Author: Harding Greenwood

The BYD Dolphin Surf compact electric vehicle has received the highest possible five-star safety rating from European testing body Euro NCAP, with strong results across crash protection and driver-assistance systems. The vehicle, which was recently launched across Europe and named World Urban Car of the Year, scored 82% for Adult Occupant protection and 86% for Child Occupant protection. Euro NCAP said the car provided good protection in side-barrier and side pole impact tests, awarding maximum points in the latter. https://twitter.com/BYD_Europe/status/1965345253910552731 For Child Occupant protection, the vehicle achieved one of the strongest results in its class. In the Vulnerable Road Users…

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is reportedly expanding its electric vehicle fleet with the purchase of 450 Rivian vehicles, though the agency has not yet issued an official statement. Speculation began after photos surfaced online showing Rivian R1T pickups carrying Caltrans’ orange stripe. A member of Rivian Forums wrote that he spotted one of the vehicles at the company’s West Sacramento Center, where staff allegedly confirmed the purchase. Additional images posted on Reddit showed Rivian trucks on a carrier and others being prepared for service in Los Angeles. https://www.reddit.com/r/Rivian/comments/1n2tq1z/r1s_with_orange_stripes/ While confirmed details remain limited, the reported order includes both…

Ceva Logistics, the French freight forwarder, is rolling out a dedicated service for the collection, storage, and processing of end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the company said, as Europe’s EV market drives demand for specialized battery logistics. The company is investing several million euros in battery logistics centres, with the first facility already tested in Ghislenghien, Belgium. “Thanks to a multi-million-euro investment, CEVA is targeting the gradual expansion of Battery Logistics Centers dedicated to EV batteries across 10 European countries by 2027,” the company said in a statement. Up to 15 centres are planned, including sites in France, the United…

Xiaomi Auto delivered 36,396 vehicles in August, marking a 19.5% increase from July and a 177.6% rise compared with the same month last year, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This represents the second consecutive month the company has maintained deliveries above the 30,000-unit threshold. Model-specific performance showed mixed trends. The Xiaomi SU7 recorded 19,848 deliveries in August, down 18.7% from July’s 24,410 units, but up 51.4% year-over-year. The SU7 accounted for 54.5% of Xiaomi Auto’s total deliveries last month. Meanwhile, the YU7 saw 16,548 units delivered, a 173.9% increase from July’s 6,042 units, representing 45.5%…

Nissan is considering introducing hybrid vehicles using its e-Power technology in South Africa as a way to help consumers transition from petrol engines to electric vehicles, company executives said on Tuesday. Low incomes and high import duties have historically constrained automakers’ sales in Africa, while uneven electricity access and limited charging infrastructure have slowed adoption of battery-electric vehicles (EVs). Nissan has previously launched e-Power hybrids in Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia, where the technology has gained traction, and believes it could also appeal to South African drivers. “This is currently under study,” Ramy Mohareb, communications head for Nissan Africa, said. “Why…

Chinese automaker GAC on Tuesday announced the European market debut of its Aion V electric SUV at the IAA Mobility show, marking the company’s first global model. Prices start at €35,990, with initial sales set to begin later this month in countries including Poland, Portugal, and Finland. The mid-size SUV, roughly the same size as a Volkswagen ID.4, features a 75.3 kWh battery capable of a WLTP range of 510 kilometres. GAC said the vehicle achieved a five-star Euro NCAP crash rating and that its battery is “designed not to ignite even under gunfire,” referring to standard safety tests. GAC…

Volkswagen said on Tuesday it will invest up to €1 billion ($1.2 billion) in artificial intelligence by 2030, deploying the technology across its business to accelerate development and cut costs, with expected savings of up to €4 billion by 2035. The announcement came on the opening day of the IAA Mobility show in Munich, where European carmakers are unveiling new electric models and digital features to counter growing competition from China. See also: Volkswagen Adds Black Package To 2025 ID.4, Expands EV Lineup With Style Upgrade Volkswagen said the investment will support AI-driven vehicle development, industrial applications and expanded high-performance…

Daimler Buses has launched road testing of its hydrogen-powered coach concept, the Setra H2 Coach, a technology demonstrator expected to deliver at least 800 kilometres on a single tank, the company said on Monday. The 13.9-metre Setra S 517 HD is powered by two hydrogen tanks with a combined capacity of 46 kg and a 300 kW fuel cell unit from Cellcentric, the Daimler Truck and Volvo Group joint venture. Energy is channelled to an electric motor rated at 320 kW continuous output and up to 400 kW peak, delivering a maximum torque of 2,470 Nm. “The bus is largely…

Toyota plans to manufacture two battery-electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs) at its Kentucky plant in the United States and will end production of the Lexus ES sedan at the same site, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. The new U.S.-made electric vehicles will be based on the RAV4 and Land Cruiser models, while the next-generation Lexus ES sedan, expected next year, will be produced in Japan and exported to the United States, the source added. The changes are not related to U.S. import tariffs, the source said. Currently, Toyota manufactures Lexus ES sedans in Kentucky and Lexus TX…

Chinese automaker Changan has unveiled the Deepal S05 electric SUV in Europe, pricing the model from €38,990 as part of its plan to expand its Deepal lineup in the region. The announcement came during the IAA Mobility show in Munich. The S05 follows the larger Deepal S07, introduced in Europe in March, and marks a quicker product rollout as Changan targets eight electric vehicle launches in the region by 2027. The SUV, which first went on sale in China last October, features a 200 kW rear-wheel-drive system in its European base and mid-range models, offering a WLTP range of 485…

A major lithium mine operated by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) is expected to resume operations soon after a month-long suspension that helped push up lithium prices, Securities Times reported on Monday. A CATL subsidiary in Yichun, Jiangxi province, held a special meeting on the restart of the Jianxiawo mine, according to the Securities Times. The company is advancing applications for mining rights and operating permits, with production likely to resume shortly, the report said, citing a source. “This is faster than even the most optimistic market expectations,” the source was quoted as saying. The mine ceased output on…

Ford is introducing a new entry-level variant of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup, offering increased driving range without a higher price tag, the company said on Tuesday. The 2026 F-150 Lightning STX replaces the outgoing XLT model and comes equipped with dual electric motors delivering a combined 536 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque. A larger 123 kWh battery pack provides an EPA-estimated 290 miles of range, up from 240 miles in the previous XLT model. Ford has also incorporated off-road enhancements from its F-150 Tremor line, including running boards, all-terrain tires, and new wheels. Exterior updates include a redesigned…

BYD will officially launch the 2026 Seal 07 DM-i plug-in hybrid sedan on September 15, local media outlet Yiche reported on Monday. The automaker has not yet confirmed the date through its official channels. The model, first unveiled at the Chengdu auto show last month, introduces new features including an additional LiDAR sensor mounted on the roof, BYD’s DiSus-C body control system, and the company’s God’s Eye B smart driving system. At 4,995 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,495 mm high with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm, the 2026 Seal 07 DM-i is slightly larger than its current version.…

Sherbet, the UK’s largest operator of electric Hackney carriages, said on Monday it had secured £40 million in funding from Hoplon Investment Partners, the biggest investment to date in London’s licensed taxi industry. The company, founded in 2013 by former cab driver Asher Moses, operates a fleet of about 550 electric black cabs across the capital. The new funding will support its plans to increase that number to 3,000 over the next three years, as well as expand operations internationally. Sherbet said part of the investment will be used to enhance its digital platform, which integrates driver bookings, data insights,…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng plans to bring its budget-friendly Mona series to Europe in 2025 as part of its overseas expansion strategy, Chief Executive He Xiaopeng said on Monday. Speaking to CNBC at the IAA Mobility show, He said the Mona lineup would be introduced in Europe next year, with a wider rollout planned for 2026. “In 2026 you can expect a variety of Mona products launched into the Chinese and European markets, as well as in the rest of the world,” he said. “I believe by then, what we launch will be very proven and very excellent vehicles.”…

Swedish electric vehicle maker Polestar on Monday unveiled the production-ready version of its four-door performance grand tourer, the Polestar 5, at the IAA Mobility show in Munich and began taking orders for the model. The launch marks a key step in the company’s bid to strengthen its position in the premium electric segment, even as it weighs changes to its naming strategy and product portfolio. The Polestar 5 stems directly from the 2020 Precept concept, which the company described as a statement of its design and technology ambitions. Polestar said its team brought the concept into production with only minimal…

Volkswagen has unveiled its ID. Cross concept, a small electric SUV that expands the automaker’s lineup of front-wheel-drive MEB-based EVs. While the name draws a connection to the T-Cross combustion crossover, the ID. Cross represents a distinct electric design and engineering approach. The subcompact SUV rides on a 2,601 mm (102.4 inches) wheelbase, virtually identical to the ID. Polo, but its overall dimensions are larger, measuring 4,161 mm (163.8 inches) in length—108 mm longer—and 58 mm taller than the hatchback. Volkswagen has designed the ID. Cross with practicality in mind, offering 490 liters (17.3 cu.ft) of rear luggage space and…

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new GLC with EQ Technology, an all-electric SUV that will enter production in the first half of 2026, taking over from the company’s struggling EQC model. The launch was previewed ahead of the IAA Mobility auto show in Munich. The electric GLC retains the familiar proportions of the internal combustion GLC but features a fresh design, including an illuminated front grille with 942 backlit dots and star-shaped LED daytime running lights. Mercedes said these design elements will become signature features across its EV lineup. “The tech-heavy design is highlighted by the new seamless MBUX Hyperscreen, measuring…

BMW has unveiled the second-generation iX3, the first production model built on its Neue Klasse platform, which the automaker says will shape the future of its electric lineup. The SUV introduces a new design language, a purpose-built EV platform, and four high-performance processors BMW calls its “superbrains.” The iX3 50 xDrive, the first version to reach showrooms, is due in mid-2026 with a starting price of about $60,000. It delivers 463 horsepower (345 kW) from dual motors with all-wheel drive and an estimated 400-mile (644 km) range on the U.S. EPA cycle. Charging speeds will reach up to 400 kW,…

Pos Malaysia has added 136 battery-electric Maxus eDeliver 3 vans to its fleet, expanding the company’s electric vehicle operations across the country. The new vehicles join 2,152 two-wheel and 264 four-wheel EVs already in service, making it the largest electric postal fleet in Malaysia. The vans are leased from Yinson GreenTech, the e-mobility subsidiary of Malaysian company Yinson Holdings, which will also provide ongoing maintenance and support, including fleet management tools such as telematics, route optimisation, and energy efficiency monitoring. Yinson GreenTech previously supplied 143 CAM EC35 electric vans to Pos Malaysia in 2024. Pos Malaysia Berhad group CEO Charles…