In Q2 2022, Tesla produced more than 258,000 electric vehicles and delivered more than 254,000, despite ongoing supply chain challenges and factory shutdowns beyond the company’s control. June 2022 was the highest vehicle production month in Tesla’s history; deliveries were down 18% from the first quarter. Production Deliveries Subject to... Read more →

Volvo Cars will build a third manufacturing plant in Europe, positioning the company well to meet the continued demand from its customers for electric cars and capture future growth potential. The new plant will be climate-neutral and build only electric cars, underpinning the company’s ambition to become fully electric by... Read more →

Ford has executed a definitive binding full-form offtake agreement with Australia-based Liontown Resources for the supply of up to 150,000 dry metric tonnes (DMT) per annum of spodumene concentrate—a source of lithium essential in key EV battery chemistries. The spodumene concentrate will come from Liontown’s flagship 100%-owned Kathleen Valley Lithium... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz is aligning its global production network to manufacture its reshaped product portfolio focused on luxury electric vehicles as the brand prepares to go all electric by the end of the decade—wherever market conditions allow. The future product portfolio will focus on three categories: Top End Luxury, Core Luxury and... Read more →

Renault Group and Atos have launched ID@scale (Industrial Data @ Scale), a new service for industrial data collection to support manufacturing companies in their digital journey towards Industry 4.0. “ID@S” (Industrial Data @ Scale) will allow manufacturers to collect and structure data from industrial equipment at scale to improve operational... Read more →

Volkswagen revealed the ID. AERO concept electric sedan in China as a foretaste of the brand’s first global fully-electric sedan. The future model will be positioned in the premium mid-size sedan segment. The production version for China is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2023. Volkswagen... Read more →

Stellantis has made a €50-million equity investment in lithium producer Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. and extended the original binding lithium hydroxide offtake agreement (earlier post) to 2035. With the resultant 8% shareholding, Stellantis will become the second-largest shareholder in Vulcan. The equity investment will go towards Vulcan’s planned production expansion... Read more →

Ford in Europe has chosen its plant in Valencia, Spain, as the preferred site to assemble vehicles based on a next-generation electric vehicle architecture. Pending product approval, the Valencia plant could produce the electric and connected vehicles beginning later this decade. Ford is also moving forward with a $2-billion conversion... Read more →

Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, a{announced} that GAC Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. (GAC Honda), a Honda automobile production and sales joint venture in China, began construction of its new EV plant, taking a forward step in establishing a suitable EV production system and... Read more →

Nissan and Wallbox, a leading provider of electric vehicle charging solutions, are working together to deliver Nissan electric vehicle owners a seamless one-stop shop solution for their home charging needs. Starting in early July, Nissan EV owners nationwide will be able to purchase Wallbox's Pulsar Plus level 2 home charger... Read more →

Monolith, an AI software platform used by the world’s leading automotive, aerospace and industrial engineering teams from Siemens to Honeywell, announced that engineering teams at the BMW Group are using its software to accelerate the development of their vehicles. By training Monolith self-learning models with the company’s engineering test data,... Read more →

Sony Group Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. signed a joint venture agreement to establish a new company to engage in the sale of high-value-added electric vehicles (EVs) and provide services for mobility. The announcement is the furtherance and result of discussion of a strategic alliance in the mobility field... Read more →

Honda Motor announced the establishment of Striemo Inc., the second business venture to originate from IGNITION, Honda’s new business creation program. Striemo Inc. has been developing a one-person, three-wheeled electric micro-mobility product, also named “Striemo,” which features an original balance assist mechanism that enables stable riding with less likelihood of... Read more →

Porsche is expanding its venturing network by collaborating with UP.Labs, a new model for fostering innovative startups. The Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer has agreed with the US company on a three-year cooperation aimed at establishing six companies from 2023 to 2025 with new business models in various areas of mobility.... Read more →

Buick is committing to an all-electric portfolio by the end of the decade. In support of General Motors’ vision of a zero-emissions, all-electric future, Buick will bring its first electric vehicle to market for North America in 2024. Buick’s future EV products will carry the Electra name, drawing inspiration from... Read more →

Toyota is expanding its 2023 Corolla lineup with four new Hybrid grades, including a more powerful hybrid system and available all-wheel drive. Toyota is also expanding its Corolla Cross family with the first hybrid model in that lineup. Corolla Hybrid. The Corolla Hybrid LE FWD is gaining four new siblings:... Read more →

Volvo Cars is the first car maker to sign up to the SteelZero initiative, which aims to increase demand for fossil-free steel and accelerate a transition to carbon neutrality in the global steel industry. As well as a long-term commitment to procure 100% fossil-free steel by 2050, SteelZero signatories also... Read more →

Toyota Motor North America (Toyota) announced that its Michigan-based production development teams have been modifying Indiana-produced 2022 Sienna minivans, adding a vehicle control interface, to create a new vehicle platform compatible with third-party autonomous driving kits and sensors (“Autono”) for use in Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) applications. The resulting vehicle is called... Read more →

BMW i Ventures has invested in Vendia’s $30-million Series B funding round after having invested in Vendia’s Series A in 2021. The round was led by NewView Capital, with new investment from the Neythri Futures Fund, Operator Partners, and Lux Capital. The funding also includes additional investment from Neotribe Ventures,... Read more →

Futaba Town, Namie Town, AEON TOHOKU Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) are partnering to establish a mobile retail business that uses a fuel cell vehicle in specified reconstruction and revitalization bases. Futaba and Namie are both in Fukushima Prefecture, and were evacuated following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power... Read more →

Stellantis N.V. and Toyota Motor Europe N.V. (TME) announced the expansion of their existing partnership with an agreement for a new large-size commercial van, including a battery electric version. The new vehicle marks the third body type under the agreement, completing a full LCV line-up, with compact-, mid- and now... Read more →

The BMW Group has opened a new automated steel pressing facility at the company’s Swindon (UK) plant. The new press will produce steel panels for the MINI plant in Oxford at twice the rate of the old equipment which it replaces, with the steel blanks and finished panels handled by... Read more →

Volvo Cars successfully placed its second green bond to raise €500 million from a diverse set of global investors. The bond was oversubscribed three-times, despite challenging global market conditions. All proceeds are earmarked for funding and accelerating the company’s transformation towards becoming a fully electric carmaker by 2030 and becoming... Read more →

The BMW Group will open its Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CCMC) in the fall. With the emmission control approval procedure now completed, the necessary conditions are in place for commissioning of near-standard production of lithium-ion battery cells at the competence center in Parsdorf, outside of Munich. In an area spanning... Read more →

Daimler Truck AG will become a major anchor shareholder in German high-tech engineering company Manz AG through a capital increase of around 10%, subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities. In addition, in a first step both companies have signed a cooperation agreement on a strategic partnership to establish... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) reaffirmed its commitment to expand investment in the US to further its goal to provide sustainable and smart mobility solutions to its US. The Group’s plans, which involve an investment of more than US$10 billion, are designed to accelerate innovation and mobility electrification. Last week, Hyundai... Read more →

Volkswagen is expanding its global production network for electric vehicles by now starting to make the all-electric ID.4 in Emden. Emden is now the second site for electric vehicles in Germany following Zwickau and also joins the Chinese plants in Anting and Foshan. Chattanooga (ID.4) and Hanover will also commence... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) entered into an agreement with the State of Georgia to build its first dedicated full electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the US. The new EV plant and battery manufacturing facilities represent an investment of approximately US$5.54 billion. Non-affiliated Hyundai Motor Group suppliers will invest... Read more →

Volkswagen and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) are exploring the use of MEB electric components for Mahindra’s new “Born Electric Platform”. Both signed a Partnering Agreement on 18 May to evaluate the scope of collaboration. Mahindra intends to equip its “Born Electric Platform” with MEB electric components such as electric... Read more →

ŠKODA AUTO has started manufacturing battery systems for all-electric vehicles based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB) in Mladá Boleslav. This makes the car manufacturer’s main plant the only production facility for MEB battery systems in Europe outside Germany. Around 250 employees will soon be assembling more than... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz will work with Sila, a next-generation battery materials company (earlier post), to incorporate Sila's silicon anode chemistry in batteries which are optionally available for the first time in the upcoming electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class. This will add another innovative cell chemistry to the Mercedes-Benz battery portfolio. The innovative high-silicon anode... Read more →

The Board of Directors of Renault Group unanimously approved the signing of agreements to sell 100% of Renault Group’s shares in Renault Russia to Moscow City entity and its 67.69% interest in AVTOVAZ to NAMI (the Central Research and Development Automobile and Engine Institute). The closing of these transactions is... Read more →

Urban Production is an international architecture competition organized by the BMW Group in close cooperation with the City of Munich. The aim is to realize outstanding, future-ready production in the urban setting of the company’s home plant in Munich. The competition has now finished successfully, with the two winning architects’... Read more →

Volkswagen Group will launch an all-electric pick-up and rugged SUV (“R-SUV”) in the United States. The decision of the Board of Management was confirmed by the Supervisory Board of the Volkswagen Group earlier this week. The vehicles will be designed, engineered, and manufactured in the US for American customers. To... Read more →

Daimler Buses aims to offer locally CO2-neutral vehicles based on batteries and hydrogen in every segment by 2030. The initial focus will be on the core markets of Europe and Latin America. By 2039, only locally CO2-neutral new vehicles are to be sold in the core market of Europe. In... Read more →

Nikola Corporation announced that an institutional investor has agreed to make a $200-million investment in Nikola through the purchase of Convertible Senior Notes. Funds advised by Antara Capital LP have agreed to purchase $200 million aggregate amount of 8.00% / 11.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026. The Notes will bear... Read more →

BMW’s iFACTORY production strategy defines the future orientation of plants and production technologies at the BMW Group and meets the challenges of the transformation to e-mobility. Automotive manufacturing of the future requires a new, holistic way of thinking. With our BMW iFACTORY, we are leading the way and setting new... Read more →

Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) introduced nine new projects being launched as part of the next phase of its automotive safety research, backed by the new five-year, $30-million commitment announced last year. The new research projects, announced during a virtual CSRC media event showcasing safer mobility, will examine the... Read more →

Kia revealed the Niro Plus, its first purpose-built vehicle (PBV). Kia is exploring diverse ways to help people and businesses move beyond traditional automotive, and the company expects its PBV models to be an important part of future mobility. The Kia Niro Plus will be deployed as a general model... Read more →

Ford has begun full production of F-150 Lightning electric pickup at the ultra-modern Rouge Electric Vehicle Center within Ford’s historic Rouge Complex. Ford has 200,000 reservations for the Lightning and is expanding the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center to ramp up production to a planned annual run rate of 150,000 in... Read more →

Toyota Motor Europe’s (TME) first quarter sales volume of 284,506 vehicles showed a marginal change of -1% year-on-year while outperforming the total market, which declined by -14%. Across the same period, TME achieved its best first-quarter market share of 7.6%, an increase of +1% point year-on-year. The strong demand for... Read more →

Faulty car windows often go in the recycling bin when the cracked part cannot be fixed. A closed material circuit does not yet exist for damaged car glass. This is where Audi and its partner companies Reiling Glas Recycling, Saint-Gobain Glass, and Saint-Gobain Sekurit are now doing pioneering work as... Read more →

Subaru of America, Inc. announced pricing on its first all-electric SUV, the 2023 Subaru Solterra (earlier post). The 2023 Solterra is offered in three trim levels, Premium, Limited, and Touring, and will begin arriving in limited numbers at Subaru retailers this summer. Pricing for the 2023 Solterra starts at $44,995... Read more →

Nissan announced a new driver-assistance technology, which is currently in-development, that utilizes highly accurate, real-time information about the vehicle’s surrounding environment to enhance collision avoidance significantly. At a Nissan facility in Yokohama, a test vehicle demonstrated how this technology can automatically perform collision-avoidance maneuvers. ProPILOT Concept Zero test vehicle Nissan’s... Read more →

Four key Hyundai Motor Group affiliate companies—Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor), Kia Corporation (Kia), Hyundai Mobis, and Hyundai Wia—are now members of Climate Group’s RE100, a global initiative committed to large corporates moving toward 100% renewable electricity. All four affiliates join more than 350 other global firms in the initiative,... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE), in coordination with General Motors (GM) and MathWorks, announced the launch of the EcoCAR Electric Vehicle (EV) Challenge, a collegiate research and experimental learning competition that challenges hundreds of students to engineer novel technologies for battery electric vehicles through a combined $6-million investment. GM... Read more →

Aston Martin announced its new sustainability strategy, Racing.Green. Launched on Earth Day, Racing.Green. formalizes core principles, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, that reflect Aston Martin’s established approach to sustainability and sets new targets across all aspects of the business. The company is joining a list of companies committing... Read more →

Audi has unveiled plans for the Audi urbansphere concept car. Designers and engineers initially created the Audi urbansphere for use in traffic-dense Chinese megacities, although the concept is also suitable for any other metropolitan center in the world. In these urban areas, where personal space is in particularly short supply,... Read more →

The Lincoln Star Concept made its global debut, hinting at the brand’s design language for its future electric vehicles. By mid-decade, Lincoln plans to deliver three new fully electric vehicles, meaning that more than half of its global volume will be zero emissions vehicles, and it will add a fourth... Read more →

BMW unveiled the seventh generation of its 7 Series, including the first all-electric i7 XDrive60. (Earlier post.) Three models are available at launch, including the i7 EV. The 2023 BMW 740i is powered by a thoroughly upgraded version of the iconic B58 3-liter TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder engine. Now dubbed... Read more →