Author: Derick Munoz

Nio, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, reported a decline in vehicle deliveries for the month of September, sparking concerns about its ability to achieve its sales target for 2023. According to data released today, Nio delivered 15,641 vehicles in September, marking a 19.08 percent decrease compared to the 19,329 vehicles delivered in August. However, the numbers showed a robust year-on-year growth of 43.79 percent compared to September 2022, when 10,878 vehicles were delivered. The breakdown of September’s deliveries included 11,504 SUVs and 4,137 sedans, though specific model figures were not provided by the company. Nio also did not offer an…

Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of Geely Holding Group, has announced new partnerships in the Middle East. These alliances mark Zeekr’s entry into four additional countries, alongside its earlier venture into Israel. Zeekr has solidified partnerships with key entities in the region, including AW Rostamani Holdings in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Wallan Trading Company in Saudi Arabia, Blue Lake Motors in Qatar, and Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons in Bahrain. These collaborations are geared towards facilitating the sale of Zeekr EVs in these emerging markets. The Middle Eastern markets will soon witness the introduction of the Zeekr 001…

Nissan has teamed up with the UK Government to embark on a pioneering venture known as evolvAD. This ambitious project is poised to redefine the future of transportation, promising to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology. Nissan, known for its award-winning efforts in autonomous vehicles, takes the helm as the technical leader in this endeavor. The evolvAD project is set to bolster the capabilities of autonomous vehicles and ensure their readiness for widespread adoption. At its core, evolvAD aims to propel autonomous driving technology to new heights. Over the course of 21 months, this initiative will put Connected and…

Electric motorcycles are gaining ground across various sectors, particularly in Europe and Asia, where electric scooters and commuter bikes have become increasingly prevalent. Law enforcement agencies in Europe are also embracing electric motorcycles, with the French Police being the latest to join this trend. The Union de Groupements d’Achats Publics (UGAP), France’s primary public purchasing authority, has recently chosen Energica Motor to provide electric two and three-wheeled vehicles for the country’s public administrations. These vehicles fall under the “Road Trail” category, featuring power outputs exceeding 8 kilowatts or approximately 11 horsepower. They will serve the French National Police and the…

Luxury car manufacturer Genesis appears to be bidding farewell to its ambitions of integrating inductive charging technology into its electric cars. Reports from the Korean portal Bloter indicate that Genesis has dismantled wireless EV chargers installed in Seoul, with plans for additional stations in parking garages also scrapped. The move has sparked discussions about the company’s rationale, citing cost considerations and technical challenges as primary factors. The wireless EV chargers initially made their debut at Genesis sites in the districts of Gangnam and Suji, as well as the Hyundai Motor Studio Goyang, starting in February 2022. These locations were meant…

Volvo Cars has recently entered into a multi-year strategic collaboration agreement with StoreDot, a leading innovator in extreme fast charging (XFC) EV batteries. This partnership is poised to usher in a new era of efficient and rapid charging capabilities for Volvo’s upcoming electric vehicle lineup. Under this agreement, joint teams from Volvo Cars and StoreDot will pool their expertise to develop XFC battery cells that will be meticulously tailored to fit seamlessly into Volvo’s future EV architectures. The first tangible results of this collaboration are anticipated to materialize in the form of prototype cells slated for testing purposes in 2024.…

As electric motorcycle enthusiasts eagerly embrace groundbreaking designs such as the Zero SR-X and the Ultraviolette F77 Space Edition, Kawasaki has taken a different approach by introducing the Ninja e-1 and Z e-1. These new offerings from Kawasaki don’t aim for the high-end in terms of pricing or performance; instead, they enter the electric motorcycle market with a focus on the low-end segment, competing directly with 125cc internal-combustion engines. Kawasaki has remained relatively tight-lipped about detailed specifications, but it has shared power figures for both the Ninja and Z e-1 models. Both motorcycles are expected to deliver a continuous 5…

In a strategic move to advance electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in Uzbekistan, BYD and Uzavtosanoat JSC (UzAuto) have selected the Uzbek province of Jizzax as the location for their new car plant. The announcement comes following BYD’s initial revelation of its plans in January 2023, and the company has already begun establishing dealerships in the country since February 2023. The joint venture between BYD and UzAuto is poised to achieve an initial annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles, with future ambitions to ramp up production significantly to 300,000 cars per year. However, specific details regarding the investment volume and project…

California-based e-bike manufacturer, Ride1Up, continues to expand its lineup of electric bicycles with the introduction of the Prodigy V2. This latest model represents an evolution of the popular Prodigy mid-drive electric bicycle, designed to cater to urban commuting and off-road adventures alike. With options available in both step-through and step-over designs, the Prodigy V2 aims to accommodate riders of various sizes and preferences. One of the notable upgrades in the Prodigy V2 is the inclusion of front suspension as a standard feature. This enhancement ensures a smoother ride, whether navigating city streets or venturing onto rougher terrain, providing increased confidence…

Jeep announced that its recently launched Avenger model has garnered an impressive cumulative total of more than 40,000 orders. This achievement has undoubtedly left the company in high spirits, particularly due to the fact that over 40 percent of these orders are for the all-electric versions, despite the majority still favoring gasoline-powered models. Data released by Automotive News Europe, citing figures from Dataforce, reveals that Jeep Avenger registrations through August reached a noteworthy 18,487 units. Notably, 31 percent of these registrations were for the all-electric variant, a segment that has been steadily gaining traction. In the month of August alone,…

Li-Cycle, the battery recycling company, has officially inaugurated its inaugural European battery recycling facility in Magdeburg. This milestone follows the commencement of trial operations for the facility’s first processing line back in August. At the heart of Li-Cycle’s operations in Magdeburg lies its patented third-generation Spoke technology, a breakthrough innovation capable of directly processing all lithium-ion battery waste, including complete battery packs sourced from electric vehicles, without the need for discharging, dismantling, or thermal processes. The primary output of this innovative recycling process is referred to as ‘black mass,’ a material rich in valuable battery components like lithium, nickel, and…

Volue, a player in technologies and services facilitating customer success in this transition, has announced a new addition to its Spark partner ecosystem. EVBox, a leading provider of electric vehicle charging solutions, has joined forces with Volue in a move set to bolster the electric mobility landscape. Founded in 2010, EVBox has solidified its position as a frontrunner in the realm of electric vehicle charging. With an impressive track record of delivering over 500,000 charging ports to partners and customers worldwide, EVBox offers a comprehensive suite of charging solutions, catering to residential, commercial, and fast-charging network needs, complemented by robust…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng has commenced the delivery of 750 electric vehicles, including the G9 SUV and P7 sedan, to Israel, signifying its ambitious foray into the Middle Eastern market. This substantial shipment, originating from Xpeng’s headquarters in Guangzhou, represents the company’s largest export to an overseas market to date. The company hosted a ceremony to mark the occasion, underlining the significance of its expansion into Israel. Notably, this shipment is the second to Israel this month, although specific details regarding the earlier shipment were not disclosed. According to a spokesperson from Xpeng, the first batch of vehicles…

Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM), a prominent vertically integrated miner, refiner, and producer of cathode active materials (CAM), has announced a significant investment of 16.9 million Canadian dollars in Nano One Materials, a Canadian battery developer. This strategic partnership aims to expedite the commercial production of cathode materials, with a particular focus on LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) and NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) varieties. Under the terms of the agreement, the Japanese conglomerate will acquire approximately 5.5 million ordinary shares through a private placement, priced at CAD 3.07 per share. Upon the completion of the transaction, Sumitomo will hold a stake of…

Tesla has solidified its position as a workforce powerhouse in Central Texas, as a recent report indicates that the electric vehicle (EV) giant now employs over 20,000 individuals daily at its Gigafactory Texas location. This impressive workforce establishment positions Tesla as the second-largest private employer in the region. Anticipating a substantial surge in production of the highly anticipated Cybertruck in the coming months, Jason Shawhan, the Director of Manufacturing at Giga Texas, revealed that the current workforce of 20,000 is expected to triple, reaching a staggering 60,000 employees. This revelation came during the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association conference on September…

Skanska is embarking on a pilot project involving the use of the Volvo EC230, the largest electric excavator of its kind, as part of a substantial transit initiative in Los Angeles. While Volvo has introduced its EC230 excavator in the European and Chinese markets, it has yet to launch it officially in the United States. North American availability is anticipated for 2024. Skanska’s electric excavator pilot programme in Los Angeles, one of four such initiatives in North America, is slated to run for a duration of 90 days. The primary objective is to evaluate the viability and performance of an…

Lotus, the renowned British automotive manufacturer, is reportedly in the early stages of developing an estate version of their all-electric Emeya, a move aimed at diversifying their product lineup and appealing to a broader range of customers. This strategic move could also position them as a worthy contender against the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo, a popular choice in the luxury electric sports estate segment. The concept of producing an estate variant of the Emeya holds significant promise for Lotus. Given that this new iteration would share the majority of its components with the existing Emeya sedan, it would result in…

Jaguar has thrown its weight behind the North American Charging Standard (NACS), announcing its plans to incorporate Tesla’s charging technology into its upcoming generation of electric vehicles (EVs). This move positions Jaguar as the 11th automaker to embrace the NACS framework, a series of decisions that unfolded rapidly following Ford’s groundbreaking announcement in May to transition away from the Combined Charging System (CCS). In line with the agreements reached with other automakers, Jaguar will provide existing owners of the Jaguar I-Pace with an adapter. This adapter will grant access to Tesla’s Supercharger network across Canada, the United States, and Mexico,…

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has released compelling research in partnership with insurer Swiss Re, aiming to demonstrate the superior safety of its self-driving taxis when compared to human-operated vehicles. This study arrives at a pivotal juncture for the self-driving taxi industry, especially in San Francisco. The recent decision by the California Public Utilities Commission to grant Waymo and its primary competitor, Cruise, extended operational privileges in the city has ignited controversy among officials and residents. Claims of traffic disruptions and blockages of emergency responder vehicles have triggered a broader discussion on the impact of…

Hyundai Mobis, an automotive component supplier and a vital part of the Hyundai Motor Group, has unveiled an upgraded iteration of its Mobis Parking System (MPS), initially introduced in 2021. This enhanced MPS, known as MPS 1.0 Premium, comes equipped with an exceptional feature called Memory Parking Assist (MPA), revolutionizing the parking experience for vehicle owners. MPA introduces a “route learning mode,” where vehicle owners can effortlessly park their cars, allowing MPA to memorize the manoeuvre. Subsequently, when the vehicle returns to the same location, it can autonomously execute the parking process with just a single touch on the onboard…