Author: Harding Greenwood

The IPH – Institute for Integrated Production Hannover and MFP Messtechnik & Fertigungstechnologie have launched a joint research initiative, “MotorInspector,” to improve the production quality of electric motors through automated measurement of the rotor-stator air gap. Electric motors are central not only to electric vehicles—which now make up around 20% of new car registrations in Germany—but also to two-wheelers, ships, and aircraft. The gap between the rotor, the moving component of a motor, and the stator, the stationary part generating the magnetic field, is critical to performance. Uneven or inhomogeneous air gaps can reduce efficiency, cause vibrations, and shorten the…

Honda unveiled the WN7, its latest electric motorcycle and the first in a planned lineup of larger battery-powered two-wheelers, as the Japanese automaker expands its carbon neutrality strategy in Europe. The commuter-focused bike, built at Honda’s Atessa plant in Italy, is set to launch later this year with a starting price of £12,999 ($18,000). Equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor and chain drive, it features a 5-inch color TFT display, smartphone integration via the new Honda RoadSync app, and a 20-liter underseat storage compartment. Honda estimates the WN7 will deliver more than 130 km (83 miles) of range per…

Ford is seeing strong loyalty among buyers of its Mustang Mach-E, with many customers returning to the electric crossover for a new purchase, according to fresh industry data. The Mustang Mach-E ranked among the top five electric vehicles for loyalty in the second quarter of 2025, Experian’s Automotive Consumer Trends & Analysis Report showed. Of all new Mach-E purchases, 7.70% came from existing owners of older Mach-E models. The report also found that 2.98% of recent buyers switched from a Tesla Model 3, while 2.34% came from the Tesla Model Y, one of the vehicle’s closest competitors. Other inflows to…

Octopus Energy said it will officially launch its electric vehicle business, Octopus Electric Vehicles, in Germany in early 2026, marking its first expansion into continental Europe. The company, which has more than 800,000 energy customers in Germany, said drivers will be able to access an all-in-one package that includes an electric car, home charger, its Octopus Electroverse roaming network, and the “Intelligent Octopus” smart tariff. The tariff allows automatic charging when energy is cheapest and cleanest, saving drivers up to €450 annually compared with standard tariffs, according to the company. “Germany is a powerhouse in the automotive industry, and the…

BMW is pressing ahead with its €10 billion Neue Klasse programme, calling it the company’s most important initiative in decades as global competition in electric vehicles intensifies and regulatory challenges mount. The effort goes beyond a single model or factory. While the next-generation iX3 will lead the rollout from a new facility in Debrecen, Hungary, Neue Klasse spans the entire lineup, including more than 40 new models due by 2027. The initiative encompasses new battery technology, electric motors and the so-called “Heart of Joy” digital platform, which uses four high-performance processors. It also includes updates to combustion engines such as…

ADASTEC and Beep said on Tuesday they have entered a strategic partnership to deploy autonomous public transit services in the United States, beginning with projects in Georgia and Florida. The alliance brings together ADASTEC’s SAE Level-4 automated driving software, flowride.ai, and Beep’s AutonomOS platform, which manages fleet orchestration, vehicle monitoring, and operational support. The companies said the aim is to provide scalable, safe and efficient transit solutions for municipalities, campuses, airports and private communities. “This partnership enables scalable deployments of factory-fitted automated buses, combining ADASTEC’s advanced technology with Beep’s operational expertise,” said ADASTEC CEO Dr. Ali Peker. Beep CEO Kevin…

BMW is charting a different course from rivals by moving away from the industry trend of large pillar-to-pillar infotainment screens, instead introducing a Panoramic Vision display that projects information across the windshield just below eye level. Stephan Durach, BMW’s Senior Vice President of UI/UX Development, said the approach reflects the company’s longstanding focus on driver orientation. “It’s not only a huge screen with a lot of information,” he told reporters. “We’re really trying to prioritize and give you the right information at the right point in time, at the right location.” The display is designed to establish a clear hierarchy…

Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car subsidiary of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV), said two of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft collided during a rehearsal for the Changchun Air Show in Jilin province on Monday, leaving one person injured. The company said the incident occurred during a dual-aircraft formation drill when “insufficient separation distance” led to a collision. One aircraft landed normally, while the other sustained structural damage and caught fire upon landing. Authorities completed on-site response operations, and the injured passenger was taken to hospital with no life-threatening injuries reported, according to local media. eVTOL…

LG Energy Solution said on Tuesday it remains hopeful about progress in U.S.–South Korea talks over visa approvals for its workers, after a raid by U.S. authorities at its joint-venture battery plant with Hyundai in Georgia led to hundreds of arrests. “We’re cautiously optimistic that this type of thing will not happen again,” Robert Lee, president of LG Energy Solution’s North American business, told reporters at an automotive conference in Detroit. Earlier this month, U.S. authorities detained about 475 workers, disrupting operations at the plant and delaying its timeline by at least two to three months, Hyundai’s CEO said last…

Ford Motor said it views lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries as a long-term component of its electric vehicle strategy, with production set to begin in 2026 at its BlueOval Battery Park Michigan facility. The company plans to use technology licensed from China’s CATL for the new plant, which will supply packs for a range of vehicles including a mid-size pickup. Ford already fits LFP batteries into the standard-range Mustang Mach-E crossover. “And I do think LFP will be – it’ll be a bedrock,” Lisa Drake, Ford vice president, told the 2025 Jefferies Industrials Conference. “If you look globally at where LFP…

The Toyota bZ7, developed through the GAC-Toyota joint venture, is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated electric sedans in the automaker’s lineup. Official images of the car were released on September 10, with its market debut expected later this year. The new model stretches more than 5.1 meters in length, positioning it as a medium-to-large electric sedan, and introduces several firsts for Toyota’s growing bZ family. At 5130 mm long, 1965 mm wide, and 1506 mm high, with a 3020 mm wheelbase, the bZ7 sits above the bZ3X and bZ4X in the lineup. It adopts a fastback…

Fortescue is stepping up its decarbonisation strategy by investing heavily in zero-emission mining equipment, with executives and analysts pointing to both environmental and financial benefits. The Australian miner is saving between $300 million and $400 million annually in fuel costs as it replaces diesel machines across its global operations. The company has signed multi-billion-dollar deals with global equipment suppliers to support its plan to eliminate Scope 1 and 2 terrestrial emissions by 2030. These include a $4 billion order for 360 Liebherr T264 battery-electric haul trucks, as well as more than $400 million worth of equipment from Chinese manufacturer XCMG.…