Author: Harding Greenwood

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a special investigation into a recent incident involving a Tesla Model Y colliding with a heavy truck, tragically resulting in the death of the Tesla driver. The incident occurred on July 19 in Warrenton, Virginia, when the Model Y collided with a tractor-trailer truck while the truck was making a turn onto a highway from a nearby truck stop. The force of impact caused the car to slide underneath the trailer, leading to the unfortunate demise of the driver. The truck driver was issued a summons for reckless driving in connection…

General Motors (GM) is making waves in the electric vehicle (EV) market as it unveils plans to broaden its Ultium-based EV lineup, introducing the possibility of electric coupes joining the roster. The automotive giant recently disclosed its intention to offer vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology across its entire Ultium-based EV range by the 2026 model year, and intriguingly mentioned that this feature would extend to “Ultium-based coupes.” While GM’s video announcement opens the door to speculation, the company has yet to divulge specific details about these anticipated EV coupes. This marks the first official acknowledgement of GM’s intent to produce Ultium-based coupes,…

Great Wall Motors (GWM), China’s SUV and pickup truck manufacturer, has demonstrated remarkable sales growth for new energy vehicles (NEVs), reporting a substantial increase of 163.1 percent year-on-year in July. According to the statistics released by the company, GWM, headquartered in Baoding, Hebei Province, achieved noteworthy success in the NEV market last month. The Ora brand played a pivotal role in driving GWM’s NEV sales, with deliveries of its electric vehicles reaching an impressive 10,116 units. Closely tailing Ora was Haval, another brand under the GWM umbrella, which recorded NEV sales of 10,105 units. This achievement marked the second consecutive…

In the ever-evolving landscape of the automotive industry, Jaguar’s recent sales figures paint a varied picture for the second quarter of 2023. The iconic brand reported a global retail car sales figure of 15,467, showcasing a modest increase of nearly two percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, its sibling brand, Land Rover, achieved a remarkable growth rate of 36 percent, propelling the broader Jaguar Land Rover group, a subsidiary of Tata Motors, to a notable rebound of 101,994 units – marking a significant 29 percent year-over-year surge. Sales Dynamics in Q2 2023 and Year-to-Date Jaguar’s individual sales figures for Q2…

Hong Kong’s blank-check company, Black Spade Acquisition (BSAQ.A), has received shareholder approval for its merger with Vietnam’s prominent electric automaker, VinFast. This crucial decision now sets the stage for VinFast’s anticipated entry into the U.S. market later this year. VinFast, which commenced its operations in 2019 and recently began delivering cars in California, has successfully navigated a two-year journey to gain approval for its U.S. public listing. The merger’s approval grants VinFast the green light it needed to proceed in its pursuit of becoming a competitive force in the U.S. automotive sector, aiming to establish its presence among both traditional…

In November 2022, the spy images of Zeekr 001 got revealed. However, it seems the company is working on another model of Zeekr 001. A few days before, the spy photos of the suspected Zeekr 001 facelifted model were exposed on the internet and quickly got viral. However, today, the Zeekr officially refuted all these rumors and said there is no plan to change the model of Zeekr 001. The revealed images belong to the Zeekr 001 FR, a more powerful version of the standard Zeekr 001. See also: Geely’s Zeekr Commences Production of Zeekr 001 for European Markets; Reveals…

In a notable development, Hyundai Mobis, a South Korean automotive supplier under the Hyundai Motor Group umbrella, has clinched a major contract with Volkswagen. The agreement involves the delivery of ‘Battery System Assembly (BSA)’ for Volkswagen’s forthcoming generation of electric vehicles. The exact magnitude of the order has not been disclosed by the partnering companies thus far. Nonetheless, Hyundai Mobis has revealed its intention to establish a dedicated manufacturing facility close to Volkswagen’s manufacturing plants in Spain later this year. This facility will cater to the production of battery systems, following the requisite board approvals. While Hyundai Mobis refrains from…

Rivian has made substantial strides early this year, indicating a promising trajectory for its future. With a modest but significant increase in its production projection for the year and a robust financial stance, the company is set on navigating potential supply chain challenges with confidence. On Tuesday, Rivian announced a minor adjustment to its estimated production figures, raising the bar from 50,000 units to 52,000 units for the current year. This incremental elevation of just four percent holds noteworthy implications, underlining Rivian’s commitment to its brand and vision. The EV industry has witnessed its fair share of production goal revisions…

In a move that challenges convention, Bobby Singh and Phil Wagenheim have collaborated to establish a groundbreaking venture, Sacrilege Motors, aimed at transforming cherished Porsche 911s into all-electric marvels. The name of their enterprise, chosen purposefully, encapsulates their audacious approach towards these revered automobiles. Presenting their inaugural creation to the world, Sacrilege Motors has crafted an all-black, all-electric rendition of a 1992 Porsche 911. Remarkably, this initial masterpiece is none other than a rare 1-of-250 model, the 911 America Roadster. Yet, the audacious venture’s name belies its founders’ deep respect for Porsche tradition. Despite the profound powertrain metamorphosis, Singh and…

In an ambitious move, British startup McMurtry Automotive contemplates a road-legal version of its remarkable Speirling prototype, renowned for its staggering acceleration and downforce capabilities. Despite technical feasibility, the innovative fan system proves to be a regulatory hurdle. The automotive world has been captivated by the McMurtry Speirling, a unique all-electric single-seater prototype that astonished enthusiasts by sprinting from 0 to 60 miles per hour in an astounding 1.5 seconds. This remarkable feat is attributed to its potent 1,000-horsepower electric powertrain and a distinctive fan system, which employs an unconventional approach to enhance downforce, significantly outperforming conventional track cars. A…

In a recent development, Cruise, the autonomous vehicle company, has commenced trials of its self-driving cars in Atlanta, marking a significant step forward in its endeavor to launch a comprehensive robotaxi service in various urban centers. This move confirms earlier reports from TechCrunch that Atlanta would be the next city to witness Cruise’s autonomous vehicles navigating public roads. While the company’s statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, was relatively succinct, it firmly indicated further details would follow, leaving eager observers awaiting additional information. This announcement closely follows Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt’s revelation just a week ago that the company…

In a latest promotional video, General Motors (GM) proudly presents its debutant, the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV). This innovative offering merges instantaneous torque, a discreet demeanour, and impressive performance, aligning perfectly with the demands of law enforcement agencies. The Chevrolet Blazer, arguably GM’s most renowned SUV nameplate, is stepping into the electric era. After providing a glimpse of the electric SUV at CES 2022, GM officially introduced the Chevy Blazer EV in July last year. However, despite sharing GM’s updated design philosophy with its petrol counterpart, the electric Blazer diverges significantly from the traditional path. See…

In a recent development, Liao Jie, the former director of smart driving research and development at Chinese chip startup Horizon Robotics, has taken on a significant role at BYD as the head of the company’s smart driving Shanghai team. This transition marks a notable move within the tech industry. Liao began his journey at Horizon Robotics back in May 2016, where he initially served as a senior R&D engineer. His dedication and contributions led to his promotion as the director of smart driving R&D in December 2017. During his tenure at Horizon Robotics, he played a pivotal role in spearheading…

In a remarkable display of growth, Volvo Cars USA witnessed a significant 57 percent year-over-year increase in car sales during the month of July, reaching an impressive total of 10,785 units. Over the span of the first seven months of the year, sales soared to 70,535 units, reflecting a substantial 23 percent year-over-year upswing. Notably, Volvo’s plug-in electric car segment demonstrated exceptional performance, with 3,132 rechargeable vehicles sold in July alone, marking a remarkable 226 percent year-over-year increase. These figures, however, should be considered in the context of a relatively low base from July 2022 when only a modest number…

In response to the growing number of accidents involving electric bicycles, California is considering a new approach to regulate e-bike riders. Assembly Bill 530, introduced by California State Assembly member Tasha Boerner, proposes the implementation of licensing requirements for e-bike riders without a valid car license. Electric bicycles, being faster and heavier than regular non-electric bikes, have raised concerns over safety as their popularity surges. Accidents involving e-bikes, particularly in beach cities like Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, have become a cause for alarm among citizens and authorities. The bill’s provisions entail that individuals under the age of 12 will…

A team of researchers from Germany has successfully jailbroken a Tesla Model 3, granting unrestricted access to in-car features that are typically available as paid upgrades. The group of white hat hackers, consisting of three students from Technische Universität Berlin in Germany, disclosed that they found a method to hack into the hardware powering the Tesla Model 3’s infotainment system, effectively jailbreaking the vehicle. According to one of the students, the attack required physical access to the car, a scenario in which their jailbreak could prove beneficial. For instance, it could cater to owners who prefer not to pay extra…

In the first half of 2023, the global electric vehicle (EV) battery consumption witnessed remarkable growth, reaching 304.3 GWh, a substantial 50.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to data released on August 3 by South Korean market researcher SNE Research. Leading the pack, CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) emerged as the dominant player in the global market, with battery installations amounting to 112.0 GWh from January to June. This marked a substantial 56.2 percent surge from the 71.7 GWh reported in the corresponding period in the previous year. With an impressive 36.8 percent share,…

In July, China’s BYD solidified its position as the leader in China-made electric vehicle (EV) sales, outpacing its U.S. rival, Tesla, as customers opted for its more affordable EV models. Industry data revealed that Tesla’s sales of China-made vehicles experienced a notable 31% decline from June, attributed to the company idling some production lines in preparation for the launch of a revamped Model 3. According to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), Tesla sold 64,285 China-made EVs in July, a significant 128% increase compared to 28,217 units sold in the same period last year. The previous year’s production…

Fisker, an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, recently introduced its latest offering, the Alaska pickup truck. This launch comes shortly after the company commenced deliveries of its flagship SUV, as it grapples with ongoing supply chain issues. Fisker is positioning itself in the competitive EV market by offering lower-priced vehicles with a focus on high-design sensibility. Scheduled for production in early 2025, the Alaska will enter the fast-growing electric pickup segment, where it will compete with established players such as Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Tesla’s Cybertruck, and Rivian’s  R1T. See also: Fisker Unveils “Ronin”: An Electric Convertible Boasting a Remarkable 600-Mile Range…

As tourists flocked to American roads during the July 4 weekend, an estimated 43.2 million people embarked on road trips, marking 14 percent of the country’s population, according to projections by the American Automobile Association (AAA). Amidst this surge in travel, an interesting question arises: Could these vacationers have made their summer road trips in electric vehicles (EVs)? JD Power, a market research firm, highlights that the feasibility of such road trips in EVs depends on the route chosen due to varying charger frequency across different states. While states like California boast an average distance of just 10 miles between…