Author: James Bryant

Tesla is planning a significant ramp-up in vehicle production over the next three years, with CEO Elon Musk saying the automaker is nearing a breakthrough in Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology that could transform its growth trajectory. Speaking at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday, Musk said the company is preparing to begin what he called a “new book” in its history, built around large-scale production expansion and automation. “Now that we believe we have full self-driving, that we have autonomy solved or at least within a few months of having it unsupervised autonomy solved at a reliability level significantly better…

Aeva Technologies said on Friday it received a $100 million investment from funds managed by Apollo through the purchase of 4.375% Convertible Senior Notes, aimed at supporting the company’s commercial scaling of its frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) 4D LiDAR technology. The agreement provides for the Apollo Funds to purchase $100 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes due Nov. 15, 2032, carrying an annual interest rate of 4.375%. See also: Aeva Launches AevaScenes, First Open-Access FMCW 4D LiDAR and Camera Dataset The notes include a 15% conversion premium at an initial conversion price of $15.8643 per share. Aeva…

The state of Michigan has awarded $1.84 million to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across 31 multifamily housing sites, adding 201 new charging stations statewide. The funding forms part of a broader strategy to enhance home charging access, promote equitable EV adoption, and advance Michigan’s goal of achieving clean transportation by 2030. The initiative targets one of the key barriers to EV ownership—limited access to charging for residents in apartment complexes and other shared housing. A newly revised call for proposals allocates an additional $5 million for non-public Level 2 AC chargers at both new and existing residential properties.…

Battery-electric van (BEV) registrations in the United Kingdom fell by 5.8% in October, marking the first monthly drop in 13 months, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 2,132 new BEVs were registered during the month, with declines recorded across all van segments. See also: Survey Shows 75% of UK Van Drivers Now See EVs as Suitable for Business Use Despite the October setback, the overall market remains strong. Electric van registrations have surged 47.4% so far in 2025, reaching 24,250 units, underscoring growing demand as manufacturers continue expanding their zero-emission model…

With China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) purchase tax incentive set to decline next year, automakers are rushing to secure enough batteries to maximize deliveries in the final quarter of 2025. According to a report by LatePost, purchasing executives from several Chinese carmakers have recently visited CATL’s  headquarters to lock in supply before the policy shift takes effect. See also: CATL and BYD Maintain Global EV Battery Dominance With Combined 54.5% Market Share in January–September 2025 Unlike the broad battery shortages seen during 2021–2022, this year’s constraints are concentrated in CATL’s high-end, high-nickel battery systems, which power premium models priced above…

Chinese electric bus manufacturer Yutong has denied allegations that its vehicles operating in Europe can be remotely accessed or controlled from China, following cybersecurity concerns raised by Norwegian public transport operator Ruter. The company said that key systems such as steering, braking, and acceleration cannot be manipulated via software connections. Earlier this week, Ruter said its security tests identified potential cybersecurity risks linked to over-the-air (OTA) software updates in Yutong’s electric buses. The operator warned that digital access for diagnostics and updates could, in theory, allow remote manipulation of the buses’ control systems. See also: Scotland’s McGill’s Adds 30 Yutong Electric…

Polestar has become the first automaker to integrate Google Maps’ live lane guidance into a production vehicle, introducing the AI-powered navigation feature in the Polestar 4. The new system enhances navigation accuracy through real-time lane visualization directly displayed on the car’s 10.2-inch driver screen. The live lane guidance uses Google’s artificial intelligence to interpret lane markings, traffic signs, and camera input from the Polestar 4’s forward-facing sensors. It shows the current lane the vehicle occupies and highlights which lanes to take for upcoming maneuvers, aiming to make navigation clearer and reduce last-minute lane changes. See also: Nasdaq Warns Polestar Over…

Fraunhofer IWS has inaugurated its DRYplatform, a facility designed to scale solvent-free battery electrode coating from laboratory experiments to near-industrial production, the institute said on Wednesday. The platform is intended as a “lighthouse” project to support the transfer of dry electrode-coating technology from research to industry. At the center of the facility is Fraunhofer’s DRYtraec process, which replaces conventional wet coating methods by eliminating solvents and energy-intensive drying stages. The system features a flexible dry-air multi-chamber setup with precise humidity control, high-intensity mixers for powder preparation, and an interconnected data infrastructure linking inline and offline analysis for rapid process optimisation.…

Rivian Automotive is expanding beyond electric vehicles into the realm of artificial intelligence and robotics with the launch of a new venture called Mind Robotics, according to its third-quarter shareholder letter. The new company aims to advance industrial AI applications that enhance operational efficiency across logistics, manufacturing, and other physical-world industries. See also: Rivian R2 Battery Pack Uses Fewer, Larger Cells Than R1 Models Mind Robotics has already secured approximately $110 million in seed funding, positioning it strongly for early growth. Rivian said the startup will leverage its vast operational and production data to create what it calls a “robotics…

Xpeng plans to launch three robotaxi models and begin trial operations in 2026, marking a significant step in its autonomous mobility ambitions. Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng announced the plan at the company’s 2025 AI Day event in Guangzhou, unveiling details of its next-generation self-driving technology. The upcoming robotaxi fleet will be powered by four of Xpeng’s in-house Turing AI chips, delivering a combined computing power of 3,000 TOPS (trillion operations per second) — four times higher than the company’s current top-tier models. See also: Xpeng’s Aridge Completes First Flying Car Body, Marks Step Toward Mass Production The vehicles will…

CATL and BYD continued to lead the global electric vehicle (EV) battery market between January and September 2025, maintaining a combined market share of 54.5 percent, according to data released by SNE Research. Despite slightly lower individual shares compared to the previous period, both Chinese manufacturers posted strong year-on-year growth as global EV battery demand surged. Global EV battery installations reached 811.7 GWh during the first nine months of 2025, up 34.7 percent from 602.4 GWh in the same period last year. CATL accounted for 297.2 GWh, representing a 31.5 percent increase from 226.0 GWh in 2024. This gave the…

Skoda Group has signed a framework agreement with the public transport company of Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic, for the delivery of up to 30 new articulated trolleybuses, along with six charging stations. The deal, valued at approximately 650 million Czech koruna (€26.7 million), will further modernize and expand the city’s electric public transport network. Ústí nad Labem operates one of the newest trolleybus systems in the Czech Republic, inaugurated in 1988, and has since developed into what Skoda described as the “backbone of local public transport.” The network covers most of the city and plays a key role in…

Daimler Truck has released the results of a series of real-world crash tests on the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, confirming that the high-voltage battery system and all electrical components remained intact following a severe side impact. The tests were conducted in Neumünster, Schleswig-Holstein, as part of the manufacturer’s ongoing safety validation for its heavy-duty electric trucks. In the side-impact test, a mass weighing over one tonne collided with the side of the eActros 600 at more than 50 km/h. Daimler Truck said the high-voltage battery modules remained undamaged, and the protective housing showed no critical deformation thanks to a frame architecture…

Truck manufacturers including Volvo Trucks, Daimler Truck, Scania, MAN, Iveco, and Ford have urged the European Union to ease its planned CO2 emissions regulations for heavy commercial vehicles, arguing that the current framework poses excessive penalties and ignores external challenges such as limited charging infrastructure. According to a letter dated 13 October and reported by Reuters, the six companies called on the European Commission to introduce a more flexible credit system that would allow manufacturers to accumulate emission credits between target years—2025, 2030, and 2040. See also: ICCT Study: Europe to Require Up to 5,300 Megawatt Chargers for Electric Trucks…

Gotion High-tech has begun construction of its first large-scale European battery factory in Šurany, Slovakia, marking a key step in the company’s global expansion strategy. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on October 28, was attended by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Gotion chairman Li Zhen. The project, Slovakia’s first-ever mega battery manufacturing facility, spans 65 hectares and represents one of the largest industrial investments in the nation’s history. See also: Gotion Drops $2.4 Billion Michigan Battery PlantAmid U.S.-China Tensions The first phase is designed with an annual capacity of 20 GWh, with trial production expected to begin in 2026 and…

Holon, a subsidiary of German automotive supplier Benteler, has chosen Jacksonville, Florida, as the site for its first U.S. manufacturing plant to produce the fully electric, autonomous Holon Urban shuttle. The $200 million investment is expected to generate more than 800 jobs and mark Florida’s entry into large-scale autonomous vehicle production. The company has signed a term sheet with InLight Real Estate Partners for a 580,000-square-foot facility in Eastport Industrial Park. Groundbreaking is scheduled for April 2026, with production to begin in the second half of 2027 — a year later than originally planned. When complete, the Jacksonville facility will…

viveEV and RED E have teamed up to enhance electric vehicle (EV) charging reliability at a new site in Carrollton, Texas, integrating viveEV’s hardware with RED E’s enterprise Charge Station Management System (CSMS). The collaboration aims to provide intelligent monitoring, real-time diagnostics, and seamless user experiences for EV drivers. At the Carrollton location, viveEV’s high-performance chargers will operate on RED E’s CSMS platform, which offers 24/7 monitoring, payment management, and proactive maintenance to maximize uptime. See also: viveEV Secures U.S. Safety Certification for 600kW Ultra Slim and Tron DC Fast Chargers “Partnering with RED E allows us to give drivers…

Electric vehicles are known for plugging in, but one African startup wants them to simply soak up the sun instead. Bako Motors is developing compact electric cars and cargo vans equipped with solar panels on the roof, allowing them to charge directly from sunlight and minimize reliance on wall sockets. While the concept of solar-powered EVs isn’t new, Bako’s focus on affordability and practicality sets it apart from flashier global startups, as it aims to deliver vehicles that truly fit Africa’s economic and energy landscape. According to founder and CEO Boubaker Siala, Bako’s solar systems can supply more than half…

Emerging American electric vehicle startup Slate announced two key developments on Wednesday, confirming that its upcoming flagship EV will adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) and gain access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. Additionally, Slate has entered into a nationwide service partnership with RepairPal to support future customers once deliveries begin. Slate first captured attention in early 2024 with its “Blank Slate” design philosophy, which centers on a modular electric pickup platform that can be customized with more than 100 accessories or converted into a five-seat SUV. See also: Slate Auto Faces Price Hike Challenge as EV Pickup Loses Federal…

Battery manufacturer BMZ Group has filed for insolvency for two of its key companies, BMZ Germany GmbH and BMZ Holding GmbH, after losing a major customer in the stationary energy storage segment. Both firms entered insolvency proceedings under self-administration, approved by the District Court of Aschaffenburg on 24 October, allowing existing management to oversee restructuring. The company cited an “acute liquidity crisis and the need for restructuring following the loss of a major customer in the energy storage segment, as well as resulting legal disputes and cost burdens.” BMZ did not disclose the customer’s name but confirmed that BMZ Holding…