Author: Ryan Fisher

Toyota reported its first quarterly profit drop in two years as production setbacks and increased competition impacted its financial results. For the second quarter, Toyota’s operating profit decreased by 20% to approximately $7.55 billion (1.16 trillion yen), while first-half operating income fell to $16 billion (2.64 trillion yen). The decline comes as Toyota faces reduced vehicle sales due to certification issues, halting production of popular models such as the Yaris Cross and Corolla Fielder in Japan. In the U.S., a recall of the Prius also contributed to lower global sales. The company’s worldwide output decreased 7% year-on-year to 4.71 million…

Silence debuted its first electric motorbike, the S05 Weekender, at the EICMA international motorbike trade fair in Milan. With a starting price of 3,500 euros, the S05 Weekender is designed for both urban commuting and recreational use, though it features road tires more suited to on-road riding than off-road trails. The e-motorbike has a top speed of 120 km/h and offers a certified range of 133 kilometres. It weighs 94 kilograms without the battery and includes features like ABS brakes, a seven-inch touchscreen, and a spacious storage compartment for a helmet. Silence also offers a more affordable, slower version with…

Honda’s first all-electric SUV, the Prologue, has quickly made an impact in the U.S. electric vehicle market, emerging as one of the top-selling EVs. According to Cox Automotive, the Prologue ranked fifth in EV sales during the third quarter, with demand pushing total sales over 12,600 units, a significant achievement for Honda’s initial year of EV sales in the country. In October alone, Honda sold more than 4,100 Prologue SUVs, outperforming competitors like Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, which sold 3,313 units. Through the end of October, Honda had sold 18,309 units of the Prologue, highlighting a strong response from U.S. consumers…

Ford is experiencing additional shifts within its leadership in Germany as two senior executives step down, aligning with the automaker’s ongoing restructuring in Europe. According to Automobilwoche, Christian Weingärtner and Rene Wolf, two of Ford’s managing directors in Germany, resigned from their roles on November 1 but will continue to work operationally with the company for a transitional period. The exits follow Ford’s European restructuring efforts, which began in June with the departure of Martin Sander, Ford’s former European chief who joined Volkswagen. As part of these changes, Ford reduced the number of managing directors in Europe from nine to…

CATL and BYD remained the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturers in the January-September 2024 period, with CATL holding a dominant market share, slightly ahead of BYD. The latest data from South Korean market researcher SNE Research, released on November 6, shows that both companies have seen significant growth, with CATL maintaining a strong position as the market leader despite a slight decline in share. In the first three quarters of 2024, global EV battery usage totaled 599.0 GWh, marking a 23.4% increase compared to 485.3 GWh in the same period last year. CATL’s battery installations amounted to 219.6…

Stellantis has officially announced that the electric flagship model for the Lancia brand will be named Gamma. This vehicle, set to be based on the STLA Medium platform, will be produced at the Stellantis plant in Melfi, Italy, starting in 2026. While the name Gamma has not been formally confirmed, statements from Lancia management suggest it is the likely designation. Along with the announcement, Lancia released a photo that appears to show the Gamma lettering on the rear of the vehicle. Details about the vehicle itself remain limited, with the press release reiterating that the Gamma will utilize the STLA…

The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) has inaugurated its BALIS test field in Empfingen, aiming to advance megawatt-class fuel cell propulsion for ships and aircraft. This facility, located on the Empfingen Innovation Campus in the northern Black Forest, is part of the BALIS project initiated in 2021, focused on developing fuel cell systems with approximately 1.5 megawatts of output. The test field enables research on next-generation, non-commercially available fuel cell systems, allowing for comprehensive analysis of components and entire powertrains. As one of the first organisations equipped with an in-house electric drive system in the megawatt range, DLR’s setup includes a…

Volkswagen reported a 64% drop in third-quarter profits, with after-tax earnings sinking to €1.58 billion and core brand profitability barely breaking even. Against this backdrop, the automaker and German union IG Metall have resumed negotiations over the company’s collective labor agreement, where Volkswagen’s Chief Financial Officer, Arno Antlitz, has signaled the need for “billions in savings.” Volkswagen is navigating what Antlitz recently described as a “serious” phase. “I am aware that the cuts being discussed at Volkswagen AG are tough,” he said, referring to cost-reduction measures, including restructuring costs amounting to €2.2 billion, largely due to severance payments. “But it…

Porsche  is weighing a slower pivot to electric vehicles (EVs), with Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke confirming that the German automaker may introduce new generations of combustion engine models or hybrid variants alongside planned EVs. This shift could see Porsche maintaining combustion engines well beyond 2030, aligning with evolving market conditions and the company’s reassessment of customer demand. Meschke outlined the adjusted strategy during Porsche’s third-quarter earnings call, revealing that the company has dropped its prior goal of achieving 80% EV sales by 2030. Instead, Porsche’s new target is to deliver up to 80% EVs by that date, but only…

Mercedes-Benz has announced a partnership with PowerX to create a high-power electric vehicle (EV) charging network in Japan, which will include the installation of 100 charging ports over the next two years. This initiative underscores the automaker’s commitment to expanding High Power Charging facilities across multiple regions. PowerX will manage the deployment of high-power charging stations across 25 locations, providing the necessary infrastructure to support the growing demand for EV charging in the country. The collaboration will feature PowerX’s ultrafast battery-powered charger, known as the ‘Hypercharger,’ which will be equipped with up to two CHAdeMO charging points, each capable of…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Wednesday that the electric vehicle manufacturer intends to launch driverless ride-hailing services to the public in California and Texas next year. Musk stated, “We think that we’ll be able to have driverless Teslas doing paid rides next year,” during Tesla’s quarterly earnings call. The company currently offers an app-based ride-hailing service, complete with a safety driver, to its employees in the San Francisco Bay Area. This announcement builds upon a commitment Musk made during Tesla’s recent robotaxi unveiling, where he projected the rollout of “unsupervised” self-driving capabilities in select Tesla vehicles by 2025. However,…

Pony AI, a Chinese autonomous driving startup, has inaugurated a research and development (R&D) center in Luxembourg aimed at advancing autonomous driving technologies and tailoring solutions for the European market. The company made the announcement today. The new R&D facility will serve as a hub for promoting autonomous driving technologies and products across Luxembourg and Europe. Pony AI plans to engage in collaborative efforts with local entities to support the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles. This initiative follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on autonomous driving with the Luxembourg government earlier this year in March. Furthering…