Author: Joshua Morris

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…

Daimler Truck and its self-driving unit Torc Robotics have selected Innoviz Technologies as the supplier of short-range LiDAR sensors for their Level 4 autonomous trucking program, the companies said. Under the agreement, Innoviz will supply its InnovizTwo short-range LiDAR for integration into the autonomous version of the Freightliner Cascadia, Daimler Truck’s best-selling heavy-duty truck in North America. The system will operate alongside Torc’s virtual driver software as part of preparations for series production. See also: Aeva and Daimler Truck North America Expand Collaboration on 4D LiDAR for Autonomous Trucks The companies said the collaboration includes joint development work to tailor…

Wrightbus has appointed automotive industry veteran Axel J. Maschka as its new Chief Executive, marking a leadership transition at the Northern Ireland-based manufacturer as it continues to expand its battery-electric and hydrogen bus operations. Maschka succeeds Jean-Marc Gales, who led the company for two and a half years and will move into the role of deputy chairman from Dec. 1 to concentrate on Wrightbus’s global strategic development, the company said. See also: Wrightbus Expands Rapidly as Electric Buses Lead, Hydrogen Finds Targeted Role Maschka brings senior management experience from companies including Hyundai Mobis, Valeo, Volvo, Continental, Leclanché, Bosch and Mercedes-Benz.…

Commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus is switching to an intermodal, low-carbon logistics model for the delivery of its newly built vehicles, combining long-distance rail transport with battery-electric trucks for final customer delivery. Under the programme, developed with Austrian logistics group VEGA International, new trucks are shipped by train from MAN’s production facility in Krakow, Poland, to a rail terminal in Rheine, north-west Germany, before being delivered to customers within a 300-kilometre radius by fully electric MAN eTGX trucks. The initiative follows a trial phase using two battery-electric eTGX units and is now being expanded. VEGA plans to deploy…

Hyundai Motor Group will co-host the Hydrogen Council Global CEO Summit in Seoul from Dec. 2 to 4, deploying a fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to handle all official transportation in what organizers say will be the first major business event to rely entirely on hydrogen-powered logistics. The summit is expected to draw about 200 executives from nearly 100 global hydrogen-related companies to discuss hydrogen’s role in the global energy transition. Hyundai will operate 50 NEXO fuel cell SUVs and six UNIVERSE hydrogen buses to transport participants during the event, highlighting South Korea’s hydrogen mobility infrastructure. See also:…