Indonesia’s Huafei to Cut MHP Output on Sulphur Costs
Huafei Nickel Cobalt, the Indonesian arm of China’s Huayou, will place half of its mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) capacity into temporary care and maintenance from 1 May due to sharply higher sulphur costs and sustained high plant utilisation. Granular sulphur prices have surged 84% to $948 per tonne, now representing up to 40% of HPAL operating expenses. The suspension has lifted MHP market sentiment, with offers climbing to 95% of LME nickel prices, though no deals have closed at that level. Huayou is pursuing pyrite‑based acid projects slated for 2026 to reduce sulphur exposure.
Mazda Updates 2026 Mazda2 Hybrid for European Market
Mazda has refreshed its 2026 Mazda2 Hybrid for Europe, adding driver‑monitoring cameras as standard and expanding equipment on the entry‑level Prime‑Line. New exterior paint options—Charcoal Grey, Sky Grey and Fern Green—join the lineup, while higher trims receive full LED headlights...
Vector Deepens NXP Tie-Up on Software-Defined Cars
Vector is expanding its collaboration with NXP Semiconductors by providing embedded software and system integration for the CoreRide platform, a foundation for software‑defined vehicles. The partnership has produced the CoreRide Z248 zonal reference system, which NXP says is ready for series‑production...
Janus Electric Builds Export Revenue and Fleet Footprint After Business Reset
Janus Electric Holdings (ASX:JNS) recorded its first US export revenue after delivering two truck conversion kits to Los Angeles in the March quarter. The company now operates 28 converted trucks—26 in Australia and two in the US—covering over 650,000 km...
Calls to Revive Jersey Driverless Car Plans
Jersey’s government shelved draft driverless‑car legislation after spending roughly £35,000‑£40,000 (about $45,000‑$51,000) on its development. EVie, an electric‑car‑hire firm, is urging officials to adopt a policy that permits autonomous‑vehicle trials to generate safety and usage data. Environmental advocates argue that...
SP Mobility, ComfortDelGro Engie Bag Contracts to Deploy EV Fast-Charging Hubs in HDB Towns
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority subsidiary EVe awarded contracts to SP Mobility and ComfortDelGro Engie to install eight electric‑vehicle fast‑charging hubs across HDB towns. Each site will host six to eight 50 kW fast chargers, with one location also offering three 7.4 kW...
Hong Kong Expands Charging Infrastructure Planning for Electric Public Transport
Hong Kong’s government announced expanded charging infrastructure guidelines for electric public transport, requiring new transport interchanges to reserve space and power for fast chargers. The first interchange with ten 100 kW+ chargers opened in March 2026, supporting up to 21 electric buses...
Hong Kong Outlines Strategy To Accelerate Autonomous Vehicle Development And Trials
Hong Kong’s Transport Department unveiled a comprehensive plan to speed autonomous vehicle (AV) development, moving from pilot projects toward commercial services. A dedicated regulatory framework and a new Code of Practice, effective March 2024, set safety, data and insurance standards...
How AI Is Powering the Next Generation of Robotaxis
Waymo’s fifth‑generation driver, built on Google’s Gemini AI foundation model, recently demonstrated the ability to predict a pedestrian hidden behind a bus, showcasing a leap in perception and safety. The AI‑driven system integrates a visual language model, a decoder for...
Hong Kong Expands Electric Vehicle Adoption Across Government Fleet
Hong Kong’s government has mandated that all new or replacement private cars for the public sector be electric, unless specific operational constraints apply. The policy, outlined in the updated Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles, also signals a possible future...
Tesla’s Make-or-Break Play
Tesla has sold only 347 vehicles in India nine months after its market entry, far behind rivals like BYD, which moved 1,100 units in the same period. To boost sales, the company launched the Model Y L, a six‑seat SUV priced at...
Tesla Promises FSD V14 Lite for HW3 Cars Internationally to Appease Growing Tensions
Tesla announced it will extend the stripped‑down FSD V14 Lite to HW3 vehicles outside the United States, but only after the U.S. rollout is finished and without a firm timeline. The move follows a wave of European backlash after the...
Ministers Setting an EV Example? Public Chargers Nationwide Essential for Adoption – MITI’s Johari
Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the government can lead by adopting electric vehicles, but only if a nationwide public charging network is built. He highlighted that the lack of chargers, especially in rural...
Meet the YouTuber Showcasing China’s EV Revolution
At the Beijing Auto Show, American YouTuber Ethan Robertson led international visitors through a showcase of Chinese electric SUVs, pickups and concept cars, emphasizing low prices and advanced tech. His Wheelsboy channel, with 210,000 subscribers, highlighted a $30,000 fully‑loaded Leapmotor...
The U.S. Wants to Ban China’s High-Tech Cars, but They’re Already Here in El Paso
Chinese automakers Geely, BYD and Great Wall are selling affordable high‑tech vehicles in Ciudad Juárez, just five miles from El Paso, where U.S. consumers can easily cross the border to purchase them. The Geely EX2 electric compact starts around $20,000 and the...
From VW to Nissan, Automakers Bet on “in China, for Global” Strategies
Foreign automakers are shifting to an “in China, for global” model, debuting China‑developed EVs and software at the Beijing Auto Show. Volkswagen, with a 5% stake in Xpeng and a joint venture with Horizon Robotics, unveiled four new models and...
Electric Cars Dominate Singapore’s New Registrations
Electric vehicles captured 57.6% of Singapore’s new car registrations in Q1 2026, overtaking combustion‑engine and hybrid models for the first time. BYD led the market with 3,239 units, representing a 24% share, while three other Chinese brands broke into the...
Chinese EVs Can Now Project Entire Movies From Their Headlights
Chinese electric vehicles are now equipped with Huawei's XPixel headlights that can project full‑color movies, turning the front of a car into a rolling drive‑in theater. The projection capability is tightly linked to driver‑assistance systems, offering lane‑change guidance, pedestrian signals,...
Leapmotor B05 First Drive: China's Golf Shows Signs of Promise
Chinese EV maker Leapmotor unveiled the B05, a mid‑size electric hatchback positioned as a sub‑£30,000 alternative to the Cupra Born and VW ID.3 Neo. The UK‑spec model will deliver 215 bhp, 0‑62 mph in 6.7 seconds, a 67.1 kWh pack offering roughly 300 miles WLTP...
Toyota’s New bZ Electric SUV Delivers More Driving Range than Expected
Toyota’s 2026 bZ electric SUV upgrades the previous bZ4X with a larger 74.7 kWh battery and a native NACS charging port, boosting its EPA‑rated range to 314 miles—a 25% increase. Real‑world testing by Edmunds recorded 331 miles on a single charge,...
Walmart + ABB Roll Out 400 kW EV Chargers – Starting in Phoenix
Walmart has teamed with ABB E‑mobility to install its A400 All‑in‑One DC fast chargers at seven Phoenix‑area stores, marking the first phase of a nationwide rollout that will eventually span locations in Colorado, Florida and Georgia. The 400 kW units can deliver...
GM Looks to Boost Inventory of Full-Size Pickups
General Motors announced plans to raise full‑size pickup inventories after ending Q1 with only 47 days of supply, down 6% YoY to 516,000 vehicles. The automaker targets 50‑60 days of stock and expects next‑generation truck production to ramp in Q3...
GM Forecasts $500M Tariff Refund, Plans Further Mitigation Efforts
General Motors announced it anticipates receiving about $500 million in refunds for tariffs imposed under the former Trump administration, as disclosed during its Q1 earnings call. The refund will be recorded as a receivable, but the company did not adjust its...
Accelerating the EV Transition on the Path to Net-Zero
A cross‑industry roundtable highlighted that fleet electrification is strategically vital but hampered by grid capacity, slow connection timelines, and fragmented policy. While passenger cars and light commercial vehicles demonstrate clear total‑cost‑of‑ownership benefits, heavy‑duty trucks still struggle with range and payload...
Nio’s Onvo L80 Undercuts Tesla Model Y in China with $36,000 Starting Price
Nio’s budget sub‑brand Onvo launched the L80, a five‑seat electric SUV priced at 245,800 yuan (~$36,020), undercutting Tesla’s Model Y by about 17,700 yuan (~$2,400). The L80 shares the NT 3.0 platform and an 85 kWh battery with the larger L90, offering a 340 kW rear‑wheel‑drive...
Waymo in Portland
Waymo announced the start of manual‑driving operations in Portland, marking the first step toward a full autonomous ride‑hail service. The company is collaborating with city officials, state regulators, and community partners to forge a regulatory pathway. By manually piloting its...
Alaska Rivian Owners Are Getting Screwed Out of Warranty Work by EV Shipping Restrictions
Alaskan Rivian owners needing warranty repairs must ship their trucks to Seattle, the nearest authorized service center, because local options are nonexistent. Following a 2025 battery fire on the cargo ship Morning Midas, commercial barges have banned EV transport, leaving...
Analysts Hail Stellantis, Microsoft’s AI Training Partnership
Stellantis announced a five‑year strategic partnership with Microsoft to embed AI across its production and customer‑experience processes. Analysts say the collaboration could close a 20‑25 % cost and software capability gap with emerging Chinese automakers. The automaker plans to roll out...
Schaeffler’s MultiMode Dedicated Hybrid Transmission Enters Volume Production with up to 145 kW
Schaeffler has begun volume production of its MultiMode dedicated hybrid transmission, a compact 125‑kg unit delivering up to 145 kW. The DHT integrates two electric machines, power electronics and hydraulics, supporting electric‑only, serial and parallel driving modes. The company also rolled...
GM Raises 2026 Outlook After Tariff Ruling
General Motors reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $43.62 bn, a 0.9% YoY decline, while adjusted EBIT jumped 21.9% to $4.25 bn. The automaker raised its full‑year adjusted EBIT outlook to $13.5‑$15.5 bn after a U.S. Supreme Court decision trimmed tariff costs by $0.5 bn....
Dealerships Are 'Terrified' Direct Sales Might Be The Future
Dealerships are alarmed as direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) sales gain traction, with 28 states still restricting or banning the model. Tesla pioneered DTC, and recent victories for Rivian in Washington and a California ruling against Scout Motors highlight a shifting legal landscape....
One Thing Silently Hurting EV Sales
The used electric‑vehicle market has expanded dramatically, offering a wide range of recent models at lower prices, which is diverting buyers from new EVs and slowing new‑vehicle sales growth. Historically, new EVs drove adoption because few used options existed, but...
Swiss Post Deploys Kempower Charging Stations for Electric Buses and Trucks
Swiss Post has installed a Kempower DC fast‑charging system at its new Villmergen logistics centre, marking a key step in electrifying its fleet of roughly 2,400 buses and trucks. The rollout includes 16 charging points—14 control units with cable arms...
GM’s AI Story Is Taking Shape as the Carmaker Aims to Distinguish Itself From Rivals Like Tesla
General Motors reported solid first‑quarter earnings, emphasizing the growing role of its autonomous‑driving technology. The automaker highlighted Super Cruise, its advanced driver‑assistance system launched in 2017, as a key differentiator from rivals such as Tesla. Executives said the company sees...
A Billion Miles in Less than a Decade: GM's Super Cruise Reaches a Milestone
General Motors’ Super Cruise hands‑free driver‑assist system has surpassed one billion driven miles across roughly 750,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada since its 2017 debut. Usage has doubled year‑over‑year, with 7.1 million hours logged and 485.9 million miles covered in 2025...
GM Hits 1 Billion Hands-Free Miles, Will Drop Google Gemini Into 4 Million Cars
General Motors announced that its Super Cruise driver‑assistance system has accumulated 1 billion hands‑free miles across a fleet of roughly 750,000 North American vehicles. The automaker expects paid subscriptions to exceed 850,000 by year‑end, with about 40% of users renewing after...
Infineon Provides MEMS Technology for Valeo’s Ground Projection Module Based on Laser Beam Scanning Presented at 2026 Auto Beijing
Infineon and Valeo unveiled a short‑distance ground projection module at Auto Beijing 2026, integrating Infineon’s 2D MEMS mirror and controller into Valeo’s high‑definition, bi‑color projector. The system delivers superior brightness, contrast and resolution for daytime visibility and is positioned for...
What Car's Cancellation Left The Biggest Hole In The U.S. Market?
Hyundai announced that only the high‑performance Ioniq 6 N will be sold in the United States, effectively ending availability of the regular Ioniq 6. U.S. sales fell to 10,478 units in 2025, a 15% drop from 2024 and far behind the 47,039 Ioniq 5s...
A Defunct EV Startup’s Assets Are Up For Grabs, Including 20 Electric Trucks
Bankrupt EV startup Bollinger Motors is auctioning all its assets, including 20 nearly new B4 Class 4 electric trucks, 17 chassis and three test units. The auction, scheduled for May 13, lists 427 lots ranging from torque wrenches to a DC fast...
Zoox Expands Autonomous Robotaxi Testing to Miami
Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous‑vehicle arm, has begun deploying its purpose‑built robotaxi on public roads in Austin, Texas, after a mid‑2024 mapping program that used retrofitted vehicles with safety drivers to train its AI. The initial phase targets key neighborhoods such as...
Tesla Rival BYD Reports Plunging Earnings. China EV Giant Is Betting On A Flash Recovery.
Chinese EV maker BYD reported Q1 revenue of $22.01 billion, marginally beating analysts’ $21.28 billion estimate, while earnings per share plunged 57% to $0.07, aligning with forecasts. The drop reflects intense domestic competition that eroded sales and margins, though overseas shipments continued...
Leapmotor and Stellantis Considering Co-Developing New Platforms
Stellantis and Chinese EV maker Leapmotor are discussing deeper collaboration that may include co‑developing shared vehicle platforms. Stellantis currently owns about 20% of Leapmotor and a 51% stake in its international distribution arm, giving it access to Leapmotor’s dealer network...
Waymo Says Blocking Bike Lanes Is 'Normal Practice'
Waymo has publicly acknowledged that its driverless taxis often pull into bike lanes to pick up or drop off passengers, describing the behavior as "normal practice." The admission follows a lawsuit filed by a San Francisco cyclist who was injured after...
Onsemi and Geely Expand Collaboration to Support Next-Gen 900V EV Architectures
onsemi and Geely have deepened a global partnership to embed onsemi’s EliteSiC silicon‑carbide technology into Geely’s SEA‑S‑based Super Electric Power (SEP) system. The collaboration targets 900 V vehicle architectures, promising faster acceleration, longer range and dramatically reduced charging times. By leveraging...
Start with the Sensors, Then Design the Rest: How Zoox Built Its Robotaxi
Zoox, acquired by Amazon in 2020, is shifting from retrofitted test fleets to a purpose‑built robotaxi that debuted in Las Vegas, San Francisco and Austin. The vehicle’s design starts with sensors mounted on all four corners, giving unobstructed forward vision and enabling...
Carmakers Warn that Affordable Compact Cars May Leave US Market
Several foreign automakers, including Nissan, Hyundai and Toyota, warned that without a renewed or strengthened USMCA, entry‑level compact cars could vanish from the U.S. market. The current pact provides tariff‑free treatment only for vehicles with North American parts, but recent...
Driving BYD’s EV Story with Stella Li
Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice‑president, explained how the Chinese group’s EV‑first, vertically integrated model lets it innovate and scale faster than legacy OEMs tied to internal‑combustion platforms. BYD’s in‑house battery, chip and manufacturing capabilities enabled rapid pandemic‑era production pivots and...
Volkswagen to Kick Off New Era with ID Polo Unveiling Tomorrow
Volkswagen will unveil the ID Polo, an electric hatchback priced below £22,000 (about $28,000), marking the brand’s first model fully designed under chief designer Andreas Mindt. The vehicle adopts VW’s refreshed design language and features a “premium haptic” interior that...
Eastman Launches Saflex™ Evoca™ XIR.SR to Elevate EV Sunroof Performance
Eastman announced the launch of Saflex™ Evoca™ XIR.SR, an infrared‑reflective interlayer designed for panoramic sunroofs in electric vehicles. The new material reduces solar heat gain, helping keep cabin temperatures lower and easing HVAC demand. By delivering a neutral‑gray, angle‑stable reflection,...
PATEO Expands Vehicle AI with New Computing Platform
PATEO announced deep collaborations with NVIDIA and a leading NEV OEM to bring on‑vehicle large AI models to mass production. The company will use NVIDIA’s DRIVE AGX Thor platform to power its AI Box, enabling Level 3/4 autonomous driving workloads. It...