Automaker Kia is Said to Be Reviewing Plans to Build EVs with Multiple Firms, Hinting at Ongoing Talks with Tech Giant Apple

South Korean automaker Kia Motors Corp. is reportedly reviewing plans from multiple foreign firms to work together on building self-driving electric cars, Reuters reported on Wednesday. In addition, Kia’s parent, Hyundai Motor Group, has decided that its Kia brand would be in charge of any proposed cooperation with Apple on electric cars, the sources said.

Trump Pardons Ex-Google Engineer Who Plead Guilty to Stealing Trade Secrets Related to Lidar Technology

In the final hours of his presidency, President Trump pardoned former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski who was one of most high profile engineers working on self-driving cars in Silicon Valley. Levandowski was accused of stealing trade secrets and other IP from Google then taking them to rival Uber in the days before his resignation. The U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal charges against Levandowski in Aug 2019 for the theft.

The Electric Mercedes-Benz EQA Crossover Will Make its Global Debut on Jan 20

The global unveil of the fully-electric Mercedes Benz EQA crossover is scheduled for January 20, 2021. Mercedes-Benz will introduce its electric crossover via an online event, which has become a standard practice in the industry because of the ongoing global pandemic.

Amazon-backed EV Startup Rivian Raises $2.6 Billion Led By T. Rowe Price

​Rivian, the electric vehicle startup backed by Amazon and Ford Motor Co announced Tuesday said it closed on a $2.65 billion investment round led by T. Rowe Price as the company moves closer to production of its R1T fully-electric pickup and companion R1S SUV. The company’s post-money valuation is now over $25 billion as Rivian looks to compete against trucks from Ford Motor Co and General Motors.

General Motors, Microsoft & Cruise to Work Together on the Development of Commercial Self-driving Vehicles

Cruise, General Motors and Microsoft have announced a long term strategic partnership on the accelerate the development of commercial self-driving vehicles. San Francisco-based Cruise is the self-driving subsidiary of GM. Microsoft and Cruise will bring their software, hardware and cloud computing capabilities to the partnership, while GM will provide is expertise in vehicle manufacturing at scale.

Audi to Build Electric Vehicles in China in a New Joint Venture with Automaker FAW Group

​German automaker Audi is expanding its presence in China, which is the world’s biggest auto market. Audi announced on Monday a new company with Chinese automaker FAW Group for the future production of electric vehicles in Changchun in the northeast of China. The new joint venture company is named Audi-FAW.

Newly Formed Auto Group 'Stellantis' Debuts on European Stock Markets, Shares Rise Nearly 8%

Shares of newly created auto conglomerate Stellantis NV began trading on the European stock markets in Paris and Milan on Monday and the new company is off to a strong start. Milan-listed shares of Stellantis started trading at 12.758 euros ($15.40) and rose nearly 8% to 13.55 euros ($16.36), giving the automaker a market cap of 39.2 billion euros ($47.3 billion).

Kia Gains a New Logo, Teases Upcoming Electric Vehicles

While most of the electric concepts are still shrouded in mystery, we’ve learned a little more information about the South Korea brand’s upcoming electric vehicles.

NHTSA Issues New Rules for Autonomous Cars to Skip Some Safety Standards

To bring autonomous vehicles to market quicker, the NHTSA has updated its rules to allow self-driving vehicles to skip specific federal crash safety requirements. The new rules only pertain to vehicles that won’t carry people.

General Motors Launches New Startup 'BrightDrop' for Electric Delivery Vehicles

The new startup company will focus on making electric delivery vehicles and offer other services to companies like FedEx and UPS.

China’s EV Startup Xpeng Unveils the Beta Version of its Advanced Self-Driving Feature Called ‘Navigation Guided Pilot’

Chinese EV startup and Tesla competitor Xpeng is one step closer to goal for self-driving cars. The company unveiled the beta version of its autonomous driving feature called Navigation Guided Pilot (NGP), which is similar to Tesla’s Autopilot and its Full Self-Driving feature. NGP is a key feature of Xpeng’s XPILOT 3.0 autonomous driving platform.

Automakers Are Scaling Back Production Due to Growing Semiconductor Shortages

There is a shortage of semiconductor and other electronic components for motor vehicles as auto sales rebound from the global pandemic. The global pandemic forced suppliers to scale back production, and the rising demand from automakers as auto sales rebound from the lows of 2020 is leading to chip shortages in the U.S. and Europe.

Tesla's More Affordable Standard Range Model Y is a Recipe for Success

​Electric automaker Tesla kicks off in the New Year by launching one of the most anticipated variants of its Model Y crossover. The Model Y has been on sale for almost a year now, but this is the first time that Tesla is offering a third-row 7-seat option for the electric crossover.

BMW’s ‘Digital Key Plus’ With Ultra-Wideband Technology is Coming to the Electric iX SUV

Automaker BMW announced that its new Digital Key Plus, which uses ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, will launch with the upcoming BMW iX​ for the Apple iPhone. It replaces the common RFID key fob for the vehicle. Apple’s U1 chip also supports ultra-wideband positioning, so the BMW iX and iPhone have the ability to determine each other's precise location once they are in close proximity.

HERE Technologies Creates Detailed 3D Models of 75 City Centers to Help Drivers Better Navigate

Mapping company HERE Technologies announced that it created highly detailed 3D models of 75 major cities centers around the world to help drivers find their way around. The models are called “HERE Premier 3D Cities” and are used to visualize cities in 3D. The 3D city models can be accessed via a vehicle's navigation system, giving drivers a real world view of their surroundings while traveling in dense urban areas.

General Motors Provides an Update on its Plans for a ‘Zero Emissions’ Electric Future at CES 2021

With its first new logo in 50 years unveiled last week, U.S. automaker General Motors is getting ready for its electrified future. GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra delivered the opening keynote at this year's virtual CES where she shared some updates on the company's vision of an electrified future. The automaker want to put everyone into an electric vehicle.

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.