Author: Miguel Garcia

Ford has announced plans to reduce its European workforce by approximately 4,000 employees by 2027, with 2,900 of the cuts affecting its Cologne plant in Germany. The restructuring, approved by the company’s headquarters in Dearborn, is aimed at improving cost competitiveness and ensuring the long-term sustainability of its operations in the region. The job reductions follow a recent move to implement short-time working at the Cologne facility, where production of the electric Explorer and Capri models, based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, has slowed due to weak demand. Around 2,000 of the plant’s 13,000 employees have already seen reduced working hours,…

Nio, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, reported third-quarter revenue below analysts’ expectations but achieved record vehicle deliveries and an improvement in gross margins. The company’s revenue reached RMB 18.67 billion ($2.66 billion), down 2.1% year-on-year and missing the guidance range of RMB 19.11 billion to RMB 19.67 billion. Nio delivered a record 61,855 vehicles in the third quarter, an 11.6% increase from a year earlier and up 7.8% from the previous quarter. The company attributed its year-on-year revenue dip to lower average selling prices due to changes in its product mix, partially offset by higher deliveries. For the fourth…

For all its potential as a clean energy solution, hydrogen has struggled to compete with cheaper and more established alternatives like natural gas. One major hurdle is the high cost of hydrogen production and transportation. Ecolectro, a startup co-founded by Gabriel Rodriguez-Calero and Kristina Hugar, aims to change this by producing hydrogen closer to end-users with innovative electrolyzers designed to reduce costs and logistical challenges. “We are very interested in figuring out who’s trucking in hydrogen today,” Rodriguez-Calero told TechCrunch. “By making the gas on site, you’re mitigating a lot of risk around logistics of transportation [and] storage at the…

Chinese automaker Chery will delay the launch of vehicle production at its Barcelona plant to the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a year-long postponement from its previous schedule, according to Pedro Calef, CEO of its Spanish partner, Ebro. The announcement follows an earlier statement in September citing delays without specifying a timeline. “The project has not been canceled. There has just been a readjustment,” Calef assured in an interview at the Barcelona plant, expressing confidence in the partnership’s longevity. Ebro had previously attributed the delay to commercial factors, including potential EU tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, but Calef clarified that the…

European logistics firm DFDS has placed an order for ten solar-powered transport refrigeration units (TRUs), named “Endurance,” from UK startup Sunswap. The units, designed for zero-emission cold chain logistics, feature a battery and solar panels to help maintain low temperatures without reliance on diesel. Sunswap reports that the Endurance units can sustain cooling for up to 22 hours per charge, with solar panels providing between 65% and 100% of the unit’s power needs. A full charge takes approximately 80 minutes, and the units can operate effectively for two days. This initial order marks Sunswap’s entry into the global cold-chain market,…

Lucid Motors has launched the online configurator for its latest model, the all-electric Gravity SUV, allowing prospective buyers to explore its features and customize their orders. Available initially in the Grand Touring trim, the luxury SUV starts at $94,900, with fully-loaded configurations reaching up to $126,500. The Gravity is Lucid’s second vehicle, following the Air sedan, and is designed with both performance and versatility in mind. The SUV boasts over 440 miles of range per charge, 828 horsepower, and up to 120 cubic feet of cargo space, depending on the selected seating layout. Lucid also highlights the Gravity’s capacity to…

Tesla has officially initiated Cybertruck deliveries in Canada as the company appears to have fulfilled its initial backlog in the United States. This comes roughly a year after Tesla began delivering the Cybertruck in the U.S., where it has delivered an estimated 40,000 units to date. Recently, Tesla announced that the Cybertruck achieved positive gross margins, and the company also introduced a higher-end version of the electric truck in the U.S. market, priced at $80,000. Previously, reservation figures for the Cybertruck had reportedly reached up to 2 million worldwide, but Tesla’s order page now indicates immediate availability in the U.S.,…

Researchers from Germany’s Technical University of Darmstadt and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled a breakthrough in battery safety. The team has developed an approach that merges machine learning with basic physical models to detect early faults in lithium-ion battery systems. “Faults in individual battery cells can lead to serious problems such as fires,” explained experts from TU Darmstadt’s Institute of Automation Technology and Mechatronics. Their method employs recursive Gaussian processes, which allow for real-time monitoring by quickly processing extensive data. “These recursive methods can be applied in real-time and efficiently process large amounts of data, enabling continuous…

Lilium, the German developer of electric flying taxis, has officially filed for insolvency for its two key subsidiaries, Lilium GmbH and Lilium eAircraft GmbH. The application for self-administration proceedings was submitted to the Weilheim Local Court on October 28, following the company’s announcement of its intention to file earlier in the week. In a notification to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday, Lilium indicated that it was unable to secure sufficient additional funding to sustain operations. The company cited that both subsidiaries are “over-indebted” and “will not be able to pay their liabilities as they fall due…

The Mexican government on Monday raised concerns about a recent proposal by the Biden administration to restrict certain Chinese software and hardware in connected vehicles in the U.S., citing national security concerns. Mexico’s economy ministry, in a filing with the U.S. Commerce Department, expressed apprehensions that the proposed restrictions could have a “substantial impact on Mexico’s automotive industry,” stating, “Economically, it poses potential trade barriers, disruptions to supply chains, increased production costs, and a possible risk of reduced direct and indirect employment.” Automakers and technology organizations also voiced concerns, asking for modifications and additional time before the rule takes effect.…

Einride and PepsiCo have announced a partnership to deploy an electric truck fleet in Memphis, Tennessee, with the goal of electrifying Frito-Lay’s food distribution routes in the area. This collaboration reflects PepsiCo’s aim to reduce its Scope 3 emissions through sustainable freight solutions and follows a previous implementation in the U.K. in 2023. The initiative involves a fleet of five electric vehicles that are expected to transport over 2,500 loads annually, covering nearly 200,000 miles. This deployment is anticipated to contribute to an annual reduction of approximately 143 metric tons of CO2e emissions. The trucks will be operated by drivers…

Chinese automakers are intensifying efforts to expand their manufacturing capabilities outside of China, with plans to more than double their full-process production capacity in response to rising import tariffs on vehicles from China and increasing global demand for electric vehicles (EVs), according to a report from Bloomberg. The report indicates that these manufacturers are set to increase their annual production capacity in foreign plants from 1.2 million vehicles in 2023 to over 2.7 million by 2026. This ambitious expansion aims to establish full-process manufacturing facilities, which encompass all key stages of vehicle production, including stamping, welding, painting, and final assembly.…

US battery cell developer 24M has announced the delivery of commercial-sized lithium metal battery cells to a major automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM), although the company has not disclosed the name of the recipient. However, Volkswagen, which has held a 25% stake in 24M since early 2022, is widely speculated to be the customer. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 24M focuses on providing cell manufacturing platforms and primarily generates revenue by licensing its innovative ‘SemiSolid’ technology. The current delivery marks the first time a major automotive OEM has access to 24M’s battery cells, though these particular units…

Lamborghini has launched its first plug-in hybrid Super SUV, the Urus SE, at the Nardò Technical Center (NTC). This new model combines high-performance capabilities with hybrid technology, reflecting the brand’s efforts toward electrification. The Urus SE is equipped with a twin-turbo V8 engine and an electric motor, delivering a combined power output of 800 CV (588 kW), making it the most powerful Urus model to date. The Urus SE features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, producing 950 Nm of torque. This setup enables the SUV to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in…

Tesla is reportedly preparing to appoint Omead Afshar to oversee its operations in Europe and the USA, according to reports from Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. While Tesla has yet to officially confirm the move, the promotion places Afshar, one of CEO Elon Musk’s closest confidants, in a key leadership position at the electric vehicle manufacturer. Afshar, who joined Tesla in 2017, has worked closely with Musk, initially as Project Manager and later as Project Director. He played a significant role in the development of Tesla’s Giga Texas facility. Though his LinkedIn profile offers little insight into his current…

Voltera, a U.S.-based charge point operator, is enhancing its portfolio by developing two new charging hubs specifically for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in California, aimed at facilitating the transition to zero-emission mobility. The first hub will be situated in Wilmington, near the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. It will provide a total charging capacity of five megawatts, accommodating up to 30 charging stalls. This strategic location is expected to significantly support the region’s extensive drayage operations. Funding for the construction comes from the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Carl Moyer Programme, which contributed $2.3 million, along with…

Toyota Motor North America has formed a partnership with Revel to offer complimentary DC fast charging for Toyota and Lexus electric vehicle (EV) customers in New York City. The initiative will last nearly three years, concluding on October 14, 2027, and aims to facilitate electric vehicle adoption by enhancing charging convenience. Revel operates a prominent network of public fast charging stations in the city, providing 24/7 access at several busy locations. Under this program, owners of Toyota and Lexus battery EVs will have free access to DC fast charging at Revel stations in New York City. Revel’s network currently includes…

Skyports Infrastructure has teamed up with SEA Milan, the owner of Milan’s airports, and 2i Aeroporti, an Italian airport infrastructure firm, to form a new joint venture called Vega. The partnership aims to advance the air mobility ecosystem in Italy, with an initial focus on establishing flying taxi services between Milan’s Malpensa Airport and the city center. “The formation of Vega is a significant milestone in Skyports’ mission to bring air taxi operations to northern Italy,” said Damian Kysely, director of Vega and head of EMEA at Skyports. “With Vega, we’re not only developing efficient, low-emission transport solutions for passengers…

Renault’s Mobilize division has introduced the production versions of its Duo and Bento models, ahead of their official debut at the Paris Motor Show. The Duo, a successor to the Renault Twizy, will launch in France on October 14, with prices beginning at €9,990 for the L6 version, which is limited to a top speed of 45 kph. A higher-performance L7 version, capable of reaching speeds up to 80 kph, will start at €11,600, according to reports by Autocar. The Bento, a commercial version of the Duo equipped with a storage box instead of a second seat, will…

Foxconn Technology Group, a prominent Chinese contract electronics manufacturer recognized as a key supplier of iPhones, introduced two new electric vehicle models yesterday, further expanding its rapidly growing automotive portfolio. The North American version of its sports utility vehicle, the Model C, designed specifically for a U.S. partner, is set to begin mass production at the end of next year. The Model D, a sizable multi-purpose SUV measuring 5.1 meters in length with a wheelbase of 3.2 meters, was showcased at Foxconn’s recent Technology Day event. The vehicle is manufactured by Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, Foxconn’s joint venture with Yulong Motor,…