Author: Jonathan Collins

South Korea has inaugurated its largest electric vehicle fast-charging hub at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Goyang, about 20 kilometres northwest of Seoul, as part of the country’s efforts to expand EV infrastructure. The new hub was developed by Water, a fast-charging network unit of Brite Energy Partners, and is capable of simultaneously serving up to 46 electric vehicles. The installation includes 14 chargers with 100 kW output and four 200 kW chargers in Zone A, along with five 100 kW chargers in Zone B. All units are dual-gun chargers, enhancing throughput capacity. See also: China’s Elecq to…

Helm.ai, a developer of AI software for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving, has introduced Helm.ai Driver, a vision-only neural network designed for real-time path prediction. The system, which supports Level 2 to Level 4 autonomous driving in both highway and urban environments, operates solely using camera-based inputs, eliminating the need for HD maps, Lidar, or additional sensors. The Helm.ai Driver uses the company’s Deep Teaching™ methodology, which allows the system to learn complex driving behaviors such as navigating intersections and avoiding obstacles without explicit programming. This enables the neural network to replicate human-like driving patterns, improving its…

Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Aramco has signed a joint development agreement with China’s BYD to collaborate on new energy vehicle (NEV) technologies, the company said on Monday, marking a significant step in the kingdom’s shift toward cleaner transportation. The agreement, signed through Aramco’s technology arm Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC), aims to improve vehicle efficiency and reduce emissions as Saudi Arabia accelerates its plans to transition to electric mobility. See also: BYD Files Sealion 06 SUV for Regulatory Approval in China with BEV and PHEV Variants “Aramco is exploring a number of ways to potentially optimise transport efficiency, from…

Tesla has postponed the production launch of its long-awaited affordable version of the Model Y SUV in the United States, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Initially expected to begin in the first half of the year, the global production of the lower-cost Model Y, codenamed E41, will now be delayed by several months, with new targets ranging from the third quarter of 2025 to early 2026. While the exact reason for the delay remains unclear, Tesla had promised to introduce affordable vehicles to boost its sales, which have been under pressure due to market saturation and rising competition.…

Lotus has officially started production of its long-awaited electric hypercar, the Evija, nearly five years after its initial 2020 target. The $2.3 million quad-motor vehicle represents the brand’s most ambitious performance project to date. While it’s unclear if any customers have received their vehicles, British automotive publication Top Gear recently had the opportunity to drive a production-spec model, offering the first independent impressions of the vehicle’s on-track and on-road performance. Originally hailed as a technological halo model for Lotus’ electrification strategy, the Evija boasts a 70-kilowatt-hour battery and a claimed total output of over 2,000 horsepower delivered through four electric…

Uber is inviting customers in Atlanta to join a waitlist for its upcoming robotaxi service with Waymo, the Alphabet-owned self-driving car unit, as the companies prepare to launch autonomous rides in the city this summer. The move marks the next phase of the “Waymo on Uber” partnership, which began rolling out in Austin earlier this year. In a joint statement on Tuesday, the companies confirmed that users in Atlanta will soon be able to hail Waymo’s fleet of autonomous Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles through the Uber app. See also: Waymo’s Draft Privacy Policy Suggests Use of Rider Data, Interior Camera…

The UK’s national road authority, National Highways, has added 58 new electric vehicles to its operational fleet, marking another step in its push to reduce emissions. The delivery includes 18 Toyota Proace Electric vans and 40 Toyota bZ4X electric SUVs, in line with the agency’s target of transitioning all non-traffic officer light vehicles to electric by 2027. The Proace Electric, a medium-duty electric van, offers a range of up to 205 miles depending on battery size, and includes features such as the ‘Smart Cargo’ system for enhanced load capacity. While the specific battery configuration chosen by National Highways was not…

The European Union is considering a proposal to classify carbon fiber as a hazardous material, a move that could have sweeping consequences for the automotive and aerospace industries. If passed, the amendment would require automakers to gradually phase out the lightweight, high-strength material starting in 2029. The proposed change comes as part of a revision to the EU’s End-of-Life Vehicles Directive, which governs recycling and environmental standards for scrapped cars. Lawmakers argue that carbon fiber, widely used for its strength-to-weight advantages, could pose health risks if airborne filaments come into contact with human skin. This marks the first time a…

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…