Author: Jonathan Collins

Japanese materials company Asahi Kasei has entered into a strategic partnership with Toyota Tsusho to supply lithium-ion battery separators in North America, in a move aimed at fortifying the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain in the United States. The collaboration will see the delivery of locally manufactured separator films to a Toyota-affiliated plant in the U.S., beginning in 2027. As part of the agreement, Asahi Kasei’s North American subsidiary, Asahi Kasei Battery Separator America (AKBSA), will supply its proprietary Hipore wet-process battery separators to Toyota Tsusho America (TAI). The separators will be produced at a new coating plant currently under…

Genesis Motor Europe has appointed Peter Kronschnabl, a senior executive from the BMW Group, as its new Managing Director. He will officially assume the role in early 2025, succeeding Xavier Martinet, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe, who had held the position on an interim basis. Kronschnabl brings more than three decades of leadership experience in the automotive sector, having held senior roles across marketing, sales, and business development. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Market Development and Special Sales at BMW, overseeing strategic growth in emerging markets since 2021. He will now lead Genesis from its…

General Motors emerged as Canada’s top-selling electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer for the first half of 2025, supported by strong demand for its expanding lineup of models across Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac. The company reported that EVs now represent 8.7% of its total sales in the country. GM has held the leading position in Canada’s EV segment for three consecutive quarters. In the second quarter, its EV market share rose to 23.2%, up from 8.1% a year earlier, moving it from sixth to first place in national EV rankings. According to GM Canada, more than 60% of EV buyers during the…

BYD reported sales of 344,296 new energy vehicles (NEVs) in July, marking a modest 0.56% increase from a year earlier while declining 10.01% compared with June, according to data released today. The July figures reflect a continued shift in the company’s product mix, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) outpacing plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for the fourth consecutive month. BYD sold 177,887 passenger BEVs during the month, up 36.84% year-on-year but down 14.02% from June. Meanwhile, passenger PHEV sales dropped 22.61% year-on-year to 163,143 units, marking a 4.45% decline from the previous month. See also: BYD Rises to No. 92…

Renault posted a net loss of €11.19 billion ($13 billion) for the first half of 2025, weighed down by a €9.3 billion one-off charge related to its investment in Nissan and challenging market conditions, the French carmaker said on Thursday. The writedown, previously flagged earlier this month, dragged the group’s net result deep into negative territory despite a 2.5% increase in revenue to €27.6 billion, supported by new product launches. Renault’s operating margin fell by 2.1 percentage points to 6% in the period, with weakness in its commercial van business cited as a key factor. Excluding the Nissan-related impact, net…

Xpeng delivered 36,717 vehicles in July, setting a new monthly record for the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer. The figure reflects a 229.45% increase from a year earlier and a 6.08% rise from June’s total of 34,611 units, continuing a trend of steady monthly growth. See also: Xpeng Plans Cost-Cutting Overhaul of G6 SUV to Differentiate from New G7 Model The company has now posted monthly deliveries above 30,000 units for nine consecutive months since November 2024. In the first seven months of the year, Xpeng delivered a total of 233,906 vehicles, up 270.26% compared to the same period last year,…

Leapmotor  announced  that the 10,000th unit of its new B01 electric sedan has rolled off the production line, less than a week after the model’s official launch on July 24. The company described the production pace as a new internal record. According to Leapmotor, the B01 received 10,132 locked-in orders within 72 hours of its debut, with the long-range 650-kilometer version emerging as the top choice among buyers. More than 70% of early adopters selected this version, which also features LiDAR for enhanced smart driving capabilities. Company executive Cao Li stated that 72% of the initial customer base is under…

Tesla has introduced dynamic pricing for its Robotaxi service in Austin, marking a shift from the flat-rate model the company launched earlier this summer. The change, introduced via version 25.7.10 of the Robotaxi app, means that customers will now pay fares based on the distance of their ride. Previously, Tesla charged a flat $4.20 per ride when the Robotaxi debuted in June. That price was later raised to $6.90 after the company expanded service to cover more of Austin. The new pricing model means shorter trips will now cost less, with fares starting as low as $2.10 for approximately 0.9…

U.S. electric vehicle charging network operator EVgo has secured a $225 million commercial bank credit facility to accelerate the deployment of more than 1,500 high-power fast-charging stalls across its national network. The oversubscribed five-year facility, reportedly the largest of its kind in the U.S. to date, includes an option to increase total funding to $300 million. The facility will support the buildout of EVgo’s public charging infrastructure and dedicated hubs for autonomous and fleet vehicles. It also allows the inclusion of charging stalls beyond those already covered under existing debt structures, enabling the company to broaden its infrastructure reach. “This…

Battery technology firm Lyten has raised over $200 million in new funding to accelerate its expansion in energy storage, including the acquisition of Northvolt’s Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) product portfolio. The latest capital injection, primarily from existing investors, brings Lyten’s total funding to over $625 million. The company plans to restart manufacturing operations in Poland by the end of 2025 and ramp up production for growing industrial, AI, and grid market demand. Lyten recently acquired Northvolt’s BESS product line, which includes the Voltpack Mobile Systems (VMS), Voltrack, and other energy storage systems in development. “The VMS product is already…

Mercedes-Benz has temporarily paused deliveries of its EQ electric vehicle (EV) lineup to the United States in response to softening demand and elevated dealer inventory, the German automaker said on Wednesday. “Mercedes-Benz is temporarily putting on hold order banks for EQ models in the U.S. to align with current market demand,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. See also: Mercedes-Benz Cuts 2025 Outlook Amid U.S. Tariffs and Lower Global Demand The move comes amid broader concerns about the U.S. EV market, following changes to federal tax incentives under a recent spending bill signed by former President Donald Trump. The…

LG Innotek, the materials and components unit of South Korea’s LG Group, has entered into a manufacturing partnership with Silicon Valley-based Aeva Technologies to produce advanced 4D lidar sensors. Under the deal, LG Innotek will manufacture and supply Aeva’s Atlas Ultra 4D lidar for automotive use, with plans to expand into consumer electronics, robotics, and industrial automation. The agreement also includes up to $50 million in investment by LG Innotek for approximately a 6% equity stake in Aeva. “The first part of the partnership is focused on the automotive sector,” said Soroush Salehian, co-founder and CEO of Aeva. “LG Innotek…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto launched its first pure battery-electric SUV, the Li i8 with a starting price of RMB 321,800 ($44,830), entering a competitive segment dominated by rivals such as Nio’s Onvo and Tesla. The launch price came in at least RMB 28,200, or 8%, below the previously anticipated range of RMB 350,000 to RMB 400,000, a move consistent with broader pricing strategies seen across China’s crowded EV market. Despite this discount, the base version of the Li i8 remains nearly 15% more expensive than the RMB 279,900 starting price of the Onvo L90, a competing model from…

Stellantis said on Tuesday it expects to incur €1.5 billion in costs this year due to U.S. tariffs on vehicles and car parts, after absorbing €300 million in the first half of 2025. The automaker’s comments come as it grapples with a steep decline in profits, project cancellations, and broader macroeconomic pressures. The world’s fourth-largest automaker reported a sharp fall in net profit to a €2.3 billion loss in the first half of 2025, compared to a €5.6 billion profit in the same period last year. The company cited a €3.3 billion charge related to the cancellation of a hydrogen…

Arriva Group has won a €1.6 billion contract to continue operating bus services in East Brabant, the Netherlands, for another 12.5 years, marking one of the region’s largest public transport concessions and bolstering the company’s push toward zero-emission mobility. The new contract, awarded by the Province of Brabant following a competitive tender process, will begin in December 2026. Under the agreement, Arriva will deploy 170 new zero-emission buses, replacing its current diesel-powered fleet and expanding on its existing base of 250 electric vehicles currently operating in the region, according to the Bravo transport network. The expanded service aligns with Dutch…

Openreach, the infrastructure arm of BT Group, has deployed its 5,000th electric vehicle as part of its transition to a zero-emissions fleet. The company aims to add a further 2,000 EVs by March 2026 as part of its ‘Let’s Reach Zero’ initiative. The 5,000th vehicle, a Ford E-Transit Custom, was wrapped in a special livery to commemorate the milestone. Openreach operates the UK’s second-largest commercial vehicle fleet and plans to convert most of its 23,000 vehicles to electric as part of BT Group’s broader climate goals. “We know the impact our operations have, so seeing our 5,000th electric van on…

German chemical company BASF and Chinese battery maker CATL have signed a global framework agreement to jointly develop and supply cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries, the companies said, deepening their strategic partnership in the sector. Under the agreement, BASF will become a key supplier to CATL and support the Chinese firm’s international expansion through its global production network. The companies did not disclose specific financial or operational terms of the deal, nor details on supply volumes or regional allocations. The announcement builds on a 2021 partnership focused on battery material solutions and recycling, which aligned with CATL’s localization efforts…

Acura, the luxury vehicle division of Honda Motor Co., has donated 75 of its all-electric ZDX SUVs to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to aid the environmental organization’s field operations and community outreach. The move marks Acura’s largest vehicle donation to date and underscores Honda’s continued support for environmental initiatives. The vehicles, distributed through Acura’s U.S. dealership network, will be deployed across TNC operations in rural and remote areas, where staff regularly travel to conduct conservation work and support local engagement efforts. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to help TNC electrify its operational fleet. “The donation of these…

InstaVolt has secured a 40-year lease to construct a major ultra-rapid charging hub on the A303 in Wiltshire, with 30 charge points, large-scale solar generation, battery storage, and retail services. The site, located in Cricklade on the Fonthill Estate, is set to open in spring 2026. Designed to serve the A303 corridor — a key route in the UK’s Strategic Road Network — the site aims to offer high-capacity charging alongside sustainable energy generation and convenient amenities. The government and National Highways have recently prioritised the A303 for improved EV infrastructure, including updated signage to increase visibility and awareness of…

Xpeng has reaffirmed its commitment to a vision-only approach for its autonomous driving systems, denying recent media reports that suggested the company may reintroduce LiDAR technology in future vehicle models. The clarification followed a report from a technology-focused WeChat account, which cited a source close to LiDAR supplier RoboSense. The report indicated that Xpeng might reconsider using LiDAR due to challenges encountered in complex driving scenarios. It also suggested the company may integrate LiDAR as a backup system in future Level 4 autonomous driving phases, while continuing to rely on vision-only solutions for Level 3 applications. Xpeng, however, has pushed…