Author: Moira Shortle

Renault has opened pre-orders in the United Kingdom for its new all-electric 4 E-Tech, offering three trim levels starting from £26,995. However, access is currently limited to customers holding an R Pass, Renault’s early-ordering program. Buyers can secure the R Pass for £150, which allows priority access to purchase the vehicle ahead of general availability on July 15. This effectively brings the initial cost to at least £27,145 for early adopters. The 4 E-Tech comes in three configurations: the base ‘Evolution’ trim at £26,995, the mid-level ‘Techno’ at £28,995, and the top-spec ‘Iconic’ trim at £30,995. Renault has also enabled…

The Traton Group has launched a unified Research & Development organisation, bringing together 9,000 engineers from its core brands – Scania, MAN, International, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus – in an effort to speed up the development of modular and electric technologies across its global commercial vehicle portfolio. The new Group R&D division officially began operations on July 1. According to the company, the move aims to enhance development efficiency, foster modular system integration, and eliminate redundant work across the group. The organisation is led by Niklas Klingenberg, Executive Board member for R&D at Traton. The joint team will work…

GSM, the electric mobility subsidiary of Vietnam’s Vingroup, has signed an agreement to supply 1,300 VinFast electric vehicles to CK Vietnam, including 300 electric buses and 1,000 electric cars, the company said on Thursday. The deal marks one of the largest EV supply agreements in the country to date, aiming to support cleaner public and commercial transportation between Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. GSM said the 300 electric buses are equipped with onboard Wi-Fi, active monitoring systems, and smart journey notification boards. While the specific models were not disclosed, GSM is expected to use the VinBus medium-sized buses, which…

The Victoria Regional Transit System is set to deploy its first electric buses by autumn, following the April delivery of 10 battery-electric vehicles procured from Nova Bus and New Flyer. BC Transit, the system’s operator, confirmed the phased roll-out is underway and expects all 10 vehicles to be in regular service by the end of the year. The deployment is part of a wider push toward fleet electrification. BC Transit initially ordered 66 electric buses in May 2024 and has since increased the total order to 125 vehicles. While no timeline has been confirmed for the remaining deliveries, the agency…

China-based tech company Westwell unveiled two new smart logistics vehicles—the electric E-Truck S2 and autonomous Q-Truck—at TOC Europe 2025, reinforcing its strategy to transform global freight through artificial intelligence and clean energy solutions. The company presented the vehicles under the theme “AI YOUR LOGISTICS”, along with its new ReeWell dispatch platform, part of its broader Ainergy Strategy that merges AI and energy efficiency. The E-Truck S2, a heavy-duty, driver-friendly electric truck, is equipped with Westwell’s AI Vehicle Control Unit (AI-VCU) and a next-generation steer-by-wire chassis, offering both enhanced comfort and a clear path toward future autonomy. Designed to operate for…

Luxeed, the electric vehicle brand co-developed by Huawei and Chery, has rolled out new purchase incentives worth up to RMB 20,000 ($2,790) on its models as competition in China’s auto market intensifies again. The promotional offer, valid from June 27 to July 31, replaces the brand’s previous three-year interest-free financing plan and includes cash discounts alongside local government subsidies, Luxeed said on its official Weibo account on Wednesday. The brand added that total purchase benefits could amount to as much as RMB 60,000, though it did not provide a breakdown. The move marks Luxeed’s participation in a renewed wave of…

Toyota Motor Europe and Dutch manufacturer VDL Group have expanded their hydrogen fuel cell truck project with four additional vehicles now deployed for international logistics operations across Western Europe. The development follows the successful demonstration of an initial prototype last year. The new 40-tonne trucks, equipped with Toyota’s second-generation fuel cell modules, are being operated by logistics partners Vos Transport Group, CEVA, Groupe CAT, and Yusen. Routes include Diest in Belgium, Lille in France, Cologne in Germany, and the Dutch cities of Rotterdam and Weesp. All routes have hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in place, with contingency solutions available in case of…

Kodiak Robotics has partnered with Berlin-based startup Vay to bring remote-driving capability to its self-driving truck fleet, the companies announced on Wednesday. The collaboration is set to play a critical role in Kodiak’s operational and safety protocols as the U.S. firm prepares for commercial driverless freight operations in Texas in the second half of 2026. Vay’s teleoperations system allows trained personnel to remotely operate a Kodiak truck in low-speed situations — such as navigating construction zones or areas with traffic enforcement — using a control rig that includes a steering wheel, screen, vehicle controls, and low-latency communication software. While the…

Beijing Benz, the Chinese joint venture of Mercedes-Benz, will recall 13,447 domestically produced EQC electric vehicles starting September 27 due to potential battery fire risks stemming from a software defect, China’s market regulator said on Friday. The recall covers EQC models manufactured between November 30, 2018, and September 17, 2022, and follows a defect investigation by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The high-voltage batteries in the affected vehicles may experience thermal runaway under extreme conditions due to a flaw in the battery management system software. “This could lead to vehicle fires and pose a safety hazard,” SAMR said…

Kempower will supply DC fast charging technology for one of Western Australia’s largest electric bus depots, under a new partnership with Charge Hub, Addelec, and Swan Group. The Bayswater depot in Perth will initially support overnight charging for 132 electric buses, with infrastructure designed to expand capacity to 180 vehicles. The site is scheduled to begin operations by mid-2026 and will feature Kempower’s modular DC charging systems, although final specifications have not yet been disclosed. Similar installations by Kempower in other regions have included both overhead chargers and satellite charging pillars delivering up to 400 kW. Charge Hub, Kempower’s Australian…

Europe’s roads could host as many as 108,000 zero-emission buses and coaches by 2030, according to a Market Readiness Analysis released by the European Commission, supported by research from Transport & Mobility Leuven, Ramboll, and the University of Antwerp. The report outlines a scenario in which battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are projected to take a leading role in decarbonizing the heavy-duty vehicle sector. Between 2012 and 2024, Europe registered around 27,000 electric buses. The analysis anticipates that over 80,000 zero-emission buses and coaches will be deployed between 2025 and 2030, averaging approximately 13,000 new units per year—doubling the 2024 figures.…

The Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (IVI) and Dresden’s municipal cleaning service, Stadtreinigung Dresden (SRD), have started practical testing of an innovative underfloor charging system for electric commercial vehicles. The conductive charging technology, integrated into a 15-tonne test truck, enables the entire charging process to be initiated and completed without cables, using an automated contact system that physically connects the vehicle’s underside to a charging pad embedded in the ground. Unlike inductive charging, the system uses an electromagnet to ensure reliable contact and meets all required safety standards, allowing for high charging capacities suitable for heavy commercial vehicles.…