Author: Jonathan Collins

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…