Author: Ivan Popov

Mazda plans to launch five electrified vehicles in Thailand by 2027, including two battery electric models, as part of a multi-powertrain strategy to cut carbon emissions, the Japanese automaker said. The company will kick off its EV push in Thailand this year with the launch of the Mazda 6e sedan, followed by a second electric model in 2026. The announcement came as Mazda committed to a 5-billion-baht ($142 million) investment in Thailand, reinforcing the country’s role in its regional strategy. The 6e will be Mazda’s first EV offering in Thailand, as the MX-30 is not sold in the market. See…

Chinese battery maker Gotion High-Tech is pursuing a supply agreement with South Korea’s SK IE Technology (SKIET) for battery separators for its upcoming production facilities in North America and Europe, the companies announced. The two firms have signed a letter of intent, paving the way for a formal supply contract under which SKIET would provide separators for Gotion’s plants in Slovakia and Illinois, U.S. Gotion is developing a 20 GWh battery production facility in Slovakia in partnership with InoBat, backed by a €1.23 billion investment. See also: Gotion High-tech to Build Battery Factories in Slovakia and Morocco While Gotion is…

Lucid’s Air sedan has been widely praised for its performance and range, but some owners have expressed frustration with the company’s customer service. A Reddit user, posting under the alias MtrCityMadMan, shared his experience, stating that while the car is “a pleasure to drive” and its range is “fantastic,” Lucid’s service support has been disappointing. His issues began after he accidentally damaged his side mirror and had to visit a service center 2.5 hours away. What was estimated to be a one-to-two-hour repair turned into an all-day ordeal. “I sat in a McDonald’s for over 5 hours,” he wrote. “No…

Li Auto reported a decline in deliveries for February, with 26,263 vehicles handed over to customers. While this represented a 29.69% increase from the 20,251 units delivered a year earlier, it marked a 12.24% drop from January’s 29,927 units. The slowdown continued amid the typically weak start to the year for China’s auto industry, impacted by the Chinese New Year holiday. In the first two months of 2024, Li Auto delivered 56,190 vehicles, up 9.29% from the same period last year. The company’s cumulative deliveries since its inception reached 1,190,062 units by the end of February. See also: Li Auto…

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has confirmed job cuts in China as part of a business consolidation effort, citing the need to improve operational efficiency in a challenging market environment. “Mercedes-Benz China will consolidate and cut redundant and duplicated positions, and the consolidation in business will inevitably involve some employees’ work schedules,” the company said, according to Chinese media outlet Guancha. See also: Mercedes-Benz Delays Production of Electric CLA Sedan in China The move follows a report from AutoPix that Mercedes-Benz China began layoffs on February 26, affecting approximately 15% of its workforce, primarily in sales and auto finance divisions. Research…

BYD is set to introduce the all-electric Qin L EV, following the launch of its hybrid counterpart, the Qin L DM-i, in May last year. The Chinese automaker signaled the upcoming release by posting three seals on its Weibo account on Feb 24. “The new mid-size pure electric sedan Qin L EV is coming soon,” the company stated. See also: BYD Unveils Updated Atto 3 with New Design and Advanced Driver Assistance Features Lu Tian, general manager of sales for BYD’s Dynasty series, described the model as a mid-size electric sedan targeting younger consumers. The Qin L EV was included…

Scientists at Princeton University have developed a high-energy sodium-ion cathode that could outperform lithium-ion counterparts, potentially offering a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative for battery technology. Sodium-ion batteries are considered a promising option for electric vehicles as sodium is more abundant and less expensive than lithium. Additionally, the supply chain for sodium is not concentrated in Asia, reducing geopolitical risks. The research, funded by Volkswagen’s Italian sports car brand Lamborghini, has been led by Professor Mircea Dincă. The team has developed an organic, high-energy cathode material designed to enhance the commercial viability of sodium-ion batteries. See also: Silicon Anodes Poised…

Jeep’s plan to introduce an all-electric Compass in North America has been put on hold as parent company Stellantis temporarily halts work on the next-generation model. The decision comes after Stellantis suspended operations at its Brampton Assembly Plant in Canada, where the current Compass is manufactured, citing the need to reassess its product strategy for the region. On Thursday, Stellantis confirmed a freeze on all activities at the Brampton plant, including development of the next-generation Compass, due to “today’s dynamic environment.” In a statement to Ontario-based newspaper Windsor Star, Lou Ann Gosselin, head of communications for Stellantis Canada, said the…

Rivian reported its first-ever quarterly profit in late 2024, signaling progress in its turnaround efforts as it streamlines production and prepares to launch its more affordable R2 model. However, the electric vehicle maker faces potential hurdles in 2025, including tariffs and shifting consumer incentives. The company posted a gross profit of $170 million in the fourth quarter, a sharp improvement from a $606 million loss a year earlier. For the full year, Rivian reduced its net loss from operations to $4.7 billion, down from $5.7 billion in 2023. See also: Rivian Unveils California Dune Edition of Tri-Motor R1 with Off-Road…

Kia will introduce a simulated manual gearshift across all versions of its upcoming EV4, aiming to enhance driving engagement in the affordable EV segment, a source familiar with the company’s plans told Carscoops. The system, which debuted on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and later appeared on the Kia EV6 GT, allows drivers to shift through virtual gears using paddle shifters while software adjusts power delivery to mimic the behavior of an internal combustion engine. Initially developed for Hyundai-Kia’s high-performance models, Kia now plans to roll out the feature across the entire EV4 lineup. See also: Kia EV4 Revealed with…

ChargePlace Scotland, the national EV charging network, has partnered with Zapmap to provide users with seamless access to in-app payments and an extensive charging network. The collaboration integrates ChargePlace’s 2,800+ charge points into Zapmap’s platform, offering live data on charger availability and enabling quick, cashless payments via Zap-Pay. To use the service, EV drivers must link a debit or credit card to their Zapmap profile. The Zap-Pay feature, first introduced in 2020, simplifies the charging experience by allowing payments across multiple networks within the app. ChargePlace Scotland operates with support from Transport Scotland and is managed by Evolt Charging. The…

Tesla is recalling 376,000 electric vehicles in the United States due to a power steering assist failure that could make steering more difficult, particularly at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash, the company said on Friday. The recall follows a year-long investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after multiple Tesla owners reported steering failures, including instances where they were unable to turn the wheel or required increased effort. NHTSA previously noted that more than 50 vehicles were towed due to the issue. See also: Tesla Deploys In-Cabin Radar to Improve Safety and Passenger Monitoring Tesla…