Author: Ivan Popov

Tesla is preparing to roll out its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature in Australia, with local validation efforts now in the final stages, according to the company’s Country Director. The move follows months of testing and recent confirmation that there are no regulatory barriers preventing the supervised version of the advanced driver-assistance system from launching in the country. Thom Drew, Tesla’s Australia Country Director, stated that the company is “running through the final stages of validation prior to public release,” with initial deployment expected to begin on vehicles fitted with Tesla’s latest Hardware 4 platform. The rollout will occur in phases,…

Waymo, Alphabet Inc’s self-driving technology unit, said its autonomous vehicles have crossed 100 million miles driven without a human behind the wheel, marking a major milestone as the company accelerates its robotaxi deployment in U.S. cities. The company, which operates a fleet of around 1,500 vehicles, doubled its fully autonomous mileage in just six months. Waymo’s robotaxis are now active in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta. According to Waymo’s chief product officer, the milestone reflects “years of methodical progress now accelerating into rapid, responsible scaling.” See also: Waymo Launches Teen Accounts in Phoenix to Expand…

Daimler Truck has launched a new phase in its decarbonisation strategy by deploying 14 battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 trucks for long-haul factory deliveries. The move marks an expansion of the company’s inbound logistics electrification programme, which now includes cross-border transport routes and long-distance supply chains. The eActros 600 units are operated by a dozen logistics partners and will support deliveries to Daimler Truck’s manufacturing plants in Wörth am Rhein, Gaggenau, Kassel, and Mannheim. These vehicles extend the company’s existing electric logistics network, which already includes around 40 routes serviced by the shorter-range eActros 300 and 400 models. The initiative falls…

U.S.-based electric vehicle charging company Blink Charging has announced its readiness to assist customers affected by the shutdown of EVBox’s Everon business across Europe and North America. The move follows EVBox’s decision to cease operations of both its software platform Everon and its AC charging product line, raising questions for charging hosts and drivers relying on the infrastructure. EVBox has directed its Everon users to Blink as a recommended alternative provider. Blink has responded by offering continuity services ranging from ongoing network management to hardware replacements. “EVBox has played a significant role in the growth of EV charging infrastructure across…

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that its subsidiary Accumotive will begin reconditioning used batteries from 2026 at its site in Kamenz, Germany, in addition to assembling new-generation battery packs. The facility, named Battery ReUse Centre Europe, is part of the automaker’s broader strategy to strengthen its circular economy approach in electric vehicle (EV) operations. The centre will handle the repair and refurbishment of earlier-generation Mercedes-Benz battery systems for reuse within the company’s aftersales network. Existing infrastructure on the Kamenz factory premises is currently being remodelled and extended for the project, with commissioning scheduled for early 2026. Reconditioned batteries will undergo functional and…

Waymo has introduced teen accounts in Metro Phoenix, allowing riders aged 14 to 17 to request autonomous rides independently while maintaining parental oversight, the Alphabet-owned self-driving company announced. The move is part of Waymo’s broader effort to grow its user base and normalize autonomous vehicle (AV) usage for future generations. Parents in the Phoenix area can now link a teen profile to their Waymo One accounts. Once connected, teens can hail robotaxi rides and share trip status and location with their guardians in real time. The program mirrors offerings from traditional ride-hailing firms like Uber, which also provide teen account…

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sold in Europe produce 73% fewer life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline-powered cars, according to new findings from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The study underscores BEVs as the most effective technology for reducing emissions in Europe’s most polluting transport segment. The ICCT report, released Thursday, found that while hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles offer some emissions savings, their reductions remain marginal — 20% and 30% respectively — when measured across the entire vehicle lifecycle. The limited impact of plug-in hybrids was attributed to lower-than-expected usage of electric driving. “Battery electric cars in…

Volkswagen is continuing its promotional offers for the 2025 ID.4 electric SUV in the United States through the end of July. Customers can choose between 0% APR financing for 72 months or a $5,000 customer bonus on the purchase or lease of new or used models. The offer applies across trims, including the entry-level version priced from $45,095. With 0% financing, buyers will pay $13.89 per $1,000 borrowed over the 72-month period, according to Volkswagen’s official calculator. However, the $5,000 bonus and the financing offer cannot be combined. For lease customers, Volkswagen is offering a separate deal at $339 per…

Barrick Mining Corp. has finalized a $440 million agreement with Komatsu Ltd. to supply electric and electrified mining equipment to its Reko Diq copper-gold project in Pakistan, in a move aimed at reducing emissions and improving operational efficiency. The deal will see Komatsu begin delivering a mix of ultra-class haul trucks, mining excavators, electric rope shovels, and wheel loaders starting in early 2026. The Reko Diq project is considered one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits and represents a long-term investment for Barrick in both Pakistan and the global mining sector. Among the equipment to be supplied is Komatsu’s…

The Maextro S800, a flagship luxury sedan developed under the joint venture between Huawei and JAC, is a full-size premium electric model designed with advanced technology and refined engineering. Built on a new modular “Xuanwu architecture,” the S800 incorporates 10 horizontal and nine longitudinal structural members, delivering torsional stiffness of 53,300 N·m/deg. This engineering approach, combined with 13 airbags and a four-lock safety system, underscores the sedan’s safety-first focus. Dimensionally, the Maextro S800 measures 5,480 mm in length, 2,000 mm in width, and 1,536 mm in height, riding on a 3,370 mm wheelbase. The car achieves a drag coefficient of…

BMW is preparing for the large-scale production of electric drive systems at its Steyr facility in Austria to support its Neue Klasse series, though internal combustion engines (ICE) will continue to dominate the plant’s operations. The company has installed just two electric drive production lines, compared to 13 for ICEs, according to information from German trade publication Automobilwoche. BMW has confirmed the plant will supply over 600,000 electric drives annually for the Neue Klasse EV lineup, with the Steyr site playing a central role in both the development and manufacture of these systems for global markets, excluding China. The electric…

General Motors reported a 111% year-over-year increase in U.S. electric vehicle (EV) sales for the second quarter, driven by a wave of new models and rising deliveries across both consumer and commercial segments. The automaker sold 36,187 EVs in the three-month period, up from 17,030 units a year earlier. The Equinox EV led the performance with 17,420 units sold. Other key contributors included 6,549 Blazer EVs, 4,508 Hummer electric trucks and SUVs, 3,056 Silverado EVs, 1,810 Escalade IQ units, and 1,524 GMC Sierra EVs. BrightDrop, GM’s commercial EV brand, also recorded 1,318 van sales, significantly up from 490 units during…