Author: Floyd Hawkins

Tesla has confirmed the arrival of two highly anticipated variants of the new 2026 Model Y: the Performance trim and a seven-seat configuration, both expected to launch later this year. The announcement was made during a recent episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, which showcased the updated Model Y. While Tesla has yet to disclose full specifications, the new Model Y Performance is expected to feature enhancements similar to those in the refreshed Model 3 Performance, such as a more powerful rear motor, increased torque, and upgraded adaptive suspension. If these upgrades are carried over, the Model Y Performance could see…

Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China declined sharply in January from the previous month, as the Chinese New Year holiday affected demand and the market entered a seasonal slowdown, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed. Retail sales of passenger NEVs totaled 744,000 units last month, down 42.9% from December but up 10.5% year-on-year. The figure was lower than the CPCA’s preliminary estimate of 786,000 units released on February 8 but higher than the 720,000 units projected at the end of January. See also: German Automakers’ EV Market Share in China Drops to 5% from 6.5%…

Mallaghan has introduced what it describes as North America’s first fully electric refrigerated catering truck designed for the aviation sector. The CT6000E, developed in collaboration with International Motors, was presented at Logan International Airport in Boston during a ceremony attended by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and other state officials. See also: ZF Partners with Range Energy to Develop E-Trailers for North American Commercial Vehicles “This launch marks a significant milestone for both Mallaghan and the aviation industry as a whole in North America,” said Joe Griffith, Chief Commercial Officer at Mallaghan. “The CT6000E not only reinforces our commitment to innovation…

The European Commission has selected 39 projects aimed at enhancing charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, alongside efforts to decarbonize airports and ports. A total of €422 million has been earmarked for the second phase of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF), which began in February 2024. This round of funding will support the installation of approximately 2,500 electric vehicle (EV) charging points for light-duty vehicles and 2,400 for heavy-duty vehicles across Europe’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Among the major beneficiaries is the joint venture Milence, consisting of Daimler Truck, Traton, and Volvo Group, which will receive €111 million to establish…

Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, has deepened its strategic collaboration with French technology firm Mistral in a bid to accelerate its use of artificial intelligence (AI) in industry data analysis. This move aligns with the growing trend among automakers to leverage AI to streamline processes, including analyzing customer feedback, improving manufacturing quality, and reducing product development timelines. Ned Curic, Stellantis’ Chief Engineering and Technology Officer, emphasized the impact of AI on decision-making. “Will this technology continue to help us? Of course,” Curic told Reuters. “Instead of waiting for analysis for weeks, we can do that in minutes and make a…

Chinese automaker BYD will introduce its proprietary advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) to a wider range of its vehicles, including more affordable models, the company said on Monday, as competition in the smart electric vehicle (EV) sector intensifies. BYD’s “God’s Eye” ADAS will be installed in all its models priced above 100,000 yuan ($13,688), founder Wang Chuanfu said during a livestreamed event. The system will also be available in three models priced below that threshold, including the Seal 05 DM-i plug-in hybrid, which starts at 89,800 yuan, Wang added. The company plans to launch 21 new models equipped with the system,…

Ikea Australia has made significant progress in its transition to electric delivery vehicles, with 65% of home deliveries completed by zero-emission vehicles as of January 2025. However, the company is facing infrastructure challenges that have delayed its goal of fully electrifying its fleet by next year. The shift marks a substantial increase from just 5% in 2022, and Ikea Australia expects the share of electric deliveries to reach 90% by the end of 2025, covering all metropolitan areas. However, the remaining 10%—largely involving regional deliveries—remains uncertain. “We aim to achieve this as soon as technology allows,” the company stated. To…

BMW has started assembling electric cars in India, beginning with the iX1 Long Wheelbase (LWB), as part of its strategy to offer more competitively priced models in the country. The German automaker’s move marks India’s first right-hand drive market to receive the locally assembled iX1 LWB. The company is believed to import semi-knocked-down kits from its BMW Brilliance joint venture plant in Tiexi, China, and conduct final assembly at its factory in Chennai. See also: BMW to Utilize Modified Platform for Upcoming X5 Electric Model By assembling the iX1 LWB locally, BMW benefits from India’s lower customs duty of 15%…

Norway reached a new milestone in electric vehicle adoption, with electric cars accounting for 95.8% of new passenger car registrations in January 2025. Out of 9,343 new cars registered, 8,954 were fully electric. This marks a significant increase from the same period in the previous year, when 92.1% of new registrations were electric, but with a smaller total number of cars—4,717 out of 5,122. The Norwegian Road Information Authority (OFV) views this as a reflection of “economic optimism,” noting that the number of new car registrations is approaching pre-2023 levels, when the market faced a decline. Øyvind Solberg Thorsen, Director…

Xpeng has unveiled a promotional financing policy in China, joining Tesla in what appears to be a near-simultaneous entry into the ongoing price war within the electric vehicle (EV) market. Less than two hours after Tesla announced a new insurance subsidy for its Model 3 in China, Xpeng responded by introducing an industry-first zero-down payment and zero-interest financing program, aimed at making EVs more accessible to a broader audience. The new financing policy, announced on Weibo, offers Chinese customers up to five years of zero-interest financing with no down payment. According to Xpeng, this is the only five-year, zero-percent interest,…

Xpeng is targeting a significant increase in vehicle deliveries in 2025, aiming to double its output from the 190,068 units delivered in 2024. CEO He Xiaopeng revealed this ambitious goal in a speech at a Guangdong provincial government conference, marking the first time the company has officially set a delivery target for 2025. The new target places Xpeng on track for about 380,000 deliveries in 2025. The announcement comes as local competitors, such as Nio, have also set similar delivery expectations. Nio, which delivered 221,970 vehicles in 2024, is aiming for a target of approximately 440,000 deliveries in 2025. However,…

Fusion Processing has successfully completed the development of the world’s first fully autonomous, full-sized electric bus, powered by its CAVstar® automated drive system. The vehicle, an Alexander Dennis Enviro100AEV, is set to undergo testing as part of the Connector project, an initiative supported by Innovate UK and aimed at advancing autonomous public transport in the UK. The testing will take place in Cambridge, where the bus is expected to begin operations later this year. The Connector project, led by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, involves a consortium of partners including Fusion Processing, Alexander Dennis, IPG Automotive, dRISK, and Gamma Energy. It…