Author: Thomas Schmidt

Hyundai Motor has halted production of its Genesis Electrified GV70 electric vehicle in the United States as the company pivots toward higher-volume and more profitable SUV models, including the Tucson, amid weakening EV sales and shifting U.S. policies. The automaker stopped producing the luxury EV at its Alabama plant in June, according to industry sources cited by Business Korea. Instead of assembling new models, Hyundai has been selling off remaining inventory. The Electrified GV70, which began rolling off the line in February 2023, marked Hyundai’s first electric vehicle built in the U.S., supported by a $300 million investment to upgrade…

STEER Tech and HEVO have partnered to launch a wireless autonomous charging solution that integrates driverless navigation and docking with cable-free electric vehicle charging. The companies say the technology is aimed at transforming fleet depot operations by removing manual processes, cutting labor costs, and boosting vehicle uptime. The collaboration combines STEER Tech’s high-precision autonomous vehicle software with HEVO’s patented wireless charging system. According to the companies, the system will allow vehicles to autonomously navigate through depots, execute low-speed maneuvers, dock precisely on charging pads, and begin charging without human assistance. The solution is intended for use in high-volume fleet environments…

Six months after electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft maker Lilium filed for insolvency, the future of its assets remains unresolved. A consortium led by European investment holding company Ambitious Air Mobility Group N.V. (AAMG) has intensified efforts to purchase the failed aviation startup’s facilities, intellectual property, and technical resources. On Monday, AAMG confirmed it had formally submitted a purchase agreement under which it would pay €20 million for Lilium’s assets. The group also pledged an immediate €250 million to resume operations, with an additional €500 million available to address potential complications during the revival process. The consortium has…

Slovenia will roll out a new €9.2 million subsidy programme in September to encourage purchases of fully electric vehicles, extending support to electric cars, vans, motorcycles and mopeds. The incentives, which vary by vehicle type and price, offer up to €7,200 for eligible buyers. The scheme applies to new vehicles in categories M1, N1, L7e, L6e, L5e, L4e, L3e, L2e and L1e-B, covering passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, quadricycles, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. Used electric cars and transporters are also eligible. The budget allocates €5.2 million for private buyers and €4 million for companies, sole traders and other commercial users.…

Easee, an EV charging technology company, has partnered with Fuse Energy to launch a new home electric vehicle charging tariff in the UK, offering electricity at 5 pence per kilowatt-hour during certain hours. The partnership also includes a hardware offer, allowing customers to purchase the Easee One home charger with professional installation for £899. Fuse Energy’s tariff advertises “100 miles for just £1.25,” though actual costs will vary depending on the vehicle’s efficiency. The rate is lower than comparable tariffs such as Octopus Energy GO, which charges around 7p per kWh during fixed overnight off-peak hours. However, unlike Octopus GO’s…

Lucid Group is set to reveal a new electric vehicle concept at Monterey Car Week on August 14, describing it as a “bold new concept of electric exploration.” While the company has yet to disclose full details, early visuals suggest the model could be an off-road variant of its recently launched Gravity SUV. The teaser images show features such as a roof-mounted light, rugged black wheels, and other elements typically associated with off-road capabilities. Industry observers say the upgrades resemble the approach taken by Rivian’s “California Dune Edition” models, which add all-terrain components and unique styling to enhance outdoor performance.…

German automotive supplier ZF has introduced a major update to its cubiX Tuner software that allows engineers to fine-tune a car’s driving dynamics with a level of simplicity reminiscent of video game interfaces. The latest iteration enables real-time adjustment of multiple chassis actuators—from steering to braking—through digital sliders, potentially accelerating vehicle development, especially for new electric and software-defined vehicles. In a move that could redefine the car development process, ZF’s updated software can communicate with various electronic systems within a vehicle, including brake-by-wire, electric power steering, and active damping components. This streamlines calibration by replacing the traditionally labor-intensive process with…

German electric motor startup DeepDrive will present a new compact generator based on its dual-rotor technology at the IAA Mobility 2025, responding to increasing interest from car manufacturers seeking scalable range extender solutions for electric vehicles. The new product, named MG 250, is a dual-rotor radial flow generator developed specifically for use in extended range electric vehicles (EREVs). The system combines a compact design with high torque density, offering a peak output of 150 kW and a continuous power rating of 120 kW. According to DeepDrive, the MG 250 achieves up to 96.9% efficiency and integrates an SiC inverter into…

Tesla is accelerating its autonomous ride-hailing efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area, with CEO Elon Musk confirming plans to scale up the company’s pilot fleet to more than 100 vehicles. The move follows last month’s quiet launch of the service across a wide Bay Area geofence that significantly exceeds the 80 square miles currently covered in Austin, Texas. While Tesla has avoided publicly branding the Bay Area rollout as a “Robotaxi” program, Musk acknowledged in a post on social media platform X that California regulations restrict the company from using terms such as “taxi” or “cab” for the pilot.…

Tesla is preparing to introduce a significantly enhanced version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, with CEO Elon Musk confirming that the upcoming model will feature a tenfold increase in parameters. The move marks Tesla’s latest step toward advancing autonomous driving technology, with a possible public release targeted for the end of next month, pending successful testing. The new FSD version is currently being trained and tested, with a prototype already operating in Tesla’s Robotaxi platform in Austin, Texas. Although the vehicles do not require driver supervision, a Safety Monitor remains seated in the passenger’s side during operations. “We are…

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has released a new explainer video outlining the upcoming legal changes required for autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Australia, marking the agency’s first public update since May 2024. The video signals renewed momentum in Australia’s push toward deploying AVs on public roads, though observers continue to raise concerns about the pace of regulatory development. The NTC is working with federal and state regulators to develop a national legal framework for AV deployment, addressing the fact that current road laws are structured around human drivers. “Current laws aren’t designed for automated driving systems,” the NTC says in…

Ford Motor’s electric vehicle unit, Model e, reported a $1.3 billion loss in the second quarter of 2025, as rising costs and tariffs weighed on its financial performance despite a 105% year-over-year increase in revenue. The segment generated $2.4 billion in Q2 sales, driven by higher wholesale volumes and continued focus on electric vehicle development. The EBIT loss was $179 million deeper than in the same period a year earlier, reflecting the impact of tariffs, strategic investment in next-generation EVs, and startup costs tied to Ford’s new battery manufacturing plant in Marshall, Michigan. Model e’s cumulative loss for the first…