Author: Derick Munoz

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially certified Rivian’s 2026 quad-motor versions of its R1T electric pickup and R1S SUV, marking a key step ahead of the vehicles’ market launch. The approval confirms compliance with U.S. Tier 3 Bin 0 emissions standards and California’s ZEV requirements, further positioning Rivian as a strong player in the premium electric SUV and truck segments. According to certification documents, the 2026 R1S Quad Max model equipped with 22-inch Ultra High Performance (UHP) wheels achieves an estimated range of 359 miles in “Conserve” mode and 315 miles in “All-Purpose” mode. Rivian’s quad-motor configuration—four 201-horsepower…

Ford Motor is facing persistent disruptions in its supply of rare earth magnets, Chief Executive Jim Farley said on Friday, as tightened export rules from China continue to challenge Western automakers’ access to key materials. Speaking to Bloomberg News, Farley described the situation as critical. “It’s day to day,” he said. “We have had to shut down factories. It’s hand-to-mouth right now.” Ford previously halted production of its Explorer SUV at the company’s Chicago plant for a week in May due to a shortage of rare earth materials, which are essential for manufacturing electric motors and other critical components. The…

India has asked state-run miner IREL to suspend a longstanding agreement to export rare earth elements to Japan, in a bid to shore up domestic supplies and reduce reliance on China, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The request, made during a recent meeting between Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and industry executives, comes as global supply chains face pressure from China’s tightening grip on rare earth exports. The directive targets an agreement inked in 2012 between IREL and Toyotsu Rare Earths India, a unit of Toyota Tsusho (8015.T), which processes materials in India for export to…

The rapid expansion of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology is compelling the insurance sector to reconsider how risk is calculated and covered, according to a recent research note from Goldman Sachs. As self-driving cars reduce the frequency of human-caused crashes, insurers are expected to face a structural transformation in underwriting and liability distribution. “Autonomy has the potential to significantly reduce accident frequency longer-term and reshape the underlying claim cost distribution and legal liability for accidents,” Goldman Sachs analysts led by Mark Delaney wrote in a note to investors. The $432 billion U.S. auto insurance industry is now preparing for broader AV…

Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo will step down on July 15 after five years at the helm of the French carmaker, with reports indicating he is set to take over as CEO of French luxury group Kering, which owns brands including Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Renault confirmed in a statement that de Meo, 58, had chosen to “pursue new challenges outside the automotive sector.” The company said a succession process is already underway, based on a previously defined plan. De Meo joined Renault in 2020 from Volkswagen Group’s Seat-Cupra brand and was credited with reshaping the French carmaker…

Chinese electronics company Xiaomi has revealed a new patent that outlines a solid-state battery design, marking its formal entry into the development of next-generation battery technology. The move aligns Xiaomi with a growing list of global players working to overcome the technical barriers limiting commercial adoption of solid-state batteries. The patent, recently published, describes a layered electrode structure designed to enhance both ionic conductivity and energy density. At the core of the system is a current collector embedded with multiple electrode material layers made from active substances, conductive agents, binders, and a solid polymer-based electrolyte containing metal salts. The structure…

German-Canadian firm Rock Tech Lithium has been awarded €800,000 in funding under the EIT RawMaterials KAVA programme to further develop lithium conversion technologies at its Guben site in eastern Germany. The grant marks the first official funding since the project was designated a ‘Strategic Project’ under the European Commission’s Critical Raw Materials Act earlier this year. The funding recognises Rock Tech’s efforts to innovate in lithium processing and improve the efficiency of converting spodumene into lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM), a key material used in electric vehicle batteries. “We are delighted to have been selected for the KAVA grant and to…

Glencore has declared force majeure on certain cobalt supply contracts from the Democratic Republic of Congo, following a government-imposed suspension of cobalt exports, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The export ban, which began in February and is scheduled to run for four months, was introduced by the Congolese government to ease a global oversupply that had driven cobalt prices to a nine-year low and impacted the country’s tax revenues. Congo is the world’s largest cobalt producer, accounting for roughly 78% of global output in 2023. As a result of the suspension, Glencore, which is listed in London…

BMW is set to unveil the iX3, its first production vehicle built on the all-new “Neue Klasse” architecture, at the IAA Mobility show in Munich this September. As the Munich-based automaker accelerates its transition to next-generation electric mobility, the iX3 will introduce a range of significant technological advancements, including ultra-fast 800-volt charging, bidirectional energy management, AI-powered driving systems, and cloud-based software integration. Near-production prototypes of the iX3 are currently undergoing final testing at BMW’s Miramas development center in southern France, as the company describes the model as being in the final phase of its development. Series production is scheduled to…

Zimbabwe will ban the export of lithium concentrates starting in 2027 as it seeks to advance its domestic processing industry, Mines Minister Winston Chitando said on Tuesday, marking a significant step in the country’s strategy to retain more value from its vast mineral resources. The southern African nation, the continent’s largest lithium producer, had already prohibited the export of raw lithium ore in 2022 to encourage local beneficiation. The new policy targets intermediate products like lithium concentrates, commonly exported by Chinese mining firms operating in Zimbabwe to supply processing plants back home. Chitando said lithium sulphate plants are currently under…

Li Auto has established two new robotics departments, expanding its focus on artificial intelligence and next-generation technologies. The move signals the Chinese electric vehicle maker’s ambition to diversify beyond the automotive sector. According to local media outlet LatePost, the company has created dedicated teams for space robotics and wearable robotics, both operating under its product division. Leadership for the new departments has been assigned to experienced internal executives, who will report directly to senior management. The rationale for the creation of these teams has not been formally disclosed, though the move aligns with the company’s ongoing exploration of AI applications.…

initiative, named Multipoint megAwatt Charging for Battery Electric Truck Hubs (MACBETH), is being coordinated by Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre and will run until January 2029. The MACBETH project brings together a broad consortium of European partners, including logistics provider PostNord Denmark, commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus SE, and technology firms such as Power Electronics Espana and Rocsys. The project aims to develop scalable MCS solutions that can serve both commercial and private electric vehicles via multi-user hybrid charging hubs. Two large-scale demonstration pilots are planned, which will see the deployment of “hybrid charging stations” designed to serve…