Author: Floyd Hawkins

Xpeng has filed for regulatory approval of its next-generation P7 electric sedan, marking a key step toward commercial launch in China. The model appears in the latest catalog released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), with public feedback open from May 24 to 30. The new P7—internally codenamed E29—has been listed under three model numbers: NHQ7002BEVEA, NHQ7002BEVEB, and NHQ7002BEVEC. All versions are battery electric vehicles (BEVs) manufactured at Xpeng’s Guangzhou plant. The company previously confirmed the model will launch in China between July and August as a successor to the P7i. Measuring 5,017 mm in length, 1,970…

Hackney Council has introduced a new electric vehicle (EV) car club pilot in collaboration with Zipcar and charging provider Zest, offering residents shared access to EVs and on-street charging infrastructure as part of a broader effort to promote low-emission transport options in the borough. The pilot scheme will initially provide 15 electric vehicles through Zipcar, supported by 70 on-street fast charging connectors. The council said the new initiative is a step toward its goal of ensuring half of its proposed 300-car club fleet will be fully electric by 2026. “I am really pleased that we’re offering residents inclusive affordable access…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng revealed the Max variant of its popular Mona M03 electric sedan, with show cars arriving in showrooms from May 21 and an official launch planned for later this month. At an event featuring current Mona M03 owners, Xpeng’s chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng formally unboxed the Max variant. The company originally launched the Mona M03 in August 2024 with three variants — 515, 620, and 580 Max — priced from RMB 119,800 ($16,590) to RMB 155,800. Deliveries of the more affordable 515 and 620 variants began in August last year. Since its debut, the Mona…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio (NYSE: NIO) has started delivering its facelifted ES6 SUV and EC6 coupe SUV in China, following their launch last Friday. The company announced on its social media channels that deliveries of the updated models began today, though it did not disclose the number of vehicles delivered. The updated ES6 and EC6, unveiled on May 16, feature numerous upgrades including a transition to Nio’s proprietary Shenji NX9031 autonomous driving chip. Nio claims the chip offers computing power equivalent to four Nvidia Orin X chips, a notable increase over its 2024 models which come with four Nvidia…

Onvo, the sub-brand of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio, has disclosed energy efficiency and range specifications for its upcoming flagship SUV, the L90, ahead of its official launch expected in the third quarter of 2025. The L90 will come standard with an 85-kWh battery pack, providing a CLTC-rated range of up to 605 kilometers for the rear-wheel-drive version and 570 kilometers for the all-wheel-drive variant, according to an announcement posted by Onvo on Weibo. Energy consumption is listed at 14.5 kWh and 15.4 kWh per 100 kilometers for the rear- and all-wheel-drive versions, respectively. The SUV is built on a…

Denza, the premium electric vehicle brand under Chinese automaker BYD, announced that the 10,000th unit of its flagship N9 SUV has rolled off the production line, just two months after the model was officially launched. The milestone was shared via Denza’s official Weibo account, highlighting rapid production progress for the luxury six-seat SUV, which debuted on March 21. The N9 is available in two variants, priced at RMB 389,800 ($54,090) and RMB 449,800 respectively. Positioned as Denza’s top-tier model, the N9 measures 5,258 mm in length, 2,030 mm in width, and 1,830 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,125…

Robert Falck, founder of electric and autonomous trucking company Einride, has stepped down as CEO, transitioning to the role of executive chairman as the Swedish startup prepares to scale operations, raise additional funding, and consider a future public offering. Falck, who founded Einride in 2016 with the goal of decarbonizing freight transport, said the leadership transition will allow him to focus on the company’s long-term strategic direction. “After nearly a decade of building as CEO, it’s time to shift my focus to where I can create the most long-term value,” he said in a statement. “As executive chairman, I will…

Hyundai’s premium brand Genesis has unveiled a facelift of its Electrified G80 sedan, featuring a larger battery, extended wheelbase, and a suite of design and technology upgrades. The revised model will go on sale in the UK starting June 2025, the company said. Originally introduced in 2021, the Electrified G80 was Genesis’s first electric sedan, built on the existing G80 combustion model. The facelift brings a new 94.5 kWh battery—up from the previous 87.2 kWh pack—which enables an estimated range of up to 570 kilometres on a full charge under WLTP standards. Genesis said the vehicle can be recharged from…

Hyundai Motor Co plans to temporarily halt production of its Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric models at its Ulsan plant in South Korea for the third time this year, as the automaker continues to grapple with sluggish global electric vehicle (EV) sales. The production pause will affect Line 2 at the Ulsan facility from May 27 to May 30, according to Newsis reports citing industry sources. Despite rolling out a domestic discount campaign earlier this month that offered savings of over 6 million won ($4,300) on the Ioniq 5, sales have failed to rebound. Hyundai exported 9,663 units of the Ioniq…

Global electric vehicle (EV) sales hit a new milestone in 2024, surpassing 17 million units and accounting for over 20% of all car sales worldwide for the first time, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest Global EV Outlook. The report forecasts EVs will capture more than 40% of global car sales by 2030, as declining costs and growing model availability drive adoption. “Despite significant uncertainties, electric cars remain on a strong growth trajectory globally,” said Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA. “Sales continue to set new records, with major implications for the international auto industry.” The IEA…

Fang Cheng Bao, a premium electric vehicle sub-brand of Chinese automaker BYD (HKG:1211), has delivered 100,000 vehicles since its first model entered the market in late 2023, placing it among the fastest-growing automotive brands in China. The brand announced the milestone on Monday, 18 months after the initial deliveries of its first model, the Bao 5 off-road SUV. Fang Cheng Bao was officially launched in August 2023 along with BYD’s new DMO technology platform, designed to support electrified off-road capabilities. The Bao 5 was unveiled in November 2023, marking the beginning of deliveries. Since then, the brand has expanded its…

Rivian Automotive is continuing to reveal details about its forthcoming R2 electric SUV, with the latest update focusing on significant design improvements to the vehicle’s internal wiring system. CEO RJ Scaringe shared a comparison of the new body harness on social media, highlighting reductions in size, weight, and overall complexity aimed at improving manufacturing efficiency and sustainability. The redesigned body harness, which connects key electrical components throughout the vehicle, builds upon Rivian’s zonal electronic control unit (ECU) architecture. See also: Rivian Shares Technical Progress on R2 Drive Unit as Validation Builds Advance According to Scaringe, the new configuration simplifies installation…