Tired of Waiting for Your EV to Charge Up? One Chinese Company Has a Novel Solution
NIO Power has rolled out a fully automated battery‑swap system that replaces an EV’s depleted pack in just over three minutes. The Chinese automaker now operates roughly 4,000 swap stations, primarily in China, and has logged more than 100 million swaps since its first station opened in 2018. The service saves an estimated 83 million driver hours and offers a fast, cable‑free alternative to conventional charging. NIO’s model targets urban drivers without home chargers and is gaining attention for heavy‑duty trucks in the U.S.
GAC Aion Unveils Battery-Electric Saloon with Swappable Battery From CATL
GAC Aion has introduced the Aion RT Super, a battery‑electric sedan equipped with CATL’s 54 kWh LFP “Chocolate‑Swap” pack that can be exchanged in roughly 90 seconds. The vehicle is priced at ¥88,800 (about $12,200) with the battery sold as a lease, lowering...
Japan's Sony, Honda to Pursue New Opportunities After Scrapping Afeela 1 EV, Reports Nikkei
Sony Group and Honda Motor announced they will abandon development of the Afeela 1 electric vehicle within their 50‑50 joint venture Sony Honda Mobility. The cancellation follows Honda’s overhaul of its EV strategy and forces the venture to decide the fate...
The Mighty Engine That Jaguar Built, and Built Jaguar
For four decades the XK engine was Jaguar’s engineering cornerstone, powering everything from post‑war sports cars to luxury sedans. In 2024 the British automaker announced a bold pivot to an all‑electric lineup, a move echoed by its Formula E program. Last...
India: Switch Mobility to Deploy 25 Electric Intercity Coaches
Switch Mobility, the Hinduja Group‑owned e‑bus maker, has begun deploying 25 electric intercity coaches on the high‑traffic Mumbai‑Pune corridor for private operator Purple Bus. The first batch of ten EiV12 coaches was flagged off last week, with the remaining units slated...
EV Maker Polestar's Fourth-Quarter Revenue Jumps, Loss Narrows
Polestar reported a 54% jump in fourth‑quarter revenue to $887 million and narrowed its net loss to $799 million, a significant improvement from the $1.18 billion loss a year earlier. The Swedish EV maker credited the turnaround to a Europe‑focused sales strategy, aggressive...
Ola Electric Rolls Out Festive Offer with Discounts up to ₹50,000 Ahead of Akshaya Tritiya
Ola Electric launched the "Ola Sona" weekend promotion ahead of Akshaya Tritiya, offering discounts of up to ₹50,000 (~$600) on select scooters and motorcycles, with entry‑level models starting at ₹49,999 (~$602). The Roadster X+ 9.1 kWh is priced at ₹1,39,999 (~$1,690)...
Lutnick Shuts Down Talk of Any Chinese Investment in US Autos
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a Semafor audience that Chinese automakers, including BYD, will not be allowed to invest in U.S. auto manufacturing, responding with a firm “no.” He reiterated the stance in remarks to Bloomberg, saying “not cars,...
Quehenberger Goes All-Electric for Dm Store Deliveries in Vienna
Austrian logistics firm Quehenberger has completed full electrification of its delivery fleet for dm drugstore locations in Vienna, deploying ten Volvo FM Electric trucks to serve roughly 100 stores daily. The transition, which began with three electric trucks earlier in...
The Battery Recycling Paradox: VC’s Next Big Underrated Bet
Battery recycling is emerging from a niche, low‑margin segment into a multi‑billion‑dollar industry as the first wave of EV batteries reaches end‑of‑life. The market, valued at $28.62 billion in 2025, is projected to expand to $91.72 billion by 2034, driven by an...
Why Your Car Key Can Cost $3,000 in 2026: The Hidden Technology Behind Modern Vehicle Security
A lost Land Rover Discovery key fob in Honolulu was quoted at nearly $3,000, illustrating how modern car keys have become encrypted digital credentials rather than simple metal tools. Today’s keys contain rolling codes, secure microcontrollers, and VIN‑locked immobilizer links...
Viewpoint: Handling Autonomous Risks
Waymo’s driverless fleet now operates about 100 vehicles in Atlanta, part of a 3,000‑vehicle national rollout, while Serve Robotics’ Kaito and Margo sidewalk bots deliver restaurant orders in roughly 18 minutes. The city’s streets also host e‑scooters, e‑bikes and other...
North America Just Got Its First New Kind of Lithium Refinery
Mangrove Lithium has inaugurated North America’s first commercial electrochemical lithium refinery in Delta, British Columbia, capable of processing 1,000 tonnes of lithium annually. The facility, dubbed the Single Stack Plant, can supply battery‑grade lithium for roughly 25,000 electric vehicles each...
Acura Is Reportedly Considering Dropping Its IMSA GTP Program
Acura’s factory-backed IMSA GTP effort, launched in 2023 with the ARX‑06 hybrid, has secured marquee wins including the 24 Hours of Daytona. Recent reports from Sportscar365 and Racer suggest the brand may discontinue its direct partnership with Meyer Shank Racing after the...
Podcast: GM Energy, Tesla HW3 Reckoning, Ford Reshuffles EVs, Donut Lab Probs, More
Electrek’s weekly podcast highlighted several pivotal EV developments, including Tesla’s ongoing HW3 Full Self‑Driving delays, the final Signature Series Model S/X Plaid priced at $159,420, and the approval of supervised FSD in the Netherlands. Ford announced a major reshuffle, dissolving its...
Hyundai’s First EREV Spotted with an Interesting Design Ahead of Its Debut
Hyundai confirmed that its flagship Santa Fe SUV will become the company’s first extended‑range electric vehicle (EREV), slated for a 2027 launch. Spy shots in South Korea show a camouflaged prototype equipped with a gasoline‑powered generator and dual charge ports. Hyundai...
$25,000 Buys Plenty of Used EVs: Here Are some Options
The used‑electric‑vehicle market now offers a robust selection in the $20,000‑$25,000 price range, despite the Trump administration’s repeal of the used clean‑vehicle tax credit. A Deloitte report notes that EV residual values lag behind expectations, but this depreciation translates into...
Electric Vehicle Owners Could Earn Thousands by Supporting Power Grid
A pilot program in Delaware demonstrates that electric‑vehicle owners can earn several thousand dollars a year by letting their parked cars act as a collective battery for the grid. As renewable generation now accounts for roughly 90% of new capacity,...
Volvo’s Parent Geely Is Selling a $15,000 Electric SUV with Massaging Seats and 600 Km of Range
Geely, Volvo's parent, has launched the EX5 electric SUV at a base price of 109,800 yuan (about $15,300). The compact crossover offers up to 610 km of range, a 1,000‑watt sound system and optional massaging seats, positioning it as a premium‑feature vehicle...
New Porsche Patent Reveals Racing Stripes When You Switch Into Sport Mode
Porsche has filed a patent for an optically variable coating that lets racing stripes change color on demand, linked to the vehicle’s Sport mode. The system uses an electrically activated film or lacquer that shifts hue with a simple switch,...
Delhi CM Flags Scrappage; Fitness at Core of ₹4,000-Cr EV Policy Push
Delhi’s ₹4,000‑crore (≈$480 M) electric‑vehicle policy pivots from pure purchase subsidies to a compliance‑driven framework that couples scrappage incentives with mandatory vehicle fitness checks. The draft EV Policy 2026‑2030 offers up to ₹1 lakh per electric car and ₹10,000 per two‑wheeler, but only...
Hyundai and Kia Extend Warranty for ICCU
Hyundai and Kia have announced a dramatic extension of the warranty for the integrated charging control unit (ICCU) on their E‑GMP‑based electric models in Germany. The new coverage lasts 15 years or up to 300,000 kilometres, protecting Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, EV6...
Audi Reportedly Mulling a Plan to Turn the RS3 Hybrid to Keep the 5-Cylinder Alive
Audi is exploring a hybrid version of the RS3 to meet Europe’s stringent Euro 7 emissions rules, which could keep the model’s iconic 2.5‑liter five‑cylinder alive on the continent. The company had previously announced a sales halt for the RS3 in...
Ford’s Never-Seen, Canceled Moonshot EV Has Been Hiding in Plain Sight Online for a Year
Ford confirmed that its ambitious three‑row electric SUV, teased in 2022 with 350‑mile range claims, was cancelled in August 2024. The concept reappeared when former EV boss Doug Field posted the rendering as his LinkedIn banner, prompting Ford to label it a...
Honda Withdraws E:Ny1 From Multiple Markets
Honda has quietly removed its e:Ny1 electric SUV from the websites of the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, signaling an imminent market exit. The compact B‑segment model, launched in 2023, struggled with modest WLTP range, outdated motor technology and...
3 Foreign Auto Stocks Poised to Benefit From Strength in Key Markets
The Zacks Automotive‑Foreign industry is gaining traction as China’s new‑energy vehicle (NEV) market surges, Japan’s auto demand steadies, and Europe shows signs of weakness. Analysts highlight Nissan, NIO and Toyota as the three stocks best positioned to capture growth across...
WEX’s New Payment Solution Manages At-Home Charging for EV Fleet Drivers
WEX has launched EV At‑Home with Vehicle Fraud Protection, an upgrade to its EV At‑Home payment platform. The new feature automatically validates home‑charging sessions by cross‑checking vehicle, charger, and utility data, ensuring fleets reimburse only legitimate usage. By removing manual claim processes...
Germany: New Electric Car Incentive Clears Key Hurdle
Germany's Bundestag approved the Act on Promoting Climate‑Neutral Mobility, creating a legal framework for a new electric‑vehicle grant that will apply retroactively to cars first registered after 1 January 2026. The scheme offers up to €6,000 (about $6,540) for battery‑electric models and...
RATP and Karsan Wrap up Autonomous Bus Trial in Paris
RATP and Turkish vehicle maker Karsan completed a six‑month autonomous electric bus pilot on Paris’s busy line 393, covering roughly 3,000 km of mixed‑traffic operation. The Karsan e‑ATAK, equipped with Adastec’s lidar, radar and infrared suite, ran five hours daily with a...
How Audi’s Electromechanical Progressive Steering Works
Audi’s ninth‑generation A6 arrives with a 6‑cylinder, 362‑hp engine, a 14.5‑inch OLED screen and a standard 4K dashcam. The highlight is its electromechanical progressive steering, which changes the steering ratio through variable tooth spacing in the rack. Coupled with standard...
Honda Launches Electric Cargo Vehicle for Urban Delivery
Honda’s Fastport division has launched the eQuad, a four‑wheel electric cargo vehicle aimed at dense urban last‑mile delivery. The rollout begins with micromobility operators Bird and Spin, which will use the eQuad for battery swapping, scooter maintenance and repositioning on...
Vietnam: Lavi Taxi to Add 2,000 VinFast EVs to Its Fleet
Vietnamese taxi operator Lavi Taxi announced it will replace its entire internal‑combustion fleet with 2,000 electric vehicles from domestic maker VinFast. The rollout, backed by a memorandum with VinFast and mobility platform GSM, will feature four Green series models and...
Ford Recalls as Many as 1.39 Million F-150 Trucks
Ford announced a recall of up to 1.39 million F‑150 pickups from model years 2015‑2017 after identifying a transmission range sensor fault that can trigger an unexpected downshift into second gear. The defect may cause a loss of vehicle control, prompting...
Tesla Is Preparing to Launch Six-Seater Model Y Variant in India
Tesla is set to launch a six‑seat Model Y L in India as early as next week, marking its first new product since the brand entered the market last July. The long‑wheelbase SUV, already available in China, will be shipped from the...
US Transportation Unions Oppose Autonomous Vehicle Bill over Safety Concerns
Illinois labor groups, including the Teamsters and the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation, have publicly opposed the state's Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Act (SB3392/HB5103). The bill would broaden testing and allow commercial deployment of driverless cars and trucks within three...
ASEAN Light Vehicle Market Forecast for 2026 Revised Down
ASEAN light‑vehicle sales jumped 13% YoY to 543,000 units in the first two months of 2026, surpassing pre‑pandemic levels. However, GlobalData trimmed its 2026 regional forecast by 2% to 3.16 million units, mainly due to downward revisions for Malaysia and the...
Sector Snapshot: Autonomous Vehicle Funding More Than Triples In 2026 To Hit Record Amount
Funding for autonomous‑vehicle startups exploded in 2026, topping $21.4 billion across 34 deals—more than triple the total raised in 2025. The surge was driven by three megadeals: Waymo’s $16 billion Series D, Shield AI’s $2 billion Series G, and Wayve’s $1.3 billion Series D. Investors are concentrating...
EVs Cheaper than Petrol on Average for the First Time
For the first time, new electric cars are cheaper than comparable petrol models in the UK. After discounts, the average EV price is about $54,000, versus $55,000 for a petrol vehicle – a $1,000 advantage. Manufacturer discounts stayed above 11%...
Federal Govt Needs to Review Conditions for EV Plants in Malaysia; BYD CKD Must Remain in Perak – Exco
Perak’s industry and investment committee chair Loh Sze Yee urged the Malaysian federal government to reassess the conditions it imposed on electric‑vehicle manufacturers, specifically the Chinese automaker BYD’s proposed CKD assembly plant in Tanjong Malim. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and...
Why Human-in-the-Loop Quality and Simulation-Ready Data Assets Are Non-Negotiable for Safety-Critical AI
Safety‑critical AI systems—autonomous vehicles and robotics—depend on flawless data annotation, yet robotics lags behind due to heterogeneous sensors and no universal benchmarks. TELUS Digital, with a global community of over 1 million annotators, delivers more than 2 billion labels annually and offers...
EV Volumes up 78% at Dealer Auction as Margins Grow
EV sales on Dealer Auction surged 78% in March, driven by higher fuel costs and geopolitical tension. Retail margins for alternative‑fuel vehicles climbed to £3,320 (≈ $4,200), up from £2,829 (≈ $3,600) a month earlier, and Q1 margins were 26% higher year‑on‑year....
Chinese Ministry Focuses on Car Standards to Put Industry in Global Driving Seat
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced a five‑year push to accelerate automotive technical standards, aiming to position the country as a global rule‑setter. The initiative will focus on improving product quality, such as electric‑vehicle battery cycle life, and...
DHL Strike Could Disrupt JLR Vehicle and Parts Supply
Around 300 DHL logistics workers at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull hub will commence an indefinite strike on May 7 over a disputed 3% pay offer. The walkout, backed by an additional 300 HGV drivers across the Midlands and Northwest, threatens to...
Thailand Approves US$468m Investment From Isuzu
The Thai Board of Investment has approved a THB 15 billion (~US$468 million) investment by Isuzu Motors (Thailand) to upgrade its manufacturing footprint. The plan focuses on expanding automation across chassis welding, body assembly and painting, while introducing Euro 6‑compliant pickup models and solar‑powered...
Physical Buttons Poised to Become Key Brand Differentiator
Automakers are re‑embracing tactile buttons and knobs as a way to create distinctive brand experiences, according to design firm NewTerritory. Founder Luke Miles argues that physical controls deliver "human moments" that digital screens can’t replicate, especially as voice and gesture...
Vietnam Considers Extending Reduced BEV Tax Rates Until 2031
Vietnam's government is weighing an extension of its reduced special consumption tax on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) through the end of 2030, postponing a scheduled increase slated for 2027. The draft resolution keeps BEV rates at 1‑3% depending on vehicle...
Chinese OEMs Target UK Van Market with CV Show Launches
Chinese automakers Chery and BYD are using the 2026 Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham to debut new van offerings for the UK light‑commercial‑vehicle market. Chery introduced its Delivan brand, showcasing concept models that emphasize intelligent, electrified mobility, while BYD revealed...
Volkswagen Faces up to $600m US Write-Down as ID.4 Production Halts
Volkswagen will record a $600 million impairment in Q1 after halting production of the ID.4 at its Chattanooga plant, wiping out 60‑75% of the $800 million retooling cost. U.S. sales of the electric SUV plunged 96% following the removal of federal subsidies,...
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to Relaunch in UK with Eight-Year Warranty
Mitsubishi is re‑entering the UK market this summer with a refreshed Outlander PHEV, offering an eight‑year or 100,000‑mile warranty that covers both the vehicle and its battery. The plug‑in hybrid will be available in five‑ or seven‑seat configurations, delivering over...
Bosch Sees Strong Order Visibility as It Bets on Safety with Chassis Acquisition
Bosch Limited reports a "very full" order book in India as it finalizes the acquisition of Bosch Chassis Systems India, a market leader in safety and braking with three plants and roughly 2,000 employees. The deal expands Bosch's mobility portfolio,...