Author: Floyd Hawkins

Onvo, the sub-brand of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio (NYSE: NIO), said Monday that pre-sales for its new flagship SUV, the L90, will begin on July 10. The company will simultaneously make display vehicles available at all its stores. The L90, a full-size three-row SUV, features a six-seat layout with what appears to be zero-gravity seats in the second row — a premium comfort option gaining traction among domestic SUV buyers. This marks the first interior reveal for the model, which was originally previewed during the 2025 Shanghai auto show in April. “The L90 is designed to elevate family travel…

Polestar said on Tuesday that its public charging service, Polestar Charge, now provides access to over 1 million charging points across Europe. The company stated that this expansion positions the app among the most extensive public charging services available in the region. The service is accessible in all Polestar markets across Europe and integrates a range of providers, including IONITY, Recharge, Fastned, Allego, Tesla Superchargers, and Total, along with various local charging networks. The aim is to simplify public EV charging for drivers by consolidating access and payment into one platform. Since its launch in March 2024, Polestar Charge has…

Stellantis may be forced to shut down factories in Europe if it cannot meet the European Union’s CO2 emissions targets, the automaker’s Europe chief said on Tuesday, as stricter climate regulations put increasing pressure on manufacturers to accelerate their transition to electric vehicles (EVs). The EU’s regulatory framework requires automakers to reduce fleet-wide emissions or face significant penalties. While industry lobbying has helped defer some of the compliance deadlines—with fines now tied to emissions over 2025–2027 rather than solely in 2025—carmakers still face steep targets. Jean-Philippe Imparato, head of Stellantis’ European operations, said at a conference in Rome that the…

BYD posted record monthly new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in June, with 382,585 units sold, reflecting an 11.98% year-on-year increase. The figure represents the company’s strongest monthly performance in 2025, following a series of price cuts announced in late May. Despite the milestone, sequential growth was marginal, up just 0.03% from May, marking the third consecutive month with month-on-month increases below 1%. The June total includes 377,628 passenger NEVs—up 11.00% year-on-year and 0.19% from the previous month—and 4,957 commercial NEVs, which surged 242.57% year-on-year but declined 10.62% compared to May. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales among passenger NEVs reached 206,884…

Redwood Materials has unveiled a new business unit, Redwood Energy, focused on converting used electric vehicle batteries into cost-effective, large-scale energy storage systems. The company, founded by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, aims to extract residual value from EV batteries before recycling, providing a scalable solution for growing grid demands. The new venture recently deployed its first major project—a 12 MW, 63 MWh microgrid built entirely from second-life EV batteries. The system is currently powering a modular data center operated by Crusoe AI and is reported to operate at a lower cost compared to conventional storage technologies. https://twitter.com/RedwoodMat/status/1938440536928420243 Redwood Energy’s strategy…

Volkswagen has increased its investment in U.S. electric vehicle maker Rivian by an additional $1 billion, after Rivian achieved two consecutive quarters of gross profit — a key milestone defined in the agreement between the companies. The payment marks the second tranche of a potential $5.8 billion partnership announced in 2024, which includes $3.5 billion for equity investment in Rivian and $2.3 billion allocated to a joint venture. The venture, Rivian Volkswagen Technologies, is aimed at developing electric vehicle (EV) software and electronics architecture for both companies. See also: Rivian’s R2 Platform to Become Backbone of Volkswagen EV Strategy Volkswagen…

Hyundai and Kia are offering discounts of up to $17,000 on their electric vehicle models in several key global markets as part of a broader effort to boost sales outside the United States amid rising trade tensions and looming tariffs. The South Korean carmakers have launched aggressive promotional campaigns across regions including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Discounts are being applied to popular models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, and the Kia EV9. According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, buyers in Serbia are seeing price cuts of up to $17,400 on some…

The global electric vehicle (EV) fleet has reached 56 million units, with China accounting for more than half of that total, according to a new study by Germany’s Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW). The report underlines the growing dominance of Chinese automakers in the transition to electric mobility. China, the world’s largest automotive market, is home to 31.4 million EVs — about 56% of the global total. The United States ranks second with 6.4 million, followed by Germany with 2.6 million. The United Kingdom and France each have around 2.1 million electric vehicles, while Norway, with…

Travis Kalanick, co-founder and former CEO of Uber Technologies, is exploring a possible acquisition of the U.S. division of Chinese autonomous vehicle startup Pony.ai, The New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Kalanick is said to be working with a group of investors to finance the deal, and Uber may also play a role in facilitating the transaction. The potential acquisition would mark Kalanick’s re-entry into the autonomous driving sector, which he exited in 2017 after resigning from Uber. Pony.ai, which went public last year with a market capitalization of roughly $4.5 billion, reportedly began preparing…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that the company has completed what it claims is the first-ever fully autonomous vehicle delivery to a customer, marking a milestone in the company’s efforts to commercialize self-driving technology. According to Musk, the vehicle departed from Tesla’s Gigafactory in Texas and arrived at the customer’s location without a driver or remote operator at any point during the trip. “There were no people in the car at all and no remote operators in control at any point. FULLY autonomous!” Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first…

Uber is stepping up efforts to support electric vehicle (EV) adoption among its drivers and couriers through new partnerships aimed at expanding charging access and offering electric two-wheel transport options. The ride-hailing giant announced collaborations with C40 Cities and electric mobility firm Vmoto, targeting key metropolitan areas in the UK, US, and Europe. Through its agreement with C40 Cities, a network of global city mayors focused on climate action, Uber will work to improve EV infrastructure for up to 55,000 high-mileage Uber drivers in London, Boston, and Phoenix. The partnership will focus on data analysis, policy engagement, and technical support…

Mercedes-AMG has revealed the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, a fully electric four-door performance prototype that combines axial flux motor technology, Formula 1-inspired battery design, and active aerodynamic features in a preview of the brand’s future high-performance electric vehicles. The concept is scheduled to enter series production in 2026 on AMG’s dedicated electric vehicle platform, AMG.EA. Powered by three axial flux motors – two at the rear in a High Performance Electric Drive Unit (HP.EDU) and one at the front for boost functionality – the drivetrain system delivers over 1,000 kW. The motors were developed by YASA, a British e-motor firm…