Author: Jonathan Collins

MAN Truck & Bus has officially launched battery production at its Nuremberg facility and announced a further €150 million investment to expand its electric vehicle (EV) battery capabilities over the coming years. The move marks a key step in the company’s transition from diesel to electric mobility. The Nuremberg plant, which previously produced battery packs in limited volumes, has now commenced series production. According to the company, the new battery assembly line enables it to build up to 50,000 battery packs annually, with infrastructure in place to eventually double that capacity to 100,000 units, depending on demand. See also: MAN…

Li Auto said it will officially launch an updated version of its Li Mega multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) at the Shanghai auto show, including a new variant called the Li Mega Home alongside the previously introduced Li Mega Ultra. The company announced on social media that the Li Mega Ultra will go on sale at a starting price of RMB 529,800 ($72,350), consistent with the earlier pre-sale pricing. Li Auto also confirmed that deliveries of both variants will begin in May. See also: Li Auto’s L-Series EREV Deliveries Surpass 1 Million in 31 Months The Li Mega Home, described as a…

Swiss technology company Bühler has secured a contract from Italian battery manufacturer FIB to supply mixing systems for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery production at the Teverola 2 facility near Naples. The plant is expected to have an annual capacity of 8 gigawatt-hours (GWh) when operational in 2026. Bühler will provide four continuous mixing lines—two each for anode and cathode slurry production—based on its co-rotating twin-screw extruder technology. The systems are scheduled to be installed by the end of 2025 and are designed to streamline several production steps into a single continuous process, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce energy…

Tesla’s average transaction prices increased in March, even as the company recorded another quarter of declining sales, according to the latest data from Kelley Blue Book, part of Cox Automotive. The average transaction price for Tesla vehicles reached an estimated $54,582 in March, marking a 3.5% increase from the previous year and a slight rise from February. Prices for both the Model 3 and Model Y were higher on a monthly and annual basis. See also: Tesla Removes Collision Warning Metric From Safety Score Amid Lawsuit Pressure Despite the price gains, Tesla’s first-quarter sales in 2025 were estimated to have…

Pony.ai has received regulatory approval to operate paid fully driverless robotaxi services in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, marking a first for the city’s central business area. The permit, announced on March 27, enables the autonomous driving company to launch commercial operations in one of China’s major economic hubs. The company plans to extend its driverless services to connect Nanshan with Baoan District, establishing the first cross-district robotaxi network in Shenzhen. The service aims to improve access between technology zones, commercial centers, and key infrastructure such as Shenzhen Baoan International Airport. See also: Pony.AI Launches First Paid Robotaxi Service Connecting Guangzhou to…

Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service Apollo Go has partnered with UAE-based Autogo to begin trials of driverless robotaxis in Abu Dhabi, marking its first entry into the Middle East. The initiative aims to build the city’s largest fleet of fully autonomous vehicles, with commercial operations targeted for 2026. The pilot will begin with dozens of autonomous vehicles operating in selected districts of Abu Dhabi. The project will gradually scale, in collaboration with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), to meet regulatory and operational standards set by the emirate. The service is designed to support Abu Dhabi’s broader goals for smart mobility and…

Electric vehicles accounted for more than one-third of new car registrations in the Netherlands during the first quarter of 2025, with the Kia EV3 becoming the best-selling model in the country, according to data released by the RAI Association, BOVAG, and consultancy RDC. A total of 32,439 electric cars were newly registered between January and March, representing 35.3% of all new car sales. This marks a 7.9% increase compared to the same period last year, when 30,057 electric vehicles were registered. Despite a 9.8% year-on-year decline in overall new car registrations to 91,766 units, the electric vehicle (EV) market continued…

Tesla has widened access to its Early Access Program (EAP), allowing a greater number of vehicle owners to test upcoming versions of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software ahead of broader public release. The expansion marks a shift in Tesla’s approach to FSD development, with the automaker inviting more drivers to participate in supervised trials of pre-release software. Historically, access to the EAP was limited and considered a privilege among Tesla owners. See also: Tesla Uses Publicly Available Road Data to Train FSD for China Amid Regulatory Challenges Tesla began enabling EAP access for additional users on Thursday evening, though it…

Andreas Haller, founder of the insolvent electric commercial vehicle startup Quantron, has reacquired the company’s remaining assets and team through his holding firm, reviving the brand under a new legal entity. The acquisition was finalized on April 1 following approval by the creditors’ committee, according to the insolvency administrator. Haller’s company, Andreas Haller Holding GmbH, took over the core workforce—now reduced to 35 employees—as part of a transferring reorganisation. “Quantron AG is now history,” the insolvency administrator, Constantin Graf Salm-Hoogstraeten, said, confirming that the new business will continue under the Haller Group umbrella. The Quantron brand will remain active, although…

Electric trucking company Harbinger has filed an objection to the planned sale of Canoo’s assets to its CEO, Anthony Aquila, arguing that the process has been conducted unfairly and without adequate transparency. The challenge adds a new layer of complexity to Canoo’s bankruptcy case, which has been unfolding over the past two months. Harbinger’s filing, submitted late Friday, claims Canoo failed to disclose certain assets acquired from bankrupt EV startup Arrival while also including assets in the sale that it may not actually own. After reviewing Canoo’s virtual data room as a potential bidder, Harbinger says it identified discrepancies in…

Xiaomi Corporation is cooperating with local police following a fatal accident involving its SU7 electric vehicle in Tongling, Anhui province, China. The company confirmed it has handed over driving and system data for the investigation. The incident marks the first major accident involving the SU7 sedan, which Xiaomi launched in March 2024, and has been outselling Tesla’s Model 3 on a monthly basis since December. See also: Xiaomi CEO Showcases ‘Bulletproof’ EV Battery Armor with Gravity-Defying Watermelon Stunt While Xiaomi did not disclose the exact number of casualties, Chinese financial publication Caixin reported that the accident resulted in the death…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Zeekr has unveiled a new ultra-fast charger capable of delivering 1.2 megawatts (MW) of power per charging gun, surpassing the 1-MW charger introduced by rival BYD earlier this month. Zeekr will officially launch its fully liquid-cooled charging system in the second quarter, setting a new benchmark in high-speed charging, the company’s vice president, Zhao Yuhui, announced at the China EV100 Forum. The technology is expected to debut at the Shanghai auto show in April, Zhao added, marking a shift toward ultra-fast charging at the megawatt level. See also: BYD Unveils Super e-Platform with 1,000-kW Charging,…

Britain’s vehicle production fell nearly 12% in February, marking the twelfth consecutive month of declines, as automakers grapple with economic uncertainty, rising costs, and competition from Chinese rivals, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Total car and commercial vehicle output dropped to 82,178 units, while production of battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles declined 5.6%, the industry group said. Domestic production was hit particularly hard, falling 33% to 13,780 units. The drop in output comes as the U.S. imposes a 25% tariff on imported vehicles, a move that could further disrupt the sector.…

Karma Automotive introduced the Amaris, a plug-in hybrid coupe, at its inaugural Create Karma event in Irvine, California. The automaker plans to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2025. The Amaris fills a gap in Karma’s product lineup following the delay of the Kaveya, a 1,000-horsepower all-electric supercar initially set for 2026. Citing shifting EV market dynamics, Karma has postponed the Kaveya to 2027. The Amaris will utilize an updated version of the aluminum spaceframe architecture from the Karma Revero sedan, which Karma expects will accelerate development. The Revero, originally based on the Fisker Karma platform, remains the company’s…

RAW Charging has announced a partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to install more than 90 electric vehicle (EV) charging bays across five RHS Gardens in the UK. The rollout is expected to be completed by the summer of 2025, subject to approvals. The installations will take place at RHS Wisley, RHS Bridgewater, RHS Harlow Carr, RHS Hyde Hall, and RHS Rosemoor. While the charging capacities were not disclosed, RAW Charging’s previous projects suggest the use of AC chargers. The company did not specify whether additional charging bays would be deployed beyond the initial 90 but emphasized the project’s…

CLPe has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology and Sanroc International to introduce Hong Kong’s first five-axis electric heavy crane trucks, alongside a comprehensive battery leasing and swapping service. Under the agreement, the partners plan to deploy approximately 80 units of the 38-tonne five-axle electric crane trucks, primarily for transport and construction. The initiative aims to promote sustainable heavy-duty transport while supporting the Hong Kong government’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The electric crane trucks will offer a range of around 250 kilometers and can charge up to 70% within an…

Danish charging platform Spirii and truck services provider TRAVIS have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at expanding truck charging infrastructure across Europe. The collaboration will focus on developing new charging stations while integrating reservation, billing, and administrative tools to streamline access for logistics operators. As demand for dedicated truck charging solutions grows, the partnership seeks to provide a one-stop platform for fleet operators. TRAVIS, which already enables transport companies to book services such as secure parking, truck washes, and vehicle charging at over 2,100 locations, will integrate charging into its existing platform. This will simplify access to charging services…

Zoox, the self-driving unit of Amazon, is recalling 258 autonomous vehicles after a U.S. safety investigation found that its automated driving system could trigger unexpected hard braking, according to a company filing on Wednesday. The recall applies to Zoox vehicles running software versions released before November 5. The California-based company stated it has already resolved the issue by deploying an over-the-air software update to its fleet. See also: Zoox Debuts Commercial Showcasing Its Autonomous Robotaxi The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into Zoox’s autonomous vehicles in May, following two rear-end collisions in which sudden braking…

Honda is considering sourcing hybrid vehicle batteries from Toyota’s North Carolina plant as U.S. tariffs on Chinese and South Korean imports increase costs, according to a report by Japanese business portal Nikkei. Toyota has invested $14 billion in the North Carolina facility, which is set to begin production in April. The plant will initially operate four production lines for hybrid vehicle batteries, with plans to expand to eight additional lines for battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Honda is expected to use Toyota’s batteries for its CR-V hybrid SUV, with the possibility of integrating them into other models. The move…

BMW has officially confirmed that the first model from its Neue Klasse electric lineup will be the iX3, an electric SUV positioned in the 3 Series segment. The production version will be unveiled at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich next September, marking a significant milestone in BMW’s electrification strategy. Neue Klasse Kicks Off a Major Model Offensive The announcement came alongside BMW’s 2024 annual report, where the automaker emphasized its aggressive rollout of over 40 new and updated models across all segments by 2027. Pre-series production of the iX3 began in November 2024 at BMW’s new Debrecen plant in Hungary.…