Author: Jackson Han

DP World has deployed eight fully electric straddle carriers from Kalmar at its London Gateway port, equipped with Kempower’s ultra-high power 500A fast chargers. The project marks a significant step towards electrifying port operations and is the first use of such a charging system for Kalmar electric straddle carriers in Europe. The electric straddle carriers, part of a £12 million investment, operate at the port’s newly opened fourth terminal, which was completed in November 2023 following a £350 million development. The terminal is DP World’s first facility to rely entirely on electric vehicles. The carriers, each weighing 62 tonnes, are…

Xiaomi EV, the electric vehicle unit of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, is preparing to launch its car sales operations internationally as competition in China’s EV market heats up. The company has established an overseas sales preparation team within its international business division and is recruiting for key roles such as market research, project management, and after-sales engineering, local media outlet 36kr reported. Xiaomi EV’s smart driving division is also hiring specialists to address compliance for autonomous driving features in foreign markets, signaling plans to adapt its cutting-edge technology to international standards. Initially, Xiaomi EV plans to test the waters with…

Gotion High-tech, a Chinese battery manufacturer backed by Volkswagen, has revealed plans to establish new battery production facilities in Slovakia and Morocco as part of its strategy to expand its international footprint. The total investment for both projects is approximately 2.514 billion euros ($2.6 billion). The Slovakian plant, with an investment of up to 1.234 billion euros, will have an annual capacity of 20 GWh of lithium batteries. It will be built by Gotion InoBat Batteries (GIB) EnergyX Slovakia, a joint venture where Gotion holds an 80 percent stake, and InoBat Auto jsa owns the remaining 20 percent. Gotion acquired…

Tesla has officially launched its Actually Smart Summon (ASS) feature in China, expanding the availability of this technology to the region after its introduction in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Announced via a Weibo post, the feature allows Tesla vehicles to autonomously drive to the driver, enhancing the convenience of vehicle retrieval from parking spaces. The Actually Smart Summon is part of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) software packages. It is not available to owners using the basic Autopilot (BAP) software. In China, the cost for the FSD package is RMB 64,000 yuan ($8,790), while…

BYD has officially entered the Omani automotive market, marking a significant move in its Gulf region expansion. The Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer recently held a brand launch event in Muscat, the capital of Oman, and inaugurated three local showrooms. The five models launched in Oman include the Han, Yuan Plus, Seal, Song Plus DM-i, and Qin Plus DM-i. According to AD Huang, general manager of BYD Middle East & Africa, the company’s focus on green mobility aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040 for sustainable development. BYD’s three flagship showrooms are located in Wattayah, Al Mouj, and the Mall of…

Tesla’s long-rumored compact model, which was initially speculated to be called the Model 2, might now be released as the Model Q in 2025. According to a report from GlobalChinaEV, this vehicle could start at $25,000 in the U.S. after subsidies, with a debut expected in the first half of 2025. Previously, Tesla’s primary focus for next year was thought to be the “Juniper” facelift of the Model Y, alongside updates to the Model 3, which has seen improvements in comfort and quality through the “Highland” revision. However, new reports suggest that a completely different model may be launched: a…

Xiaomi EV, the electric vehicle arm of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, has revealed its second model, the YU7, ahead of its official launch slated for June or July next year. The SUV’s core specifications have been unveiled through a regulatory filing with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), bringing the YU7 closer to its anticipated market entry. The YU7, identified by the model number XMA6500LBEVA1 in the MIIT catalog, will be produced at Xiaomi EV’s factory in Yizhuang, Beijing. The vehicle spans 4,999 mm in length, 1,996 mm in width, and stands 1,600 mm high, with a wheelbase…

Caterham, the British sports car maker, is advancing its electrification plans, announcing a collaboration with Taiwan-based Xing Mobility for an innovative battery system in its first all-electric sports car. This follows the earlier confirmation of an electric motor supplied by Yamaha for the upcoming model. The Xing Mobility battery pack employs immersion cooling technology, with cells submerged in a dielectric liquid to enhance heat dissipation. According to Caterham, this design provides a significant performance edge over conventional liquid-cooled systems. With an energy density of 200 Wh/kg, the battery aims to deliver competitive range and efficiency for the lightweight sports car.…

China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, BYD, is set to report further gains in market share as November sales figures are released, positioning the company to surpass its annual target and outpace global automotive giants Ford and Honda in 2024 sales. BYD delivered 3.76 million vehicles in the first 11 months of 2024, including 506,804 units sold in November. With robust domestic demand and an expanding international footprint, the company is on track to exceed its 4-million-unit target for the year. Strong sales of its innovative plug-in hybrid and fully electric models have enabled BYD to capture 16.2% of the…

Tesla saw a rebound in its China-made vehicle sales in November, following a decline in October. The company sold 78,856 vehicles in November, which includes both domestic sales and exports, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This represents a 15.49 percent increase from October’s 68,280 units, but a 4.34 percent decrease compared to 82,432 units sold in November 2023. Tesla China’s October sales marked the lowest level since April, dropping 22.69 percent from September’s 88,321 units. The company’s Shanghai factory produces the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, which are sold locally in China…

Baidu’s autonomous vehicle service, Apollo Go, has received approval to conduct robotaxi trials in Hong Kong, marking a significant expansion outside mainland China. The Hong Kong Transport Department issued the first pilot license for an autonomous vehicle on December 8, 2024, allowing Apollo Go to operate 10 robotaxis on North Lantau Island. Although the statement did not directly name Baidu, the license was granted to Baidu Apollo International Ltd., the operator of the Apollo Go platform. The license, valid until December 8, 2029, permits the operation of one autonomous private vehicle at a time on designated roads. During the trial…

BYD has launched its new car carrier, the BYD Changzhou, marking an important step in expanding its transportation capabilities for the export of new energy vehicles (NEVs). The vessel, which is BYD’s second ro-ro ship, began operations after its delivery, as announced by Wang Junbao, general manager of BYD Corporate Division, on Weibo. The BYD Changzhou, which departed from the ports of Lianyungang and Taicang in Jiangsu province, is on its way to Europe, carrying nearly 5,000 BYD NEVs. Wang highlighted the environmental benefits of the vessel, stating that it would contribute to cooling the planet by 1°C, though no…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) and BYD maintained their positions as the world’s largest EV battery manufacturers during the January-October 2024 period, as global electric vehicle battery installations surged by 25% year-on-year to 686.7 GWh, according to data released by South Korean market research firm SNE Research. CATL, the industry leader, reported a remarkable 28.3% increase in battery installations, reaching 252.8 GWh during the period. This solidified its dominance with a 36.8% global market share, up from 35.9% in the same period last year. The Chinese battery giant remains the only supplier to hold more than 30% of the…

Tesla has ramped up its marketing efforts in China as it aims to capitalize on the year-end car-buying season. Vice President of External Affairs, Grace Tao, has made multiple public statements highlighting the safety features of Tesla vehicles, with an assertive tone that reflects the company’s focus on building consumer confidence in its products. In a recent Weibo post, Tao emphasized that the Model 3 had received the highest 5-star ratings for both the China Electric Vehicle Fire Safety Index and the automotive fire safety certification. She pointed out that Tesla has never issued a global recall due to fire…

Nio is set to launch its Banyan 3.1.0 system in January 2025, introducing new smart driving features powered by an end-to-end artificial intelligence (AI) large model architecture. According to a report by local media outlet AutoPix, the upcoming system will mark a significant step forward for the Chinese automaker, which currently offers eight models in China—ranging from the ES8 to the ET5 Touring—all based on the NT 2.0 technology platform. The Banyan 3.1.0 system follows the earlier launch of Banyan 3.0.0, which focused on enhancing the smart cockpit, smart chassis, and incorporating AI technologies. “Nio’s smart driving team is expediting…

Polestar has expanded the Polestar 3 lineup with the introduction of a new entry-level Long Range Single Motor variant, which is now being produced at the company’s Charleston, South Carolina facility. Starting at $67,500 before the $1,400 destination fee, this new version offers a more affordable option compared to the dual-motor all-wheel drive model, which is priced $5,900 higher. The Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor offers an impressive EPA-estimated range of up to 350 miles (563 km), surpassing the dual-motor variant by 35 miles (56 km). However, the tradeoff comes with a rear-mounted motor delivering 295 hp (220 kW…

The European Commission has called for an additional €1 billion in EU funds to bolster electric vehicle (EV) battery cell manufacturing, as the sector faces mounting pressure. This proposal is part of a broader €4.6 billion allocation from the EU’s Innovation Fund aimed at supporting net-zero technologies and renewable hydrogen projects within the bloc. The call for additional funds comes as European EV manufacturers grapple with heightened competition, particularly from Asia, and slower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles. These challenges have affected job stability across the region. EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra emphasized the need for investment in critical sectors, stating, “As…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) set a new monthly delivery record in November, reaching 30,895 units, driven by strong sales of its recently launched P7+ sedan and Mona M03 model. The latest figures represent a 54.16% increase from 20,041 deliveries in the same month last year and a 29.18% rise from October’s 23,917 units. It marks the first time Xpeng has surpassed the 30,000 mark and the third consecutive month of record-breaking deliveries. “The Mona M03 continued to deliver more than 10,000 units in November, while the P7+ accumulated over 7,000 deliveries just 23 days after its launch,”…

Chinese battery giant CATL has unveiled a new lineup of batteries under its Tectrans brand, designed specifically for heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Announced on November 25, the new series includes supercharging, long-life, long-range, and durable versions, further broadening the Tectrans product range initially launched in July. The Tectrans batteries address critical issues in heavy commercial vehicle electrification, including limited range, prolonged charging times, and battery lifespan degradation. CATL claims its supercharging-enabled batteries feature a peak 4 C charging rate, enabling 70% charge in just 15 minutes. With a capacity of 600 kWh and a range of up to 500 kilometers, these…

Volkswagen, Northvolt’s largest shareholder, has significantly written down the value of its 21% stake in the Swedish battery cell manufacturer following the company’s recent bankruptcy protection filing in the United States, according to sources familiar with the matter. The writedowns reflect Northvolt’s repeated struggles to meet production targets and a weaker-than-anticipated surge in electric vehicle demand in Europe. These adjustments at Volkswagen have occurred throughout 2024, though the company has not disclosed the current valuation of its stake. At the end of 2023, Volkswagen valued its holding at €693 million ($726 million), marking a nearly 25% decline from the previous…