Author: Todd Gilbert

Ferrari has submitted patent applications for a simulated gearstick and an artificial sound system designed to reproduce the sensory experience of internal combustion engine vehicles in its future electric lineup. The first patent details a system that replicates gear changes and torque output using paddle shifters on the steering wheel, mimicking the dynamic response of traditional transmissions. The second patent focuses on a digital audio system that generates engine and gearshift sounds both inside the cabin and externally, enhancing the sensory feedback for both drivers and nearby pedestrians. See also: Ferrari Confirms EV Launch Date, Emphasises Commitment to In-House Tech…

Chinese carmaker Chery is in preliminary discussions with the Volkswagen Group about using the German automaker’s production facilities to manufacture vehicles in Germany, potentially for its new volume brand Lepas, according to a report by Automotive News Europe citing an unnamed source. Chery confirmed it is evaluating production in Germany but has not disclosed any specific partnership plans. Concerns over high labor costs, strong union presence, and regulatory complexity remain key factors in the company’s decision-making process. “We need to study the feasibility plan, because in Germany, the situation is very, very complicated,” said Charlie Zhang, vice president of Chery…

WeRide, an autonomous driving technology company, has received Guangzhou’s first driverless road testing license for its Robovan W5. This license allows the vehicle to undergo testing on public roads in the Nansha District, marking a significant step in the company’s development of autonomous logistics solutions. The Robovan W5 is designed for urban freight tasks, such as express delivery and point-to-point logistics, offering a 5.5 cubic meter cargo capacity and a 220-kilometer driving range. See also: WeRide Tackles Geopolitical Barriers to Advance Autonomous Driving Worldwide Equipped with Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving technology, the vehicle is built to provide safe and…

Onsemi on Monday projected second-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates, citing continued strength in demand for its silicon carbide chips used in electric vehicles (EVs), despite new U.S. tariffs that threaten to disrupt the automotive sector. The company forecast revenue between $1.40 billion and $1.50 billion for the quarter, with the midpoint exceeding analysts’ average estimate of $1.42 billion, according to LSEG data. Adjusted earnings per share are expected to fall between 48 cents and 58 cents, compared with market expectations of 52 cents. Onsemi reported first-quarter revenue of $1.45 billion, beating expectations of $1.40 billion but marking a 22%…

Argentina’s state energy firm YPF said on Monday it will partner with Israeli company XtraLit to jointly develop direct lithium extraction (DLE) projects in Argentina, as the country looks to strengthen its position in the global lithium market. The collaboration will be carried out through YPF Tecnología S.A., a subsidiary of YPF, and aims to deploy XtraLit’s environmentally friendly DLE technology, which uses an ion-exchange process to extract lithium from both high- and low-concentration brine sources. The technology has already been tested in the Middle East and North America. See also: Argentina to Slash Tariffs and Taxes on Electric Vehicles…

German energy technology firms Fenecon and The Mobility House are planning a large-scale battery storage facility in Grevesmühlen, northeastern Germany, with a capacity of 48 megawatt-hours (MWh). The installation, expected to go online in the second half of 2025, will use only new but unused electric vehicle (EV) traction batteries. The batteries, described as high-quality but obsolete due to factors such as model changes or production surplus, will be sourced from various manufacturers. The facility will be connected to a local substation under construction by utility company E.DIS Netz GmbH in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. See also: Schneider Electric and The Mobility…

Swedish mining equipment specialist Sandvik has secured its largest battery-electric vehicle (BEV) order to date from Australian mining group South32. The order, valued at 750 million Swedish kronor (approximately €68 million), involves the delivery of an underground fleet, primarily composed of electric machines, for South32’s new Hermosa Critical Minerals project located in Arizona, USA. The contract will see the deployment of BEVs alongside a smaller proportion of diesel-powered machines at the Hermosa site, which is set to focus on extracting manganese and zinc—key critical minerals for the U.S. energy transition. Situated in the Patagonia Mountains, approximately 80 kilometers southeast of…

France will end its nationwide exemption from vehicle registration fees for electric vehicles starting 1 May, with only the northern region of Hauts-de-France expected to retain the incentive. The tax break, introduced in 2020 to boost electric vehicle adoption, was always intended as a five-year measure and is now being phased out under the revised 2025 finance law. Regional authorities had until 30 April to decide whether to maintain the exemption. According to French news outlet Connexion, EV registration fees could now reach as high as €750, depending on the region and vehicle specifications. The change brings electric vehicles in…

Leapmotor founder and chief executive Zhu Jiangming has increased his stake in the electric vehicle maker, even as its shares hover near record highs, signaling confidence in the company’s prospects. According to a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange, Zhu, along with his concert party Fu Liquan and Fu’s wife, purchased 6.81 million shares in April for HK$316 million (US$40.7 million). This follows a similar purchase of more than HK$300 million last year. See also: Leapmotor to Supply EV Platform for FAW’s Hongqi Brand in Overseas Markets Following the transaction, Zhu and Fu’s shareholder group now holds a combined…

Horizon Robotics and Japan’s DENSO have announced a strategic collaboration to co-develop advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) tailored to China’s complex driving environment, aiming to expand access to smart driving technologies beyond premium vehicles. The partnership will combine Horizon Robotics’ high-performance Journey series processors with DENSO’s extensive experience in ADAS and vehicle integration. The collaboration focuses on building systems that enhance safety in both congested urban areas and high-speed highway conditions, offering a comprehensive suite of assisted driving features optimized for Chinese roadways. See also: Horizon Robotics Shares Rise 2.8% on Hong Kong Debut After $696 Million IPO “This partnership with…

European fast-charging joint venture Ionity will become the first operator to deploy Alpitronic’s new HYC1000 charging system, marking a significant step in expanding ultra-fast charging infrastructure for passenger electric vehicles (EVs) across the continent. The deployment, announced by the companies this week, does not include megawatt charging systems (MCS) designed for heavy-duty electric trucks. Instead, Ionity will focus on rolling out the HYC1000 with CCS (Combined Charging System) connectors tailored for electric passenger vehicles. Each HYC1000 setup features a central power cabinet linked to up to four dispensers, each offering two CCS connectors – enabling up to eight EVs to…

BYD, China’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, reported a 21.34% year-on-year rise in NEV sales for April, delivering 380,089 units, as overseas sales continued to break records for a fifth consecutive month. April’s sales were also up slightly from March, increasing 0.71%, according to data released by the company. BYD ceased the production and sale of internal combustion engine vehicles in March 2022, and now focuses exclusively on plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) production. See also: BYD Commissions Massive Shenzhen Car Carrier with 9,200-Vehicle Capacity to Boost Global NEV Deliveries Passenger NEVs accounted for the vast…

VinFast reported strong growth in vehicle deliveries and revenues for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024, supported by ongoing expansion efforts beyond its home market of Vietnam. The company shipped 53,139 electric vehicles in the fourth quarter, a 143% increase compared to the previous three months. See also: First Real Estate to Lease 1,000 VinFast EVs Through Green Future; Initial Delivery of 300 Units Begins For the full year, VinFast delivered 97,399 EVs, nearly tripling its 2023 figures with a 192% rise. Meanwhile, sales of electric scooters remained relatively stable, with 31,170 units delivered in the fourth quarter…

Toyota Motor’s Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, are in the final stages of negotiating a merger agreement, according to a report by Nikkei Asia. The two companies aim to create a new holding company for their truck operations, with plans to list the entity on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime market by April 2026. The merger was initially agreed upon in May 2023, with both sides targeting completion by the end of 2024. However, in February 2024, the deal’s finalization was delayed indefinitely. The companies are now expected to finalize the merger…

Nio aims for its newly launched Firefly brand to contribute 10 percent of its total vehicle sales in the long term, but executives noted the target will take time to achieve. “In the long run, we would like Firefly to reach about 10 percent of Nio Inc’s total sales, as Mini accounts for about 10 percent of BMW’s sales,” Nio founder and CEO William Li told local media during a group interview in Shanghai. See also: Nio Officially Launches Firefly EV with RMB 119,800 Starting Price and April 29 Delivery Date The comments came one day after Firefly officially launched its…

West Palm Beach, Florida, has introduced a pilot programme featuring a fully autonomous electric shuttle as part of a broader initiative to explore next-generation urban transportation solutions. The trial, which launched this week, is a collaboration between Guident, Related Ross, Circuit Transit, and Estonia-based Auve Tech, in coordination with the City of West Palm Beach. The MiCa shuttle, developed by Auve Tech, will operate along a 0.9-mile public transit route using Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities. This classification allows the vehicle to navigate complex urban environments without human input, relying on a suite of sensors and software systems. The project…

Fang Cheng Bao, a sub-brand of China’s BYD, launched the Tai 3 sport utility vehicle (SUV) on Tuesday, its first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and the most affordable model in its lineup to date. The entry-level version is priced from RMB 133,800 ($18,300), a reduction from its earlier pre-sale price. The Tai 3 is offered in five variants, including two rear-wheel-drive options priced at RMB 133,800 and RMB 139,800, and three four-wheel-drive versions starting at RMB 153,800, RMB 163,800, and RMB 193,800. The model is positioned as a family SUV, broadening Fang Cheng Bao’s product scope, which previously focused on off-road…

General Motors (GM) will temporarily lay off approximately 200 workers at its Factory Zero electric vehicle plant in Detroit, as the automaker adjusts production in response to moderating demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States. The decision affects about 4% of the plant’s 4,500 employees and reflects shifting market dynamics, a GM spokesperson confirmed. “This move is not related to Trump’s tariffs but rather to the automaker adjusting its production to align with market dynamics,” the source told U.S. News. See also: Trump Meets General Motors CEO as Automaker Plans $60 Billion Investment Amid Tariff Uncertainty Factory Zero,…

May Mobility has announced that its RAPID AV pilot program in Arlington, Texas, has surpassed 100,000 rides. Since its launch in March 2021, the autonomous vehicle service has been providing free transportation to students and staff at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), covering the campus and downtown areas. The program is part of ongoing efforts to improve mobility solutions for communities, particularly in campus and suburban settings. The RAPID AV service is a partnership between May Mobility, the City of Arlington, Via, and UTA, designed to provide an accessible and efficient transportation option for UTA students, many of…

Germany’s incoming coalition government has pledged to support the country’s automotive industry with new purchase incentives for electric vehicles and is considering converting surplus car plants for defence production, according to a coalition agreement document seen by Reuters. The agreement, reached between Germany’s conservative and Social Democratic parties, outlines a dual approach to industrial policy: accelerating the transition to electric mobility while also adapting industrial capacity to meet growing defence needs in Europe. See also: Germany Funds Two Hydrogen Innovation Centres with €154 Million The coalition plans to offer financial incentives for electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrids and battery electric…