Author: Derick Munoz

Kia will phase out several petrol-powered models in the UK to make room for new electric vehicles, including the EV4 and a smaller entry-level EV2, the company said. The Korean automaker is streamlining its internal combustion engine lineup, reducing trim options for the Picanto and XCeed to three variants — Pure, GT-Line and GT-Line S — while ending production of the Ceed and Ceed SW. Production has already stopped for the Proceed at Kia’s Zilina plant in Slovakia. A company spokesperson told Autocar the changes are aimed at “clearing room” for upcoming EV production. “We are preparing the facility for…

Archer has announced two acquisitions to support the advancement of its hybrid autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) military aircraft programs. Following its December 2024 partnership with Anduril to co-develop defense aircraft and a $1.3 billion capital raise for defense and commercial projects, Archer is responding to increasing interest from allied defense programs globally. The company acquired a patent portfolio and key personnel from Overair, a spin-off of Karem Aircraft, which focuses on fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft featuring high-efficiency tiltrotor designs. Archer also purchased composite manufacturing assets and a manufacturing facility of approximately 60,000 square feet from Mission Critical Composites,…

Tesla’s Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk provided new details this week on a forthcoming update to the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, describing it as a “major step-change improvement” aimed at reducing driver intervention in many driving scenarios. The update is anticipated to roll out to Tesla vehicles sometime in September, Musk said. Tesla has been developing its FSD technology over several years, striving toward a version that allows drivers to become passengers with minimal or no need to pay attention to the road. Musk emphasized that while the September update will make significant progress, full autonomy where no driver…

Tesla has disclosed new range figures for its upcoming electric vehicles in China, with a regulatory filing showing a Model 3 variant capable of up to 830 kilometers on the CLTC test cycle and the first official range data for the six-seat Model Y L. The information comes from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which listed the two models in its latest batch of new energy vehicles eligible for purchase tax exemptions. The Model 3 variant, coded TSL7000BEVBR1, has a curb weight of 1,760 kg and is equipped with a 78.4 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery supplied by…

Tesla reported its highest-ever monthly sales in South Korea in July 2025, delivering 7,357 vehicles, according to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA). The figure secured Tesla’s position as the country’s top-selling imported car brand for a second consecutive month. The Model Y continued to lead the market, maintaining its spot as South Korea’s best-selling imported vehicle for the third month in a row. The Model 3 ranked second among imported electric vehicles, with Tesla accounting for 72% of all imported EV registrations in July. https://twitter.com/tesla_korea/status/1952641527114825824 Tesla noted its appreciation to customers in a post on…

Ford Motor is set to disclose additional information about its upcoming low-cost electric vehicles at a scheduled event in Kentucky on August 11, as the automaker intensifies efforts to reposition its electric vehicle (EV) strategy following recent financial setbacks. The planned announcement comes after Ford reported a $1.3 billion loss for its EV division in the second quarter of 2025. Amid declining sales of the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E, Ford is placing renewed emphasis on affordability and innovation in an increasingly competitive and uncertain EV market landscape. “This is a Model T moment for us,” Ford CEO Jim Farley…

German startup Tozero has signed a lease to establish a lithium-ion battery recycling pilot plant at the Gendorf Chemical Park in Bavaria, with operations expected to begin later this year. The new demonstration facility will lay the groundwork for a commercial-scale plant slated for 2026. “Tozero strengthens our position as a pioneering location for young, fast-growing companies from future-focused industries,” said Christoph von Reden, Managing Director of InfraServ Gendorf, which operates the chemical park. “Our infrastructure and our tailored industrial services for the chemical and process industries provide ideal conditions for companies aiming to scale.” Tozero, founded in 2022, has…

Stellantis is set to more than double the production capacity of its plant in Kenitra, Morocco, in the coming months, as part of a €1.2 billion expansion project that will raise its annual output to 535,000 vehicles. The Kenitra facility, which reached a capacity of 200,000 vehicles in 2020, will support the company’s strategy to ramp up production across internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, hybrids, and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The plant began assembling mild hybrid engines in May and is expected to produce 350,000 engines per year. The expansion includes the production of small electric vehicles such as the…

Nio has officially introduced the ET9 Horizon Edition, a new variant of its executive-class sedan, showcasing a more refined exterior design highlighted by a two-tone paint finish and exclusive wheel options. The launch follows a regulatory filing earlier in the day that revealed Nio’s plans to enhance the ET9 with premium design elements. The automaker later confirmed the new edition via its official Weibo account, releasing a series of images and promotional materials emphasizing the Horizon Edition’s design language. The ET9 Horizon Edition adopts a blue-and-silver two-tone color scheme that reflects Nio’s signature styling. The company stated that the visual…

India and the United Kingdom are expected to formally sign a long-awaited free trade agreement next week, two Indian government sources said, unlocking mutual market access for key sectors such as electric vehicles, whisky, textiles, and automobiles. The deal, which follows three years of intermittent talks, will be signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anticipated visit to London, one of the officials said. The agreement will come into effect around a year after it gains approval from the British parliament and India’s federal cabinet. “The trade agreement offers a win-win for both countries,” one of the sources said, noting…

BMW Chief Executive Officer Oliver Zipse said on Friday he was optimistic the European Union and the United States could soon reach a “manageable” agreement on auto import tariffs, possibly including a system that offsets imports with exports. Speaking at a company event in Munich, Zipse said both sides were likely to settle on terms that would limit the impact of tariffs on automakers. His comments came as the EU awaited a potential letter from the U.S. administration under Donald Trump outlining a framework for a trade deal and clarifying possible tariff rates on European automotive exports. Trump said on…

The Serbian capital of Belgrade plans to acquire 100 electric buses from Chinese manufacturer Higer in preparation for Expo 2027, with the new fleet to be deployed ahead of the international event. The procurement includes a mix of battery-electric and supercapacitor-powered vehicles and forms part of the city’s efforts to modernize its public transport system and reduce emissions during the three-month exposition. According to local news outlet eKapija, the order comprises 50 battery-electric buses and 50 buses powered by supercapacitors. Among the 100 vehicles will be 15 double-articulated electric buses, each 25 metres long, which will serve two key routes…