Author: Floyd Hawkins

BMW has announced a substantial investment of 200 million euros in its component plant in Landshut, Germany, aimed at expanding production capacity. The focus of this expansion will be on producing the central housing for the electric drive unit of the Neue Klasse, a pivotal step in BMW’s commitment to electric mobility. The new production facility, which will house component production for the Neue Klasse, will feature three levels and two production lines. BMW plans to utilize the “Injector Casting” process in this facility, ensuring that parts are cast with optimal mechanical properties. This process not only reduces energy consumption…

In a strategic move to seize opportunities in China’s burgeoning electric vehicle market, Volkswagen Group is ramping up its investment in electrification, eyeing an extensive expansion in the region. By 2030, the German automotive giant plans to offer over 30 all-electric models across its various brands solely in China. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the production and sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) witnessed a significant surge in 2023, exceeding 9.58 million and 9.49 million units respectively, marking a notable year-on-year increase. China’s dominance in NEV production and sales, constituting over 60 percent of the…

BMW has officially obtained planning permission for its new battery assembly plant in Lower Bavaria, marking a significant step forward for the project’s construction. The district office had previously approved an early start for soil removal, construction site equipment, and the installation of construction and office containers at the end of March 2024. BMW commenced the removal of topsoil from the first construction phase at the beginning of April 2024, intending to reuse it sensibly. The company plans to work closely with local agricultural associations, the government of Lower Bavaria, and the Deggendorf Water Management Office to distribute the topsoil…

Nuevo León’s State Secretary of Economy, Iván Rivas Rodríguez, has confirmed that Tesla’s global staff reduction has no impact on the construction of Giga Mexico. He stated to Milenio that work on the Tesla Gigafactory in Mexico, located in the municipality of Santa Catarina, is progressing as planned, and the company’s investment in the region remains on track. “Everything continues as planned, I could tell you that the plant is going,” Rodríguez said. “… continuous work with them has not changed; there has not been anything different as a result of [the global layoffs], so we do not see any…

Doosan Robotics and LG Electronics have collaborated to create an automated charger for electric vehicles, operated by a robot. The system, currently undergoing pilot operation at LG’s research and development complex in Seoul, consists of a kiosk for vehicle recognition and payment processing, and an automatic main charger. Upon entering the designated charging area, an electric vehicle is recognized by a camera, which then transmits vehicle-related information to the charging system. After driver authentication, an AI-based 3D camera mounted on the robot locates the charging port and connects the charging cable, initiating the charging process. Once charging is complete, the…

Tesla’s upcoming Spring update is expected to bring significant enhancements to its vehicle lineup, including new visual updates for Model 3 and Model Y units equipped with AMD chips, as well as Auto Shift Beta improvements for Model S and Model X units from the 2021 model year onwards. Additionally, the update will introduce Hands-Free Trunk features. Notably, the Cybertruck will receive several new features, including Powersharing from Vehicle to Home. This capability will allow the all-electric pickup truck to power homes using a Universal Home Connector and Powershare Gateway during grid outages. Other features expected in the update include…

The Formula E debut at Misano, Italy, delivered a weekend of exhilarating races, with Nissan’s Oliver Rowland claiming victory on Saturday and Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein dominating on Sunday. Despite Porsche’s initial success on Saturday, Antonio Felix da Costa’s disqualification handed the win to Rowland, who showcased impressive form throughout the race. Formula E’s decision to move from Rome to the permanent Misano racetrack for 2024 presented new challenges. The faster, albeit shortened, circuit required meticulous energy management from drivers, with the race dynamics shifting significantly between the energy-saving phase and the final sprint. Minor collisions marred Saturday’s race, affecting championship…

Rivian has introduced several new features in its latest software update aimed at simplifying the public charging experience for its R1S and R1T vehicles. One of the standout features is a reliability scoring system, which helps drivers identify the most reliable fast chargers on their route. Similar to Tesla, Rivian has prioritized software development, leveraging it as a key differentiator and a means to enhance the overall ownership experience. With a fully integrated software stack, Rivian can swiftly roll out updates and introduce new features, providing an advantage as the brand continues to grow. The latest update from Rivian includes…

Chinese car manufacturer GAC has revealed plans to introduce solid-state battery technology in its vehicles within the next two years. The company aims to debut this technology in series production vehicles under the Hyper brand from GAC Aion starting in 2026. GAC claims that its pure solid-state batteries offer an energy density of approximately 400 Wh/kg, enabling electric cars to achieve ranges of over 1,000 kilometers according to Chinese standards. The announcement was made at a recent technology day organized by the manufacturer, as reported by Chinese media. Developing a solid-state battery is likened to climbing Mount Everest, requiring breakthroughs…

BMW has achieved a significant milestone in its electrification journey by delivering its one-millionth fully electric vehicle (EV) in the first quarter of this year. This milestone, marked by the delivery of the one-millionth EV since the market launch of the BMW i3, underscores the attractiveness of BMW’s electric vehicle product portfolio. Jochen Holler, a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, commented, “The BMW Group is continuing on its BEV growth path. With the delivery of its one-millionth fully-electric vehicle since the market launch of the BMW i3, we have reached a significant milestone that confirms the…

Ford Motor has announced price cuts for some variants of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck, reducing prices by as much as $5,500, the company said on Thursday, as it navigates a competitive electric vehicle (EV) market. Demand for EVs has been volatile, leading automakers to focus more on hybrid vehicles as consumers prefer the flexibility offered by dual powertrains. The XLT variant of the F-150 Lightning will now cost $2,000 less at $62,995, while the Lariat variant will see a 3.14% decrease, with a suggested price of $76,995. Prices for the PRO and Platinum variants will remain unchanged. The…

Tesla has announced the launch of new Sport Seats for its Model S Plaid, aimed at improving the driving comfort and support of its high-performance electric sedan. The Model S Plaid, known for its impressive acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in just 1.99 seconds, has garnered attention for its supercar-like performance capabilities. While the Model S Plaid has been praised for its acceleration and overall performance, some drivers have noted that the standard seats lacked the necessary support for spirited driving. https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1778602733861220480 In response to customer feedback, Tesla has introduced the new Sport Seats for the Model S Plaid.…

Chinese automaker Chery is set to establish its first manufacturing site in Europe, with Spain being the chosen location for its ambitious plans. The move comes as Chery aims to introduce three brands in Europe and launch three new models for each brand by 2026. Chery’s decision to manufacture cars in Spain is part of its broader strategy to penetrate the European market, which currently has an electric vehicle (EV) market share of just 12%, half that of Portugal and France. Despite the slow uptake of EVs in Spain, Chery intends to produce combustion engine, hybrid, and electric vehicles at…

Construction activities have commenced at BMW’s new battery assembly plant in Straßkirchen, Germany, with the first excavators moving into action on Wednesday. The manufacturer had sought permission from the local district office for an early start to construction, which was granted last week, according to a report by Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR). Initial construction machinery has been delivered to the site, and the tape previously used to mark the area since February, meant to deter nesting bird species, has been removed. As confirmed by the site manager to BR reporters, the initial excavation work began on Wednesday. Despite this progress, BMW…

Israeli battery developer StoreDot has announced the official opening of its new Advanced Technology Campus in Irvine, California. The 5,800 square-foot facility will serve as StoreDot’s North American research and development hub, strengthening its presence in the region and enhancing collaboration with major automotive customers and manufacturing partners. Dr. David Lee, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of the Advanced Technology Campus, expressed excitement about the new facility, stating, “We are excited to officially open our Advanced Technology Campus in the heart of Southern California’s technology corridor, representing another major step towards commercializing our game-changing XFC battery technology.” He added, “This…

IM Motors, the electric vehicle (EV) arm of SAIC Motor Corp, has announced that its new model, the IM L6, will be equipped with solid-state batteries, providing the vehicle with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers. The IM L6 will be built on a quasi-900 V high-voltage platform, making it the industry’s first production vehicle to carry an ultra-fast-charging solid-state battery, according to IM Motors co-CEO Liu Tao. In a statement on Weibo, Liu Tao said, “Over 1,000 kilometers of range + quasi 900 V ultra-fast charging will completely solve the mileage anxiety of pure electric vehicles.” Liu emphasized…

Xiaomi founder, chairman, and CEO Lei Jun is gearing up for the launch of the company’s first electric vehicle (EV), scheduled to be unveiled in just two days, as he continues to emphasize Xiaomi’s commitment to smart driving capabilities. In a recent Weibo post, Lei reiterated Xiaomi’s focus on smart driving, stating, “Smart driving is the key battleground for smart electric vehicles.” He highlighted Xiaomi’s significant investment in this area, with the company’s smart driving research and development (R&D) team now exceeding 1,000 people and expected to surpass 1,500 by the end of the year. Lei emphasized Xiaomi’s rapid progress…

UK charge point operator Connected Kerb has announced plans to more than double the number of electric vehicle chargers in North East England, following its partnership with South Tyneside Council. Under the partnership, Connected Kerb and South Tyneside Council will deploy up to 2,100 new charge points, marking the largest installation of public EV charge points in the North of England to date. This initiative aims to address the region’s underdeveloped charging infrastructure, which currently has only 2.7 percent of the UK’s charging stations despite being home to about 4 percent of the UK’s population. “This equates to just 58…

Tesla has officially launched an enhanced version of its Autopark feature in the latest Software Update 2024.2.11. CEO Elon Musk had hinted at this development earlier, promising a more robust parking experience for Tesla owners. According to details from Not a Tesla App, the new Autopark version allows Tesla vehicles to automatically park, including parallel parking, in designated spaces. Drivers will be alerted to potential parking spaces through the vehicle’s display when driving at low speeds. They can then select a highlighted space of their choice for parking. A Tesla spokesperson emphasized the importance of driver attention even with Autopark…

BMW has unveiled its latest electric vehicle (EV), the Vision Neue Klasse X, marking the next chapter in its “Neue Klasse” EV design strategy. This new Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV) represents BMW’s commitment to electrification and will enter production next year. The “Neue Klasse” (new class) strategy signifies BMW’s move towards a new era of branded vehicles offering enhanced performance. The Vision Neue Klasse X is part of this strategy and promises 30% more range, 30% faster charging, and a 25% improvement in efficiency compared to current models. Last year, BMW showcased its vision for the Neue Klasse with the…