Author: Joshua Morris

Aurora Innovation’s shares jumped 35% on Tuesday after the self-driving technology developer announced a significant long-term partnership with Nvidia and Germany’s Continental to deploy driverless trucks. The surge in stock value marks a notable rise in investor confidence, as Aurora’s stock has nearly doubled over the past 12 months, driven by optimism surrounding the future of autonomous driving technology in the trucking industry. With the deal, Aurora is expected to add approximately $4 billion to its market value, which stood at $11.17 billion at the close of the previous trading session. “Nvidia’s CEO has been clear that he sees huge…

Mazda has announced plans to construct a new battery module and pack production facility in Iwakuni, Japan, with an annual production capacity of 10 GWh. The facility will process Panasonic’s cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells and produce packs for use in Mazda’s vehicles. In a joint statement, Mazda revealed, “The battery packs will be manufactured at Mazda’s vehicle plant in Japan and will be employed in a dedicated EV platform.” This marks a significant step forward in the company’s electrification strategy, which has gained momentum over the past year. The collaboration between Mazda and Panasonic was formalized in April 2024 after…

Peugeot has reduced the price of its entry-level e-208 electric car to €28,000 in France, cutting €6,100 from the Style trim’s previous price. The discount positions the model more competitively within the growing small EV market, though prices in other markets, such as Germany, remain unchanged at €36,325. This pricing adjustment applies exclusively to the Style trim, featuring a 100 kW motor and small battery, while other variants retain their current prices in France. The move likely responds to a slowdown in domestic demand. Despite selling 23,602 units of the e-208 in 2024—a 4% increase year-over-year—sales dipped sharply in the…

The Tesla Model Y maintained its position as the best-selling car in the Netherlands across all drive systems in 2024, marking its second consecutive year at the top. Electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 35% of all new car registrations in the country, according to figures from the RAI Association, the dealer group BOVAG, and management consultancy RDC. A total of 132,166 all-electric vehicles were registered, reflecting a steady rise in EV adoption, up from 30.8% in 2023 and 23.5% in 2022. Subsidies and tax incentives have been instrumental in driving EV adoption, though these benefits are set to expire in…

Tesla has announced plans to deploy its first V4 Superchargers in China in 2025, marking a significant expansion of its charging network in the country. The company revealed the news through a poster shared on Weibo, outlining its commitment to enhancing the charging experience with the next-generation V4 Superchargers. The V4 Superchargers, powered by Tesla’s latest generation of charging technology, promise to optimize the charging process for both Tesla and third-party electric vehicle (EV) models. Tesla stated that the new chargers will support an even broader range of models, including future vehicles entering the market. The V4 Superchargers are Tesla’s…

Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Kia and Genesis models, has announced that five of its electric vehicles (EVs) now qualify for the $7,500 US federal tax credit. This marks the first time the Korean automaker has been eligible for the tax benefit since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed in 2022. The US Department of Energy confirmed that Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 electric models, along with Kia’s EV6 and EV9, and the Genesis Electrified GV70, are now among the 25 EV models that qualify for the credit. The IONIQ 5 is built at Hyundai’s new Metaplant America…

Xpeng Inc. achieved a new monthly delivery record in December, bolstered by strong demand for its new Mona M03 and P7+ models. The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer delivered 36,695 vehicles, marking an 82.43% increase from the 20,115 units delivered in December 2023 and an 18.77% rise from November’s total of 30,895. The Mona M03 contributed over 15,000 units in December, while the P7+ added more than 10,000, according to the company. These results also pushed Xpeng’s fourth-quarter deliveries to 91,507 units, exceeding the upper limit of its guidance range of 87,000 to 91,000 vehicles. The quarterly performance represented a 52.11%…

Stellantis has delayed the launch of its all-electric Ram 1500 REV once again, this time pushing the release back to 2026. The company cites “slowing industry demand” for electric trucks, indicating that customers are not yet eager to replace their gas-powered trucks with electric alternatives. Initially slated for a late 2024 debut, the Ram 1500 REV was already pushed to early 2025. Now, the electric pickup’s arrival is further delayed, as Stellantis shifts its attention to the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, a range-extender version of the truck set for launch in 2025. The company argues that consumer demand for the Ramcharger,…

European new car sales fell by 2% in November, marking a return to negative growth after a brief uptick in October, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). The decline was driven by significant drops in France and Italy, coupled with stagnant performance in Germany. While hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) registrations continued to rise, the slowdown in fully electric vehicle (BEV) sales weighed heavily on the market. Registrations across the EU, Britain, and EFTA totaled 1.06 million units in November. Among major automakers, Volkswagen and Renault posted year-on-year growth of 2.8% and 9.2%, respectively, while Stellantis saw a…

Waymo, the self-driving division of Alphabet, has announced plans to expand its autonomous vehicle services beyond the U.S. The company revealed on Monday that it will begin testing its self-driving Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in Tokyo, Japan, in early 2025. This will mark the first international deployment of Waymo’s robotaxis, following the expansion of its driverless ride-hailing service in the U.S. The initial phase of the project will involve manual operation of the vehicles to map out key areas in Tokyo, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō. こんにちは(Konnichiwa) and hello, Japan! We’re thrilled to announce that Waymo, in…

Norwegian fuel cell manufacturer Teco 2030 has filed for insolvency, citing an inability to secure the necessary capital to continue operations. The company’s board made the unanimous decision to file for bankruptcy on 10 December, acknowledging that there is no longer a realistic opportunity to raise sufficient funds to keep the business running. The bankruptcy petition was filed the same evening. Teco 2030 had been facing challenges for some time. In September, the company announced a strategic reorganization, shifting away from manufacturing its own fuel cell systems. Instead, Teco 2030 opted to focus on licensing its technology to other companies,…

General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra stated this week that the automaker and former U.S. President Donald Trump are “goal-aligned” on key issues, despite looming policy decisions that could significantly impact GM’s operations. Barra’s comments came during an Automotive Press Association event, where she acknowledged potential challenges posed by Trump’s proposed tariffs and other policy changes. “We want a strong economy. We want a strong manufacturing base in this country. We agree automotive jobs are important,” Barra said, according to the Detroit Free Press. However, she conceded that the proposed 25% tariff on vehicles imported from Mexico and Canada, where…