Author: Derick Munoz

The chief executive of South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI said on Wednesday that demand for electric vehicles is expected to remain subdued until the first half of 2026. Speaking at a major battery expo, CEO Choi Joo-sun projected that the company’s earnings would likely bottom out in the first quarter of this year, followed by a gradual recovery starting in the second quarter. Samsung SDI reported an operating loss of 257 billion won ($176.54 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024. See also: Samsung SDI Issues Recall for 180,000 High Voltage Battery Packs Due to Fire Risk Rival battery…

U.S. automakers will receive a temporary exemption from the newly announced 25% tariff on vehicle imports from Mexico and Canada, the White House said on Wednesday, providing a brief reprieve to an industry navigating an escalating trade war. The exemption, which applies for at least one month, will cover vehicles that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which mandates that 75% of a vehicle’s content be sourced from North America and at least 40% from the U.S. or Canada. However, some vehicles manufactured in Mexico and Canada may still be subject to the full tariff if they fail to meet…

Mercedes-Benz and BMW are exploring the sale of their jointly owned FreeNow mobility app and have engaged investment bank Lazard to assess market interest, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The two automakers, each holding close to 50% of FreeNow, are in the early stages of evaluating potential buyers. While a deal could fetch up to 500 million euros ($540 million), there is no certainty that the discussions will result in a transaction, the sources said. See also: DHL Expands EV Logistics Hubs in Asia-Pacific to Support Growing Industry FreeNow, which operates in over 150 European cities, originated…

Honda has upgraded its all-electric Prologue SUV for the 2025 model year, increasing its range and power while maintaining its price. The Prologue, which became the best-selling non-Tesla EV in the U.S. during late 2024, now offers up to 308 miles of range and enhanced performance. The 2025 Honda Prologue is available in three trims—EX, Touring, and Elite—with a starting MSRP of $47,400. After applying the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, the base EX Single Motor variant starts at $39,900 and delivers an improved 308-mile range, up from 296 miles in the 2024 model. The Touring trim begins at $51,700…

Swedish electric vehicle maker Polestar has expanded its ‘Polestar Charge’ network in Germany and the UK, adding more than 4,000 charging points across the two markets. The company now provides access to over 62,000 charging points across 41 charge point operators (CPOs) in its active European markets. In the UK, Polestar has increased its charging points by 89%, adding 2,754 new stations. The Polestar Charge subscription now offers a 30% discount at 5,854 charging points nationwide, including networks such as Ionity, Sainsbury’s, Instavolt, MFG, Fastned, and Applegreen. See also: Polestar Secures $450 Million Loan, Delays Q4 Results Amid Financial Challenges…

The Swiss Technology Innovation Centre (CSEM) is investing in Switzerland’s first dedicated drying room for battery research and development, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation battery technologies. The facility, set to open in September 2025 at the CSEM Battery Innovation Hub, will provide optimal conditions for lithium processing, the organization said. See also: EU SeNSE Project Advances EV Battery Technology with Higher Energy Density CSEM described the new drying room as a “key enabler” for proving the industrial viability of battery technologies under development. “CSEM’s dry room isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a key enabler for proving the industrial…

Peter Rawlinson, who recently stepped down as Lucid’s chief executive, will continue to receive substantial compensation in his new role as an advisor to the Chairman of the Board. Rawlinson will earn $120,000 per month, receive a $2 million stock grant, and retain a company car as part of his agreement with the company. See also: Lucid Expects to Double Production in 2025, Reports Strong Q4 Earnings Despite Lucid reporting a net loss of $2.7 billion in 2024, the company remains financially stable due to backing from its majority owner, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Under the terms of his…

Volkswagen has cut the starting price of its electric ID.4 SUV to under $20,000 in China as it seeks to maintain its position in the world’s largest EV market amid intensifying competition from domestic automakers. SAIC-Volkswagen, one of the German automaker’s joint ventures in China, announced that the ID.4 X now starts at 139,900 yuan ($19,300). The move follows a similar price reduction for the ID.4 Crozz, produced by FAW-Volkswagen, last month. See also: Xpeng and Volkswagen Sign MOU to Build Extensive Superfast Charging Network in China The price cuts come as Volkswagen faces mounting pressure from Chinese EV manufacturers,…

Tesla has partnered with fast-food chain Steak ‘n Shake to deploy Superchargers at more than 100 restaurant locations, expanding its charging infrastructure across the United States. The collaboration was revealed through a series of posts on X, where Tesla CEO Elon Musk initially responded to Steak ‘n Shake’s announcement about switching from seed oils to beef tallow. The restaurant chain then proposed the idea of hosting Tesla charging stations, only to learn that installations were already underway. See also: Tesla to Prosecute Supercharger Vandals as Attacks Persist Tesla confirmed that six locations had been signed, with over 20 more under…

Tesla has reduced prices on its Model Y inventory in the United States, with discounts of up to $8,400, ahead of the anticipated launch of the 2026 Model Y facelift, known as the Juniper refresh. The price cut brings the base Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) down to $33,890 after federal tax credits, as Tesla moves to clear existing stock. The Juniper refresh has already debuted in China, where Tesla recently removed the Launch Series edition from sale. In the U.S., the refreshed Model Y is currently only available as a high-priced Launch Series preorder, bundled with Full Self-Driving (FSD)…

British startup Volklec has entered into a licensing agreement with China’s Far East Battery (FEB) to produce batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles, the company said on Wednesday. The partnership will also see FEB providing technical support and supply chain access to help Volklec scale up production at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Coventry. See also: UK’s Volklec Launches to Manufacture Sustainable EV Batteries, Partners with UKBIC FEB, a unit of Far East Smarter Energy Co (600869.SS), will supply engineers and other resources to assist Volklec in manufacturing “energy cell” batteries for e-scooters, e-bikes, and EV chargers…

Barcelona’s public transport operator, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), has received seven new electric buses from Spanish manufacturer Irizar e-mobility. The 12-metre Irizar ie models will integrate into the city’s existing fleet of electric buses, with TMB also launching a tender for additional zero-emission vehicles. Equipped with a 185 kW electric motor, the new buses offer a range of up to 350 kilometres. They join the 79 Irizar electric buses already in operation in Barcelona. TMB has been a leader in electric public transport, having started trials with two Irizar ie electric buses in 2014. Today, the operator manages 196…