Author: Harding Greenwood

Tesla has rolled out a new promotion in several European countries, offering new car buyers up to 15,000 miles or 20,000 kilometers of free Supercharging credits. The announcement was first made by the official Tesla United Kingdom (UK) account on X, revealing that customers who take delivery of a custom-ordered Tesla Model S, Model 3, Model X, or Model Y, or a vehicle from existing inventory, before July 1, 2024, will receive 15,000 miles (24,140km) of free Supercharging. https://twitter.com/tesla_uk/status/1800135837201596429 Tesla’s promotion comes with terms and conditions, including flexibility on the June 30th deadline. The company states, “If delivery is postponed…

Nissan is enticing Chevy Bolt EV and EUV owners to consider switching to a Nissan LEAF with a new incentive offer. The 2024 Nissan LEAF, priced starting at $28,140, is already one of the most affordable electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S. Citing data from Cox Automotive, Nissan notes that the LEAF was the most affordable EV in the first three months of 2024, with an average selling price (including discounts) of $27,956, beating out Nissan’s Ariya, which came in second at $35,556. See also: GM Claims Next-Gen Chevrolet Bolt to Be the Most Affordable EV on the Market With access…

Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y are experiencing reduced wait times for their full range of variants in China, suggesting a potential softening in demand for the electric vehicle (EV) maker. Both models now boast shorter wait times of 1-6 weeks, down from the previous 3-6 weeks for Model 3 and 2-6 weeks for Model Y variants. The adjustment in delivery wait times is a notable shift, as the last time Tesla models in China saw such short wait times was on December 26, 2022, when the entire lineup of Model 3 and Model Y had a wait time of…

Fiat, part of Stellantis, has revealed plans to introduce a new hybrid version of its popular 500e small electric car, aiming to meet the market demand for more affordable electric options. The company’s move comes amid a global slowdown in electric car sales. The new “mild” hybrid 500e will offer a combination of a petrol engine and a battery, providing customers with a cost-effective alternative to the fully electric model. Gaetano Thorel, the head of the Fiat brand for Europe, stated that market demand for the hybrid 500e is estimated at 100,000-110,000 units per year, surpassing the sales figures of…

Ford Motor’s U.S. new vehicle sales experienced an 11.2% increase last month compared with May of last year, driven by robust sales growth in all-electric and hybrid models. The Detroit automaker revealed a substantial 65% sales surge in both hybrid and all-electric vehicles, contrasting with a 5.6% rise in sales of Ford’s traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. Despite the notable growth in hybrids and EVs, sales in these segments combined for about 26,600 vehicles, accounting for only 14% of Ford’s total sales of over 190,000 vehicles last month. The rise in EV sales presents a dilemma for investors. While Ford…

Tesla has announced a scheduled five-day shutdown at its Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg plant, stating that it is a regular part of production operations and not indicative of any unusual circumstances. The shutdowns are planned for the 7th, 14th, 17th, 27th, and 28th of this month. During these periods, production in the vehicle manufacturing and powertrain areas will be halted, while the Casting, Plasma, and Cell areas will continue to operate. Tesla has informed plant employees that the downtime will be used to “optimize processes in the factory” and “prepare them for future challenges.” This move comes as Tesla grapples with weakening…

General Motors has announced the promotion of two former Apple executives to spearhead its software and services operations as the company intensifies efforts in developing and marketing electric, autonomous, and connected vehicles. Baris Cetinok has been appointed as the senior vice president of software and services product management, while Dave Richardson will serve as the senior vice president of software and services engineering. Both executives joined GM in September last year, according to a statement released by the Detroit automaker on Monday. The move comes as GM endeavors to enhance revenue generation from software and services and transition from internal…

In a strong showing of growth, Subaru of America Inc. reported that its May car sales in the United States rose to 58,356 units, marking a 7.0% increase compared to the same period last year. This achievement signifies the 22nd consecutive month of year-over-year growth for the automaker, with year-to-date sales reaching 267,215 units, up 7.3% from last year. A significant contributor to this growth has been the impressive performance of the Subaru Solterra, the brand’s all-electric SUV. Last month, Subaru recorded a tripling of its electric vehicle (EV) sales, with Solterra sales totaling 1,546 units, marking a remarkable 255%…

Taiwanese electric scooter manufacturer Gogoro has announced a significant investment of $50 million from Gold Sino Assets Limited, marking a strategic move to bolster its expansion efforts. The investment comes as Gogoro continues to make strides in the electric vehicle market, with shares closing at $1.46 on Friday, resulting in a market capitalization of $358.87 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Gogoro will issue 32,516,095 ordinary shares to Gold Sino, valued at approximately $1.5377 per share. Additionally, Gold Sino will receive a warrant to purchase 10,838,698 ordinary shares of Gogoro at an exercise price of $1.6915 per share. The…

Hyundai Motor America has defied industry expectations by reporting robust sales figures for May, with 78,485 vehicles sold, marking a 12% increase from the same period last year. Year-to-date, the company has sold 331,892 vehicles, up 2% year-over-year. The Korean automaker’s U.S. electrified vehicle sales, including EVs, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids, soared by 50% year-over-year, with all-electric vehicles witnessing a remarkable 42% increase compared to May 2023. Notably, May also marked the best sales month for Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 crossover. In May, Hyundai sold 5,548 electric cars based on its E-GMP platform in the U.S., a 62% increase from a…

In an upcoming software update dubbed Software Version 2024.14.3, Tesla is set to replace its seat sensors with cabin radar for safety purposes, according to Tesla hacker greentheonly. Tesla has traditionally used occupancy sensors in its seats to indicate which seats are occupied by passengers, including the driver’s seat, particularly for maintaining occupancy during the operation of the Full Self-Driving and Autopilot suites. https://twitter.com/greentheonly/status/1785777290879643909 However, the company is now planning to abandon the use of seat sensors altogether in favor of cabin radar. greentheonly discovered this change while analyzing data related to the software update. While some speculated that Tesla…

Pepper Motion, a German company specializing in zero-emission drive kits for commercial vehicles, has been sold to a strategic investor from Turkey. The acquisition comes after Pepper Motion filed for insolvency in self-administration earlier this year. The Denkendorf-based company’s plans for expansion into India remain uncertain following the sale. Management consultancy Falkensteg facilitated the acquisition process and confirmed that the Turkish investor will take over Pepper Motion’s operational capacities in Germany and its development expertise for modular electric and hydrogen drives. Pepper Motion’s drive kits are designed for installation in buses and trucks, focusing on battery-electric and fuel cell drive…

Renowned tech and electric vehicle (EV) reviewer Marques Brownlee, popularly known as MKBHD, has bestowed high praise upon the luxury electric sedan Lucid Air Sapphire. In a recent video on his YouTube channel Auto Focus, Brownlee hailed the Lucid Air Sapphire as “one of the best sedans ever made,” asserting its superiority not just in the EV segment but across the automotive industry. “This is one of the best sedans ever made—I’m not saying electric—it’s one of the best sedans ever made,” Brownlee remarked in the video. “And honestly, yeah, it’s peak EV right now. This is as good as…

Polestar, the electric car manufacturer, is facing a critical situation as its stock recently plummeted to an all-time low of 73 cents, jeopardizing its Nasdaq listing unless its fortunes are reversed. The company, which went public through a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in 2022, was once valued at $21 billion. However, like many other electric vehicle (EV) companies listed on the Nasdaq or NYSE in recent years, its stock has performed poorly, losing approximately 95% of its value. Polestar’s market capitalization has dwindled to just $1.65 billion. Polestar’s stock dipped below $1 for the first…

As Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers edge closer to the American market, U.S. automakers are feeling the pressure to compete in the burgeoning segment of affordable electric cars. General Motors (GM), like its competitors, is recognizing the necessity of producing more affordable EVs to remain competitive in the expanding EV market, moving beyond high-margin luxury SUVs and pickups. In response, GM is reviving the Chevrolet Bolt, acknowledging the significant success of the uber-affordable EV before its discontinuation. See also: General Motors Invests $390 Million in Kansas for Next-Gen Chevy Bolt EV Production Marissa West, GM’s North American chief, highlighted the company’s…

North American EV charging company FLO has announced the start of production for its FLO Ultra charger at a facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. This milestone signifies the company’s commitment to deploying fast-charging EV infrastructure across the United States and Canada. The decision to open the Auburn facility was announced in 2022, marking a significant expansion as the company had previously manufactured only in Canada. This week’s ramp-up also includes upgrades to comply with the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program’s (NEVI) standards and the Buy America Act. The FLO Ultra charger boasts a new motorized cable management system called EZLift,…

McLaren, renowned for its sports cars and supercars, is venturing into the bicycle market with a full lineup designed to appeal to enthusiasts who share a passion for both. The new range includes two power levels, offering a hardtail and full suspension option, catering to a variety of preferences. However, prospective buyers should be prepared for a significant investment, as the entry-level price is set at $7,950. Named the Sport and the Extreme, these models boast features that cater to most e-bike shoppers’ needs. Each bike comes equipped with a carbon fiber frame and custom handlebars that integrate a digital…

Chevrolet has officially initiated deliveries of the all-electric Equinox SUV, marking a significant milestone for customers eagerly anticipating the arrival of the highly anticipated vehicle. General Motors (GM) announced that the Equinox EV, touted as the “most affordable EV” in its class with a range exceeding 300 miles, is now being delivered to customers, signaling the beginning of a new era for electric vehicles in the automotive market. Production of the Equinox EV commenced earlier this year, and the new electric SUV is already making its way to customers. Last fall, Chevrolet unveiled that the entry-level Equinox 1LT FWD would…

Tesla is reportedly set to utilize a data center in China to train its self-driving algorithm as part of its ongoing development of fully autonomous electric vehicles. The company intends to shift some of its data processing to the Chinese region and is planning to establish a data center shortly after receiving approval for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite in China. According to Reuters, which cited two individuals familiar with the matter, Tesla will collaborate with a Chinese partner to establish the data center for enhancing the operation of its FSD suite. The company has reportedly engaged in discussions with…

South Korea’s SK Innovation is reportedly exploring the sale of its subsidiary SK IE Technology (SKIET) as part of a strategic move to restructure its battery business, according to Maeil Business newspaper. The potential sale is seen as a response to financial challenges faced by SK Innovation’s battery-making unit, SK On, amidst a slowdown in demand for electric vehicles (EVs). The newspaper, citing an unnamed investment banking source, stated that the sale of SKIET aims to alleviate financial pressures within SK On. SKIET is a key supplier of separators, a crucial component in EV batteries, to major EV battery makers…