Hesai Brings LiDAR to E-Scooters as Per-Unit Costs Plummet
Hesai has slashed LiDAR prices to about $200 per unit, enabling its FTX blind‑spot sensor to be fitted on Niu Technologies' new NXT2 e‑scooter. The partnership marks a turning point for affordable perception technology, previously limited to high‑end EVs and autonomous‑vehicle programs. LiDAR adoption in Chinese passenger cars reached 19 % by the end of 2025, and Hesai plans to double production capacity to over four million units annually in 2026. Western manufacturers remain focused on premium segments, widening the price gap with Chinese suppliers.
CTrack Brings AI-Enhanced Software Platform to the UK for Intelligent Fleet and Asset Management
Ctrack has launched its AI‑enhanced platform Crystal in the UK, extending a global rollout after acquiring Inseego’s telematics business. The modular solution combines telematics, artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to deliver real‑time insights, driver‑behaviour monitoring and workflow automation for fleets...
Transportation Department Opens $650K Design Challenge for U.S. Infrastructure Projects
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy launched the "Beautifying Transportation Infrastructure Challenge," a nationwide design competition offering $650,000 in prize money. The contest spans three tiers—Professional, Public, and Student—targeting designers, artists, and K‑12 students with top awards of $250,000, $50,000,...
No ‘Last Hurrah’ Expected for US De Minimis as Legal Challenge Advances
The U.S. administration’s suspension of the de minimis exemption is now being challenged in the Court of International Trade after a lawsuit by auto‑parts retailer Detroit Axle alleges the move exceeds legal authority. The challenge follows a Supreme Court ruling that limited...
The Wrong Question: Why the TMS Debate Is Distracting Forwarders From What Comes Next
Freight forwarders are fixated on the "which TMS?" debate, especially around CargoWise pricing, but industry veteran Brian Glick argues the real issue is integration and what comes after traditional TMS. He positions Chain.io as a neutral integration layer that separates...
AI Scheduling Tools Tackle Transit Driver Shortages
Transit agencies are turning to AI‑driven scheduling platforms to combat a global shortfall of roughly 2.4 million bus drivers. The tools let operators model alternative roster scenarios, communicate schedules in real time, and curb unscheduled overtime that fuels fatigue and turnover....
Rail Outlook up on Firmer Economic Factors: AAR
The Association of American Railroads reported February freight volumes rising, with carloads up 6.5% year‑over‑year and intermodal shipments reaching a record weekly average. Coal remained the largest non‑intermodal commodity, accounting for 26.6% of volume, while grain, chemicals and petroleum also...
‘DAC Installation Might Cost Less than 4 Euros per Day’
The European rail industry is exploring a hire‑purchase model for Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) that would cost €3.49 per wagon per day over a 20‑year term, according to EUROFIMA CEO Christoph Pasternak. The scheme relies on a non‑profit rental company...
Lithium-Ion Battery Incidents in Air Cargo on the Rise
A UL Standards & Engagement report shows lithium‑ion battery incidents in air cargo have surged 40% since 2021, climbing from 10 to 15 reported thermal‑runaway events by 2025. The rise mirrors booming e‑commerce demand for low‑cost, battery‑powered products and highlights...
A New Model of Lime Bike Is Launching in London This Month – with Several Big Changes
Lime is rolling out a refreshed e‑bike, now branded LimeBike, across London and several other UK cities this month. The new model swaps the traditional 26‑inch wheels for 20‑inch ones, adds a lower frame, rear‑mounted battery, portrait phone holder and...
New Commuter Operator for Montreal
Montreal’s EXO commuter rail network, covering 225 km with five lines and 52 stations, carried over seven million passengers in 2024. The agency awarded a ten‑year operations and maintenance contract to Transdev, with an optional four‑year extension, after a single‑envelope weighted...
Poland Throws Flagship €1.2bn Rail Baltica Tender Back Into Play After Budimex-PORR Award Struck Down
Poland’s National Appeal Chamber has annulled the award of the €1.2 billion Białystok‑Ełk Rail Baltica contract to the Budimex‑PORR consortium. The decision forces PKP PLK to restart the tender evaluation for the 96‑km stretch, marking the second reversal after a prior award to...
VinFast Pushes Ahead With U.S. EV Plant Despite Industry Slowdown
VinFast announced it will restart construction of its North Carolina electric‑vehicle plant, but at a dramatically smaller scale than originally promised. The revised plan targets roughly 1,400 jobs, a steep drop from the 7,500 positions pledged, and ties the company...
SJ Continues Operating Regional Services in Western Sweden
Swedish state rail operator SJ, via its subsidiary SJ Götalandståg, has secured the “Tåg 2027” contract to operate the Västtågen regional network in western Sweden for an additional 11 years, extending service through December 2037. The agreement maintains Alstom as the rolling‑stock maintenance partner,...
Dubai, Doha Cruise Delays Force Celestyal to Pull Mediterranean Sailings Amid Middle East Conflict: Everything You Need to Know
Celestyal Cruises has cancelled four Greek‑Island sailings for March 2026 after its two ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, became stranded in Dubai and Doha amid the escalating Middle East conflict. Both vessels are operational but cannot reposition to the...
UK Joins Switzerland, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, And More Countries In Confronting Major Travel Roadblock As Thousands Of Tourists...
On March 18, 2026, the Verdi service workers’ union staged a full‑day strike at Berlin‑Brandenburg Airport, forcing a complete shutdown of Germany’s primary eastern hub. The disruption stranded thousands of travelers from the UK, Switzerland, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland,...
New York City’s Next Transportation Revolution Might Be on the Water
DutchX, a NYC‑based zero‑emission shipper, has cut delivery time from Brooklyn to Midtown West by two‑thirds by moving packages via ferry and cargo bikes instead of vans. The pilot uses Pier 70 as a water hub, eliminating bridge tolls, congestion pricing...
First Ride: £200k R5 Turbo 3E Is a 533bhp Electric Drift Monster
Renault unveiled the R5 Turbo 3E, a £140,000‑£220,000 electric halo car that delivers 533 bhp and a 0‑62 mph time of roughly 3.5 seconds. Built on the Alpine Performance Platform and sharing only superficial cues with the classic R5, the limited‑edition model will...
No, Ford's 'Fox Platform' Wasn't Named After The Audi Fox, Stop It
Ford’s Fox platform and Audi’s Fox‑named 80 both emerged in 1973, but the shared name is almost certainly coincidental. Ford first used the "Fox" moniker in a February budget pitch, while Audi’s compact 80 entered the U.S. market as the...
Increase in DIY and Hardware Retailers Offering Same Day Delivery
New Gophr research shows UK hardware and DIY retailers increased same‑day delivery adoption from 22 % to 32 % year‑on‑year. Yet speed remains uneven: only 26 % can fulfil orders within an hour and 46 % impose conditions such as cut‑off times or location...
Open Modal Launches New Domestic ‘Combi’ Route
Open Modal has launched a new domestic combined‑rail route linking Lille and Miramas via Bonneuil, effective March 10. The service begins with three weekly round‑trips, slated to increase to five, and joins its existing Mediterranean corridor routes. Trains are 750 metres long,...
Stadler Reports 13% Sales Rise Across 2025
Stadler Rail posted a 13% sales increase in 2025, reaching 3.7 billion CHF and boosting its EBIT margin to 4.4%. Net profit more than doubled to 100.7 million CHF, while the order backlog expanded to 32 billion CHF despite a slight dip in new orders. The...
Stellar Aviation’s Nevada FBOs Join AEG Connect Network
Stellar Aviation’s two Nevada fixed‑base operators—Reno‑Tahoe International Airport and Carson City Airport—have joined AEG Fuels’ Connect network. The Reno facility features a new 36,000 sq ft hangar, a 6,000 sq ft executive terminal, EV charging stations and 5 acres of tarmac capable of handling Boeing 777...
Transit Flights Culprit Behind High ‘Mudik’ Fares, Govt Says
Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry says transit flights, especially those with multiple stops or overseas layovers, are inflating domestic airfares during the mudik season despite a government fare‑discount stimulus. Direct economy seats sold out early, forcing travelers onto costly itineraries such as...
OPINION: How the Software-Defined Vehicle Is Redefining Development
Automakers are shifting from hardware‑centric cars to software‑defined vehicles (SDVs), where code determines functionality, performance, and user experience. Centralized computing architectures replace fragmented ECUs, enabling over‑the‑air updates, feature‑on‑demand, and continuous improvement. This transition forces OEMs to adopt agile, data‑driven development...
Omoda 5 Review
The Omoda 5, Chery’s UK‑market crossover, now offers a full‑hybrid version priced around £29,240, positioning it against the VW T‑Roc and Nissan Qashqai. The hybrid pairs a 1.5 L turbo engine with a 1.8 kWh battery, delivering 221 bhp and 53 mpg combined, while the...
Can Diesel Go Further? GB Railfreight Launches Large-Scale Fuel Additive Trial
GB Railfreight has launched a two‑week fuel additive trial in partnership with Fuelcare and Treyarnon Consulting to test chemical enhancements for diesel locomotives. The program, one of the largest UK freight fuel trials, will evaluate engine efficiency, reliability, and emissions...
Jet AirWerks and Stratton Aviation Partner on Engine Teardowns
Jet AirWerks and Stratton Aviation have signed an agreement to disassemble CFM56‑5B/7B engines at Jet AirWerks' Engine Services Center, creating a dedicated pipeline for parts recovery and used serviceable material (USM). The partnership adds dedicated gantry space for Stratton and...
American Airlines Upgrades App With Delay Transparency
American Airlines has rolled out a major update to its mobile app that provides real‑time flight‑delay transparency. The new interface pulls data from multiple sources, including the airline’s own operations center and third‑party flight‑tracking services, to display expected departure and...
DS 3 Reborn: Retro-Styled Renault 5 Rival Coming "in Near Future"
French premium brand DS announced that a new generation of the DS 3 supermini will arrive in the near future, drawing design inspiration from the original 2010 model while adding futuristic elements. The rollout follows the recent launches of the No8,...
Capital Tankers Corp. Lists on Euronext Growth
Capital Tankers Corp. debuted on Euronext Growth Oslo after a NOK 4.8 billion private placement, the largest western shipping listing in two decades. The company issued 131.05 million shares, with a greenshoe option to raise the total to 135.7 million. At market open the...
EU Approves Support Measure: Combined Transport on Frejus Line Can Make a Comeback
The European Commission approved a €5 million support measure, split equally between France and Italy, to revive combined‑transport operations on the 175‑kilometre Fréjus railway linking Aiton and Orbassano. The line, closed since a landslide in August 2023, is expected to restart...
Singapore Living Lab Takes Shape with New Collaboration
ST Engineering Urban Solutions signed a memorandum of understanding with Swarco ITS, Umovity and Ouster at Intertraffic Amsterdam to trial traffic controllers, sensors and emerging technologies. Together with Singapore's Land Transport Authority and A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research, the partners...
Zimi, Charge Holdings Partner to Electrify Freight on N3 Corridor
Logistics aggregator Zimi Charge and Zero Carbon Holdings have signed a three‑year deal to electrify freight on South Africa’s N3 corridor between Johannesburg and Durban. Charge Holdings will launch two off‑grid, solar‑powered fast‑charging stations – Charge N3 Tugela in KwaZulu‑Natal and Charge N3 Roadside in the Free State...
China to Double Size of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Fleet by 2030
China’s central government announced a target of over 100,000 fuel‑cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) by 2030, more than double the roughly 40,000 on the road today. By the end of 2025 the country operated 574 hydrogen refuelling stations capable of dispensing...
Dalian Shipping Launched with Local Government Backing and Hengli Support
Dalian Shipping Co was launched this week as a government‑backed shipping venture supported by Hengli, the world’s fastest‑growing shipbuilder. The partnership blends municipal and provincial financing with Hengli’s massive order book, allowing newly built vessels to be quickly absorbed into...
Ofiniti Raises $6.8M to Push Its Maritime Fuel Software Into Global Shipping Hubs
Ofiniti, an Oslo‑based spin‑out of DNV, raised $6.8 million in a growth round led by Verb Ventures, bringing its total capital to $9 million. The funding will fuel its expansion beyond Singapore, where it commands roughly 40 % of the digital bunkering market,...
Air Astana Increases Flight Frequencies for Nauryz Holiday
Air Astana is boosting its international schedule from Almaty for the Nauryz holiday. The carrier adds nine extra Almaty‑Phuket flights and upgrades Almaty‑Phu Quoc to Boeing 767s, raising capacity by 35 %. Additional frequencies include 13 more Almaty‑Delhi services and increased flights...
VTG & Breedon Renew 15yr Cement Wagon Deal
VTG Rail UK has renewed a 15‑year lease with Breedon Group for 72 JPA cement wagons, extending a long‑standing bulk‑cement logistics partnership. The wagons, each capable of carrying 81 tonnes, move more than 1.5 million tonnes of cement annually from Hope Cement...
Flight Disruption Deepens as Middle East Conflict Escalates
Airlines worldwide are scaling back Middle East services as the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict intensifies. Cathay Pacific announced cancellations of Dubai and Riyadh flights through April 30, while Scoot, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and the Lufthansa Group have extended suspensions across key hubs...
Researchers Expose Hack that Could Hand Attackers Full Control of Ship’s Engine, Navigation and Power
Maritime researchers uncovered four critical flaws in the SmartShipWeb IoT platform that let a remote attacker commandeer a vessel's propulsion, navigation, power, ballast, steering and fire safety systems directly from a web browser. The attack chain starts with a client‑side...
Luxembourg Maritime Administration: The Boutique Flag
Luxembourg’s maritime registry has added a second Greek‑operated tanker, the 183‑metre Theanoula, to its flag, underscoring a growing pipeline of Greek tonnage. The registry, launched in 1990, leverages the country’s political stability, sophisticated financial‑services framework and EU legal regime to...
Centre Nudges Airlines on Free Seat Allocation, Transparency Norms
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, via the DGCA, has issued new directions mandating airlines to allocate at least 60% of seats free of charge and to seat passengers on the same PNR together where feasible. The guidelines also require clear...
Qatar Can Keep Goods Flowing Amid Tensions, Customs Chief Says
Qatar’s customs chief assures that supply chains remain secure despite regional tensions, citing strategic reserves, digital customs systems, and multiple transport routes. The Al Nadeeb electronic platform and recent upgrades have accelerated clearance and increased transparency. Coordination with the GCC Customs...
DeepRoute.ai Presents 40B VLA Model for Scalable Autonomy
DeepRoute.ai unveiled a 40‑billion‑parameter vision‑language‑action (VLA) foundation model at Nvidia GTC 2026, compressing the autonomous‑driving data‑processing cycle from over five days to roughly 12 hours per iteration. The model simultaneously drives, analyzes events, and critiques trajectories, automating high‑value training data...
DS Automobiles Launches N°7 with up to 740 Km EV Range
DS Automobiles unveiled the DS N°7, the brand’s first model renewal and successor to the DS 7 compact SUV. The flagship E‑Tense Long Range version delivers up to 740 km WLTP range from a 97.2 kWh battery produced at the ACC Gigafactory in northern...
SABIC Launches ADAS and EV Materials at PIAE 2026
SABIC unveiled three new specialty compounds at PIAE 2026 aimed at ADAS thermal management, recycled exterior parts, and EV battery structures. The LNP Konduit WTF2C replaces die‑cast aluminium in ADAS radar housings, delivering weight savings and design flexibility. LNP Elcrin SLX2373RCC and SLX2375RCC...
Scalvy and Valeo Validate Modular EV Power Architecture
Scalvy and Valeo have completed a concept evaluation of Scalvy’s distributed Power Neuron architecture for electric‑vehicle powertrains under WLTC laboratory conditions. The modular platform achieved a peak inverter efficiency of 98.3 % at 10,000 RPM, kept motor temperatures below 62 °C and power‑device...
Glencore-Owned Raglan Achieves Autonomous Haulage Milestone at Anuri
Raglan Mine, owned by Glencore, marked a milestone when its first autonomous haul truck successfully discharged ore at the Anuri underground operation in Quebec. The unload was executed from a remote control centre 14 km away using Sandvik’s AutoMine® platform, which...
Lulu Group Moves More than 8,000 Tonnes of Food Products From India to Gulf Nations, Ensures Steady Supply
Lulu Group has moved more than 8,000 tonnes of essential food items from India to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations over the past two weeks, using 17 chartered cargo flights and sea shipments. Over 5,000 tonnes of fresh perishables reached...