Author: Miguel Garcia

Mexico said on Wednesday it will raise tariffs on automobiles from China and other Asian countries to 50%, as part of a broader overhaul of import levies designed to protect domestic jobs. The Economy Ministry said the measures would affect $52 billion of imports across multiple sectors, including textiles, steel, and automotive. Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard told reporters that the tariffs on Chinese cars, currently at 20%, would be raised “to the maximum level allowed.” He added that “without a certain level of protection, you almost can’t compete,” and said the measures were intended to protect jobs from imports entering…

Mercedes-Benz said on Monday it will expand its global fast-charging network from 2026 with a new generation of high-power charging infrastructure developed with Alpitronic, the European market leader in high-power charging. The partnership will see the HYC1000 system installed at new Mercedes-Benz charging parks in Europe and North America. The new technology introduces a modular, decentralized design with external power units delivering up to 1,000 kW at 800 amps. Smart load management will distribute power across multiple charging points, enabling flexibility and scalability for operators. A single point can provide up to 600 kW at 800 volts, with Mercedes-Benz saying…

Parkopedia said on Friday it will provide in-car electric vehicle (EV) charging services for Chinese automaker Leapmotor as the brand expands internationally, starting with its B10 crossover in late 2025. The partnership will integrate Parkopedia’s charging platform into Leapmotor’s overseas models, giving drivers access to real-time information on charger locations, availability, pricing, and connector types. The service is aimed at easing charging concerns, which surveys show remain a major barrier to EV adoption. “Leapmotor is growing quickly and we are pleased to play a key role in supporting their expansion across competitive global markets,” said Iris Xu, General Manager of…

AEye has entered a strategic partnership with Flasheye, a developer of real-time 3D perception software, to integrate Flasheye’s technology into AEye’s OPTIS™ platform. The collaboration is intended to deliver a comprehensive 3D visual awareness system capable of real-time detection and analysis across multiple sectors, including infrastructure, transportation, and safety. Matt Fisch, CEO of AEye, said the partnership combines the company’s long-range software-definable lidar with Flasheye’s perception engine to produce “a highly scalable, intelligent system capable of detecting objects up to one kilometer away” and noted that the solution is already being deployed in real-world applications such as airport safety and…

Israeli battery maker StoreDot has started shipping its commercial-ready 4695 cylindrical cells to global electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, marking a key step in the adoption of extreme fast charging (XFC) technology. The cells, developed in partnership with Kumyang, allow EVs to gain 100 miles of range in approximately five minutes and can charge from 10% to 80% in 10 minutes. StoreDot said the batteries maintain fast charging performance across various states of charge and retain over 80% capacity after more than 2,000 fast-charging cycles. “The production of a large-scale batch of 4695 cells validates our XFC technology on a production…

Rivian Chief Executive RJ Scaringe said the electric vehicle maker is working to develop batteries that can charge faster without sacrificing driving range or durability, as consumer demand for more convenient charging grows. Speaking on the Plugged-In Podcast, Scaringe said the company’s battery research aims to reduce charging times while maintaining energy density. “We try to find the right balance on those. But we’re increasingly focusing on fast charging without losing energy density as we’ve known it thus far,” he said. The Rivian CEO noted that quicker charging can often undermine long-term battery performance. “We can fast-charge really quickly, but…

Chevrolet is offering lease deals on its 2025 Equinox EV LT FWD in the United States, with monthly payments starting at $225 for 24 months. The promotion is available until September 2 and requires $2,500 at signing, with no security deposit required for credit-approved customers. The offer factors in $3,000 in Chevrolet Incentives & GM Rewards along with dealer contributions, with final payments varying by location. Additional programs may lower costs further, including a $1,250 Costco EV lease offer for executive members, a $1,250 Conquest Offer for drivers of 2011 or newer non-GM vehicles, and GM’s discount programs for military…

Xos, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of battery-electric commercial vehicles, said its mobile charging solution, the Xos Hub, has qualified for California’s Clean Off-Road Equipment (CORE) Voucher Incentive Project. The approval makes the high-capacity unit eligible for a $110,000 incentive, reducing its cost to below $100,000 and making it more accessible to fleets compared with traditional DC fast charging systems, which can cost more than $200,000. The company announced the development this week. The Xos Hub integrates 282 kilowatt-hours of onboard energy storage with four DC fast chargers and is designed for deployment without permanent infrastructure or utility upgrades. Already in…

Ford is exploring the possibility of offering more affordable electric vehicles under its luxury Lincoln brand, CEO Jim Farley said, as the automaker rolls out a new platform aimed at lower-cost EVs. Speaking to Hagerty, Farley said “an affordable EV Lincoln” would make sense, while noting that the brand is not yet ready to fully transition to all-electric models. He added, “The team really pushed me to have an all-electric lineup, and I refused to do it,” emphasizing that Lincoln’s future vehicles will likely include traditional gasoline models, hybrids, and extended-range EVs (EREVs). Farley highlighted EREVs as a key option…

Applied Intuition, a provider of vehicle intelligence solutions, has unveiled its Self-Driving System (SDS) for Automotive, a driver-assistance platform designed to give automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) scalable L2++ features with a roadmap toward L3 and L4 autonomy. The SDS platform integrates perception, planning, and control into an end-to-end (E2E) solution that offers full system visibility for safety validation and brand-specific customization. According to the company, the system is compatible with a wide range of sensors, compute platforms, and electronic control units (ECUs), allowing OEMs to tailor solutions to their specific hardware and cost requirements. Key capabilities include support for…

Mazda has introduced a new app, Mazda Charging, designed to provide a simpler and more connected electric driving experience for its EV customers in Europe. The launch coincides with the debut of the all-new Mazda6e and aims to support the automaker’s broader push toward seamless electric mobility. Developed in partnership with Zurich-based autoSense, Mazda Charging offers drivers access to hundreds of thousands of public charging stations across Europe. The app provides real-time information on charger availability, power levels, and pricing, allowing users to start, stop, and pay for charging sessions directly. The platform supports multiple local languages and currencies, with…

Ambitious Air Mobility Group (AAMG), the Dutch investor seeking to acquire German air taxi developer Lilium, is already mapping out plans for new products and business areas, including defence, logistics, and autonomous flight, even as its purchase of the insolvent company is not yet finalised. AAMG executives told German newspaper Handelsblatt that they want to advance Lilium’s seven-seater electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft towards autonomous operation. “We are talking about freight transport, but that also brings defence into play,” said AAMG executive Daniel Hayes, adding that the company would establish a military division similar to U.S. rival Archer.…