November 11, 2024
Tensions are rising over next year’s new EU CO2 emission targets for the auto industry. Backed by Germany, France is pushing the European Commission to postpone the targets by one year. However, the Brussels administration maintains a firm stance. Without delay, car makers will need a significant uptick in electric car sales next year. However, […]
November 08, 2024
Naming policies are sometimes a quirky business in the auto industry. Audi hasn’t been shy of confusing with the namesakes of their models and has now turned that reputation one notch up by launching a new Chinese brand called – well – AUDI. Yes, you spell it in capitals; no, there are no rings anymore. […]
November 07, 2024
Unplugged Performance, a leading Tesla tuner, has introduced the UP.FIT Tesla Model S Plaid Pursuit at SEMA 2024, claiming the title of the world’s fastest police patrol car. This vehicle is more than a concept. It is ready for ordering and will join the police forces in Los Angeles. Villains and thieves have one more […]
November 07, 2024
Humanoid robots are the next big thing if we’re to believe Elon Musk and the Chinese are definitely on the same wavelength. Chinese carmaker Chery is introducing its robotic car-babe, Mornine, nowadays to guide you through the Omoda or Jaecoo showroom of the future. She is unmistakably a female with her Coca-Cola body shape in […]
November 06, 2024
Another indicator of the automotive industry’s struggle was that German automotive supplier Schaeffler announced plans to cut 4,700 jobs across Europe. The layoffs, primarily targeting ten sites in Germany and five additional European locations, will unfold between 2025 and 2027, with two site closures also confirmed. Schaeffler joins the ranks of automotive companies turning to […]
November 05, 2024
Suzuki has officially unveiled its first battery electric vehicle, the e Vitara, in Milan, Italy. Building on the concept model ‘eVX’, the model will also appear as a rebadged Toyota in global markets. The newcomer is expected to hit European markets by the summer of 2025. As the Vitara has been a long-time bestseller for […]
November 04, 2024
Oxa, a British autonomous driving tech firm, has unveiled its autonomous Ford E-Transit Van and Minibus. They will enter operation in the UK and US as the first mass-production vehicles to make use of Oxa’s software. Enough for one of the company’s VP’s to take a stab at Tesla, which unveiled its Robovan concept in […]
November 04, 2024
As part of a significant update for the 2025 model year, Chevrolet has added the Sidewinder mode to its Silverado EV. This feature enables the truck to move diagonally by turning all four wheels in the same direction, enhancing maneuverability in tight spots or challenging off-road terrain. It’s a further example of how car makers […]
October 30, 2024
Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi and also making a successful entry as an electric carmaker, proudly announces that its SU7 Ultra prototype has become the fastest 4-door car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It recorded a time of 6 minutes 46.874 seconds, making it quicker than the Ferrari 296 GTB, the Porsche 918 Spyder, or the Rimac […]
October 29, 2024
Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car subsidiary of Chinese EV manufacturer Xpeng, has started constructing a new factory in Guangzhou to produce its modular flying car. The company plans to build 10,000 of the actual aircraft components here, an eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) drone-like two-seater. The three-axle parent vehicle that carries and recharges the […]
October 29, 2024
MobilityPlus, a Ghent-based Belgian company that specializes in intelligent, integrated charging stations for businesses and fleets, has raised an additional 40 million euros in capital. The new investors include Suma Capital, while Concentra, the holding company of the Limburg Baert family that also controls one-third of Mediahuis, is strengthening its stake. The freshly raised money […]
October 29, 2024
Volvo Group (the parent company of Volvo Trucks and Renault Trucks) and Daimler Truck (Mercedes-Benz Trucks) have signed a binding agreement for their new joint venture to develop a software-defined vehicle platform, which was announced earlier this year. After regulatory approvals, the new company is expected to be founded in the first half of 2025. […]
October 28, 2024
Hyundai Rotem, the South Korean defense contractor and a branch of the Hyundai Group, is pioneering the development of hydrogen fuel cell-powered battle tanks. This ambitious project, part of a collaboration with the National Defense Research Institute and other defense technology organizations, aims to create a tank that achieves stealth battlefield supremacy and aligns with […]
October 25, 2024
Hyundai is pushing the envelope of high-performance EVs with its newly unveiled RN24 concept, a radical reimagining of the electric rally car. Showcased at this year’s N Day, the RN24 borrows the potent dual-motor powertrain from the Ioniq 5 N, now fitted within a rally-inspired chassis that emphasizes agility, power, and then some. This is […]
October 25, 2024
Chinese CATL, the world’s biggest battery maker, has presented a new type of battery for extended range (EREV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) to cure the prevalent ‘range anxiety’ of people reluctant to go fully electric. It promises a CLTC range of 400 km and 4C fast charging or 280 km in 10 minutes. The company […]
October 24, 2024
Is lithium the new gold mine for Arkansas after oil? Researchers have discovered that an underground brine reservoir in the southern US state may contain as much as 5 to 19 million tons of lithium. Lithium is a crucial raw material for electric vehicle batteries. The amount of lithium in the Arkansas beds would be […]
October 23, 2024
The all-electric Renault 5 e-tech and the Alpine A290 are the first Renault vehicles equipped with a bidirectional charger capable of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). They were launched with the promise of allowing the owner to earn back some money by delivering electricity from the car to the network. And now, France is the first European country […]
October 23, 2024
The Swiss manufacturer Softcar has unveiled a lightweight L7e electric car with four seats. It weighs 640 kilograms, including the battery, and is said to have a range of 200 kilometers. Prices start from €23,000. All vehicles in the L7e class have one thing in common: they can travel at a maximum speed of 90 […]
October 22, 2024
Mercedes-Benz has finally opened its own battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, southern Germany, using Primobius’s technology. It’s Europe’s first battery recycling plant using an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process: shredding battery modules and chemically washing out and drying ‘precious’ materials. The company expects more than a 96 percent recovery rate for valuable and scarce raw materials such […]
October 21, 2024
At the Paris Motor Show, Renault also presented an entire EV ecosystem. It has shown up with a fleet of electric vehicles covering everything from the road to the sea and even the sky. The concept vehicles were showcased with the Renault 4 E-Tech launch. Renault not only presented the R4 E-Tech for the first […]
October 21, 2024
Hyundai Mobis, a leading parts supplier for Hyundai, is taking in-car screen technology to the next level with its latest innovation: a full-width holographic windshield display. Developed in partnership with German optical giant Zeiss, this new technology could revolutionize how drivers and passengers interact with their vehicles by transforming the entire windshield into a transparent […]
October 18, 2024
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse’s latest stance against the sales ban on combustion-engined cars by 2035 might reignite the discussion surrounding a political revision on the EU level. According to the top executive, keeping the combustion engine running is the best remedy for remaining competitive in the face of mounting Chinese competition. President of the European […]
October 17, 2024
Geely’s premium electric vehicle brand Zeekr is preparing to officially unveil its new mid-sized MPV, the Zeekr MIX, on October 23. With display models arriving in showrooms around the same time, the MIX is expected to generate significant attention due to its advanced design and family-oriented features. The Zeekr MIX, which is also headed to […]
October 14, 2024
Gigacasting has been touted as the go-to manufacturing innovation for cost-efficient EV production. After Tesla introduced the technique, many carmakers followed its lead or planned to do so. But after doing the math, Stellantis has decided to sidestep the adoption of gig casting in favor of more flexible, quickly implementable solutions. A missed opportunity? Arnaud […]
October 14, 2024
Citroën has introduced a refreshed version of the Ami microcar at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, marking the vehicle’s fourth anniversary with notable design updates and a new buggy concept. The updated Ami, known for its quirky style and high accessibility to youngsters, now boasts a “more sympathetic and mature” front design, restyled to pay […]
October 11, 2024
On Thursday night, it was show time again for Elon Musk in an appropriate setting: the artificial city of Warner Brothers’ studio lot in Los Angeles. Here, he could safely unleash a fleet of twenty fully autonomous two-seater Cybercabs and add a ‘one more thing’ surprise, the 20-seater Robovan. The whole thing was submerged in […]
October 10, 2024
General Motors’ Ultium battery brand name will be discontinued as the company shifts toward incorporating different battery types and chemistries in its electric vehicle (EV) lineup. The move comes as GM aims to cut EV production costs and address the challenges of scaling battery production. Kurt Kelty, GM’s VP of batteries (and a former Tesla […]
October 10, 2024
Honda is gearing up to unveil its highly anticipated 0 Series EV lineup, marking a highly anticipated leap forward in the company’s electrification journey. Before the official launch of the first model in 2025, Honda provided a sneak peek of its latest technology at its global R&D center in Tochigi, Japan. The 0 Series must […]
October 08, 2024
Nissan joined the ‘club’ one month after BMW, Honda, and Ford started operating their shared US EV-charging network ChargeScape. The three founding automakers have been researching the possibility of a standard charging service network for some time and have turned their findings into a business. Nissan will be a 25% equity partner in the charging […]
October 07, 2024
McLaren has officially revealed its latest hypercar, the W1. This marks the British automaker’s third model to feature the iconic ‘1’ in its name, following the legendary F1 from 1993 and the P1 from 2013. True to its heritage, the W1 continues McLaren’s tradition of pushing the boundaries of automotive performance by incorporating cutting-edge technologies […]
October 04, 2024
“Decarbonising mobility is a key objective in the fight against climate change,” French automaker Renault says, and how it plans to make tomorrow’s nearly zero-carbon family car it demonstrates at the Paris Motor Show from 14 to 20 October with the Renault Emblème. The Emblème concept is a sleek, fully electric shooting brake, 160 kW […]
October 02, 2024
Last week, Ford Cologne started ramping up production of its two European EVs, the Explorer SUV and the new Capri, a fully electric crossover. Both are up to 70% more Volkswagen than Ford as they extensively use VW’s MEB platform, siblings of the ID.4 and ID.5. Turning the old Fiesta factory into a modern zero-emission […]
September 24, 2024
French carmaker Peugeot has finished homologating the new Long-Range versions of its electric SUVs. Thanks to a larger 96,9-kWh battery, the e-3008 now claims up to 700 km of range, while the 7-seater e-5008 follows with up to 668 km of range. The new 230 Long Range powertrain shared by the two electric SUVs features […]
September 24, 2024
Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt, Europe’s unicorn start-up in the electric vehicle (EV) battery market, announced it will cut 1,600 jobs. The number accounts for roughly 20% of its global workforce. The decision comes as the company faces significant financial challenges and a slowdown in the EV market. The cuts will disproportionately affect Sweden, with around […]
September 24, 2024
On Monday, due to national security concerns, the US Commerce Department proposed prohibiting essential Chinese software and hardware in connected vehicles on American roads. This move would effectively ban Chinese cars and trucks from the US market. The planned regulation, first reported by Reuters, would also force American and other major automakers to remove critical […]
September 20, 2024
On Friday, the Belgian Innoptus Solar Team, the KU Leuven University engineering student team, won the Sasol Solar Challenge. For several days in a row, the competition was neck and neck with the competing team from Twente. The Belgians braved steep slopes and heavy traffic in their final sprint and crossed the finish line with […]
September 20, 2024
Electric carmaker NIO has officially launched its ‘affordable’ Onvo brand in China with the L60 crossover, a Tesla Y competitor offered at an incredibly lower price of 149,900 yuan, or some 19,050 euros. That’s without the swappable battery, which is rented under the Battery as a Service (BaaS) option. The 60 kWh battery pack offering […]
September 18, 2024
Dodge has opened ordering in the US for what it calls ‘the world’s first electric muscle car,’ the Charger Daytona EV. Customers can choose from two versions, the Charger R/T and the Charger Scat Pack. The first, with 496 horsepower, starts at $61,590 (€55,350); the Scat Pack’s whopping 670 hp will cost you at least […]
September 17, 2024
Lotus has unveiled Theory 1, its first concept car, which, according to Lotus, embodies the future of intelligent performance vehicles. It’s part of The Lotus Theory, the company’s new design manifesto that will form the foundation for all future Lotus cars, encapsulated through three core principles: Digital, Natural, and Analogue (DNA). Digital stands for the […]
September 17, 2024
German Aerospace Center DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfarth) is keeping its ‘feet’ on the ground at IAA Transport in Hanover these days, showing the result of its research into autonomous last-mile delivery, the modular U-Shift concept. It’s basically a U-shaped platform or ‘drive board,’ and the capsules are designed for various purposes, such […]
September 17, 2024
At the IAA Transportation 2024 in Hannover, Hyundai launched the first vehicle from its global eLCV platform for European markets in partnership with the Italian multinational transport vehicle manufacturer, IVECO. The Iveco eMoovy combines Hyundai’s EV chassis-cab-based 800-volt platform with a cargo compartment from Iveco. The Italian manufacturer of LCVs and trucks, Iveco and Hyundai, […]
September 13, 2024
Heavy goods vehicles (HGV), increasingly seen on European roads, still represent only 3% of the vehicles but are involved in almost 15% of all EU road fatalities. That’s the main reason why Euro NCAP starts (crash-)testing heavy trucks this autumn to give them a bronze, silver, or gold safety rating. These ratings focus at the […]
September 13, 2024
You can’t have enough leverage in today’s daunting automotive landscape. General Motors, already in a close tie-up with Japanese brand Honda, is adding Hyundai to its list of partners. Both carmakers have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a range of potential joint ventures. These include vehicle development, production, and the exploration of […]
September 12, 2024
The new Chinese EV brand Jiyue, created by internet services giant Baidu in a joint venture with Geely, has officially launched its second model, the 07 sedan. Its starting price is 209,900 yuan or roughly 26,700 euros. The first ‘owner’ to receive the keys at the launch was Robin Zeng, chairman and CEO of battery […]
September 12, 2024
Mercedes-Benz is betting on solid-state batteries, co-developed with US-based Factorial, for its future electric car range. The companies promise a high energy density of 450 Watt-hours per kilogram that can extend the EV range up to 80%, which, at the same time, is safer, more compact, and cost-efficient to produce. The new battery—Solstice—should be ready […]
September 10, 2024
After years of much excitement about the ‘hyperloop’, a science-fiction way of transporting people and goods at speeds above 1,000 km in vacuum tubes connecting cities envisioned by Elon Musk, it remained deafening quiet. However, Dutch Hardt Hyperloop, one of the pioneers, announced the first successful test of its hyperloop vehicle at the European Hyperloop […]
September 06, 2024
As rumored before, BMW and Toyota officially announced their deepened partnership in developing a broader range of hydrogen cars on Thursday 5th of September. The first offspring that the collaboration for the next generation of fuel cell technology will bear is a mass-produced BMW FCEV by 2028. “The result of this collaborative effort will be […]
September 06, 2024
MG is beating rivals to the punch in the race for solid-state batteries in electric cars. The company has announced that it will start equipping its electric vehicles with solid-state batteries within twelve months. Speaking at the Chengdu Motor Show in China, Yu Jingmin, executive vice president of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), MG’s parent […]
September 06, 2024
Lynk & Co, the Swedish-Chinese sister brand to Zeekr, Volvo, and Polestar, is going fully electric with the in July newly revealed Z10, a five-meter-long luxury sedan with a pure electric range of over 800 km. Presented first in Gothenburg, Sweden, it now debuts in China, with prices starting at 202,800 yuan (€25,733) to 288,800 […]
September 04, 2024
In Flamanville, France, electricity producer EDF has been able to start up a new nuclear power plant, Flamanville 3, after a 12-year delay. However, it will take another three months before the first electricity is pumped into the French grid. Flamanville 3 is France’s 57th nuclear reactor and, with 1,600 megawatts, will be the most […]
September 03, 2024
Researchers from the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center, linked to Californian Stanford University, have found that using high currents for the first charging after the battery’s production can improve its lifespan by 50 to 70%. At first glance, this might contradict the general belief that charging EV batteries frequently at ‘superchargers’ shortens their lifespan. However, it could […]
August 30, 2024
It’s been a long runner-up toward the official release of Smart’s largest and most advanced model. After the showstopper concept at the Beijing Autoshow and the leaked images from the Chinese regulator, Smart has now cleared the official pictures and specifications on the #5. The all-electric SUV hits the heart of the electric car market, […]
August 30, 2024
Several environmental organizations are suing the European Commission for not imposing sufficiently strict CO2 standards on member states under the 2015 Paris Agreement on global warming. First and foremost, they are calling for fossil-fuel-powered planes and ships to be removed from the EU’s list of sustainable investments, which they say is an example of greenwashing. […]
August 28, 2024
Sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday that Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW AG will expand their tie-up in fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) operations in a bid to increase the competitiveness of their hydrogen-powered cars. Under the deeper partnership, which is due to be announced on September 5th, Toyota will provide key components, such […]
August 27, 2024
The Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB will call for tenders this fall for the rollout of a large network of charging stations in its station car parks, reports the business newspaper De Tijd/L’Echo. The NMBS/SNCB charging station network is not extensive at the moment. The railroad company has 522 stations with parking facilities totaling 75,000 […]
August 27, 2024
After thirteen weeks of hard work, the Belgian Solar Team has arrived in South Africa to participate in the world’s most extreme Solar Challenge. In October 2023, they became world champions with their solar car, the Infinite, in the World Solar Challenge in Australia. Now, they’re ambitious to win the world’s most extreme challenge. The […]
August 26, 2024
Neta has officially launched the S Kombi, an all-electric estate made in China. It is offered in both range extender and full-electric versions. In the wake of the launch, the company announced that the 800-volt version would be built around the platform by battery manufacturer CATL. Despite its practical estate style, Neta has no plans […]
August 23, 2024
It seems that Opel’s UK department, Vauxhall, doesn’t agree with John Cleese’s opinion that wordplay is the lowest form of humor. Because by presenting the Mokka Cofe-e, the brand has taken the name of its car model very literally. Carmakers like to fool around once in a while. When some clever marketeer found out that […]
August 22, 2024
Zeekr, Geely’s luxury electric car spin-off, has announced it will introduce a hybrid flagship to its line-up starting next year. Zeekr CEO Andy An confirmed the shift to combustion engine technology. It’s a watershed decision as the brand’s focus has been exclusively on battery electric vehicles until now. The trend of hybridized drivelines gaining more […]
August 19, 2024
Swedish electric foiling boat start-up Candela has hooked a big fish by selling eight of its P-12 foiling shuttles to Saudi Arabia, which can accommodate 20 to 30 passengers, for Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s NEOM project. It’s the most significant commercial order in Candela’s history. The first batch of eight vessels will be delivered […]
