Author: Harding Greenwood

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…