Author: Ryan Fisher

Stellantis (STLA.MI) has confirmed plans to shut down its Luton van plant in the second quarter of 2025, abandoning previous commitments to manufacture electric vans at the facility. The decision, first reported by British media outlets Autocar and the BBC, will result in the loss of 1,100 jobs. The closure follows Stellantis’ concerns over the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires automakers to meet rising electric vehicle sales quotas or face financial penalties. In 2024, manufacturers must ensure 22% of new car sales and 10% of new van sales are electric, with targets increasing in 2025. The company…

Hyundai Motor Co. plans to suspend production of its Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric models at its Ulsan plant in South Korea from February 24 to 28, according to reports from South Korean media outlets citing industry insiders. The move comes in response to declining demand for these electric vehicles (EVs). An internal memo from Hyundai, as reported by The Korea Herald, states: “Sales volume and backorders [for the two car models] are declining. […] The second Trump administration’s reversal of [US] EV policies could prolong the demand slowdown for electric cars.” See also: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Takes on…

Tesla has raised the prices of its flagship Model X in both Canada and the United States, with significant increases particularly affecting U.S. buyers. Notably, the price hikes result in the Model X no longer qualifying for the U.S. federal tax credit. In Canada, both variants of the Model X have seen a price increase of C$7,000. The All-Wheel Drive (AWD) version is now priced at C$121,990, while the Model X Plaid is listed at C$142,990. See also: Tesla to Upgrade HW3 Self-Driving Computers for FSD Owners This marks the second price hike in less than a week, following a…

Tesla has further reduced its production costs per electric vehicle (EV) as it gears up to manufacture the updated Model Y, Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja said. “Our journey on cost reduction continues, and we were able to get our overall cost per car down below $35,000, driven primarily by material costs,” Taneja stated. See also: Tesla to Upgrade HW3 Self-Driving Computers for FSD Owners The company has significantly cut production expenses over the years. In 2017, it cost Tesla around $84,000 to produce a single vehicle. By 2024, that figure had dropped to approximately $36,000, marking a substantial decline,…

Alfa Romeo has abandoned its initial plan to become an all-electric carmaker by 2027, opting instead for a multi-energy approach. This shift comes as the Stellantis brand responds to evolving market conditions, particularly in North America. Alfa Romeo’s North American head, Chris Feuell, confirmed the change in direction, which includes the introduction of a petrol-only version of the Tonale SUV in the U.S. Feuell, who assumed leadership of Alfa Romeo North America in December, stated in an interview with Automotive News that the move from a battery-electric vehicle (BEV)-only strategy to a multi-energy roadmap reflects the challenges faced by U.S.…

Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto (STCP), the largest bus operator in the greater Porto area, has initiated a public tender for 30 electric buses and 15 charging stations, aiming for deployment by mid-2026. The procurement, valued at 12 million euros for the buses and an additional 900,000 euros for the charging infrastructure, is part of STCP’s broader commitment to sustainable transportation. “We aim to lead the transition to more sustainable and efficient public transport,” said Cristina Pimentel, Chair of the Board of Directors. Currently, STCP operates a fleet of 446 vehicles, with 75% powered by natural gas, 10% by…

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle technology company owned by Alphabet, is expanding its testing of driverless robotaxis to Los Angeles’ freeway system. Starting Tuesday, the company announced it would begin deploying its fleet of robotaxis on major freeways, including Interstates 10, 110, 405, and 90. See also: Waymo to Launch First Robotaxi Service Outside the U.S. in Tokyo, Starting 2025 Unlike previous tests, these robotaxis will operate without a human safety driver. Following the same path it has used in other cities, Waymo will initially offer access to the driverless vehicles to its employees, with plans to eventually open it up…

Rivian has introduced a new promotional offer for its R1S and R1T electric vehicle (EV) models, providing up to $6,000 in incentives for customers upgrading their vehicles. The program, launched on January 21, is available to current R1T or R1S owners or lessees in the U.S. and Canada and runs through March 31, 2025. The incentive amounts vary by configuration, with customers upgrading to the Tri Motor with Max battery eligible for a $6,000 discount, while those choosing the Dual Motor with Max battery and Performance upgrade can receive $4,500. A $3,000 discount is offered for the Dual Motor with…

Netradyne, a California-based startup specializing in AI-enabled dashcams for commercial fleets, has secured $90 million in Series D funding at a pre-money valuation of $1.35 billion. The funding round was led by Point72 Private Investments, with participation from Qualcomm Ventures and Pavilion Capital. The new capital will be used to expand Netradyne’s presence in global markets, including Ireland and Japan, while advancing the development of its safety technology. Netradyne provides fleet owners, including major companies such as Amazon, with AI-powered dashcams that help reduce accidents by around 50%. The devices offer both inward- and outward-facing cameras, utilizing edge computing to…

Li Auto has opened its first overseas research and development (R&D) center in Munich, Germany, as part of its efforts to expand its global footprint. The facility, announced on January 17, will focus on advancing next-generation automotive technologies. The German R&D center will collaborate with Li Auto’s existing teams in Beijing and Shanghai to drive research in areas such as power semiconductors, intelligent chassis systems, electric drives, and vehicle design. The company has developed its first generation of silicon carbide (SiC) power modules in China and plans to further this work with contributions from the Munich team. The center will…

EV solutions provider ChargePoint has unveiled two new security measures designed to tackle vandalism at its charging stations: cut-resistant charging cables and an alarm system called ChargePoint Protect. These solutions aim to reduce repair costs for station owners and enhance reliability for EV drivers. The company’s new cut-resistant cables, developed in-house, are intended to mitigate issues related to charging cable theft and vandalism. ChargePoint explained, “We leveraged our more than fifteen-year history of product innovation and charger design expertise to address the critical, industry-wide customer satisfaction issues related to charging cable theft and vandalism.” The cables are made from materials…

Leapmotor International, the joint venture between Stellantis and Leapmotor, is reportedly exploring the possibility of manufacturing the Leapmotor B10 at its Stellantis plant in Zaragoza, Spain, following uncertainty surrounding production at the Polish plant in Tychy. Although the initial plan was to build the electric vehicle at the Polish facility, the Polish government’s support for the EU’s special tariffs on China-made EVs has prompted the company to seek alternatives. While Leapmotor International is majority-owned by Stellantis, with a 51 percent stake, the Chinese partner appears to have considerable influence over critical decisions. Industry sources, including La Tribuna de Automoción, indicate…

BYD’s premium sub-brand, Denza, is setting its sights on a significant sales increase in 2025, following a somewhat underwhelming 2024. According to local media outlet AutoPix, Denza aims to achieve over 300,000 units in sales for the year, representing a 138 percent increase from its 2024 sales figure of 126,035 units, which marked a slight decline of 1.41 percent from the previous year’s 127,840 units. This ambitious target comes after a challenging year for Denza, though the brand managed to surpass its revised sales goal. Denza’s primary sales driver in 2024 was the D9 MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), which accounted for…

A coalition of 21 Polish municipalities has called on the national government to provide higher subsidies for hydrogen-powered public transport, citing challenges in managing the costs associated with hydrogen buses. The group has sent a joint letter to Poland’s Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, seeking financial support to offset the high operating costs. The municipalities, which include Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, and Łódź, among others, argue for a dedicated subsidy mechanism for cities using hydrogen buses. They claim such measures would enhance environmental quality, improve public health, and contribute to energy independence and economic development. Many of the municipalities…

EACON Mining has successfully deployed a fleet of over 800 autonomous haulage trucks, covering more than 27 million kilometers across 19 projects. The fleet consists of 14 low-emission models, including both hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, sourced from six original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This milestone underscores EACON’s focus on advancing automation and sustainability within the mining sector, with its solutions tailored to meet specific operational needs. The company has demonstrated its ability to rapidly deploy autonomous systems, with fully operational fleets going live in as little as two weeks. This speed of deployment has drawn industry leaders such as CNBM, SPIC,…

The New South Wales (NSW) Government has placed an order for 319 battery electric buses, marking a significant step in the transition of its public transport fleet to zero-emission vehicles. The order, which includes buses from manufacturers Custom Denning, Foton Mobility Distribution, VDI-Yutong, and Volvo, will see 276 of the new buses operational on the Northern Beaches and North Shore by 2028. The remaining 43 electric buses will serve the Western Sydney International Airport. The NSW government stated that this order is part of its broader initiative to replace the state’s 8,000-strong diesel and gas public bus fleet with zero-emission…

U.S. electric vehicle (EV) sales are projected to reach new heights in 2025, accounting for one in four vehicles sold, according to Cox Automotive’s 2025 Outlook report. The forecast reflects growing consumer interest in EVs, aided by a surge in new models, expanded incentives, and an improving economic outlook. Cox Automotive predicts the U.S. auto market in 2025 will be the strongest since 2019, driven by a robust finish to 2024. While most automakers posted year-over-year growth in 2024, notable exceptions included Stellantis and Tesla. General Motors emerged as the top-selling automaker, with Honda and Mazda also showing substantial gains.…

Geely Holding Group  announced on Sunday its ambitious goal of selling more than 5 million vehicles annually by 2027, aiming for a 79% growth from its 2023 sales of 2.79 million units. The company seeks to reach this target by consolidating its diverse brands and improving operational efficiency. Geely, which has sold 3 million vehicles in the first 11 months of 2024, reflecting a 20% increase from the same period in 2023, plans to streamline its operations by combining its passenger car brands into two main units: Geely Auto for the mass market and Zeekr Technology for the premium segment.…

Tesla has completed construction of its Megapack grid-scale battery factory in Shanghai, China, marking the company’s second such facility and its first outside the United States. After approximately seven months of construction, the Shanghai “Megafactory” is now entering its trial production phase, Tesla China announced on Tuesday, according to local news outlet Xinhua Net. The new facility, located in the Lingang Economic Development Group complex near Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, spans 200,000 square meters and has received an investment of approximately 1.45 billion yuan (about $201.7 million). Tesla expects to begin ramping production immediately, with the goal of delivering its first…

Volocopter GmbH, an air taxi start-up backed by Mercedes-Benz and Honeywell, filed for insolvency proceedings on Monday, citing its inability to secure sufficient funds to sustain regular operations. Despite its efforts to raise capital, the company, based in Bruchsal, Germany, stated that finding a viable solution outside of insolvency proceedings was not possible. “Despite recent intensive fundraising efforts, finding a viable solution to maintain regular operations outside of insolvency proceedings has not been possible,” Volocopter said in a statement. The company plans to continue its operations during the insolvency process while seeking additional funding. The electric vertical takeoff and landing…