Author: Jonathan Collins

Foxconn has begun small-scale production at its new battery cell factory in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, after a lengthy quiet period following the plant’s groundbreaking in 2022. The company confirmed during a November media tour that the facility has been operating in “start-up mode” since March, producing limited quantities of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells as it prepares for a broader ramp-up. The Kaohsiung site entered operations with a capacity of 0.5 GWh and is expected to reach 1.2 GWh next year. Output at current levels is sufficient to supply batteries for around 1,500 electric buses, a figure that Foxconn projects will…

Volkswagen is expanding its strategy to use China as a low-cost manufacturing and development base for vehicles destined for overseas markets, though the group has ruled out exports to Europe, citing regulatory and tariff barriers. The German automaker can now develop and build a new electric vehicle in China at roughly half the cost of doing so in other regions, the Financial Times reported, as European carmakers face mounting pressure from lower-cost Asian rivals. See also: Volkswagen Opens Expanded Hefei R&D Hub, Its First Full Development Center Outside Germany The cost savings stem from lower labour expenses, faster development cycles,…

The UK government will reclassify electric vans weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes, removing them from the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) category in a move aimed at lowering regulatory hurdles for fleet operators. The Department for Transport (DfT) said the change will place zero-emission vans into the Class 7 MOT regime, aligning them with internal combustion engine (ICE) vans of similar size. The decision addresses what industry groups have described as a longstanding regulatory loophole. Because larger battery packs increase vehicle weight, many electric vans—such as the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter and Ford E-Transit—have been treated like full HGVs despite offering payloads…

The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded $6.6 million to the Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID) and Cobb County, Georgia, to support the launch of the Cumberland Autonomous Mobility (CAM) Network, marking the first autonomous vehicle initiative to receive funding through the agency’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program. The funding will support the deployment of eight ADA-accessible autonomous shuttles designed to improve first- and last-mile connectivity in the Cumberland district, a major commercial and residential hub in metropolitan Atlanta. The service will operate as part of CobbLinc, the county’s regional transit provider, and is scheduled to begin operations…

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaelleniusis expected to seek a second term as president of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), according to a report by German business outlet Handelsblatt, which cited industry sources. The ACEA presidency is elected annually and may be extended once, a provision Källenius now appears poised to pursue. The association’s internal committee is scheduled to vote on the 2026 presidency in early December, though Källenius’ reappointment is reportedly viewed as a formality. The ACEA declined to comment when approached for a statement, Handelsblatt said. Kaellenius assumed the ACEA presidency in January, succeeding former Renault chief executive Luca…

Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony.ai plans to triple the size of its robotaxi fleet next year, following the company’s announcement that its seventh-generation robotaxi has reached city-wide unit economics breakeven in Guangzhou. The milestone demonstrates a “viable business model” and establishes a foundation for wider domestic and international expansion, the company said in its third-quarter 2025 earnings release. See also: Pony.ai, Bolt Team Up to Bring Autonomous Driving to Europe by 2026 Pony.ai said it is on track to meet its target of operating 1,000 robotaxis by year-end, advancing toward its 2026 goal of deploying more than 3,000 vehicles. The…

W. L. Gore & Associates has opened a new Battery Lab in Shanghai, expanding its global research and development footprint with a facility dedicated to accelerating the development of advanced battery materials. The company said the lab will support customers worldwide across electric mobility, energy storage and consumer electronics. The facility is designed for comprehensive material testing and characterization at both the cell and pack level. Gore said the lab will focus on venting solutions, thermal runaway mitigation, explosion protection and pressure-management technologies—areas critical to improving lithium-ion battery safety and stability. The company also aims to shorten development cycles for…

Hyundai Motor Group has signed its third memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Michelin to co-develop advanced tire technologies, extending a partnership that began in 2017 and expanded in 2022. The companies will focus on extreme-low rolling resistance, high-performance EV tires and virtual development systems aimed at meeting the demands of future mobility platforms. Under the new three-year framework, Hyundai Motor Group and Michelin will target several engineering milestones, including tire efficiency, enhanced handling and improved braking performance. The firms said the collaboration will also address the requirements of premium electric vehicles, which typically demand higher load capacity, longer range capability…

Dutch public transport operator EBS has placed an order for 73 electric buses with Chinese manufacturer BYD, which are expected to enter service in the province of Zeeland from December 2026. The first vehicles are scheduled to arrive as early as summer 2026. The order includes 64 battery-electric 12-meter buses and nine 15-meter models. EBS has previously worked with BYD, deploying 43 electric buses in the Haaglanden-Streek concession area in September 2023. Jan Kees Korteweg, COO of EBS, said the new order represents a step toward sustainable and clean public transport. “BYD buses perfectly align with our commitment to offering…

Wallbox said it has expanded its partnership with Codale Electric Supply to accelerate deployment of NEVI-compliant fast-charging hardware across the Mountain West, with installation projects in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada expected to advance in late 2025. Codale, a subsidiary of Sonepar USA, will prioritize Wallbox’s Supernova DC fast chargers and Pulsar AC units to meet federal standards for uptime and performance. Under the agreement, Codale will focus on Wallbox hardware for electrification programs tied to federally funded infrastructure projects. The companies said the effort will center on deploying Supernova chargers – scalable from 60 kW to 180 kW –…

Autonomous driving company Pony.ai has expanded its partnership with Sunlight Mobility to adopt an asset-light operational model aimed at accelerating deployment of its next-generation robotaxi fleet. Under the agreement, Sunlight Mobility will fund production and rollout of Pony.ai’s Gen-7 Robotaxi vehicles, with initial operations planned for Guangzhou before the end of 2025. See also: Pony.ai Granted Citywide Permit for Fully Driverless Robotaxis in Shenzhen The agreement builds on an earlier collaboration signed in June 2024. Sunlight Mobility, which operates digital mobility services across more than 180 Chinese cities, will take on vehicle funding responsibilities, while Pony.ai will supply its Virtual…

Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony.ai has partnered with Estonian ride-hailing firm Bolt to explore the integration of autonomous-driving vehicles into Bolt’s European taxi network, according to comments Bolt CEO Markus Villig made to Reuters. “We aim to do this within a year from the first deployments which are planned for 2026,” Villig told Reuters. The companies will jointly test and validate safety mechanisms for fully autonomous, driverless operations before any commercial rollout across European markets, Reuters reported. Pony.ai has not yet publicly announced the agreement. The startup has been expanding its overseas testing footprint, with robotaxi trials already conducted in…