Author: Harding Greenwood

New car registrations in the UK fell 5.0% year-on-year in July to 140,154 units, marking the weakest July performance since 2022, according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on Monday. The figure was also 10.8% lower than levels seen in July 2019, prior to the pandemic, highlighting the continued volatility in the market. Private registrations fell 3.2% to 51,646 units, while fleet sales dropped 6.5% to 85,594 units. Business registrations, which represent a smaller share of the market, rose 10.4% to 2,914 units. Sales declined across most vehicle segments, with only Dual Purpose, Mini,…

Dongguan Mentech Optical & Magnetic said it has signed an agreement to acquire a 60% stake in ChargeDot, ABB E-Mobility’s home and workplace charging business, in a deal expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025 pending regulatory approval. The acquisition will give Mentech access to ChargeDot’s AC charging technology platform and experienced team, enabling the Chinese firm to expand in the residential and workplace charging segment. ABB E-Mobility will retain a 40% share and continue to support ChargeDot’s growth, primarily by providing its distribution channels in Europe and North America. “ChargeDot has delivered excellent results in China and…

SK Signet, a South Korean manufacturer of electric vehicle charging solutions, said it will integrate Hubject’s Plug&Charge functionality into its entire DC charger portfolio, with deployment expected to begin by September 2025. The partnership will give SK Signet customers access to more than 1,250 charge point operators worldwide via Hubject’s eRoaming network. In turn, users of the Hubject network will be able to charge at SK Signet stations without separate registration or authentication. Hubject will also designate SK Signet as the first official “EVSE Check Partner” in Korea, certifying Plug&Charge capability and communication between vehicles, management systems, charging stations, and…

Octopus Energy has partnered with Uber to provide 1,000 of its ride-share drivers in the UK with free home Ohme ePod chargers, including installation, if they sign up for the company’s Intelligent Octopus Go electric vehicle tariff. The £900 charger offer is available to Uber drivers with a recent record of electric vehicle trips or proof of a new EV order. Drivers must be new or existing Octopus customers eligible for the Go tariff and able to install the charger at home. Other requirements include having a smart meter, off-street parking and meeting installation feasibility checks. The Intelligent Octopus Go…

A federal jury in Miami has found Tesla (TSLA.O) partly responsible for a 2019 crash involving its Autopilot driver assistance system that killed a pedestrian, awarding a total of about $242.5 million in damages. The jury assigned two-thirds of the blame to the driver and one-third to Tesla, according to CNBC. Punitive damages against the automaker, combined with compensatory damages, brought the total award to the nine-figure sum. The driver, who was sued separately, did not brake before the collision, and neither did the Autopilot system. The verdict followed a three-week trial over the accident, which killed 20-year-old Naibel Benavides…

BYD has introduced the Sealion 07 electric SUV in Nepal, continuing its expansion in overseas markets. The model will be marketed locally as the Sealion 7, aligning with naming conventions used in other international markets. The Sealion 07 is priced from 7.499 million Nepalese rupees ($53,620) and becomes the sixth BYD vehicle available in Nepal, and the fourth fully electric model in the country. According to a company statement, the vehicle adds to BYD’s growing lineup in Nepal, which includes the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, and the M6 MPV, distributed by Cimex Inc. The model is based on BYD’s e-Platform…

Adrian Mardell, chief executive officer of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), will step down after more than 30 years with the company, a spokesperson said on Thursday. His successor will be named in due course. Mardell, who joined the British luxury carmaker in 1990, had indicated a desire to retire after three years in the top role. He became CEO in November 2022 after previously serving as chief financial officer from June 2019. During his tenure, Mardell led a major transformation of the Jaguar brand and steered JLR through a period of strong financial performance. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary…

Bosch has announced two new system-on-chips (SoCs), the SX600 and SX601, developed to support a variety of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features associated with SAE Level 2+ autonomy. These chips are designed to enable functions such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, and lane change assistance. Both SoCs incorporate a fully digital phase-locked loop (PLL) for signal accuracy and integration flexibility. The integrated radar receiver supports a high dynamic range, aiming to enhance object detection capabilities across various distances, with reduced error rates compared to previous radar solutions. Manufactured with 22nm RF CMOS technology, the…

Sony Honda Mobility has initiated pre-production trials of its first electric vehicle, the AFEELA 1, at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio. The trials mark a key milestone as the joint venture between Sony Group and Honda Motor prepares for mass production in 2026. The pre-production phase is focused on validating part compatibility, refining assembly precision, and assessing paint quality. Teams at the plant are adjusting panel gaps to sub-millimeter accuracy and inspecting each component to ensure readiness for scaled manufacturing. https://twitter.com/shmAFEELA/status/1950602344640458786 “Leveraging Honda’s expertise as our contract manufacturing partner, combined with Sony Honda Mobility’s additional quality standards and…

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States will impose a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea, lowering a previously threatened 25% rate, as part of a sweeping new trade agreement that includes $350 billion in investment pledges from Seoul and $100 billion in energy product purchases. The announcement followed a meeting between Trump and South Korean officials at the White House, just ahead of the August 1 deadline the former president set for raising tariffs on several U.S. trading partners. The deal provides a reprieve for South Korea, a major exporter of chips, automobiles, and…

ChargePoint has introduced a new service initiative called Safeguard Care, aimed at improving the reliability and uptime of its electric vehicle charging network through regular on-site maintenance and inspections. The programme is now live in six U.S. states—California, Florida, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, and Georgia—and is targeted at operators without dedicated maintenance staff, such as municipalities, workplaces, and parking facility owners. The Safeguard Care service includes routine visits by trained field technicians who perform visual inspections, cleaning, minor adjustments or repairs, and test charges to verify performance. More complex issues that cannot be resolved during the visit are escalated to…

Rivian is moving ahead with preparations for the production of its upcoming R2 compact crossover, expected to enter volume production in early 2026. The company is currently building out its assembly line in Normal, Illinois, while a pilot production line in California is already assembling pre-production models for validation and testing. While the R2 made its debut in March 2024 in what appeared to be near-production form, the prototype used at the unveiling was based on the existing R1 platform. That version, though functional, lacked the cost efficiencies required for a compact electric vehicle intended for mass production. As a…

General Motors has offered the first glimpse of its upcoming Chevrolet Bolt, set to return in 2026 after the compact electric vehicle was discontinued last year. The company revealed design images and new specifications in a social media post, signaling its intent to reestablish the Bolt as a key player in the affordable EV segment. The updated model features a revised front end, redesigned taillights, and adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug developed by Tesla—an industry shift now embraced by multiple automakers, including GM’s upcoming Cadillac EVs. “You asked, we listened,” the company stated in its Instagram…

Firefly, a small electric car developed by Nio Inc’s sub-brand, has been named the safest small car in China’s latest crash test evaluations, according to results released by the China Insurance Automotive Safety Index (C-IASI). The model surpassed several competitors, including Tesla’s Model 3, as Nio aims to combine compact size with top-tier safety standards. The Firefly model received the highest possible ratings across all four evaluation categories, achieving a G rating for crashworthiness and repair economy, and a G+ rating for occupant protection, pedestrian protection, and safety assistance. C-IASI ratings range from P (Poor) to G+ (Good+), with G+…

Chinese automaker Changan has officially become a centrally administered state-owned enterprise (SOE), aligning it with leading state-controlled automakers such as FAW Group, SAIC Motor, and Dongfeng Motor. The change follows the formal registration of China Changan Automobile Group Co with 20 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) in capital and oversight from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC),  Auto-home reported. Previously a subsidiary of China South Industries Group, Changan’s transition to central SOE status marks a restructuring of its ownership and governance. The company will now operate independently under central government control. Zhu Huarong, formerly CEO of Changan Automobile, has…

Kia’s new PV5 electric van has been seen undergoing testing in the United States, renewing speculation about a potential U.S. launch. Although the van is already available in South Korea and parts of Europe, the automaker has yet to confirm plans for the U.S. market. The PV5 is the first vehicle under Kia’s dedicated Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, which aims to offer purpose-built electric solutions for mobility and logistics sectors. Kia has previously stated the vehicle will expand to “other global markets” beginning in 2026, though no specific reference has been made to the U.S. Recent sightings of the…

South Korea’s LG Energy Solution said on Wednesday it has secured a $4.3 billion contract to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries globally over a three-year period beginning in August 2027. The company did not disclose the identity of the customer or specify whether the batteries will be used in electric vehicles or energy storage systems. The agreement, which runs through July 2030, includes an option to extend the duration by up to seven additional years and scale up the volume, depending on future discussions with the unnamed buyer. The announcement follows growing interest in LFP batteries, which are typically…

The UK government has announced an additional £30 million investment to accelerate the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, backing clean technology projects and boosting regional economies. The funding is being distributed through the sixth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), part of the wider UK SHORE programme. Maritime Minister Mike Kane unveiled the new investment during a visit to Clydeport in Glasgow, where he highlighted the FastRig project by Smart Green Shipping — a high-tech wing sail system developed in Scotland. “It’s so exciting to see investment in green fuels and technologies spurring on skills, innovation and manufacturing…

Honda has unveiled its latest all-electric kei car, the N-ONE e, aimed at urban commuters looking for a compact yet capable daily driver. Following the earlier launch of the N-VAN e in October 2024, the N-ONE e is Honda’s second light electric vehicle in the segment and is designed with everyday usability in mind. Honda says the N-ONE e was “developed in pursuit of the ideal EV,” pairing retro charm with a reengineered electric platform. While its exterior closely resembles the gasoline-powered N-ONE sold since 2012, the EV version features a refreshed front fascia with a smoother black grille, a…

UK-based startup Vertical Aerospace has successfully completed the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft flight between two airports through public airspace, marking a world-first achievement at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in Gloucestershire, England. The company’s VX4 prototype traveled 17 miles from its Flight Test Centre at Cotswold Airport to RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force station used by the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft reached speeds of 115 mph and an altitude of 1,800 feet. It also became the first eVTOL to land at a public venue, showcasing operational readiness in a real-world aviation environment. Vertical’s…