Author: Moira Shortle

Tesla is offering Canadian buyers of its Model 3 electric vehicle a choice between a $5,000 discount or lifetime free Supercharging, the company said, in one of its largest Canadian incentives in recent years. The promotion applies to in-stock vehicles that are delivered by September 30, 2025, and does not extend to custom factory orders. For eligible purchases, Tesla will automatically apply the $5,000 discount at checkout. Buyers who prefer the lifetime free Supercharging option must contact Tesla to make the switch after placing their order. The promotion aims to provide flexibility for customers, allowing those who charge primarily at…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng is advancing plans to roll out a robotaxi service in 2025, betting on a vision-only self-driving system and its own AI chip to compete with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. The Guangzhou-based company has developed the “Turing” chip to power its driver-assist platform, called XNGP, and is moving away from LiDAR in favor of camera-based vision. Xpeng says machine learning breakthroughs make the technology viable for navigating dense urban traffic. Candice Yuan, who heads Xpeng’s autonomous driving division, said the firm’s Level 4 self-driving system – which does not require driver input – is already…

Dreame Technology, a Chinese company best known for its robot vacuum cleaners, has taken another step in its automotive push less than a month after announcing its entry into vehicle manufacturing. The company’s EV division launched its official Weibo account this week, posting a rendering of its first electric model and revealing partial specifications. The design features coach doors supported by seven patents, a hidden B-pillar structure, and use of 2,000 MPa aerospace-grade steel, enabling body torsional stiffness above 45,000 Nm/deg. A prototype is expected to debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the United States. Dreame announced on…

BYD on Monday launched three new variants of its Tang DM-i hybrid SUV with an extended 175-kilometer battery range, replacing earlier versions that offered 115 kilometers. The refreshed lineup aims to bolster the model’s competitiveness in China’s crowded hybrid SUV market. The new variants are priced at 179,800 yuan, 189,800 yuan, and 199,800 yuan. BYD has also cut the price of the entry-level 115-km version from 179,800 yuan to 169,800 yuan. Buyers who complete purchases before the end of October will be eligible for a 10,000-yuan trade-in subsidy, effectively lowering the starting price of the Tang DM-i lineup to 159,800…

Nissan has lowered its production plan for the upcoming LEAF electric vehicle for the September to November period due to delays in battery procurement, the Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday. The revision was linked to lower-than-expected battery yields at a Nissan affiliate, according to the report. The Nikkei did not specify the original or updated production numbers but said output at the company’s Tochigi plant in eastern Japan would be reduced by several thousand units per month. The plant will manufacture the new LEAF for both the U.S. and Japanese markets. See also: Dual-Battery Nissan LEAF Limo Travels Nearly…

Vulcan Energy has received approval to build a commercial lithium processing plant in Frankfurt-Höchst, the German-Australian company said on Thursday, marking a key step in its plan to supply sustainable lithium to Europe’s battery and automotive sectors. The Central Lithium Plant (CLP), as it is known, will process lithium chloride extracted from geothermal brine at Vulcan’s upstream facility in Landau into battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM). In its initial phase, the plant is expected to produce up to 24,000 tonnes of LHM annually, a volume the company says is sufficient for around 500,000 electric vehicle batteries. Vulcan said its geothermal…

The European Investment Bank (EIB) said on Monday it will provide €17.5 million in venture debt financing to Greek electric vehicle charge point operator Joltie, backed by the InvestEU programme, to fund the deployment of about 2,200 chargers in Greece and Cyprus by 2029. Founded in 2022, Joltie differs from many European charge point operators by manufacturing its own branded charging hardware and managing its own network. The company currently operates more than 500 chargers across both countries and accounts for roughly a third of all installed charging points in Greece. The new funding will allow expansion into underserved regions,…

BMW  said it is confident it can return to growth in China, its largest market, with the rollout of its all-electric Neue Klasse lineup, beginning with the iX3 sport utility vehicle unveiled this week. “We are more than competitive with this product,” Chief Financial Officer Walter Mertl told Reuters. “With increasing availability of the Neue Klasse, we will see growth in China again.” The German luxury carmaker has struggled in the country amid fierce competition from domestic rivals and a slowdown in consumer spending tied to a property market downturn. Sales in China fell 15.5% in the first half of…

Denmark has increased funding for its heavy transport electrification programme, allowing logistics firms to apply for up to 4 million Danish kroner (€535,000) each to invest in electric trucks and related infrastructure. The scheme is aimed at shifting freight transport from diesel-powered vehicles to zero-emission alternatives such as battery-electric or hydrogen fuel-cell trucks. Companies can apply for support to purchase or lease vehicles, install charging or refuelling infrastructure, or finance new grid connections. Funding for 2025 was lifted to 352.5 million kroner (€47.2 million) after 29.5 million kroner originally allocated for biogas trucks was reassigned, transport authorities said. The application…

A German public transport project testing self-driving electric shuttles has expanded operations to Darmstadt, extending service beyond Langen and Egelsbach in the Offenbach district, where it began three months ago. The KIRA initiative, run by Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) and Deutsche Bahn, now allows registered users to book rides across a wider service area. The pilot deploys Nio ES8 electric SUVs equipped with LiDAR, cameras, and Mobileye software, operating at automation level 4. The vehicles drive autonomously on defined routes, monitored remotely from a control centre. Unlike other autonomous shuttle projects in Germany, KIRA’s fleet moves in regular public traffic. “With Darmstadt,…

BYD has reduced its sales target for next year by as much as 16% to 4.6 million vehicles, two people with knowledge of the matter said, as the Chinese automaker faces slowing growth and intensifying competition in its home market. China’s largest automaker had told analysts in March it was aiming for 5.5 million sales in 2025, but the figure has been revised downward several times in recent months, the people said. The latest target of at least 4.6 million vehicles was communicated internally and to some suppliers last month, though it remains subject to market conditions, according to Reuters…

German engine manufacturer Deutz has agreed to acquire Sobek, a maker of electric drives for high-tech applications, in a deal expected to close imminently, the company said on Monday. Sobek, with three sites in Baden-Württemberg and Hesse, supplies electric motors and control electronics for sectors including motorsport, aerospace and medical technology. Its products are used by several Formula 1 and Formula E teams. Deutz said it sees significant potential in the drone market, particularly for military applications. Drones are “one of the top areas of investment by NATO, as the requirements profile of many armed forces is moving away from…

German auto supplier Schaeffler has introduced a new device aimed at making the repair of electric motors easier and more cost-efficient, the company said on Monday. The tool, known as the E-Axle Repair Tool, enables workshops to fix motors without needing to replace them entirely. According to Schaeffler Vehicle Lifetime Solutions, the equipment allows for “precise, non-contact disassembly and reassembly of rotors and stators,” a process complicated by the strong magnetic forces inside permanently excited synchronous motors. The tool applies pressing forces of up to 10,000 newtons, making it possible to separate components, replace bearings and loosen seals without damage.…

The all-new Shangjie H5 (also referred to as the SAIC H5) marks a significant step in the collaboration between Huawei and SAIC Group, combining advanced smart driving technology with strong automotive engineering. Priced from 169,800 yuan (23,600 USD), the H5 is set for its official market debut on September 23. Positioned as a mid-size SUV, the H5 brings Huawei’s ADS 4 assisted driving system into a stylish and practical family vehicle. The Shangjie H5 adopts a modern enclosed front fascia, a design trend among new energy vehicles, with the latest Shangjie brand logo prominently displayed at the center. A roof-mounted…

Nio’s budget sub-brand Firefly on Friday introduced a limited-edition version of its first model, the Firefly EV, as the company seeks to expand its offerings in the compact electric vehicle market. The special edition, called the “Nomadic Melade,” is priced from 133,800 yuan ($18,710) including the battery pack, about 11.7% higher than the base model. Only 333 units will be produced, with deliveries beginning immediately, according to Firefly. “Orders placed today will be delivered immediately,” the company said. Under Nio’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) rental program, the starting price for the variant is 93,800 yuan, with a monthly battery…

Autonomous trucking firm Torc Robotics has teamed up with Pittsburgh-based technology firm Edge Case to enhance the safety framework of its Level 4 driverless trucks, supporting plans for commercial deployment by 2027. The collaboration focuses on independent safety assessments of Torc’s Driverless Safety Case Framework and Evidence Sufficiency Criteria. Edge Case will evaluate the framework against Autonomous Vehicle Safety Consortium (AVSC) Best Practices and Open Autonomy Safety Case guidance, ensuring compliance with recognized industry standards. The partnership involves detailed assessments, reporting, and collaborative reviews with Torc’s safety, engineering, and operations teams. The effort is designed to streamline development, provide a…

California state agencies have released a seven-page report detailing strategies to expand zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption across all vehicle types, following Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order on clean transportation. Signed in June, Executive Order N-27-25 directed the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, State Transportation Agency, and Department of Consumer Affairs to recommend measures to make clean transportation more affordable, reliable, and accessible. The report identifies six key areas of action: sustaining private investment in ZEVs, expanding incentives for low-income consumers and small businesses, prioritizing EV charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, reducing…

Zeekr  has introduced its 7X sport utility vehicle (SUV) to the Thai market, extending the global footprint of its family-oriented electric model. The 7X is offered in Thailand in three variants — Standard RWD, Long Range RWD, and Performance AWD — priced at 1,399,000 baht ($43,050), 1,599,000 baht, and 1,799,000 baht respectively, the company said in a statement on Monday. The model has already been rolled out in Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Australia. It debuted in China in September 2024 as Zeekr’s second entry into the mass-market electric vehicle segment, following the Zeekr 007 sedan. In its…

The number of electric vehicle (EV) charging ports worldwide is expected to increase sharply over the next two decades, reaching 206.6 million by 2040, according to a new forecast from Wood Mackenzie. The report predicts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% between 2026 and 2040. Residential charging is expected to remain the backbone of the market, with 133 million home ports projected by 2040. Annual spending on EV charging infrastructure is forecast to grow 8% per year, reaching $300 billion by the end of the period. “Residential Level 2 charging dominates the global market and will make up…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng said on Monday it had secured a credit facility of RMB 10 billion ($1.4 billion) from China CITIC Bank’s Guangzhou branch to support its business operations and development. The agreement was signed in a ceremony attended by Xpeng Vice Chairman and Co-President Brian Gu and Xue Fengqing, President of China CITIC Bank Guangzhou Branch. See also: XPeng and Volkswagen Expand E/E Architecture Collaboration to ICE and PHEV Platforms in China The company said the facility would improve cash utilization efficiency and help optimize settlement costs, while further strengthening cooperation with the bank. Xpeng has delivered…