Tesla's Chinese Battery Supplier CATL Unveils a Sodium-ion Battery, a Major Breakthrough for EVs

Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) on Thursday unveiled the company’s first-generation sodium-ion battery. The batteries are a new solution for the auto industry. CATL’s first generation of sodium-ion batteries have high-energy density, fast-charging capability, excellent thermal stability, as well as excellent low-temperature performance.

The Founder & Former CEO of Fuel Cell Truck Startup Nikola Corp Indicted for Misleading Investors

Trevor Milton, the founder and former CEO of fuel cell truck startup Nikola Corp, has been indicted for deceiving investors and is facing criminal charges for making false and misleading statements, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Thursday. Prosecutors in New York charged Milton with two counts of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud over his statements from Nov 2019 to Sept 2020 about Nikola's products and technology.

LG Electronics & Magna International Finalize Agreement for New ePowertrain Joint Venture That’s Linked to the Secretive ‘Apple Car’ Project

South Korean manufacturer LG Electronics has finalized its new joint venture agreement with automotive supplier Magna International Inc. that will develop e-powertrains and other components for electric vehicles. The new company is named “LG Magna e-Powertrain" and it was linked to Apple Inc's secretive "Apple Car" project in April.

Tesla is Moving its Retail Showrooms Out of Upscale Shopping Centers, According to Sources

Electric automaker Tesla plans to shutter many its vehicle showrooms in upscale shopping centers around the U.S. Instead, the automaker plans to focus more on remote work for its retail staff and online vehicle deliveries and sales. For struggling mall owners, it’s a devastating blow, as the electric automaker is one of the world’s most widely recognized companies.

Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell Trucks Hitting the Road in California in the Largest Deployment of the Technology in the U.S.

Hyundai Motor Co announced that its fuel cell-powered XCIENT trucks are hitting the road in California as part of two publicly-funded projects in the state to improve air quality. Hyundai plans to deploy 30 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks in Northern California by early 2023 as part of its public and private partnerships in the U.S. It will be the largest commercial deployment of Class 8 hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks in the U.S.

Electric-Only Ride-Hailing Startup Revel Gets Approval to Deploy its Fleet of Tesla Model Ys in New York City on Aug 2

New York-based electric-only ride-hailing startup Revel Transit has been given the green light by city officials to launch its fleet of Tesla Model Ys and begin picking up paying customers beginning on Aug 2. The service will give both Uber and Lyft some new competition in New York, the most populous city in the U.S. It also offers a greener transportation option.

Ford Unveils the Mach-E Extended Range RWD SE Model for the China Market, its Second Subsidized EV

Ford has announced that it will add a new long-range RWD SE variant to its Mustang Mach-E line-up in China with prices starting at 282,000 yuan ($43,450). It’s lower price tag means it qualifies for state-led subsidies in the country for the purchase of an electric vehicle.

Lucid Motors Debuts on the Nasdaq and Raises $4.4 Billion as its Looks to Take on Tesla

​California-based luxury electric vehicle startup Lucid Motors launched its U.S. IPO on Monday after completing the previously announced merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Churchill Capital Corp IV on July 23, 2021. The combined company will now operate as “Lucid Group, Inc.” Lucid is one of the most talked about electric vehicle startups since Tesla went public in June 2010.

General Motors Files Lawsuit Against Rival Ford for Naming its New Autonomous Driving Feature ‘BlueCruise’

General Motors and its autonomous driving arm Cruise LLC have filed a lawsuit to stop rival Ford Motor Co from using the name "BlueCruise" for its new autonomous driving feature that offers hands-free driving on highways. General Motors’ autonomous driving system is called “Super Cruise” and the automaker claims that Ford’s calling its autonomous driving feature BlueCruise infringes on its trademark.

Honda Ditches Plan for Tackling EVs Alone, Embraces Partnerships

Honda once planned to pursue electric vehicles on its own, but has quickly learned that the strategy won’t work and is now looking for help.

Tesla Full Self Driving Subscription Priced at $199 Per Month

Instead of paying $10,000 upfront, Tesla customers can now pay a subscription fee of $199 per month to access the automaker’s advanced driver-assist features.

Tesla Plans to Let Other EVs Use its Superchargers

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted at the prospect of letting non-Tesla electric vehicles use the automaker’s Supercharger network for years, but it sounds like it’s officially happening before the end of 2021.

General Motors Issues Recall for 69,000 Chevy Bolt EVs Due to Battery Fire Risk

General Motors announced on Friday that it is issuing a second recall for roughly 69,000 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide for fire risks after reports of two battery fires. In the interim, the automaker has asked owners to charge their vehicle after each use and avoid depleting the battery below approximately 70 miles of remaining range, where possible, to reduce the risk of a fire.

Luxury-Electric Automaker Lucid Motors to Launch its Much-Anticipated IPO Next Week

The shareholders of special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Churchill Capital Corp IV have approved its merger with luxury electric vehicle startup and Tesla challenger Lucid Motors, paving the way for the company’s much anticipated IPO next week. Shares of Lucid Motors will list on the Nasdaq beginning on Monday July 26, 2021.

Toyota Debuts its New Driver Companion & AI Virtual Assistant That's Powered By Google Cloud

Toyota Motor Corp announced its new Driver Companion and digital owners manual, which features a AI-powered voice-activated virtual assistant the automaker calls “Joya” to help drivers learn all about the features and controls of their vehicle. The interactive app, which replaces the printed owners manual, is powered by Google Cloud

Luxury Brand Mercedes-Benz to Go All-Electric by 2030

​German luxury automaker Mercedes Benz has ramped up its electrification plans and announced it will only produce fully-electric vehicles by 2030. For a company that invented the automobile way back in 1886, the switch to electric marks the end of an era for Mercedes Benz but the start of a new one.

XPeng Motors Valued at Over $8.4 Billion Files for U.S. IPO, the Company is Backed by Alibaba and Xiaomi

As existing shareholders continue to increase investments in EVs and related technologies, new participants are optimistic about China's growing electric vehicle market. As a result, electric vehicle startup XPeng Motors has strong financial backing and stamina for future development. The company has cash reserves of 8.2 billion yuan (US$1.19 billion), and is ramping up its investment in R&D.