Author: James Bryant

Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, has officially begun construction of its first wholly-owned electric vehicle factory in China, as the Japanese automaker moves to expand its footprint in the world’s largest EV market. The new plant, located in Shanghai’s Jinshan district, is expected to begin production in 2027 with an annual capacity of up to 100,000 vehicles. The project marks a strategic shift for Toyota, aiming to enhance its position in China’s rapidly evolving automotive sector and to better compete with domestic EV manufacturers. The facility is scheduled for completion by August 2026 and will initially create approximately 1,000 jobs, according…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has introduced a new reworked high-voltage battery for its electric commercial vehicles, offering a resource-efficient alternative to purchasing new units. The CB400 battery, now available for first-generation eActros 300/400 and eEconic models, is part of the company’s broader effort to promote a circular economy and reduce carbon emissions. The CB400 “Genuine Reworked Battery” is designed to match the quality and functionality of new batteries, while reducing environmental impact and cost for customers. According to Mercedes-Benz Trucks, the remanufactured units undergo full safety and performance checks and are covered under the brand’s original parts warranty. “With the CB400 reworked…

Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn is close to finalizing a deal to supply electric buses to Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus, a Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer owned by Daimler Truck, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday. Under the reported agreement, Mitsubishi Fuso would market Foxconn’s Model T electric bus and Model U microbus under its own brand. Both vehicles have been developed by Foxconn as part of its broader push into the electric mobility sector. The two companies are also considering the creation of a new joint venture to manage the operations related to the electric buses, according to the Nikkei…

Volkswagen Group has unveiled a production-ready version of its autonomous ID. Buzz AD minivan, positioning itself as a key competitor in the emerging driverless ride-hailing market ahead of Tesla’s planned robotaxi rollout. Starting in 2026, companies, municipalities, and fleet operators will be able to order pre-configured ID. Buzz robotaxis, complete with full sensor suites, certification, and Volkswagen’s autonomous Mobility-as-a-Service (AD MaaS) platform, according to MOIA, the VW Group’s ridepooling subsidiary. The electric van meets SAE Level 4 autonomy standards and includes 27 onboard sensors — 13 cameras, nine Lidars, and five radars — managed by a Mobileye-sourced control unit. The…

American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) has signed an agreement to supply front electric drive units (EDUs) and rear e-Beam axles to Scout Motors for its upcoming lineup of all-electric vehicles. The deal supports Scout’s planned return to the U.S. market with the launch of the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck, both set for initial production in 2027. The partnership is positioned as a pivotal step in the revival of the Scout brand, originally produced by International Harvester between 1961 and 1980. AAM will deliver drivetrain components essential to the performance of the new vehicles, which will be built on…

Rivian is accelerating development of its next-generation R2 electric SUV, targeting a 2026 launch with a suite of new in-house technologies and cost-saving design strategies. The company’s latest update highlights its vertically integrated approach across powertrain, vehicle architecture, and software systems as it prepares to scale production. The compact SUV is designed with both performance and affordability in mind. Rivian has revealed that the R2 will debut with a simplified interior offering, initially limited to two dashboard variants—an all-black scheme and a grey-and-white dual-tone option, the latter expected to carry a premium. “We’re focused on balancing design innovation with manufacturability,”…

Tesla appears to be advancing its update plans for the Model S, with an uncovered prototype of the 2026 version recently spotted without camouflage, offering a first look at the anticipated refresh of the company’s flagship electric sedan. Following redesigns of the more mainstream Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla is turning its attention to the more niche Model S and Model X. While the refreshed Model X was seen earlier in camouflaged form, the new Model S has now been captured on the road in what seems to be near-final exterior form. Changes to the design are modest. The…

Kia’s last gasoline-powered GT car may soon exit production, as Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) accelerates its shift toward electrified performance offerings, citing tightening global emissions standards and evolving market demands, according to an interview with CarSales. Speaking to CarSales, HMG’s Australian product chief Roland Rivero said the group is moving away from combustion engines in its performance lineup, as part of a broader response to international climate regulations and long-term product strategy. “The N tagline is being more and more applied to electrified product, and for a bunch of reasons,” Rivero told CarSales. “You’ve got to satisfy the global situation,…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio has signed a strategic distribution agreement with Greek company Motodynamics to expand its presence in Southern Europe, as part of broader international growth plans. The agreement, announced on the Greek website Business Voice, was signed between Motodynamics and Nio’s Dutch subsidiary, Nio Nextev Europe Holding BV. Under the deal, Motodynamics will distribute vehicles and accessories from both the Nio and Firefly brands in Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. Nio has not yet issued an official statement on the partnership. This latest move follows Nio’s announcement earlier this month that it had secured distributor partnerships to…

Tesla has filed a lawsuit in California federal court against a former employee and his robotics startup, Proception, accusing them of misappropriating trade secrets related to the company’s humanoid robot project, Optimus. In a complaint submitted Wednesday to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Tesla alleged that former engineer Jay Li took confidential files detailing the development of Optimus’ robotic hand systems before resigning from the company. Li later founded Proception, which Tesla claims used the stolen data to accelerate its own product development. “Through Li’s pilfering, Defendant Proception purportedly achieved in a matter of months…

A southern Italian municipality has issued a public tender for the supply of 42 fully electric, articulated buses, aiming to deploy the fleet by the summer of 2026 as part of its upcoming bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors. The procurement is backed by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), and the contract deadline, including delivery and operational readiness, is set for June 30, 2026. The tender is structured as a single lot and requires bidders to meet stringent financial and operational criteria. Prospective suppliers must demonstrate a minimum turnover of €44.7 million (excluding VAT) in their three best-performing years…

U.S.-based battery swapping firm Ample has launched its first modular battery swap stations in Madrid, marking the company’s entry into the European market. Several of the stations are already operational, with more planned across the Spanish capital in the coming months. Designed for quick urban deployment, Ample’s stations can be installed in just three days and are aimed at addressing key hurdles to EV adoption in cities—namely long charging times, range anxiety, and limited infrastructure space. The company says its battery swapping technology offers a full vehicle recharge in five minutes by automatically replacing depleted batteries with fully charged ones,…