Author: Joshua Morris

Xiaomi EV, the electric vehicle unit of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, marked its 200,000th vehicle delivery, underscoring rapid growth in the competitive EV market. The milestone vehicle, a Xiaomi SU7 in a special red edition, was delivered to a young couple, the company announced on Weibo. Xiaomi EV took 229 days to deliver its first 100,000 vehicles, while the second 100,000 units were delivered in just 119 days. See also: Xiaomi Expands EV Ambitions in Europe with Key BMW Hires Xiaomi officially launched the SU7 electric sedan on March 28, 2024, positioning it as a rival to Tesla’s Model 3.…

Li Auto reported fourth-quarter revenue of RMB 44.3 billion ($6.1 billion), aligning with analysts’ expectations and within its previously guided range of RMB 43.2 billion to RMB 45.9 billion. This represents a 6.1% increase from a year earlier and a 3.3% rise from the third quarter of 2024, according to the company’s unaudited earnings report released on Thursday. Vehicle sales revenue totaled RMB 42.6 billion for the quarter, up 5.6% year-on-year and 3.2% sequentially. The increase was driven by higher deliveries, though partially offset by lower average selling prices due to interest subsidies provided to customers. Li Auto delivered 158,696…

The European Union is investigating whether China provided unfair subsidies to support BYD’s planned electric vehicle (EV) plant in Hungary, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The European Commission is in the early stages of a foreign subsidy probe into the BYD facility, the report said. If the investigation finds that the Chinese automaker benefited from undue state support, the EU could require BYD to divest assets, scale down production, reimburse subsidies, or face penalties for non-compliance, according to the Financial Times. See also: BYD Europe Aims to Triple Market Share, Targets Leading Position…

Volkswagen is in discussions with Chinese digital cockpit system developer Ecarx to incorporate its technologies into vehicles sold in developed markets such as Europe and the United States, Ecarx CEO Shen Ziyu said on Wednesday. The German automaker already collaborates with the Geely-backed firm in Brazil and India, where its Antora 1000 digital cockpit system is featured in smart vehicles. This system integrates proprietary chips and software, offering functions such as voice recognition and navigation. The companies are now looking to extend their partnership to Skoda-branded cars in Europe and are also exploring the integration of Ecarx’s technologies into Volkswagen…

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast plans to install 100,000 charging stations across Indonesia, the country’s investment minister said on Tuesday, following a meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and company representatives. Minister Rosan Roeslani also confirmed that VinFast’s $200 million EV assembly plant in West Java is on track to begin operations next year, with an annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles. The facility, which broke ground in 2023, is part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to position itself as a regional EV manufacturing hub by capitalizing on its vast nickel reserves, a key component in EV battery production. See also: V-Green…

The UK government is poised to ease its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires automakers to meet rising annual sales quotas for electric vehicles, following similar moves by the European Union. The shift comes amid warnings from the automotive industry, including Nissan, that strict EV production targets could threaten manufacturing operations. Nissan, which operates the UK’s largest vehicle plant in Sunderland, has expressed concerns that the current requirements pose risks to its operations. In response, UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told The Times that a “substantial change of policy” had been agreed upon. “We will do everything we can…

African electric bus provider BasiGo will begin delivering 28 electric buses to Kigali, Rwanda, next month as part of its efforts to expand sustainable public transport in the country, the company said on Saturday. The new fleet will operate on urban and inter-city routes, with charging infrastructure being installed at the company’s Rwandex depot to accommodate 25 buses overnight. BasiGo aims to deploy a total of 100 electric buses across Rwanda in 2025, following a pilot program launched in December 2023. See also: BasiGo Secures $24 Million in Series A Funding, Expands Transport Electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa “BasiGo is proud…

Electric truck charging operator Milence has launched its first UK site at Able Humber Port (AHP) in Immingham, England. The facility, situated along the A180 with access to major motorways including the M180, M18, and M1, will initially feature four CCS chargers with a power capacity of up to 400 kW, supplying a total of eight charging points. The strategically located Able Humber Port serves as a key logistics hub for the region, handling over 30 roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) and lift-on/lift-off (lo-lo) shipments weekly. See also: Milence Installs First Public MCS Chargers at Belgium Hub, Eyes Wider Rollout It provides vital…

DHL is expanding its Electric Vehicle (EV) Centre of Excellence in Rugby, UK, with a new battery services facility aimed at servicing, repairing, and recycling EV batteries, the company announced. The expansion is being developed in collaboration with Cox Automotive. The new service center will have the capacity to process “thousands” of EV batteries annually, DHL said, as part of its efforts to promote a circular economy for batteries. The facility will also include an £800,000 Battery Energy Storage System, allowing discharged EV batteries to return energy into the manufacturing process. See also: DHL Expands EV Logistics Hubs in Asia-Pacific…

Bentley Motors has commenced construction of its Integrated Logistics Centre at its Crewe headquarters in England, as part of preparations to manufacture battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2027. The facility is designed to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability within Bentley’s operations, aligning with its Beyond100+ strategy, which aims for a fully electric lineup by 2035. See also: Bentley Motors Opens Excellence Centre for Quality & Launch as Part of Electrification Plans The 11,620-square-meter centre will streamline material processing and delivery to assembly lines while incorporating an advanced automated storage system, a first for Volkswagen Group. The system is intended to…

Waymo has officially launched its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas, allowing Uber users to request driverless rides in select areas of the city. The rollout marks a key milestone in Waymo’s partnership with Uber and the expansion of its Waymo One robotaxi service across the U.S. See also: Waymo Doubles Weekly Robotaxi Rides, Logs 200,000 Trips Per Week Riders using the Uber app can now opt for a Waymo autonomous vehicle when selecting UberX, Uber Comfort, Uber Green, or Uber Comfort Electric. The service operates within a 37-square-mile area, covering neighborhoods such as Hyde Park, Downtown Austin, and…

A leading trade group representing major automakers warned on Tuesday that new 25% tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on vehicle imports from Canada and Mexico could sharply increase prices and disrupt supply chains across North America. “All automakers will be impacted by these tariffs on Canada and Mexico,” said John Bozzella, president of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents most major automakers in the U.S. except Tesla. The group includes General Motors, Ford Motor, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Stellantis. See also: Trump Imposes Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, Doubling Duties on Chinese Goods “Most anticipate the…

A senior executive at BYD, China’s largest electric vehicle maker, said the company is open to collaborating with Tesla to accelerate the transition away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Stella Li, executive vice president at BYD, told the Financial Times that the two automakers share a common goal of advancing electric mobility. “Our common enemy is the internal combustion engine car. We need to work together… to make the industry change,” she said during an interview at a BYD showroom in London. See also: BYD Raises $5.59 Billion in Hong Kong’s Largest Equity Sale in Four Years Li also…

Ohme, a UK-based electric vehicle (EV) charging company, has introduced its MultiCar feature, enabling users to manage multiple EVs from a single account. The new function aims to streamline charging for households with more than one EV, offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution. See also: Kia to Offer Bidirectional Charging for EVs in Key Markets The feature, described as an industry first, allows users to switch between vehicles seamlessly while maintaining separate charging records for personal and company cars. “This new MultiCar function in our app is a great example of our commitment to innovation and a major step…

Tesla has reinstated 0% APR financing for new Model 3 purchases in the United States as the automaker looks to bolster demand amid a challenging quarter. The move marks a rare return of heavily subsidized financing as Tesla navigates shifting market conditions. Tesla announced Tuesday that it is reintroducing promotional loan rates for the Model 3, offering qualified buyers 0% and 0.99% APR options. The deal is further enhanced for those eligible for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, allowing them to secure financing with no money down and a 0.99% APR over 60 months. See also: Tesla’s Sales Decline…

Compton Unified School District (CUSD) has introduced 25 electric school buses, marking its first step toward electrifying student transportation. The initiative also includes the deployment of 25 Tellus 180 kW DC fast chargers to support the new fleet. The district, located in southern Los Angeles County, is rolling out 17 Thomas Built Type A and eight Thomas Built Type C electric buses this spring. CUSD partnered with electrification-as-a-service provider Highland Electric Fleet, utility company Southern California Edison, and school transportation provider Durham School Services to facilitate the transition. See also: Thomas Built Buses Unveils Second-Generation Jouley Electric School Bus Funding…

Volvo Autonomous Solutions is advancing its autonomous truck technology to improve performance in challenging weather conditions such as rain, snow, and fog. The company utilizes a combination of sensors, redundant systems, and adaptive technology to enhance reliability and safety. The autonomous trucks are equipped with cameras, radar, and lidar, allowing them to operate in low-visibility environments. See also: Volvo Autonomous Solutions and DHL Launch Autonomous Freight Delivery in Texas Additional hardware, such as infrared cameras and inertial measurement units, is integrated to support navigation and obstacle detection. These technologies work together to provide a comprehensive view of the surroundings. To…

A fire at a Tesla retail and service center in Plaisance-du-Touch, near Toulouse, France, destroyed a dozen vehicles early Tuesday morning, with authorities suspecting arson amid global protests targeting the automaker. Firefighters arrived at the scene around 4 a.m. and managed to contain the blaze to the vehicles. Eight Tesla cars were completely destroyed, while four others sustained significant damage, bringing total losses to an estimated 700,000 euros, according to local reports. See also: Tesla and Steak ‘n Shake Partner to Expand Supercharger Network Across U.S. Police suspect arson after discovering a hole in the facility’s fence and noting prior…

Mobileye has introduced a new series of electronic control units (ECUs) designed to support a range of driving automation levels, from advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to fully autonomous vehicles. The series, powered by Mobileye’s EyeQ6H chip, offers three configurations—SuperVision, Chauffeur, and Drive—each tailored to different levels of automation while minimizing development risks for automakers. See also: Lyft Plans to Deploy Mobileye-Powered Robotaxis in Dallas by 2026 “Mobileye’s new ECU series bridges the gap between ADAS and full autonomy, providing a scalable and modular approach that allows manufacturers to transition smoothly as technology and regulations advance,” the company said in…

The Prague city council’s transport committee is reviewing a proposal to allow only battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell taxis from 2029, a measure that would align the Czech capital with other European cities transitioning to zero-emission transport. The final decision rests with city councillors, who must approve the initiative through a formal decree. If passed, Prague would join cities like Oslo, where electric taxis have been mandatory since November 2024, and Hamburg, which requires all newly registered cabs to be electric as of 2025. According to Prague Morning, nearly 16,000 taxis were registered in the city last year, marking a…