Author: Jonathan Collins

– Tesla has urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to weaken existing vehicle emissions standards, setting itself apart from major automakers that have pushed for looser rules. The request comes as President Donald Trump signaled skepticism of climate change in remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, according to media reports. In a letter to the agency, Tesla also asked regulators to preserve the Endangerment Finding, a 2009 legal foundation for many environmental policies including emissions standards. The EPA opened a comment period in August on proposals to roll back such measures. Agency administrator Lee Zeldin has argued that…

Autonomous driving software developer PlusAI has established a Safety and Policy Advisory Council to provide strategic guidance as it targets the commercial rollout of its factory-built autonomous trucks in 2027. The council will focus on safety, operational practices, and regulatory frameworks, aiming to strengthen the company’s preparations for scaling autonomous freight operations. Members include former leaders from the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), and the U.S. Congress. The inaugural group features Andrew Boyle, former ATA chairman and trucking executive; Jeff Denham, former U.S. Congressman and member…

Spotlight Automotive, BMW’s joint venture with Great Wall Motor, has recalled a small number of Mini electric vehicles in China due to battery defects, marking the second such action this year. The recall, announced by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) on Thursday, affects seven vehicles — four Mini Cooper EVs produced between June 1 and July 16, and three Mini Aceman EVs manufactured between July 9 and August 1. According to the regulator, certain battery cells may contain bipolar plate defects that could trigger excessive self-discharge and, in extreme cases, overheating. Spotlight said it will replace the affected…

Lucid  appears to be successfully increasing production of its Gravity electric SUV, according to new drone footage of its Arizona factory showing a large number of vehicles staged for shipment. The Gravity, Lucid’s first SUV following the luxury Air sedan, targets a more popular vehicle segment in North America. While early reports raised questions about the rollout—one claim suggested only nine units were sold in six months—Lucid quickly dismissed the figure without confirming exact delivery numbers. Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff acknowledged past production challenges during the company’s recent earnings call. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyKKCT5OhvY The drone flyover, conducted on September 22, 2025, shows…

Deliveries from Xiaomi’s electric vehicle unit are expected to accelerate as factory output expands, with the company preparing to shorten waiting times for its models by several weeks. Cailian reported that Xiaomi EV plans to optimize delivery cycles through an upgraded version of its vehicle ordering app. Updated timelines for some models could advance by up to six weeks and in some cases as much as two months, compared with earlier schedules. Xiaomi EV delivered 36,500 vehicles in August, its second consecutive month above 30,000 units, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association. The SU7 sedan accounted for…

Ampere’s Cléon plant in Normandy, France, has produced its one-millionth electric motor since 2015 and introduced the 7DL twin motor for the Alpine A390, a five-seat electric sport fastback scheduled for release in late 2025. The milestone highlights the facility’s role in Renault Group’s push for high-performance electric vehicle (EV) technology. The 7DL twin motor, a 250 kW dual-motor system, powers an all-wheel-drive setup with torque vectoring, enabling the Alpine A390 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. The motor complements the 6AM 160 kW front motor and is part of Alpine’s second fully electric model in…

MAN Truck & Bus and ABB E-mobility said they have completed new validation tests of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), including a successful trial that charged a nearly empty 480 kWh truck battery to 90% in 36 minutes. The three-day tests, conducted in Munich, examined system communication, power ripple, safety shutdowns and extended high-current charging. The partners reported that a MAN eTruck charged at nearly 750 kW and 1,000 amps, while emergency tests showed current dropped from 1,000 to zero amps in under three milliseconds. “As we move toward a larger scale deployment of electric trucks, these tests are not…

Aito, the automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Seres Group, has expanded its flagship M9 SUV lineup with the addition of four-seat variants, offering new configurations alongside the existing five- and six-seat models. The new four-seat M9 was unveiled on Monday evening during Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) fall product launch event. Aito introduced one extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and one battery electric vehicle (BEV) variant, priced from RMB 559,800 ($78,670) and RMB 589,800 respectively. Both share the same exterior styling and core specifications as current models, with the addition of a purple exterior paint option. The M9…

Tesla is laying the groundwork for operations in Colombia, signaling its second official expansion into South America after launching in Chile earlier this year. The U.S. electric vehicle maker has posted at least 10 job openings across Colombia in the past week, covering roles such as associate sales manager, Tesla advisor for sales and delivery, service technician, and service advisor. Similar hiring efforts were seen in Chile several months before Tesla opened its first retail location there. https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1970234178995151271 The listings include positions in Bogotá, the capital, and Medellín, one of Colombia’s largest metropolitan areas, suggesting Tesla plans to establish a…

Wrightbus has carried out its first conversion of a diesel truck to electric, widening its repowering business beyond buses in an effort to speed up electrification in the transport sector. The vehicle, a 19-tonne twin-axle DAF truck, was retrofitted by Wrightbus’s NewPower division, which was launched in 2023 to electrify existing diesel buses. According to the company, the truck “was chosen for its remarkably similar duty cycle DNA to a bus – urban deliveries with fixed routes and back-to-base.” The conversion adapted the Wrightbus battery-electric powertrain, with more than 90% of parts shared with its bus platform. Engineers fitted the…

Japanese construction equipment maker Komatsu has joined forces with autonomous driving startup TIER IV and digital solutions firm EARTHBRAIN to develop automated dump trucks for civil engineering and quarry sites in Japan, with practical deployment targeted by fiscal 2027. The initiative will focus initially on Komatsu’s HM400 articulated dump truck with a 40-ton payload and the larger HD785 rigid dump truck with a 93.9-ton payload. The companies said future expansion could include additional vehicle models and potential applications in industries such as steel mills and industrial plants. TIER IV will provide its Autoware open-source autonomous driving software, already tested in…

Taiwanese computer hardware maker Micro-Star International (MSI) has entered the electric vehicle (EV) charging market with the launch of its EV Life and EV Life Plus chargers, targeting both residential and commercial users. The chargers, part of MSI’s new EVSE product line, offer up to 14.4 kilowatts of power delivery and support both Type 1 (SAE J1772) and Tesla’s NACS connectors. Prices start at $449, with the company providing a five-year warranty upon registration. MSI said the EV Life model features app-based controls for scheduling and tracking charging sessions, while the EV Life Plus adds RFID authentication, Wi-Fi and Ethernet…

Nio said it will start trial operations of its first fifth-generation battery swap stations in China by the end of this year, before a wider deployment in 2025, as the electric vehicle maker seeks to expand its charging and swapping infrastructure while reducing capital expenditure. The new sites will be operational by Christmas, with capacity increasing by about 20% compared with the current fourth-generation stations, Nio co-founder and president Qin Lihong told media during a roundtable in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Qin added that the company plans to provide further details on the next-generation swap stations at a later event. Nio currently…

Scania has launched a new business unit, Scania Industrial Batteries, to strengthen its electrification push in industrial off-road applications such as mining, construction and material handling. The move follows Scania’s acquisition and carve-out of Northvolt Systems’ Industrial Division in April 2025, enabling the Swedish transport solutions company to deliver fully integrated electric systems to global customers. Scania said the new unit will offer battery systems, electric motors, software, connectivity and support services. Two product platforms, Core and Compact, provide modular battery packs ranging from 21 to 624 kilowatt-hours and up to 1,000 volts, either as complete powertrains or standalone systems…

Tesla has received approval from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to begin testing autonomous vehicles on public roads, expanding its robotaxi validation program beyond California, Texas and Nevada. ADOT confirmed on Friday that Tesla submitted the required self-certification documents outlining its testing plans. The authorization allows vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system to be tested under the supervision of safety drivers, ensuring human oversight during early trials. https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1969202176477003849 The approval does not extend to operating a transportation network company or ridesharing service, which would require separate permits. For now, Tesla’s activities in Arizona will be limited…

Onvo, the mass-market sub-brand of Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO), has launched an updated version of its L60 SUV as the model marks its first anniversary. The updated L60 is now available for locked-in orders via Onvo’s mobile app, with deliveries set to begin in mid-to-late October. Pricing remains unchanged at RMB 206,900 ($29,080) for the base model with a 60-kWh battery pack. Under the Battery as a Service (BaaS) plan, the starting price is RMB 149,900 with monthly rental fees beginning at RMB 599. Onvo said the L60 has been upgraded in energy efficiency, range, smart cockpit features and comfort.…

Bosch said on Wednesday its development team for the fuel cell power module (FCPM) has been nominated for Germany’s Deutscher Zukunftspreis, a national innovation award, recognizing its work on hydrogen-powered trucks that aim to cut emissions while matching diesel in range and refueling times. The nominated team – Christoffer Uhr, Kai Weeber and Pierre Andrieu – developed Bosch’s most complex system to date, comprising more than 1,000 parts. The FCPM enables long-haul trucks to operate with zero carbon emissions when fueled with green hydrogen, offering up to 1,000 km of driving range and fast refueling. Production is underway in Stuttgart-Feuerbach,…

Xiaomi is broadening the availability of its Electric Scooter 5 Plus across Europe, with the model now officially on sale in France and Italy following its launch in the UK in late August. The expansion highlights the company’s efforts to strengthen its position in the region’s competitive e-mobility market. The Electric Scooter 5 Plus is priced at €549.99 in both France and Italy, placing it above the entry-level Electric Scooter 5 and the mid-range Electric Scooter 5 Pro, but slightly below the flagship Electric Scooter 5 Max. French customers are being offered a 10% promotional discount, reducing the price to…

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) said it will provide $20 million in grants through two programs aimed at advancing electric transportation, including the replacement of diesel school buses and the installation of public charging stations. The Electric School Bus Grant Program will allocate $10 million to school districts and bus service contractors to replace older diesel buses with electric models. According to NJDEP, overburdened school districts may receive up to $350,000 per bus and charging station, while other applicants are eligible for up to $320,000. The remaining $10 million will go toward the EV Charging Grant Program,…

Tesla is developing a redesign of its vehicle door handles following a U.S. federal probe into their reliability, Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen said in an interview on Bloomberg’s Hot Pursuit podcast. Currently, Tesla vehicles feature two ways to open doors from inside: an electronic button, which the company recommends for normal use, and a mechanical release intended for emergencies. While the front-seat mechanical release is easily accessible, the rear-seat release is located under a cover in the door pocket, making it less intuitive. “The idea of combining the electronic one and the manual one together into one button, I…