Author: Harding Greenwood

Ford Motor has lost ground in the non-luxury electric vehicle segment in the United States, slipping from first to third place in market share over the past three years, according to Experian’s Q2 2025 Automotive Consumer Trends Report. The automaker’s share of the non-luxury EV market, excluding brands such as Tesla, Lucid, and Rivian, fell to 13.48% in the second quarter from 28.42% in the same period of 2022. Chevrolet led the segment with 25.90%, nearly doubling its share from 12.97%, while Hyundai followed with 17.07%, up from 19.63%. Experian said product availability has been a key driver, as both…

EV charging platform Monta has launched an AI-powered Network Operation Centre (NOC) Agent designed to streamline operations and enhance reliability across charging networks, the company said on Friday. The technology, deployed across Monta’s platform, uses data from 220,000 connected charge points and millions of monthly charging sessions to automatically diagnose faults and suggest corrective actions. The AI agent significantly reduces the time required for troubleshooting, converting hours of manual investigation into seconds. “Troubleshooting used to mean long nights with engineers digging through endless logs,” said Casper Rasmussen, CEO and Co-Founder of Monta. “With the NOC Agent, those hours turn into…

Smart has confirmed it is developing a next-generation ForTwo, set to debut in late 2026 as the Smart #2, while denying reports of a four-door model that would have revived the ForFour nameplate. Speculation about a new Smart #4 surfaced after Autocar reported comments from Smart Europe CEO Dirk Adelmann during the Munich Motor Show, suggesting a model that “needs to look like a successor” to the last ForFour. That car ended production in 2021 after sharing its platform with the Renault Twingo. See also: 2025 Smart #5 Achieves Strong Euro NCAP Safety Ratings Across Four Categories Smart quickly moved…

Australia’s two largest electricity providers, AGL and Origin Energy, have each announced new trials of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, marking a push to harness electric vehicle batteries as part of the national energy system. AGL’s year-long program will initially be open to drivers of select EVs from Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Zeekr, with assurances that manufacturer battery warranties will not be affected. Participants will have bi-directional chargers installed at their homes and receive tailored support to manage charging and discharging cycles. AGL said the trial will test whether EVs can provide grid services, lower household bills and support renewable energy integration.…

Japanese autonomous driving developer TIER IV has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Saudi Arabian digital services company Elm to collaborate on autonomous mobility, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. The partnership will focus on deploying TIER IV’s open-source Autoware software with Elm’s regional expertise to localize mobility solutions for the Saudi market. The initiative also seeks to foster engineering talent by introducing Autoware-based training programs at academic institutions and supporting competitions aimed at developing skilled engineers. As part of the agreement, the companies plan to accelerate deployment of autonomous vehicle services, including robotaxis adapted to Saudi…

Changan Mazda, the joint venture between Changan Automobile and Mazda, on Thursday launched the EZ-60, a new mid-size SUV available in both extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) versions, underscoring its strategy to compete in China’s crowded new energy vehicle (NEV) market while preparing for global expansion. The five-seat EZ-60 will be sold in six variants, with four EREV trims priced between 119,900 yuan ($16,810) and 154,900 yuan, and two BEV trims priced at 150,900 yuan and 160,900 yuan. Measuring 4,850 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,902 mm, the model is positioned in China’s mid-size…

Geely Auto’s  sub-brand Geely Galaxy has begun pre-sales of its new Starshine 6 hybrid sedan, aiming to capture market share in China’s highly competitive family car segment dominated by BYD’s Qin Plus. The Starshine 6 is being offered in five variants priced between 85,800 yuan and 118,800 yuan ($11,980–$16,600). Geely Galaxy is providing an early-buyer discount of 6,000 yuan, effectively lowering the entry price to 79,800 yuan ($11,180). The model will be officially launched in October. Positioned slightly below the Galaxy A7, the Starshine 6 is a mid-size sedan measuring 4,806 mm in length, 1,886 mm in width, and 1,490…

Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has filed for a federal exemption to commercially launch its custom-built robotaxi, which operates without traditional driving controls such as a steering wheel or pedals, Bloomberg reported. The company has submitted a petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requesting a temporary waiver from eight Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that apply to passenger cars equipped with automated driving systems. The request falls under the agency’s exemption framework, which allows for limited deployment of vehicles that do not conform to existing safety regulations. NHTSA is reviewing the application and is expected to publish…

Volkswagen has joined an International Energy Agency (IEA) programme working to improve the interoperability of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems, becoming the first carmaker to partner with the initiative known as Task 53. Task 53 is part of the IEA’s Electric Vehicle Technology Collaboration Programme and is backed by 15 countries. The consortium aims to achieve seamless bidirectional charging between electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and electricity networks. Task 53 described Volkswagen’s participation as a “strategically important step,” adding: “Volkswagen’s commitment underscores the importance of Task 53 in advancing sustainable mobility and supporting the global transition to smart, bidirectional charging.” The German automaker…

Swedish autonomous freight company Einride said it has completed the world’s first cabless autonomous electric truck crossing between two countries, after one of its vehicles passed through border control between Norway and Sweden without a human driver on board. The crossing took place at the Ørje border station, supported by Norwegian customs authorities and partners including courier firm PostNord. Einride’s vehicle was integrated with Norway’s Digitoll system, allowing goods to be declared in advance. While Norway and Sweden share a relatively open border within the Schengen area, the test marks a milestone in the EU-backed MODI project, which aims to…

Lucid Motors (LCID) will continue offering the $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit for its Gravity SUV buyers until the end of 2025, citing strong customer demand. Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said the company has “so many orders” and does not want buyers to miss out on the savings. The Gravity SUV has faced scrutiny over early delivery figures. A recent report suggesting only nine units were registered in the first six months of sales was dismissed by Lucid. Nick Twork, head of communications, told Electrek that the report was “completely inaccurate,” noting that a review of customer activity indicated…

Honda is providing substantial savings on its 2025 Prologue electric SUV, with discounts exceeding $20,000 in certain states, ahead of the federal $7,500 EV tax credit expiration on September 30. The promotion, available through the end of the month, combines nationwide price reductions, financing bonuses, and trade-in incentives. The 2025 Prologue is currently priced $17,000 below MSRP nationwide, with an additional 0% interest financing option for six years. Customers can also benefit from $9,500 in financing bonuses and the potential $7,500 federal tax credit. In California and other zero-emission vehicle states, total savings with trade-in offers can reach as much…