Author: Moira Shortle

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD is stepping up its efforts to grow in South Korea, aiming to double its sales and service network and launch additional models by the end of the year, the company said Thursday. “We will increase our sales network to 30 by end of this year from 15 to meet demand from Korean consumers,” said Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD’s Asia Pacific auto sales division, during the Seoul Mobility Show in Ilsan, Bloomberg reported. See also: BYD Secures Over 1,000 Preorders for Atto 3 in South Korea in First Week At the show, BYD…

Sion Power is taking a key step toward commercializing its Licerion battery cells, which are expected to cut the cost of 200 kWh battery packs by 35%. The company claims its lithium-metal technology delivers twice the energy of conventional lithium-ion batteries at the same size and weight. In partnership with Mühlbauer Group, Sion is developing a fully automated production line capable of manufacturing 75 MWh of 56 Ah lithium-metal cells annually. The company says these cells will exceed 50 amp-hours and will be supplied to automotive OEMs for testing. The facility, aimed at making Sion “volume-production ready” by 2028, will…

Rivian reported higher-than-expected vehicle production and deliveries for the first quarter, with output at its Normal, Illinois plant reaching 14,611 units, surpassing analysts’ estimates of 12,380. The company delivered 8,640 vehicles, slightly exceeding the expected 8,610. Rivian stated that the quarterly results aligned with its prior outlook of approximately 14,000 vehicles produced and 8,000 delivered. The electric vehicle maker reaffirmed its 2025 delivery forecast, projecting between 46,000 and 51,000 units. Last week, Rivian announced the spin-off of its micromobility division into a separate entity, Also Inc. The new company will focus on lightweight electric vehicles designed to address global transportation…

Yamaha has agreed to acquire the electric bike drive and system business of German automotive supplier Brose, pending regulatory approval. If cleared by antitrust authorities, the unit will become part of Yamaha’s subsidiary, Motor eBike Systems GmbH. Brose, traditionally focused on the automotive sector, has been active in the e-bike industry for the past decade but is now divesting its e-bike drive division as part of a strategic shift toward its core business. The sale includes Brose’s development resources and 110 employees based in Berlin. The purchase price was not disclosed. See also: German Manufacturer Brose Introduces Impressive 48V Drive…

Chinese battery giant CATL has signed a strategic partnership with state-owned fossil fuel company Sinopec Group to accelerate the development of a nationwide battery swap network, the companies announced today. Under the agreement, CATL and Sinopec will build at least 500 battery swap stations this year, with a long-term goal of reaching 10,000, according to a press release from CATL. The collaboration aims to leverage CATL’s expertise in battery technology and swap systems alongside Sinopec’s extensive network of fuel stations and infrastructure. See also: CATL Secures Approval for Hong Kong Share Sale, Eyes $5 Billion Fundraising “We hope to make…

Esslingen’s public transport operator, Städtischer Verkehrsbetrieb Esslingen (SVE), has awarded a contract to Skoda Group for the supply of 46 battery-powered trolleybuses, with deliveries scheduled by the end of 2026. The deal includes an option for an additional 15 vehicles. The investment, valued at approximately €41.5 million, follows the insolvency of Belgian manufacturer Van Hool, which had previously been contracted to supply new trolleybuses in 2022. “As energy and raw material prices have now recovered somewhat, the offer from Skoda is even more favourable than the original order from Van Hool,” said Johannes Müller, Technical Plant Manager at SVE. The…

A Hyundai Ioniq 5 has driven more than 413,990 miles (666,255 km) in just under three and a half years, setting a new benchmark for electric vehicle (EV) longevity. According to a post in the Facebook group Mileage Impossible, the owner has been averaging nearly 10,000 miles per month, relying exclusively on DC fast charging. See also: Hyundai Group Launches Pleos Software Platform to Drive Software-Centered Mobility The vehicle initially covered 360,000 miles on its original battery before receiving a replacement under Hyundai’s warranty—despite exceeding the automaker’s standard 10-year/100,000-mile coverage. Remarkably, at the time of replacement, the battery still retained…

Genesis has announced pricing and details for its updated Electrified GV70, introducing three new trim levels and enhanced features. The premium electric SUV is now available to order in the UK, with deliveries expected to commence in July. Replacing the previous Sport trim, the Electrified GV70 will now be offered in Pure, Dynamic, and Luxury trims. Standard across all variants are Highway Driving Assist, fingerprint recognition, a power-opening tailgate, heated front seats, wireless charging, and Genesis’ Preview Electronic Control Suspension. See also: Hyundai, Genesis EVs Gain Access to Tesla Superchargers, Free NACS Adapters Offered Pricing for the base Pure trim…

Amperfied GmbH, a subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, has secured a contract to manage the charging infrastructure for SAP’s electric vehicle (EV) fleet in Germany, marking a significant step in the software company’s sustainability strategy. The transition will commence in the second quarter of 2025 with the migration of 1,720 existing SAP charging stations to Amperfied’s cloud backend. The system will support charging hardware from various manufacturers, and an expansion to approximately 3,700 charging points is planned. It remains unclear whether Amperfied-branded charging stations will be prioritized in the expansion. See also: Fastned Expands Charging Network Across Europe, Plans 1,000…

Stellantis is investing €38 million in its plant in Biella, Italy, to manufacture key components for electric propulsion units (EPUs) used in vehicles based on the STLA Small platform. The funding will support the installation of 56 machine tools dedicated to producing steel shafts and gears essential for electric motors. Located in Verrone, the Biella plant has already installed six of the planned 56 machine tools. Once fully operational, the facility will contribute to Stellantis’ European electric vehicle (EV) supply chain by supplying EPU components to other Stellantis factories across the region. Production is expected to begin in late 2027,…

Mercedes-Benz is recalling more than 12,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in China due to fire risks stemming from battery reliability issues, the country’s market regulator announced. The recall, which begins on April 16, affects 12,308 locally produced EQA and EQB models manufactured between April 1, 2021, and October 31, 2023, according to a statement from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The issue was identified after a defect investigation initiated by the regulator. See also: Mercedes-Benz Selects China’s Hesai for Lidar in Smart Driving Cars  Some of the affected vehicles were found to have reduced battery reliability due to fluctuations…

Daimler Truck has conducted winter testing of its next-generation GenH2 fuel cell trucks in Switzerland, evaluating their performance under extreme weather and high-altitude conditions, the German manufacturer announced. Unlike the pre-series models currently being tested by customers, the vehicles trialed in Switzerland are prototypes of an advanced development stage. The company dispatched two hydrogen-powered trucks to the Simplon Pass in the canton of Valais, where they faced temperatures below freezing, snow-covered roads, and steep mountain terrain. See also: Daimler Truck Receives €226 Million Funding for Development of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks “For the further development of our Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck,…

Foxconn will hold a seminar in Japan on April 9 to present its electric vehicle strategy, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, as the Taiwanese contract manufacturer looks to strengthen ties with Japanese automakers following a recent deal with Mitsubishi Motors. The event aims to enhance automakers’ and suppliers’ understanding of Foxconn’s EV ambitions, one source said. Chief EV strategy officer Jun Seki, a former Nissan (7201.T) executive hired in 2023, is expected to speak at the seminar, the source added. Both sources requested anonymity as the plans have not been made public. See also: Mitsubishi Motors…

Chinese automaker BYD has signed a car parts distribution agreement with Italian firm Intergea, aiming to strengthen its foothold in Europe amid slowing domestic demand, the company said on Friday. Under the partnership, original BYD car parts will be made available across Italy within 48 hours through Intergea’s subsidiary, CRF, starting in May. “The deal is a key step towards breaking the preconception about the difficulty of finding spare parts for Asian vehicles, an issue often perceived as an obstacle to purchase,” BYD said in a statement. See also: BYD Reports Record Quarterly Profit as NEV Sales Surge Chinese automakers,…

German energy provider EnBW has revised its charging infrastructure expansion plans, reducing its 2030 target from 30,000 to more than 20,000 fast-charging points, citing a slower-than-expected adoption of electric vehicles. The adjustment marks a shift from the company’s previous strategy. In September 2023, EnBW announced at the IAA Mobility event that it would double its annual investment in fast-charging infrastructure in Germany to around 200 million euros, aiming to reach 30,000 charging points by the end of the decade. See also: Smatrics EnBW Expands Ultra-Fast EV Charging Network in Austria Despite the revised target, EnBW maintains its position as Germany’s…

Daimler Truck is expanding its TruckCharge initiative to offer company-owned charging facilities for public use, a move aimed at closing gaps in Europe’s electric truck charging infrastructure. The company expects the initiative to create the continent’s largest semi-public charging network for heavy-duty electric vehicles. “With our TruckCharge concept for semi-public charging, we are aiming to close a large gap in the charging infrastructure for trucks,” said Martin Hink, Head of eMobility / H2 Business Solutions at Mercedes-Benz Trucks. He noted that Daimler Truck’s extensive network of “more than 1,000 dealers in Europe alone” positions the company well to implement the…

Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new 90 kWh battery option for its eVito panel van, significantly increasing its range to up to 480 kilometers (WLTP). The upgrade follows the model’s previous limitation of a 60 kWh battery, which provided a maximum range of 307 km. The new battery option aligns the eVito with its siblings, the EQV MPV and eVito Tourer estate, which already offer the same capacity. Alongside the battery upgrade, customers can now choose between the standard 85 kW electric motor and a more powerful 150 kW variant, borrowed from the eVito Tourer. See also: Mercedes-Benz EQV and eVito…

The European Commission has selected 47 strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) to strengthen and diversify access to essential raw materials across the EU. The projects, spanning 13 member states, focus on various stages of the raw materials supply chain, including extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution, with a strong emphasis on battery production. According to the Commission, 25 of the selected projects involve raw material extraction, 24 focus on processing, ten on recycling, and two on material substitution. The initiative covers 14 of the 17 strategic raw materials listed in the CRMA, including lithium (22 projects), nickel…

Hyundai officially opened its new electric vehicle (EV) plant in Georgia on Wednesday, marking a major milestone in its $7.6 billion investment in the state. The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) will produce EVs, including the upcoming Ioniq 9, the company’s first three-row electric SUV. Hyundai began construction on the plant less than two years ago and considers the facility one of its most significant investments to date. The plant is expected to create 8,500 direct jobs by 2030, while Hyundai’s broader investment in Georgia—including a battery plant with SK On and 18 supplier facilities—has attracted more than $12.6…

The city council of Vilnius has launched a tender for 145 electric buses as part of its long-term plan to transition all public transport vehicles to electricity or alternative fuels by 2030. The new fleet will not only replace aging diesel buses but also support the expansion of public transport services and improve frequency across the Lithuanian capital. “Vilnius public transport is rapidly modernizing – new electric buses will provide more sustainable and efficient mobility for the city,” said Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas. “Less pollution, quieter commutes, and greater comfort – these are the changes expected by Vilnius residents. Investment…