Author: James Bryant

Autonomous driving company Pony.ai has secured approval from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to begin testing its driverless vehicles on public roads, the company said on Monday. The permit marks a significant step in its plan to introduce commercial robotaxi services in the Middle East. The pilot program will allow Pony.ai to conduct trials in designated parts of Dubai, following a partnership with the RTA announced earlier this year. The company aims to launch a full driverless ride-hailing service in the emirate by 2026, supporting Dubai’s target of making 25% of urban transport autonomous by 2030. Pony.ai presented its…

U.S. auto parts supplier First Brands Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, weighed down by more than $6 billion in debt from a string of acquisitions. The company, which owns aftermarket brands including Raybestos brake solutions, TRICO wiper blades and FRAM filters, said it secured $1.1 billion in debtor-in-possession financing from first-lien lenders to support operations during the restructuring. The filing applies only to U.S. operations, with global activities expected to continue without disruption, it added. First Brands disclosed assets of more than $1 billion against liabilities exceeding $10 billion in its petition to the U.S. Bankruptcy…

Scientists at Monash University in Australia have developed a rechargeable zinc battery capable of running continuously for 74 days and reaching an energy density of 997 Wh per kilogram, a breakthrough that sets new benchmarks for zinc-air technology. The battery, which completed more than 3,500 cycles during testing, significantly outperforms conventional zinc-air batteries that typically achieve around 400 Wh/kg and surpasses the density of many lithium-ion cells. Researchers said the advance was made possible through atomic-level engineering of the catalyst. “By engineering cobalt and iron as individual atoms on a carbon framework, we achieved record-breaking performance in zinc-air batteries, showing…

Daimler Buses has been commissioned by Swiss public transport operator Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn (SZU) to plan and implement charging infrastructure at the Rütihof bus depot in Wädenswil on Lake Zurich. The project will equip the existing depot with electric bus charging facilities by 2026. Under the contract, Daimler Buses will install several charging stations in existing depot buildings to enable daytime and overnight charging. A digital load and charging management system will also be integrated to optimize energy distribution. In its final phase, the project will deliver 43 CCS2 charging points with up to 150 kW capacity per vehicle.…

Tesla’s UK division reported a steep drop in revenue and profits for the 2024 financial year, as weaker car sales and a sharp decline in energy earnings weighed on results. Despite the slowdown, the company paid a dividend to its U.S. parent and is preparing to expand into Britain’s electricity market. According to filings with Companies House, revenue at the Manchester-based unit fell to £1.94 billion in 2024 from £2.47 billion a year earlier. Pre-tax profit dropped to £19.4 million from £32 million. Sales volumes slightly exceeded last year’s levels, but the company said product mix and incentive programs hit…

BYD has added the final vessel in its current maritime fleet, commissioning the car carrier BYD Jinan, the company said on Weibo on Monday. The BYD Jinan, named after the eastern Chinese city of Jinan in Shandong province, one of the automaker’s largest production hubs, is the eighth car carrier to join the fleet. BYD described the fleet as “fully assembled,” indicating no immediate plans for further expansion. The fleet already includes the BYD Explorer No.1, BYD Hefei, BYD Changzhou, BYD Shenzhen, BYD Xi’an, BYD Changsha, and BYD Zhengzhou. The BYD Zhengzhou, with a capacity of 7,000 vehicles, entered service…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio said on Monday it will allocate 100-kilowatt-hour battery packs primarily to production of its new third-generation ES8 SUV rather than battery swap stations, a move intended to speed up deliveries. The decision, announced via the company’s mobile app, will temporarily limit availability of the battery at some swap stations. To offset the impact, Nio said customers taking delivery of the ES8 by December 31 will receive a RMB 400 ($56) charging subsidy. The company expects full deployment of the 100-kWh packs across its third- and fourth-generation swap stations by January 2026. Nio launched the third-generation…

Mobility company Ayvens said on Thursday it will begin issuing state-of-health (SoH) certificates for used electric vehicles in Europe, a step aimed at increasing transparency and trust in the growing second-hand EV market. The certificates will be provided through Ayvens Carmarket, the trading platform launched last year to sell cars from its leasing fleet to professional dealers. The programme will start in Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands before expanding to most other European markets in the coming months. Ayvens Carmarket currently operates in 38 countries. The SoH certificates show the current battery capacity compared to the original…

Hyundai Motor Group’s electric air taxi subsidiary Supernal has seen further leadership departures just weeks after pausing work on its vehicle program and parting ways with its chief executive and chief technology officer, TechCrunch reported on Friday. Supernal confirmed that chief strategy officer Jaeyong Song, chief safety officer Tracy Lamb, and Lina Yang, chief of staff to former CEO Jaiwon Shin, have left the company. Shin, who had led Supernal since its 2021 spin-out from Hyundai’s advanced air mobility (AAM) division, stepped down earlier this month. “As we transition to new leadership, we have taken the opportunity to strategically review…

Registrations of new electric cars in the European Union rose 30.2% year-on-year in August, according to industry association ACEA, as battery-powered vehicles expanded their market share despite flat overall car sales. U.S. carmaker Tesla, however, bucked the trend with a sharp decline in deliveries. A total of 120,797 fully electric cars were registered in the EU during August, giving the segment a 15.8% market share, up from 12.6% a year earlier. Including figures from the UK and EFTA states, 159,810 new EVs were registered across Europe, meaning one in five cars sold was fully electric. Germany was the region’s largest…

French company Cixi has introduced the Vigoz, a three-wheeled electric vehicle that incorporates bicycle pedals into its drivetrain while offering a fully enclosed cabin and automotive-inspired design. The vehicle can reportedly reach speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph), positioning it between an electric trike and a compact urban car. The Vigoz features a recumbent-style seat and a human-integrated drivetrain known as the Pedaling Energy Recovery System, which converts pedaling into electric propulsion. While riders can theoretically assist battery charging through pedaling, the system primarily functions to provide an additional level of speed and braking control. The interior is…

Mercedes-Benz has commenced pre-series production of its all-electric VLE at the Vitoria plant in Spain, marking a key step toward full-scale production planned for the first half of 2026. The move reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to expand its electric vehicle offerings while maintaining high-quality standards and versatile van capabilities. The Vitoria plant, a central hub in Mercedes-Benz Vans’ global production network, has undergone extensive modernization to support the new Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA). Upgrades include a flexible bodyshop, a fully adaptable paint shop, and an updated assembly hall, all enhanced by artificial intelligence and digital tools such as a…