proud…