Author: Joshua Morris

China’s BYD has produced 10,000 vehicles at its new factory in Camacari, Bahia, just four months after formally starting operation on July 1, underscoring the automaker’s rapid production ramp-up in Brazil, one of its key overseas growth markets. The Camacari plant currently assembles three models: the all-electric Dolphin Mini hatchback, known as the Seagull in China, the plug-in hybrid King sedan and the Song Pro crossover. The factory has a current annual production capacity of 150,000 units, with long-term plans to expand output to as many as 600,000 vehicles per year. See also: BYD Produces 14 Millionth New Energy Vehicle at…

KeolisAmey Docklands (KAD), the operator of London’s Docklands Light Railway (DLR), said it is on track to fully electrify its car and van fleet by December 2025, completing the transition four years earlier than required under its contract with Transport for London (TfL). The company said the electrification mandate forms part of its new eight-year operating agreement, which originally set a five-year deadline. KAD reported that 64 percent of its fleet has already been replaced with electric vehicles, putting the operator on course to complete the transition this year. The previous fleet consisted of petrol and diesel models, which are…

CATL has introduced a right-hand-drive taxi model capable of battery swapping in Hong Kong, marking a significant expansion of the company’s regional swap-network efforts. The launch coincides with preparations for CATL’s first battery swap station in the city, according to a company statement released this week. The initiative is part of a broader collaboration involving CATL subsidiary Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES), Dragon Rise New Energy, FAW’s import-export division, and CATL’s joint venture with Didi. See also: GAC Aion Launches Aion UT Super Compact EV Featuring CATL’s Battery Swap Technology The groups signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Hong…

Aachen-based startup Trailer Dynamics has received a €25 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to accelerate the scaling, production and commercial launch of its eTrailer technology. The financing is supported by the EU’s InvestEU program, which aims to mobilise hundreds of billions of euros in public and private investment by 2027. Trailer Dynamics’ eTrailer is a semi-trailer equipped with its own electric powertrain, designed to reduce the load on the tractor unit regardless of whether it is powered by diesel, gas, batteries or hydrogen fuel cells. The company says pairing the trailer with a diesel tractor can cut…

Charging software provider Pionix said it has completed a funding round of more than €8 million to scale its open-source EV charging products worldwide. The investment will support the “EVerest” software stack, designed to standardize and accelerate the development of charging infrastructure. The round was led by Ascend Capital Partners, with participation from Start-up BW Seed Fund, Pale Blue Dot, Vireo Ventures, Axeleo Ventures, and other investors. Pionix said the funding will also expand its enterprise offerings, including Pionix Cloud, a backend software for EV chargers, and ChargeBridge, a plug-and-play hardware module for simplified integration. “Reliability isn’t just a nice-to-have…

Panasonic has signed a multi-year agreement to supply Zoox with cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells beginning in early 2026, securing a critical component for the autonomous ride-hailing company’s purpose-built robotaxi fleet. The deal will initially draw from Panasonic’s manufacturing operations in Japan, with plans to later incorporate production from its new Kansas facility. Zoox, owned by Amazon, has been expanding its manufacturing capabilities, including the recent opening of a serial production site in Hayward, California, to build its autonomous vehicles at scale. The company is currently operating driverless services in Las Vegas and expects demand to rise as it deploys more…

Toyota has introduced the Urban Cruiser and started local assembly of the updated bZ4X electric vehicle in Indonesia, expanding its EV offerings in the Southeast Asian market. The Urban Cruiser will be imported from India, while the new bZ4X will be assembled locally in Karawang, West Java. The Urban Cruiser, a niche model for Indonesia, is offered in a single configuration priced at 759 million rupiah (approximately €39,500). The imported unit features a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 128 kW and 192.5 Nm of torque, powered by a 59.8-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. See also: GAC Toyota Unveils…

The European Investment Bank (EIB) said it will invest €25 million in German startup Trailer Dynamics to accelerate the production and deployment of its electric trailer technology, a system designed to reduce fuel consumption and expand the range of battery-electric trucks. The investment is supported by the EU’s InvestEU programme, which aims to strengthen technological innovation and sustainable development in Europe’s freight sector. EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer said the technology offers immediate benefits for operators facing rising costs and tighter emissions rules. She noted the system enables meaningful reductions in emissions “without compromising performance,” underlining the importance of scalable solutions…

Westwell has delivered a second batch of its autonomous electric Q-Trucks to the Port of Felixstowe, strengthening the port’s efforts to upgrade logistics operations with AI-driven, zero-emission technology. The deployment expands the number of cabinless trucks in service at the UK’s busiest container gateway, reinforcing the company’s collaboration with Hutchison Ports. The Q-Trucks are equipped with 128-line LiDAR, a 360-degree binocular camera system and Westwell’s proprietary sensor-fusion architecture for precise navigation. The company said each unit is capable of completing a fully autonomous battery swap in about five minutes, enabling continuous 24/7 operations. According to Westwell, each Q-Truck can help…

Nissan has released UK pricing for the latest generation of its Leaf electric vehicle, confirming a starting price of £32,249 including the £3,750 Electric Car Grant (ECG). The model becomes only the fourth electric vehicle priced below £37,000 to qualify for the higher-tier grant, joining two Ford models and the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross. According to the UK government, a total of 39 vehicles now meet ECG eligibility criteria. Production of the new Leaf is set to begin next month at Nissan’s Sunderland facility. The vehicle features a 75 kWh battery with an estimated range of up to 386 miles. Its…

Southend-on-Sea City Council has selected charging infrastructure provider Zest to deliver over 3,000 public electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the coastal town, marking a significant expansion of the city’s EV network. Installation is scheduled to begin early next year and will include on-street lamp-post chargers alongside fast and rapid charging stations. Councillor Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: “This is a big moment for Southend. By bringing thousands of new EV charging spaces to our streets, we’re making it easier for people to choose cleaner, greener ways to travel. This project is about giving everyone the tools to…

North American automakers are confronting a potential oversupply of electric vehicle (EV) batteries as demand growth slows, according to a new report, prompting some companies to reduce production plans and delay expansions. AlixPartners estimates that global EV battery production could be three times higher than demand by 2030, with North American capacity expected to quadruple over the same period. “Many manufacturers are already scaling back their ambitious battery production plans,” Nikkei Asia reported, citing several major automakers. Ford Motor, for example, has cut its planned battery output by 35% at its $5.8 billion Kentucky plant in partnership with SK On…