Author: Miguel Garcia

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:…

Electric boat startup Arc is entering the commercial marine sector with the development of an all-electric tugboat slated to begin operations at the Port of Los Angeles later this year. The 26-foot vessel, currently undergoing retrofit, will incorporate Arc’s proprietary powertrain and software technologies, marking the company’s first step beyond recreational boating. Founded in early 2021 by a team of engineers with backgrounds at SpaceX, Tesla, Rivian, and Lyft, Arc initially focused on high-performance electric recreational boats. The company’s early models, including the limited-run Arc One and the more advanced Arc Sport launched in 2024, garnered attention for their power…

A new report from Autocraft EV Solutions, a company specializing in electric vehicle (EV) battery testing and remanufacturing, argues that repairing EV batteries instead of replacing them could significantly reduce carbon emissions and increase consumer confidence in EV ownership. The report, Closing the EV Confidence Gap: The Role of Battery Remanufacturing, is based on in-warranty repair data and insights from the RECOVAS research initiative. Autocraft’s analysis highlights that most EV battery issues stem from isolated cell failures rather than total system failure. On average, just over one module per battery pack required replacement to restore performance to over 90% of…

Aurora Innovation said on Thursday it plans to expand its commercial driverless freight operations in the second half of 2025 by enabling night driving and operations during adverse weather, such as rain and high winds. The autonomous vehicle technology company, which launched its commercial self-driving truck service last week, outlined the update in its first-quarter shareholder letter. Aurora intends to expand its driverless routes beyond the Dallas-to-Houston corridor to include El Paso and Phoenix, signaling a broader deployment strategy. See also: Aurora Innovation Releases US Driverless Safety Report  “We’d like to have a high return on asset for every truck that…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has withdrawn its plans to invest in a lithium cathode materials plant in Chile due to a sustained drop in global lithium prices, according to a report by Reuters citing Chilean authorities. BYD’s decision comes alongside that of Chinese metals firm Tsingshan, which also pulled the plug on a $233 million project aimed at producing 120,000 tons of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) per year. Both companies had been granted access to preferential lithium pricing through Chile’s economic development agency, Corfo, as part of an initiative to attract foreign investment. “The companies selected by Corfo have…

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast has unveiled its latest zero-emission commercial vehicle, the EB 6 electric minibus, targeting both urban and interstate transit markets in its domestic market. The EB 6 is powered by a 179.5 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, offering a range of over 250 km on a full charge and a top speed of 90 kph. With peak DC fast charging at 120 kW, the battery can be charged from 20% to 80% in around 70 minutes. A single rear-mounted electric motor delivers 140 kW of power and 420 Nm of torque. Measuring 6.2 meters in…

Zoox has issued a recall for its Automated Driving System (ADS) software in vehicles released before April 17, 2025, following the discovery of a flaw that could result in misjudging the movements of other vehicles, thereby increasing the risk of crashes. The flaw was identified when another vehicle approached perpendicularly and stopped. The Zoox system incorrectly predicted the vehicle’s path, potentially leading the autonomous vehicle into a hazardous driving situation. See also: Zoox Expands Robotaxi Testing to Los Angeles with Retrofitted Vehicles Credit: ZooxThe issue was most prominent at speeds above 40 mph, particularly when the vehicle emerged slowly from…

Volkswagen Group’s charging subsidiary Elli will unveil its new Flexpole Plus battery-integrated DC charging system at the Power2Drive trade fair this week, alongside announcing a major cooperation with German fuel retailer association Uniti. The move could significantly expand EV charging access across Germany, especially at locations previously considered unsuitable for fast charging. The upgraded Flexpole Plus system maintains a 150 kW charging capacity without requiring medium-voltage grid upgrades and introduces new features for improved deployment and energy management. While Elli has not yet confirmed the battery specifications for the latest version, the first-generation Flexpole offered a 193.5 kWh (160 kWh usable) buffer battery.…

Swiss battery recycler Librec has inaugurated its first industrial-scale recycling plant for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in Biberist, Solothurn, aiming to process up to 12,000 tons of battery material annually. The new plant, constructed on the grounds of a former paper mill, claims a record-setting recovery rate of more than 97% and is designed to handle both used EV batteries and rejects from battery production. Librec plans to run the facility in three shifts at full capacity, with a third of its energy requirements met by recovered electricity from discharged batteries and the remainder supplied by rooftop solar power. “We…