Author: Ivan Popov

Xpeng has expanded its international footprint, entering four new countries — Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Cambodia — as part of its accelerating global growth strategy. The announcement was made on the company’s official Weibo account on Saturday. The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer launched several key models, including the G6 and G9 sport utility vehicles and the P7+ sedan, in its latest overseas markets. See also: Xpeng Reports Over 5,000 Vehicle Exports in September as Overseas Expansion Progresses With these additions, Xpeng’s global sales and service network now covers 49 countries and regions, the company said, adding that it plans to…

Swiss energy service provider and fuel station operator Agrola has commissioned its first public charging station for electric trucks with a capacity of 600 kilowatts, as part of the conversion of a petrol station in Konolfingen, Bern canton, operated by the Landi Aare cooperative. The project marks Agrola’s first step into high-capacity truck charging. The new 600 kW charging system, alongside a 400 kW fast-charging station for cars, is integrated into a site powered by a microgrid with solar generation of about 340,000 kilowatt hours per year and energy storage. The total investment of 3.5 million Swiss francs ($4.15 million)…

AUMOVIO, the newly independent mobility technology company spun off from Continental, said it will invest $110 million to expand its manufacturing facility in New Braunfels, Texas, to support rising demand for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) across North America. The project, slated for completion by August 2027, will add 65,000 square feet of production space and an automated warehouse, effectively doubling the plant’s footprint. The investment is expected to create 100 new jobs and enhance AUMOVIO’s production capacity for radar and autonomous driving technologies. See also: May Mobility Partners with Grab to Bring Autonomous Vehicle Services to Southeast Asia “This…

British autonomous driving technology firm Wayve has reported strong results from the deployment of its AV2.0 Embodied AI system, demonstrating rapid scalability and data efficiency across global markets following a successful adaptation in Japan’s complex driving environment. Wayve said its AI driving system achieved a twofold improvement in performance within one month of operating in Japan, using only 1% locally collected data. Within three months, the company developed a global baseline model incorporating just 2% of Japan-specific data, delivering consistent performance across all tested markets. The firm noted performance gains of up to +275% in Japan, +210% in the United…

British charging solutions provider Evolt Charging has partnered with U.S. company CatStrap to distribute its cable protection technology in the United Kingdom, as rising incidents of charging cable theft continue to impact EV infrastructure operators. The collaboration will see Evolt become the UK distributor for CatStrap’s EV Cable Protector, a hardened cover designed to prevent thieves from cutting through charging cables. The system, which has already proven successful in North America, features two flexible steel strips running along the length of the cable. Hardened to a Rockwell hardness of 55 HRC, the strips are tougher than most cutting tools, effectively…

Tesla’s Model Y has once again taken the top spot as Europe’s best-selling car — across all categories — marking a major rebound for the electric automaker after several months of volatile sales performance. According to new data from Dataforce, reported by Automotive News, the all-electric SUV led the European charts in September 2025 with 25,938 units sold, securing its first monthly win since January. Despite an 8.6% decline compared to the same month last year, the Model Y outpaced traditional internal combustion competitors such as the Renault Clio (20,146 units) and Dacia Sandero (19,200 units), which followed in second…

Swedish flat-pack furniture retailer Ikea Canada has reached a milestone in sustainable logistics, completing 72% of its home deliveries using electric vehicles (EVs) in August, surpassing traditional fossil-fueled trucks for the first time. The achievement underscores the feasibility of large-scale EV adoption in last-mile delivery, even amid concerns over upfront costs and infrastructure. According to Liz Wilson, Ikea Canada’s head of customer fulfilment, “August’s achievement marks an incredible milestone in advancing Ikea Canada’s sustainability goals … we’re proud that Ikea customers never have to pay a premium for zero-emission deliveries, reflecting our dedication to making sustainable choices both accessible and…

German automotive supplier ZF has appointed Sebastian Schmitt as head of its Electrified Drivetrain Technologies Division (E), marking the division’s second leadership change this year. Schmitt previously led the company’s Electrified Drivetrain Systems product line and will report directly to CEO Mathias Miedreich, who continues to represent the division at the Executive Board level. Miedreich had assumed leadership of Division E in January 2025 before being named CEO in September. Unlike his predecessor, Schmitt will not join the Executive Board. “Our goal is a lean and powerful management organisation,” said Miedreich, adding that the board will be reduced from six…

DS Automobiles reported that its DS N°8 electric vehicle (EV) completed a 750 km journey on minor roads without recharging, surpassing its WLTP-rated highway range of 500 km. The test highlights the vehicle’s real-world efficiency and the brand’s focus on long-range electric mobility. Two DS N°8 Etoile FWD Long Range models undertook the trip from Vélizy to Biscarrosse, finishing with more than 50 km of estimated range remaining. See also: DS Automobiles Renames and Revamps DS 4, Adds First Fully Electric Version Average energy consumption during the test was 11.7 kWh/100 km, below the WLTP-rated figure of 12.9 kWh/100 km.…

Ionna, an EV charging network backed by major automakers, has partnered with Casey’s, a leading U.S. convenience store and pizza chain, to expand access to fast charging in the Midwest and South. The initiative aims to integrate 400 kW chargers into convenience store locations across six states by the end of 2025. See also: Ionna to Integrate Hubject’s Plug&Charge for Seamless EV Charging Construction is underway at eight sites in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, all slated to open by year-end. The partnership has more than doubled Ionna’s network footprint in three months, bringing the total number of…

Pure Lithium Corp. has opened its new headquarters in Chicago’s Fulton Market district, marking a key milestone in its transition from research and development to commercial-scale production of lithium metal batteries. The 21,000-square-foot facility will host a pilot production line for the company’s proprietary Brine to Battery™ process, which directly converts lithium brine into battery anodes. The move is backed by $8.5 million in state incentives, including a $4.4 million Reimagining Electric Vehicles (REV) agreement under Illinois’ clean energy program. The facility will support production for applications spanning electric vehicles, defense, drones, consumer electronics, and grid storage, while creating 50…

A cyberattack targeting Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by India’s Tata Motors, has caused an estimated £1.9 billion ($2.55 billion) hit to the British economy and impacted over 5,000 organisations, according to a report released on Wednesday by the independent Cyber Monitoring Centre (CMC). The CMC, a non-profit group made up of cybersecurity experts including the former head of Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre, said the financial losses could increase if the automaker faces further delays in restoring full production following the August breach. “This incident appears to be the most economically damaging cyber event to hit the UK, with…

Germany’s automotive industry is warning of possible production stoppages after semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia, recently taken over by the Dutch government, said it could no longer ensure reliable chip deliveries. The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) said the move has created a new supply bottleneck for critical components and called on policymakers in Europe to act swiftly. The Dutch government assumed control of Nexperia and removed its CEO, Zhang Xuezheng, by court order, citing national security concerns over technology transfer to its Chinese parent company, Wingtech. In response, China imposed export restrictions on parts of Nexperia’s production, disrupting supply…

Zuup and GreenFlux have announced a partnership to introduce a driver-first electric vehicle (EV) roaming experience in Australia, aiming to unify fragmented charging networks and improve accessibility, reliability, and utilization across the country. The collaboration integrates Zuup’s locally focused eMobility services with GreenFlux’s established European charging platform, supporting drivers, fleets, and charge point operators (CPOs) through interoperable, scalable solutions. The initiative seeks to address one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption in Australia — inconsistent charging access — by enabling drivers to locate, charge, and pay across multiple networks using a single account. See also: Q-Park Netherlands Partners With…

Volkswagen has suspended production at two of its German electric vehicle (EV) factories as demand for battery-powered cars weakens, underscoring mounting challenges for Europe’s largest automaker as Chinese rivals such as BYD continue to expand aggressively across the region. The automaker paused production at its Transparent Factory in Dresden and the Zwickau plant in Saxony from October 6, citing “a slowdown in electric car sales.” The Zwickau facility, which manufactures models based on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform, has also halted production of the Audi Q4 e-tron. The temporary shutdowns come amid broader output reductions across Volkswagen’s EV…

Spiro, a Dubai-headquartered electric mobility startup, has raised $100 million in fresh funding led by the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the development arm of Afreximbank. The investment marks the largest-ever financing round for an electric mobility company on the African continent and will support the expansion of Spiro’s electric motorbike and battery-swapping network. The company plans to deploy more than 100,000 electric motorbikes across Africa by the end of 2025, up from about 60,000 today. Since its establishment in 2022, Spiro has expanded operations from Benin and Togo to six markets including Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda.…

Nissan has entered into a CO₂ pooling agreement with Chinese automaker BYD for the 2025 model year to help meet the European Union’s fleet emission targets and avoid financial penalties. The move marks the end of Nissan’s previous partnership with Renault and Mitsubishi, which expired at the close of 2024. Under EU regulations, automakers can combine their fleet emissions through so-called “CO₂ pools,” allowing manufacturers with higher emissions to offset them by joining forces with those selling low-emission vehicles. Nissan’s decision to team up with BYD—a company that exclusively sells battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles—reflects its need to balance…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said it will expand its manufacturing plant in Września, Poland, to prepare for the production of the next generation of its all-electric Crafter van, as the brand accelerates its electrification plans. The company said two new production halls will be built as part of the project, with the foundation stone set to be laid in November 2025 and completion targeted for 2027. The Września facility, operated by Volkswagen Poznań, currently produces the Volkswagen Crafter, its sister model the MAN TGE, and their electric counterparts, the eCrafter and eTGE. The smaller VW Caddy is also assembled at the…

Berlin’s public transport operator BVG and Volkswagen’s mobility subsidiary Moia have begun testing autonomous versions of the ID. Buzz electric van on public roads in the German capital. The initiative marks a major milestone in the NoWeL4 (North-West Area Level 4) project, designed to evaluate how autonomous driving could enhance future public transport systems. Supported by €9.5 million in funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, the project focuses on collecting data and operational experience under real-world conditions. The first Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD (Autonomous Driving) vehicles, equipped with Level 4 technology, are being tested without passengers but…

New research has revealed more than 200 cases of theft and vandalism targeting electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the UK, prompting industry calls for urgent action to safeguard the nation’s expanding charging network. The findings, based on a Freedom of Information (FOI) request conducted by charge point operator Allego, collected data from police forces nationwide. Allego cautioned that the reported incidents likely represent only a fraction of the total, noting that 40% of surveyed police forces either could not provide data or stated they did not maintain relevant records. As the UK continues its rapid rollout of EV infrastructure, experts…