Author: Harding Greenwood

Renault Group has unveiled three new all-electric light commercial vehicles (LCVs) under its E-Tech lineup, aiming to expand its presence in the commercial EV segment. The newly announced models—Estafette E-Tech, Goelette E-Tech, and Trafic E-Tech—will be built on a modular skateboard platform developed in collaboration with Flexis, a joint venture involving Renault, Volvo Group, and CMA CGM Group. The automaker said the new vehicles are designed to offer increased scalability and flexibility for fleet operators. “These three new electric vehicles have been developed to meet a full range of business use cases,” Renault said in a statement. “They will redefine…

Xpeng will introduce the Max variant of its Mona M03 electric sedan in May, featuring advanced smart driving technology, the company’s chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng said on Monday. “We will build a $20,000 top-of-the-line smart driving product,” He said at an artificial intelligence (AI) event in Beijing, emphasizing the company’s commitment to making high-level autonomous driving more accessible. See also: Xpeng Eyes Smart Driving Insurance to Support NOA and Autonomous Features Xpeng officially launched the Mona M03 on August 27, 2024, with three variants—515, 620, and 580 Max—priced from RMB 119,800 ($16,390) to RMB 155,800. Deliveries of the lower-priced…

Japanese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer SkyDrive announced a major milestone in its push toward commercial operations, securing a G-1 certification basis from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). The approval represents a significant step in the company’s efforts to achieve full type certification for its three-passenger SKYDRIVE eVTOL aircraft. Alongside the certification update, SkyDrive unveiled the first real-world images of its eVTOL, providing a glimpse of the aircraft in action before its public demonstration flights at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. SkyDrive Expands Global eVTOL Ambitions SkyDrive, a rising name in the sustainable aviation sector, has…

Tesla’s Megafactory in Shanghai, dedicated to producing energy storage products, officially began production today with a ceremony held in the Lingang new area, as reported by local media outlet The Paper. Construction of the factory began in May 2024, and in a display of Tesla’s rapid development pace, products rolled off the assembly line just nine months later—three months ahead of the timeline set for Giga Shanghai, the company’s electric vehicle factory. This accomplishment highlights what has become known as “Tesla speed” and “Shanghai speed,” according to the report. See also: Tesla Initiates Production of Updated Model Y ‘Juniper’ Across…

New Flyer has been awarded a significant contract by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) for a combination of zero-emission and hybrid buses. The deal includes a firm order for 75 Xcelsior hybrid-electric 40-foot buses and 25 Xcelsior CHARGE NG 35-foot battery-electric buses, with options for up to 400 additional units. The Washington Metro, which operates a fleet of 1,500 buses servicing the National Capital Region—encompassing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia—will integrate these new vehicles into its growing fleet. See also: Long Beach Transit Orders 30 Electric Buses from New Flyer to Support Green Transition The Xcelsior…

Several automakers are enhancing their vehicles’ cockpit technologies by integrating DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, signaling a growing trend of AI adoption in the automotive industry. Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of Geely Holding Group, has incorporated DeepSeek’s R1 model into its in-house developed Kr AI large model, according to Zeekr’s Vice President Lin Jinwen. This integration enables Zeekr’s virtual voice assistant, AI Eva, to deliver more accurate answers by “thinking deeply.” The integration is set to go live soon, with plans to continue enhancing Kr AI’s reasoning abilities for better understanding of users’ intentions. “AI Eva will…

Volvo Cars has secured shareholder approval to sell its 30% stake in Lynk & Co to Zeekr, completing a restructuring move initiated by parent company Geely. The €700 million ($755 million) transaction aims to enhance synergies between the two brands while streamlining product development and talent integration, Geely said. As part of the deal, Lynk & Co will gain access to Volvo’s European dealer network, marking a shift in its retail strategy. Previously reliant on online sales and a subscription-based model, the brand will now distribute vehicles through select Volvo dealerships in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, and…

Volvo is introducing its first electric Cross Country model, the EX30 Cross Country, designed to handle challenging winter conditions with all-terrain features. The new variant builds on the existing EX30 electric SUV with off-road enhancements and a rugged design, the Swedish automaker said. The EX30 Cross Country features the same dual-motor all-wheel-drive system as the standard EX30, producing 422 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. It is powered by a 64.0-kWh battery pack, which Volvo estimates will deliver a range of 264 miles per charge. When using a DC fast charger, the vehicle can recharge from 10% to 80% in…

Italian public transport operator Asti Servizi Pubblici (ASP) has taken delivery of the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro K electric buses built since series production began in autumn 2024, marking a significant step in the company’s fleet electrification efforts. The four compact buses were delivered alongside twelve 12-metre eCitaro models as part of a larger tender. The eCitaro K, unveiled in September 2024, is a 10.6-metre version of the standard eCitaro electric bus, designed for urban routes with tight turns. With a turning circle of 17.28 metres, the buses are “particularly suitable for application in local public transport with narrow, winding routes…

The Polestar 2, an all-electric vehicle, has demonstrated remarkable resilience in severe weather, particularly during flooding events, where it outperformed traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. During a recent flood in the U.K., captured by the Vehicles Vs Water YouTube channel, the Polestar 2 was the only vehicle that successfully navigated through deep water while multiple ICE cars stalled and remained stranded. See also: Polestar 2 to Receive Direct Successor by End of Decade, CEO Confirms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYjp28RrhTA In the video, the Polestar 2 can be seen crossing a flooded river crossing, with water levels rising above its windscreen. Despite the…

Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO of Lucid Motors, is setting the stage for the electric vehicle startup to expand beyond car manufacturing into a licensing model that could eventually make up the majority of the company’s revenue. In an interview with InsideEVs at the BloombergNEF Summit in San Francisco, Rawlinson shared his vision for Lucid to follow a path similar to Intel’s success in the computing industry—by supplying core EV technology to other car manufacturers. He explained, “I’d love it to be 20-80. Twenty percent doing cars, 80% licensing,” adding that the company’s real potential lies in licensing its EV…

Ford Motor’s electric vehicle unit, Model e, reported a $5.1 billion loss in 2024, exceeding the previous year’s deficit as sales and revenue in the segment declined. In response, the automaker is making leadership changes to steer its EV division toward profitability. Global EV sales for Ford fell 9% year-over-year to 105,000 units, with Model e revenue dropping 35% to $3.9 billion. In contrast, Ford Blue, the company’s internal combustion vehicle division, sold 2.86 million units, while its commercial vehicle arm, Ford Pro, delivered 1.5 million vehicles, including some electric models such as the E-Transit. See also: Ford’s U.S. EV…