Author: James Bryant

Cyclic Materials, a recycling company backed by BMW and other major partners, has secured a multi-year agreement with raw materials giant Glencore to supply recycled copper recovered from electric motors. This collaboration aims to enhance the sustainability of the supply chain and support the energy transition by utilizing high-quality copper sourced from recycled electronic waste. Under the terms of the deal, Cyclic Materials will provide an unspecified quantity of copper, which Glencore will use to produce cathodes for new products. This agreement underscores the growing importance of recycling in reducing the environmental impact of resource extraction. Cyclic Materials highlights that…

The global electric vehicle (EV) market continues its upward trajectory, achieving a new milestone in November 2024 with 1.8 million units sold—marking the third consecutive month of record-breaking sales. This brings the year-to-date total to an impressive 15.2 million units, a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to market research firm Rho Motion. China remains the indisputable leader, accounting for nearly 70% of November’s global EV sales. The country reported an extraordinary 1.3 million units sold during the month, driven by rising demand for models from automakers such as Geely, Tesla, and Changan. China’s aggressive policies…

General Motors announced on Tuesday that it will halt robotaxi development at its majority-owned subsidiary, Cruise, signaling a shift in focus away from autonomous vehicles. This move marks a significant change in direction for the Detroit-based automaker, which had previously made Cruise a central part of its advanced technology strategy. The decision follows over $10 billion in investments made by GM in Cruise since 2016. The company stated it would no longer fund the development of self-driving robotaxis, citing the high costs and significant time required to scale the business. “Given the considerable time and resources that would be needed…

GAC Group has entered into a partnership with Huawei to jointly create a new premium smart new energy vehicle (NEV) brand, deepening the collaboration between the Guangzhou-based carmaker and the tech giant. The agreement, signed on November 30, 2024, aims to combine GAC’s 27 years of automotive expertise with Huawei’s leadership in information and communication technology, particularly in intelligent systems. The partnership will focus on leveraging both companies’ strengths in product development, marketing, and ecological services to deliver cutting-edge intelligent experiences to users. GAC will create this new NEV brand alongside its existing brands, Trumpchi, Aion, and Hyptec. The collaboration…

France plans to cut subsidies for electric vehicle (EV) purchases, lowering bonuses to a range of €2,000 to €4,000 based on income, a government source said on Thursday. This adjustment marks a reduction from the previous €4,000 to €7,000 range as the government moves to address fiscal challenges. “The government remains firmly committed to the electrification of light vehicles … but the budgetary context is extremely constrained,” the official stated during a briefing. The reduction is part of a broader effort to rein in public spending and narrow a significant budget deficit. In 2025, France aims to allocate around €1…

Marina Bay, one of Singapore’s iconic landmarks, is now home to autonomous road cleaners. The electric Robosweepers, developed by Chinese company WeRide, have begun operations after receiving approval from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority. This marks the first commercial deployment of autonomous sanitation vehicles in the city. The Robosweeper S6 and S1 are now in operation, with the S6 tasked with nightly cleaning of Marina Coastal Drive from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., and the S1 focusing on daytime cleaning of non-motorized lanes and surrounding areas of the Esplanade. The S1, launched earlier this year, is described as the world’s first…

Jaguar has announced plans to buy back 2,760 2019 model year I-Pace electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the U.S. after continued concerns over battery overheating and fire risks. Despite previous software updates aimed at addressing the issue, data revealed that some of the affected vehicles were still suffering from thermal overloads, with three 2019 I-Pace models having caught fire after receiving the software fix. The buyback decision comes after Jaguar’s earlier guidance for owners to park their I-Pace vehicles outside and away from buildings as a safety measure, as well as implementing a temporary charging limit of 80 percent to…

BMW has announced plans to shift production logistics at its Regensburg plant in Germany from battery-powered to hydrogen-powered operations. By 2026, hydrogen-powered tugger trains and forklift trucks will begin handling transport and logistics tasks across key production areas, including the press shop, body construction, and vehicle assembly. The complete conversion is slated for 2030. Currently, the Regensburg plant operates a fully electric logistics fleet with approximately 230 tugger trains and forklifts. These require frequent battery changes, with each change taking around 15 minutes and necessitating significant workspace. Switching to hydrogen is expected to streamline processes and save space. BMW plans…

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to its direct-to-consumer model, despite challenges posed by state laws that heavily favor traditional dealership networks. Speaking to reporters, Scaringe criticized the regulatory environment, calling it a “horrific state-by-state level of rules” influenced by powerful dealer lobbies that he characterized as “corruption.” These laws, originally designed to protect dealers from competition by their own manufacturers, now serve as significant barriers for automakers like Rivian and Tesla that operate without traditional dealership networks. In states such as Texas, Tesla is prohibited from selling vehicles directly in company-owned stores and must rely on…

Northvolt, the Swedish electric vehicle battery maker, announced on Friday that its CEO and co-founder, Peter Carlsson, is stepping down, a day after the company filed for U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The move follows months of financial strain and production hurdles that have left the company in urgent need of fresh capital. The bankruptcy filing, made in a Texas court, allows Northvolt to restructure while maintaining operations and honoring commitments to customers and suppliers. “The Chapter 11 filing allows a period during which the company can be reorganized, ramp up operations while honoring customer and supplier commitments, and ultimately…

Stellantis has officially launched its latest electric vehicle platform, the STLA Frame, designed to power the next generation of full-size electric trucks and SUVs. Unveiled on Tuesday, the new platform is expected to support upcoming Jeep and Ram EV models, including the highly anticipated Ram 1500 REV electric pickup, scheduled for release in early 2025. The STLA Frame platform aims to deliver “best-in-class capabilities,” offering up to 500 miles (800 km) of range, a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 lbs, and a payload rating of 2,700 lbs. It is engineered to accommodate various powertrain configurations, including full-electric (EV), range-extended (REEV),…

Daimler Truck has secured €226 million in funding for the development and small-series production of 100 hydrogen fuel cell trucks. The funding, provided by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the German states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, aims to advance hydrogen-powered transportation in the trucking sector. The first trucks are expected to be deployed to customers by the end of 2026, with the initiative being part of the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Hydrogen program, which seeks to promote hydrogen technology across Europe. The trucks will be produced across multiple German sites, with final assembly…

Hyundai Motor has appointed Jose Munoz, its U.S. chief and global COO, as co-CEO, marking the first time a foreign national has held the title at a major South Korean conglomerate. The move is seen as a strategic response to navigate potential challenges posed by a possible second Trump administration. Munoz, credited with driving record sales for Hyundai in North America, joins three other co-CEOs, including executive chair Euisun Chung and president Chang Jae-hoon, who will take on a new role as group vice chair overseeing the automotive division. The leadership shift aims to enhance Hyundai’s global competitiveness and prepare…

BETA Technologies, an electric aviation company based in Vermont, has reached a key milestone with the first test flight of its production version of the ALIA CTOL, an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) aircraft. BETA’s founder, CEO, and test pilot, Kyle Clark, piloted the flight, marking another step forward in BETA’s goal of bringing the ALIA aircraft to market. This flight follows the company’s recent progress with the ALIA VTOL, a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, both of which are moving through FAA certification processes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd_lTV3KBg8 The ALIA CTOL’s first production test flight took place on November 13 after…

Tesla has officially launched its Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover in the Philippines, with both vehicles priced competitively against mainstream rivals in the country’s automotive market. The announcement follows the opening of Tesla’s first Experience Center in the Philippines, located in the upscale Bonifacio Global City (BGC) area in Metro Manila. The event garnered significant attention, attracting both a large crowd and several notable officials. Tesla Experience Center, 22 Uptown Parade, Now Open. pic.twitter.com/H9Y8lgWMNr — Tesla Philippines Official (@teslaphp) November 8, 2024 The pricing for the Model 3 is positioned in the same range as traditional internal combustion…

Sweden is hopeful that the European Union and China will negotiate a pricing agreement on electric vehicles (EVs) soon to mitigate the impact of recent EU tariffs on Chinese imports, Swedish Foreign Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa told Reuters following a visit to China aimed at protecting Volvo’s business. The European Commission last month set tariffs of up to 45.3% on EVs imported from China, concluding a major trade investigation intended to shield Europe’s emerging EV industry. Sweden, home to Volvo Cars, abstained from voting on the tariffs, hoping instead for a compromise that could allow Chinese automakers to voluntarily raise…

Voltari Electric, a marine electrification specialist, has introduced the Voltari Patrol 26 RIB, a high-performance, carbon-fiber electric boat built for demanding security and government operations. Designed with advanced marine technologies, the Patrol 26 RIB builds on Voltari’s legacy of delivering innovative electric boats with a focus on durability and speed. Voltari was established in Canada in 2021 after acquiring LTS Marine, a provider of electric boat systems, and Carbon Marine, a carbon fiber laminate specialist. These technologies were integrated to launch the Voltari 260, an all-electric performance boat that set a high standard in sustainable marine mobility. Demonstrating its capabilities,…

Hyundai continues to make waves in the electric vehicle (EV) market, having secured consecutive World Car of the Year awards with its Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 models. The next chapter in this successful lineup is the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 9, a large, family-friendly electric crossover that is poised to compete with models like the Kia EV9 and the Hyundai Palisade. Insights into this new SUV were unveiled during Hyundai’s CEO Investor Day event in August, where Jae Hoon Chang, Hyundai’s CEO, confirmed crucial details about the Ioniq 9’s development and its significance in the automaker’s EV strategy. One of…

Volvo Cars posted a 3% increase in global sales for October, reaching 61,686 units, driven primarily by strong demand for electrified models in Europe, according to the company’s latest report. The Sweden-based automaker, majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding, noted that fully electric and plug-in hybrid models surged by 40% year-on-year, making up nearly half (48%) of all sales for the month. Fully electric models accounted for 22% of total October sales. Europe, Volvo’s largest market, saw a 21% sales increase to 30,167 vehicles, with electrified models representing 66% of cars sold—a 46% rise from the same period last year. In…

German automotive supplier Schaeffler AG has inaugurated a state-of-the-art technology center for materials science and engineering at its Herzogenaurach headquarters. The €90 million facility spans over 18,000 square meters and brings together expertise in materials science to drive advancements in eMobility, battery technology, and hydrogen fuel solutions. Equipped with 15 specialized laboratories dedicated to measurement, testing, and calibration, the center aims to push forward sustainable technologies such as solid-state battery coatings and hydrogen fuel cell components. The center also includes an EMC lab for testing the electromagnetic compatibility of Schaeffler’s electronic systems. “Innovative materials are crucial for sustainable solutions in…