Author: Todd Gilbert

MAN Truck & Bus has received its largest electric bus order outside Europe after South Africa’s Paruk Group placed an order for 100 fully electric Lion’s Explorer E buses, marking a major step forward in the country’s transition to zero-emission transport. The 12-metre Lion’s Explorer E buses are based on the Lion’s Chassis E, which MAN designed specifically for international markets. Unlike in Europe, where MAN supplies complete buses, its global strategy focuses on providing chassis to local certified body manufacturers. In this case, both the chassis and body will be built in South Africa — the chassis at Pinetown…

Wallbox, a global supplier of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions, has partnered with Hera Comm, part of Italy’s Hera Group, to install 58 Supernova 120 kW DC fast chargers across Central-Northern Italy by the end of 2025. The rollout will be supported by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) under the European Union’s Next Generation EU program. See also: Wallbox Completes First U.S. Residential Installations of Quasar 2 Bidirectional EV Charger The chargers will be located throughout key areas of the Emilia-Romagna region, including Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, and Rimini. The project forms part of Italy’s broader push…

Peugeot is preparing to introduce the next generation of its e-208 in late 2026, built on Stellantis’ new STLA Small platform. The French automaker said the updated model will mark a major technological step, offering higher battery capacities, extended range, and a redesigned, futuristic interior. The upcoming e-208 will be Peugeot’s first model to use the STLA Small architecture, which enables larger batteries while maintaining compact dimensions. The shift to the new platform is expected to significantly increase driving range beyond 500 kilometres on the WLTP cycle, compared to the current model’s 432 kilometres. See also: Peugeot Adds Battery Preheating,…

Grubhub, in partnership with robotics company Avride and multi-restaurant operator Wonder, has launched an autonomous food delivery pilot in Jersey City, marking the food delivery platform’s first use of self-driving robots outside university campuses. The pilot, operating from Wonder’s Jersey City location, introduces AI-powered delivery robots designed by Avride to Grubhub’s marketplace. Customers ordering from Wonder’s more than 20 restaurant brands — including Tejas Barbecue, Alanza, and Streetbird by Marcus Samuelsson — can now select robot delivery if they live within the designated service zone. See also: Avride Secures $375 Million Backing from Uber and Nebius Group to Scale Self-Driving…

Rivian has delayed the launch of two of its most anticipated off-road and performance features, “Kick Turn” and “RAD Tuner,” for the 2026 R1T and R1S Quad models. Initially scheduled for a September rollout via an over-the-air (OTA) update, the features are now expected to arrive later this year, the company confirmed. Both functions were first unveiled during the debut of Rivian’s updated 2026 R1 lineup earlier this summer. However, the October update window passed without their release. In a statement to The Drive, a Rivian spokesperson said the company needed additional time to ensure both technologies meet performance expectations.…

Tesla reported that its vehicles operating with Autopilot technology were involved in one crash every 6.36 million miles during the third quarter of 2025, a rate that remains about nine times lower than the U.S. national average for vehicle accidents. According to the company’s Q3 2025 Vehicle Safety Report, the results compare favorably with the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which indicate one automobile crash occurs every 702,000 miles driven. However, Tesla’s latest figures were slightly below the 7 million miles between crashes recorded in Q3 2024. See also:…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company is preparing to launch fully autonomous robotaxi operations in Austin, Texas, before the end of 2025. Speaking during Tesla’s Q3 2025 earnings call, Musk also indicated plans to expand the program to as many as ten U.S. metropolitan areas within the same timeframe. Austin has served as a testing ground for Tesla’s robotaxi program since June 2025, with Safety Operators stationed in the passenger seat for city rides and in the driver’s seat on highways. See also: Tesla Expands Robotaxi Operations in Austin to Highways, Shifts Safety Operator Role For fully autonomous operations,…

Global competition in the electric vehicle (EV) industry is accelerating as legacy automakers like General Motors (GM) face mounting pressure to match the swift product development cycles of Chinese rivals. According to GM President Mark Reuss, the company is rethinking its approach to design and production speed in order to stay competitive in a market where traditional hierarchies no longer ensure success. See also: General Motors Lifts Full-Year Outlook, Trims Tariff Impact After Solid Q3 Results https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YWpDSNdAcg In an interview with InsideEVs, Reuss said that the rapid pace of innovation among Chinese automakers offers important lessons for global manufacturers. “I…

Mercedes-Benz has begun taking orders across Europe for its new fully electric GLC, following its debut at the IAA Mobility show in Munich. The GLC 400 4MATIC, powered by a 360 kW dual-motor setup, is available in Germany starting at €71,281 or through private leasing from €475 per month. Mercedes said the pricing positions the electric GLC competitively against its combustion-engine counterpart. While the entry-level GLC 200 d 4MATIC starts below €59,000, the plug-in hybrid GLC 400 e 4MATIC—offering similar combined power—retails at €64,340. To match the new EV’s performance among combustion models, buyers would need to consider AMG variants…

Michigan has approved new vehicle registration fee increases for electric and plug-in hybrid cars as part of a broader effort to overhaul its road funding system, a move that could make owning an electric vehicle more expensive for drivers in the state. The changes follow Michigan’s decision to eliminate the sales tax on gasoline and replace it with an equivalent increase in the state’s fuel tax. While the shift leaves gasoline vehicle owners paying roughly the same overall amount, the adjustment automatically triggers additional registration fees for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles under state law. See also: Michigan Expands Clean…

The government of the Canary Islands has introduced a new €1.875 million funding programme to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles among professional passenger transport operators, including taxis, buses, and ride-hailing services such as Uber. Announced by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Energy, the scheme offers subsidies to support the purchase of new electric or other zero-emission vehicles. The funding is targeted at companies and individuals holding licences for public or private passenger transport, including local public transport firms and taxi operators. Ride-hailing drivers are also eligible, with Uber currently operating across Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. See…

GZM Metropolis, an association of municipalities in Poland’s Silesia region, has placed an order for 42 Solaris electric buses along with depot charging infrastructure. The contract includes 24 twelve-metre Urbino 12 electric and 18 eighteen-metre Urbino 18 electric models, all destined for PKM Świerklaniec. Deliveries are scheduled for the first half of 2026. This marks the second agreement between Solaris and GZM Metropolis, following a 2022 contract for 32 electric buses delivered in 2023 to operators in Katowice, Gliwice, Sosnowiec, and Świerklaniec. See also: Transdev Nederland Orders 55 Solaris Electric Buses for Arnhem, Nijmegen, and Foodvalley The Urbino 12 and…

Luxeed, the automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Chery, is set to use higher-cost battery cells from CATL for certain vehicle models due to limited supply from its primary battery supplier, CALB, according to a report by Chinese media outlet Lanjinger. The decision highlights growing supply pressures in China’s battery industry as automakers rush to meet rising demand driven by new vehicle launches and expiring tax incentives. See also: Huawei, Chery’s Luxeed Launches Updated S7 Sedan and R7 SUV With Lower Prices The report said a batch of 82-kWh batteries from CATL will replace CALB units in select Luxeed…

Motor Fuel Group (MFG), a UK-based operator of petrol forecourts, has completed the installation of a new network of electric vehicle fast chargers at Morrisons supermarket car parks, the company said on Wednesday. The rollout includes more than 580 rapid “EV Power” charging bays across 300 Morrisons locations nationwide. According to MFG, the completion makes Morrisons the UK food retailer with the largest number of fast-charging bays. The rollout was completed within five months, with MFG stating that its rapid chargers can “typically bring an EV back up to full charge in 45 minutes,” roughly the time it takes to…

Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC Private Limited has filed a lawsuit against Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc, alleging the company may have inflated revenue through its battery affiliate Mirattery. The case, first reported by Chinese media outlet Caixin, centers on Nio’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) model and the timing of revenue recognition. GIC claims that Nio improperly recognized full battery sales revenue upfront via Mirattery, a joint venture established with CATL, Guotai Junan, and Hubei Science Technology Investment. The fund contends that if Nio had followed installment-based accounting methods, its reported financial performance would have been significantly lower,…

BYD announced that its vehicles now generate more than 100 million kilometers of assisted driving data every day in China, fueling the rapid evolution of its smart driving algorithms. As of the end of September, cumulative sales of BYD models equipped with assisted driving systems exceeded 1.7 million units, producing more than 110 million kilometers of real-world driving data daily, the company said on Weibo. See also: BYD Favors Spain for Potential Third European Car Plant In September alone, BYD sold 295,606 vehicles with assisted driving features, accounting for 91.3 percent of its total domestic sales. This included 266,248 BYD-branded…

Norway will phase out its main electric vehicle subsidies over the next two years, the government said on Wednesday, adding thousands of dollars to the price of popular models such as Tesla’s Model Y. The decision marks a shift from the country’s long-standing policy of heavy EV incentives as it nears its goal of ending petrol and diesel car sales by 2025. Fully electric vehicles accounted for a record 98.3% of new car registrations in September, reflecting Norway’s near-complete transition to zero-emission transport. For years, the oil-rich nation exempted EVs from most taxes applied to combustion-engine vehicles, costing the state…

Tesla is facing mounting legal pressure in Australia as a class action lawsuit over its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system gains support from thousands of vehicle owners. The law firm handling the case confirmed that participation has surged, making it one of the largest actions against the automaker outside the United States. The lawsuit targets Model 3 and Model Y vehicles purchased or leased between May 2021 and February 2025. It alleges that Tesla misled consumers on the capabilities of its FSD system, safety features, and advertised driving range. Additional claims include “phantom braking,” where the Autopilot system unexpectedly applies emergency…

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has launched a $4.9 million grant program to help public school districts adopt electric school buses in 2026. The program provides funding for both vehicle purchases and charging infrastructure. The 2026 Electric School Bus Grant Program offers grants covering up to 120% of the incremental cost of eligible buses. See also: Zenobe Launches 35 Electric School Buses in Massachusetts With Public-Private Partners Funds can also be used for installation of charging equipment and related expenses. Applications are open until Dec. 16, 2025, with eligibility and application details available on the MEA’s program webpage. The initiative…

The Supervisory Board of Seat and Cupra has appointed Markus Haupt as the permanent Chief Executive Officer of both brands, following his tenure as interim CEO since April. Haupt previously served as Head of Production. The appointment comes after Wayne Griffiths’ departure from the Seat CEO role earlier this year. Haupt’s leadership will focus primarily on expanding the Cupra brand while overseeing Seat’s complete model portfolio and growing international presence. “Markus brings over two decades of experience across multiple brands and countries within the Group,” said Thomas Schäfer, Chair of the Seat and Cupra Supervisory Board. “His deep expertise in…