Author: Miguel Garcia

Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) is reportedly in talks to secure a loan of about $1 billion to support its investment plans in Indonesia, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The financing, with a proposed term of five to seven years, would be directed toward CATL’s joint venture in Indonesia, which aims to construct a battery cell manufacturing plant in Karawang, West Java. Discussions with lenders are ongoing and terms of the loan remain subject to change, according to the report. See also: China’s CATL Unveils Sodium-Ion Brand ‘Naxtra’ and Upgraded Fast-Charging…

Volkswagen of America is recalling 5,678 model year 2025 ID. Buzz electric vans due to a non-compliant third-row bench seat that may mislead passengers into seating three occupants despite having only two seat belts, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said. The recall stems from a violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, which governs occupant crash protection. See also: Volkswagen Unveils Three Concept EVs in China as Part of Model Offensive According to NHTSA, the third-row seat is physically wide enough to accommodate three passengers but is only designed and equipped to seat two, creating…

Nissan has decided to abandon its plans to produce two electric saloon models in the U.S. and will instead focus on building a different electric vehicle (EV) at its Canton, Mississippi plant. Additionally, the company is revising its timeline for electric crossover projects. According to a supplier memo dated April 21, Nissan is adjusting the production schedule for two electric crossovers. The model codenamed PZ1K, initially expected to begin production in late 2027, is now scheduled to enter production in January 2028, roughly a year later than originally planned. Its sibling, the Infiniti-branded PZ1J, will be produced starting in May…

Daimler Truck North America has handed over its latest autonomous-ready truck platform, built on the Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia, to Torc Robotics as part of its ongoing effort to bring SAE Level 4 autonomous driving to U.S. highways by 2027. The trucks, designed for scalable series production, are now being tested across key freight corridors including a newly added route between Laredo and Dallas, Texas. The updated Cascadia platform features redundant safety systems such as dual braking and steering, supporting its capability for driverless operation. It incorporates more than 1,500 engineering requirements tailored for autonomous use, with the latest hardware…

Ford Motor said on Friday it has suspended shipments of its U.S.-built vehicles to China due to rising tariff pressures, becoming the latest automaker to adjust its export strategy amid growing trade tensions. “We have adjusted exports from the U.S. to China in light of the current tariffs,” the company said in a statement. The move affects Ford’s SUVs, pickup trucks, and sports cars, which now face tariffs of up to 150% when entering the Chinese market. See also: Ford’s New EV Patent Brings Manual Gear Shift Feel to Electric Vehicles The Wall Street Journal first reported the development, citing…

A Maryland-based Acura dealership has filed a lawsuit against American Honda Motor Co., alleging that the automaker failed to provide adequate support after a new 2024 Acura ZDX electric SUV became inoperable just 400 miles into ownership. The case underscores potential risks for dealers as electric vehicles grow more complex and support frameworks evolve. According to the lawsuit filed by Criswell Acura of Annapolis, the dealership purchased the ZDX at wholesale for $69,207 in May 2024 and sold it to a retail customer shortly after. But less than 500 miles later, the vehicle could no longer fully charge. As per…

Kia unveiled its all-new EV4 sedan at the New York International Auto Show, expanding its U.S. electric vehicle portfolio with a compact, four-door model positioned as a more affordable alternative to the Hyundai Ioniq 6. Set to reach U.S. dealerships in early 2025, the EV4 aims to attract budget-conscious EV buyers with a combination of competitive range, modern connectivity, and compatibility with Tesla’s charging network. The EV4 will be offered with two lithium-ion battery options, both operating on a 400-volt electrical architecture. The entry-level Light trim is fitted with a 58.3-kilowatt-hour battery that delivers an estimated 235 miles of driving…

Mini has shelved its plan to bring two electric vehicle models from China to the U.S. market due to the latest round of tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, the BMW-owned brand confirmed. Among the affected models is the all-electric Mini Aceman, which will no longer be introduced in the United States for the foreseeable future. Michael Peyton, Mini’s Vice President for the Americas, told Automotive News that the company had been considering alternatives to mitigate trade restrictions, but recent developments made the import strategy unworkable. “Now, it’s become a lot more clear for a variety of reasons that [it] doesn’t…

Hesai Technology, a provider of lidar technology, has entered into a partnership with autonomous driving company WeRide to equip its vehicles with advanced lidar systems. These vehicles will operate on Uber’s platform in Dubai as part of the city’s plan to have 25% of all trips be autonomous by 2030. The collaboration is aligned with Dubai’s broader strategy to advance smart mobility. The lidar systems, installed in WeRide’s autonomous vehicles, are designed to enhance safety and operational efficiency. Each vehicle will feature four long-range lidar units, providing precise 3D mapping to assist with navigation and obstacle detection. See also: Hesai…

General Motors (GM) will temporarily halt production of its BrightDrop electric commercial vans at its CAMI Assembly plant in Ontario due to weak market demand, the automaker and labor union Unifor said. As part of the pause, GM will lay off approximately 1,200 workers beginning in April. The plant is expected to resume limited operations in May, with full production not scheduled until October 2025. The company emphasized that the decision was unrelated to newly imposed tariffs on automotive imports. See also: Walmart Set to Roll Out First BrightDrop Electric Vans in Major U.S. Cities by Year-End GM said it…

NJ Transit has received board approval to purchase 20 battery-electric buses as part of a broader procurement of new vehicles aimed at modernizing its fleet and reducing emissions. The move supports the agency’s long-term objective of transitioning to a zero-emission fleet by 2040, though the number of electric units represents a small fraction of the total order. The public transport operator plans to acquire 208 60-foot articulated diesel buses and 20 battery-electric buses at a total cost not exceeding $393.4 million, with an additional 10 per cent contingency subject to funding availability. The articulated buses will replace older 40-foot models,…

Representatives from Bosch and Mercedes-Benz have reportedly visited Northvolt’s battery factory in Skellefteå, Sweden, according to local media, though none of the parties have confirmed any discussions or deals. A private jet linked to Bosch subsidiary Scintilla was observed at a nearby airport on Friday, adding to speculation surrounding a potential acquisition or partnership. Swedish outlet Norran cited an anonymous Northvolt employee who claimed that management referred to a visit from a “very interesting player” at the factory last week, but declined to identify the visitor. Flight tracking data indicated a jet from Stuttgart — the home base of both…