Author: James Bryant

Toyota has announced plans to reveal a new battery electric vehicle (BEV) on March 11, releasing a teaser image and video that hint at a “sleek and stylish” design with a spacious interior. The automaker has not disclosed specific details, but the upcoming model is expected to be based on the bZ Compact Crossover concept, which was first unveiled in 2022. See also: Toyota Unveils Third-Generation Fuel Cell System with Enhanced Durability and Efficiency Toyota described the new BEV as having “elevated driving dynamics” and a “versatile” cabin, though further specifications remain undisclosed. The teaser video highlights features such as…

Amprius Technologies, a California-based battery developer, has received a $15 million order for its high-performance lithium-ion cells from an undisclosed Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) manufacturer. The deal follows successful field tests and qualifications, ensuring critical supply for the customer’s production ramp-up, Amprius said in a statement. The order is for Amprius’ newly introduced SiCore cells, designed for applications in aviation, light electric vehicles, and high-performance electric cars. The company plans to deliver the cells in the second half of the year, leveraging a network of Asia-based contract manufacturers to scale up production without requiring additional capital expenditures. See also: Amprius…

Audi is set to consolidate its transformation efforts under a newly established department, “Transformation, Consulting and Organisation,” effective March 1, as part of a broader restructuring initiative aimed at streamlining operations and reducing complexity. The changes, however, will come with significant cost-cutting measures, including job reductions. The German automaker has appointed Yvonne Bettkober, formerly responsible for organizational development at Volkswagen and CARIAD, to lead the new division. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner stated that the move aligns with the company’s “Audi Agenda,” which seeks to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and boost innovation. The initiative builds upon structural changes introduced earlier this…

Avride, an autonomous vehicle startup spun off from Yandex, will launch sidewalk delivery bots in central Tokyo this week in collaboration with e-commerce giant Rakuten, marking its latest expansion into Northeast Asia. The Austin-based company, now operating under the Netherlands-based Nebius Group, has been developing autonomous vehicle technology since divesting its Russian businesses in 2024 for approximately $5.2 billion. The Tokyo rollout follows Avride’s existing commercial sidewalk delivery operations in Seoul and an extensive certification process in Japan. See also: Uber Expands Autonomous Deliveries with Avride Robots in Jersey City “We are excited to introduce our sidewalk delivery robots to…

The Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen University has launched a research project aimed at enhancing the production of cooling systems for hairpin stators in electric motors, the university announced. The two-year initiative, named Production engineering capability of the hairpin stator process chain for processing rectangular waveguides for use in traction drives (HNTR), is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. Munich-based electric motor developer Hyperdrives is also involved. The project seeks to adapt manufacturing processes to enable the use of rectangular waveguides, which could facilitate direct cooling of electric…

Fastned has launched its Banbridge charging hub in Northern Ireland, marking its first location in the region and the UK’s fastest ultra-rapid charging station. The site features six charging columns with two points each, delivering up to 400 kW per unit, allowing electric vehicles to gain 100 miles of range in just five minutes. Located 30 minutes from Belfast and just off the A1, the Banbridge hub follows Fastned’s signature ‘drive-through’ design and is covered with solar panels. It is the first UK Fastned station since 2019 to incorporate the ‘drive-thru’ format. A second hub in Antrim is set to…

UK-based battery technology startup Ionetic has opened a £5 million pilot plant in Northamptonshire to develop cost-effective battery packs for low-volume automakers in the UK and US, CEO James Eaton said in an interview. Eaton told Reuters that Ionetic is already working with multiple automakers to help reduce electrification costs and accelerate time-to-market for companies that may struggle with in-house battery development. “The really big players can throw hundreds of millions or even billions at electrification,” Eaton said. “But around 90 to 95% of manufacturers are small and don’t have hundreds of millions of pounds to go electric.” See also:…

Lynk & Co, majority-owned by Zeekr, has introduced the Lynk & Co 08 hybrid SUV in Europe, marking its latest expansion into the region’s competitive D-segment SUV market. The vehicle will be available in two trims—Core and More—with sales set to begin in June. Customers can purchase the 08 through Lynk & Co retailers, online, or at local clubs, with prices starting at €52,995 ($55,630) in select European markets. The model follows the Lynk & Co 01 SUV and Lynk & Co 02 hatchback in the brand’s European portfolio. See also: Lynk & Co Unveils Flagship Hybrid SUV, Aiming for…

Tesla has started deliveries of the facelifted Model Y to customers in China, the U.S. electric vehicle maker said today, as competition heats up in the world’s largest EV market. The company announced the milestone on Chinese social media platform Weibo, sharing a video highlighting updates to the SUV’s exterior, cabin, and range. “Feel free to compare and you’ll know once you try it,” Tesla wrote in Chinese, suggesting confidence in its latest offering against local rivals. See also: Tesla Rolls Out Advanced Assisted Driving Features in China, Avoiding FSD Label Tesla introduced the refreshed five-seat Model Y, codenamed Juniper,…

Daimler Truck’s eActros 600 electric heavy-duty truck has been in production since November, yet the manufacturer recently sent two units on a winter test drive across Scandinavia to assess energy consumption under extreme conditions. The “European Testing Tour Winter 2025” covered more than 6,500 kilometers in January and February, with two trucks, each carrying a total weight of 40 tons, retracing part of Daimler Truck’s summer test route. The original tour extended to the Nordkapp, across the Baltic States, and down to Tarifa, Spain, before returning to Germany. See also: Amazon Orders 200 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 Electric Trucks for German…

Tesla is preparing to update its Model S and Model X later this year, Lars Moravy, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, suggested in a recent podcast appearance. While details remain scarce, the updates may incorporate some of the changes introduced with the refreshed Model 3 and Model Y. Speaking on Ryan McCaffrey’s “Ride the Lightning” podcast, Moravy dismissed speculation that Tesla might discontinue the two luxury models, stating, “They are not going anywhere anytime soon.” He added that the Model S and Model X would receive “some love later this year,” without elaborating on the extent of the planned revisions.…

Huawei has deepened its partnership with Changan Automobile’s electric vehicle subsidiary, Avatr Technology, by deploying a team of nearly 300 employees to the automaker’s headquarters in Chongqing, Chinese media outlet The Beijing News reported on Monday. The collaboration follows an agreement signed in December to enhance joint efforts in product development, marketing strategies, and user insights for Avatr’s second-generation EV lineup. The expanded partnership is reportedly an upgraded version of Huawei’s “HI” (Huawei Inside) model, known as “HI Plus,” under which Avatr retains control over product definition and marketing while leveraging Huawei’s smart driving and cockpit technologies. See also: Avatr…

BMW Group has introduced its first hydrogen-powered trucks into regular logistics operations in Germany, marking a key step in its efforts to decarbonize freight transport. The deployment, part of the European H2Haul project, includes two hydrogen fuel cell trucks transporting goods between Leipzig, Landsberg, and Nuremberg. As part of the initiative, BMW is constructing two hydrogen refueling stations in Leipzig and Hormersdorf, designed for rapid, large-volume refueling to ensure seamless logistics operations. The move aligns with BMW’s strategy to reduce emissions in its supply chain while evaluating the viability of hydrogen technology in long-haul transport. See also: BMW Deploys Fully…

A Japanese initiative is seeking to persuade Tesla to invest in Nissan following failed merger talks between Nissan and Honda, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk appears reluctant to engage, according to a Financial Times report. The advisory group, led by former Tesla board member Hiro Mizuno, aims to attract Musk’s interest in Nissan’s U.S. manufacturing facilities. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is also backing the plan, which envisions a consortium of investors with Tesla as the leading financial participant. The initiative seeks to prevent Nissan from falling under foreign control, particularly by Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, which is reportedly…

The UK registered 1,570 new battery and fuel cell buses in 2024, marking a 35.5% increase from the previous year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The growth in electric buses comes amid continued government support, but the country’s electric truck market showed signs of stagnation. Despite the increase in electric bus registrations, their share of the overall UK bus market fell to 18.7% as total bus sales grew by 70% to 8,390 units, the highest level since 2008. Excluding minibuses, electric single and double-decker buses accounted for 43.9% of total registrations, nearly unchanged from 2023.…

Rivian has unveiled a new “California Dune Edition” for its Tri-Motor R1 lineup, offering exclusive colors and a suite of off-road-focused enhancements. The limited-edition variant is designed for customers seeking improved rugged performance while retaining the core capabilities of the R1T and R1S. The California Dune Edition introduces a new exterior and interior color scheme inspired by the sandy landscapes of California’s desert dunes. While Rivian had previously teased the launch with images of sand dunes and a monochrome vehicle silhouette, the final announcement confirms that the update extends beyond just aesthetics. See also: Rivian Opens Orders for All-Electric Commercial…

ZF has equipped NIO’s electric ET9 with its latest steer-by-wire technology, eliminating the mechanical link between the steering wheel and the front wheels. This system forms part of ZF’s broader portfolio of electronic steering, braking, and damping technologies, which, combined with ZF’s cubiX software, support the development of software-defined vehicles. Dr. Peter Holdmann, Member of the Board of Management at ZF, noted, “With our production-ready steer-by-wire system, we are introducing the next step in the software-defined vehicle era, providing manufacturers like NIO with greater design flexibility and safety.” This new technology allows for improved comfort and driving performance through precise…

A new regulatory filing has disclosed details about the battery specifications and range of Firefly, the first model from Nio’s sub-brand, confirming its position as a premium small electric vehicle. According to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Firefly model, designated as NAL7000BSEVY1, is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) with battery swap capability. See also: Spy Photo Reveals Interior of Nio’s Firefly Sub-Brand Model Ahead of April Launch It features a 42.1-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack supplied by Sunwoda, marking the first collaboration between the battery manufacturer and Nio. The vehicle has a range of…

Tesla has commenced large-scale production of the updated Model Y at its Shanghai facility, the U.S. automaker announced on Tuesday. The refreshed model, introduced in China on January 10, marks the first major revision for the Model Y and is available in two variants: a rear-wheel-drive version priced at RMB 263,500 ($35,940) and a long-range all-wheel-drive version at RMB 303,500. The latest iteration of the Model Y incorporates exterior design elements inspired by Tesla’s Cybertruck and Cybercab concepts, along with enhancements to its battery and powertrain. Tesla’s Chinese website has also introduced new seating layout options, hinting at a potential…

The U.S. automotive market continues to favor larger vehicles, with trucks and SUVs making up 75% of total vehicle registrations in 2024, according to data from JATO Dynamics. Out of the 16.09 million vehicles sold in the U.S. last year, 9.17 million were SUVs, marking a 5% increase from 2023. General Motors (GM) led the SUV segment with a 15.6% market share, followed by Toyota at 13.3%, Hyundai-Kia at 12.6%, and Ford at 9.6%. Honda, with a 9.4% share, saw the fastest growth in the segment, thanks to strong demand for its CR-V, HR-V, and Pilot models. See also: Nearly…