Author: Jackson Han

Tesla has expanded its discount offerings on the 2024 Cybertruck models in the United States, providing reductions of up to $4,000 for standard versions and $6,000 for the “Foundations Series.” This move comes as the company addresses an accumulation of unsold inventory. The automaker faced challenges in selling the Cybertruck throughout 2024, its inaugural full production year. In efforts to boost sales, Tesla has previously modified vehicle badges and adjusted market strategies. Despite these efforts, inventory levels have remained high in both the U.S. and Canada. See also: Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer Offers Sneak Peek at Upcoming Off-Road Armor Complicating…

SWTCH Energy, a prominent provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions, has been selected to manage one of Washington State’s largest multi-family EV charging deployments. The initiative will see SWTCH Energy’s smart charging platform overseeing 2,500 charging stations across 136 Greystar properties, significantly enhancing the accessibility and convenience of EV charging for thousands of residents. This large-scale deployment is supported by a $25.6 million grant from the Washington Department of Commerce’s Electric Vehicle Charging Program. The grant aims to address the growing need for accessible EV charging infrastructure as adoption rates increase in the state. As part…

BYD has showcased its Denza Z9 GT’s remarkable abilities, including the ability to crab-walk around obstacles and parallel-park in tight spaces, as the electric shooting brake nears its global release in Europe and other regions. This new feature highlights BYD’s innovation in advanced steering technology, particularly its 20-degree rear wheel steering system. The Denza Z9 GT, which is available in both electric and plug-in hybrid variants, boasts rear steering motors on each rear wheel, offering impressive maneuverability. See also: BYD’s Denza Z9 GT Sets Record as Fastest Luxury NEV to Reach 10,000 Deliveries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgnmQAyNN9s With a turning radius of just…

BYD has secured mining rights for two plots of land in Brazil’s lithium-rich Jequitinhonha Valley, marking the company’s entry into the mining sector in its largest market outside China. The acquisition, made through its subsidiary Exploracao Mineral do Brasil, occurred in late 2023, according to a report by Reuters. The two plots span 852 hectares (8.5 square kilometers) in the town of Coronel Murta, located in the state of Minas Gerais, commonly referred to as Brazil’s Lithium Valley. This move is part of BYD’s broader efforts to expand its footprint in Brazil, a key market for the company as it…

A new automotive partnership between Chinese tech giant Huawei and SAIC Motor has been finalized, aiming to create a new brand under Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) business. The partnership was reported by local media outlet 36kr, which cited industry sources familiar with the development. The new brand, tentatively named Shangjie (尚界) in Chinese, will be the fifth under Huawei’s HIMA initiative. Huawei has developed three approaches to partnering with automakers, with the creation of a new brand being the most involved approach. The brand, which was initially called Zhixuan before being rebranded to HIMA in November 2023, allows…

Austrian automotive supplier Magna and Mercedes-Benz have deepened their long-standing partnership, with Magna confirming that production of the electric drive system for the all-electric G-Class has been underway in Lannach, Austria, since last year. The electric G-Class, officially named the G 580 with EQ Technology, is produced at Magna’s Graz facility, where combustion engine versions have been built since 1979. The battery-powered model, introduced in 2024, retains the ladder-frame design and off-road characteristics of its fuel-powered counterpart but incorporates an advanced four-motor electric drive system developed by Magna. See also: Chinese Automakers in Talks with Magna Steyr for Local EV…

The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has achieved a milestone by setting a lap time of 1:26.741 seconds at the Chengdu Tianfu Circuit in China, making it the fastest four-door production car on the track. This record surpasses the 1:34.905 lap time set by a BMW M3, although the specific modifications made to the M3 remain unclear. Equipped with a powerful triple-motor all-wheel-drive system generating 1,548 horsepower, the SU7 Ultra delivers impressive acceleration, reaching 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.98 seconds and completing a quarter-mile in 9.23 seconds. The vehicle’s top speed exceeds 350 km/h, and it boasts a 5.2C maximum…

Tesla’s retail sales in China declined in January, impacted by seasonal factors similar to other electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) released on Friday. The U.S. automaker sold 63,238 vehicles from its Shanghai plant last month, including 29,535 units for export. Domestic sales totaled 33,703 vehicles, down 15.49% from 39,881 a year earlier and 59.36% lower than the 82,927 units sold in December. See also: Tesla’s Shanghai Megafactory Begins Production of Energy Storage Products The decline in sales was partially attributed to the Chinese New Year holiday, which ran from January 28…

Nio’s battery swap network in Shanghai is nearing profitability as the trend in the battery swap business gains momentum, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker’s founder and CEO William Li said. Li made the remarks in a Weibo post on Friday, sharing a clip from a February 8 livestream on Douyin, a short-form video platform. He emphasized that 2024 would be a significant year for expanding Nio’s battery swap infrastructure, aiming to make the service as convenient as refueling a gasoline vehicle for users of Nio, Onvo, and partner brands. See also: Nio Reports Record 136,720 Battery Swaps in a…

Shares in Chinese automakers Xpeng and Geely experienced significant drops on Tuesday amid concerns that they may struggle to compete with BYD’s latest move. BYD announced it would provide its “God’s Eye” advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) at no extra charge across 21 models, including its budget-friendly Seagull, which is priced at $9,555. This decision marks a shift in the competitive landscape as BYD offers features akin to Tesla’s smart driving capabilities without additional costs. See also: BYD to Roll Out ‘God’s Eye’ Autonomous Features to More Affordable EVs Xpeng’s shares fell by 5.9%, their largest drop in two months, while…

Airbus has announced that it is temporarily halting the development of its electric air taxi project, CityAirbus, in Donauwörth, Germany, signaling difficulties for the once-promising technology. This move comes as German air taxi startups Lilium and Volocopter also face financial struggles and file for insolvency. The air taxi industry, once widely anticipated to revolutionize urban mobility, is grappling with significant setbacks. See also: Swiss Startup H55, UK’s AeroVolt Partner to Expand Electric Aviation Infrastructure and Training Airbus Helicopters confirmed the suspension to Bayrischer Rundfunk, though the company emphasized that the project has not been entirely canceled. The break comes as…

Volkswagen’s Spanish subsidiary SEAT is facing a difficult decision if the European Union does not reduce its tariff on China-made electric vehicles by the end of March. The company has warned that it will be forced to cut production and lay off around 1,500 workers unless the additional tariff is addressed. Since October, SEAT has been subject to a 20.7% tariff on its CUPRA Tavascan, a model manufactured at Volkswagen’s majority-owned plant in Anhui, China. This is in addition to the existing 10% tariff already imposed on China-made EVs sold in Europe. The additional charges have significantly impacted the brand’s…