Author: Harding Greenwood

Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxi service officially launched in Austin, Texas over the weekend, marking a significant step forward in the company’s self-driving ambitions and sending its shares up nearly 10% on Monday. The limited pilot includes 10 to 20 Model Y electric SUVs operating autonomously within a geofenced area of Austin. Rides are currently offered by invitation only and priced at a flat $4.20 per trip. Tesla fans, influencers, and shareholders are among the early participants. Although the vehicles operate without human drivers, a Tesla employee rides in the front passenger seat with the ability to intervene if necessary, and a…

Tesla has been ordered by France’s Ministry of the Economy to correct several “deceptive business practices” within four months or face a daily fine of €50,000 ($53,800), according to a summary released by the country’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF). The investigation, launched in 2023 following numerous consumer complaints filed via the French government’s SignalConso platform, found that Tesla repeatedly violated national consumer protection laws. The DGCCRF concluded that the automaker failed to properly inform buyers of delivery timelines and locations, required premature payments before credit terms elapsed, and delayed refunds after order cancellations. Most critically,…

Maextro, the premium automotive marque jointly developed by Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC), is moving ahead with the development of two new models following the debut of its flagship S800 sedan, JAC said on Tuesday. The announcement, made via JAC’s official Weibo account, comes less than a month after the Maextro S800 began mass production on June 18. The company has already received over 5,000 firm orders for the model in the first 19 days after its official launch on May 30. While JAC did not release further specifications of the upcoming vehicles, local media outlet National Business…

Mullen Automotive has acquired an additional 21% stake in electric truck manufacturer Bollinger Motors, raising its total ownership to 95%. The transaction increases Mullen’s equity by approximately $3.5 million and follows recent financial challenges that led to a court-ordered receivership of Bollinger. The acquisition allows Bollinger to continue operations under Mullen’s direction. “Bollinger will continue to operate as an independent majority subsidiary, maintaining its own brand identity and focus,” Mullen said in a statement. “All existing and future Bollinger customers can expect business as usual, with full backing and comprehensive coverage on sales, service, and warranty.” Bollinger’s focus remains on…

German zero-emission commercial vehicle rental firm Hylane has launched a subsidiary in the Netherlands, expanding its operations beyond domestic borders. The new unit, Hylane Netherlands BV, will offer battery and hydrogen-powered trucks to Dutch transport companies under its established pay-per-use model. The move marks a significant step in Hylane’s international strategy, following its recent decision to broaden its focus from exclusively hydrogen-powered vehicles to include battery-electric trucks. The expansion is supported by the Dutch government’s SWiM (Subsidie­regeling Waterstof in Mobiliteit) program, which provides subsidies for zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure. “By entering the Dutch market, we are transferring our established rental…

Amazon-backed autonomous vehicle developer Zoox announced the opening of its first robotaxi production facility in Hayward, California, marking a key milestone as it prepares to launch a commercial robotaxi service in the U.S. The 220,000-square-foot facility will assemble purpose-built, fully autonomous vehicles and is capable of producing over 10,000 units annually at full capacity. Zoox did not specify its initial production targets but said demand expectations for its upcoming commercial launches justified the production scale-up. https://twitter.com/zoox/status/1935351685372838321 Zoox is currently testing more than 20 vehicles across several U.S. cities and plans to begin public rides in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood soon.…

A groundbreaking pilot project for wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging launched in 2022 in Gothenburg is being expanded after a successful three-year trial involving Volvo electric taxis. The initiative, part of the Gothenburg Green City Zone, aims to scale inductive charging infrastructure as Sweden pushes toward zero-emission transport by 2030. Project partners Volvo Cars, InductEV, and local stakeholders announced the expansion during the EVS38 conference in Gothenburg. The pilot originally deployed 20 Volvo XC40 Recharge taxis using two wireless charging stations embedded with four 75 kW in-ground inductive pads, located at Lindholmen Science Park and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. A new…

Ford Motor has suspended all deliveries and test drives of its Mustang Mach-E electric SUV as it works to address a critical defect that could trap occupants inside or lock owners out of their vehicles. The issue has prompted a global recall of over 300,000 Mach-E units from the 2021 to 2025 model years. According to The Detroit News, the recall impacts nearly 197,000 vehicles in the U.S. and another 120,000 in international markets. The problem centers on the Mach-E’s lack of physical door handles and reliance on its 12-volt auxiliary battery to operate the electronic door latches. If the…

Smart may be considering a return to its performance roots with a potential revival of the iconic Roadster, as the brand evaluates expanding its all-electric lineup beyond SUVs and an upcoming sedan. Once known for its tiny city cars like the ForTwo and ForFour, Smart has undergone a major transformation, now producing electric SUVs in China through its joint venture with Geely. In an interview with Auto Express, Smart UK boss Jason Allbutt hinted that a new Roadster could be on the table. “We used to have one of those in the family, and [it was] particularly good fun,” Allbutt…

The U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market recorded its first year-over-year decline in 14 months this April, with total EV registrations falling 4.4% compared to the same month in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility. The decline was primarily driven by a sharp drop in Tesla’s U.S. sales, which fell 16% year-over-year to fewer than 40,000 units. Tesla remains the dominant player in the U.S. EV landscape with a 44% market share, meaning fluctuations in its performance have an outsized impact on overall industry figures. While other EV manufacturers such as Chevrolet and Ford each control less than 10% of the…

Volvo Construction Equipment has introduced its all-electric L120 Electric large wheel loader to Europe, with its debut taking place at a complex underground construction site in Munich, Germany. The battery-powered vehicle is currently in operation on a project to build a new underground train station beneath the historic city centre. With a 6-ton lifting capacity, the L120 Electric is the first electric wheel loader of its size to be launched in the European market. The machine is being used in demanding conditions—27 meters below ground level and within a pressurized tunnel environment—to prevent groundwater from entering the construction site. These…

Daimler Truck and Volvo Group have officially launched their joint venture, Coretura AB, with the goal of developing a standardized, open software-defined vehicle (SDV) platform for the commercial vehicle sector. The new entity will focus on creating a non-differentiated core and a dedicated operating system to power the next generation of connected trucks and buses. Coretura’s platform will allow Daimler Truck, Volvo Group, and other potential OEM customers to build stand-alone digital applications, enabling features that can be updated wirelessly over-the-air. These innovations aim to shorten development cycles and improve safety, efficiency, and the user experience for end customers. “With…

Apple has introduced video playback support for CarPlay as part of its upcoming iOS 26 update, marking a notable shift in the platform’s capabilities since its launch in 2014. The feature will allow compatible apps to display video content on the CarPlay screen when the vehicle is stationary. According to Apple’s developer documentation, the new feature appears under a dedicated “video in the car” menu, and its activation will depend on individual automakers. Each manufacturer will be able to choose whether to enable video support in their models, suggesting that rollout may vary significantly across brands and regions. The iOS…

Several school districts in the United States that purchased electric school buses from Lion Electric with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding are reporting serious mechanical and safety issues, with limited support from the Canadian manufacturer’s new investors. In Massachusetts, all four Lion buses owned by Winthrop Public Schools are out of service. Two require repairs the district says are not worth the cost, citing a recurring cycle of breakdowns. Similar problems have emerged across other districts, with complaints ranging from power steering failure and loss of power to onboard charging system malfunctions and emergency exit door gaps. Reports from school…

South Korea’s LG Energy Solution has signed a supply agreement with Chinese carmaker Chery to deliver cylindrical batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), marking the first such deal between a South Korean battery maker and a Chinese automaker. The agreement, reported by Yonhap News Agency, will see LG Energy Solution supply Chery with 8 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of next-generation 46-series cylindrical batteries over a six-year period, starting early next year. The volume is expected to support production of approximately 120,000 EVs. Chery plans to use the batteries in its flagship electric models, with further expansion to other EVs under its brand expected…

Mercedes-Benz has kicked off the global tour of its Vision V concept, a preview of the automaker’s upcoming ultra-luxury electric van. Positioned as the brand’s next step in the electric multipurpose vehicle (MPV) market, the Vision V offers a glimpse into what the company calls “the pinnacle of luxurious and elegant multipurpose vehicles.” The electric van, first revealed in Shanghai earlier this year, is based on Mercedes’ new VAN.EA platform, a modular electric architecture that will support a range of future models, from VIP shuttles to high-end family vans and camper vehicles. The platform is expected to underpin the brand’s…

Kia’s first electric sedan, the EV4, has become South Korea’s best-selling domestic electric sedan just two months after its market debut, with May sales outpacing local rivals amid improving delivery conditions and renewed subsidies. According to local reports, Kia sold 1,373 EV4 units in May, surpassing Hyundai’s Ioniq 6, which sold 754 units — up 100% year-over-year. The EV4’s initial month saw limited sales of 831 vehicles due to delivery issues and subsidy delays, but Kia had projected a rapid rebound once those factors normalized. An industry source referred to the EV4 as a “box office hit,” noting that it…

Lucid Motors confirmed on Monday that it has officially begun rolling out Android Auto to all variants of its Air electric vehicle, several months later than originally planned. The feature arrives with version 2.7.0 of Lucid’s operating system and supports both USB and wireless connections. “Android Auto is one of the most requested features by Lucid owners, and we are delighted to announce that we have begun rolling out a software update to add this capability,” said Dr. Jean-Philippe Gauthier, Head of Software Engineering for Lucid. Android Auto allows drivers to access key smartphone apps—such as navigation, media streaming, and…

Lemonflow, a Munich-based artificial intelligence startup focused on electric vehicle infrastructure, has closed its pre-seed funding round with backing from both financial and industry investors. The company is developing an AI-powered voice assistant to automate customer support for EV charge point operators across Europe. While the amount raised was not disclosed, the startup named participants including venture firms Speedinvest and CDTM Venture Fund, along with Adrian Zierer, founder of e-mobility infrastructure company Charge Construct. Lemonflow said the capital will be used to expand its engineering team, improve integration with charge point management systems, and scale deployments with mobility operators. “Lemonflow…

Sweden’s PowerCell Group has deepened its strategic alliance with Robert Bosch GmbH to fast-track the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell systems in China’s growing mobility and industrial sectors. The expanded partnership builds on a multi-year collaboration and includes additional licensing and market access rights for Bosch. The agreement centers on Bosch’s acquisition of further intellectual property rights to PowerCell’s S3 fuel cell stack, originally co-developed in 2019 for automotive applications. Bosch has been manufacturing the 100 kW PEM-based stacks at its German facilities since 2023 and shipping them to PowerCell’s production site in Gothenburg. The new €6 million deal allows…