Author: Joshua Morris

Swedish electric carmaker Polestar has introduced extensive hardware upgrades to its flagship Polestar 3 SUV for the 2026 model year, including a new 800-volt electrical system, faster charging, increased power, and upgraded core computing capabilities. “The upgrades to Polestar 3 are so extensive, it’s like an entirely new car. With this upgrade we continue to deliver on our commitment to add value for our customers through over-the-air software and hardware updates. The already amazing Polestar 3 is now better than ever,” Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller said. See also: Polestar Prioritizes Polestar 7 Crossover Over Polestar 6 Roadster The new 800-volt…

Japanese autonomous driving software firm TIER IV has been selected by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to lead a project developing digital infrastructure for the country’s transport network. The initiative aims to support the deployment of autonomous buses and address long-term challenges in mobility and logistics. The project will focus on creating “service-support roads” that share real-time data with vehicles, complementing their onboard autonomous systems. By integrating roadside infrastructure with digital platforms, the initiative is expected to improve safety, efficiency, and service availability across Japan’s public transport network. A key goal is to accelerate the rollout…

Mercedes-Benz has removed the EQB electric SUV from its online configurator and will produce only vehicles already ordered before shifting to its successor, the “GLB with EQ technology,” which will launch in early 2026. The Stuttgart-based automaker plans to introduce the new compact electric SUV on its MMA platform, which supports 800-volt architecture and is expected to deliver significant gains in charging capacity and range. The upcoming model, scheduled for unveiling in 2026, is forecast to offer more than 600 km of range, charging rates of up to 325 kW, and multiple drivetrain options. Since its market debut in 2021,…

Neptune Energy said on Thursday it has confirmed resources of 43 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in Germany’s Altmark region, a discovery that could position the area as one of Europe’s largest potential sources of the critical battery material. The independent assessment, carried out with energy consultancy Sproule ERCE, establishes Altmark as a significant project-based lithium deposit, although the new figure falls short of the 70 million tons of LCE Neptune cited earlier this year in preliminary estimates. Still, the confirmation strengthens Germany’s ambitions to secure a domestic supply of lithium at a time when automakers and policymakers…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng said on Thursday it is entering five more European countries as part of its accelerated global expansion strategy. The company will launch operations in Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia, expanding on its existing European footprint. In Switzerland, Xpeng will work with European mobility services provider Hedin Group, initially rolling out the 2025 G6 and G9 sport utility vehicles before introducing the P7+ sedan in the first half of 2026. The partnership aims to set up between eight and ten outlets by the end of next year, with a further 10 to 20 planned in…

General Motors’ Chevrolet brand has earned recognition for its electric vehicles, with the 2025 Equinox EV named Cars.com’s Top Pick: Value EV and the 2026 Silverado EV awarded Top Pick: EV Pickup Truck. The accolades underscore Chevrolet’s emphasis on delivering capable, affordable, and innovative EVs in a competitive market. The Equinox EV was praised for its starting price under $35,000, combining affordability with a long driving range and modern styling. Cars.com highlighted the compact SUV as particularly appealing to budget-conscious buyers seeking practical and stylish electric transportation, even as federal EV tax credits are set to expire later this year.…

Baidu’s Apollo Go has begun testing autonomous vehicles on Dubai’s streets after receiving the city’s first trial permit and an initial batch of 50 test licenses from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The milestone enables Apollo Go to deploy its autonomous fleet in urban areas, marking a key step in the platform’s global expansion of self-driving ride-hailing services. The trials, which started in August, involve a fleet of 50 sixth-generation RT6 vehicles operating in designated areas of Dubai. The initiative builds on a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year between Apollo Go and the RTA to integrate autonomous…

Bentley has announced a shift in its electrification strategy, delaying the complete transition to electric vehicles and placing greater emphasis on combustion engines in the medium term. The British luxury automaker will continue offering petrol-powered and plug-in hybrid models, scrapping its previously fixed 2030 phase-out date for internal combustion technology. The move follows similar adjustments by Porsche and Audi, which have also softened their electrification goals. Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser told Autocar that while electrification remains a long-term objective, customer demand for combustion engines—particularly in the U.S. and Middle East—is currently too strong to ignore. “There is a dip in…

General Motors has issued a recall for 1,191 units of its 2026 GMC Sierra EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV due to a potential malfunction in the electronic stability control (ESC) system warning light. The vehicles were built before June 24, 2025, and include 84 units in Canada. The company said the driver instrument cluster warning light may fail to illuminate after an ESC malfunction, preventing drivers from being alerted to a system issue and increasing the risk of a crash. “An ESC malfunction indicator light that doesn’t illuminate won’t warn the driver of a system issue, increasing the risk of…

Nissan said it will introduce its next-generation ProPILOT driver-assist system in Japan in fiscal 2027, combining artificial intelligence from UK-based startup Wayve with advanced sensor technology to enable safer navigation of complex urban environments. The system integrates Wayve’s AI Driver software, designed to interpret dynamic traffic situations and make human-like driving decisions, alongside Nissan’s Ground Truth Perception framework, which employs next-generation LiDAR, 11 cameras, and five radars for real-time object detection and enhanced situational awareness. Prototypes based on the Nissan Ariya electric SUV were tested in downtown Tokyo, demonstrating the ability to handle dense traffic, pedestrians, and intersections. Nissan said…

Tesla remains the dominant player in the electric vehicle market, but rivals are stepping up efforts to attract its customers with incentives worth as much as $2,000. Lucid is offering a Tesla Trade-In Allowance bonus of $2,000 for owners of “Competitive Premium Vehicles,” including Teslas, until Sept. 30. Buyers may also qualify for additional benefits such as a $2,000 on-site bonus for selecting from existing inventory and a $7,500 Air Credit on its Air Touring and Grand Touring trims. BMW has introduced a $1,000 customer credit for EV drivers switching to its fully electric models, covering the 2025 i4, 2024–2026…

Outrider, a Colorado-based developer of autonomous yard operations, said it has secured SOC 2 Type 2 certification, becoming the first company in the logistics automation sector to reach the compliance milestone. The certification, verified by Prescient Security under AICPA standards, evaluated Outrider’s cloud infrastructure, APIs and data governance. The company said it has implemented safeguards including threat detection, multi-region failover and secure software development practices to protect safety-critical functions such as obstacle detection and braking. “As cyber threats grow, enterprises need assurance that AI logistics systems are secure,” said Bob Hall, Outrider’s chief operating officer. “Secure systems ensure safe autonomous…