Author: James Bryant

Hyundai has introduced its lowest-priced electric vehicle, the Inster EV, in Japan, making waves in the affordable EV segment. Starting at ¥2,849,000 (approximately $18,000), the Inster undercuts rivals like BYD’s Dolphin, which starts at ¥3.63 million ($24,500), positioning it as the most cost-effective EV in its class. The Inster, Hyundai’s fourth EV in Japan, follows the Ioniq 5, Kona Electric, and Nexo FCEV. Unveiled at Korea’s Busan Mobility Show last summer, the vehicle is already available in Europe and Korea, where it’s marketed as the Casper Electric. With a compact design measuring 3,830 mm in length, the Inster is slightly…

Great Wall Motor has established a new business unit targeting the ultra-luxury vehicle market, according to a report by LatePost. Wei Jianjun, chairman of Great Wall Motor, will also lead the new brand, marking the automaker’s first in-house team to include a chairman position. The business will be helmed by Song Dongxian, the former vice president of technology, as CEO, with Zhang Xiaobo serving as CTO. The appointments were reportedly confirmed within a private circle on January 1. Wei is expected to play a hands-on role in defining models and overseeing engineering development for the brand, signaling a strategic shift…

Mercedes-Benz’s 2024 sales figures reveal a clear preference for performance vehicles over electric models, as the brand experienced strong sales in traditional gas-powered cars, but struggled in the electric vehicle (EV) market. Mercedes-AMG reported a record fourth quarter with sales of 16,169 units, while the G-Class had its best year ever, with 10,987 SUVs sold. Crossovers were the brand’s top sellers, with the GLE leading the pack at 67,928 units, followed by the GLC at 64,163. The C-Class also saw a slight increase in sales, moving 35,590 units, up by 1% from the previous year. However, the company’s electric vehicle…

Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, has revealed the first images of its facelifted GV60, the electric SUV built on the Group’s E-GMP platform. The updates mark the model’s first major redesign since its launch in October 2021. Genesis announced plans to disclose detailed specifications and pricing for the refreshed GV60 in the first quarter, ahead of its sales debut in South Korea. While technical details remain under wraps, it is anticipated that the GV60 facelift will feature the 84.0 kWh battery recently introduced in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. The current model is available with a 77.4 kWh battery,…

Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida revealed at CES 2025 that the Afeela EV, developed in partnership with Honda, will have a starting price of $89,900. A higher trim level will be available, starting at $102,900. Both versions of the four-door all-electric sedan will come with a three-year complimentary subscription to certain features and functionalities. Reservations for the Afeela have now opened, with a refundable $200 fee required for customers in California. The Afeela brand combines Honda’s manufacturing expertise with Sony’s advanced infotainment and software capabilities. While the early concept showcased at CES 2023 featured unconventional elements such as a movie theater-like…

Lynk & Co, majority-owned by Zeekr, revealed its new flagship plug-in hybrid SUV, the Lynk & Co 900, in Shanghai on Friday, marking a significant step in its goal of achieving a 40% sales increase by 2025. The Lynk & Co 900 is the brand’s largest vehicle to date, measuring 5,240 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and 1,810 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,160 mm. The six-seater SUV offers class-leading interior space, featuring expansive headroom and legroom. “With The Next Day design language and cutting-edge features, the Lynk & Co 900 sets a new benchmark for…

Former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has doubled down on his decision to resign from the company, stressing that his vision for the automaker clashed with that of the Stellantis board. In an interview with Portuguese news outlet Expresso, Tavares highlighted the importance of a unified direction for the company, which he believes was hindered by a lack of alignment among its board members. “A company that has 250,000 employees and 15 brands cannot be managed with a lack of alignment,” Tavares said, describing his resignation as an “amicable” decision made jointly with Stellantis Chairman John Elkann. Tavares, who led the…

Nio Inc’s sub-brand Onvo remains on track to meet its December delivery target, despite slower weekly figures earlier in the month, according to a statement by Onvo President Alan Ai on the Onvo App. Ai reaffirmed that the Onvo L60, the brand’s first model, will surpass 10,000 deliveries in December. “Onvo’s deliveries will ramp up this month,” Ai said, highlighting plans for the brand’s service centers to reach 350 by year-end, covering 200 cities. The Onvo L60, launched on September 19 and with deliveries starting September 28, has achieved steady growth. Monthly deliveries for the model have totaled 832 units…

Rivian has announced a partnership with South by Southwest (SXSW) 2025, unveiling a unique exhibit called the “Electric Roadhouse” at the festival’s South Congress space in Austin, Texas. The exhibit, which will run from March 7 to 15, will feature Rivian’s upcoming R2 electric vehicle (EV) along with daily programming including panel discussions, demo drives, concerts, and drive-in movies. Additionally, Rivian will have a presence at the Austin Convention Center and throughout the broader Austin area during the festival. As part of the partnership, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe will deliver a keynote speech at SXSW. The company will also sponsor…

Norwegian start-up Morrow Batteries has secured a loan facility of 1.5 billion crowns ($134 million) from the government agency Innovation Norway, the company announced on Tuesday. This funding will support the scale-up and development of Morrow’s battery manufacturing operations in Norway. The loan comes as the country aims to establish itself as a key player in the battery cell production industry, leveraging access to green energy and a strategic location close to European customers seeking alternatives to Chinese-made batteries. Morrow, which opened Norway’s first battery cell plant in August, intends to gradually expand its production capacity. The company will initially…

The U.S. Commerce Department announced on Friday that it has reached a preliminary agreement with German auto supplier Bosch for up to $225 million in subsidies to support the production of silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors in Roseville, California. The funding is part of Bosch’s $1.9 billion investment to transform its manufacturing facility in the city, which will focus on producing SiC chips critical for electric vehicles (EVs) and other industries such as telecommunications and defense. In addition to the subsidies, Bosch is also being offered approximately $350 million in proposed government loans for the project. The funding comes from…

Microsoft will record an $800 million impairment charge following General Motors’ decision to discontinue its Cruise robotaxi program, according to a recent regulatory filing. The charge, which stems from Microsoft’s 2021 investment in Cruise, will appear under “other income and expense” and is projected to negatively affect second-quarter diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.09. GM, which holds a 90% stake in Cruise, has begun buying out minority shareholders to increase its ownership to over 97%. Cruise had previously attracted investments from Microsoft, Walmart, SoftBank, Honda, and others, raising $2 billion in January 2021 and achieving a valuation of $30…