Author: Jonathan Collins

J.P. Morgan lowered its price target for Tesla to $120 from $135, citing expectations of a second consecutive year of declining vehicle deliveries and shifting sentiment among consumers toward the electric vehicle maker. The brokerage now forecasts Tesla will deliver approximately 1.78 million vehicles in 2024, a 1% decline from last year. Analysts also highlighted growing backlash against the brand, including protests at Tesla stores, sales boycotts, and an increase in second-hand Tesla vehicles being resold by previous owners. See also: Tesla Aims to Double U.S. Vehicle Production Within Two Years, Says Musk “There have been reactions toward the brand…

Aito, the automotive brand backed by Huawei and Seres Group, will officially launch the updated M9 SUV on March 20, the company announced on Weibo. The brand’s latest model follows a strong pre-sale performance, with over 3,800 reservations recorded within the first hour after orders opened on March 6. See also: Aito M9 Faces Potential Facelift as New Filing Appears in Regulatory Catalog The M9, first introduced on December 26, 2023, is Aito’s third model after the M5 and M7. Initially available only as a six-seater, the company plans to introduce a five-seater version in September 2024 to widen its…

German battery manufacturer CustomCells will establish a pilot production line for round battery cells in Tübingen as part of Baden-Württemberg’s “Innovation and Future Agenda,” a state-backed initiative aimed at strengthening battery research and production. The project, which will receive eight million euros in state funding, seeks to advance the design, manufacturing capabilities, and digitalization of large-format 46-millimeter round cells. “With this project, CustomCells positions itself as one of the few European players in a strategically important segment of battery technology,” said Christoph Falk, COO of CustomCells. “Research and production in Baden-Württemberg not only ensures technological leadership but also industrial value…

Leapmotor reported that its new B10 compact SUV received 31,688 pre-orders within 48 hours of pre-sales opening, with the lower-priced LiDAR-equipped variant proving the most popular, the company said on Tuesday. Leapmotor launched pre-sales for the B10, the first model in its B-series lineup, on March 10, ahead of its official release in April. The company previously stated that the vehicle secured more than 15,010 pre-orders in the first hour, with LiDAR-equipped variants accounting for 73% of reservations. See also: Leapmotor Begins Pre-Sales for B10 SUV, Bringing LiDAR to Lower Price Segment The all-electric B10 is available in five configurations,…

German haulage company Duvenbeck has put its first MAN eTruck into service, marking a step toward more sustainable logistics. The tractor unit, configured as a lowliner, is now operating within Volkswagen’s plant logistics network. Duvenbeck had previously committed to expanding its electric fleet, signing a letter of intent in 2023 to purchase 120 eTGXs from MAN’s eTruck lineup. The first of these electric trucks was delivered in December 2024, following an earlier handover to Elflein, another logistics company. Since mid-February, the first MAN eTGX Lowliners have been actively transporting vehicle components between Duvenbeck’s Herne site and Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg plant. See…

ZF has received regulatory approval from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) to conduct Level 4 autonomous driving tests on public roads across Germany. The approval extends beyond previous permits, which were restricted to specific routes or urban areas, and allows the company to focus on testing autonomous public transport solutions in urban and regional transit systems. See also: ZF Reportedly Considering Spin-Off of Electrified Drive Division Amid Financial Struggles Motorways, highways, and roads with speed limits exceeding 100 kph remain excluded. The authorisation is valid until the end of 2026, with a possible extension until 2028. ZF has…

U.S.-based electric vehicle manufacturer Workhorse has secured approval from Transport Canada to introduce its W56 and W750 electric delivery vans to the Canadian market, with availability expected this spring. The W56, a medium-duty electric truck, was first unveiled at Work Truck Week in Indiana in 2023. The model has since been adopted by logistics and delivery firms, including FedEx and Pride Group, which placed an order for over 6,000 units in 2021. See also: Workhorse Group’s E-GEN EV Platform Surpasses 10 Million Miles As part of the regulatory process, Workhorse completed its registration under Transport Canada’s Appendix G clearance program,…

LG Chem has announced plans to become the first South Korean company to mass-produce cathode materials without precursors, a move expected to shorten development times and lower the carbon footprint of battery production. The company’s LPF (LG Precursor Free) cathode materials are produced through direct calcination of customized metals, eliminating the need for precursor manufacturing. See also: Exxon Mobil Signs Lithium Supply Deal with LG Chem for Arkansas Project LG Chem claims this approach improves power performance at low temperatures while reducing wastewater and CO2 emissions, though specific environmental benefits were not disclosed. Production of LPF materials is set to…

Rivian has filed a patent for wheel covers with active aerodynamic elements aimed at improving the efficiency of its electric vehicles, according to a recent disclosure by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent, originally submitted in August 2023 and published on Mar. 6, describes wheel covers featuring movable openings that can align with wheel spokes in one position and create a smooth surface in another. See also: Rivian Files Patent for Stowable Bed and Roof Rack System for Pickups and SUVs A spring mechanism would rotate the cover between positions, allowing for adaptability based on driving…

Volvo Cars plans to upgrade its EX90 electric SUV from a 400-volt to an 800-volt electrical architecture in future model years, aiming to improve charging efficiency and align with industry advancements. The move will bring the EX90 in line with the recently unveiled ES90 sedan, which already features an 800-volt system. The current 400-volt EX90 can charge at speeds of up to 250 kW, reaching 10-80% charge in approximately 30 minutes. The transition to 800 volts is expected to significantly reduce charging times when using high-power DC fast chargers. See also: Volvo Unveils ES90 Electric Saloon with 800V Charging and…

A research team from the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen University has conducted a comparative analysis of traction batteries from Tesla and BYD, reporting “surprising results” with new insights into their structure and efficiency. PEM noted that detailed data on modern electric vehicle batteries is scarce, particularly for Tesla and BYD, which have disclosed limited information about their battery technologies. “Both players have only ever revealed little data about their batteries, so the cells’ mechanical structure and most of their properties have remained hidden to date,” said PEM Director Professor Achim Kampker. See also:…

Insolvent German air taxi startup Volocopter has reportedly found a buyer, with Diamond Aircraft, an Austrian aircraft manufacturer owned by China’s Wanfeng, set to take over the company, according to German business publication Wirtschaftswoche. However, the deal has yet to be officially confirmed. Diamond Aircraft, primarily known for its motorized gliders and small aircraft for private aviation, has been expanding its footprint in the electric aviation sector. Sources close to the matter indicate that the acquisition deal has been agreed upon, though financial details remain undisclosed. The new owner reportedly plans to reduce Volocopter’s workforce from around 500 employees to…