Author: Ivan Popov

LG Chem has entered into a partnership with Chinese energy giant Sinopec to develop next-generation sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, marking a new strategic move for both companies as they expand beyond lithium-based technologies. Under the agreement, LG Chem will focus on developing advanced cathode and anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, while Sinopec will leverage its chemical production and scaling capabilities to support large-scale manufacturing. Both companies are venturing into the sodium-ion battery segment for the first time. See also: CATL, Sinopec Partner to Build 500 Battery Swap Stations in 2024, Target 10,000 in Long Term…

Tesla’s head of the Cybertruck program, Siddhant Awasthi, announced on Sunday that he is leaving the U.S. electric vehicle maker after more than eight years, according to his LinkedIn post. Awasthi began his career at Tesla as an intern and most recently oversaw the Cybertruck program from its engineering development through large-scale production, managing product strategy, quality improvements, and supply chain operations. In addition, he took over leadership of Tesla’s Model 3 program in July 2025. See also: Tesla Files Patent for Inflatable Deflector to Boost Cybertruck Towing Efficiency “Eight years ago, when I started as an intern, I never…

Toyota has unveiled the ninth-generation Hilux, offering a range of powertrain options including battery electric (BEV), hybrid, diesel, petrol, and a future hydrogen fuel cell model. The update follows the company’s multipath strategy, designed to address different market conditions and customer needs. The new Hilux features a Double Cab body style, a revised exterior with slim headlights and integrated branding, and updated steps for easier access. See also: Toyota Introduces 2026 Crown Signia With Two-Tone Design and Hybrid Efficiency Interior updates include a horizontal center console, a digital instrument cluster, and an optional central touchscreen. Connectivity features allow remote monitoring…

NIU has unveiled one of its most striking creations yet at EICMA 2025 — the Concept 06, a high-performance electric maxi-scooter that showcases the company’s ambitious vision for the future of electric two-wheelers. While not yet available for purchase, the Concept 06 attracted significant attention for its futuristic design, premium performance, and technology-driven features that set it apart from NIU’s urban commuter lineup. The Concept 06 is powered by a 20kW side-mounted motor that delivers a top speed of 155 km/h (96 mph), placing it squarely in motorcycle territory. Its TKX.LAB suspension system promises stability and smoothness, even under aggressive…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company may need to construct its own large-scale semiconductor fabrication facility—dubbed a “Terafab”—to meet future demand for advanced chips powering its artificial intelligence and robotics ambitions. Speaking at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday, Musk said that global chipmakers will not be able to meet Tesla’s long-term requirements. “One of the things I’m trying to figure out is — how do we make enough chips?” he told investors. “Even when we extrapolate the best-case scenario for chip production from our suppliers, it’s still not enough.” See also: Tesla’s FSD Version 14 May Allow Texting…

Swedish electric boat manufacturer Candela will supply ten P-12 electric hydrofoil ferries to Maldivian operator Ego Shuttle, marking a significant step in the nation’s efforts to decarbonize water transport. The first units are expected to enter service in 2026, linking Malé International Airport with surrounding atolls. Each Candela P-12 vessel can carry up to 30 passengers and uses hydrofoil technology to lift its hull about one metre above the water, allowing it to cruise at 25 knots (46 km/h). The design drastically reduces drag, cutting energy consumption by 80% compared to conventional boats and extending operational range on a single…

Tesla has expanded its “MultiPass” feature to five additional European countries, enabling its customers to charge their vehicles at third-party stations using their Tesla accounts. The service, first launched in the Netherlands, is now available in Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium. According to Tesla’s official @TeslaCharging account on X, the company has published support pages in multiple languages outlining how to use and activate the new feature. The company said “MultiPass” connects “1,000 charging networks and thousands of charging stations across Europe,” allowing Tesla drivers to locate compatible chargers on the vehicle’s touchscreen or through the Tesla…

BMW Chief Executive Officer Oliver Zipse has confirmed that the next model in the company’s Neue Klasse lineup will carry the i3 name, with production set to begin at its Munich plant in the second half of 2026. Additional production sites are expected to follow as part of the automaker’s global rollout plan. “With the eighth generation of the 3 Series, we will bring the Neue Klasse and its technology clusters into the core of the BMW brand,” Zipse said during the company’s quarterly earnings call, according to the published transcript. The model, known internally as NA0, represents the production…

BYD plans to begin the global rollout of its ultra-luxury Yangwang brand in early 2026, with the Middle East set as the first overseas market, followed by Europe and the Americas, according to a report by Chinese outlet Cailian. The company’s executive vice president, Stella Li, revealed the expansion plan during a media event in Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan province. The move marks a significant step in BYD’s push to position Yangwang as a global premium electric vehicle (EV) marque capable of competing with established luxury brands. See also: Yangwang U9X Sets Nürburgring Record for Fastest Electric Production Car BYD…

Xpeng’s flying car division, Aridge—formerly Xpeng Aeroht—has produced the first flying body of its modular Land Aircraft Carrier at its Guangzhou factory, the company announced. The milestone represents the completion of the world’s first modern assembly line for batch production of flying cars. The factory, covering 120,000 square meters, is dedicated to the Land Aircraft Carrier and has an initial annual capacity of 5,000 units, expandable to 10,000 units. According to Aridge, the assembly line can produce one aircraft every 30 minutes at full output. The trial-produced aircraft will undergo test flights to validate both product performance and manufacturing processes,…

Geely Auto reported another month of record sales in October, with strong contributions from its Geely Galaxy sub-brand helping sustain the automaker’s growth momentum. The company sold 307,133 vehicles last month, marking a 35.5 percent increase from a year earlier and a 12.5 percent rise compared with September. It was Geely’s second straight month of record-breaking performance, according to company data. See also: Geely Galaxy Launches Starshine 6 Hybrid Sedan with Aggressive Pricing to Boost Market Share Geely Galaxy remained a key driver of growth, delivering 127,476 vehicles in October — its third consecutive monthly record — representing a 100.8…

SAIC Motor reported a sharp rise in third-quarter profit, buoyed by robust sales growth and improved cost efficiency. The Chinese automaker posted a net income of RMB 2.08 billion ($293 million) for the third quarter, marking a 644.9 percent year-on-year increase. The strong performance was supported by higher sales volumes and effective cost and expense management, as SAIC continued to implement operational reforms aimed at improving efficiency. Wholesale vehicle sales reached 1.14 million units in the third quarter, up 38.7 percent from a year earlier, while revenue climbed 16.2 percent to RMB 169.4 billion. See also: Huawei–SAIC Joint Brand Shangjie…

Iveco Bus said it has signed three major framework agreements with Île-de-France Mobilités to deliver as many as 4,000 low- and zero-emission buses and coaches between 2026 and 2032, in one of the world’s most extensive public transport renewal programmes. The contracts cover three vehicle types: the 12-metre GX 337 ELEC electric bus, as well as the 12- and 18-metre Urbanway Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and 12-metre Crossway CNG models. See also: Iveco Bus Wins Contract to Supply 87 Electric School Minibuses in Italy’s Campania Region Iveco has not disclosed the number of units to be delivered for each category…

General Motors has placed about 5,500 employees on temporary or indefinite leave as it scales back electric vehicle (EV) production across several U.S. plants following the expiration of a key federal tax credit. The company said the decision comes as part of “temporary adjustments to production to align to market dynamics,” after the U.S. government ended the $7,500 EV tax credit in September. GM had already announced in September that it would slow output of the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Escalade IQ at its Factory Zero plant in Detroit-Hamtramck, initially planning to suspend two shifts for just over a…

Rightcharge, a London-based startup focused on streamlining electric vehicle (EV) charging payments for fleet operators, has secured more than £1.6 million in seed funding to accelerate its growth and expand across Europe. The funding round was led by Soulmates Ventures and joined by Blackwood Ventures, UnrulyCapital, and Purple Ventures. Rightcharge said the investment will help scale its operations beyond the UK, targeting markets such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, and Ireland. The company also announced a forthcoming partnership with Octopus Electroverse, though specific details have not been disclosed. See also: Kinshasa Government Signs MoU With Vingroup to Advance…

Chrysler has issued a recall affecting 2,195 units of its 2024–2025 Fiat 500e battery electric vehicles (BEVs) due to noncompliance with U.S. headlamp regulations under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. The recall, filed under NHTSA campaign number 25V715, involves vehicles produced between November 2, 2023, and May 23, 2025. The issue concerns missing plugs that should cover the horizontal headlamp aim adjustment mechanism. FMVSS 108 prohibits access to such adjustments on visually or optically aimable headlamps with a lower beam, as improper alignment could impair visibility or cause glare for other drivers. Chrysler stated that this…

Rio Tinto and China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) Qiyuan have launched a pilot program to test battery swap electric haul trucks at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, marking the first time the mining company has deployed such technology in its surface operations. The initiative represents a key step in Rio Tinto’s strategy to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions from mining haulage, one of its largest carbon sources. The trial introduces a fleet of eight 91-tonne Tonly trucks, each supported by 13 interchangeable 800 kWh batteries, a battery swap station, and a static charging system. The fully…

Deutsche E Metalle (DEM), a Dresden-based engineering and mining company, has announced the completion of its first successful drilling campaign at the Carachi Blanco lithium project in Argentina, revealing lithium concentrations of up to 377 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The company said the discovery marks a major milestone toward its goal of establishing ESG-certified lithium production in South America’s lithium triangle. Located in Argentina’s Catamarca province, the Carachi Blanco project spans 27 concessions over an area of 70,000 hectares. DEM describes it as the only German-backed initiative in the region to have uncovered lithium concentrations suitable for sustainable extraction. The…

Chinese autonomous delivery vehicle maker Neolix has raised more than $600 million in a Series D funding round, marking the largest private financing in China’s autonomous driving industry and one of the biggest across all sectors this year. The investment round was led by UAE-based Stone Venture, with participation from Gaocheng Capital, CITIC Capital, CDH, Sparkedge Capital, Beijing AI Fund, and one of China’s leading internet platforms. Returning backers included Legend Capital, Gaorong Ventures, Templewater, and SAIC. See also: Robomart Unveils RM5 Autonomous Delivery Vehicle With Flat $3 Fee Neolix said the fresh funding will be used to enhance its…

Japanese automaker Mazda has joined forces with its Chinese partner Changan to pool carbon credits in an effort to avoid potential European Union (EU) emissions fines, according to an EU document. The move highlights growing pressure on legacy carmakers that have been slower to transition to electric vehicles. Under EU rules, car manufacturers whose average fleet emissions exceed permitted limits can face significant fines. To mitigate this risk, companies are allowed to form “pools” with other automakers that have lower emissions or higher electric vehicle (EV) sales, thereby sharing compliance credits and reducing their overall emissions average. See also: All-Electric…