Author: Harding Greenwood

The German auto industry, traditionally viewed as a stable source of long-term employment, may face significant workforce reductions over the next decade, largely driven by the sector’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs), according to a new study by consultancy firm Prognos. The report predicts that the transition to EVs could reduce employment in Germany’s automotive industry by about 186,000 jobs by 2035 compared to 2019. This decline is attributed in part to the simpler drive systems in electric vehicles, which require fewer components than traditional internal combustion engines. As a result, a range of jobs, particularly in welding, metal processing,…

Tesla and Uber have launched an incentive program valued at up to $2,000 to encourage ride-share drivers to switch to electric vehicles. Eligible Uber drivers purchasing a new Tesla Model 3 or Model Y can receive $1,000 in Tesla credits upon delivery and another $1,000 from Uber after completing 100 trips, Tesla announced on a dedicated section of its website. “Eligible Uber drivers who purchase a new Model 3 or Model Y vehicle can receive $1,000 in Tesla Credits upon taking delivery, and $1,000 in cash from Uber after completing 100 trips,” the website states, with Tesla Credits available for…

BYD, China’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, reported record sales of 502,657 NEVs in October, marking the first time the company has exceeded the 500,000 mark in a single month. This represents a 66.5% increase compared to 301,833 units in the same period last year and a 19.8% rise from September’s 419,426 units, according to data released by BYD on Wednesday. The company’s October sales milestone reflects continued strong demand for its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) across domestic and international markets. “Our focus on NEVs has enabled us to drive sustainable growth month…

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has cleared Porsche’s acquisition of a stake in battery manufacturer Varta, citing no competition concerns with the planned investment. The decision allows Porsche to move forward with acquiring a non-controlling interest in Varta AG and a majority stake in Varta’s subsidiary V4Drive Battery GmbH, the company’s large-format lithium-ion cell unit. The acquisition, announced on October 9, permits Porsche to assume sole control of V4Drive, with Varta AG retaining a minority interest in the unit. This partnership is part of a broader reorganization aimed at supporting Varta amid financial challenges. Porsche and Austrian shareholder Michael Tojner have…

UK-based Swytch, known for its e-bike conversion kits, has announced its first electric bicycle, the Swytch Go, which aims to provide riders with a more affordable option in the electric mobility market. The Swytch Go will be priced starting at £999 ($1,300) and features three battery options, a 250W motor, and various standard features. The e-bike is equipped with a 250W rear motor delivering 40Nm torque, allowing assistance up to 15 mph (24 kph) in the UK and EU, and 20 mph (32 kph) in the US. The Go power pack offers a base range of 20 miles (32 km),…

Hyundai has teased the latest addition to its Ioniq electric lineup, the Ioniq 9, ahead of its global unveiling set for November. The all-electric, three-row SUV is the brand’s most ambitious EV yet and signals Hyundai’s push to capture the growing demand for spacious, family-sized electric vehicles. Inspired by the SEVEN Concept revealed in 2021, the Ioniq 9 will be showcased at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Ioniq 9 builds on Hyundai’s signature ‘Parametric Pixels’ design seen in the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, featuring a full-width LED light bar across the front and vertically aligned pixel LEDs. Hyundai…

Audi has launched two new versions of its A6 e-tron, introducing an entry-level model with rear-wheel drive and a smaller battery and a more powerful all-wheel-drive variant. These options are now available for order in Germany, with the base A6 Sportback e-tron priced at €62,800 and the A6 Avant e-tron estate starting at €64,450. The entry-level A6 e-tron comes equipped with a 210 kW rear-wheel drive and an 83 kWh battery (75.8 kWh net), while the all-wheel drive models, branded as A6 Sportback e-tron quattro and A6 Avant e-tron quattro, start at €79,800 and €81,450, respectively. In terms of performance,…

State Farm is set to remove electric vehicle (EV) charging stations from its parking garages across the U.S., citing fire safety concerns as the main factor behind the decision. The Illinois-based insurer, known for its extensive coverage range, informed employees that it would seek alternative solutions for EV-charging access and plans to share updates on these options once finalized. The decision, first reported by local media outlet WGLT, impacts State Farm’s headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois, along with numerous satellite offices nationwide. State Farm has set October 28 as the deadline for the removal, giving employees less than a month to…

Redwood Materials, the battery recycling company co-founded by Tesla’s J.B. Straubel, is increasing its focus on recovering lithium-ion batteries involved in accidents and natural disasters. In a recent blog post, Redwood detailed its collaborations with local and national organizations to efficiently manage and recycle batteries affected in emergency scenarios. One recent example occurred on the I-15 highway, where an overturned truck transporting lithium-ion batteries led to a fire and temporarily closed a section of the highway. Redwood worked with Graymar Environmental to recover and safely handle the damaged batteries. The company reported receiving approximately 70,000 pounds of battery materials from…

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to develop electric vehicle (EV) DC fast chargers in up to 16 communities across the state. This $1.2 million funding initiative, sourced from the Federal Highway Administration’s Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) Program, is intended to bolster accessible, reliable, and equitable EV infrastructure in areas beyond the state’s main highways. “This funding opportunity helps North Dakota target investment in EV charging infrastructure in communities throughout our state,” said NDDOT Project Manager Russ Buchholz. “Installing fast chargers in these communities will help reduce…

Italy’s government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is proposing a reduction of approximately €4.6 billion ($5 billion) in funds initially allocated to support the national automotive industry between 2025 and 2030. This move, detailed in a draft of the 2024 budget, has stirred significant opposition, especially as the global electric vehicle (EV) market faces sluggish sales due to uneven policies on green incentives. The reduction affects automakers including Fiat-maker Stellantis, which has had to adjust its strategies to navigate shifting market conditions. The proposed cuts have been criticized by the Italian automotive lobby group ANFIA, which called the reduction…

ChargeLab and ChargeHub have announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing EV roaming capabilities throughout North America. This collaboration will enable seamless integration of ChargeLab’s charging stations into ChargeHub’s roaming network, allowing EV drivers greater access to charging stations without additional registrations or fees. Under the new arrangement, all ChargeLab customers, including those using white-labeled networks, will be automatically connected to ChargeHub’s platform, improving accessibility for both drivers and network operators. As part of this effort, ChargeLab—a leader in hardware-agnostic EV charging software—and ChargeHub, North America’s top EV roaming platform, are working to streamline charging processes. The initiative aims to…

POSCO Holdings announced the completion of a lithium hydroxide production plant in Guemes, Salta Province, Argentina, with a ceremony held on Oct. 24. Located at Hombre Muerto Salt Pan, the facility can produce 25,000 tons of lithium hydroxide per year—enough to support battery production for approximately 600,000 electric vehicles. This addition raises POSCO’s annual lithium hydroxide production capacity to 46,500 tons, including output from the POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution’s plant in Gwangyang, South Korea. “The completion of this plant is an important first step for POSCO Group to produce high-value-added lithium in Argentina,” stated Kim Jun-hyung, head of POSCO’s Secondary…

Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car division of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng, has initiated construction on a manufacturing facility designed for large-scale flying car production. The Guangzhou-based facility, which broke ground on October 27, is set to become the world’s first flying car factory to employ a modern assembly line, with an expected annual capacity of 10,000 units. Xpeng Aeroht anticipates starting production and deliveries by 2026. Covering approximately 180,000 square meters in the Guangzhou Development Zone, the new site aims to merge aerospace-grade standards with automotive-scale manufacturing capabilities, which the company says will improve manufacturing consistency, reduce costs, and…

U.S. auto dealers’ groups announced on Friday that they intend to oppose Volkswagen’s decision to sell Scout Motors’ electric vehicles directly to consumers, bypassing traditional independent dealerships. The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) stated that it will “challenge this and all attempts to sell direct in courthouses and statehouses across the country.” On Thursday, Scout Motors, an electric vehicle brand under Volkswagen, said it would adopt a direct sales model akin to Tesla, promising transparent pricing and a streamlined purchasing process. NADA CEO Mike Stanton criticized the move, saying, “The decision by VW to attempt to sell Scout vehicles direct…

Daimler Buses has announced a significant order from Italy’s Autoservizi Troiani, which operates a bus network in the eastern suburbs of Rome. The company has placed an order for 110 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric buses, with some units equipped with Daimler Buses’ new NMC4 batteries. The delivery of these buses will occur progressively, with the first 10 already in operation since September 2024. The entire fleet is expected to be delivered by mid-2026. Autoservizi Troiani has deployed the initial buses in areas such as Grotte Celoni, Ponte Mammolo, Pantano, and Rebibbia, with plans to convert its entire fleet to electric and…

Swiss automaker Softcar has revealed its new lightweight L7e electric car, designed with four seats, a unique feature in this vehicle class. Weighing just 640 kilograms, including its battery, the electric vehicle is expected to cover a range of 200 kilometers on a single charge. Priced from 23,000 euros, the Softcar targets urban mobility and sustainability. Traditionally, the L7e class has been dominated by two-seater models, such as the Silence Nanocar 04 and the Ari Motors 902. The Softcar stands out by offering four seats while adhering to the category’s 90 kph speed limit. It is powered by an electric…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted the profound global economic effects of the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), emphasizing its potential impact on investment, production, international trade, and employment. This analysis is part of the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook released during the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, where global growth, debt distress, and the financing of the green energy transition are key topics. “The rising adoption of electric vehicles represents a fundamental transformation of the global automotive industry. It will have far-reaching consequences,” the IMF stated. The shift to EVs, seen as essential for meeting climate goals,…

Tesla appears to be making progress on an application for smartwatches, addressing a long-standing request from vehicle owners. Coding details uncovered by Tesla App Updates indicate that the company is working on an app that could enhance integration between its vehicles and smartwatches, a feature many owners have desired for years. While Tesla has delayed smartwatch integration, opting to focus on its mobile app for iOS and Android platforms, it seems that the company is finally responding to user demands. The coding observed includes the line “watch_app_pairing_state_remotely_signing_add_key_command,” suggesting the development of a smartwatch application. https://twitter.com/Tesla_App_iOS/status/1848375591013138519 Tesla has previously refrained from…

Foil.One, a Finnish company specializing in hydrodynamic electric watercraft, has unveiled its flagship product, the Pegasus, a single-seat electric hydrofoil boat. The Pegasus combines impressive performance with an aesthetically appealing design, drawing inspiration from the aerodynamics of 1950s Formula 1 cars and World War I aircraft. Founded with the goal of advancing all-electric marine mobility, Foil.One aims to create a sustainable future where adventure and environmental stewardship coexist. The company emphasizes innovation and design in developing the Pegasus, which showcases elements of strength, power, fun, and sustainability. Constructed entirely from carbon fiber, the Pegasus is designed to be both lightweight…