Author: Harding Greenwood

Bentley has inaugurated a new Engineering Technical Centre at its headquarters in Crewe, north-west England, consolidating prototype production, material testing and software integration for upcoming electric vehicles. The 13,000-square-metre facility is part of Bentley’s “Beyond100+” strategy and will play a central role in developing future models. It includes a prototype workshop, a materials development lab and a software integration facility, along with testing for next-generation high-voltage systems. See also: Bentley Softens Electrification Strategy, Keeps Combustion Engines in Medium-Term Plans Many of the departments have relocated from the site’s A1 building, the oldest at the Pyms Lane factory, which is being…

Aerofugia Technology, Geely’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) unit, has rolled out its first AE200-100 aircraft, marking what the company called China’s first passenger eVTOL prototype. The aircraft completed major airframe assembly and onboard system installation at the firm’s Chengdu headquarters on Sept. 26, moving closer to requirements for manned test flights. See also: Ehang to Unveil Next-Generation VT35 Passenger eVTOL in October Aerofugia said it has entered the airworthiness certification and pre-production phase and will undergo thousands of verification tasks before receiving type certification. The AE200-100 is designed with a 200-kilometre range for cross-city travel, airport transfers, sightseeing,…

Hyundai’s largest electric SUV, the Ioniq 9, is expected to receive a rugged XRT trim after new images revealed prototypes with significant off-road upgrades. The move would align with the automaker’s strategy of expanding its electric lineup with both performance and adventure-focused editions. The three-row Ioniq 9, introduced last year, has been noted for its lounge-like interior, expansive cabin space exceeding that of the Ford Explorer, and advanced digital displays. The electric SUV delivers an EPA-estimated range of 335 miles in the U.S. and up to 385 miles under Europe’s WLTP standard. Pricing in the U.S. starts at $60,555, while…

Amazon-owned Zoox said Tuesday it will begin mapping the streets of Washington, DC as it prepares to test its self-driving vehicles in the U.S. capital later this year. The company said it would initially deploy manually driven Toyota Highlanders fitted with its sensors and autonomous software to create maps of the city. Testing of Zoox’s autonomous fleet, with human safety operators onboard, is expected to follow. See also: Amazon’s Zoox Expands U.S. Testing Footprint with Upcoming Self-Driving Trials in Atlanta https://twitter.com/zoox/status/1973028503953232258 “With its growing population and high demand for flexible transport options, the District is an ideal next location and…

DoorDash on Tuesday unveiled Dot, a small autonomous delivery robot it developed in-house, capable of traveling on roads, bike lanes and sidewalks at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. The company is testing the vehicle in the Phoenix metropolitan area and aims to roll it out to 1.6 million residents there by the end of 2025. Dot, painted bright red with LED “eyes” and a mouth-like cargo door, can carry up to 30 pounds of food — enough for six pizza boxes — and is equipped with customizable inserts such as cupholders and coolers. Standing under five feet…

Octopus Electroverse said on Monday it will integrate Dutch firm Chargetrip’s electric vehicle (EV) routing engine into its platform, making advanced route planning available to all of its licensing partners. The integration will allow apps and services using Electroverse under license to embed Chargetrip’s smart routing engine, which optimizes EV journeys by factoring in state of charge, usable battery capacity, efficiency, terrain, weather, and available charging infrastructure. The tool helps drivers identify the most efficient charging points for their trips, rather than only the closest. Electroverse’s licensing partners include automakers that bundle charging access into in-car navigation systems, fleet operators…

Tesla has launched its first V4 Supercharger station capable of delivering up to 500 kilowatts of power, marking a key step in the company’s expansion of ultra-fast charging infrastructure. The station, located at 2545 El Camino Real, features eight V4 stalls powered by Tesla’s newly designed V4 cabinets. Previously, Tesla’s V4 Supercharger posts were connected to legacy V3 cabinets, which limited vehicle charging speeds to 325 kW despite the pedestals’ higher design potential. The new V4 cabinets triple power density, double the number of stalls per cabinet, and occupy a smaller footprint. See also: Tesla Launches ‘MultiPass’ to Simplify Charging…

Ford  and General Motors have introduced dealer programs aimed at extending the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicle leases beyond its expiration on Tuesday, according to dealers and company documents seen by Reuters. Under the initiatives, each automaker’s financing arm would make down payments on EVs in dealer inventory, qualifying for the federal tax credit. Dealers would then offer leases to retail customers, incorporating the subsidy into lease rates. The programs are intended to reduce the impact of the tax credit’s expiration, which has supported EV adoption for more than 15 years. See also: CARFAX Reports 30% Surge in…

BYD has introduced the Qin L EV to the Malaysian market, rebranded locally as the Seal 6 EV, marking the sedan’s first overseas debut. The launch on September 26 makes it the company’s seventh model offered in Malaysia, underscoring its growing international footprint. The Seal 6 EV is available in Dynamic and Premium trims, priced from 100,000 Malaysian Ringgit ($23,740) and 115,800 Malaysian Ringgit, respectively. The Dynamic variant is powered by a 95 kW motor delivering 220 Nm of torque, reaching 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds. The Premium trim features a 160 kW motor with a quicker 7.5-second acceleration to…

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by India’s Tata Motors, said on Monday it will restart some manufacturing operations in the coming days, marking the start of a phased recovery following a cyberattack that forced a production halt earlier this month. The announcement came a day after Britain confirmed it would provide a $2 billion loan guarantee to support the luxury carmaker’s supply chain amid the disruption. JLR operates three factories in the United Kingdom, producing about 1,000 vehicles daily. According to the BBC, the shutdown has cost the company at least 50 million pounds ($68 million) a week, with many…

Kia America said it will introduce Plug & Charge, a new system that automates authentication and payment at compatible public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The technology is designed to streamline charging for eligible 2025 EV6 and 2026 EV9 models. Once activated via the Kia Access app, the feature allows drivers to plug in their vehicle at a compatible station, where the system automatically recognizes the car, starts the charging session, and processes payment using the account-linked method. The technology eliminates the need for separate apps or payment cards. “Plug & Charge offers a seamless and secure charging experience, enabling…

General Motors has issued a service update addressing the rear lower control arms on certain GMC Sierra EV pickup trucks, citing improperly torqued bolts in the suspension. The update, identified as N252507500, applies to 2025 model-year vehicles. The automaker said the condition, if not corrected, could affect suspension performance and rear wheel alignment. Some units of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ, which shares the BT1 platform with the Sierra EV, may also require the same repair. Both models are assembled at GM’s Factory Zero facility in Michigan. Dealers are instructed to perform a rear wheel alignment and retighten four control…