Author: Todd Gilbert

Mercedes-Benz is road-testing electric vehicles equipped with solid-state batteries, marking a significant step toward launching the next generation of high-range EVs. The company aims to bring the technology into series production before the end of the decade, according to a senior executive. Mercedes has been testing modified EQS prototypes fitted with lithium-metal solid-state batteries developed in partnership with U.S.-based Factorial Energy and its in-house unit Mercedes AMG High-Performance Powertrains (HPP). The battery technology is designed to deliver a driving range increase of up to 25%. “We expect to bring the technology into series production before the end of the decade,”…

Range Energy has completed a series of vehicle dynamics and stability tests for its eTrailer System at the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC), validating improved safety performance and compatibility with existing freight transport vehicles. The tests involved more than 400 dynamic maneuvers, including aggressive J-turns and double lane changes on both dry and wet pavement. The results showed that the eTrailer System reduced lateral force by up to 25% compared to conventional semi-trailers, significantly lowering rollover risk. The eTrailer employs regenerative braking to enhance vehicle stability during critical maneuvers. The system is designed to work with both diesel and electric…

Volkswagen slashed its 2025 sales and profit forecasts on Friday after reporting a €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) first-half impact from U.S. import tariffs, marking its first public assessment of the financial toll from trade tensions triggered by President Donald Trump’s policies. Europe’s largest automaker now expects an operating profit margin of 4% to 5% for the full year, down from a previous projection of 5.5% to 6.5%. The company also revised its revenue outlook, stating that full-year sales would remain flat compared to 2024, having earlier guided for growth of up to 5%. Volkswagen shares fell as much as 4.6%…

Nick Cassidy closed out his time with Jaguar in commanding style, securing a third win in four races and completing a weekend double at the season-ending Formula E London E-Prix on Sunday. Starting from pole, the New Zealander led the field to take a dominant win at the ExCeL Centre. The victory marked Cassidy’s second of the weekend and capped off a strong finish to the season for Jaguar. https://twitter.com/FIAFormulaE/status/1949513120327602533 Meanwhile, Porsche sealed both the teams’ and manufacturers’ championships after world champion Oliver Rowland retired from the race following a collision. Both McLaren entries also retired, bringing an end to…

Hyundai Mobis posted strong second-quarter results, with operating profit rising by more than a third from a year earlier, buoyed by robust sales of high-margin products and growth in its global after-sales service (A/S) parts business. The South Korean auto parts supplier said on Thursday that sales reached 15.94 trillion won ($12.3 billion) in the three months ended June, up 8.7% from the same period a year earlier. Operating profit rose 36.8% to 870 billion won, while net profit declined 6.3% to 934.5 billion won. The company attributed the performance to improved profitability from the full-scale operation of its North…

AEye, Inc., a developer of lidar sensing technology, announced on Friday the full integration of its Apollo lidar sensor into the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX platform, a step that connects its system with a network of global automakers working on autonomous and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The integration means AEye’s Apollo sensor is now validated for use within NVIDIA’s automotive computing ecosystem. Apollo is part of AEye’s next-generation 4Sight™ Flex family and is designed to deliver detection ranges of up to one kilometer, while offering a compact and software-defined architecture. “This validation by NVIDIA significantly accelerates our path to commercial scale…

Fusion Processing has launched a ten-month feasibility study aimed at introducing No User In Charge (NUIC) automated driving technology into operational bus depots across London, in collaboration with Transport for London (TfL), Alexander Dennis, and Metroline. The study focuses on integrating Fusion Processing’s CAVstar Automated Drive System (ADS) into diesel and electric buses to enhance maneuvering accuracy within tight depot spaces. The automation system is designed to assist buses in navigating to cleaning bays, charging stations, and parking positions without human drivers, reducing the risk of accidents and optimizing space usage. Initial trials are being conducted off-highway using Alexander Dennis…

MAN Truck & Bus has introduced the Smart Charging Cube, a mobile battery storage and charging solution designed to support electric commercial vehicle fleets in locations with limited infrastructure. The system, developed in collaboration with AW Automotive, offers up to four charging points and a total charging capacity of up to 400 kW. The Smart Charging Cube is engineered for flexibility, requiring no groundwork and only minimal electrical connection. Depending on the location, it can be connected to the power grid with currents ranging from 32 A to 630 A. The unit is suited for both depot use and decentralized…

China’s BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) maker, expects to roll out its first locally assembled car in Pakistan by July or August 2026, a company executive told Reuters, as the automaker accelerates its expansion into emerging markets. The plant, located near Karachi, has been under construction since April and is being developed in partnership with Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of Pakistani power utility Hub Power (HPWR.PSX). “We do not foresee excess capacity in our system as demand in Pakistan will catch up,” Danish Khaliq, vice president of sales and strategy at BYD Pakistan, said in an interview.…

U.S.-based EV charging firm viveEV has received official safety certification for its 600 kW Ultra Slim and Tron DC fast chargers from TÜV Rheinland, a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) acknowledged by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The approval clears the way for the widespread public deployment of its ultra-fast charging solutions across the United States. The certification confirms the chargers meet multiple U.S. safety standards, including UL 2202, UL 2231-1, UL 2231-2, UL 1998, and UL 991, ensuring regulatory compliance for deployment in commercial and public environments. TÜV Rheinland’s assessment also reflects adherence to global standards such…

Tesla may be temporarily prohibited from selling vehicles in California as the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) moves forward with a case alleging the company misled consumers about the capabilities of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) technologies, Bloomberg reported. The DMV is seeking to suspend Tesla’s manufacturer and dealer license for at least 30 days, which would halt vehicle sales in California—Tesla’s largest U.S. market. The agency contends that Tesla’s marketing of its driver-assistance features violates state regulations against deceptive advertising, citing statements that may have overstated the systems’ autonomy. At issue is Tesla’s use of terms like…

Chinese machinery manufacturer LEAD has introduced a new system for the formation and evaluation of lithium-ion batteries, targeting improved energy efficiency, lower production costs, and greater consistency across battery manufacturing processes. The newly developed system addresses what LEAD describes as a key bottleneck in battery cell production – the traditional formation and grading stages – by introducing several engineering improvements. These include a high-precision temperature control mechanism that maintains chamber temperatures at 25°C with a tolerance of ±1.5°C, reportedly enhancing control accuracy by 50%. The high-temperature zone has also been reduced by 60%, and the use of hot water as…