Author: Moira Shortle

Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car subsidiary of Xpeng, has recently announced a strategic partnership with Autoliv (NYSE: ALV), a Swedish automotive parts giant, aimed at advancing safety measures in flying car technology. The partnership, formalized through a strategic cooperation agreement signed on June 3 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, seeks to leverage Autoliv’s extensive experience as a leading producer of airbags and seatbelts to enhance safety standards in future mobility solutions. A spokesperson for Autoliv stated, “Our collaboration with Xpeng Aeroht is based on a mutual commitment to the safety of future mobility. Together, we will focus on developing flying car…

Chevrolet is rolling out new electric vehicles (EVs) and enticing buyers with a no payments for 120 days offer on the new Equinox and Blazer EVs. However, there’s more to the deal than meets the eye. After discontinuing the current-generation Bolt EV last December, Chevy is ushering in a new era with EVs based on GM’s Ultium platform. The new Equinox and Blazer EVs are now available, with the Equinox EV touted as the “most affordable” in its segment, offering over 300 miles of range. See also: GM Claims Next-Gen Chevrolet Bolt to Be the Most Affordable EV on the Market…

Rivian is preparing to launch a revamped version of its popular R1 line for the 2025 model year. The upcoming updates aim to enhance both the performance and aesthetics of the vehicles, setting a new standard in the electric vehicle market. One of the key updates for the 2025 R1 line is the introduction of a more affordable LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery option for the base model. This move is expected to make Rivian’s electric vehicles more accessible to a wider range of consumers while also helping the company achieve positive margins. See also: Rivian to Introduce YouTube App and…

Ford Motor Company is implementing aggressive discounting strategies to boost sales of its 2023 model year F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks. Following a similar approach used successfully with the Mustang Mach-E, Ford is offering substantial discounts on remaining inventory to incentivize customers. Customers interested in leasing the all-electric pickup can now benefit from discounts of up to $15,250 off the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the top trim in at least 10 different regions. This move comes as Ford acknowledges missteps in its EV certification program for dealers and aims to accelerate its electrification plans. The discounts are primarily…

Xpeng launched its G6 SUV and X9 MPV in Hong Kong on May 17, a month after signing a dealer agreement to penetrate the market. Both models will feature a next-generation voice-control system capable of recognizing Cantonese, according to a statement from the electric vehicle (EV) maker. The G6 SUV starts at HK$299,900 (US$38,440) for the standard-range version and HK$349,900 for the long-range version. The intended pre-tax price of the X9 MPV is less than HK$500,000, with the final price pending approval from the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department. The first deliveries of the right-hand drive version of the…

Volvo’s ambitious goal to transition to all-electric vehicles by 2030 has hit a roadblock in the United States, with its electric vehicle (EV) sales plunging by 69 percent through April 2024, compared to the same period last year. The automaker aims for EVs to constitute half of its global sales by 2025. In the first four months of 2024, Volvo sold only 1,298 EVs in the U.S., a significant drop from the 4,138 units sold during the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, sales of Volvo’s plug-in hybrid models saw a 55 percent increase, totaling 10,124 units, contributing to an overall…

Nvidia’s venture capital arm, NVentures, has made an investment in Carbon Robotics, a startup based in Seattle that specializes in developing autonomous laser-weeding technologies. While the exact amount of the investment was not disclosed, Carbon Robotics plans to utilize the funds to further advance the development and deployment of its autonomous weeding solutions, which leverage AI and robotics for precise weeding capabilities. Mohamed Siddeek, head of NVentures, highlighted the potential of AI and advanced robotics in addressing challenges in agriculture, stating, “Carbon Robotics’ innovative solution improves farming practices to increase sustainability and improve the quality of produce available to consumers.”…

South Korea has welcomed the United States’ decision to extend automakers’ eligibility for electric vehicle (EV) tax credits for cars containing Chinese graphite through 2026, a move aimed at reducing reliance on China in the EV battery supply chain. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, closely monitored by automakers, seeks to diversify the EV battery chain away from China. South Korea’s industry ministry expressed support for this effort, stating it will continue to seek key battery materials to ensure domestic battery manufacturers and carmakers maintain competitiveness in the U.S. market. “In the case of graphite, it was difficult to diversify the…

Ryvid, the Southern California-based manufacturer known for its innovative electric motorcycles, has introduced its latest offering, the Ryvid Outset, alongside a significant price reduction for its existing model, the Ryvid Anthem. The Outset, priced at just $5,995, is positioned as the most affordable highway-capable electric motorcycle in the US, while the Anthem’s price has been lowered to $6,495. The Ryvid Anthem, initially priced at $8,995, has garnered attention for its commuter-friendly design since its late 2023 debut. Now, with the introduction of the Outset, Ryvid is expanding its lineup to cater to riders seeking a dual-purpose bike that can handle…

Milence, the electric truck charging joint venture, has announced the construction of a new charging location in Perpignan, France, scheduled to go online in September 2024. This marks Milence’s second site in France, following the opening of its first site in Heudebouville, Normandy. According to a press release from the company, the Perpignan site will initially feature three CCS chargers capable of delivering up to 400 kW of power. In a later phase, the site will be expanded to include megawatt chargers, consistent with Milence’s two-stage approach to charging hub development. The strategic location of the new site near the…

New Way Trucks, in collaboration with hydrogen fuel cell specialist Hyzon, has unveiled North America’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric refuse truck at Waste Expo in Las Vegas. This groundbreaking vehicle is the first outcome of their Joint Development Agreement (JDA). The hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (HFCEV) will be part of pilot programs in California following the expo, starting with Recology, a San Francisco-based employee-owned solid waste and recycling hauler. Recology CEO Sal Coniglio expressed pride in their fleet sustainability leadership and excitement about being the first to test this technology in California communities. The truck is powered by…

Luminar Technologies, a producer of lidar sensors for autonomous vehicles, revealed that Tesla was its largest customer in the first quarter of this year. Despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s previous criticism of lidar technology, which he once dubbed “expensive appendices,” the electric vehicle giant accounted for over 10% of Luminar’s total revenue of $21 million during the period. Musk has been vocal about his skepticism regarding lidar, stating in 2019 that “Lidar is a fools’ errand. And anyone relying on Lidar is doomed.” Tesla, known for its reliance on cameras for its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software, has steered clear…

Amazon has announced the deployment of 50 battery-electric heavy-duty trucks in California, marking the largest such fleet in the country. The move is part of the company’s broader mission to reduce pollution from its global operations, despite a recent spike in its carbon emissions. According to Amazon, these trucks will play a crucial role in its first-mile and middle-mile operations, transporting goods from container ships at ports to fulfillment centers, and from there to various delivery centers. Some of these trucks will join Amazon’s drayage fleet, which moves goods from the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach to fulfillment…

Rivian impressed investors and analysts alike with its first-quarter financial performance, as detailed in its latest earnings report. Despite a net loss of $1.4 million and an EBITDA-adjusted loss of $798 million, the company’s revenue of $1.2 million exceeded expectations, signaling a positive trajectory towards profitability. During Q1, Rivian delivered 13,588 vehicles and produced 13,980, narrowing its loss per vehicle delivered to $38,784, down from $43,372 in Q4 2023 and significantly lower than over $124,000 in Q4 2022. CEO RJ Scaringe expressed optimism about the results, stating, “First-quarter results exceeded our outlook and set a strong foundation for the remainder…

Stellantis, the multinational automotive manufacturer, is set to introduce hydrogen-powered versions of its largest RAM Trucks in the North American market, with production slated to take place in Mexico. The company plans to significantly expand its hydrogen-powered vehicle lineup in the coming years, aiming to increase sales from 350 units of its HFCEV delivery vans sold last year to over 100,000 units annually by 2030. It anticipates that a majority of these sales will come from commercial customers, particularly in the United States, where RAM Trucks are popular. “This year, we are starting production of larger vehicles in Poland,” said…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks is preparing for an extensive test run with its new electric flagship, the eActros 600. The company intends to send two near-series prototypes of the battery-electric long-haul truck on a journey across more than 20 European countries, covering more than 13,000 kilometers each with a total towing weight of 40 tons. The goal of this venture is to gain comprehensive experience on a variety of routes in different terrains and climates, focusing on energy consumption. The manufacturer plans to share these findings with interested customers. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz Trucks aims to demonstrate that the eActros 600 is capable of…

Luminar Technologies, a leading provider of lidar sensors for autonomous vehicles, announced on Friday its plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 20% as part of a restructuring initiative for the current year. The company aims to streamline its operations and reduce costs. As of December last year, Luminar employed nearly 800 full-time staff across its locations in the U.S., Germany, Sweden, India, and China. In addition to workforce reductions, Luminar intends to sub-lease some of its facilities either partially or entirely, as it seeks to reduce its global footprint. The restructuring plan, set to be implemented immediately, is expected…

Hubject, a provider of EV charging interoperability solutions, has joined forces with Shahin to improve the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The collaboration aims to establish a roaming platform in the UAE through Hubject’s network, enhancing accessibility and reliability for EV drivers. The partnership comes at a crucial time as the UAE experiences a surge in EV adoption, with experts forecasting a 30% average annual growth rate. This growth is expected to result in a need for more than 70,000 public charge points by 2035. However, the current EV charging landscape in the…

Vienna-based company Eloop has announced the end of its electric car-sharing service, citing financial challenges and a shift in focus towards asset tokenisation. The company, known for its fleet of around 200 Teslas, will dissolve the fleet following a restructuring process. Eloop’s decision comes amid struggles with drastically increased interest rates and high operating costs, exacerbated by a recent rise in vehicle damage, including total losses. Leroy Hofer, CEO and co-founder of Eloop, explained to Austrian newspaper Der Standard that the company will file for bankruptcy to reorganise and save as many jobs as possible. Eloop will now focus on…

Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus has clinched a significant deal to supply 46 hydrogen buses to Germany. The order, placed by public transport provider Cottbusverkehr, includes eleven H2 buses designated for operation in Cottbus and an additional 35 for the subsidiary Spree-Neiße-Cottbusverkehr. The first batch of the revolutionary Kite Hydroliner hydrogen buses is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2024. While these 46 buses mark the first hydrogen-powered additions to Cottbusverkehr’s fleet, Wrightbus has previously supplied Kite Hydroliners to other German operators, including Regionalverkehr Köln in 2022 and WestVerkehr for the Heinsberg district in 2023. Cottbusverkehr’s decision to choose…