Author: Todd Gilbert

Zoox has started offering limited public access to its purpose-built robotaxis in San Francisco, moving the Amazon-owned company closer to a commercial ride-hailing service and direct competition with Waymo. The autonomous vehicles, which operate without a steering wheel or pedals, have been in testing on San Francisco streets for nearly a year. Until now, rides were restricted to Zoox employees and their invited guests. The company will now invite selected individuals from its waitlist to join its early rider program, Zoox Explorer, where rides will be free during this phase. https://twitter.com/zoox/status/1990808922090037752 Zoox plans to gradually expand access as it increases…

Tesla has introduced support for charging cards as a payment method for its Supercharger network in Europe, expanding options for both Tesla drivers and third-party EV users. While charging cards still cannot be used directly at the charging stalls, they can now be stored in the Tesla app, allowing session costs to be billed through the selected card rather than a linked credit card. The update initially supports 34 charging cards, with more than 40 additional options expected in the coming weeks. Once registered, Tesla vehicles continue to initiate charging automatically when plugged in, while non-Tesla vehicles still need to…

ECARX announced it will deepen its cooperation with Volkswagen Group by supplying intelligent cockpit technologies for several Volkswagen-brand models destined for the Latin American market. The move follows a sourcing nomination under Volkswagen’s GEI program and marks the second collaboration between the companies this year. The new agreement builds on the partnership formed in March, when ECARX and Volkswagen Group first outlined plans to integrate ECARX’s cockpit systems into Volkswagen and Škoda vehicles. Under the latest deal, ECARX will deliver its Antora® computing platforms and Cloudpeak cross-domain software platform across multiple upcoming Volkswagen models. Vehicles equipped with Google Automotive Services…

Tesla is reportedly taking steps to phase out China-made components from vehicles produced at its US factories, following a similar move by General Motors as both companies navigate intensifying trade tensions. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the automaker has already begun replacing certain Chinese parts with components sourced from other countries and aims to transition the remainder over the next one to two years. See also: Tesla Marks Milestone as 5-Millionth Battery Pack Rolls Off Line at Giga Shanghai The effort reflects Tesla’s long-running attempt to reduce its dependence on Chinese suppliers, a process accelerated this year after…

“Team Sauberes Karlsruhe” (TSK), the municipal waste-management organisation in Karlsruhe, has deployed seven Mercedes-Benz eEconic electric refuse trucks for citywide operations and has placed a follow-up order for eleven more units. Once delivered, the city will operate 18 electric refuse trucks as part of its transition toward a cleaner municipal fleet. The seven trucks have been running across all districts of Karlsruhe for several weeks. They support residual waste collection, paper pickup and bulky-waste services. The vehicles use rear-loader bodies supplied by Faun, with two adapted for bulky refuse and five fitted with multi-purpose Variopress units. See also: Daimler Truck Reports…

Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose 23% year-on-year in October to 1.9 million units, supported by surging demand in key markets, according to market research firm Rho Motion. China remained the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market, accounting for more than half of total global EV sales, while Europe saw strong growth in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. North America, however, recorded a sharp monthly decline following record highs in August and September. See also: Ford Projects Smaller U.S. EV Market Share Following Tax Credit Expiry “The price parity between electric and ICE vehicles in…

Volkswagen has released official images of its ID.Unyx 08 full-size electric SUV, showcasing its bold design and three-row seating ahead of its expected launch in China. The SUV, produced by the Volkswagen-Anhui joint venture, recently appeared in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) latest catalog of vehicles awaiting sales approval, a final step before commercial release. See also: Volkswagen Anhui Files for ID.UNYX 08 SUV as First Model Co-Developed With Xpeng Nears Launch The ID.Unyx 08 is based on Xpeng’s G9 platform and incorporates the company’s Connectivity and Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) software. Volkswagen and Xpeng announced…

California-based Archer Aviation has announced plans to purchase Hawthorne Municipal Airport in Los Angeles for $126 million, marking a significant step in its bid to establish a regional air taxi network. The company intends to use the facility as both a testing site and an operational hub for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as it prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games, where it serves as the official air taxi partner. The binding acquisition agreement, revealed alongside Archer’s third-quarter results, includes the airport’s 32-hectare site, encompassing 17,650 square metres of terminal, office, and hangar space. Located in the…

GWM marked the production of its 10,000th vehicle at its assembly plant in Uzbekistan, underscoring the Chinese automaker’s growing overseas manufacturing footprint. The milestone comes two years after the facility began operations, the company said in a statement on Friday. The Uzbekistan plant operates as a KD (Knocked Down) facility, where vehicles are assembled locally from imported components. GWM also runs similar KD plants in Malaysia and Vietnam as part of its broader localization strategy. The company signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Uzbekistan’s ADM Jizzakh Auto Group in July 2023 to assemble its models at the group’s facility. See…

Nigeria’s Senate has advanced a bill aimed at establishing a comprehensive legal and political framework for the nation’s transition from combustion engine vehicles to electric mobility. The ‘Electric Vehicle Transition and Green Mobility Bill, 2025’, sponsored by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia North, has passed its second reading, marking a major step toward the country’s shift to cleaner transportation. The bill promotes domestic electric vehicle production, job creation, and nationwide charging infrastructure development. It also introduces tax holidays, import duty waivers, toll exemptions, and EV subsidies to accelerate adoption. Additionally, every fuel station in the country would be required…

Europe’s Green NCAP has released its latest assessment of electric vehicle performance, focusing on real-world range, charging speed, and energy efficiency under challenging winter conditions. The study shows that cold temperatures, cabin heating systems, and charging rates can substantially reduce usable range, even in modern EVs. Tests conducted at –7°C (19°F) revealed that smaller batteries were particularly affected. The Dacia Spring, equipped with a 27.6 kWh battery, saw its mixed-weather range drop from 180 km to 133 km in cold conditions and fell to 119 km on motorways. By contrast, the Hyundai Inster (49 kWh) maintained 219 km in cold…

ChargePoint and The Mobility House have each been awarded public cooperative purchasing contracts by U.S. government agency Sourcewell to supply electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, software, and services to public-sector entities across North America. ChargePoint said the new Sourcewell contract marks its third agreement with the organisation since 2017 and will allow the company to provide charging hardware, software, and management services to municipalities, transit authorities, and public schools in the United States and Canada. See also: ChargePoint Expands Availability of Omni Port With New Conversion Kit “This latest agreement extends our longstanding relationship with Sourcewell to accelerate and simplify…