China and the West Are Taking Opposite Paths on EV Battery Recycling
The first generation of EV batteries is reaching end‑of‑life, and China and the West are pursuing opposite recycling strategies. China’s April 1 regulations force immediate shredding to recover nickel, cobalt and lithium, giving it over 85% of global recycling capacity and a goal of one million tons of waste by 2030. The United States and Europe favor a reuse‑first model, extending battery life in grid storage before metal recovery, exemplified by Waymo’s partnership with B2U Storage Solutions. Both approaches aim to secure scarce battery metals but differ on timing and economic incentives.
GM CEO Says AI Writes 90% of Code for Its Self-Driving Cars
General Motors’ chief executive disclosed that roughly 90% of the code used by the company’s autonomous‑vehicle division is now generated by artificial intelligence. The AI‑written software powers the next‑generation, hands‑off Super Cruise system slated for the Cadillac Escalade IQ, with...
Call for Action as Speed Limit Assist Tech Fails Real-World Tests
Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) systems, mandatory in EU and UK cars since 2024, were found to misread speed limits in real‑world conditions. Thatcham Research’s event‑based testing showed the MG ZS got only 74% accuracy and the BMW i5 90% accuracy...
800V Platforms Power Next Wave of EV Growth
TrendForce reports that global EV traction‑inverter installations reached 6.82 million units in Q1 2026, a 1.9% year‑on‑year rise despite the seasonally slow period. The market grew 18.9% in 2025 to 32.35 million units and is projected to hit 36.4 million in 2026, a 12.5%...
CATL Sees Its Sodium Batteries in at Least 10,000 EVs This Year
Chinese battery giant CATL expects 10,000‑20,000 electric vehicles to be equipped with its sodium‑ion batteries in 2024. The cells are engineered to operate in extreme cold, maintaining performance down to –20 °C (and even –30 °C in lab tests). The announcement was...
Tesla Model Y L Coming to the U.S. as a More Spacious Three-Row SUV
Tesla is set to introduce a long‑wheelbase Model Y L to the U.S., extending the compact SUV by roughly seven inches in length and two inches in height. The L version will feature a six‑seat, three‑row layout, offering a more comfortable third...
Partly Closes Historic Series B Raise at $500M Valuation and Announces Immediate US Market Expansion
Partly, an AI infrastructure provider for the automotive repair supply chain, closed a $50M Series B round led by DST Global Partners, valuing the company at $500M. The funding will support its US market expansion, including a new office in...