Author: Joshua Morris

Autonomous trucking software company PlusAI has been named to Inc.’s 2025 Best in Business list for the second consecutive year, receiving recognition in both the Best in Innovation and Best Collaborations categories as it advances toward the commercial launch of factory-integrated autonomous trucks in 2027. The U.S.-based company develops “virtual driver” software designed to power heavy-duty autonomous trucks. Inc. cited PlusAI’s expanding collaboration with global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and its progress toward scaled commercialization as key reasons for the award. PlusAI is currently working with several major truck makers, including Scania, MAN and International under the TRATON GROUP umbrella,…

French President Emmanuel Macron said France would support stronger local sourcing rules for electric vehicles in Europe, backing what he described as a “European preference” as the European Commission prepares new proposals for the auto industry. Speaking during a three-day state visit to China, Macron said the European Union should allow more leeway in how automakers meet emissions targets over the coming decade. “We support more technological flexibility to have more technological neutrality by 2035,” he said, adding that Paris and Berlin had reached common ground on the issue. See also: France to Offer Extra €1,000 Bonus for Locally Assembled…

Chinese automaker Changan has disclosed regulatory images and technical specifications for a new five-door version of its Lumin electric hatchback, marking a significant update to the small EV first introduced in three-door form in 2022. Images published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) show that the five-door Lumin features revised front and rear bumpers, newly designed aerodynamic wheels and minor updates to the lighting units. The changes are intended to enhance practicality while retaining the compact profile of the original model. See also: Changan’s Nevo Launches Updated Q05 Electric SUV With RMB 79,900 Starting Price According to…

U.S. solid-state battery developer Factorial Energy has signed a partnership agreement with South Korean battery materials maker Posco Future M to jointly develop advanced materials for next-generation all-solid-state batteries, the two companies said. Under the memorandum of understanding, Posco Future M will work with Factorial to supply cathode and anode materials designed specifically for solid-state battery applications. Factorial said it decided to formalize the partnership after testing Posco’s materials and confirming their performance in early-stage solid-state battery cells. See also: Factorial Energy Scales Solstice Solid-State Battery to 40 Ah Capacity Solid-state batteries replace conventional liquid electrolytes with solid materials, a…

China’s GAC Group reported declines in both vehicle production and sales in November as pressure on its traditional combustion-engine business continued to weigh on overall performance, partly offset by mixed results in its electric vehicle operations. The automaker said in a statement that total vehicle production in November fell 9.71% from a year earlier to 187,500 units, while sales declined 9.72% to 179,700 units. New energy vehicle (NEV) production reached 57,556 units and sales stood at 56,422 units during the month. For the first eleven months of 2025, cumulative production dropped 7.62% year-on-year to 1.5791 million units, while total sales…

Ava Community Energy, a not-for-profit public power provider in California, has opened its first electric vehicle fast-charging hub in downtown Oakland, marking the start of a broader regional network aimed at expanding public access to high-speed EV charging. The new facility is located at the Oakland City Center West Garage and is equipped with 18 DC fast-charging towers supplied by Finnish manufacturer Kempower. The site offers a total of 31 charging ports using both Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors, allowing compatibility with nearly all electric vehicle models. Engineering, procurement and construction were managed by…

U.S.-based Pioneer Power Solutions has signed a memorandum of understanding with Savvy Charging Technologies to introduce its mobile electric vehicle charging systems to the United Arab Emirates, marking the launch of its first international franchise operation. Under the agreement, Savvy Charging will act as Pioneer’s local franchise partner in the UAE for the deployment of e-Boost mobile charging units, with an initial pilot unit scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2026. The companies aim to establish recurring revenue from franchise operations starting next year, with broader commercial scaling expected from 2027. See also: Long Beach Orders $725,000 Pioneer…

New registrations of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in the United Kingdom posted their weakest monthly growth in nearly two years in November, even as electric cars continued to gain share of the overall new car market, industry data showed. A total of 39,965 new BEVs were registered in November, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.6%, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). BEVs accounted for 26.4% of all new car sales, up 1.5 percentage points from the same month a year earlier. See also: UK Expands Top-Tier Electric Car Grant as More Models Qualify Electrified vehicles…

Stellantis plans to expand production of hybrid vehicles in the United States as it adjusts its powertrain strategy away from a stronger near-term emphasis on fully electric models, Chief Executive Antonio Filosa said, citing consumer preferences and market conditions. Speaking at a Goldman Sachs conference, Filosa said the company sees stronger demand for traditional hybrids than for plug-in hybrid vehicles among U.S. buyers. “Traditional hybrids will be a preferred powertrain option for American consumers,” Filosa said, adding that interest in plug-in hybrid models has been more limited. See also: Stellantis Backs Germany’s Push to Ease EU Car Emissions Rules as…

CEER, Saudi Arabia’s first domestic electric vehicle brand, on Thursday announced the launch of a new sonic identity designed to reflect its vehicle design language and brand positioning, as it builds out its presence in the global electric mobility market. The audio signature, titled “Pulse of the Land,” blends natural field recordings from across Saudi Arabia — including desert winds and flowing wadis — with modern synthesised sound elements. CEER said the sonic identity will be integrated across its customer touchpoints, including marketing, call centres, showrooms and brand events, as part of a broader effort to unify its brand experience.…

Norway will begin scaling back its long-standing value-added tax (VAT) exemption on electric car purchases from 2026 after a budget compromise stopped the government’s earlier plan for an abrupt removal, as the country’s electric vehicle market reached record levels. Under the proposal maintained in the October budget, VAT will be applied to the portion of an electric car’s purchase price exceeding 300,000 Norwegian kroner ($25,500) from Jan. 1, 2026, down from the current exemption threshold of 500,000 kroner. The standard Norwegian VAT rate is 25%. A separate plan to abolish the exemption entirely in 2027 was dropped, with lawmakers agreeing…

Electrify America has been named to Inc.’s Best in Business list in the Best in Innovation category for its nationwide deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS), a strategy aimed at supporting high-speed electric vehicle charging in locations with limited grid capacity. The recognition highlights the company’s rollout of large-scale energy storage to enable consistent ultra-fast charging where traditional electrical infrastructure would otherwise restrict power delivery. Electrify America has installed more than 170 BESS units across the United States, providing over 65,000 kilowatt-hours of cumulative storage capacity. See also: Electrify America Completes 1,765-Mile East Coast Demonstration to Validate Charging Network…

Renault said on Monday that production of its Renault 5 E-Tech electric hatchback has reached 100,000 units at its Ampere ElectriCity plant in Douai, northern France, just 15 months after the model entered the market. The milestone was reached on Dec. 2, 2025, highlighting the rapid ramp-up of output for the retro-styled electric model, which the automaker has positioned as a key player in Europe’s fast-growing electric B-segment. The Douai facility currently builds around 900 vehicles per day, with the Renault 5 accounting for roughly two-thirds of daily production. The plant operates a single flexible assembly line that produces six…

Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled its first mass-produced autonomous mobility robot platform, MobED, at the International Robot Exhibition (iREX) 2025 in Tokyo, marking the company’s latest push to expand beyond automotive manufacturing into commercial robotics. Developed by Hyundai’s Robotics LAB, the MobED platform uses artificial intelligence and a proprietary eccentric wheel control mechanism to maintain stability on uneven surfaces. The system integrates driving, steering and posture control into a single Drive-and-Lift module, allowing the robot to traverse curbs, slopes and confined indoor spaces while maintaining balance. See also: Hyundai Reportedly in Talks with Baidu, Momenta, and XPeng to Accelerate Autonomous…

Nissan Motor’s Chinese joint venture, Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile Co., said it will launch the all-new Frontier Pro and Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), marking the brand’s first pickup truck equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The two models represent Nissan’s first pickups that are designed, developed and manufactured in China specifically for global exports, with overseas shipments scheduled to begin in the first half of next year. The launch aligns with Nissan’s efforts to use China as a development and export base for new light commercial vehicles. See also: Dongfeng Nissan Launches N6 Hybrid Sedan in China with…

German automotive supplier Webasto has unveiled a new 800-volt thermal management system for electric vehicles that combines battery conditioning, battery cooling and interior heating into a single device, as carmakers seek more compact and efficient component designs. The product, called the “Heated Chiller,” is designed as a three-in-one system that replaces several conventional thermal components typically installed separately in electric vehicles. Webasto said the integrated approach is aimed at reducing system complexity, space requirements and material usage in next-generation EV platforms. See also: Webasto Partners with Cylib for Battery Recycling in Europe “In classic vehicle architectures, several separate thermal components…

The Trump administration said on Wednesday it plans to lower federal fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks sold in the United States, reversing targets introduced under the previous administration and reshaping long-term regulatory expectations for automakers. Speaking with executives from Ford Motor and Stellantis in attendance, President Donald Trump proposed setting fleet-wide fuel economy at 34.5 miles per gallon for 2031 model-year vehicles, down from the 50.4 mpg target finalised under the Biden administration. The proposal also reclassifies crossovers as passenger cars rather than light trucks and removes automakers’ ability to trade electric vehicle credits under the Corporate…

Alphabet’s self-driving unit Waymo said on Wednesday it has begun expanding its autonomous vehicle testing programme to four additional U.S. cities, adding Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis and Pittsburgh to its growing national footprint. Waymo has started on-road testing with safety monitors in Philadelphia, while vehicles in Baltimore, St. Louis and Pittsburgh will initially be driven manually to collect mapping and traffic data. The company did not provide a timeline for launching commercial robotaxi services in those locations or confirm whether it would operate alone or through partners, as it has done with Uber in cities such as Atlanta and Austin.…

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has deployed more than 2,600 battery-electric vehicles for mail delivery as part of its nationwide fleet modernisation programme, according to a recent update submitted to Congress, as the agency’s electrification strategy continues to face shifting political scrutiny. Of the battery-electric vehicles currently in use for letter delivery, 612 are the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) produced by Oshkosh Defense and now operating at 15 locations. The remaining 2,010 vehicles are Ford Motor’s E-Transit electric vans. USPS has ordered more than 50,000 NGDVs in total, with roughly half designated as electric and the rest powered…

Archer Aviation said it plans to build an electric air taxi network across South Florida to link Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach with short-distance flights aimed at reducing travel times in one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the United States. The proposed network would also connect Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport using 10–20 minute electric flights. Archer said it is working with infrastructure and real estate partners to convert existing helipads and construct new vertiports to support operations. See also: Joby Aviation Sues Rival Archer Over Alleged Theft…