Author: Ivan Popov

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle unit of Alphabet, said on Wednesday it has struck a deal with ride-hailing company Lyft to launch a robotaxi service in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2026. Waymo plans to begin testing its all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in the Nashville area in the coming months, with the service expected to open to the public next year. The partnership represents another step in Waymo’s expansion beyond its initial commercial market in Phoenix, which now includes Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with additional plans for Miami, Washington D.C., Dallas, and Denver. Under the agreement, Lyft will manage fleet…

The Michigan Supreme Court has revived a lawsuit challenging Ford Motor’s (F.N) BlueOval Battery Park Michigan project, a $3.5 billion facility under construction that is slated to begin producing lithium iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries for electric vehicles next year, the Detroit Free Press reported. The case, filed by a group of residents under the Committee for Marshall – not the Megasite, argued that city officials acted to block them from fairly voting on measures that would enable Ford and other entities to proceed with the development. The state’s highest court vacated a lower appellate court ruling and directed it to review…

Ford said on Tuesday it will cut up to 1,000 jobs at its electric vehicle plant in Cologne, Germany, as weaker-than-expected demand for battery-powered cars prompts the automaker to scale back production. “In Europe, demand for electric cars remains well below industry forecasts,” the U.S. carmaker said in a statement. Ford will switch production at the Cologne site to a single shift from January 2026, leading to the job losses. The Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, which began operations in 2023 after a $2 billion investment, is the company’s key European hub for its new generation of battery-powered models. The plant…

The new MG4 compact electric hatchback has been launched in China with five available trims and a subsidized price range between 65,800 yuan (about $9,140) and 99,800 yuan (about $13,860). Developed on SAIC’s E3 pure electric platform, the MG4 is positioned as an affordable option in the increasingly competitive compact EV market. The MG4 is powered by a six-in-one integrated electric motor producing up to 120 kW, with a top speed of 160 km/h. Customers can choose between a 42.8 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery pack or a larger 53.9 kWh version, delivering CLTC-rated ranges of 437 km and…

Tesla has extended the operating hours of its Bay Area ride-hailing service, allowing customers to book Robotaxi rides from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m., the company said on Friday. The move adds two additional hours to the daily schedule, expanding availability for late-night passengers. The service, which launched earlier this year following a pilot program in Austin, Texas, operates across San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. Riders request trips via Tesla’s mobile app in a process similar to Uber or Lyft, but with vehicles using the automaker’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. https://twitter.com/Tesla_AI/status/1966683703582851202 Despite the “Robotaxi” branding, each vehicle still has…

Volkswagen said it is facing technical challenges in enabling access to Tesla’s Supercharger network for its electric vehicles in North America, leaving the German automaker behind rivals in adopting the widely used fast-charging system. Tesla began opening its Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles in 2021, striking agreements that led most automakers in the region to adopt the company’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). Industry-wide integration accelerated this year after earlier delays caused by internal restructuring at Tesla, which included the dismissal and partial rehiring of its charging team. Volkswagen remains the last major brand without Supercharger access for its vehicles,…

Representatives of Solaris Bus & Coach and the Municipality of Gdańsk have signed a contract for the delivery of 30 electric buses, marking a significant step in the city’s transition to zero-emission public transport. The order comprises 18 units of 12-metre Solaris Urbino electric buses and 12 articulated Solaris Urbino 18 models, which will be operated by Gdańskie Autobusy i Tramwaje. The buses are scheduled for delivery by September 2026. The 12-metre vehicles will feature 600 kWh batteries, while the articulated versions will be equipped with 800 kWh energy storage systems, enabling extended operation on a single charge. Each bus…

QCraft, a provider of autonomous driving solutions, has formed a strategic partnership with TÜV Rheinland, an international testing and certification organization, to support the global deployment of intelligent mobility technologies. The agreement was signed at the IAA MOBILITY 2025 conference in Munich, Germany. The collaboration will combine QCraft’s L2++ to L4 autonomous driving systems with TÜV Rheinland’s expertise in testing, inspection, and certification. The companies said the partnership is intended to promote the safety, standardization, and commercialization of autonomous driving technologies worldwide. Dr. James Yu, Co-founder and CEO of QCraft, described the partnership as “a crucial step in the company’s…

One of the primary concerns for electric vehicle (EV) buyers remains battery longevity and degradation, which can reduce driving range over time. Recent data, however, suggests that Ford’s electric models are performing well in this area. The Mustang Mach-E, for example, is designed to last at least 10 years while retaining 90% of its original capacity at 100,000 miles, with some owners reporting minimal degradation even beyond 250,000 miles. See also: Ford Expands F-150 Lightning Lineup with New Entry-Level STX, Adds Range https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5QXZ9fSH4U Similar resilience has now been observed in the Ford F-150 Lightning. In a recent video from the…

Hyundai will produce its upcoming Ioniq 3 electric vehicle in Türkiye, marking the first time the automaker manufactures an EV in Europe, a senior executive told Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of the IAA Mobility show in Munich. “We will start production of our Ioniq 3 model next year. This will be the first electric vehicle that Hyundai produces in Europe for the first time in Turkey,” said Murat Berkel, General Manager of Hyundai Türkiye. “This will also be the first electric vehicle exported from Türkiye to Europe after Togg.” See also: Hyundai Unveils Concept Three Compact EV At IAA,…

Magna International said it has appointed Philip D. Fracassa as Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective immediately, succeeding Patrick McCann who is stepping down after more than 26 years with the company. McCann will remain in an advisory role until the end of February 2026 to ensure a smooth transition, the Canadian auto parts supplier said. “I would like to extend my gratitude to Pat for his significant contributions and partnership, particularly during a dynamic period in the global economy and our industry,” Magna President and CEO Swamy Kotagiri said in a statement. Fracassa joins Magna after two…

Stellantis said on Friday it will no longer pursue the development of a fully battery-electric version of its Ram 1500 full-size pickup, citing slowing demand for full-size electric trucks in North America. The company confirmed it will instead launch an extended-range version, renamed the Ram 1500 REV, formerly known as the Ramcharger. “As demand for full-size battery-electric trucks slows in North America, Stellantis is reassessing its product strategy and will discontinue development of a full-size BEV pickup,” the company said in a statement. “As part of this, Ram is renaming its REEV-powered pickup to Ram 1500 REV. This vehicle will…