Author: Harding Greenwood

South Korean automaker KG Mobility (KGM) reported a sharp turnaround in the third quarter, posting an operating profit of 3 billion won ($2.2 million) and record revenue of 1.1889 trillion won, driven by strong export growth and rising demand for its electric and hybrid models. Revenue rose 36.7% from a year earlier, marking the company’s highest-ever quarterly performance. KGM also swung to a net profit of 10.5 billion won, reversing a loss of 46.6 billion won in the same period last year. The company has now maintained profitability for three consecutive quarters. See also: KG Mobility Musso EV Hits 6,000…

Nissan has achieved a major milestone in solid-state battery development, producing prototype cells that could double the range of current electric vehicles, according to a report by Nikkei. The automaker aims to commercialise the next-generation battery technology within the next three years. The Nikkei report said the prototype solid-state cells meet Nissan’s internal performance targets for energy density and charging capability. The cells reportedly offer double the energy storage per unit of volume compared with current lithium-ion batteries, promising longer driving ranges and faster charging times. The results now need to be stabilised and scaled for mass production. See also:…

Chinese automaker EXEED unveiled four new models featuring its latest BEV, REEV, and PHEV technologies during its International User Summit and track event in Shanghai, highlighting its growing ambitions in global markets and upcoming entry into Europe. During the two-day showcase, EXEED presented the ES, ET, E01 PHEV, and VX PHEV models to 124 guests from 24 countries. The BEV lineup demonstrated strong performance with supercar-level acceleration and a class-leading 5.65-meter turning radius, while the hybrid range introduced the world’s first Golden Extended-Range REEV and a Quad-Motor AWD PHEV system. The EXLANTIX ES BEV features an aerodynamic drag coefficient of…

Chinese premium electric vehicle maker Zeekr has officially launched the updated Zeekr 7X family SUV, introducing significant technical and performance upgrades while keeping prices largely unchanged. The refreshed model now adopts a 900-volt high-voltage platform, enabling ultra-fast charging speeds similar to those seen in the recently updated Zeekr 001 shooting brake. The updated 7X continues to be available in three variants, priced at RMB 229,800 ($32,370), RMB 249,800, and RMB 269,800. Zeekr is also offering a limited-time discount of RMB 10,000 for orders placed before the end of the year, effectively reducing the entry price to RMB 219,800. See also:…

Tesla on Wednesday celebrated the 15-year anniversary of its Fremont manufacturing facility in California, a plant that has played a defining role in the automaker’s rise as the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) producer. The Fremont site, once home to the New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) joint venture between General Motors and Toyota, was acquired by Tesla in 2010 and transformed into a hub for electric innovation. Over the years, it has grown into one of the most productive EV factories globally, with more than 3 million vehicles built since operations began. See also: Tesla Details How Battery Preconditioning…

Tesla has provided new insights into how its battery preconditioning system optimizes charging performance by adapting to changing ambient temperatures. The feature, available across Tesla’s vehicle lineup, helps drivers achieve faster Supercharging sessions by warming the high-voltage battery to the ideal temperature before reaching a charging station. The system works in conjunction with Tesla’s Trip Planner, which automatically activates battery preconditioning when a Supercharger is selected as the destination. By raising the battery’s temperature to improve ion transfer, the process ensures optimal energy intake once the vehicle is connected to the charger. Tesla engineers explained that the feature “adapts to…

Renault’s performance brand Alpine has confirmed that its next-generation A110 sports car will be fully electric, marking the end of the combustion-powered era for the model. Production of the current A110 at the Manufacture Alpine Jean Rédélé Dieppe plant will conclude in mid-2026, with a final run of 1,750 units, the company said. See also: Renault’s Alpine Unveils A390 Electric Sport Fastback with Three-Motor AWD System The upcoming third-generation A110 will be the first model to use the Alpine Performance Platform (APP), a dedicated architecture developed in-house for high-performance electric vehicles. The APP was unveiled in 2023, when Alpine first…

Chinese authorities are preparing to standardize the terminology used for semi-solid-state batteries in an effort to prevent confusion among consumers and investors, as the technology gains increasing public attention, local media reported. A new regulatory document under development will rename “semi-solid-state batteries” as “solid-liquid batteries,” according to a report by Yicai, which cited an executive from a major power battery manufacturer. The move is aimed at clarifying the distinction between semi-solid-state and all-solid-state batteries, which differ significantly in design and maturity. See also: Sunwoda Unveils New Generation Solid-State Battery With 400 Wh/kg Energy Density Semi-solid-state batteries drew widespread attention in…

Volkswagen Group, which owns Audi and Porsche, said it currently has sufficient semiconductor supply despite growing concerns across Europe following China’s export ban on finished chips from manufacturer Nexperia. “The current chip crisis shows how fragile our world is,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume told Bild am Sonntag. “Unlike the last semiconductor crisis, this one involves very simple chips that are used across industries and especially in cars. In the short-term, we are provided for in the Volkswagen Group. We need a swift political solution.” See also: Volkswagen Aims for €12 Billion Savings in 2026 Amid Pressure on U.S. EV Plans…

Tesla has expanded its Bay Area ride-hailing service to include San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC), marking a key step in its regional rollout. The company announced the update through its Tesla AI account on X, confirming that customers can now request rides to and from the airport. The move comes after reports that Tesla was in talks with the Bay Area’s three major airports — San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC), and Oakland (OAK) — to obtain operating permits for its ride-hailing and future Robotaxi services. See also: Tesla Plans Cybercab Production in Q2 2026 with Full Autonomy https://twitter.com/Tesla_AI/status/1982639053460963691…

China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) and EACON, a domestic developer of autonomous haulage solutions, have signed a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at accelerating the mining industry’s shift toward electrification and automation. The agreement was formalized on October 24 in Ningde, Fujian, according to a statement from CATL. The partnership will cover areas including capital investment, technology co-development, market expansion, and ecosystem building. CATL said the collaboration represents “a significant milestone for China’s push toward fully electrified and autonomous mining operations,” adding that the industry has moved from experimental stages to large-scale industrialization. See also: CATL Third-Quarter Profit Rises…

U.S. chip manufacturer Nvidia is reportedly developing its own robotaxi platform and could reveal the project soon, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move would mark a significant expansion of Nvidia’s role in the autonomous driving ecosystem, where it is already a major technology partner and investor. Long known primarily for its graphics processing units (GPUs), Nvidia has evolved into a leading provider of artificial intelligence hardware and software, supplying key systems for autonomous driving. Its DRIVE platform — a suite combining hardware, software, and simulation tools — is widely used by automakers and suppliers to design, train,…

South Korea will require domestic carmakers to ensure half of their total vehicle sales are zero-emission models, including electric and hydrogen cars, by 2030, the government said on Tuesday. Companies failing to meet the target will face a levy of 3 million won ($2,200) per vehicle from 2028, a move that has raised concern among automakers already struggling with tariffs and slowing profits. According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the new measures will be finalized by the end of this year as part of the country’s 2026–2030 roadmap for low and zero-emission vehicle adoption. The current target…

Nio has surpassed 90 million cumulative battery swap services, reaching the milestone at 10:53 p.m. Beijing time on October 26, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer said. The company achieved this figure just 100 days after completing its 80 millionth swap, reflecting the accelerating pace of its energy service operations. See also: Nio to Begin Trial Operations of Fifth-Generation Battery Swap Stations by Year-End https://twitter.com/WilliamLiNIO/status/1982481987467423800 Nio said it now conducts more than 100,000 battery swaps per day, with the 100 millionth service expected around January 2026. Cumulative electricity delivered through its swap network has reached 4.75 billion kWh—enough to power over…

A senior official from China’s leading auto industry association has urged the government to slow the pace of phasing out purchase tax incentives for new energy vehicles (NEVs), suggesting a reduced tax rate in 2026 and 2027 to ease pressure on the market. Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), proposed setting the NEV purchase tax at 3% in 2026 and 7% in 2027, compared with the currently planned 5% rate for both years. He made the remarks during the 2025 automotive industry statistical annual report conference in Changsha, Hunan, according to a CAAM WeChat…

Volkswagen Group is preparing deeper cost-cutting measures to strengthen its financial position, with executives targeting savings of up to 12 billion euros ($12.9 billion) in 2026. The plan could affect existing and future electric vehicle (EV) programs in the United States, Manager Magazin reported. At the end of September, Group Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz met with senior executives David Powels of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Jürgen Rittersberger of Audi, and Jochen Breckner of Porsche to discuss measures to improve cash flow. Antlitz reportedly demanded that the brands collectively deliver an additional 12 billion euros next year, calling it a “massive…

Leapmotor founder, chairman, and CEO Zhu Jiangming said China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) supply chain has reached a globally competitive position, with strengths in vehicle production and core component scale, quality, and cost. Zhu made the remarks in an October 23 interview with Chinese media. Zhu forecasted a rapid shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles in China. “In another three to four years, China’s automotive market will be almost entirely dominated by NEVs. Within the next decade, 90% to 95% of vehicles in China will be electric,” he said, adding that global electrification could reach 60% to 70%…

Xiaomi Corp’s electric vehicle unit, Xiaomi EV, has announced a subsidy program to shield customers from the effects of China’s planned reduction in new energy vehicle (NEV) purchase tax incentives. The move applies to buyers who secure orders by November 30, covering delays in delivery to 2026 caused by Xiaomi. The subsidy affects the SU7 sedan, SU7 Ultra sedan, and YU7 SUV, offering a final payment cash discount capped at RMB 15,000 (approximately $2,100), ensuring customers incur no additional purchase tax costs. See also: Xiaomi Takes Apart Tesla Model Y to Refine Its YU7 Electric SUV China’s NEV purchase tax…

Tesla has confirmed that production of its electric Semi truck has been delayed into 2026, despite earlier statements suggesting the vehicle was already in production. The company had previously delivered a few units to select customers, including PepsiCo, as part of a limited pilot program, but large-scale manufacturing has yet to begin. See also: Tesla Semi Charging Network Expands as PepsiCo Plans 18-Megacharger Station in North Carolina Originally unveiled in 2017, the Tesla Semi was slated for production in 2019. In late 2022, Tesla introduced the “production version” and delivered a small number of trucks, but the program has remained…

Chinese automaker BYD said it will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of its compact SUV, the Atto 2, to the European market in early 2026. The model will be offered in two variants, with the first deliveries planned for the first quarter of 2026. BYD, which brands its plug-in hybrid models under the “Dual Mode-intelligent” (DM-i) name, said the Atto 2 DM-i aims to “redefine the compact SUV segment.” According to the company, the vehicle will deliver an electric-only range of up to 90 kilometres, which it describes as “a performance unmatched in this class.” See also: BYD Europe Aims…