Author: Harding Greenwood

Nissan announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs and reduce its global manufacturing capacity by 20% as part of a cost-cutting strategy to save 400 billion yen ($2.6 billion) this fiscal year. The decision comes as Japan’s third-largest automaker faces a sharp decline in sales in major markets, particularly in China and the United States. The automaker revised its annual profit outlook down 70% to 150 billion yen ($975 million) on Thursday, marking its second adjustment this year. Nissan’s CEO Makoto Uchida explained that the company underestimated the rapid rise in demand for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in the U.S. market,…

The US state of Delaware will use a combination of state and federal funds to establish a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along key highways, with the first installations planned at petrol stations in Camden and Harrington by 2025. The state will build ten additional charging sites across major corridors such as Route 13, Route 113, Route 1, and Interstate 95, with final details on their locations and timeline currently in development. The Delaware General Assembly has committed $4 million from this year’s Bond Bill toward the initiative, supplemented by $17.5 million from federal sources under the Bipartisan…

Hyundai Motor Co. announced that production of its first large electric sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Ioniq 9, will begin at its U.S. plant in 2025. The company’s global COO, Jose Munoz, confirmed the plans on November 5, stating that the Ioniq 9 would be produced at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia. This new plant, which opened last month, is Hyundai’s dedicated electric vehicle production facility and will also manufacture vehicles for its Genesis and Kia brands in the future. The Ioniq 9, set to be Hyundai’s third dedicated electric vehicle following the Ioniq 5 and 6,…

BP has announced plans to sell its 310 petrol stations in the Netherlands by the end of 2025, citing the high investments required for growth in the Dutch market. This decision aligns with a broader trend among energy companies to refocus resources amid changing demands in Europe’s fuel market. A BP spokesperson confirmed the sale, though specifics on whether the stations will be sold as a whole, individually, or in smaller packages are yet to be disclosed. Details on the expected sale proceeds remain unavailable. The move highlights the challenges posed by the Netherlands’ dense population and high property costs,…

At the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Irizar and FCC Medio Ambiente introduced H2TRUCK, the first electric chassis platform for heavy urban transport vehicles designed and manufactured entirely in Spain. The vehicle features a hybrid system combining a hydrogen fuel cell with a lithium-ion battery, offering a sustainable solution for urban service vehicles. The H2TRUCK platform is designed for 100% electric traction, with plug-in capabilities and a fuel cell that generates electricity through the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Although technical details remain limited, the prototype has already undergone real-world testing on waste collection routes across various…

Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure has announced a landmark policy to cease the registration of petrol-powered motorcycles for public transport in Kigali, starting January 2025. This initiative, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and curbing air pollution, marks a significant shift in the country’s transportation landscape. Petrol-powered motorbikes currently account for about 20% of all trips in Rwanda’s capital, contributing significantly to the pollution levels. As part of its broader climate goals, the Rwandan government plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38% by 2030. The transition to electric motorcycles is expected to play a crucial role in achieving this target.…

Electreon is collaborating with TransIsrael, a government agency under the Israeli Ministry of Transport, to introduce wireless charging for electric buses along Haifa’s Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) network. The initiative, which spans a 104-kilometre BRT route, will incorporate both inductive charging stations at terminal stops and dynamic charging during the buses’ journeys. While only a small segment of the BRT network will feature inductive charging loops—covering just 1.6 km of the route—the majority of the charging will occur at stationary systems located at the terminal stops. The dynamic charging system will provide supplementary power during the buses’ travel, aiming to…

Honda and GoCimo, a Swedish electric motorcycle rental service, are launching a one-year trial in Malmö, Sweden, to test the viability of battery swapping for electric motorcycles. The trial, scheduled to begin in February 2025, will involve the installation of Honda’s “Power Pack Exchanger e” at three locations in the city, where users of GoCimo’s all-electric EM1 e scooters can exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones. Honda will provide 30 EM1 e electric scooters and 60 Honda Mobile Power Pack e batteries for the trial. GoCimo will manage the battery-sharing service, securing the swapping station locations and acquiring customers.…

Lilium, the German electric flying taxi developer, has been granted approval by the Weilheim Local Court to undergo restructuring under self-administration, following its recent insolvency filing. This move aims to preserve the company, with management retaining control over operations during the process, supported by restructuring experts. However, the success of this strategy largely depends on Lilium securing new investors, with KPMG now tasked with finding potential buyers or financial backers. The company, which had long sought state support from the German government and the state of Bavaria, was unsuccessful in obtaining funding, leading to the insolvency filing last week. Despite…

Lucid posted its second consecutive month of record electric vehicle (EV) registrations in Germany, bolstering its presence in a market dominated by luxury brands such as Porsche and BMW. The U.S.-based luxury EV maker registered 129 new vehicles in October, a significant increase from 41 in September, according to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). Despite Germany’s overall EV market seeing a 5% year-over-year drop in registrations in October, Lucid’s figures show notable gains. The company recorded a total of 256 new registrations in Germany through October, surpassing its entire third-quarter sales. The recent expansion includes a new showroom in…

Rivian is moving toward integrating third-party applications into its vehicles, aiming to establish an ecosystem where outside developers can create and enhance software features. Rivian’s Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid highlighted the plan during an appearance at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, saying he envisions a future where Rivian drivers can access a range of custom apps developed specifically for the company’s electric vehicles (EVs). “Eventually I see us delivering APIs and having an ecosystem of partners who develop their own apps, and I’m super excited to see those,” Bensaid told TechCrunch, adding that a developer toolkit could be available within a…

Volkswagen’s offshoot electric vehicle company, Scout Motors, will integrate software and zonal architecture from a joint venture between Rivian and Volkswagen Group when its new vehicles hit production in 2027, Rivian Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid confirmed at Disrupt 2024. VW and Rivian are currently working to finalize a $5 billion deal for this technology collaboration, with plans to conclude it by the end of this year. Although the partnership is designed to power much of Volkswagen’s future fleet, the inclusion of Scout’s new EV models had been uncertain until now. Scout, which recently revealed prototypes for its Traveler SUV…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Tuesday that General Motors will recall 107 Chevy Bolt EV and EUV vehicles from model years 2020-2022 due to a potential fire risk. The recall involves vehicles previously repaired in earlier recalls, with concerns that the installation of advanced diagnostic software may not have been properly completed, potentially creating a hazard when the battery is fully or nearly fully charged. To reduce the risk, the NHTSA advises owners of affected vehicles to take several precautionary steps: limit battery charging to 90%, avoid allowing the battery to deplete below a 70-mile range,…

Tesla has introduced a new incentive in China, offering customers the chance to win a tour of its Giga Shanghai facility as the automaker seeks to leverage the country’s car consumption stimulus. From now until December 3, Chinese customers who order a new Tesla vehicle via the company’s trade-in service and complete the delivery within the contract period will be eligible for a lottery, the company announced on Weibo. The incentive includes a round-trip airfare and a one-night hotel stay for the winners and their companions. A total of 10 winners will be selected, each allowed to bring a guest…

Europe must invest €39 billion ($42.46 billion) annually to meet its net zero emissions targets in the transport sector by 2050, according to a report released by campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) on Monday. The organization outlined five key recommendations aimed at guiding the European Union’s efforts to decarbonize its transportation systems. The report highlights the need for a coordinated industrial policy that includes significant investment in green technologies, particularly in light of recent findings by former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi, who emphasized the importance of a comprehensive investment strategy for the EU. “An EU-level investment strategy…

China has formally lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union (EU) over its recent tariff hikes on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China. Chinese officials filed the complaint on Monday, arguing that the EU’s decision constitutes “trade protectionism” and infringes on global trade rules. The move, announced by China’s Commerce Ministry, aims to “safeguard the development interests” of the EV sector. The Commerce Ministry criticized the EU’s tariff increases, asserting that they lack a factual and legal basis. A spokesperson urged the EU to reconsider its measures, calling for efforts to maintain the stability…

Eve Air Mobility has announced the acquisition of a $50 million loan from Citibank to strengthen its balance sheet and support its aircraft research and development program. This loan will increase Eve’s pro-forma liquidity for the second quarter of 2024 to approximately $480 million when combined with $95.6 million in equity financing secured in July 2024 from various global industrial companies and financial investors. The company also established a new $88 million credit line agreement with Brazil’s National Development Bank (BNDES) for the development of its aircraft production facility in Taubaté, São Paulo. “Eve continues to attract new investors, a…

BYD has made significant strides in boosting its factory capacity over the past three months to sustain its ongoing sales growth in the new energy vehicle (NEV) market. According to He Zhiqi, the company’s executive vice president, BYD increased its production capacity by nearly 200,000 units during the August to October period, as announced on Weibo. While He did not provide specifics, it is expected that this capacity increase pertains to the monthly production rate. BYD’s monthly sales surged from approximately 370,000 units in August to 500,000 units in October, reflecting the company’s rapid growth trajectory. To support this expansion,…

Yutong Bus has successfully completed a battery endurance and mileage challenge, traveling 555 kilometers on a single charge in Australia, underscoring its commitment to advancing green mobility solutions in public transport. The Yutong C12E fully electric bus, which has been in operation for two and a half years, undertook a round trip of 285 kilometers from Preston, a suburb of Melbourne, to Kiama, finishing the journey with 50 percent of its battery remaining. During the trip, the bus achieved a power consumption rate of 0.63 kWh/km while navigating various road conditions, including city streets, highways, and mountainous terrain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt1R4-xjb8A Kent…

JAC Motors, a Chinese electric truck manufacturer, has shipped 100 MD electric trucks (cab and chassis) to a single customer in Mexico, marking a notable advancement in the company’s efforts to establish a presence in the North American market. As the thirteenth-largest automotive market globally, Mexico offers a competitive environment where American vehicles often share the roads with international brands. The country’s favorable labor rates have attracted various global car manufacturers, creating a market where vehicles sold in the U.S. and Europe face competition from Chinese brands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq8Z88OWpxU This competitive landscape is particularly significant in Mexico’s electric vehicle (EV) sector,…