Valeo and Rohm Semiconductor are working together on the next generation of power modules for electric motor inverters. In this context, Rohm will now provide the French drive specialist with an innovative silicon carbide module as a first step. Read more…
BYD and SAIC pressure their suppliers to reduce prices in 2025
According to industry insiders, BYD and SAIC are trying to negotiate lower parts prices from their suppliers, aiming to reduce costs by 10% starting January 2025. This indicates that the price war in the Chinese automotive industry is getting serious. The report from BYD stems from an email sent by the president of BYD Group and CPO of passenger cars.… Read more…
Hamburg borough of Harburg drives forward with autonomous shuttles
In the German port city of Hamburg, the public transport provider Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH), IAV and eVersum are developing an autonomous e-shuttle service called ‘ahoi’ for public transport in the southernmost part of the city. The project will begin in the second half of 2025, initially with five vehicles and gradually increasing to up to 20 autonomous vehicles. Read more…
USA: Orange County orders 50 zero-emission buses
California’s Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) will purchase 50 new zero-emission buses. The order includes 40 hydrogen fuel-cells and ten 40-foot battery-electric buses. Read more…
Tesla offers lease takeover in the US
Tesla previously did not offer lease buyouts. The carmaker always said that it wanted to keep the cars as robotaxis. Tesla is now backing down, at least in the US. Read more…
Jaguar buying back nearly 3,000 I-Pace EVs over fire risk
JLR will buy back 2,760 2019 Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs due to a fire risk that the automaker and safety regulators have determined has not been adequately addressed in previous recalls. These vehicles—from the first model year of Jaguar’s sole EV—were included in multiple recalls to address the potential for overheating battery… Read more…
Volkswagen may axe its Tesla-inspired retail model for EVs
Volkswagen Group is radically overhauling its business strategy to save money and stay afloat, and it may axe its Tesla-inspired direct-to-consumer retail model for EVs in major European markets. Read more…
Nio Firefly: New spy shot shows body side
The spy shots of Nio Firefly’s debut model over the past few months have largely been about the front and rear, and now a new high-definition spy shot shows its side for the first time. Read more…
Cupra wants to launch in the US
Cupra is looking to come to the US by 2030. The company is exploring a partnership with Penske Automotive Group, a prominent automotive retailer, to set up its sales network in the new market. Read more…
Tesla China’s payment cycle to suppliers shortened to 90 days, exec says
Tesla China’s payment cycle to supply chain partners has been further shortened to around 90 days from about 101 days in 2023, according to Tesla VP Grace Tao. Read more…
Toyota behind schedule for next-generation electric cars
There appears to be a further delay in Toyota’s production plans for next-generation electric cars. The new Lexus brand battery-electric model scheduled for 2026 will not go into production until mid-2027. Read more…
Horizon unveils 400 kW fuel cell for heavy-duty commercial vehicles
Singapore-based Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies has introduced the VLS-IV fuel cell with a power output of 400 kW. The company developed the latest fuel cell for heavy-duty on-road trucks and other high-power equipment. Read more…
Zeekr launches 009 MPV, opens 500th global store in Singapore
Zeekr has launched the Zeekr 009 in Singapore, its second model there after the Zeekr X. Its first store in Singapore is the 500th in the world. Read more…
Volkswagen reviews its sales model
The Volkswagen Group is taking a closer look at its sales model in selected European markets. Although direct sales with a ‘Full Agency’ remains the German carmaker’s long-term goal, there could be a return to traditional sales in the short and medium term. Read more…
Xpeng sees 10,000th P7+ roll off line, 20 days after launch
Xpeng said its plant is in full swing to expand capacity. Read more…
Mercedes-Benz updates its Active Parking Assist
Mercedes-Benz just unveiled an enhanced version of its Active Parking Assist system. The latest edition is now available in a wide range of Mercedes-Benz models. The improved system now operates at a speed of 4 km/h – twice as fast as its predecessor, significantly reducing the time spent maneuvering into those tight spots. Drivers can initiate the parking process with… Read more…
E-bikes gain BMS based on 100 V Gan devices
Innoscience Technology has launched a battery management system (BMS) based on 100 V gallium nitride (GaN) devices for electric three-wheelers and e-bikes, writes Nick Flaherty.
The VGaN devices are connected by a common drain for bidirectional switching of battery charging and discharging, reducing on-resistance to 3.2 mΩ. Read more…
China Nov EV sales preview: Deutsche Bank expects Nio at 22,000, Tesla 80,000, BYD 520,000
Deutsche Bank expects the Nio brand to deliver 17,000 units in November and the Onvo sub-brand 5,000 units. Read more…
Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) reaches 500,000 EV deliveries
Among the most interesting developments in the fast-growing Chinese EV market is the rapid rise of Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA). In just 32 months, HIMA has delivered over 500,000 vehicles, a remarkable feat for a newcomer in the automotive industry. HIMA is a collaboration between Huawei and several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This unique approach allows Huawei to… Read more…
Tesla now offers lease buyouts – after saying it would keep cars as robotaxis
Tesla has started offering lease buyouts on all its vehicles, allowing customers who lease a Tesla to purchase their vehicle at the end of the lease term. But this represents a pullback from its previous autonomous vehicle ambitions. Read more…
