Author: Todd Gilbert

Volkswagen’s mobility subsidiary Moia has ceased its ridepooling operations in the German city of Hanover, effective immediately, as the company redirects its focus toward Hamburg and its emerging autonomous mobility strategy. Moia launched its Hanover service in July 2018 and gradually expanded operations to cover the entire city by 2019. From August 2020, it operated exclusively with gold-yellow, fully electric vehicles. However, service was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in mid-2021 with a significantly lower profile. The sudden termination of the Hanover service was confirmed on Friday, when users were notified via the Moia app that bookings were…

Yasa, the British electric motor specialist owned by Mercedes-Benz, has developed a prototype motor it claims sets a new benchmark for power density in electric propulsion. The axial flux motor reportedly delivers 550 kilowatts of output while weighing just 13.1 kilograms, achieving a power density of 42 kW/kg. The figures were shared by Yasa’s Chief Technology Officer Tim Woolmer in a recent LinkedIn post. Although no formal statement has been issued by Yasa or Mercedes-Benz, Woolmer described the performance as “a new world record,” noting that the feat was achieved “unofficially (and a little accidentally!)” during internal testing. According to…

Hankook Tire & Technology said it will supply original equipment tires for Porsche’s first all-electric sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Macan, using its EV-specific Ventus S1 evo3 ev tire. The electric Macan, a model introduced as part of Porsche’s electrification strategy, offers a maximum output of 360 horsepower, a driving range of up to 474 kilometers per charge, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. Hankook’s Ventus S1 evo3 ev was selected to meet the vehicle’s performance demands, having passed Porsche’s standards for EV tire technology. The Ventus S1 evo3 ev is designed to minimize rolling resistance…

Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, will ban all fossil fuel-powered motorbikes and scooters within Ring Road 1 from July 1, 2026, as part of a sweeping initiative to curb air pollution and shift to cleaner transportation. A large-scale subsidy program will support the transition, alongside major investments in charging infrastructure and electric public transport. The city’s Department of Transport confirmed that a second phase of the initiative will begin in 2028, when restrictions on combustion-engine vehicles will gradually be extended to additional areas, including private cars. By 2030, a full Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is expected to be in effect up to…

Autonomous driving technology firm WeRide has launched what it describes as Southeast Asia’s first fully driverless Robobus service at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in Singapore. The autonomous shuttle operates without a safety officer onboard, following regulatory approval from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA). The service is the result of a one-year trial during which the Robobus operated with a safety driver and completed thousands of trips without incident. According to WeRide, the vehicle is equipped with a range of sensors, including LIDAR and cameras, providing a 360-degree field of view and obstacle detection capability of over 200 meters. “This launch…

Alphabet’s self-driving division Waymo said on Thursday it has expanded its autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas, to 90 square miles, up from 37 square miles previously, as it looks to maintain its lead in the city’s growing robotaxi market. The expansion brings new neighborhoods like Crestview, Windsor Park, Sunset Valley and Franklin Park into Waymo’s coverage area. With over 100 vehicles already operating on Uber’s platform in Austin, the company is aiming to strengthen its presence as rivals, including Tesla, attempt to gain traction in the space. https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/1945861048134701167 Waymo, considered a leader in the autonomous vehicle industry, operates approximately…

Via, the transit software company known for powering on-demand shuttle services in cities worldwide, has confidentially filed for an initial public offering, marking its renewed effort to enter public markets after years of preparation. The filing leaves key details undisclosed, including the number of shares and price range. Originally launched in 2012 as a consumer-facing ride service, Via has since pivoted to become a behind-the-scenes technology provider for public transit systems. Its core product is an algorithm-driven platform that uses real-time data to route shared vehicles dynamically, aimed at improving efficiency and coverage for transit agencies. The system is currently…

BMW has formed a partnership with Chinese autonomous driving firm Momenta to develop a smart driving system designed specifically for the Chinese market, both companies confirmed on Sunday, highlighting growing efforts by global automakers to localize innovation in the world’s largest car market. The system will be implemented in several of BMW’s domestically produced next-generation models. It is intended to offer full-scenario, point-to-point navigation-assisted driving capabilities, covering both highway and urban environments. BMW’s decision to work with Momenta follows similar collaborations between the Chinese startup and global carmakers including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Nissan. Founded in 2016 and based in Suzhou,…

Tesla has expanded its robotaxi service area in Austin, Texas, just three weeks after its initial launch, significantly enlarging its operational footprint while raising the flat fare from $4.20 to $6.90 per ride. The company made the changes public late Sunday through an updated service map in its mobile app. The new geofence now covers downtown Austin, the University of Texas campus, and areas north of downtown. This expansion roughly doubles the original coverage in South Austin, making Tesla’s service area appear larger than that of rival Waymo, which also operates autonomous vehicles in the city. See also: Tesla Begins…

UK bus operator First Bus has unveiled First Charge, a new initiative to open its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to commercial fleet operators and the general public. The programme will initially include 15 depots across Scotland and England, starting with a public launch at its Caledonia depot in Glasgow. The Caledonia site now serves as an ultra-rapid charging hub capable of accommodating up to 34 vehicles at a time. Public access is available between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at an introductory rate of £0.39 per kWh. This marks the first time First Bus has allowed general public use…

Stellantis no longer sees a viable market for its hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles in the UK, citing inadequate infrastructure and a lack of national subsidies, a company official said this week. “It is not the right time to push hydrogen,” said Fedele Ragusa, Product Manager at Stellantis, in comments to Fleet News. “There is no investment in incentives and infrastructure, so we are not pushing it commercially.” The statement marks a significant reversal from previous company forecasts. In April, Jean-Michel Billig, head of Stellantis’ hydrogen programme, had projected that hydrogen-powered vans could account for up to 40% of the market.…

UK operator First Bus will convert 30 Wrightbus Streetdeck diesel buses to battery-electric operation, following a successful pilot vehicle developed in partnership with electric repowering firm KleanDrive. The project is part of First Bus’s wider decarbonisation strategy and will be carried out at its subsidiary Ensignbus’s facility in Purfleet. The pilot vehicle, currently in assembly, will serve as the benchmark for the full conversion programme. The process involves removing the diesel engine and related components and fitting a modular battery-electric drivetrain within the existing engine bay. Each bus will be equipped with KleanDrive’s electric drive system, 352kWh of lithium iron…

The European Commission has allocated €852 million in grants to six battery cell manufacturing projects under its Innovation Fund, aimed at bolstering Europe’s position in electric vehicle (EV) supply chains and reducing import dependency. The funding follows a €1 billion battery-specific tender, part of the wider €4.6 billion IF24 programme announced in December 2024. The six selected projects—located in France, Germany, Sweden, and Poland—are designed to promote innovation in sustainable production techniques and advanced battery chemistries. Collectively, they are expected to add around 56 GWh of annual capacity and reduce emissions by an estimated 91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent…

Chinese automaker Geely Galaxy announced that cumulative sales of its E5 electric SUV, known as the EX5 in overseas markets, have surpassed 150,000 units since the vehicle’s launch in August 2023. The model, part of Geely’s expanding electric lineup, recorded 77,685 deliveries in the first half of 2024. Built on Geely’s Global Electric Architecture (GEA) platform, the E5 is a compact pure electric SUV with a 4,615 mm length and a 2,750 mm wheelbase. In China, the E5 is offered in five trim levels, priced between 107,800 yuan and 143,800 yuan (approximately $15,000 to $20,100). Two battery options are available…

Autonomous driving company WeRide has received a landmark permit to test its fully driverless Robovan W5 in Guangzhou’s Huangpu District, becoming the first company authorized for driverless logistics testing in the area. The new permit follows an earlier approval granted in Nansha District, highlighting WeRide’s continued expansion of its autonomous delivery operations in China. The approval enables WeRide to conduct full-area tests of its Robovan W5, an electric delivery van equipped with Level-4 autonomous driving capabilities and a redundant sensor suite for safety in complex urban settings. The Robovan is designed to handle high-frequency, last-mile logistics with a 5.5 cubic…

Nissan Motor is in discussions with Taiwan’s Foxconn to explore the use of its Oppama plant for electric vehicle production, according to two people familiar with the matter. The potential agreement could prevent the closure of the facility, located in the port city of Yokosuka, south of Tokyo. The talks come as Nissan moves forward with a global restructuring plan aimed at improving the company’s financial performance. The strategy, led by CEO Ivan Espinosa, includes the closure of seven out of 17 manufacturing plants worldwide and a workforce reduction of approximately 15%. Originally considered for shutdown, the Oppama plant could…

The German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) has officially launched a hydrogen research filling station at its Technical Safety Test Site (TTS) in Horstwalde, Brandenburg. Described by BAM as the only research facility of its kind in Germany, the station is designed to trial and develop advanced quality assurance and safety technologies for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure under real-world conditions. The facility replicates all key components of a hydrogen filling station—including a compressor, buffer storage tanks, gas coolers, and dispensing units—enabling tests of operational processes such as fuel transfer, leak detection, and material stress. A hydrogen-powered vehicle, reportedly…

Pony.ai has launched road testing of its robotaxis in Luxembourg, marking a key step in the Chinese autonomous driving company’s international growth strategy. The tests, conducted in partnership with local mobility provider Emile Weber, began in the town of Lenningen and are expected to extend to additional regions across the country. The initiative follows the establishment of Pony.ai’s European research and development center in Luxembourg in September 2023. The center focuses on advancing autonomous vehicle technologies and is part of the company’s broader effort to build partnerships and infrastructure to support future deployments in the region. See also: Pony.ai and…

Hyundai is set to unveil its next-generation electric performance sedan, the Ioniq 6 N, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 10, marking the next step in the company’s evolving N division strategy. Building on the success of the Ioniq 5 N, the upcoming model is aimed at delivering a sharper, more dynamic driving experience in a sleeker package. The Ioniq 6 N’s development stems from the 2022 RN22e concept, with prototypes undergoing extensive testing in recent years. A first teaser arrived in April 2025 alongside the facelifted standard Ioniq 6, but newer preview images now highlight the performance…

Electric vehicle infrastructure firm ChargePoint has introduced its latest home charging product, the Flex Plus, aimed specifically at company car drivers and fleet managers. The new charger is paired with ChargePoint’s Driver Management Solution, offering a comprehensive system for managing fleet charging, cost reimbursement, and usage data. The Flex Plus is the first product to utilize the company’s newly developed AC charging architecture. It supports charging speeds of up to 19.2 kW and introduces features such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capabilities, smart home integration, and dynamic load balancing — which allows faster charging when household electricity demand is low. ChargePoint emphasized…