Author: Moira Shortle

Swedish public transport operator Vy Buss has ordered 73 battery-electric buses from Volvo Buses for deployment in the city of Borås and surrounding regional routes, the companies said, strengthening Sweden’s ongoing shift toward zero-emission public transport. The order consists of 46 Volvo 7900 Electric articulated buses, 14 Volvo 7900 Electric standard units and 13 Volvo 8900 Electric buses. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed by April 2027. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. See also: Volvo Buses Wins First Brazilian Order for Electric Articulated and Double-Articulated Buses The buses will operate on urban routes within Borås as well…

Universal Courier Logistical Services (UCLS) has expanded its electric vehicle fleet with the addition of 33 Renault Trucks E-Tech Master electric panel vans to support a new zero-emission home delivery contract across northern England. The multimillion-pound investment brings UCLS’s total number of electric vehicles to 48 and forms part of its plan to electrify more than half of its 600-vehicle fleet by 2030. The new vans will operate on final-mile delivery routes serving Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds, as the company seeks to meet growing demand for emissions-free logistics services. UCLS currently operates about 700 final-mile routes each day and…

German battery recycling company Accurec has inaugurated a new facility at its headquarters in Krefeld to recover lithium from used batteries, marking a step forward in Europe’s efforts to strengthen domestic supplies of critical raw materials. The company said the plant uses its proprietary “CLIMA” recycling process and is capable of achieving lithium yields and purities exceeding 99%. While Accurec did not disclose the plant’s annual processing capacity, the company had previously outlined plans in 2022 to build a facility capable of extracting lithium from up to 4,000 tonnes of used batteries per year. The new plant was formally opened…

Geely Auto posted a third consecutive month of record vehicle sales in November, supported by sustained momentum at its Geely Galaxy sub-brand and rising demand for electrified models, as the Chinese automaker accelerates its overseas expansion. The company sold 310,428 vehicles last month, up 24.10% from a year earlier and 1.07% higher than in October, according to figures released on Monday. See also: Geely Galaxy Reaches 70,000 Units in Output of A7 Hybrid Sedan Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales rose to a record 102,602 units in November, increasing 12.34% year on year and 4.33% month on month. Plug-in hybrid electric…

Toyota Motor has formed strategic partnerships with several energy providers in Europe to offer smart energy solutions for charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, including preparations for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, the company said. The initiative will cover charging at home, at workplaces and on the road, as part of Toyota’s broader push to integrate mobility with energy systems. Toyota Motor Europe, based in Cologne, said the collaborations are designed to combine automotive and energy-sector capabilities. “These collaborations aim to create a unique value proposition by combining Toyota’s mobility expertise with the energy sector’s capabilities in grid flexibility, renewable integration, and…

Uganda’s state-backed automaker Kiira Motors has launched a 13,000-kilometre electric bus journey across six African countries in a bid to demonstrate the viability of electric mobility on the continent. The 30-day “Made in Uganda Grand Trans-Africa Electric Expedition” spans Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa, the company said in project updates shared on social media. The expedition began a few days ago, and Kiira said the electric coach has already covered about 1,897 kilometres, completing roughly 14.6% of the total route. According to data released by the company, the bus has so far consumed about 1,650 kilowatt-hours of…

SAIC-GM, the General Motors joint venture in China, on Thursday unveiled the all-new 2026 Buick Electra Encasa, marking the public debut of Buick’s next-generation electrified multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) following an earlier preview last month. The model was presented at the 2025 Guangzhou Auto Show, which runs from Nov. 21 to Nov. 30, where Buick also opened reservations for the vehicle. The Electra Encasa is Buick’s primary new product launch at the show and becomes the first MPV under its Electra new-energy sub-brand, which has recently expanded from a purely electric crossover range into a broader electrified portfolio. See also: GM…

Ford Motor is facing a proposed class action lawsuit in the United States over claims that some F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks were sold without a promised safety feature, according to a court filing cited by Car Complaints. The case, Ibrahim Lunawadawal v. Ford Motor Company, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California by law firms Nye, Stirling, Hale, Miller & Sweet and Sauder Schelkopf. The lawsuit centers on allegations that a 2024 F-150 Lightning purchased by one of the plaintiffs was advertised as being equipped with Ford’s Forward Sensing System on the vehicle’s…

he U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Monday issued a warning that batteries used in Rad Power Bikes’ e-bikes “pose a risk of serious injury and death,” citing the potential for ignition or explosion. The advisory follows 31 reported fire incidents, including 12 cases causing property damage, some of which occurred while batteries were not charging. “The hazardous batteries can unexpectedly ignite and explode, posing a fire hazard to consumers, especially when the battery or the harness has been exposed to water and debris,” the CPSC said in its notice. Rad Power, which recently warned employees it could shut…

Geely Auto sub-brand Geely Galaxy unveiled its V900 extended-range MPV on Thursday at the opening of the 2025 Guangzhou auto show, marking the official debut of the brand’s V-series lineup. The model introduces a new series-exclusive emblem—a gold-accented horse with wings—intended to underscore its premium positioning. Built on the GEA Evo (Global Intelligent New Energy Architecture Evo) platform, the V900 will incorporate the G-Pilot H5 driver assistance system. Geely Galaxy did not disclose the vehicle’s pricing or market launch schedule. A regulatory filing in September showed the model measures 5,360 mm in length, 1,998 mm in width and 1,940 mm…

BYD is expanding its European product range with upgraded electric and plug-in hybrid versions of the Atto 2, aiming to better position the compact SUV in one of the region’s most competitive segments. The company said the latest Comfort trim responds to European market expectations for longer range and faster charging, noting that “the plug-in hybrid is said to consume just 1.8 liters of gasoline.” The new Atto 2 Comfort lifts battery capacity from 45 kWh to 64.8 kWh, extending the WLTP range from 312 km to 430 km — a key benchmark in Europe, where rival models often exceed…

Renault has revealed Italian market pricing for the fourth-generation Twingo, its retro-style microcar, highlighting differences in standard equipment compared with other European markets. The entry-level Twingo Evolution will be available from €19,500, keeping it below the €20,000 mark. The launch version, the Twingo ‘Techno,’ is priced at €21,100, with early buyers able to participate in Renault’s ‘R-Pass’ pre-order program, which is open until January 7, 2026. This program provides a limited price advantage for early customers, including additional equipment, bringing the pre-order price for the Techno model to €21,490. In contrast to some European markets, Italian buyers must pay extra…

Renault Trucks has unveiled two new electric trucks, the E-Tech D12 and D14, extending its lineup of vehicles designed for urban distribution transport. The vehicles target gross vehicle weights of 12 and 14 tonnes, respectively, and are intended for city-based freight operations across European markets. Both models are 2.39 metres wide, have a 3.8-metre wheelbase, and are designed for a turning radius of under 7.3 metres, making them the most compact trucks in the manufacturer’s electric range. Full air suspension on both front and rear axles is included to improve comfort and driving stability in urban environments. See also: KleanDrive…

Hesai Technology said it has produced and delivered more than 2 million lidar units, becoming the first automotive lidar manufacturer to reach this scale. The company passed its full-year 2025 target of one million units in September and expects further growth as lidar adoption accelerates. Hesai said cumulative deliveries have exceeded 2 million units worldwide, with monthly production and shipments now above 200,000 units. The company expects to deliver more than 600,000 units in the fourth quarter of 2025, a more than 600-fold increase from volumes five years ago. It has secured design wins for more than 120 vehicle models…

Continental has introduced seven autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) at its ContiLifeCycle retreading plant in Hanover-Stöcken, Germany, automating internal transport tasks within its hot retreading operations. The robots, which have been in service since March 2025, move green tires between production stations to reduce manual handling and support the company’s Industry 4.0 strategy. The AMRs handle repetitive movements between tire-building machines, curing presses and quality-control areas, connecting directly to the plant’s digital order management system. Continental said the robots navigate using sensors, 360-degree cameras and AI-based software at speeds of up to two metres per second, replacing manual movement of loads…

Li Auto has dismissed multiple employees after internal investigations linked staff failures to a major recall of its Li Mega multi-purpose vehicle and a separate quality problem affecting its L-series extended-range electric vehicles. The accountability measures, disclosed in two internal memos on Tuesday, involved disciplinary actions against 14 individuals, according to local media including 21jingji and Sina Tech. The actions follow an October 23 incident in which a Li Mega caught fire within seconds after sparks were seen beneath the chassis at a traffic intersection. See also: Li Auto Restructures Again After Sales Slump, Merges HR Units Under CEO Li…

Croatian postal service Hrvatska Pošta has added the first 70 of 255 new Askoll ES PRO electric mopeds to its delivery fleet, with the remaining vehicles expected to be deployed by the end of November. The e-mopeds will operate in multiple regions, including Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, Zadar, and Bjelovar. The expansion will bring the postal operator’s total electric fleet to 619 vehicles, covering e-bikes, quadricycles, cars, light delivery vehicles, and small semi-trucks. Hrvatska Pošta began electrifying its fleet in 2015 with the acquisition of 180 e-bikes, followed by 20 e-quadricycles in 2019. To support its growing electric fleet, Hrvatska…

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a $20 million funding initiative to accelerate the deployment of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the state. The program will support the installation of Level 2 and DC fast chargers, aiming to make charging more accessible and equitable for Illinois residents. Funding applications open on 17 November 2025 through the Amplifund platform and will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. The program requires that each application for Level 3 (DC fast) chargers include at least two station locations, with up to eight ports per site eligible for funding. There…

Tesla has introduced a new five-seat Model Y variant in China, offering the longest range yet in the SUV’s lineup. The Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Edition, unveiled on Thursday, is priced at RMB 288,500 ($40,500) and delivers an impressive 821-kilometer range under the CLTC standard. The model has an estimated delivery window of two to four weeks, according to Tesla’s China website. The new variant costs RMB 25,000 more than the entry-level Model Y, which offers a 593-kilometer range and starts at RMB 263,500. With this addition, Tesla’s five-seat Model Y lineup in China now includes three variants — the…

Rivian has quietly rolled out a new feature through recent software updates that allows its Gen 2 vehicles to calibrate cameras dynamically while driving, eliminating the need for service center visits for minor alignment adjustments. The feature enables the system to continuously refine camera positioning as the vehicle moves through various environments, ensuring optimal performance for the company’s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). See also: Rivian Delays Release of Kick Turn and RAD Tuner Features for R1T and R1S Quad Models The system now performs two types of calibration — static and dynamic. Static calibration occurs when the vehicle is…