Author: Ryan Fisher

Volkswagen will begin rolling out its updated MEB+ electric vehicle platform in 2026, starting with the launch of the ID.2, CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed. The move marks a significant refresh to the company’s current MEB architecture and introduces lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries as a cost-effective alternative for its next generation of volume EVs. “The upgrade to MEB Plus comes next year, and we will roll out the cell-to-pack battery systems with LFP,” Schäfer told Autocar. “That will be a major step forward in terms of cost for us. It’s very important, and also in performance.” See also: Volkswagen’s Entry-Level…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) said on Saturday that cumulative deliveries of its main brand have reached 700,000 units, marking a production milestone for the company as it continues to expand in the premium segment. The 700,000th vehicle was delivered in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province, according to a post on Weibo by Nio’s founder, chairman and CEO William Li. “700,000 units is not a huge number, but it represents the Chinese automotive industry’s pursuit of advanced technology and premium branding,” Li said in the post. See also: Nio Restructures Onvo and Firefly Brands in Cost-Cutting Drive…

Tesla has amassed over 10,000 Cybertrucks in inventory across the United States, marking a record high and signaling potential trouble for the electric pickup program amid cooling demand. The figure reflects a sharp increase from early April, when Tesla was estimated to have at least 2,400 Cybertrucks available. See also: Tesla Scales Back Cybertruck Production Amid Slowing Sales and Mounting Pressure While Tesla does not disclose exact inventory figures, data from Tesla-Info.com—based on vehicle listings—shows a rapid buildup in unsold stock. The increase may be partly due to a rise in individual listings caused by price variations and configuration changes…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng unveiled a new fast-charging variant of its P7+ electric sedan at the 2025 Shanghai auto show, enhancing its mid-to-large-size offering with upgraded battery technology capable of significantly reducing charging times. The newly introduced P7+ variant is equipped with a 5C charging multiplier battery pack and is priced from RMB 208,800 ($28,570). This upgrade allows the vehicle to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in approximately 12 minutes, providing a driving range of up to 420 kilometers with a 10-minute charge. See also: Xpeng Reviews Supply Chain Resilience Amid U.S.-China Trade Tensions The 5C designation…

Tesla is the subject of a proposed class action lawsuit in California alleging the company intentionally inflated odometer readings in its vehicles to limit warranty coverage and reduce repair costs. The complaint, filed by plaintiff Nyree Hinton, claims the electric carmaker’s mileage tracking system exaggerated distances driven, pushing vehicles beyond warranty thresholds prematurely. Hinton purchased a used 2020 Model Y in December 2022 with 36,772 miles on the odometer. According to the lawsuit, the vehicle began recording daily mileage significantly higher than expected despite consistent short commutes, averaging more than 72 miles per day—far above the roughly 20 miles he…

The Lucid Air, a flagship luxury electric sedan, has significantly improved since its troubled launch, according to a long-term test by automotive publication Edmunds. After three years and over 26,000 miles with a 2022 Grand Touring model, the outlet reports that ongoing over-the-air software updates have transformed the vehicle into the refined product it was originally intended to be. However, despite its improvements, the Lucid Air continues to face steep depreciation in the resale market. See also: Lucid Air Sapphire Outpaces Tesla Model S Plaid in Performance Test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Kwsg6zcik At the outset, Edmunds encountered numerous problems with the Air, describing…

Ferrari will unveil its first fully electric vehicle in October, Chairman John Elkann said on Wednesday, marking a key milestone in the luxury carmaker’s long-term transition towards electrification. Speaking at Ferrari’s annual shareholders’ meeting, Elkann said the company had been laying the groundwork for electric vehicles for years, building on its experience with Formula One and high-performance sports cars. “Electrification has been a path that we’ve been pursuing now for decades, starting in Formula One and then from our race cars to our sports cars,” he said. See also: Ferrari’s Upcoming Electric Sports Car Prototype Features Combustion Engine-Like Sound Ferrari…

EMTUSA, the public transport operator of Gijón in northern Spain, has ordered four electric city buses from Spanish manufacturer Irizar, expanding its efforts to decarbonise its urban fleet. The order follows the recent addition of six electric buses supplied by Poland’s Solaris. The newly ordered 12-metre-long vehicles are part of Irizar’s ie model series and are scheduled for delivery in March 2026. Once operational, they will serve Line 10, a key east-west route across Gijón that carries more than 2.8 million passengers annually. The buses will feature a charging capacity of up to 150 kW and support both pantograph and…

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 &…