Author: Robin Cannon

Tesla Giga Shanghai will be disrupted once again as the company upgrades its production lines to produce a revamped version of the Model 3 sedan for the Chinese market. According to Bloomberg, some workers at the plant’s first phase of car manufacturing will not be allowed on the line starting from as early as Sunday while improvements are made. The production halt will last until the end of February. Tesla has been upgrading the production line in stages over the past two months, and deliveries of the new Model 3 are expected to start later this year. Giga Shanghai is…

Workers at Tesla’s New York state Gigafactory are attempting to form a union in a bid to improve their pay and job security. The employees responsible for annotating data for Tesla’s autopilot technology have officially informed the company of their intentions to join the Workers United Upstate New York, which represents over 86,000 workers across various sectors in the US and Canada. This move comes as Tesla has successfully prevented unions from forming in its US factories in the past. However, workers at the Buffalo plant claim that the pressures of production have been detrimental to their health. They have…

The European Parliament has passed a new law that would prohibit the sale of all petrol and diesel-powered vehicles in the EU by 2035. The law, which was approved on February 1st, aims to encourage consumers to opt for electric powertrains in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the EU achieve its ambitious climate goals. Under the new law, all car manufacturers must achieve a 100% cut in CO2 emissions for all new cars sold by 2035, effectively eliminating the possibility of selling any gas or petrol-fueled engines in any of the 27 EU countries. The legislation…

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, plans to increase its battery-electric vehicle lineup by prioritizing its luxury brand Lexus, according to incoming CEO Koji Sato. However, the company will continue to explore other technologies as it has in the past. This announcement comes as Toyota faces criticism for its perceived lack of enthusiasm towards battery-powered electric vehicles. Toyota, known for introducing hybrid technology with the Prius, believes that in markets where infrastructure is not yet ready to support batteries, hybrids are a more practical option for many drivers. The company also views hydrogen-powered vehicles as a potential future technology. See also:…

According to recent sales data from Germany’s Motor Transport Authority, the electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid market has taken a hit in the country. Last month, sales of fully-electric vehicles saw a drop of 13.2 percent compared to the same period in January 2022, while hybrids experienced a dip of 6.2 percent. Meanwhile, sales of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles increased by 3.5 percent. These declining sales figures are largely attributed to the changes made to government subsidies. Prior to January, the German government offered a €9,000 ($9,602) subsidy for EVs with a net list price below €40,000 ($42,677), split between the…

In the fourth quarter of 2022, Calpers, the largest pension in the United States, made a significant investment in Tesla by purchasing 675,683 additional shares worth approximately $131 million at Friday’s closing price. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System manages around $460 billion in assets and had previously disclosed its share transactions in a form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to Barron’s. This investment in Tesla proved to be a wise choice as the company has seen growth in 2023 after experiencing a 65% decrease in 2022. Strong financial and operational results in the fourth quarter and…

The Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E team has taken the lead in the Season 9 rankings after a successful fourth race in Hyderabad. António Félix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein, members of the team, placed third and fourth respectively, propelling the team to the top spot. The first and second positions were claimed by Jean-Éric Vergne from DS Penske and Nick Cassidy from Envision Racing. Sebastian Buemi, who had initially finished third, was demoted to 15th place post-race due to an infringement penalty. He received a 17-second penalty equivalent to a drive-through for an overpower violation. See also: Jean-Eric Vergne…

The world of zero-emission racing is set to see a new addition in 2024 with the launch of the ACE Championship. This exciting new electric single-seater competition is designed to provide opportunities for up-and-coming talent to break into the world of motorsports. Positioned as a feeder series to the ABB Formula E World Championship, the ACE Championship will feature two distinct levels: a top-level championship and an entry-level challenger series. The ACE Championship will run in a regional format, with a focus on areas that are currently underrepresented by existing categories. Teams will each run two cars and will have…

Autel is thrilled to reveal the successful installation of its electric vehicle charger, the MaxiCharger DC Compact, in the picturesque surroundings of Nice, France. This marks the product’s European debut and is part of the company’s broader European market strategy. The MaxiCharger DC Compact boasts exceptional versatility and efficiency, providing up to 47kW of power through its dual ports. It allows for simultaneous charging of two vehicles and dynamically distributes power between them, enabling a range of approximately 130 km with just a 30-minute charge. See also: Autel Debuts at eCarExpo with Compact and Powerful EV Charger, Partners with Eways…

The popularity of electric vehicles has led to a surge in interest in electromodding, which involves converting traditional gasoline vehicles into electric ones. This process may even have a greater positive impact on the environment than building new electric vehicles from scratch. In response to this growing trend, California State Senator Anthony Portantino has proposed Senate Bill 301, which aims to provide tax incentives of up to $2,000 for individuals who convert their vehicles to electric power. According to Portantino, the high cost of new electric vehicles, which average $66,000, makes electromodding a more affordable option for many people. The…

The US Department of Transportation is poised to enforce new regulations that would require Tesla to open up its charging network to other electric vehicles (EVs). This move would put pressure on the automaker to adopt the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) plug design, in addition to its proprietary plug design, in order to qualify for subsidies under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. The Biden administration has allocated $7.5 billion for the program to support the development of charging networks across the country, as part of its goal to make EVs account for 50% of new vehicle sales by 2050.…

Shanghai-based LiDAR maker Hesai Group made its debut on the Nasdaq, becoming the first Chinese LiDAR manufacturer to list in the US. The company’s shares began trading under the ticker HSAI and opened at $23.75, a 25% increase from its offering price. By the end of the day, the shares had risen 10.79% to $21.05, giving the company a market capitalization of $2.6 billion. The initial public offering (IPO) saw the company make a public offering of 10 million ADS shares for a total of $190 million, making it the largest IPO of a Chinese company in the US in…