Author: Harding Greenwood

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…

Fiat has launched a pilot program in Madrid in collaboration with technology firm Ample and mobility provider Free2move to test battery-swapping technology for electric vehicles. The initiative features a dedicated fleet of Fiat 500e models equipped with Ample’s modular battery system, aiming to reduce vehicle downtime by enabling full battery replacement in under five minutes. The project marks an effort to address common barriers to EV adoption, such as long charging times and limited infrastructure. The pilot includes a single battery-swapping station in Madrid, where the integrated system automatically replaces depleted batteries with fully charged units. The fleet is currently…

Vietnam’s largest city has unveiled plans to transition approximately 400,000 ride-hailing motorcycles to electric vehicles (EVs), in a move aimed at reducing air pollution, improving urban mobility, and aligning with the country’s long-term climate goals. The conversion effort will focus on two-wheeler fleets operated by digital platforms such as Grab, Be, ShopeeFood, and Ahamove, which rely heavily on motorcycles to transport passengers and goods across the city’s dense urban landscape. Of these, only Xanh SM currently operates an all-electric two-wheeler fleet. The city has already conducted preliminary studies to identify rest stops and charging points tailored to the needs of…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it is streamlining the process for reviewing petitions by automakers seeking to deploy self-driving vehicles without traditional human controls such as steering wheels, brake pedals, or mirrors, in an effort to speed up the adoption of autonomous driving technologies. NHTSA currently has the authority to approve up to 2,500 such vehicles per manufacturer each year, but the agency has been criticized for taking years to act on some exemption requests. The new approach is aimed at accelerating decisions and reducing regulatory bottlenecks. “The exemption process has been bogging developers down…

U.S. electric truck manufacturer Xos has teamed up with virtual power plant (VPP) operator Leap to enable commercial fleet operators to monetize their charging infrastructure by participating in California’s grid support programs. The partnership combines Xos’s mobile charging solution with Leap’s software-driven platform to provide flexible energy resources during times of high grid demand. The collaboration integrates Leap’s VPP technology with the Xos Hub, a mobile and battery-integrated charging system designed to accelerate fleet electrification without the cost and delays of permanent infrastructure. The joint offering allows fleet operators to participate in California’s Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) program by…