Daimler Truck sold 460,409 trucks and buses on Group level in 2024 (2023: 526,053). Sales of battery-electric vehicles increased to 4,035 units (2023: 3,443)—a 0.9% share compared to 0.7% in 2023. The segment Trucks North America contributed 190,428 units to the Group’s overall unit sales (2023: 195,014). Mercedes-Benz Trucks sold... Read more →
BMW, SK tes expanding closed-loop battery recycling system to N America
14 January 2025
After successfully launching a closed-loop recycling system for the reuse of raw materials from high-voltage batteries due to the BMW Brilliance Automotive Joint Venture (BBA) in China in 2022, the BMW Group on 1 November 2024 launched a pan-European partnership with SK tes, a leading provider of innovative technology lifecycle... Read more →
SK On, the world’s fifth largest EV battery manufacturer and supplier of EV batteries to OEMs such as Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz, announced its latest research and development (R&D) achievements on all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). SK On said that the findings from its ASSB research projects, conducted in collaboration... Read more →
Electric vehicle (EV) research house Rho Motion announced that following the fourth successive global monthly record of passenger car and light-duty EV (battery-electric and plug-in hybrid) sales, 17.1 million units were sold world-wide in all of 2024, up 25% compared to 2023. December 2024 resulted in more than 1.9 million... Read more →
The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Auto Company Limited is building its first European passenger car plant in Szeged, Hungary. To equip it with painting technology, BYD selected Dürr. Over the coming months, the German mechanical and plant engineering company will send more than 120 robots fitted with EcoBell3 atomizers... Read more →
Mercedes-Benz and Google partner on AI-powered conversational search within navigation systems
14 January 2025
Mercedes-Benz and Google Cloud are expanding their strategic partnership to introduce new conversational capabilities to the MBUX Virtual Assistant, powered by Google Cloud’s new Automotive AI Agent. Built using Gemini on Vertex AI, Google Cloud’s Automotive AI Agent is specially tailored for the automotive industry and can reference information from... Read more →
The European Union (EU) via the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) has awarded a €1.8-million grant to a research project to establish decarbonization technologies for the steelmaking industry. The program aims to establish a process for injecting hydrogen using the Sequence Impulse Process (SIP) technology directly into the... Read more →
DOE launches GUIDE-H2 to bolster clean hydrogen projects
13 January 2025
The US Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) launched the Guiding Universal Indicators in Developing Ecosystems for Hydrogen (GUIDE-H2) competition. GUIDE-H2 aims to address a key challenge facing many commercial-scale hydrogen projects: delays or cancellations due to the lack of tools, training, and local support in... Read more →
Sunfire secures €200M guaranteed financing
13 January 2025
German electrolysis company Sunfire has secured €200 million in guaranteed financing. The financing is provided by a consortium led by Commerzbank and other leading German and European commercial banks. The consortium includes, in addition to Commerzbank, Société Générale, BNP Paribas, LBBW and Ostsächsische Sparkasse Dresden. The commitment marks a strong... Read more →
KIT and Fraunhofer ITWM researchers investigate the factors influencing tire wear on electrified vehicles; RAMUS project
13 January 2025
The German Federal Environment Agency estimates that the contact of tires with the road surface produces abrasion particles amounting to at least 100,000 tons per year. This corresponds to approximately one-third of the microplastic emissions released every year in Germany. Due to their higher weight, vehicles with an electric drive... Read more →
Although oversupply and low prices have dominated discussions around battery raw material markets this year, significant deficits are forecast in the next ten years, according to Benchmark. The forecast deficits are substantially higher than the current surpluses. In 2034, the lithium and nickel markets are expected to be in deficits... Read more →
DOE to award up to $23M to support R&D of biomass- and waste-based chemicals and fuels
11 January 2025
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced up to $23 million in funding (DE-FOA-0003518) to support research and development (R&D) of domestic chemicals and fuels from biomass and waste resources. The notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC), will support BETO’s Conversion... Read more →
Dürr Systems AG has received a significant order from Italian battery manufacturer FIB S.p.A, a Seri Industrial Group company. Awarded in December 2024, the order includes the delivery of a giga-coating system comprising four anode and four cathode lines, as well as the associated calenders, slitters, and solvent recovery systems.... Read more →
Cushman & Wakefield announced the firm has arranged the sale of a ±4.95 acres of vacant land in Harbor City (Los Angeles), California. Located at 23903 Normandie Ave in LA’s South Bay submarket, the site is currently undeveloped and was acquired by the City of Los Angeles for $12 million.... Read more →
A research team from the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham and Cardiff University, has created a catalyst for hydrogen generation from ammonia that becomes more active with time. The novel material consists of nanosized ruthenium (Ru) clusters anchored on graphitized carbon. These... Read more →
Cummins unveiled the new 2025 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel Pickup engine system for Ram Heavy Duty, Cummins’ most advanced diesel pickup engine yet. As part of this, Cummins and Stellantis have extended their partnership to supply Ram Brand through 2030. New 2025 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel for Ram Heavy Duty Pickups.... Read more →
Beginning February 2025, Mercedes-Benz BEV drivers will gain access to more than 20,000 Tesla Superchargers across the United States and Canada through the Mercedes me Charge1 service, enabling Plug & Charge functionality. As our technologically advanced and highly compelling all-electric vehicle portfolio continues to grow, we recognize that a critical... Read more →
Hyundai Motor Group partners with NVIDIA to accelerate development of AI solutions for future mobility
10 January 2025
Hyundai Motor Group announced a strategic partnership with NVIDIA to accelerate the development of advanced AI technologies to drive the future of mobility. In the AI era, Hyundai Motor Group is driving innovation through strategic AI integration, positioning itself at the forefront of smart mobility solutions. The Group operates a... Read more →
Ace Green Recycling plans. to build India’s largest battery recycling facility
10 January 2025
Ace Green Recycling finalized a lease agreement for a site to build India’s largest battery recycling facility. To be located in Mundra, Gujarat, the facility will build on Ace’s existing Indian commercial operations, which have been recycling lithium-ion batteries since 2023 including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries. As a part... Read more →
Shell starts oil production from Whale semi-submersible in US Gulf of Mexico; estimated peak production of 100,000 bpd
10 January 2025
Shell Offshore, a subsidiary of Shell plc, has started oil production at the Shell-operated Whale floating production facility in the Gulf of Mexico. Whale replicates the simplified, cost-efficient host design of the Vito platform, which began production in early 2023. The Whale development is owned by Shell Offshore Inc. (60%,... Read more →
Blue Whale Materials (BWM) has received a contracted grant award of more than $55 million from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Program. Approximately $3 million of the grant will go... Read more →
Vehicles and fuels topped the lists of waterborne imports arriving in the United States by value and weight, respectively, underlining the importance of the maritime sector to transportation and the economy overall, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). Source: US DOE, DOT Motorized vehicles ranked first by value... Read more →
Most solids expand as temperatures increase and shrink as they cool. Some materials do the opposite, expanding in the cold. Lithium titanium phosphate is one such substance and could provide a solution to the problem of steeply declining performance of lithium-ion batteries in cold environments. In the journal Angewandte Chemie,... Read more →
Goodyear and TNO demonstrate integration of tire intelligence with AEB
09 January 2025
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, in collaboration with TNO, has demonstrated the integration of tire intelligence technology into the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system of a vehicle. Building on the success of Goodyear’s and TNO’s integration of tire intelligence into antilock braking systems (ABS) showcased at CES 2024, this... Read more →
Neste and Bayer to develop winter canola system in the US
09 January 2025
Neste and Bayer signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing a winter canola ecosystem in the US, including identifying partners and developing the value chain together, and scaling winter canola production as a raw material for renewable products. While having a strong focus on waste and residue raw materials,... Read more →
DOE and EPA awarding $6M to 3 projects to support development of advanced biofuels
09 January 2025
The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $6 million in funding for three projects that will advance biofuel development. Funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the projects will support research to improve performance and reduce costs of high-impact... Read more →
Topsoe de-risks SOEC electrolyzers for green hydrogen through insurance partnership with New Energy Risk
09 January 2025
Topsoe has chosen NER (New Energy Risk), a provider of technology performance insurance, as the preferred insurance partner for Topsoe’s SOEC hydrogen electrolyzer products. The partnership follows NER’s completion of detailed technical due diligence of Topsoe’s SOEC electrolyzer technology and enables Topsoe’s customers to deploy NER’s technology performance insurance on... Read more →
MAHLE to sell MAHLE Powertrain US business to Dumarey Group
09 January 2025
Automotive supplier MAHLE plans to sell its MAHLE Powertrain (MPT) US engineering services business, MAHLE Powertrain LLC, to the Dumarey Group (formerly known as PUNCH Group). Both parties have signed a contract to this effect at the end of 2024. The transaction includes the MPT facilities in Plymouth, Michigan, with... Read more →
Stellantis partners with dSPACE to accelerate cloud-based development of vehicles
08 January 2025
Stellantis and dSPACE, a leader in simulation and validation solutions, signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at accelerating the cloud-based development of Stellantis vehicles. The collaboration will integrate dSPACE’s VEOS platform for Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) testing into the Stellantis Virtual Engineering Workbench (VEW), enabling faster, scalable development of customer-focused... Read more →
Honda unveiled the first two models in the company’s new 0 Series line of battery electric vehicles (BEV) at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES): the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 sedan prototypes. Production models based on both prototypes will launch in North America in 2026 followed by global... Read more →
At CES 2025, BMW is providing the first opportunity to experience the close-to-production version of the new BMW iDrive complete with its centerpiece, BMW Panoramic Vision. The software underpinning it all is the new BMW Operating System X, which acts as the intelligence hub behind the new display and operating... Read more →
Elaphe, a developer of in-wheel motor (IWM) technology and wheel control, unveiled its high-performance front-wheel in-wheel motor, Sonic.1, at CES 2025. Sonic.1 offers performance upgrades for electric and hybrid vehicles, unrivaled power density, advanced control capabilities and direct compatibility with high-performance brakes and existing supercar architectures. The Sonic.1 direct-drive motor... Read more →
DOE opens new funding for small businesses for hydrogen and fuel cell R&D
08 January 2025
The US Department of Energy (DOE) opened new funding (DE-FOA-0003504) to small businesses for innovative clean energy technologies as part of its Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs. SBIR and STTR are competitive funding opportunities that encourage US-based small businesses to engage in research and... Read more →
DOE announces $6.9M to support waste-to-energy strategies for local transportation needs
08 January 2025
The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) announced $6.9 million in funding (DE-FOA-0003072) for nine projects to support local waste-to-energy management solutions for transportation energy needs. Located across six states, these selected projects will help sustainably manage and recover potential clean energy... Read more →
Mazda to build module pack plant for cylindrical lithium-ion batteries in Japan
07 January 2025
The Mazda Motor Corporation plans to construct a new module pack plant in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The plant will produce automotive-grade cylindrical lithium-ion battery modules and packs, sourced from Panasonic Energy. These battery packs will power Mazda’s first battery EV designed on a dedicated EV platform and will... Read more →
IDTechEx: More than 880M liters of coolant fluid will be required for electric cars in 2035
07 January 2025
In a new report, IDTechEx forecasts that more than 880 million liters of coolant fluid wil be required for electric cars in 2035. Early trends in the market largely revolved around the adoption of active cooling for the battery pack, this now being the industry standard. However, batteries, motors, and... Read more →
HERE Technologies unveils AI-powered intelligent guidance assistant for software-defined vehicles and transportation companies
07 January 2025
HERE Technologies unveiled its latest artificial intelligence (AI) solution, the HERE AI Assistant. Designed to address the evolving needs of the automotive and transportation industries, this solution leverages multiple Generative AI Large Language Models (LLMs) to deliver natural language-powered, location-aware guidance. The HERE AI Assistant transforms personalized travel planning, providing... Read more →
Toyota Woven City completes Phase 1 construction and prepares for launch
07 January 2025
At CES 2025, Toyota Motor Corporation announced the completion of Phase 1 construction of Toyota Woven City, its test course for mobility. The launch of Phase 1 is planned for fall 2025 or shortly thereafter. Toyota first announced its transformation into a mobility company at CES 2018 and, at CES... Read more →
ZF has secured a significant business win with a global manufacturer. The deal emphasizes the importance of the company’s recently created Chassis Solutions Division that is enabling the Software Defined Vehicle with by-wire solutions. ZF has reached an agreement that includes planned volume production of brake-by-wire technology along with cutting-edge... Read more →
Thomas Built Buses, a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, launched the second-generation Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley battery-electric school bus. As the second iteration of its flagship electric school bus, originally introduced in 2017, the Jouley incorporates customer-driven improvements and technological advancements to create a product that excels in... Read more →
At CES 2025, technology company Donut Lab presenteed a new generation electric motor family that offers unprecedented performance, cost efficiency, and that eliminates the need for power transmission. Donut Lab is known for its modular technology platform, which provides EV manufacturers with a library of interoperable components. One of the... Read more →
DOT awarding $123M to California for zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure
07 January 2025
The US Department of Transportation will award $122.9 million for six California projects to build zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, including more than $55 million for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles. The funding comes through the Federal Highway Administration’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, which was created by... Read more →
Consortium led by H2 Global Energy signs MOU with Tunisian Government for $6B green hydrogen and ammonia project
07 January 2025
A consortium led by H2 Global Energy signed an MOU agreement with the Tunisian government to develop a $6-billion green hydrogen and green ammonia project. Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a part of the Maghreb region of North Africa, bordered by Algeria to the west and... Read more →
Aeva, a developer of next-generation sensing and perception systems, and Torc, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck and a pioneer in commercializing self-driving vehicle technology, are expanding their collaboration to advance the development of a new safety architecture for truck applications, enabling autonomous trucks to make safer, more intelligent decisions.... Read more →
Bosch presenting e-Bike digital battery lock at CES
06 January 2025
At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Bosch will present the Battery Lock: a function that ensures that the eBike battery can no longer be used if it is stolen, making it worthless to thieves. The new solution complements the digital theft protection portfolio in the smart system centred around eBike... Read more →
US Department of the Treasury releases final rules for clean hydrogen production tax credit; significant changes and flexibilities
06 January 2025
The US Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released final rules for the section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act. The final rules include significant changes and flexibilities that address several key issues to help grow the industry and move... Read more →
Greenstat Hydrogen India (GHI), a developer of green hydrogen and its derivatives, and H2Carrier, a pioneer in floating green ammonia production solutions, signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the development and deployment of green hydrogen and ammonia projects located in India and Sri Lanka. Under the MoU,... Read more →
Finish Thompson Inc. (FTI), a leader in pump manufacturing, is highlighting its Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) drum pumps, designed to meet the demands of modern Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems. These pumps offer reliability, compatibility, and versatility, making them suitable for a wide range of industrial settings. The PF Series... Read more →
Biden blocks US Steel acquisition by Nippon Steel
04 January 2025
Outgoing US President Biden has blocked the proposed acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel. (Earlier post.) A strong domestically owned and operated steel industry represents an essential national security priority and is critical for resilient supply chains. That is because steel powers our country: our infrastructure, our auto industry,... Read more →
On 30 December 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued four Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI well permits to Carbon TerraVault JV Storage Company Sub 1, LLC (CTV), a subsidiary of California Resources Corporation (CRC). Class VI UIC wells are used to inject carbon dioxide into deep rock... Read more →