Author: Ivan Popov

Renault is in discussions with Nissan to support the Japanese automaker in creating its own version of Renault’s electric Twingo, with the aim of launching a competitively priced EV in Europe by 2026. The affordable Twingo, expected to cost under €20,000 ($21,700), is set to be a pivotal model for the alliance as it contends with the increasing influence of Chinese brands, including BYD, in the European market. Renault CEO Luca de Meo highlighted the challenge posed by Chinese EV makers, remarking, “The real question is whether we are capable of making European industry competitive with the Chinese. We are…

Audi has announced it will close its Brussels production facility at the end of February 2025, marking the Volkswagen Group’s first European plant closure in decades. The decision comes after a prolonged search for investors failed to yield a sustainable solution for the factory, which employs around 3,000 people and currently produces the Q8 e-tron and its Sportback variant. The Brussels plant closure had been anticipated for months, as Audi cited site limitations and declining production volumes as key factors behind the decision. Built to produce 120,000 vehicles annually, the plant peaked with 47,900 units in 2022, followed by a…

A study commissioned by Germany’s auto industry association VDA reveals that the country’s automotive sector could lose up to 186,000 jobs by 2035 due to the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), with around a quarter of these losses already realized between 2019 and 2023. The report, conducted by research institute Prognos and released on Tuesday, attributes the initial 46,000 job reductions to the ongoing industry transition. The VDA study highlights the competitive challenges facing Germany’s auto sector, pointing to high electricity costs, taxation, and regulatory complexity as factors that are affecting competitiveness. Major automakers like Volkswagen are reportedly considering significant…

Electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group announced on Tuesday that it will open orders for its upcoming Gravity SUV on November 7, aiming to broaden its customer base and increase demand. The new model comes on the heels of a recent capital raise, positioning Lucid to compete more directly with established players like Tesla. The Gravity lineup will feature a Grand Touring variant starting at $94,900, with production expected later this year. A more affordable Touring version, with a starting price of $79,900, will follow in late 2025. Lucid noted that existing customers will receive priority for Gravity deliveries. “We’re at…

During a recent conference call discussing Tesla’s Q3 2024 financial results, CEO Elon Musk acknowledged that the HW3 computer system in millions of Tesla vehicles might not support the full self-driving (FSD) capabilities the company has promised. When asked about achieving unsupervised self-driving on HW3, Musk stated, “We are not 100% sure. HW4 has several times the capability of HW3. It’s easier to get things to work on HW4, and it takes a lot of effort to squeeze that into HW3. There is some chance that HW3 does not achieve the safety level that allows for unsupervised FSD.” This admission…

A research team at TU Bergakademie Freiberg in Germany is utilizing a new shredder plant to enhance the efficiency of battery cell recycling, aiming to maximize the recovery of valuable raw materials. This initiative seeks to make battery recycling more economically viable by employing a shredder capable of processing used battery cells weighing up to 2.5 kilograms in a single step, producing particles ranging from 0 to 20 millimeters, particularly fine particles known as black mass. This black mass contains essential materials such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium. Professor Urs Peuker, Director of the Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and…

In a surprising turn for a major automaker’s leader, Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley has openly praised a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) over his own company’s products. During an interview on the Fully Charged podcast, Farley revealed that he’s been daily driving the Xiaomi SU7, a Chinese-made electric sedan, for the past six months, and he’s in no rush to give it up. Farley confessed to Robert Llewellyn, the host of the podcast, that although he usually avoids talking about competitors, he couldn’t resist sharing his enthusiasm for Xiaomi’s first electric car. The SU7 is currently not available outside of…

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has inaugurated a new battery research centre located in the Haid industrial park of Freiburg, south-west Germany. The centre will focus on enhancing the sustainability, safety, and performance of battery storage systems, addressing key challenges in the evolving battery technology landscape. Spanning over 3,700 square metres, the Centre for Electrical Energy Storage will facilitate research into innovative battery materials and cells. The facility aims to develop optimized solutions for various battery systems, promote their integration into diverse applications, and conduct comprehensive quality assurance tests on batteries. This initiative is part of Fraunhofer…

General Motors (GM) reported strong third-quarter results, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations and securing its position as the second-best-selling electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in the US, behind only Tesla. GM sold a record 32,095 electric vehicles in Q3, a 60% increase compared to the same period in 2023, bringing its US market share close to 10%. Rory Harvey, GM’s executive vice president of global markets, attributed the company’s success to its diverse lineup of electric vehicles, including models like the Chevy Blaze EV and the affordable Chevy Equinox EV. GM also confirmed the availability of the long-anticipated $35,000 Chevy Equinox LT,…

First Student, a student transport company, and utility provider Con Edison have unveiled a new vehicle-to-everything (V2X) hub in Brooklyn, featuring 12 solar-roofed electric school buses. This Smart Energy Hub project will replace diesel buses at First Student’s Malta Street location, utilizing solar panels and rooftop arrays to generate clean energy, store it in batteries, and deliver power as needed. The V2X hub takes vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology a step further, allowing energy stored in the electric bus batteries to be directed to the grid or other areas where it is most needed. This could prove especially useful in summer when…

Volkswagen’s Scout Motors is preparing for a significant comeback nearly 44 years after the last International Harvester Scout rolled off the assembly line in 1980. The company is building anticipation ahead of the official reveal on October 24, releasing a teaser image of its new “rugged” truck and SUV models. While details remain closely guarded, both vehicles seem to share a similar front-end design, featuring a protruding bumper and a horizontal grille bar. The models also display a flat hood reminiscent of the Ford Bronco. The SUV appears to have a silhouette akin to a Range Rover, complete with an…

German automotive supplier ZF is reportedly withdrawing from a planned $3 billion microchip manufacturing venture with U.S. chipmaker Wolfspeed in western Germany, an industry source disclosed. The shift comes after Wolfspeed announced a suspension of the project due to lower-than-anticipated semiconductor demand and uncertainties regarding its entry into the European market. ZF was expected to invest $185 million for a stake in the Saarland plant, which was intended to produce chips specifically for electric vehicles. The initial announcement for the facility and a research and development center in Germany was made in February 2023. Should these plans be fully shelved,…

A recent study commissioned by environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that the European Union’s five largest economies spend a staggering €42 billion ($45.60 billion) each year on subsidies for fossil-fuel company cars. The study, conducted by consultancy Environmental Resources Management (ERM), calls for a shift towards greater subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs) to align with the EU’s green transition goals. Company cars account for around 60% of all new vehicle sales in Europe, with Italy leading the way by providing €16 billion in subsidies, followed by Germany at €13.7 billion, according to the ERM study. France and Poland…

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that German automakers should not be intimidated by competition from China in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Speaking at the inauguration of Mercedes-Benz’s first battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Scholz emphasized that Germany has previously overcome strong competition from South Korea and Japan and can do the same with China. “Some say that China can do much better with electric motors than us. German companies need not be afraid of this competition,” Scholz said at the event. He also reaffirmed his opposition to European Union tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, noting that such measures should only…

Alfa Romeo’s ambitious plan to launch the next-generation Giulia as an all-electric model could see a shift, as Stellantis’ European chief, Jean-Philippe Imparato, hinted at maintaining internal combustion engine (ICE) options. Imparato, who recently transitioned from leading Alfa Romeo to overseeing Stellantis’ European operations, indicated that the brand might adopt a multi-fuel strategy for the Giulia, depending on market conditions. While Alfa Romeo had previously committed to electrifying its lineup by 2027, Imparato told Auto Express that his successor at Alfa, Santo Ficili, would have the flexibility to adjust plans if necessary. “If the current global ecosystem does not change,…

German remote-driving startup Vay announced on Thursday it has received €34 million ($37 million) in funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to roll out its remote-driven vehicle technology across Europe and expand its development team. CEO Thomas von der Ohe explained that the low-interest, long-term loan from the EIB would help the company scale its operations. “The EIB loan will help us launch our commercial services either in Hamburg, where we have already been conducting testing, or in Belgium where we have formed a partnership with car-share provider Poppy,” von der Ohe told Reuters. Earlier this year, Vay launched…

The White House has called on Stellantis (STLAM.MI) to uphold its agreements with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and communities affected by plant closures in the United States. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Wednesday that the 2023 agreement between the automaker and the UAW included commitments to reopen and expand production in areas devastated by previous plant closures. “What we want to see is Stellantis certainly deliver on those commitments to the UAW and to the communities,” Jean-Pierre said. The UAW has warned that multiple strikes could be launched by local chapters, accusing Stellantis of failing to…

Hyundai Mobis announced plans on October 16 to establish a new plant in Slovakia dedicated to the production of power electric (PE) systems, a key component in electric vehicles (EVs). This decision follows the signing of an investment agreement with the Slovak government, solidifying Hyundai Mobis’ strategy to expand its electrification business in the European market. Located in the Novaky region, the plant will be Hyundai Mobis’ first European base for producing integrated PE systems, which include motors, inverters, and reducers—essential components that drive EVs. The company is set to invest approximately 350 billion won in this project, with 250…

The new C5 Aircross Concept may have taken center stage at Citroen’s booth, but the French automaker also unveiled a significant update for its compact offerings, the C4 and C4 X. Set to debut in early 2025, these models feature a refreshed design, enhanced comfort, and modernized technology. The 2025 C4 and C4 X showcase a redesigned front fascia, featuring slimmer and boxier split headlights. The previously chrome-infused double chevron grille has been replaced by Citroen’s new oval emblem, giving the models a more contemporary look. The updated bumper boasts a sculpted design with reduced plastic cladding and an aluminum-style…

The European Union’s tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) could lead to plant closures in Europe, as Chinese manufacturers are expected to build facilities within the region to avoid duties, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares warned on Monday. Speaking at the Paris Car Show, Tavares said the EU tariffs could exacerbate overcapacity issues in the European manufacturing sector. “Tariffs are a good communication tool, but they have side effects,” Tavares said. “It increases the overcapacity of the manufacturing system of Europe. The way to avoid custom duties is to build in Europe,” he added. “You are accelerating the need to shut…