Author: Thomas Schmidt

BMW said it will introduce a hydrogen fuel cell version of its next-generation X5 sport utility vehicle in 2028, confirming for the first time that the long-anticipated technology will be incorporated into the model line rather than a standalone vehicle. The new X5 line-up will include petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell variants, the German automaker said. The hydrogen model will build on lessons from its 100-vehicle iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet, which has been in testing since 2023. “By launching the new BMW X5 with a choice of five drive system variants, we are once again demonstrating…

Scout Motors said it will invest $300 million to build a new Supplier Park next to its production center in Blythewood, South Carolina, creating around 1,000 jobs and spurring an estimated $368 million in related investments. The self-funded project, which does not rely on new government incentives, builds on Scout’s existing $2 billion commitment in the state and is expected to deliver a total economic impact close to $700 million. The 200-acre facility will house a Just in Time (JIT) parts sequencing center, a battery assembly building, and an accessories building. Vehicle production at the Blythewood site is slated to…

Segway has launched the E3 Pro electric scooter globally, expanding its mid-range lineup with a model that builds on the E2 Pro with notable improvements in performance and range. The new e-scooter is designed to balance portability with upgraded power, featuring a lightweight frame and a minimal two-tone design. The E3 Pro is powered by a 400W motor with an 800W peak output, capable of a top speed of 20 mph (32.1 kph) and climbing inclines of up to 18%. The scooter now carries a larger 368 Wh battery, compared with the 275 Wh unit in its predecessor, delivering up…

Volkswagen said it will halt production for one week in October at its commercial vehicles plant in Hannover, Germany, where it builds the all-electric ID. Buzz van and the combustion-engine Multivan. The pause will coincide with Lower Saxony’s autumn holidays. The company attributed the decision to weaker demand for light commercial vehicles in Europe and slower-than-expected growth in electric vehicle sales. “The necessary flexibility to adapt production planning to changed market demand” was the reason given by a VW spokesperson, according to the Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung. Volkswagen has faced challenges with the ID. Buzz rollout, particularly in the United States.…

Dutch e-bike maker Gazelle has launched three new Class 1 models in North America, emphasizing comfort and premium build quality over speed and low-cost competition. The lineup includes the Easyflow C7, Arroyo C5, and Arroyo C380. The new Easyflow C7 is designed for accessibility, targeting new, aging, or less confident riders. It features a low step-through frame, pedal-forward geometry that allows riders to place both feet on the ground when stopped, and 24-inch wheels for added stability. The bike is equipped with a Shimano EP5 mid-drive motor, a 504 Wh battery, and Gazelle’s adjustable Switch stem. The company also refreshed…

Ford Motor is prioritizing flexibility in its electric vehicle battery strategy as the industry continues to test and scale new chemistries, a senior executive said at the 2025 Jefferies Industrials Conference. “Yeah, we’re always thinking about the next chemistry,” said Lisa Drake, Ford’s vice president. “I mean, I’ve been in this space for – since we started this journey for the last four years and we’ve already gone from a high nickel-based chemistry to a mid-nickel-based chemistry to an LFP chemistry to now we have LMR which is a manganese rich chemistry.” See also: Ford Expands F-150 Lightning Lineup with…

BMW said its strategy for keeping or removing physical controls in its vehicles is based on usage data collected from millions of cars, rather than following the wider industry trend of fully digital interiors. Stephan Durach, BMW’s senior vice president of UI/UX development, said the company monitors how drivers interact with controls to decide which features remain as buttons and which shift to touchscreens or voice commands. See also: BMW Launches Second-Generation iX3, First Model on Neue Klasse EV Platform “We have ten million cars out there,” Durach told. “The decision of ‘what we’re taking out, what we’re keeping,’ was…

Genesis is postponing the launch of its next-generation Electrified G80, with the luxury sedan not expected to return to the U.S. market for several years, according to a report from Korean auto blogger Motorsjason. The Hyundai-owned premium marque has quietly discontinued the current G80 EV in the U.S., after the 2024 model year, while the updated 2025 version never arrived. Genesis said it would remain responsive to market conditions in its product planning. “The customer is at the core of every decision we make, and we remain flexible as we adapt to ever-changing consumer needs and market conditions,” the company…

Tesla has quietly discontinued the Cybertruck Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) in the United States, less than six months after its debut. The move leaves the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and higher-end Cyberbeast trims as the only available options, priced at US$79,990 and US$114,990, respectively. The Long Range RWD, which launched at US$69,990 before incentives, was marketed as the most affordable version of Tesla’s electric pickup. It offered an estimated 350 miles (563 km) of range, 7,500-pound towing capacity, and a 0–60 mph acceleration of 6.2 seconds. The RWD variant was lighter than the AWD model due to coil springs replacing…

WeRide has launched operations in Belgium with the debut of its Robobus in Leuven, expanding its footprint to 11 global markets. The project is being carried out in partnership with Flemish public transport operator De Lijn, the City of Leuven, and mobility consultancy Espaces-Mobilités. Mapping of the Robobus route began this week in downtown Leuven, running between Leuven Station and Heverlee. The corridor, one of the city’s busiest with high traffic density and links to a major transport hub, was selected to reflect typical Belgian urban conditions. Public road testing with a safety officer onboard is scheduled to start in…

Qualcomm Technologies and French automotive supplier Valeo said on Tuesday they are broadening their collaboration to jointly deliver scalable Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving (AD) platforms, aiming to speed up automakers’ transition toward software-defined vehicles. The strengthened partnership combines Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride™ SoCs and Ride Flex platforms with Valeo’s expertise in sensors, system integration, and automotive software. The companies said the integrated platform is designed to provide automakers with a pre-validated, production-ready system that reduces complexity and accelerates time-to-market for next-generation vehicles. The offering will support a wide range of driving functions, including hands-off driving on highways, automated…

Honda will unveil its first full-size electric motorcycle on September 16, based on the EV Fun concept, marking the Japanese company’s entry into the segment of highway-capable electric two-wheelers with DC fast charging. Test rides of prototypes in Europe suggest the new model will use the CCS2 connector, a rare feature in motorcycles, underscoring Honda’s ambition to compete in the high-performance electric segment. According to Motorcycle magazine, one prototype showed a range of 44 km at 34% battery, pointing to a potential full-charge range of around 129 km (80 miles). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z53RrXivk-8 The model takes design cues from Honda’s EV Fun…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor expects its global sales to reach 1 million units in 2026 and climb to 4 million annually within the next decade, with about 60% coming from markets outside China, Chief Executive Zhu Jiangming said on Monday. “We are in the middle of our journey,” Zhu told Reuters in an interview at the IAA Mobility auto show in Munich. “Most of our sales growth will come from overseas because that’s where we see the biggest potential.” See also: China’s Leapmotor Raises $364 Million in Private Placement, Adds Four State-Owned Shareholders Leapmotor plans to more than double…

German motorhome manufacturer Dethleffs has unveiled its e.home ECO concept, a fully electric motorhome that demonstrates the potential for sustainable, emission-free travel in the recreational vehicle sector. The vehicle debuted at Caravan Salon 2025 as part of the company’s “Destination Future” initiative, with plans for a production-ready model by 2028. The e.home ECO is built on the 2023 Ford E-Transit platform and features rear-wheel drive. Its electric motor delivers 135 kW (184 hp) and currently provides a WLTP range of around 240 kilometers (150 miles). Dethleffs aims to increase this to at least 400 kilometers (248 miles) in the production…

Hesai Technology said it has been designated the exclusive short-range lidar supplier for Motional’s all-electric Ioniq 5 robotaxi, cementing a partnership that has spanned more than two years. The agreement highlights the growing role of lidar in ensuring safety and performance for Level 4 autonomous vehicles, which are designed to operate without human intervention in most driving conditions. Motional, a developer of driverless technology backed by Hyundai and Aptiv, is preparing to scale robotaxi services across multiple cities through partnerships with global ride-hailing platforms. “Lidar serves as the ‘eye’ of an autonomous vehicle,” Hesai said, noting that its solutions have…

A Quebec Superior Court judge has declared the North American arm of Swedish battery maker Northvolt insolvent, after the provincial government moved to recover C$260 million ($190 million) in public funds, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported on Friday. Justice Janet Michelin granted creditor protection to Northvolt Batteries North America earlier this week following the province’s request, the report said. The ruling follows the collapse of Northvolt in March, when the company reported $8 billion in debt after losing customer orders, investor support, and falling short of production targets. Canada’s federal government has been exploring options to salvage the project.…

MAN Truck & Bus said its fully electric trucks have covered more than five million kilometres in real-world customer operations since the beginning of 2025, marking a key milestone as the company ramps up series production. Around 200 battery-electric vehicles are currently deployed with European logistics providers including DB Schenker, Dachser, Duvenbeck and Dräxlmaier. The trucks, which average 90 kWh per 100 km in energy use, have saved an estimated 3,600 tonnes of CO2 compared with diesel trucks, the company said. Based on a projected lifetime mileage of 1.2 million km per vehicle, total savings could reach about 172,000 tonnes…

Tesla said on Friday it has installed more than one million Powerwalls globally, underscoring the rapid expansion of residential energy storage and the growing role of decentralized grids. The company said Powerwalls are now deployed in 30 countries and have collectively generated and stored 17.3 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy. Tesla added the systems have prevented more than 21 million power outages from affecting customers. https://twitter.com/teslaenergy/status/1963634166961934808 Since its debut in 2015, the Powerwall has moved from a niche product for early adopters to a mass-market solution. Tesla reached 100,000 installations in 2020, 250,000 in late 2021, and 500,000 in early…

Astemo Americas, Inc., a subsidiary of automotive supplier Astemo Ltd., said on Wednesday it will invest $95 million to build a new regional headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, in a move aimed at strengthening its role in autonomous driving and electrification software. The project is expected to create 200 jobs, more than 150 of which will be engineering positions. The 26-acre campus, located along I-96, will include a 185,000-square-foot main building for office and laboratory space, along with on-site test tracks. The facility will house engineering, software development, marketing, and customer service teams, with construction set to begin in spring 2026…

Hyundai Motor America reported record sales in August, buoyed by strong demand for electric vehicles as U.S. consumers moved to secure federal clean vehicle tax credits set to expire on September 30. The automaker sold 88,523 units last month, a 12% increase from a year earlier and the highest August figure in its history. EV sales grew 72% year-on-year, led by the Ioniq 5, which rose 61% to 7,773 units. The Ioniq 6 posted a 30% increase with 1,047 deliveries, while the newly launched Ioniq 9 sold 1,016 units. Among Hyundai’s broader lineup, the redesigned Palisade three-row crossover recorded a…