Stellantis and Wayve Partner to Bring AI-Powered Hands-Free Driving by 2028
Stellantis announced a strategic partnership with AI‑driving startup Wayve to embed Wayve’s AI Driver into its STLA AutoDrive platform. The collaboration targets supervised hands‑free Level 2++ functionality for both city streets and highways, with the first production‑ready integration slated for North America in 2028. Wayve’s end‑to‑end machine‑learning system will learn from real‑world data, promising a more human‑like driving experience. The deal builds on Stellantis’s earlier investment in Wayve and its broader push toward software‑defined vehicles.
Stellantis Unveils STLA One Modular Architecture for Next-Generation EVs and Hybrids
Stellantis introduced STLA One, a global modular architecture that supports battery‑electric, hybrid and other powertrains across B, C and D‑segment vehicles. The platform features an 800‑volt system, ultra‑fast charging, and a next‑generation software suite with STLA Brain and steer‑by‑wire. Stellantis...
Do Plug-In Hybrids Really Work? Toyota Study Says Yes
Toyota Research Institute North America analyzed over 6,000 Toyota and Lexus plug‑in hybrids and found most owners charge them regularly—about seven out of ten days for RAV4 PHEV drivers and eight to nine days for Lexus NX 450h+ owners. Only a...
Bosch Lands Major Mercedes-Benz EV Motor Contract Into the 2030s
Bosch has secured a long‑term contract to supply electric motors for Mercedes‑Benz’s next‑generation powertrains, extending into the 2030s. The agreement highlights Bosch’s high‑efficiency motors—up to 98% efficiency—with advanced rotor‑oil cooling and a scalable architecture that can be sized for different...
Proposed Federal EV Fee Could Raise Ownership Costs Under New U.S. Highway Bill
The bipartisan Build America 250 Act proposes annual federal registration fees of $135 for fully electric vehicles and $35 for plug‑in hybrids, rising to $150 and $50 respectively. Lawmakers argue the fees will shore up the Highway Trust Fund, which...
Audi A2 E-Tron Confirmed for 2026 as New Entry-Level Electric Car
Audi has confirmed that its new A2 e-tron, an all‑electric compact, will debut in autumn 2026. The model will be built at Audi’s Ingolstadt plant and is positioned as an entry‑level premium EV below the brand’s larger offerings. Development is...
ChargePoint and OBE Power Partner to Expand EV Charging at Multifamily Residences
ChargePoint and OBE Power announced a partnership to install about 2,500 electric‑vehicle charging ports at multifamily residential properties across the United States, with deployments slated to begin in 2026. ChargePoint will serve as the exclusive provider of its hardware, software,...
Ford Reveals Bold European Strategy With New EVs, Vans & Software-Driven Growth
Ford unveiled its "Ready‑Set‑Ford" roadmap for Europe, pairing a new brand platform with a suite of electric, hybrid and extended‑range vehicles and a software‑centric commercial‑fleet business. Ford Pro will target 25% of its EBIT from software and services, leveraging over...
BMW iX3 & I3 Bring Bidirectional Charging With SOLARWATT Home Integration
BMW is extending its partnership with SOLARWATT to launch bidirectional charging for the iX3 and i3 models, enabling Vehicle‑to‑Home (V2H) operation. The system couples the BMW Wallbox Professional with SOLARWATT’s Home Energy Management System, allowing the EV to store solar...
XPENG Launches Mass-Produced Robotaxi in China With L4 Autonomy
XPENG has begun mass production of its first robotaxi in Guangzhou, marking the first domestic L4‑level autonomous vehicle built entirely with in‑house hardware and software. The vehicle runs on the GX platform and is powered by four proprietary Turing AI...
Kia Expands Accessible Mobility Range with PV5 WAV Side Entry
Kia unveiled the PV5 WAV Side Entry, a factory‑built wheelchair‑accessible electric van, at the Motability Scheme Live exhibition in Birmingham. The model introduces a first‑in‑segment side‑entry ramp that lets users board directly from the curb, a departure from traditional rear‑entry...
BMW, MINI EV Drivers Gain 20% Discount on IONNA Charging
BMW and MINI electric‑vehicle owners in the United States will receive an automatic 20 percent discount on all public charging sessions at IONNA stations. The reduction is applied through the My BMW app or Plug & Charge, eliminating the need for separate subscriptions or...
Jaguar Reveals Official Name of Its 1,000-HP Electric Flagship
Jaguar has officially named its upcoming electric grand tourer the Type 01, marking the first model of a fully electric luxury lineup. The four‑door GT will use a new Jaguar Electric Architecture and a tri‑motor system that produces more than 1,000 hp...
UK Used Car Market Stalls in Q1 2026 as Used EV Demand Surges
UK used‑car transactions slipped 0.2% year‑on‑year to 2.02 million units in Q1 2026, ending a twelve‑quarter growth streak. Used battery‑electric vehicle sales surged 32% to 86,943 units, raising their share to 4.3% of the market, while traditional hybrids climbed 27.6% and...
AI Fast Charging Could Extend EV Battery Life by 23%
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have created an AI‑driven fast‑charging method that extends lithium‑ion EV battery life by about 23% while keeping charge times unchanged. The system uses reinforcement learning to adjust current based on state of charge, health...