Author: Ryan Fisher

At 4.7 metres long, the Smart #5 is the brand’s largest model to date, positioned to compete with vehicles such as the Skoda Enyaq and Tesla Model Y. UK customers can choose from six trim levels—Pro, Pro+, Premium, Pulse, Summit Edition, and Brabus—all sharing the same core powertrain. The entry-level Pro trim comes with a 76 kWh battery and a 249 kW electric motor, providing a range of around 288 miles on a single charge. Higher trims feature a 100 kWh battery and a 357 bhp electric motor, with 800-volt architecture enabling fast charging and a range of up to…

Renault’s electric vehicle division Ampere has signed a development agreement with Stratus Materials, a U.S.-based battery materials developer, to evaluate cobalt-free lithium-ion battery technology as part of the carmaker’s efforts to diversify its energy storage portfolio. The collaboration marks the first step toward assessing the potential of Stratus’s LXMO (Lithium-X-Manganese Oxide) cathode material for use in Renault Group’s electric vehicle lineup, the companies said in a joint statement. The two firms will work together to test the material’s energy density, cost-effectiveness, and performance in electric vehicle–format battery cells. See also: Renault’s Ampere Opens Battery Cell Laboratory to Boost EV Innovation…

Waymo co-Chief Executive Officer Tekedra Mawakana said companies developing autonomous vehicles should do more to demonstrate that their technology is safe, calling for greater transparency across the industry. Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Mawakana emphasized that safety and openness must remain at the forefront as self-driving technologies move closer to large-scale deployment. “I don’t know who’s on that list, because they’re not telling us what’s happening with their fleets,” Mawakana said when asked which companies she believes are contributing to safer roads. She highlighted Waymo’s recently released safety data, which the company says shows its vehicles are five times safer…

Stellantis and autonomous driving company Pony.ai announced on Friday that they have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly advance the development and deployment of robotaxi solutions across Europe. The collaboration will combine Pony.ai’s autonomous driving software with Stellantis’ AV-Ready Platform – BEV version, starting with medium-sized vans. Pony.ai’s European division, headquartered in Luxembourg, will lead the project, with the first Peugeot e-Traveller–based test vehicles expected to hit the road in the coming months. Broader deployment across European cities is targeted for 2026, as both companies work to validate safety, performance, and regulatory readiness. See also: Pony.ai and…

Daimler Buses said it will become a charge point operator and install its own public charging stations for electric buses beginning in 2026, with the rollout starting in Cologne and expanding to high-traffic tourist locations across Europe. The initiative aims to support the wider adoption of battery-electric buses, particularly in the long-distance coach segment where infrastructure has so far been limited. Ahead of the official debut of the Mercedes-Benz eIntouro electric intercity bus at this year’s Busworld exhibition in Brussels, the manufacturer confirmed its first pilot site will include four fast-charging points of up to 400 kW each at Cologne’s…

Great Wall Motor posted record monthly sales in September, delivering 133,639 vehicles, up 23.29% from a year earlier and 15.65% from August, the Chinese automaker said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company’s overseas sales reached 50,269 units in September, a record high, rising 13.98% year-on-year and 11.30% month-on-month, and accounting for 37.62% of total deliveries. See also: GWM’s Ora Brand Launches Ora 5 Electric SUV After Two-Year Product Gap Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) also set a new monthly record at 45,961 units, an increase of 52.55% compared with a year earlier and 22.58%…

Clean Energy Fuels said it will design, construct, and maintain a second hydrogen fueling station for Foothill Transit in Arcadia, California, as the transit agency expands its fleet of zero-emission buses. The $11.3 million project is partially funded by federal and state grants. The new station will serve an initial order of 19 hydrogen fuel cell buses and is scheduled to begin construction in mid-2026. It follows Foothill Transit’s first hydrogen facility in Pomona, which has been operational since June 2023. Chad Lindholm, senior vice president at Clean Energy, said: “We’re proud to support their transition to clean fuels –…

Kia America has announced the 2026 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), featuring updated styling, new trims, and enhanced performance options. The SUV’s starting price is $38,890 for the EX front-wheel-drive trim. The model introduces the X-Line SX-Prestige trim, featuring blackout exterior accents and glossy black wheels, alongside standard Terrain Mode on all all-wheel-drive (AWD) models for improved handling across diverse terrains. The Sorento HEV’s interior receives updates including a new steering wheel with hands-on detection technology and a one-tone black leather-trimmed option, replacing the previous Dust Blue interior. The EX Premium Package adds Bose Premium Audio, a panoramic roof, and second-row Captain’s…

Dutch charge point operator Allego said on Tuesday it will install at least 160 electric vehicle charging points in partnership with German hardware store chain Hornbach, with the rollout to take place across Hornbach’s car parks in the Netherlands. The chargers will have a capacity of up to 150kW, Allego said, though details on the exact mix of fast versus ultra-fast charging ports were not provided. The hubs will also include battery storage and intelligent load balancing to maximize charging speeds using existing grid connections. “Thanks to Allego’s new fast-charging hubs in our parking lots, customers will soon be able…

Great Wall Motor’s (HKG: 2333) electric vehicle brand Ora will unveil its first electric SUV, the Ora 5, on September 25, signaling a renewed push in the EV segment after a period of limited product launches. Ora confirmed the official name of the model ahead of its debut at an event scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Beijing time. Promotional materials suggest the Ora 5 will be positioned to serve urban mobility needs and is expected to play a key role in the brand’s entry into overseas markets. Regulatory filings from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology list the Ora 5,…

LG Uplus announced on Sept. 17 that it has officially launched an autonomous bus service in Busan’s Osiria tourist district, making the system available for citizen use. Since a July 10 opening ceremony, the buses completed 2,000 km of trial runs, demonstrating operational stability and reliability. The service features four 16-seat electric buses connecting Osiria Station, Lotte Mall, the Busan National Science Museum, and Gijang Coastal Road. Sharing road space with conventional vehicles, the buses are integrated with traffic signals to automatically stop and start while detecting pedestrians and road conditions to ensure safety. Citizens can board at designated stops,…

Nio  has received about 100,000 cancellable orders for its third-generation ES8 SUV ahead of the model’s official launch this weekend, Deutsche Bank said in a research note on Tuesday. Pre-sales for the ES8 began in China on Aug. 21 at RMB 416,800 ($58,630) with a 100-kWh battery pack, a lower price point compared with its predecessor. Consumers can reserve the model with a refundable RMB 5,000 deposit. Deutsche Bank analyst Wang Bin’s team said the final price, to be disclosed at Saturday’s Nio Day 2025 event, could be cut by RMB 7,000 to RMB 17,000 from the pre-sale level. The…