Author: Ivan Popov

At EICMA 2024 in Milan, Honda introduced two new electric motorcycle concepts, the EV Fun Concept and EV Urban Concept, signaling a focused step toward expanding its electric vehicle offerings in the motorcycle sector. This debut is part of Honda’s ongoing efforts to advance its electric mobility options and reach carbon neutrality for motorcycles in the 2040s. The EV Fun Concept, Honda’s first electric sports model, is scheduled for release in 2025. This model is designed with a fixed battery, offering performance attributes similar to mid-sized internal combustion motorcycles, alongside the quieter, vibration-free experience of an electric vehicle. Equipped with…

Torc Robotics, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, has successfully completed its first driverless test of an electric truck in the United States without a safety driver or operator on board. The test, conducted on a multi-lane closed course in Texas, demonstrated the capabilities of the autonomous Freightliner eCascadia, based on the North American series model and powered by Torc’s proprietary autonomous driving software. The truck reached speeds of up to 65 mph (105 km/h), completing the route without human intervention. Torc Robotics views this achievement as a crucial step in its goal to scale and commercialize autonomous trucking solutions by…

Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian reported its first quarterly revenue decline since going public in 2021, with third-quarter revenue falling by 34.6% to $874 million. This figure missed analysts’ estimates of $989.6 million, according to data from LSEG, as component shortages affected production and revenue. CEO RJ Scaringe acknowledged the impact of these shortages, stating, “We weren’t able to build all the products and the mix of products that we planned, and so that affected us on the demand side and on the revenue side.” Last month, Rivian lowered its 2023 production forecast from 57,000 to between 47,000 and 49,000 vehicles…

LiveWire, the electric motorcycle company spun off from Harley-Davidson, has unveiled plans to expand its lineup with an electric maxi-scooter built on its versatile S2 Arrow platform. The maxi-scooter, designed for comfortable highway travel, will leverage the performance of LiveWire’s existing powertrain, which includes a structural battery, electric motor, and associated control hardware. The S2 Arrow platform, first introduced with the LiveWire S2 Del Mar and later adapted for the S2 Mulholland, is now being used for LiveWire’s ambitious maxi-scooter project, slated for release in the first half of 2026. KYMCO, a leading Taiwanese scooter manufacturer and early investor in…

Canoo, the electric vehicle startup, has seen key executive departures as it continues to grapple with financial challenges and struggles to gain mass adoption of its electric work vans. The company’s chief financial officer (CFO) Greg Ethridge and general counsel Hector Ruiz both resigned on October 31, 2024, according to a regulatory filing submitted by Canoo. Neither Ethridge nor Ruiz responded to requests for comment. The company also announced the furlough of 30 workers at its Oklahoma facility for 12 weeks, marking part of a broader realignment of its North American operations. Ethridge’s position has been filled by Kunal Bhalla,…

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares did not confirm previous electrification commitments for Maserati during a meeting with union representatives in Modena, raising concerns over the future of the luxury brand, union leaders said on Tuesday. Trade unionists Samuele Lodi and Stefania Ferrari from the FIOM-Cgil union stated that Tavares provided “no clear answers” regarding Maserati’s previously announced electric model plans, leaving workers and unions uncertain about the brand’s strategy. Lodi and Ferrari highlighted the absence of specific mentions of electric models, including the electric version of the MC20 sports car that was initially scheduled to enter production in mid-2025. “Contrary to…

Kia America recorded its best-ever October sales, achieving 68,908 units sold, alongside its highest dealer sales for the month. This achievement is attributed to strong performances across its electrified vehicle lineup and SUVs. Sales for Kia’s all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles rose significantly, with increases of 70%, 65%, and 49%, respectively, compared to the previous year. This surge contributed to the brand’s highest-ever sales for electrified models in October. Additionally, SUV sales represented a record high for the month, making up 73% of total sales and underscoring the popularity of Kia’s SUV lineup. The EV6, Kia’s first dedicated electric…

RIZON, Daimler Truck’s all-electric vehicle brand, has delivered its first shipment of class 4-5 electric trucks to Canada, with an initial 12 units sent to British Columbia as part of a 22-truck order. This marks a notable step in RIZON’s Canadian market expansion, following the brand’s introduction in April 2024. An additional 10 trucks are scheduled to arrive in November, with upfitting to include dry boxes, service bodies, and landscape dumps, tailored for a variety of uses across sectors like municipalities, rental providers, and freight companies. To support its Canadian operations, RIZON has partnered with Globocam, a prominent commercial vehicle…

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…