Author: Floyd Hawkins

Beijing Hyundai, the joint venture between Hyundai Motor Co and BAIC Group, is set to introduce its first dedicated electric SUV, the Elexio, in China in the third quarter of 2025. Recently released regulatory data reveals that the vehicle will feature lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs supplied by FinDreams, a battery subsidiary of Chinese EV leader BYD. The Elexio, positioned in the mid-size SUV segment, measures 4.62 metres in length and 1.88 metres in width, with a wheelbase of 2.75 metres. Two drive configurations will be offered: a front-wheel drive variant powered by a 160 kW electric motor and…

Lucid plans to introduce a trio of new electric vehicles based on a midsize platform beginning in late 2026, with a target price point of around $50,000, the company’s interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said this week. The move marks Lucid’s entry into a more affordable EV segment dominated by Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y. Lucid, known for its luxury Air sedan and upcoming Gravity SUV, is preparing to expand its lineup with three vehicles built on a new midsize EV platform. Speaking on the Automotive News Daily Drive podcast, Winterhoff said the platform will support “three top hats,” with…

British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis has announced a major restructuring of its UK production footprint, proposing the closure of its two Scottish factories in Falkirk and Larbert and the consolidation of operations at its facility in Scarborough, England. The decision puts up to 400 jobs at risk and marks a significant shift for one of the country’s oldest vehicle builders. The move follows a comprehensive internal review and is part of a broader effort to adapt to “changing market dynamics,” according to the company. A formal consultation process with employees and stakeholders has begun. “We must take significant action to…

The families of three individuals killed in a September 2024 Tesla Model S crash in New Jersey have filed a lawsuit against Tesla Inc, alleging that the vehicle’s Autopilot system was defective and unreasonably dangerous, leading to the fatal accident. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by the estates of David Dryerman, his wife Michele Dryerman, and their daughter Brooke Dryerman. The family was returning from a music festival when their Model S left its lane and struck a concrete bridge support. All three were reportedly wearing seatbelts at the time.…

Mercedes-Benz is deploying nearly 5,000 electric vans to Amazon’s European delivery partners, marking the automaker’s largest electric vehicle delivery to date. The rollout will take place over the coming months across five European countries, with over 2,500 vehicles bound for Germany alone. Three-quarters of the new fleet are the larger eSprinter vans, while the rest are compact eVito panel vans. According to Amazon, this electric fleet will help deliver more than 200 million parcels annually across the region. The milestone expands on an existing partnership formed in 2020, when Amazon first integrated over 1,800 Mercedes electric vans into its logistics…

Tesla began a small-scale deployment of its self-driving taxi service in Austin over the weekend, with a handful of modified vehicles picking up paying passengers as part of a carefully monitored pilot trial. The launch, announced by CEO Elon Musk, comes after years of development and is being closely watched as Tesla races to fulfill its long-standing promise of a fully autonomous transport service. A fleet of about ten Tesla vehicles equipped for autonomous driving began operations on Sunday, circulating in Austin’s South Congress neighborhood. The vehicles featured no one in the driver’s seat but included a Tesla employee seated…

Tariffs on cars and parts are reshaping how Americans buy and budget for vehicles, with more than 70% of prospective car buyers adjusting their plans in response to rising costs, according to a new LendingTree survey. Half of consumers planning to purchase a vehicle in 2025 said they’ve increased their budgets due to tariffs, while 72% reported changing their timeline — with 37% planning to buy sooner and 36% delaying their purchase. LendingTree insurance expert Rob Bhatt noted that the long-term impact of tariffs remains uncertain. “We don’t know the full impact of tariffs on car prices yet, and we…

IVECO Bus has delivered the first 13 of 19 new E-WAY electric buses to the Malaga Transport Company (EMT), further expanding the Spanish city’s fleet of zero-emission vehicles. The new additions will join 80 existing electric buses in service, with six more expected soon, reinforcing Malaga’s commitment to sustainable urban mobility. Designed for maneuverability on the city’s narrow streets, the 9.5-meter-long and 2.33-meter-wide buses feature a modular NMC battery system tailored to meet EMT’s charging and passenger capacity requirements. Each E-WAY bus can accommodate up to 55 passengers, including 16 seated, and offers accessible low-floor entry with both manual and…

Ireland is set to significantly expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure with the addition of 53 new high-powered charging hubs, supported by €7.9 million in government funding. The new hubs, scheduled to be operational by the end of 2025, will bring 175 fast and ultra-fast charging points to the national road network, improving long-distance EV travel and accessibility. The investment, part of the Light Duty Vehicle (LDV) strand of the Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) programme, was announced by Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien. “We’re taking real, practical steps to make electric vehicles work for everyone,” O’Brien said. “With…

Factorial has launched Gammatron™, a proprietary AI-powered simulation platform designed to accelerate the research and development of next-generation batteries. The platform leverages artificial intelligence, advanced modeling, and high-fidelity lab data to enhance the prediction, validation, and optimization of battery performance at both the material and system levels. “Validating a new cell design can take years,” said Siyu Huang, CEO of Factorial. “With Gammatron™, we’ve demonstrated that we can dramatically shorten that timeline—forecasting long-term performance from just two weeks of early testing, instead of the typical three to six months.” Born from Factorial’s internal R&D needs, the tool aims to address…

At least six cities and regions in China have suspended their car trade-in subsidy programs this month, a development that could dampen auto sales momentum in the world’s second-largest economy. The suspensions come as the initial round of central government funding for the incentive program runs dry and regulators respond to mounting concerns over misuse. Local authorities in Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Shenyang, and Chongqing, along with the Xinjiang region, cited either exhausted funding or adjustments aimed at improving the efficiency of capital use, according to official notices reviewed by Reuters. The program, part of a broader government effort to spur domestic…

Scania announced it will begin offering electric trucks with Megawatt Charging System (MCS) capability starting in early 2026, a move the company says will significantly enhance the practicality and profitability of long-haul electric freight. The announcement was made at EVS38 in Gothenburg, where Scania confirmed that its R 450e truck will be the first model equipped with an MCS port from the factory. While MCS is designed to support charging up to 3,750 kW, Scania’s first implementation will offer a charging capacity of up to 750 kW — about twice the current maximum of the CCS2 standard. The system will…