Author: Todd Gilbert

Volkswagen has resolved the recall issue affecting nearly 100,000 ID.4 electric vehicles and is now resuming production and sales of the models. The recall, initiated in September, was due to a door handle malfunction that allowed water to enter the circuit board, potentially causing the doors to open unexpectedly. The production halt, which had impacted around 200 workers, was expected to last until the start of 2025. Now, three months later, the fix has been successfully implemented in some vehicles, with more being sent to dealerships and Volkswagen’s Tennessee factory for repairs. Sales of the ID.4 began again this week,…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Leapmotor  achieved a record 42,517 vehicle deliveries in December, marking the second time the company surpassed the 40,000 mark in a single month. This figure also represents the seventh consecutive record month for Leapmotor, according to data released by the company. The December figure is a 128.37% increase compared to 18,618 vehicles delivered in the same month last year, and a 5.85% increase from the 40,169 vehicles delivered in November. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Leapmotor delivered a record 120,863 vehicles, reflecting an increase of 118.45% year-on-year and a 40.27% rise from the third quarter.…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a conditional commitment to provide up to $754 million in loans to Novonix, a battery materials company. The funding would partially finance the construction of a new facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, focused on manufacturing synthetic graphite for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The proposed facility is expected to produce approximately 31,500 tonnes of synthetic graphite annually by the end of 2028, sufficient for lithium-ion batteries powering around 325,000 EVs each year. The production capacity could be expanded to 75,000 tonnes annually, according to Novonix. The plant would complement Novonix’s existing Chattanooga facility, set…

Volkswagen and the IG Metall union are reportedly nearing an agreement in their wage dispute, with potential solutions aimed at retaining all VW brand plants in Germany. However, insiders indicate that significant changes could be on the horizon for the Zwickau electric car plant and the iconic Golf model’s production. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Volkswagen management is prepared to extend job security agreements until 2030, provided employees agree to forgo bonus payments. These measures are part of broader cost-saving efforts as the company navigates financial pressures. The fifth round of negotiations between VW and IG Metall was scheduled…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery maker, is exploring a second listing in Hong Kong that could raise at least $5 billion, according to Bloomberg. If successful, this would mark the largest listing in the city since early 2021. CATL, which was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in June 2018, currently holds a market capitalization of RMB 1.19 trillion ($163 billion). The company is in discussions with potential advisers, and the second listing could take place as soon as the first half of 2025, pending approval from China’s securities regulator. In the…

Honda has announced plans to create a production base for next-generation fuel cell (FC) systems at its Mooka facility in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The company intends to utilize the buildings of its former Powertrain Unit Factory, which ceased operations in October, for FC production. Production is expected to begin in the 2027/2028 financial year, with a target of producing 30,000 units per year. Honda anticipates government subsidies to support the project, as Japan is increasingly focused on hydrogen mobility. The move comes as Honda restructures its operations, with discussions underway regarding a potential merger with Nissan. Both companies are exploring…

AC Future, an innovative mobile home solutions startup based in Irvine, California, has revealed the final design of its flagship product, the AI-Transformable Home (Ai-TH), a solar-electric RV designed for sustainable living. Developed in collaboration with Hydra Design Labs, the Ai-TH is set to make its physical debut at CES 2025 in Las Vegas next month, after moving beyond the concept stage. Launched in January 2024, the Ai-TH is a zero-emissions, modular RV that transforms into a 400-square-foot smart home at the push of a button. This off-grid housing solution is designed to provide complete autonomy, offering solar charging, water…

Ekoenergetyka, a Polish charging infrastructure manufacturer, and BP Pulse have announced a new partnership aimed at providing charging solutions for electric trucks, with a particular focus on overnight charging. The collaboration targets fleet operators, addressing the growing demand for scalable infrastructure for heavy goods transport. The focus will be on both depot-based charging and public charging along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). This partnership comes in response to the EU’s stringent CO2 reduction targets for trucks, which mandate a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and 65% by 2035. From 2035, these targets will also apply to professional vehicles…

Southern California Edison (SCE), a major electric utility company based in California, plans to integrate over 280 Chevrolet Silverado EV work trucks into its fleet. This initiative supports SCE’s broader strategy to reduce fleet emissions and ownership costs while advancing its electrification goals. The Chevrolet Silverado EV is engineered to meet demanding utility service needs, making it a suitable addition to SCE’s operations. While specific details about the model are limited, the trucks may include the newly launched 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV, which boasts an EPA-estimated range of 492 miles (792 kilometers). Sandor Piszar, Vice President of GM Envolve, highlighted…

U.S. electric truck manufacturer Nikola has issued a warning to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), stating it lacks sufficient funds to sustain operations beyond the first quarter of 2025. The announcement follows large-scale layoffs and ongoing financial struggles that threaten the company’s survival. In a filing to the SEC, Nikola reported, “Our existing financial resources are only adequate to fund our forecasted operating costs and meet our obligations into, but not through, the first quarter of 2025.” The company laid off 15% of its workforce in October and plans further staff reductions, though the scale of these cuts…

In a significant legal ruling, a Norwegian court has ordered Tesla to pay over €180,000 ($188,500) in compensation to a former employee, Lukasz Krupski, after finding the company had violated his rights as a whistleblower. This includes €10,000 ($10,500) in damages and more than €170,000 ($178,000) in legal fees. The case stems from Krupski, a former service technician at Tesla’s Drammen plant in Norway, who leaked over 100 gigabytes of data to German publication Handelsblatt. The data contained information about security flaws, issues with Tesla’s Autopilot system, and difficulties surrounding the Cybertruck’s development. It also exposed sensitive information, such as…

Renault is set to redefine its electric vehicle (EV) lineup starting in 2028, transitioning from retro-inspired designs to innovative, forward-looking models. While the brand’s nostalgic tributes, like the Renault 4, 5, and Twingo, have been met with widespread acclaim, the French automaker’s design chief, Gilles Vidal, confirmed a shift towards contemporary, low-slung silhouettes inspired by this year’s Embleme concept. Vidal highlighted that the Embleme concept, a sleek and sporty crossover, provides a clearer vision of Renault’s future design philosophy. “The Embleme is a better representation of what’s next for the brand globally in terms of design and maybe new silhouettes,”…

Avatr, the joint venture between Changan, CATL, and Huawei, has introduced the Avatr 06, a mid-size sedan that will be available in both pure electric and hybrid variants with a range extender. This marks the fourth model from the brand, following the Avatr 07 crossover, the Avatr 11 SUV, and the Avatr 12 sedan. Set to debut in early 2025, the Avatr 06 is part of the brand’s new strategy, which now includes hybrid models alongside its electric vehicle (EV) offerings. The Avatr 06 shares the CHN platform with other Avatr models, including the 07, and is similar in size…

BYD has entered into a partnership with Chinese electric two-wheeler manufacturer TAILG Technology Group to extend its battery technology beyond electric vehicles (EVs). TAILG announced the collaboration during a product launch event on Thursday, marking it as the first major partnership of its kind in the electric two-wheeler industry. The partnership will focus on developing batteries that can match the lifespan of electric two-wheelers, addressing common challenges related to battery durability in these vehicles. TAILG noted that, “The two companies will work together to address the challenges faced by two-wheeler batteries and collaborate on the development of BYD batteries that…

Tesla has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 Holiday Update, packed with new features and improvements aimed at enhancing the owner experience. This update brings several long-requested features, including the launch of the Tesla app on the Apple Watch, marking a significant milestone for Tesla owners who can now use their Apple Watch as a phone key. Additionally, the update allows users to monitor battery charge, open the frunk, and activate climate control directly from their smartwatch. Another major addition is the ability to save Dashcam and Sentry Mode footage to your phone, enabling users to edit and share these clips…

Electric mobility investor Ideanomics has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware, USA, as it seeks a buyer for its wireless charging business and other technology investments. The company’s financial situation has grown increasingly dire, with substantial losses in recent years. Between 2021 and 2023, Ideanomics invested $320 million in electric vehicle technology, acquiring companies such as Via Motors, Solectrac (a manufacturer of electric tractors), Energica (an Italian electric motorbike maker), and Wave (a provider of inductive charging systems for electric commercial vehicles). At its peak in 2021, Ideanomics’ stock was trading above $600, fueled by growing investor interest…

Hyundai Motor is pressing forward with its ambitious U.S. growth plans despite concerns over the possible repeal of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, an initiative reportedly under consideration by President-Elect Donald Trump’s transition team. The company, which recently inaugurated a $7.6 billion manufacturing plant in Georgia, is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the U.S. electric vehicle market. Hyundai’s global CEO Jose Munoz stated the company’s U.S. investment strategy was not reliant on federal incentives. Speaking at the LA Auto Show, Munoz emphasized, “If the Inflation Reduction Act goes out, it goes out for everybody, and we…

Baidu is set to begin trial operations of its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Hong Kong, expanding its footprint after offering the service in over 10 cities across mainland China. The company plans to conduct the first phase of testing at Hong Kong’s airport, expected to begin by the end of this year, according to a report by local media outlet TVB. The company has applied for a self-driving test license and an autonomous vehicle certificate from the Hong Kong Transport Department, which is currently under review. The Transport Department will oversee the trials, ensuring they are conducted in a…

The high-voltage battery is the core of an electric vehicle (EV), and concerns about battery health and the potential high cost of replacement, especially for used models, can often deter potential buyers. However, a quiet revolution is underway in battery manufacturing, aimed at improving energy density, durability, and cost-efficiency, which could drastically reduce the future cost of EV battery replacements. A new report from Recurrent, a battery health and data start-up, highlights key trends that suggest EV owners could face significantly lower replacement costs in the future. Battery replacements are infrequent, as most automakers offer warranties of eight years or…

German mobility service provider DKV Mobility has partnered with the UK-based Motor Fuel Group (MFG) to provide its customers access to 1,590 charging points in the MFG network. The collaboration aims to strengthen DKV’s position in the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector across Europe. The agreement, signed by DKV Mobility and its subsidiary GreenFlux, enables DKV customers to utilize MFG’s fast-charging infrastructure via the DKV Card +Charge and the DKV Mobility app. Currently, MFG operates 1,590 charging points across 130 petrol stations, with charging power ranging from 150 to 400 kW, depending on the location. This network is set to…