Author: Michael Khan

Volvo Trucks has announced the launch of three heavy battery electric trucks for sale in South Korea, making it the first global manufacturer to offer such vehicles in the country. The move aligns with South Korea’s national plan to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with a focus on electrifying road transport to cut CO2 emissions. Per-Erik Lindström, Senior Vice President of Volvo Trucks International, stated that the company’s decision to sell heavy electric trucks in South Korea is based on the country’s 22% market share for heavy-duty trucks, and the company’s role in lowering the transport…

The Quebec government has made a significant move towards a greener future with its announcement of a $60 million investment to install 367 new DC fast charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). This will bring the total number of charging stations in the province to over 1,200. As per the Environment Minister Benoit Charette, the 367 new charging stations will have a capacity of 100 kilowatts (kW) or more, and will be added to Hydro-Québec’s Circuit électrique network at 131 locations across the province. The move is in line with the government’s Plan for a Green Economy 2030 (PEV 2030),…

Mercedes-Benz, the luxury car manufacturer, has disclosed further details of its plans to build its own High Performance Computing (HPC) network across North America, Europe, and China. The development is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2023 in the United States, Germany, and France. According to Franz Reiner, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Mobility, the first 20 charging parks, each equipped with multiple charging points, are set to be installed in the US this year. However, no precise figures were given for Europe. It remains unclear whether Europe will have more or fewer charging parks than the US. Mercedes-Benz announced…

Tesla has recently unveiled its latest addition to the Model S vehicles: a high-visibility glass roof, which has been introduced alongside a discreet update to the Model S and Model X. While Tesla’s new hardware 4.0 Autopilot and Self-Driving sensors and computer integration is believed to be the primary reason for the discreet refresh, the automaker has also included a few additional features in the new models. See also: Upcoming Tesla Cybertruck Electric Pickup Come With Hardware 4 Tesla’s email to its customers announcing the updates highlighted several changes, including the introduction of a “high-visibility glass roof” to the Model…

Lucid Motors has chosen Orange Business as its preferred European partner for its next-generation in-vehicle connectivity and digital expertise. This announcement follows Lucid’s plans to expand its operations in Europe, offering infotainment and telematics connectivity to consumers, with Orange Business providing seamless pan-European IoT and internet connectivity for Lucid’s software-defined vehicles. Orange Business has helped Lucid to orchestrate the customer journey in Europe, simplifying and navigating complex regulatory requirements. In addition, the company is now directly integrated into Lucid’s manufacturing supply chain and helped them adapt connectivity test procedures for vehicles delivered into Europe. See also: Orange EV Brings Electric…

Scout Motors, the off-road brand owned by Volkswagen Group, announced on Friday that it will invest $2 billion to construct a manufacturing facility for trucks and SUVs in Columbia, South Carolina. This move is in line with VW’s plan to reintroduce the Scout brand in the United States, offering new electric pickup and SUV models. The investment is expected to create over 4,000 permanent jobs, with the facility having the capacity to produce more than 200,000 Scout vehicles annually. Groundbreaking is scheduled for mid-2023, and production is projected to begin by the end of 2026. At present, Scout is an…

Volkswagen (VW) is reportedly planning to reduce the base list price of its revised ID.3 below the 40,000 euro threshold, according to German media. The ID.3 is currently available in Germany starting from 43,995 euros, but VW’s aim is to bring the cost down. The price increase was introduced in December, following a streamlining of the ID.3 range and announcement of a revised version. The new edition was recently launched, but the price remains undisclosed. The starting price for ID.3 Pro with a 58 kWh battery currently stands at 43,995 euros. Reports suggest that VW wants to lower the price…

Daimler Buses, a division of Daimler Truck AG, has announced that its plant in Mannheim, Germany, will be transformed into a centre of competence for e-city buses, with a focus on producing electrically powered city buses and component production starting in 2024. The move is part of an agreement between the company’s management and the works council of EvoBus GmbH on the future of the German locations. The plant currently produces the Citaro and the electric eCitaro version. Daimler Buses plans to invest around €150 million in its two German plants by the end of the decade. The Neu-Ulm site…

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia with plans to open an office in Malaysia. The announcement came after Malaysia’s trade ministry approved Tesla’s application to import battery-powered EVs into the country. Tesla’s expansion into Malaysia is expected to create a range of new skilled jobs and increase the participation of local companies in the Tesla ecosystem. The company will also establish a network of charging stations for its vehicles, as well as showrooms and service centers. See also: Tesla Delivers Model 3 and Model Y Electric Vehicles in Thailand, Expanding Presence in Asia While no…

In a video recently released by Nissan Japan, a Nissan Leaf EV won a drag race against a Soviet-era Aero L-39 Albatros fighter jet by less than a car length. The video went viral, with many people wondering why Nissan even bothered. After all, the Leaf is a forgettable car, and Nissan now has the more exciting and expensive Ariya EV. The Leaf, however, has a history. It was one of the first mass-market EVs, and it remains the most affordable EV in the US market, qualifying for a substantial tax credit. While the Ariya overshadows the Leaf in terms…

Volvo Cars is making strides towards becoming an entirely electric vehicle (EV) brand by 2030. The company has shared plans to establish a new “Tech Hub” in Krakow, Poland, which will serve as a key software development centre for the automaker’s EV technology. The new hub will be responsible for developing complete key features for new EVs, including core safety, perception, driver assistance, and autonomous driving capabilities. The automaker is aiming to attract top talent globally to fill the expected 120 initial positions, with plans to expand the team to between 500 and 600 staff by mid-decade. The company believes…

Tesla has been named the winner in seven categories at the 27th annual Automotive Loyalty Awards by S&P Global Mobility. The awards, which analyze 11.7 million new retail vehicle registrations in the U.S. during 2022, recognize automotive manufacturers and models for their ability to retain customers and inspire repeat purchases. The biggest win for Tesla was in the “Overall Loyalty to Make” category, where it dethroned Ford for the first time in 12 years. This marks a significant achievement for Tesla, as it demonstrates its ability to create a loyal customer base and maintain it over time. See also: Tesla’s…

Arriva Group has secured the Twente-ZHO concession in East Netherlands for both bus and rail services, following a competitive tender process. The contract, valued at €300 million, has been awarded for four years with an option to extend for another year. Arriva will operate over 100 brand new zero-emission buses and around nine trains from its existing fleet, and will also welcome 450 new colleagues to service the contract. Arriva’s success in winning the concession was due to its innovative approach to public transport. The company plans to introduce changes to the timetable to ensure faster journey times on inter-city…

Octopus Electric Vehicles (OEV), the electric vehicle’s arm of Octopus Energy’s parent company, is seeking a £100m funding boost to fuel its growth amidst the rising production of eco-friendly vehicles. The company is collaborating with bankers to secure fresh funds from external investors over the next few months. OEV is a subsidiary of Octopus Energy Group, a British residential energy provider that received a $5bn valuation in 2021. However, its recent acquisition of Bulb, which collapsed last year, has been challenged by competitors such as Centrica, the owner of British Gas, in a judicial review. According to the Society of…

Samsung Electro-Mechanics, a leading semiconductor manufacturer, announced on February 26th that it has developed a new automotive semiconductor substrate for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The company plans to expand its lineup of high-end automotive semiconductor substrates to target the electric vehicle market and become the global leader in this area. As autonomous vehicles require high-performance semiconductors, an autonomous driving system needs a high-performance and high-reliability semiconductor substrate that can optimize the performance of the semiconductor, process large amounts of data at high speed, and operate reliably even in extreme driving conditions. Samsung Electro-Mechanics has developed a flip chip ball…

Lucid and Nikola, two of the most highly anticipated electric vehicle (EV) startups, have had a rocky start to 2023. Both companies have struggled to meet delivery expectations, and their Q4 revenue fell short of projections. Lucid produced 3,493 Air sedans in Q4 but only delivered 1,932, a sign that the company is facing a demand challenge. Meanwhile, Nikola produced just 133 electric trucks and delivered only 20 to dealers. These struggles underscore the challenges that young automakers face in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving market. See also: Lucid Motors Reports Disappointing Q4 2022 Results but Remains Optimistic for…

Tata Motors, the Indian car manufacturer, is in talks with private equity investors and sovereign wealth funds to raise up to $1 billion through a stake sale in its electric vehicle business. According to local publication, The Economic Times, the company plans to sell a significant minority stake in the business at a valuation of around $10.5 billion. The proceeds from the sale will be primarily used to retire part of the outstanding debt, with a small portion being infused into the EV business as primary equity. Tata Motors has already secured investments from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Saudi Arabia’s…

Automobili Pininfarina has broken yet more world records with its all-electric hypercar, the Battista Hyper GT. The Munich-based automaker’s latest feat occurred during its first-ever trip to India, where it secured two more world records for quarter- and half-mile sprints in a production vehicle. The handcrafted, $2.5 million hypercar has already set a total of seven world records, including the fastest acceleration time of any production car. Each of the 150 Battista Hyper GTs planned for production requires up to 1,340 hours of handcrafting to achieve the unique vision of each client. Moreover, the company boasts that there are 128…

Electra Vehicles, a B2B electric vehicle AI software company based in Boston, has raised $21 million in an oversubscribed investment round. The round was led by United Ventures, a digital technology-focused venture capital firm from Italy, through the fund UV T-Growth. The investment also included participation from Stellantis Ventures, the venture capital fund of Stellantis, as well as existing investors LIFTT S.p.A., Club degli Investitori, and BlackBerry Limited. The company, founded in 2015 by energy storage expert Fabrizio Martini, specializes in producing cloud and onboard software to optimize the performance of electric vehicle battery systems. Electra Vehicles has seen strong…

The Hyundai Ioniq 5, an eye-catching electric vehicle (EV), has been making waves for its unique design and impressive features. However, following a recent software update, the car’s Eco mode has been causing significant performance issues. Owners have reported that the car has become so slow in this mode that it can barely keep up with modern traffic. The issue reportedly arose after a software update was released to improve the pre-conditioning battery warming function. Unfortunately, this update also introduced a bug that drastically reduced the power of the Eco mode, causing significant delays in acceleration. While it is common…