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…