Author: Miguel Garcia

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued Wells Notices to Faraday Future founder Jia Yueting and president Jerry Wang, signaling the agency may soon pursue enforcement actions after a three-year investigation into potential securities fraud linked to the company’s 2021 SPAC merger. In a regulatory filing published Wednesday, Faraday Future disclosed the notices, which indicate that the SEC’s enforcement staff has recommended actions against the electric vehicle startup, Jia, Wang, and two unnamed former employees. The SEC’s focus centers on alleged false or misleading disclosures made during the company’s merger with a special purpose acquisition company, which enabled…

U.S.-based autonomous vehicle technology company May Mobility has unveiled its Ride-Hail Integration API, a strategic addition to its Autonomy-as-a-Service (AaaS) platform. The new interface enables seamless communication between May Mobility’s driverless fleets and major ride-hail applications, setting the stage for broader commercial deployments globally. The API is designed to enhance interoperability with ride-hail platforms, optimizing pick-up and drop-off coordination while improving safety and user convenience. “Our riders will experience optimized pick-up and drop-off times and a smoother ride from beginning to end,” said Jacob Crossman, senior vice president of autonomy engineering at May Mobility. The technology supports both left-hand and…

UTA Edenred, a mobility service provider, has significantly expanded its European electric vehicle (EV) charging network by integrating 8,000 new Powerdot charging points across France, Spain, Belgium, and Poland. The move comes as part of a broader partnership with Portuguese charging operator Powerdot, which aims to make EV charging more accessible at high-traffic public destinations. The newly added charging stations support CCS, Type 2, and CHAdeMO connectors and provide fast-charging capabilities of up to 200 kW. These stations can be located using the UTA eCharge smartphone app, which also serves as a payment method alongside the UTA eCard. UTA Edenred…

U.S.-based battery manufacturer Lyten has acquired Northvolt Dwa ESS, a subsidiary of Swedish battery maker Northvolt, as it accelerates plans to introduce lithium-sulphur-based energy storage systems in Europe. The Gdansk, Poland-based facility spans 25,000 square meters and was previously dedicated to the production and R&D of stationary battery energy storage systems (BESS). Lyten said it plans to resume production at the facility “immediately,” with sales expected to restart soon. The plant, which launched in 2023, has an annual production capacity of 6 GWh and room for expansion up to 10 GWh. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. “Northvolt’s…

Spain’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure expanded by 20% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 46,358 active charging points. However, an additional 13,072 charging stations remain non-operational due to delays in power grid connections, prompting government intervention. The growth in infrastructure reflects strong momentum in Spain’s transition to e-mobility. Yet, despite hardware deployment, a significant portion of new charging points cannot be activated as regional grids are unable to support them. The backlog has now pushed authorities to enforce regulatory action. Under a new legislative package titled Royal Decree-Law 7/2025, the Spanish government has introduced time-bound obligations for…

Spanish electric vehicle charging company Wallbox Chargers has secured $15 million in new funding through the issuance of ordinary shares, with over $9 million of the investment coming from the Spanish government via a dedicated technology transformation initiative. The capital injection was completed through two private placements. The majority—approximately $9 million—was provided by the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), a state-owned entity under the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration. SETT’s participation is part of the government’s ‘Next Tech’ initiative, which seeks to boost financing in key strategic industries while attracting additional private capital. That goal appears to…

Mexico’s government has officially certified Taruk, the nation’s first fully designed and manufactured electric bus, marking a milestone for the country’s electric mobility industry, local media reported. The Taruk project is a collaboration between Megaflux, an emerging company specializing in electric vehicle technology and propulsion, and Dina (Diesel Nacional), a veteran Mexican bus manufacturer responsible for the chassis and bodywork. Initial production plans call for 2,000 units per year, with capacity to scale up to 6,000 annually, according to Latam mobility reports. The 9.5-meter Taruk minibuss can accommodate 65 passengers and features a fully electric propulsion system with a range…

U.S.-based autonomous vehicle technology company May Mobility has announced a strategic partnership with Japan’s ITOCHU Corporation to expand the deployment of driverless vehicles globally. The agreement, which includes integration with customer support provider BELLSYSTEM24, is expected to significantly enhance operational efficiency and support large-scale autonomous services. Under the collaboration, May Mobility’s Tele-assist and Rider Support platforms will be integrated with BELLSYSTEM24’s business process infrastructure to manage vehicle operations and passenger services. This is the first major alliance between an AV company and a global leader in customer experience outsourcing, positioning May Mobility to scale operations with an emphasis on safety…

The Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility announced plans to install eight new fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along major highways, marking a pilot initiative to expand the country’s EV infrastructure. The new charging hubs will be located in Asturias, Barcelona, Cantabria, Córdoba, Cuenca, Madrid, Valencia, and Zaragoza, with the first sites planned on disused land near rest stops, storage areas, or former tollbooths. Each station will include amenities such as cafes, restaurants, shops, parking spaces, toilets, and children’s playgrounds, aiming to improve the overall travel experience for EV drivers. The specific planned locations are: La Caridad (Asturias)…

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to revoke California’s authority to implement a ban on the sale of new gasoline-only vehicles by 2035, overturning an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waiver granted under the Biden administration. The measure now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk, potentially setting up a legal showdown with California officials. California’s plan, initially announced in 2020 and adopted by 11 other states, mandates that 80% of new vehicle sales be electric and 20% plug-in hybrids by 2035. The Senate vote also aims to repeal EPA backing for California’s separate zero-emission heavy-duty truck regulations and low-nitrogen oxide (NOx)…

Tesla’s Model 3 has secured a five-star rating in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash testing, meeting the agency’s most rigorous safety protocols to date. The updated electric sedan delivered standout results across all categories, cementing Tesla’s position as a leader in automotive safety. The Model 3 scored 90% in Adult Occupant Protection, 95% in Child Occupant Protection, 89% for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 88% in Safety Assist Systems. See also: Tesla Expands Discounts to Students, Teachers, Military, and First Responders in U.S. Push The results also apply to vehicles assessed by Australia’s safety regulator ANCAP, retroactively covering…

There is renewed hope for struggling Canadian electric bus and truck manufacturer Lion Electric, as a group of investors led by Montreal real estate magnate Vincent Chiara is set to take control of the bankrupt company. The proposed takeover, reported by Bloomberg, aims to provide new capital and steer the insolvent firm away from liquidation, which had seemed imminent. Lion Electric, the sole manufacturer of electric school buses in Canada, disclosed in its bankruptcy filing that it owes more than $244 million to secured and unsecured creditors. The company’s financial difficulties have been mounting since late 2023, when it began…

Tesla has revised its corporate bylaws to restrict the ability of shareholders to sue company executives or board members for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, according to a regulatory filing. Effective May 15, the electric vehicle maker requires investors to own at least 3% of Tesla’s outstanding shares—valued at over $30 billion based on current market prices—to initiate or maintain derivative lawsuits. The filing states, “Tesla has adopted an ownership threshold requiring any shareholder or group of shareholders to hold shares of common stock sufficient to meet an ownership threshold of at least 3% of Tesla’s issued and outstanding shares…

BMW said it will continue investing in a broad mix of vehicle powertrains, including internal combustion engines, hybrids, battery electric, and hydrogen systems, as the German automaker maintains its long-standing position favoring technological diversity over a singular focus on electrification. During its recent annual general meeting, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse reiterated the company’s commitment to a flexible powertrain strategy, contrasting it with the retreat of some rival automakers from earlier EV-only goals. “We take ambitious political goals seriously – but we don’t believe in technically one-sided regulations that limit supply,” Zipse said. See also: BMW Completes Central Structure of Bavarian…

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers in Spain can now benefit from a new dynamic charging tariff, marking a first for the country, as Dutch company PowerGo rolls out market-linked pricing at over 50 charging locations. The system, which adjusts charging costs based on real-time electricity market conditions, is available exclusively to users of the PowerGo Charge app. PowerGo’s pricing model ties directly to the European Power Exchange (EPEX), meaning prices fluctuate in response to electricity supply and demand. This setup allows EV users to access cheaper rates during off-peak hours or when renewable energy production is high. However, those using other…

German chipmaker Infineon Technologies has partnered with U.S.-based cockpit electronics supplier Visteon Corporation to jointly develop next-generation electric vehicle (EV) drivetrains, with a focus on integrating high-efficiency power conversion technologies. The collaboration centers on using Infineon’s wide-bandgap semiconductors—specifically its CoolGaN gallium nitride and CoolSiC silicon carbide devices—in future EV drivetrain applications. These components are expected to enhance power density, thermal performance, and overall energy efficiency, while helping reduce system costs for automotive power modules, according to Visteon. Planned use cases for the advanced semiconductors include battery junction boxes, on-board chargers, and DC-DC converters—key systems in EV platforms where high-efficiency energy…

Zeekr announced that the 10,000th Zeekr 007 GT electric vehicle rolled off the assembly line and was delivered just one month after the model’s launch in China. The shooting brake-style Zeekr 007 GT, officially launched on April 15, began deliveries on April 20 and is available in three variants priced between RMB 202,900 ($28,140) and RMB 232,900. The model builds on the Zeekr 007 electric sedan platform and marks Zeekr’s second shooting brake offering following the Zeekr 001. Zeekr’s first model, the Zeekr 001 shooting brake, debuted in April 2021 and was among the earliest shooting brake-style vehicles introduced by…

General Motors and battery partner LG Energy Solution plan to begin commercial production of lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery cells in the United States starting in 2028, aiming to lower electric vehicle (EV) costs and expand adoption. The new LMR cells, which GM says are more cost-effective than the nickel-rich cells currently in use, will be manufactured in a prismatic format at one of the two Ultium Cells joint-venture plants located in Ohio and Tennessee. The shift to prismatic cells, from the current pouch structure, is expected to cut battery pack components by more than 50%, helping to streamline production and…

Nissan on Tuesday announced plans to cut 11,000 additional jobs and shut down seven manufacturing plants, as the Japanese automaker battles plunging profits, declining sales, and mounting pressure from global rivals. The sweeping cost-cutting measures follow a turbulent year that saw merger talks with Honda collapse, a change in leadership, and weakening demand in key markets. The latest reductions bring Nissan’s total planned workforce cuts to around 20,000 jobs. The company will also streamline operations by reducing its global production footprint to 10 plants from 17 and cutting component complexity by 70%. Specific locations for the closures were not disclosed.…

Spain’s government has announced a fourth round of funding under its Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) programme for eMobility, allocating €1.25 billion to support electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing initiatives. Unlike previous rounds, the 2024 funding structure will primarily consist of loans totaling €1 billion, with the remaining €250 million distributed as direct grants. The programme will be managed for the first time by the State Corporation for Industrial Promotion and Enterprise Development (Sepides), Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism said in a statement. As in prior phases, funding will be distributed across two main categories:…