Author: Harding Greenwood

Zeekr Group posted a slight year-on-year increase in revenue and an improved gross margin for the first quarter of 2025, as the integration of its Zeekr and Lynk & Co brands drove efficiency gains, the company said on Friday. Revenue reached RMB 22 billion ($3.03 billion) in the quarter, up 1.1% from RMB 21.8 billion a year earlier. However, revenue fell 37.8% compared to RMB 35.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting seasonally lower deliveries. See also: Zeekr Unveils 9X Hybrid SUV with 380-km EV Range and L3 Autonomous Driving The group’s vehicle sales brought in RMB 19.1…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc’s (NYSE: NIO) mass-market sub-brand, Onvo, marked its first anniversary on Wednesday, as the company reflected on the brand’s progress and prepared for the next phase of its development. “One year ago, the Onvo brand was officially launched. Onvo is built for high-quality family life,” Nio’s founder, chairman, and CEO William Li said in a letter published on the Onvo App. See also: Nio Restructures Onvo and Firefly Brands in Cost-Cutting Drive The brand’s first model, the five-seat L60 SUV, began deliveries on September 28, 2024. Since then, more than 40,000 units have reached customers,…

Toyota Motor Corporation has officially introduced the 2026 bZ, a refreshed version of its all-electric compact SUV previously known as the bZ4X. The update brings significant improvements in driving range, charging technology, performance, and design, accompanied by a simplified model name. One of the key highlights is a 25% increase in range for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant. The 2026 bZ AWD XLE is rated for up to 460 kilometers (285 miles) on a full charge, compared to 367 kilometers (228 miles) in the prior model. See also: Toyota Reconsiders 2026 EV Sales Goal Amid U.S. Tariff Impact and Sluggish Demand…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday that the company’s Robotaxi platform will eventually launch in Saudi Arabia, marking the first public confirmation of plans to expand its driverless vehicle service to the Kingdom. The statement was made during the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, where a $600 billion investment pledge was also announced between the two nations. See also: U.S. Regulators Seek Details on Tesla’s Robotaxi Plans Amid Safety Concerns While Musk did not provide a specific timeline for the rollout, he reaffirmed Tesla’s broader global ambitions for its autonomous fleet. “Really, you can think of cars, or future cars, as…

Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car division of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, announced that its application for a Production Certificate for the flying body of its “Land Aircraft Carrier” flying car has been accepted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This marks a significant step in the review process for the company’s mass-production system for flying cars. The “Land Aircraft Carrier” is a modular flying vehicle that consists of a flying body, code-named X3-F, and a parent vehicle capable of recharging the flying body. The Type Certificate application for the flying body was first accepted by the CAAC…

Wisk Aero, a developer of autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, has announced the appointment of Sebastien Vigneron as its new CEO. Vigneron, who previously served as the company’s Senior Vice President of Engineering and Programs, succeeds Brian Yutko, who will transition to a leadership position within Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes Division (BCA). In a statement, Vigneron said, “Having been deeply involved in Wisk’s journey over the last four years, this is an exciting time for the company and AAM as a whole. I look forward to guiding our talented team through…

Tesla has introduced a new artificial intelligence-based communication system aimed at improving customer support and handling service complaints, the company confirmed through a post on social media platform X. The initiative is being piloted at 10 locations and includes safeguards to prevent misuse of the platform. The rollout is part of Tesla’s broader effort to address longstanding concerns over customer service. Raj Jegannathan, who leads AI, IT Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Vehicle Service at Tesla, stated that the newly launched AI Agent can monitor delays in response times, analyze the tone of customer messages, and escalate cases to higher levels of…

Continental has marked a significant milestone by producing its 200 millionth radar sensor. This achievement underscores the company’s pivotal role in advancing vehicle safety and autonomous driving technologies over the past quarter-century. Radar sensors are integral to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving, providing crucial data about a vehicle’s environment. These sensors enable features such as adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, and blind spot detection. As vehicles become more advanced, the demand for reliable and precise radar systems has surged. Continental’s radar portfolio now serves a wide range of applications, spanning passenger cars, trucks, and two-wheelers. The company’s…

AEye, a leader in lidar technology for self-driving cars, has reached a major milestone with its manufacturing partner, LITEON. The two companies have successfully produced the first Apollo lidar sensors at LITEON’s new facility in Taipei, Taiwan. This development sets the stage for large-scale production of the Apollo sensor, designed to enhance automotive safety and performance through its advanced detection capabilities. Lidar technology, which uses laser light to map a vehicle’s surroundings, is integral to autonomous driving systems. The Apollo sensor, part of AEye’s 4Sight Flex lineup, stands out for its ability to detect objects up to one kilometer away…

Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) (SHE: 300750) has introduced the Tener Stack, a 9 MWh energy storage solution it claims is the world’s first production-ready ultra-high-capacity system of its kind. The launch took place on May 7 at the battery storage trade show in Munich, Germany. The Tener Stack builds on the April 2024 release of CATL’s Tener system, which offered 6.25 MWh of energy storage with zero degradation over five years. The new system improves on that with a 45% increase in volume utilization and a 50% rise in energy density, thanks to the use…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) and BYD remained the world’s top two electric vehicle (EV) battery suppliers in the first quarter of 2025, as global demand for EVs continued to accelerate, according to data published by South Korean market research firm SNE Research. Global EV battery consumption totaled 221.8 gigawatt-hours (GWh) from January to March, marking a 38.8% increase from the same period a year earlier. See also: CATL’s Qilin Battery Cells Meet New Chinese Safety Standards Ahead of 2026 Deadline CATL retained its position as the dominant supplier, installing 84.9 GWh of EV batteries, a 40.2% rise from…

Geely Automobile Holdings has proposed a $2.2 billion buyout to take electric vehicle maker Zeekr private, just one year after the Chinese EV brand went public in the United States. Geely, which currently owns approximately 65.7% of Zeekr, submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire all outstanding shares and American depositary shares (ADSs) of Zeekr it does not already hold, at a price of $2.57 per share or $25.66 per ADS, according to a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday. See also: Zeekr Unveils 9X Hybrid SUV with 380-km EV Range and L3 Autonomous Driving The offer follows…