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…