Author: Harding Greenwood

Italy’s central purchasing agency Consip has issued a €650 million tender for the procurement of 600 electric buses, marking another significant step in the country’s ongoing push to decarbonise public transport. The new tender, which spans urban, intercity, and regional applications, is part of Italy’s broader National Recovery and Resilience Plan and aligns with European Union climate targets. Organised into five vehicle categories, the tender includes 70 minibuses (30 five-metre and 40 six-metre models), all specified with plug-in battery electric systems. In the midibus range, Consip is seeking 90 eight-metre and 50 nine-metre plug-in buses, along with 90 ten-metre midibuses,…

Mercedes-Benz has acknowledged shortcomings in the execution and marketing of its flagship electric sedan, the EQS, marking a rare public admission of missteps in its EV strategy. The German luxury brand now plans to discontinue the standalone EQS line and integrate it into a unified model family with the S-Class, offering both combustion and electric variants. Gorden Wagener, the company’s chief design officer, recently told Autocar that the EQS’s design—defined by a smooth, ultra-aerodynamic profile—did not align with traditional expectations for luxury sedans. “It’s a very, very progressive car and, of course, it was not originally designed as a chauffeur…

Chinese EV battery-swapping firm U Power has signed a memorandum of understanding with Beijing Foton to jointly develop and promote battery-swapping compatible commercial vehicles, including electric trucks, vans and buses, the companies said. Under the agreement, U Power will provide its battery-swapping technology to be integrated into Foton’s commercial vehicle lineup. The collaboration will also focus on the construction and testing of battery-swapping stations and the development of a broader battery-bank ecosystem. The initial focus will be on Southeast Asia, South America, Hong Kong and Macau, with the companies noting that further geographic or product expansion is possible under the…

Toronto has reached a significant milestone in the electrification of its public transit system, with over 100 battery-electric buses now in active service across the city, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) said. The city expects to expand this fleet to 400 by the second quarter of 2026, which would make it the largest electric bus fleet in North America. The expansion is part of a $700 million CAD investment shared by the federal government and the City of Toronto, aimed at accelerating the shift toward zero-emission transit. The funding also covers charging infrastructure and ongoing support for maintenance and operations.…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng launched its latest mid-size SUV, the G7, on Wednesday in a bid to expand its presence in China’s highly competitive EV market and directly challenge the dominance of Tesla’s Model Y. The G7 is Xpeng’s first all-new model of the year and enters the market with a starting price of RMB 195,800 ($27,320), undercutting its own earlier pre-sale price by RMB 40,000 and positioning it RMB 67,700, or about 26%, cheaper than Tesla’s Model Y, which starts at RMB 263,500 in China. See also: Xpeng Distances Itself from China’s ‘Zero-Mileage’ Export Practice Three configurations are…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has expanded its Transporter line-up with two new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) variants—the Kombi and the Shuttle—marking the first time both models are available with fully electric drivetrains. The new BEV Kombi, designed for flexible commercial use, is offered in both short and long wheelbase formats. It comes standard with five seats, expandable to six, and features a 65kWh lithium-ion battery providing a WLTP range of up to 196 miles. The model also supports a payload of up to 896kg. The Shuttle Life variant targets professional passenger transport and large families. Offered with eight seats as standard—and optionally…

Autonomous driving technology firm Pony.ai will begin robotaxi trials in Singapore’s Punggol district in the fourth quarter of 2025, the company announced, as part of a new partnership with local transport operator ComfortDelGro. The initiative, backed by a memorandum of understanding signed in July 2024, aims to lay the groundwork for large-scale commercial autonomous vehicle operations in the city-state. The trials will deploy Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous driving system, which the company says uses 100% automotive-grade components and has achieved a 70% reduction in Bill-of-Materials costs — a milestone the firm believes is essential for mass deployment. “Punggol will serve as…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) has launched its first battery pack production lines located within another company’s facility, with two Cell-to-Pack (CTP) 2.0 lines now operational at Seres’ manufacturing site in Chongqing, western China. The move marks the battery maker’s debut production footprint in Chongqing and forms part of a broader effort to enhance manufacturing efficiency and shorten lead times for electric vehicle (EV) customers. Operating under a “factory-in-factory” model, the new lines are situated within the Seres plant but remain fully controlled by CATL, allowing tighter coordination between cell production and vehicle assembly. Battery packs manufactured at the…

Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is reducing its workforce at its Normal, Illinois, production facility, eliminating more than 100 salaried positions as it prepares for the upcoming launch of its R2 electric vehicle series. The job cuts, largely affecting the manufacturing division, are part of Rivian’s ongoing effort to streamline operations in advance of mass production of its more affordable EV lineup, scheduled for 2026. According to TechCrunch, approximately 140 roles are being eliminated. Rivian said the decision was made “as part of an ongoing effort to improve operational efficiency for R2.” Crain’s Chicago Business noted that affected employees are eligible…

Shell Germany has begun a pilot program introducing dynamic electricity pricing at its ultra-fast charging stations, linking costs directly to spot market electricity prices in an effort to incentivize electric vehicle (EV) charging when renewable energy supply is high. The new pricing model applies to Shell’s network of over 1,600 Shell Recharge charging points and adjusts rates throughout the day based on the real-time cost of electricity on the exchange. The company said this approach aims to better align consumer charging behavior with power grid demands and renewable energy availability. At launch on June 30, the variation in rates throughout…

Recharge said it has equipped all of its more than 2,500 fast-charging stations across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark with card payment terminals, becoming the first major operator in the Nordic region to do so. The rollout simplifies public electric vehicle (EV) charging access by eliminating the need for apps or accounts, particularly benefiting tourists and occasional users. “Charging should be easy, whether you drive an electric car every day or are just on your way to a long summer trip,” said David Lincoln Blom, Communications and Marketing Director at Recharge. Alongside the hardware update, the charging provider has introduced…

Tesla recorded a slight uptick in China-made vehicle sales in June, breaking an eight-month streak of year-on-year declines, according to data released Monday by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The U.S. electric vehicle maker sold 71,599 China-made vehicles last month, including domestic deliveries and exports, up 0.83% from the 71,007 units sold in June 2024. Compared to May 2025, sales rose 16.1%. See also: Tesla Quietly Upgrades Model 3 and Model Y in China, Boosts Range and Acceleration This marks Tesla China’s first year-on-year monthly gain since September 2024. In the eight months from October to May, Tesla’s Shanghai-based…