Author: Ryan Fisher

Nippon Steel Corporation and TIER IV, Inc. have announced plans to introduce heavy-duty autonomous vehicles for steel transport at Nippon Steel’s Nagoya plant by fiscal 2025. The collaboration is part of a broader effort to improve logistics and address labor shortages in industrial operations. Since fiscal 2023, the companies have been working together to develop an automated system for transporting steel plates within the plant. The system will use TIER IV’s open-source Autoware autonomous driving software, adapted to operate in complex industrial environments. See also: TIER IV Secures Level 4 Certification for Autonomous Bus in Komatsu, Japan The initiative targets…

A court hearing on the sale of bankrupt electric truck startup Nikola’s assets to Lucid Motors took an unexpected turn on Friday, as a late objection was raised by a lawyer representing Trevor Milton’s entity, ISSO LLC. While Delaware bankruptcy judge Thomas Horan had initially approved the sale without any objections, the lawyer signaled concerns regarding the auction process, suggesting that these issues might be addressed at a later date. See also: Lucid Acquires Nikola Facilities in Arizona, Plans to Hire Over 300 Former Employees The lawyer emphasized that his client’s silence during the hearing should not be used against…

Wrightbus has delivered 24 electric double-decker buses to First Bus in Aberdeen, Scotland, as part of a £12.7 million investment aimed at decarbonising public transport. The buses will operate on routes 1 and 2, which serve Robert Gordon University, the companies announced on Wednesday. The investment, first confirmed in November 2024, also funded the repowering of 12 diesel buses with electric drivetrains, bringing the total number of zero-emission buses on the university’s campus routes to 36. See also: First Bus Opens Region’s First Electric Bus Depot in Weston-Super-Mare The repowered buses are part of a separate order for 30 conversions…

French logistics firm Jacky Perrenot has taken delivery of the country’s first electric truck from MAN Truck & Bus, following an order placed in March 2024. The initial handover marks the start of a broader rollout, with 40 vehicles already on firm order and an option for an additional 60 units. The first eTGX tractor unit was delivered at MAN’s service centre in Lyon. It is part of a pre-series batch of 200 trucks produced by MAN in early 2024, ahead of full-scale production set to begin later this year at the company’s Munich plant. See also: MAN Truck &…

South Korea has launched its largest hydrogen refuelling station for commercial vehicles in Ulsan, as part of its broader efforts to support the adoption of eco-friendly transportation. The Ulsan Myeongchon Hydrogen Refuelling Station officially began full-scale operations on Monday, becoming the 17th such facility in the city. The station, located within the Myeongchon public transportation depot along National Highway 7, is designed to cater to high-demand commercial operations. It can refuel up to three hydrogen buses simultaneously at a pressure of 95 MPa, dispensing up to 300 kilograms of hydrogen per hour. Operating 24 hours a day, it has the…

Charging electric vehicles in freezing weather could soon be dramatically faster, thanks to a breakthrough from engineers at the University of Michigan that boosts lithium-ion battery charging speeds by up to 500% at temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F). The advance, which combines a new battery structure with an ultra-thin protective coating, addresses a key limitation that has long challenged EV performance in cold climates. “Charging an EV battery takes 30 to 40 minutes even for aggressive fast charging, and that time increases to over an hour in the winter,” said Neil Dasgupta, associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials…

Lucid Motors has achieved a notable milestone with its sixth consecutive quarter of increased vehicle deliveries. In the first quarter of 2025, Lucid delivered 3,109 vehicles, marking a 58% increase compared to the same period last year and surpassing its previous delivery record of 3,099 vehicles set in Q4 2024. The company’s growth trajectory is set to continue as it prepares to deliver its first electric SUV, the Gravity, to customers by the end of April. See also: Lucid Motors Sees Surge in Orders from Former Tesla Owners In addition to its strong delivery performance, Lucid also produced 2,213 vehicles…

Serbia’s Ministry of the Economy has pledged €3.5 million in subsidies to Rivian SE Europe to bolster its European technology centre and establish centres of excellence in Belgrade, the government announced. The financial support will be disbursed in two instalments, with Rivian SE Europe receiving €3.2 million this year and the remaining amount in 2026. See also: Rivian CEO: China’s EV Leadership Driven by Innovation, Market Expansion As a condition of the funding, the company must employ at least 370 people by the end of 2024 and invest $6.6 million in the planned facilities by the end of 2025. Additionally,…

Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled Pleos, a new software brand and technology platform designed to enhance its transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Pleos will serve as an end-to-end platform, covering everything from vehicle operating systems to fleet management, while enabling features such as autonomous driving, vehicle connectivity, and real-time data analysis. Pleos integrates high-performance chips, controllers, a vehicle operating system (Vehicle OS), and the Pleos Connect infotainment system. The platform also includes cloud infrastructure and solutions for mobility and logistics optimization. This technology stack is designed to provide a range of intelligent mobility functions for drivers, including optimized route planning…

Nissan has confirmed that it will introduce a fully electric version of the Micra in 2024, marking the model’s first transition to an all-electric drivetrain. The new Micra EV will be built by Renault in France and will utilize the AmpR Small platform, the same architecture underpinning the Renault R5 electric car. The Micra, which was first introduced as a combustion-engine vehicle in 1982, ended production of its fifth-generation model in 2022. At the time, Nissan announced plans to revive the model as an EV. The redesigned Micra will be manufactured at Renault’s ElectriCity facility in Douai, France, a key…

Avatr Technology, the electric vehicle (EV) brand backed by Changan Automobile, CATL, and Huawei, officially launched the limited-edition Avatr 012, following pre-sales that began in August last year. The high-end four-seater EV, based on the Avatr 12 sedan, is limited to just 700 units worldwide. Priced at RMB 700,000 ($96,420), the Avatr 012 sits well above the standard Avatr 12, which starts at RMB 269,900. Designed by Avatr’s chief design officer Nader Faghihzadeh in collaboration with Kim Jones, artistic director at Dior and Fendi, the model targets a luxury-focused clientele with custom paintwork, premium interiors, and unique design elements. See…

Waymo remains the dominant player in the robotaxi industry, with Tesla still lagging behind in autonomous ride-hailing, according to John Krafcik, the former CEO of Alphabet’s self-driving unit. In an interview with Business Insider, Krafcik reiterated his long-held view that Tesla is primarily an automaker with an advanced driver-assistance system rather than a direct competitor to Waymo. “Tesla has aspired to compete with Waymo for nearly ten years, but they still don’t,” Krafcik said. “They’re a car company with a driver-assist system. They haven’t delivered a single fully autonomous revenue-generating ride yet, something Waymo is already doing a million times…

UK electric vehicle charge point operator Believ has acquired assets from Switch EV, a company specializing in cloud-based charge point management systems. The deal aims to improve Believ’s ability to monitor chargers, predict maintenance needs, and enhance data functionalities such as Plug&Charge and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities. “Convenience and seamless experience is how we are going to persuade more drivers to make the transition,” said Believ CEO Guy Barlett. “More EV drivers on the road helps us deliver on our mission for cleaner air for all.” As part of the acquisition, Switch EV founder and CEO Marc Mültin, along with four…

BYD has officially launched the Qin L EV, a mid-size all-electric sedan aimed at younger buyers, with a lower price point compared to Tesla’s  Model 3. The vehicle, built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 Evo, was introduced at an event on Wednesday, featuring advanced driver assistance technology as a standard offering. The Qin L EV measures 4,720 mm in length, 1,880 mm in width, and 1,495 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,820 mm, closely matching the dimensions of Tesla’s Model 3. However, BYD’s model undercuts its competitor significantly on price. The Qin L EV is available in three variants,…

Aito, a company supported by Huawei, has introduced the new M5 Ultra in China as an update to its existing M5 model, alongside a refreshed version of its flagship M9 SUV. The M5 Ultra, which follows the M5 launched in September 2022, features minor design revisions but retains its predecessor’s drivetrain options. Aito has reduced prices across the lineup by 20,000 yuan ($2,800), positioning the M5 Ultra competitively in the mid-size SUV segment. The battery-electric version with rear-wheel drive features an 83 kWh LFP battery, delivering 200 kW of power and up to 602 km of CLTC range, priced at…

Mercedes-Benz has appointed Jason Hoff as the new CEO of its North America division, marking a strategic move aimed at strengthening the automaker’s presence in its second-largest market. Hoff, currently Global Head of Quality for Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans, will assume the role immediately and report directly to the global management board of Mercedes-Benz AG. He will oversee the company’s overall strategy in the U.S., where the German automaker seeks to deepen engagement with customers and expand its market share. See also: Mercedes-Benz Unveils MB.CHARGE Public as New Digital Charging Platform “As an American, I’ve had multiple opportunities to be…

Chinese scientists have developed a method to rejuvenate lithium-ion batteries, significantly extending their lifespan by injecting lithium to restore lost capacity, researchers at Fudan University said. A team of chemists, molecular engineers, and material scientists at the university found that adding lithium back into aging batteries could increase their charge cycles from approximately 1,500 to 12,000, a nearly eightfold improvement. The process, which involves injecting a special molecule—LiSO₂CF₃—into depleted batteries, could help reduce battery waste and improve sustainability in the electric vehicle and electronics industries. See also: China’s LFP Battery Sector Sees Demand Recovery Amid Rising Orders, Price Adjustments “The…

Volkswagen Group will produce key components for its upcoming Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) at its Kassel-Baunatal component plant in central Germany, CEO Oliver Blume confirmed. The site is expected to manufacture components for up to one million vehicles annually. The Kassel-Baunatal facility, managed by Volkswagen Group Components, is already a crucial part of the company’s electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. See also: Volkswagen’s Cariad Software Unit to Cut 1,600 Jobs Amid Restructuring It currently assembles the APP310 and APP550 electric motors and has been developing power electronics for future EVs since 2023. Blume, speaking to local newspaper Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine on…

Swedish battery cell manufacturer Northvolt may be on the verge of filing for bankruptcy in Sweden if it fails to secure fresh funding, local newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) reported on Tuesday, citing two sources. The company, which sought U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November last year, has been grappling with financial difficulties as it struggles to scale up production at its flagship plant in northern Sweden. DN reported that Northvolt’s board could file for bankruptcy on Wednesday for “the entire Swedish business” unless new capital is secured. See also: Scania Secures Additional Battery Supply Amid Northvolt Struggles, Warns of…

Singapore will introduce financial incentives for electric heavy vehicles and their charging infrastructure, aiming to accelerate fleet electrification, a government official announced. Under the new Heavy Vehicle Zero Emissions Scheme (HVZES), owners of electric goods vehicles, buses, and goods-cum-passenger vehicles with a Maximum Laden Weight (MLW) exceeding 3,500 kg will receive 40,000 Singaporean dollars (approx. 28,000 euros) per vehicle. See also: Charge+ Expands EV Charging Network in Singapore with Strategic Acquisitions The incentive, available from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028, will be disbursed in three stages—13,000 Singaporean dollars upon registration, 13,000 dollars after one year, and 14,000 dollars…