Author: Floyd Hawkins

After a 60-year legacy, Chevrolet has announced the discontinuation of the Malibu sedan, marking the end of an era for the iconic model. The move reflects the evolving priorities of the auto industry, with manufacturers like General Motors (GM) increasingly emphasizing SUVs and electric vehicles (EVs) over traditional sedans. Production of the Chevrolet Malibu will continue until November 4th at GM’s Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, alongside the Cadillac XT4. Following this, production will be halted to retool the factory for future vehicles, confirmed a Chevrolet spokesperson to Carscoops. “When production resumes in late 2025, Fairfax will produce both…

In a recent letter to shareholders, Luminar Technologies revealed that electric vehicle giant Tesla was its largest customer for LIDAR products in the first quarter of 2024, accounting for over 10% of its revenue. However, a comment by Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted at a potential shift in their business relationship. Musk, known for his outspoken views on LIDAR, previously dismissed it as a “crutch” for self-driving technology. Despite this, Tesla has reportedly used LIDAR units from Luminar to validate vision data on its test vehicles, a practice that Musk defended as necessary for testing and development purposes. Responding…

Chinese automaker Geely and Israeli auto safety technology startup Foretellix have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the safe large-scale development of self-driving vehicles. In a joint statement, Foretellix and Geely outlined their plans to integrate Foretellix’s safety platform with Geely’s development and verification processes, as well as its advanced simulator. This integration is expected to enhance Geely’s ability to develop and validate autonomous driving technology at scale. The platform will enable automatic analysis of driving logs from Geely’s test vehicles and facilitate the replay of numerous scenarios in virtual simulation. This approach aims to maximize the utilization of…

Leapmotor and Stellantis are gearing up to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) in India, joining a growing list of automakers targeting the country’s burgeoning EV market. Details about their collaborative effort were unveiled, shedding light on the eSUV C16. Both companies have filed for a sales license with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), indicating their intentions to sell EVs not only in China but also globally. India’s EV market has gained prominence following the introduction of a new electric vehicle policy, which aims to facilitate the import of EVs into the country, making it more appealing to companies…

Lucid Motors, in its Q1 earnings call this week, hinted at a future electric vehicle (EV) poised to rival the Tesla Model Y, adding to its lineup that already includes the impressive Air sedan and the upcoming Gravity SUV. CEO Peter Rawlinson, during the earnings call, highlighted the Gravity SUV, scheduled to commence production later this year, and an upcoming mid-size model, expected to be priced around $48,000 and to enter production in late 2026. When asked by an investor about plans for an affordable EV to compete with Tesla, Rawlinson suggested that the mid-size vehicle would play a pivotal…

The Thuringian Ministry for the Environment, Energy, and Nature Conservation has announced its support for Weimar’s initiative to expand its hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet and improve urban transport infrastructure. The funding, totaling approximately 4.8 million euros, will be used to acquire six new hydrogen buses and upgrade infrastructure, including the expansion of the hydrogen workshop and depot conversion. The total project cost is estimated at around 7 million euros. The decision to fund this project, partly sourced from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2021-2027 and Thuringia’s state funds, follows the successful delivery of the first three hydrogen buses…

The Tesla Cybertruck is currently touring Europe, with the company recently highlighting its display in Germany and Norway over the weekend. Tesla shared photos of the Cybertruck display at the Mall of Berlin on its Europe and Middle East page on X, showcasing the electric pickup truck surrounded by curious onlookers. This display follows the Cybertruck’s recent appearance at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Grünheide, Germany, and is part of a larger European tour dubbed the “Cyber Odyssey.” https://twitter.com/teslaeurope/status/1786843088423465104 The Cybertruck has also been spotted in Oslo, Norway, and at Tesla Park Royal in London, United Kingdom. Tesla’s “Cybertruck Odyssey” events in…

Natron Energy, a manufacturer of sodium-ion batteries, has commenced commercial-scale operations at its manufacturing facility in Holland, Michigan, marking the first-ever large-scale production of sodium-ion batteries in the United States. These batteries offer superior power density, longer cycles, a domestically sourced supply chain, and distinct safety features compared to other battery technologies. They are currently the only UL-listed sodium-ion batteries available. The opening ceremony of the facility in Holland, MI featured speeches from Holland Mayor Nathan Bocks, Evelyn Wang, PhD, Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), and Natron Energy’s Founder and Co-CEO Colin Wessells and Co-CEO Wendell Brooks.…

SWO Mobil has selected Daimler Buses as the supplier for 19 new Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric buses, marking a significant step towards electrified mobility in local public transport. The buses are set to be delivered gradually starting from 2025. The contract for the fully electric and emission-free eCitaro solo buses was awarded following a Europe-wide tender. Rüdiger Kappel, Head of Sales Public Transport Germany at Daimler Buses, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are delighted that the eCitaro electric bus partnership with SWO Mobil has now started. This order is another important step for us in the expansion of electrified…

Skoda Auto has unveiled the Enyaq RS Race concept study, signaling a new direction in motorsports that emphasizes sustainability while enhancing the brand’s emotional appeal. This concept aims to elevate Skoda’s motorsport DNA by featuring an aggressive design, highlighted by a substantial rear wing. The Enyaq RS Race concept provides insights into how motorsport technology can drive the transition towards a dynamic and sustainable automotive future. It also serves as a platform for developing and rigorously testing cutting-edge electric technologies for future battery-electric production vehicles. Michal Hrabánek, Head of Skoda Motorsport, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability: “Sustainability is a…

Rivian Automotive has secured an $827 million incentive package from the State of Illinois to support the production of its next-generation electric vehicle, the R2. The funding, announced on Thursday, will be utilized to expand Rivian’s existing factory in Normal, Illinois, upgrade supporting infrastructure, and enhance job training programs for its workforce. The automaker plans to begin updates to the factory “in the coming months.” This announcement follows Rivian’s recent unveiling of the mid-size R2 SUV, expected to be priced around $45,000 when it becomes available for sale in 2026. Additionally, Rivian intends to manufacture and sell a hatchback named…

LG Energy Solution (LGES) has announced plans to reduce capital expenditure following weak earnings, primarily attributed to slow growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales. The South Korean battery manufacturer reported an operating profit of 157.3 billion won (US$114 million), a 75.2% decline compared to the previous year. “We will have to cut capital expenditure considering sluggish EV market conditions and client demand,” stated Lee Chang-sil, LGES’ Chief Finance Officer. The company reported an operating loss for the first quarter, with the exclusion of the advanced manufacturing production credit (AMPC) from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The company’s AMPC totaled 188.9…