Author: Harding Greenwood

Stellantis brand Peugeot said on Tuesday it will upgrade its STLA Medium-based electric models, the E-3008 and E-5008, by equipping them with a battery preheating system as standard, while also expanding the rollout of its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function across its EV lineup. V2L technology, which allows the vehicle’s drive battery to power external devices via a Type 2 socket adapter, was first introduced on updated versions of the E-208 and E-2008. Peugeot said the system, capable of delivering up to 3 kW, will become standard across the E-308 and all versions of the E-408 from early 2026. “This makes V2L…

Turkey will introduce new tariffs on imported cars from mid-November, with fully electric vehicles facing higher duties than combustion engine models, the Ministry of Trade said on Monday. The regulation applies to vehicles imported from countries outside the European Union and those without free trade agreements with Turkey. The ministry said the move aims to protect domestic production, safeguard jobs and reduce the current account deficit. Under the new rules, additional customs duties will be set at 25% of the customs value or at least $6,000 per unit for combustion engine and hybrid vehicles, excluding plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids will…

U.S.-based autonomy provider Forterra has partnered with Volvo Defense, a division of Volvo Trucks, to integrate autonomous mission systems into military transport vehicles, aiming to enhance adaptability and survivability for armed forces. The collaboration, showcased at a defense exhibition, combines Forterra’s AutoDrive® self-driving platform with Volvo’s heavy-duty vehicles. The system enables automation, secure connectivity, and modular upgrades to support a wide range of military applications, including logistics resupply, troop transport, counter-drone operations, and electronic warfare. Volvo Defense, headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, specializes in robust logistic trucks and engines designed for defense use. By embedding Forterra’s autonomy suite, the companies said…

BYD will introduce new variants of its second-generation Qin Plus sedan on September 25, as cumulative deliveries of the model exceed 2.4 million units, the company announced on Sunday. The Qin Plus, first launched in March 2021 as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and later expanded to include battery electric vehicle (BEV) versions, has become one of BYD’s core products. The model measures 4,780 mm in length, 1,837 mm in width, and 1,515 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,718 mm. Current second-generation Qin Plus models are priced from RMB 79,800 ($11,220) for PHEV variants and from RMB…

The Ambitious Air Mobility Group (AAMG) said it has signed a trust agreement with the insolvency administrator of Lilium and received a draft purchase contract for the German air taxi developer’s assets, but warned that legal and financial risks could still derail a deal. The review process aims to clarify the scope of Lilium’s intellectual property, technical data and physical assets. AAMG said it will only weigh potential opportunities against risks once legal guarantees are secured. “We have been waiting a long time to find out what is actually for sale. We still have major concerns, which we are currently…

The Inland Terminals Group (ITG), Zero Emission Services (ZES) and logistics company Nedcargo have launched a new emission-free container transport service on Dutch inland waterways, connecting the city of Den Bosch with the port of Rotterdam. The service uses the vessel MS Den Bosch Max Groen, which operates with swappable battery containers supplied by ZES. The ship entered service in April 2024 and marks a milestone in ZES’s expansion of battery-electric shipping solutions. “It cuts CO2 emissions by 800 tonnes a year. That momentum must be carried forward,” said Eduard Backer, CEO of ITG. Battery swapping infrastructure is now in…

Wuling will officially launch its new all-electric compact car, the Binguo S, on September 27, with pre-sale prices set between 68,800 and 81,800 yuan ($9,500–11,300). The Binguo S will be available in two variants offering driving ranges of 325 km and 430 km under China’s CLTC testing cycle. Both versions use a front-wheel-drive setup with a 75 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 100 hp and 180 Nm of torque. The shorter-range model is fitted with a 31.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, while the longer-range option carries a 41.9 kWh battery. Measuring 4,265 mm in length, 1,785 mm…

The Nissan Ariya, a compact electric SUV built on the same AmpR Medium platform as the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric, has received a marginal rating for rear passenger safety in the 40-mph moderate overlap crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said. The nonprofit noted that injury values indicated a high risk of chest injuries for rear occupants, though the shoulder belt positioning was rated as optimal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKLIEOU7pnM While the Ariya struggled in this specific scenario, it performed strongly in other evaluations. The IIHS awarded top marks for the vehicle’s small overlap front and side impact crash tests,…

Swedish freight technology company Einride has deployed a fully autonomous heavy goods vehicle on a public road in Belgium for the first time. The demonstration took place at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and received approval under Belgian legislation, the company said on Thursday. Einride described the port as one of the most complex logistics hubs in the world, adding that autonomous systems could streamline goods flows and reduce emissions by using resources more efficiently. The company has previously run tests in the United States, the Middle East and elsewhere in Europe and said the latest trial was part of its…

Mitsubishi Motors has unveiled the all-new battery-electric Eclipse Cross for Europe, marking its first fully electric model in the region since 2010. Built alongside the Renault Scénic E-Tech Electric at Renault’s ElectriCity Douai Plant in northern France, the compact SUV offers up to 600 kilometres of driving range from an 87 kWh battery. Developed on the CMF-EV platform, the Eclipse Cross delivers 160 kW of output and 300 Nm of torque, with four-stage regenerative braking and one-pedal driving functionality. Mitsubishi also confirmed a medium-range version is planned for 2026, likely featuring a 60 kWh battery pack, though specifications have not…

EV Realty, a U.S. startup developing electric truck charging infrastructure, has raised $75 million to expand its network of hubs in California, the company told TechCrunch. The funding round, led by private equity firm NGP with participation from EV Realty’s management team, will support new projects including a 76-stall fast-charging hub in San Bernardino. The site will feature Megawatt Charging System plugs with “pull through” stalls, enabling semitrucks to recharge without disconnecting trailers. The hub is expected to support more than 200 Class 8 trucks per day once operational. EV Realty currently runs five hubs across California near warehouses, ports,…

Tesla has reduced the forgiveness window for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system’s “strikes,” cutting the reset period from seven days to three and a half days in its latest 2025.32+ software update. The change was first noted in the updated online Owner’s Manual by Not a Tesla App. The system issues strikes if drivers fail to stay attentive, such as ignoring prompts to keep their hands on the wheel or eyes on the road. Accumulating multiple strikes within a short span can temporarily suspend access to FSD. “Strikes now expire in just three and a half days instead of an…

The IPH – Institute for Integrated Production Hannover and MFP Messtechnik & Fertigungstechnologie have launched a joint research initiative, “MotorInspector,” to improve the production quality of electric motors through automated measurement of the rotor-stator air gap. Electric motors are central not only to electric vehicles—which now make up around 20% of new car registrations in Germany—but also to two-wheelers, ships, and aircraft. The gap between the rotor, the moving component of a motor, and the stator, the stationary part generating the magnetic field, is critical to performance. Uneven or inhomogeneous air gaps can reduce efficiency, cause vibrations, and shorten the…

Honda unveiled the WN7, its latest electric motorcycle and the first in a planned lineup of larger battery-powered two-wheelers, as the Japanese automaker expands its carbon neutrality strategy in Europe. The commuter-focused bike, built at Honda’s Atessa plant in Italy, is set to launch later this year with a starting price of £12,999 ($18,000). Equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor and chain drive, it features a 5-inch color TFT display, smartphone integration via the new Honda RoadSync app, and a 20-liter underseat storage compartment. Honda estimates the WN7 will deliver more than 130 km (83 miles) of range per…

Ford is seeing strong loyalty among buyers of its Mustang Mach-E, with many customers returning to the electric crossover for a new purchase, according to fresh industry data. The Mustang Mach-E ranked among the top five electric vehicles for loyalty in the second quarter of 2025, Experian’s Automotive Consumer Trends & Analysis Report showed. Of all new Mach-E purchases, 7.70% came from existing owners of older Mach-E models. The report also found that 2.98% of recent buyers switched from a Tesla Model 3, while 2.34% came from the Tesla Model Y, one of the vehicle’s closest competitors. Other inflows to…

Octopus Energy said it will officially launch its electric vehicle business, Octopus Electric Vehicles, in Germany in early 2026, marking its first expansion into continental Europe. The company, which has more than 800,000 energy customers in Germany, said drivers will be able to access an all-in-one package that includes an electric car, home charger, its Octopus Electroverse roaming network, and the “Intelligent Octopus” smart tariff. The tariff allows automatic charging when energy is cheapest and cleanest, saving drivers up to €450 annually compared with standard tariffs, according to the company. “Germany is a powerhouse in the automotive industry, and the…

BMW is pressing ahead with its €10 billion Neue Klasse programme, calling it the company’s most important initiative in decades as global competition in electric vehicles intensifies and regulatory challenges mount. The effort goes beyond a single model or factory. While the next-generation iX3 will lead the rollout from a new facility in Debrecen, Hungary, Neue Klasse spans the entire lineup, including more than 40 new models due by 2027. The initiative encompasses new battery technology, electric motors and the so-called “Heart of Joy” digital platform, which uses four high-performance processors. It also includes updates to combustion engines such as…

ADASTEC and Beep said on Tuesday they have entered a strategic partnership to deploy autonomous public transit services in the United States, beginning with projects in Georgia and Florida. The alliance brings together ADASTEC’s SAE Level-4 automated driving software, flowride.ai, and Beep’s AutonomOS platform, which manages fleet orchestration, vehicle monitoring, and operational support. The companies said the aim is to provide scalable, safe and efficient transit solutions for municipalities, campuses, airports and private communities. “This partnership enables scalable deployments of factory-fitted automated buses, combining ADASTEC’s advanced technology with Beep’s operational expertise,” said ADASTEC CEO Dr. Ali Peker. Beep CEO Kevin…

BMW is charting a different course from rivals by moving away from the industry trend of large pillar-to-pillar infotainment screens, instead introducing a Panoramic Vision display that projects information across the windshield just below eye level. Stephan Durach, BMW’s Senior Vice President of UI/UX Development, said the approach reflects the company’s longstanding focus on driver orientation. “It’s not only a huge screen with a lot of information,” he told reporters. “We’re really trying to prioritize and give you the right information at the right point in time, at the right location.” The display is designed to establish a clear hierarchy…

Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car subsidiary of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV), said two of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft collided during a rehearsal for the Changchun Air Show in Jilin province on Monday, leaving one person injured. The company said the incident occurred during a dual-aircraft formation drill when “insufficient separation distance” led to a collision. One aircraft landed normally, while the other sustained structural damage and caught fire upon landing. Authorities completed on-site response operations, and the injured passenger was taken to hospital with no life-threatening injuries reported, according to local media. eVTOL…