Author: Todd Gilbert

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…

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…