Author: Moira Shortle

Global sales of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) fell by more than 25% in the first half of 2025, dropping to 4,102 units from 5,635 over the same period last year, according to data from SNE Research. The decline marks a reversal of the market’s long-term growth trend, which had seen a compound annual increase of 14.4% between 2018 and 2024. Sales peaked at 20,704 units in 2022, but volumes have fallen each year since. Hyundai Motor Group remained the world’s leading FCEV manufacturer, selling 1,252 vehicles, primarily NEXO SUVs, during the first half of the year – down 31.9%…

Serbia’s Ministry of the Environment has suspended subsidies for the purchase of new electric cars and two-wheelers after the current budget allocation of around €1.5 million was fully used. The ministry said it plans to resume the programme once additional funds are secured, but did not specify a timeline. Applications for subsidies were halted on Aug. 8, 2025. The ministry did not disclose the exact number of vehicles supported this year. Subsidy amounts ranged from €250 for electric mopeds and light tricycles to €5,000 for electric cars and vans, meaning the exhausted budget could have covered between 300 and 6,000…

Ford has postponed the market launch of two next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) to 2028, as the U.S. carmaker shifts its strategy toward smaller and more affordable models in response to rising costs and changing consumer demand. Production of the new electric pickup, previously slated for the BlueOval City plant in Tennessee, and an electric van at the company’s Ohio facility, will now begin in 2028, Ford recently informed its suppliers. The two vehicles were initially expected to launch in 2025 and had already been delayed to 2026. Ford said that its existing electric lineup continues to meet customer needs and…

Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) is expanding its renewable energy infrastructure as part of a broader effort to promote clean energy adoption in Indonesia’s higher education sector. The university has implemented solar, biogas, biomass, and other renewable energy systems alongside energy efficiency measures to reduce its dependence on conventional electricity sources. Solar panels have been installed on most major campus buildings, including administrative offices, libraries, waste management units, and faculty facilities. The panels, which also power street lighting and charge electric vehicles, have a total capacity of 401,325 Wp, generating an estimated 468,747 kWh annually. See also: Indonesian Official: CATL-Backed Battery…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has certified self-driving vehicles developed by Amazon’s autonomous unit, Zoox, for demonstration use on U.S. public roads, and has officially closed its safety probe into the company’s compliance with federal requirements. The safety agency had launched an investigation in 2022 to determine whether Zoox’s purpose-built autonomous vehicles—which lack traditional driving controls like steering wheels and pedals—met necessary federal safety standards when the company initially self-certified their use. In June, Zoox submitted a formal request for exemption from certain federal rules, which the NHTSA approved. The agency confirmed that all Zoox vehicles operating on…

Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, has called on the United States to promptly implement tariff reductions agreed under a recent bilateral trade agreement, including lower duties on automobiles and auto parts, the Japanese government said on Thursday. Akazawa made the request during a 90-minute meeting in Washington on Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. According to a government statement, Akazawa also pressed for confirmation and immediate execution of provisions related to tariffs on other Japanese imports. The trade deal, reached last month, includes a reduction in tariffs on Japanese car imports to 15% from a combined rate…

Lyft said on Monday it will partner with Chinese technology giant Baidu (9888.HK) to introduce autonomous robotaxi services in Europe, marking a major step in its international expansion. The companies plan to launch Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 self-driving vehicles in Germany and the United Kingdom in 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The electric vehicles, equipped with Baidu’s autonomous driving system, will be integrated into Lyft’s app. “This is our hybrid network approach, where AVs and human drivers work together to provide customer-obsessed options for riders,” Lyft Chief Executive David Risher said in a statement. https://twitter.com/lyft/status/1952414226720710779 Lyft, which has focused almost…

bitsensing, KAIST’s Autonomous Vehicle Engineering (AVE) Lab, and ZETA Mobility have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop and commercialize AI-based 4D imaging radar aimed at improving the safety of autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The collaboration combines bitsensing’s high-performance 4D imaging radar hardware, KAIST AVE Lab’s AI algorithms for radar signal processing and sensor fusion, and ZETA Mobility’s large-scale automotive datasets and embedded AI expertise. Unlike traditional radar, 4D imaging radar can capture distance, velocity, direction, and elevation, enabling more precise object detection in complex environments. “This collaboration is a major step toward next-generation radar…

Ballard Power Systems has announced a strategic shift under new Chief Executive Marty Neese, aiming to achieve profitability by narrowing its product focus and cutting costs. The Canadian hydrogen fuel cell maker said it will prioritise “proven applications” in active markets over longer-term projects, with the goal of reaching positive cash flow by the end of 2027. Planned measures include a reduction of operating costs by at least 30% in 2026 through workforce adjustments, tighter portfolio integration and streamlined operations. The company will also discontinue non-core programs, limit capital expenditure and manage cash more strictly. As of June 30, Ballard…

Onvo, the family-oriented sub-brand of Nio, began customer deliveries of its L90 electric SUV on Thursday, just one day after the model’s official launch in China. The company dispatched vehicles across 44 cities, marking the start of a nationwide rollout for its flagship model. The L90 was officially launched on July 31 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, with a starting price of RMB 265,800 ($36,860), which includes an 85-kWh battery pack. The price is RMB 14,100, or 5.04%, lower than the earlier pre-sale offer of RMB 279,900. See also: Nio’s Onvo Launches Full-Size L90 SUV With Advanced Tech and Family-Focused Features…

Tesla has removed the Model S and Model X from its vehicle configurator in Europe, limiting customer choices to existing inventory rather than allowing new orders. The shift applies to several key European markets, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, France, and the Netherlands, where the two premium models can no longer be configured from scratch. Buyers looking to purchase either model are now directed to Tesla’s inventory page instead of the usual configurator, which remains accessible for the Model 3 and Model Y. The move has prompted questions about whether Tesla intends to permanently discontinue the S and X…

Toyota will begin manufacturing electric vehicles in Europe from 2028, starting with a new battery electric SUV at its plant in Kolín, Czech Republic, according to a report from Japanese news outlet ttps://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Electric-vehicles/Toyota-to-make-EVs-in-Czech-Republic-its-first-in-Europe. The move marks the automaker’s first EV production within the region and is part of a broader strategy to meet tightening European Union emissions regulations and achieve carbon neutrality in Europe by 2035. Production will take place at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic (TMMCZ), where the company reportedly plans to build approximately 100,000 EVs annually. The Czech facility will produce a new electric SUV model, contributing to…