Author: Thomas Schmidt

CATL, the world’s largest battery maker, has implemented organizational changes to elevate the importance of its overseas operations to the same level as its domestic business, according to a report by LatePost. The management at CATL has informed the company’s teams that this restructuring aims to better integrate resources in support of its globalization strategy. As part of the reorganization, CATL has restructured all of its more than 40 factories into domestic and overseas regions, compared to the previous structure of six regions, the report stated. See also: CATL Breaks Ground on Beijing Battery Production Base for BAIC, Xiaomi, and Li…

Magenta Mobility, a leading provider of electric mobility solutions, is deepening its collaboration with Tata Motors by deploying more than 100 electric trucks from the manufacturer, including 60 units of the Ace EV truck and 40 units of the recently launched Ace EV 1000. This expansion follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two companies in October 2023, aiming to deploy 500 units of the Tata Ace EV. The recent deployment of over 100 units is part of Magenta Mobility’s ambitious ‘Ab Ki Baar Dus Hazaar’ program, which targets deploying 10,000 electric vehicles by September 2025. Maxson Lewis, Founder…

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has voiced his opposition to restricting automotive trade, particularly as the European Union (EU) edges closer to imposing tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China. Speaking on Saturday, Scholz emphasized that Germany’s auto industry benefits from its business in China and can compete with Chinese carmakers as long as trade remains “fair and free.” The EU is anticipated to announce tariffs this month targeting Chinese electric cars following an investigation into the country’s EV subsidies. In response, Beijing has hinted at imposing retaliatory duties on EU-made cars with large engines, a move that would disproportionately…

Volkswagen is gearing up to launch its next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) in 2028, based on the upcoming Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). The announcement came from Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the VW Golf. While specific details about the debut model were not disclosed, former Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess suggested that it would likely be an SUV. The SSP platform will serve as a replacement for various existing platforms, including the MQB, MSB, and MLB ICE platforms, as well as the MEB and PPE EV platforms. Originally planned for introduction with a highly…

Swedish electric vehicle (EV) maker Polestar has partnered with Norwegian charging infrastructure manufacturer Zaptec to provide home charging solutions to its European customers. The collaboration brings the Zaptec Go wallbox, along with installation and support services, to Polestar customers in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, with plans to expand to other countries in the future. See also: Polestar CEO Criticizes U.S. Tariff Hike, Plans Global Production Diversification Polestar has highlighted that the Zaptec Go wallbox is compatible with all vehicles in its lineup, including the upcoming Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 models, set for their first European customer deliveries this…

Electric vehicle (EV) buyers are experiencing a notable shift in their purchasing dynamics, with lower average costs compared to luxury internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle buyers, according to recent data from Experian and TransUnion. While EV buyers have historically had similar credit profiles to luxury buyers, they are now paying less on average for their vehicles. The average credit score, interest rate, and risk profile of EV buyers align with those of luxury ICE vehicle buyers and have remained consistent over the past few quarters. However, the key difference lies in monthly payments. In the first quarter of this year,…

Ford has commenced the mass production of its all-electric Explorer EV at the electric vehicle assembly plant in Cologne, Germany, following a $2 billion investment that has revitalized one of its most historic facilities into a “factory of the future.” The launch of the Explorer EV, the first vehicle to roll off the production lines at the Ford Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, marks a significant milestone for the company’s Model e division and signals a new era for one of the automotive industry’s most iconic brands. Kieran Cahill, Vice President of Manufacturing for Ford in Europe and International Markets Group,…

Northern Irish public transport operator Translink is ushering in a new era of sustainable transportation with the arrival of the first batch of electric buses from local manufacturer Wrightbus. The order of 100 electric buses, the largest of its kind in Northern Ireland, marks a significant step towards Translink’s goal of a zero-emission bus fleet. The initial delivery consists of 40 buses for Ulsterbus, which will serve routes in Derry-Londonderry, Limavady, Strabane, Coleraine, and Portadown. An additional 60 electric buses are destined for the Belfast Metro, a move that will see half of Translink’s bus fleet converted to zero-emission vehicles.…

Hyundai Glovis, the logistics unit of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, and EcoPro Co., an electric vehicle battery materials producer in South Korea, have announced a partnership to advance their technology and establish a global network for electric vehicle battery recycling. The memorandum of understanding for business cooperation, signed late last month, aims to collaborate on recycling process automation and develop a supply chain management system for used batteries. See also: Chinese LFP Batteries Flood Korean Market, Raising Recycling Concerns Hyundai Glovis, known for handling vehicles from Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. for overseas shipments, also serves global carmakers like…

Stellantis announced on Monday that it would manufacture a hybrid version of its 500e small electric car at the Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, in response to a slowdown in electric car sales. The decision follows a meeting between Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares and union representatives in Turin, who had been advocating for increased production at Fiat’s historic home with a new, high-volume, and more affordable model. The Mirafiori plant currently produces the 500e model, but due to a global decline in sales of fully electric vehicles, Stellantis has had to significantly reduce production rates, leading to extended furlough periods…

A six-month-long strike against Tesla in Sweden has gained additional momentum this week as Unionen, the country’s largest private trade union, announced its support for the labor effort. Over a dozen unions have already been engaged in simultaneous actions to back IF Metall’s strikes against Tesla. Unionen initiated a blockade against Tesla on Tuesday, targeting workers at DEKRA Industrial AB, a company responsible for inspecting vehicles. The move comes in solidarity with IF Metall’s goal to secure a collective bargaining agreement with Tesla, a stance in direct opposition to Tesla’s historical resistance to unions and organized labor efforts worldwide. Martin…

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) giant BYD has launched its upgraded e-Platform 3.0 Evo, alongside the debut of the first model based on the platform, the Sea Lion 07 EV, at a launch event. The e-Platform 3.0 Evo features a 12-in-1 electric drive system, offering higher integration compared to the previous 8-in-1 system. It supports motors that spin up to 23,000 rpm, the highest speed currently in production according to BYD. The Sea Lion 07 EV, the first model based on the e-Platform 3.0 Evo, is a pure electric SUV designed to compete with Tesla’s Model Y. It has a…