Author: Harding Greenwood

Ford Motor has launched a new fast-charging initiative designed to improve electric vehicle (EV) accessibility, unveiling its Ford Charge network on Thursday. The program makes more than 1,100 DC fast chargers at over 320 dealerships available to the public, extending access beyond Ford owners to drivers of any compatible EV. The chargers form part of Ford’s BlueOval Charge Network, which already integrates more than 200,000 public charging points across the United States and Canada. By bringing dealership-based chargers into the fold, Ford said the initiative would provide broader coverage along major travel corridors, with most highway routes offering fast-charging access…

Volkswagen unveiled the second generation of its T-Roc compact SUV, featuring a redesigned body, hybrid drive options, upgraded technology, and a more spacious interior. Pre-sales began in Germany on August 27, with prices starting at 30,845 euros, ahead of its November market launch. The new T-Roc is 12 cm longer than its predecessor and adopts a coupé-like silhouette while maintaining its SUV identity. Standard LED headlights, optional IQ.LIGHT LED matrix systems, and illuminated Volkswagen logos at the front and rear aim to give the vehicle a sharper design. Customers in Germany can choose from six exterior colors, including Canary Yellow…

Shangjie, the new automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and SAIC Motor (SHA: 600104), has attracted strong early demand for its debut model, the H5 SUV, securing more than 50,000 pre-orders within the first 18 hours of pre-sales, the company said on Weibo. Pre-sales for the H5 began on Aug. 25, with a starting price between 169,800 yuan ($23,730) and 209,800 yuan, making it the most affordable model under Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) brand lineup. The SUV, which officially launches on Sept. 23, will feature Huawei’s ADS 4 advanced driving assistance system — the lowest-priced vehicle equipped with…

Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp have collectively sold more than 1.5 million eco-friendly vehicles in the United States, driven by rising demand for electric and hybrid models, the South Korean automakers said on Monday. The milestone comes 14 years after the brands introduced their first U.S. hybrid vehicles, the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5, in 2011. Currently, two out of every ten Hyundai and Kia vehicles sold in the U.S. fall under the eco-friendly category, which includes battery electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), conventional hybrids, and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Sales of eco-friendly vehicles have accelerated rapidly in…

The BMW Group said on Wednesday it has sold its three millionth electrified vehicle, more than 1.5 million of which are fully electric, underscoring the carmaker’s progress in expanding its premium electrified lineup. The milestone was symbolized by the handover of a 3 Series plug-in hybrid from its Munich plant, the company said. Deliveries of both fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles grew strongly in the first half of 2025, with more than one in four BMW Group vehicles sold during the period being electrified. “Electrified vehicles are an essential part of our technology-neutral portfolio,” said Jochen Goller, BMW AG…

Blink Charging Co., a U.S.-based electric vehicle (EV) charging provider, has entered into a partnership with Luxembourg’s Nexxtlab to integrate smart energy management tools designed to optimize charging for businesses operating EV fleets across Europe. The collaboration incorporates Blink’s charging stations into Nexxtlab’s Smartmaster platform, which connects with inverters, chargers and energy storage systems using standardized protocols. The system considers renewable energy forecasts and user preferences such as driving range and parking duration to align charging with solar production while reducing strain on the power grid. “This collaboration redefines EV infrastructure by offering a fully integrated approach that improves performance…

Tesla expanded its Robotaxi service area in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, enlarging its geofence to roughly 171 square miles and surpassing rival Waymo’s 90-square-mile coverage. The move marks Tesla’s largest expansion in the city to date, extending beyond downtown into suburban neighborhoods and including Gigafactory Texas in its operating zone. https://twitter.com/robotaxi/status/1960406628613960157 The automaker’s growth comes amid a continuing rivalry with Waymo, as both companies compete to establish dominance in driverless ride-hailing services. https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1960354023392834027 Waymo had previously expanded its Austin service area from 37 square miles to 90 square miles in mid-July, shortly after Tesla first overtook it in coverage. “This…

BMW is offering lease incentives on its 2025 i4 eDrive40 electric sedan in the United States, lowering monthly payments to $399 on a 36-month contract through a combination of credits and dealer contributions. The promotion runs until September 2. The deal includes $9,900 in lease credit and up to $3,540 in dealer contribution, with an additional $2,000 in loyalty credits available to current or past BMW owners. Lessees are required to put $4,999 down at signing, and may purchase the vehicle for $30,817 at the end of the contract, according to BMW. The 2025 i4 eDrive40, which starts at $57,900,…

Leapmotor will debut its B10 sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Europe early next month, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy. The vehicle will be officially launched at the IAA Mobility 2025 event in Munich, Germany, on September 8, following its introduction to the Chinese domestic market in April. The B10 has been identified as the first global model in Leapmotor’s B series and is expected to play a central role in the company’s efforts to build a stronger overseas presence. The SUV will be priced at 29,900 euros ($34,820) in Europe, where it will serve as the…

Hyundai has released the first teaser images of a new electric vehicle concept that will debut at the IAA Mobility Show 2025 in Munich on September 9, hinting at what could become the automaker’s entry-level Ioniq 2 model. The images show full-width LED light bars at the front and rear, design cues similar to the updated Ioniq 6 sedan. The concept adopts a compact fastback silhouette with a ducktail spoiler, prominent bumper intakes and flared fenders. Hyundai said two additional sets of teaser photos will be revealed before the show, likely offering a clearer look at the exterior. Spy photographs…

Peugeot has unveiled comprehensive updates for its E-308 hatchback and E-308 SW estate, adding a larger battery, expanded charging capabilities and a refreshed design as part of a mid-cycle facelift that will be available to order in autumn 2025. The fully electric 308 range, first announced in 2022 and introduced in Germany the following year, is undergoing a relatively early refresh compared to conventional product cycles. Peugeot has described the update as “much more than a model update,” introducing features that could later extend to other Stellantis Group vehicles built on the same EMP2 platform, including the Opel Astra Electric.…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reiterated his stance that lidar and radar are not only unnecessary for autonomous driving but may actually make self-driving cars less safe, countering views shared by Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Khosrowshahi, speaking in a recent interview, argued that combining cameras, radar and lidar remains the best path toward “superhuman safety” in autonomy. “Solid state LiDAR is $500. Why not include lidar as well in order to achieve superhuman safety,” he said. “All of our partners are using a combination of camera, radar and LiDAR, and I personally think that’s the right solution, but I could…

Audi has introduced the third generation of its Q3 compact SUV, adding electrified powertrains, advanced lighting systems, and an updated interior aimed at combining practicality with digital convenience. The new Q3, available as both SUV and Sportback, will launch in Germany starting in October with a base price of €44,600 ($48,000). A plug-in hybrid version offering up to 119 kilometers (72 miles) of electric range under the WLTP cycle will also join the lineup, alongside mild-hybrid and efficient combustion engines. “With a total of more than two million vehicles sold worldwide since the launch of the first generation, the Audi…

Tesla Manufacturing has reached a production milestone at its Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, known as Giga Berlin, with the completion of its 100,000th new Model Y crossover. The achievement was announced on the social media platform X, with Tesla stating, “Today, we built the 100,000th New Model Y at Giga Berlin!” The facility, which officially opened in March 2022, has steadily increased output of the all-electric vehicle despite initial delays related to regulatory approvals and environmental concerns. https://twitter.com/gigafactories/status/1959960770512351609 The updated Model Y, unveiled in China in January 2025, includes ventilated front seats, a rear-seat infotainment screen, softer suspension, blind-spot monitoring, new wheels,…

Genesis, the luxury brand of Hyundai Motor, is planning to offer coach doors on its upcoming GV90 SUV, according to newly published U.S. patent filings that describe the vehicle’s door system. The full-size SUV, first revealed at the New York Auto Show last March, attracted attention for its Rolls-Royce-style coach doors. Patent documents, titled “Cinching Device For Door Latches in Vehicle” and “Door Latch Device for Vehicles,” detail how the doors will function without a traditional B-pillar. The system uses a hinge unit and cinching mechanism attached directly to the door, enabling it to swing open and close securely. The…

Researchers at Georgia Tech have discovered that fast charging zinc-ion batteries can make them stronger, challenging conventional assumptions about battery design and potentially paving the way for safer, more affordable alternatives to lithium-ion technology. The study, led by Hailong Chen, an associate professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, found that higher charging currents suppressed dendrite formation—spike-like deposits that can short-circuit batteries—allowing zinc to form smooth, compact layers instead. The research was published in Nature Communications. “We found that using faster charging actually suppressed dendrite formation instead of accelerating it,” Chen said. “It’s a very different behavior…

Hyundai Motor Company presented its redesigned NEXO fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) alongside its hydrogen mobility vision at a major international economics conference, emphasizing the potential of hydrogen technology for sustainable transportation. The all-new NEXO FCEV, Hyundai’s first full redesign in seven years, features updated design elements, a driving range of over 700 kilometers, and a total system output of 190 kW. The exhibition also highlighted hydrogen production technologies, including biogas-based and electrolysis-based systems, and hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses. Through its HTWO brand, Hyundai Motor Group aims to advance a hydrogen mobility ecosystem that spans production,…

Slate Auto, an electric vehicle startup supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has hired a key Tesla manufacturing executive to oversee engineering at its new pickup truck factory in Indiana. Napoleon Reyes, a former Tesla lead for Model Y general assembly, will join Slate as Senior Manager, Plant Vehicle Engineering. Reyes, a Purdue University mechanical engineering graduate and former U.S. Marine, previously led the Model Y Refresh production line at Tesla’s Fremont, California facility. See also: Jeff Bezos-Backed Slate Auto to Build Affordable Electric Pickup at Former Indiana Print Plant “A bit late on the post but after nearly 5…

A fire broke out earlier this week in Tesla’s battery assembly building at its Giga Berlin plant, temporarily halting production but causing no injuries or environmental damage, local authorities and the company confirmed. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon in a building where battery packs are manufactured. All employees, including those in drive unit assembly, were evacuated as firefighters worked for several hours to extinguish the blaze, according to Handelsblatt. Tesla told local authorities there had been a “small fire in battery pack production” around 3 p.m. The Oder-Spree district, where the factory is located, said “some battery cells fell…

Hyundai will introduce its new Ioniq 3 electric vehicle next month at the Munich Motor Show, aiming to offer a more affordable and technologically advanced option in its EV lineup, the company said. Hyundai Europe CEO Xavier Martinet told TopGear that the Ioniq 3 and the Inster EV “are cheaper, so they’ll give us total coverage of the EV market.” The Ioniq 3 is expected to sit between the Inster EV and the Kona Electric, with a slightly smaller size than the Kona but upgraded features. The Ioniq 3 will offer battery packs of 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh, with…