Author: Derick Munoz

In a notable turn of events, Nio’s upcoming annual event, Nio Day 2023, is gaining renewed attention following revelations from co-founder and president Qin Lihong. Contrary to earlier statements by founder and CEO William Li about a lack of new product launches in the coming year, Lihong hinted at significant unveilings during this year’s Nio Day, reigniting curiosity among stakeholders and enthusiasts. The disclosure was made during an exclusive interview on Nio Radio, a dedicated program for Nio owners. Qin Lihong emphasized the presence of a “heavyweight product and model” to be revealed at the event, without delving into specific…

Volkswagen is collaborating with the Vatican City State (VCS) to facilitate its transition to a more environmentally friendly fleet. Starting in early 2024, Volkswagen will provide approximately 40 fully electric models from its ID. family, including the ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5, as part of the VCS’s decarbonization strategy with the goal of achieving a climate-neutral fleet by 2030. Imelda Labbé, Member of the Board of Management for Sales, Marketing, and After-Sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars, and Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, personally handed over the first two electric vehicles to the…

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume announced at the Sueddeutsche Zeitung Wirtschaftsgipfel conference in Berlin on Wednesday that while the decision to produce a 20,000-euro ($21,714.00) electric car has not been finalized, he is confident that the company can achieve this milestone by the second half of the decade. Blume emphasized that the primary mechanism for reducing the prices of electric cars is the reduction of battery costs. He pointed to Volkswagen’s ambitious plans to manufacture a unified battery cell, asserting that this initiative will play a pivotal role in halving battery costs. In March, Volkswagen outlined the details of an all-electric…

ExxonMobil, the US mineral oil company, has unveiled its ambition to play a significant role in the electric vehicle (EV) market by producing enough lithium for over one million electric cars per year by 2030. The announcement follows earlier reports of ExxonMobil acquiring drilling rights in southern Arkansas and engaging in discussions with major automakers and battery manufacturers. The company has initiated preparations for the first phase of lithium production in southwest Arkansas, with production slated to commence in 2027. ExxonMobil emphasizes that this move builds on its longstanding technical partnership with the automotive industry and positions it to become…

Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), the British bus manufacturer, has clinched a substantial electric bus order from Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation. The deal entails the delivery of 35 all-electric double-decker buses, scheduled for deployment in 2025 and 2026. The ordered buses are of the new Enviro500 model, characterized as part of ADL’s in-house designed next generation of zero-emission buses. These vehicles are set to be equipped with 472 kWh batteries sourced from Impact Clean Power Technology and will feature the Voith Electrical Drive System, offering 310 kW continuous and 410 kW peak power. The combination is tailored to address the specific…

Electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to show resilience on a global scale, with China notably reporting record monthly sales in October, according to market research firm Rho Motion. Despite the conclusion of an 11-year subsidy scheme for EV purchases in China in 2022, the country witnessed a 29% year-to-date increase in EV sales in September, making it the world’s largest auto market. China’s sustained EV demand defies expectations following the subsidy cut, with some local authorities extending aid, tax rebates, and consumer subsidies to attract investments. The global EV market, as a whole, demonstrated a 34% growth during the same…

Jolt, an Australian charging company supported by U.S. fund manager BlackRock, has initiated the deployment of on-street EV chargers in the London borough of Barnet. The company, which aims to install 5,000 chargers across Britain over the next three to five years, revealed plans to extend its charging network to other boroughs. CEO Doug McNamee highlighted the unique features of Jolt’s chargers, distinguishing them from conventional on-street public chargers. Operating at 25 kilowatts (kW), these chargers are designed for short stops on high streets in densely populated urban areas, offering a higher power output compared to the typical 7 kW…

California-based electric vehicle (EV) startup Fisker, renowned for its all-electric Ocean SUV, is actively pursuing partnerships with established automakers to facilitate the production of its forthcoming EV models. According to information obtained by Reuters in an interview with Henrik Fisker, the founder and CEO of the company, Fisker aims to secure collaborations with traditional car manufacturers to expedite the release of two imminent models – the Ocean-based Alaska pickup and the compact Pear crossover, both scheduled for production in 2025. “We have two cars that are almost ready. We can bring them to market fast — we just need the…

Volvo, backed by Geely, enters the minivan arena with the launch of its inaugural electric model, the EM90, designed exclusively for the burgeoning Chinese market. The move comes amid a resurgence of interest in minivans in Asia, particularly in the luxury segment, with China witnessing nearly half a million minivan sales in the first half of 2023. The EM90, boasting an impressive range of over 450 miles (720+ kilometers), aligns with Volvo’s strategic push into the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Positioned to compete with both EV and conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) offerings in China, the model faces rivals like…

Hyundai Motor commenced construction on Monday for its new dedicated electric vehicle (EV) plant in South Korea, signaling a robust push towards electrification with a planned investment of 2 trillion won ($1.52 billion). Anticipated to be operational by the first quarter of 2026, the facility located in Ulsan, southeastern South Korea, is slated to have an annual production capacity of 200,000 units. Hyundai aims to unveil its inaugural model from the plant, an electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) under the luxury brand Genesis. The groundbreaking event, attended by Hyundai Motor Group’s Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor’s Chief Executive Officer,…

Mercedes-Benz has solidified its commitment to expanding high-power charging (HPC) infrastructure in North America through a new partnership with Buc-ee’s, aiming to establish charging hubs at most of the travel centers across the United States. The collaboration anticipates the setup of approximately 30 locations by the end of 2024, with the first HPC charging points expected to be operational by the close of this year. Andrew Cornelia, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz HPC North America, emphasized the swift progress made in paving the way for several charging hubs at Buc-ee’s travel centers. Buc-ee’s strategic positioning along major travel routes, coupled…

Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has revealed Shanghai as one of the host cities for the upcoming electric Formula 1 races in 2024. Scheduled for late May, Shanghai will feature two races as part of the 16-race electric F1 circuit. While this marks the first-ever electric Formula 1 race in Shanghai, it is not the inaugural Formula E event in China. The first race under FIA supervision took place in Beijing in September 2014, with subsequent races organized in Beijing, Hainan, and Hong Kong, the latest being in March 2019. The decision to reintroduce Formula 1 races in Shanghai comes…