Author: Todd Gilbert

Blue Whale Materials (BWM), a U.S.-based lithium-ion battery recycling company, has been awarded a $55 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to expand its recycling plant in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The funding aims to bolster domestic critical mineral supply chains and advance sustainable recycling technologies. The investment will enable BWM to process up to 50,000 tonnes of battery raw materials annually, generating enough critical minerals to supply batteries for over 100,000 electric vehicles per year. The expansion is expected to create 150 permanent jobs and 180 construction roles, with an additional $3 million allocated for workforce development and…

Nissan is set to begin building updated LEAF models at its Sunderland, UK plant later this year, marking a significant step in the company’s EV production efforts. This development is supported by a new supply agreement with JATCO, the Japanese auto transmission giant, which will manufacture EV powertrains at a nearby facility. The new JATCO manufacturing plant in Sunderland, which opened on Thursday, represents a £48.7 million investment, part of the UK government’s push to create a competitive EV supply chain. The 138,840 square-foot plant is expected to create up to 183 new jobs and produce up to 340,000 EV…

Ram has confirmed that it will not move forward with the long-range version of its 1500 REV electric pickup, which was initially expected to offer over 500 miles of range. The company announced that plans for the variant, which would have included a large 229 kWh battery, have been scrapped, with Stellantis halting all related activities. According to a supplier notice viewed by MoparInsiders, Stellantis decided to cancel the “Light Duty RAM 1500 DT BEV XL (long range variant)” and instructed suppliers to “immediately cease all activities” and suspend spending related to the project. The cancellation specifically pertains to the…

WeRide  has been selected as the technology provider for an autonomous driving pilot project in Switzerland. The project, funded by the Canton of Zurich and Swiss national railway SBB, and managed by the Swiss Transit Lab (STL), will demonstrate WeRide’s Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving capabilities. The pilot is set to begin in mid-2025 with two autonomous vehicles, expanding to a fleet of up to 12 vehicles by 2026. The service will operate in suburban areas of Zurich, including Otelfingen, Boppelsen, Hüttikon, and Dänikon, with potential future expansion to Buchs, Dällikon, and Regensdorf. Residents will be able to book rides…

A report by research and advisory firm Gartner has raised concerns that several car factories in Europe and North America may be closed or sold this year as automakers deal with overcapacity and heightened price competition. According to the report, production cuts are expected in 2025 as companies face challenges such as emissions regulations, tariffs, and increasing competition from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, who have a technological edge in software and electrification. Pedro Pacheco, VP Analyst at Gartner, noted that closures or sales are more likely in higher-cost countries where “political and societal pressure will be offset by mounting…

German startup Circunomics has raised over €8 million in a Series A funding round led by GET Fund and Schaeffler Invest GmbH, a subsidiary of the German automotive supplier Schaeffler. Existing investors, including Poland’s Orlen Group and Germany-based GG Rise, also participated in the financing. The Mainz-based company plans to use the capital to accelerate its international expansion and enhance its product offerings with new digital services. Circunomics provides a battery lifecycle management platform that includes a digital marketplace and AI-powered analytics. The solution facilitates B2B trading of used and surplus batteries, modules, and cells while enabling the transfer of…

Tesla maintained its dominant position in the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market in 2024, despite a drop in overall sales. According to Cox Automotive data, Tesla’s U.S. sales decreased by over 37,000 units compared to the previous year, but the company still secured a commanding share of the market with an estimated 633,000 units sold. The Model Y crossover and Model 3 sedan were the key contributors to Tesla’s success, together accounting for over 40% of all electric vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2024. Despite facing challenges such as its premium price and a limited-edition “Foundation Series” run for…

Tesla has once again been excluded from receiving funding for the construction of an electric vehicle (EV) charging corridor on the West Coast designed for EV semi-trucks. This marks the second time the Biden Administration has denied Tesla’s request for funding under the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) program, a key component of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed in 2021. Tesla, in collaboration with California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), had applied for funding to support the development of the corridor, which would span from Fremont, California, to Laredo, Texas. The proposed project included nine charging stops, with…

BMW Korea has announced the completion of its ‘Charging Next’ project, significantly expanding its electric vehicle (EV) charging network across South Korea. As of December 2024, the automaker has successfully installed 2,125 EV chargers nationwide, marking a major milestone in its commitment to supporting the growth of electric mobility. The initiative, which began in 2023, aimed to accelerate the development of charging infrastructure to meet the growing demand from EV drivers. BMW Korea had previously built a network of 500 chargers by 2021, doubling that number to 1,000 by 2023. With over 1,000 additional chargers installed in 2024, the ‘Charging…

Hypnos Beds, a UK-based manufacturer of mattresses and beds, has introduced two Volvo FM Electric trucks to replace its diesel vehicles, marking a significant step toward sustainable logistics. Operated by logistics partner DFDS, the electric trucks will deliver Hypnos Beds’ luxury mattresses and bed furniture to retail outlets, hotels, and distribution centers in London and Milton Keynes. The Volvo FM Electric trucks boast a power output of up to 490 kW and offer a range of up to 300 kilometers per charge. The rigid curtainside unit is equipped with five batteries, while the tractor unit carries the maximum of six.…

Nissan’s Oliver Rowland claimed his first victory of the season in the second round of the Formula E championship in Mexico City on Saturday, delivering an impressive performance to secure the Japanese manufacturer’s 20th win in the series. Starting from fourth on the grid, Rowland fought hard to take the lead after a pivotal yellow flag with five laps remaining, overtaking Andretti’s Jake Dennis. Rowland expressed his emotion after the race, saying, “This one was tough, but I have no regrets. It was very emotional for me. You put in a lot of work and this is a once-in-a-lifetime win…

Tesla’s Cybertruck production team has reportedly experienced disruptions, with some workers placed on furlough in December 2024 due to declining demand for the electric pickup. The temporary halt, which lasted only three days, followed a survey asking production staff about their preferences and informing them of the potential transition to the Model Y assembly line. Sources close to the situation told Business Insider that Tesla plans to scale back Cybertruck production, which has faced challenges including inconsistent output and supply chain issues, particularly related to battery availability. Despite the start of Cybertruck production in November 2023, reports of unsold vehicles…

Chinese automaker BYD has introduced its compact electric SUV, the Atto 2, at the Brussels Motor Show, positioning it as an “affordable SUV” tailored for the European market. Sales are slated to begin in March 2025, with pricing details expected to be announced soon. The Atto 2, measuring 4.31 meters in length, 1.83 meters in width, and 1.68 meters in height, is smaller than its sibling, the Atto 3. Based on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, the vehicle incorporates advanced cell-to-body (CTB) technology, which integrates the battery into the chassis for enhanced interior space and body rigidity. Initially, it will feature a…

Dutch semiconductor company NXP announced Tuesday its plans to acquire TTTech Auto, an Austrian firm specializing in safety software for autonomous vehicles, in an all-cash transaction valued at $625 million. The acquisition aims to bolster NXP’s position in the growing market for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from TTTech Group, TTTech Auto has been a key player in the automotive industry’s push toward semi- and full-automation. The company develops MotionWise, a middleware platform that ensures seamless data flow between a vehicle’s various control systems, such as cameras, radars, and actuators. MotionWise is designed to meet safety…

Cox Automotive’s latest Car Buyer Journey study shows that overall satisfaction with the vehicle shopping experience has reached new heights, with 75% of buyers reporting satisfaction. Key factors driving this improvement include better incentives, more inventory availability, and the integration of digital tools. However, satisfaction levels vary across different vehicle types. New electric vehicle (EV) buyers reported the highest satisfaction at 82%, outpacing hybrid (76%) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle buyers (75%). The study attributes much of this difference to the increased use of digital tools, with 76% of EV buyers utilizing online resources compared to 42% of ICE…

Toyota revealed at CES 2025 that its upcoming vehicles will be equipped with autonomous driving features, powered by Nvidia’s Drive AGX Orin supercomputer and DriveOS, an advanced safety-focused operating system. DriveOS will enable real-time AI processing for Toyota’s autonomous vehicles, integrating advanced driving functions with cockpit features. The system is part of Nvidia’s end-to-end autonomous driving platform, which also includes the Nvidia DGX supercomputer for AI model training and the Omniverse platform for AV software testing and simulation. This marks a continuation of Toyota’s long-standing partnership with Nvidia, which began in 2019 when the Toyota Research Institute started using Nvidia’s…

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL  has entered into a partnership with FAW Jiefang, a subsidiary of FAW Group, to advance the electrification of commercial vehicles. The agreement, signed in Ningde, Fujian province, focuses on areas such as product development and business model innovation for new energy commercial vehicles. The collaboration builds on the joint venture, JFCT, which was formed in September 2023. FAW Jiefang, a commercial vehicle manufacturer with seven product lines, is accelerating its efforts in new energy and smart connectivity. The company aims to strengthen its position as a provider of green and intelligent transportation solutions in China. CATL…

Leapmotor unveiled two new long-range battery electric vehicle (BEV) variants of its six-seat SUV, the C16, aimed at expanding its appeal among customers seeking extended driving range. The new variants, priced at RMB 172,800 ($23,590) and RMB 189,800, boast a CLTC range of 580 kilometers, a 60-kilometer improvement over previous BEV options. Both models feature a larger 74.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, replacing the earlier 67.7 kWh pack. The higher-priced variant includes a 128-channel LiDAR for advanced driver assistance, while the lower-priced model excludes the component. Originally launched on June 28, 2024, the C16 offers both extended-range electric vehicle…

Tesla’s China-made vehicle sales saw a robust increase in December, marking the third-highest monthly figure in its history, as the automaker ramped up year-end sales efforts. Tesla China sold 93,766 vehicles in December, including domestic deliveries and exports, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed on Friday. This represented an 18.91% increase from November’s 78,856 units but was marginally lower by 0.40% compared to 94,139 units sold in December 2023. The Shanghai Gigafactory, Tesla’s manufacturing hub for the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, caters to both local demand and overseas markets. According to Tesla, approximately 83,000…

DHL has teamed up with autonomous software company Oxa to successfully deploy a self-driving vehicle in live airport traffic at London Heathrow. The project, which completed over 800 miles of fully autonomous driving in just 14 days, marks a significant step in integrating autonomous vehicles into airport operations. As part of its long-standing Strategic Partnership with Heathrow, which began in 2020, DHL has been at the forefront of decarbonization efforts and innovation in the logistics sector. The collaboration with Oxa aims to optimize airside operations and enhance efficiency in the inter-terminal baggage transfer service using autonomous technology. Gavin Jackson, CEO…