Author: News Desk

Nissan Motor is planning to launch its e-POWER hybrid vehicles in South Africa as a transitional step between conventional petrol engines and fully electric vehicles (EVs), according to a Reuters report. The move comes amid challenges such as affordability concerns, high import taxes, and infrastructure gaps, including limited power supply and inadequate EV charging facilities are hindering Africa’s automotive sector. Nissan’s e-POWER hybrids, which feature a small gasoline engine working alongside an electric motor, have already been launched in markets like Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt. The automaker believes this technology, which uses a gasoline engine to generate electricity that powers…

Toyota Motor plans to start manufacturing two electric SUV models at its Kentucky facility in the U.S., while discontinuing the production of the Lexus luxury sedan at the same facility, a company spokesperson said Wednesday. Toyota declared earlier this year that it intends to produce two completely new, three-row electric SUVs in the United States. Initially planned to manufacture the vehicles at its Princeton, Indiana plant, the automaker revealed last month that both models will instead be assembled at the Kentucky facility. According to a source, the upcoming electric vehicles will be based on the RAV4 and Land Cruiser models.…

Lucid has confirmed its third midsize EV, priced at approximately $50,000 and built on the Gravity X all-terrain SUV platform. The upcoming model will include enhanced off-road capabilities and a high-end interior finish. The move reflects the company’s ongoing effort to strengthen its position in the EV market, using a new platform designed to cut costs and expand the vehicle lineup. At the Munich Motor Show this week, Lucid’s interim CEO Marc Winterhoff confirmed the upcoming $50,000 EV and emphasized that it will incorporate design elements from the Gravity X concept. Introduced last month, the Gravity X (short for Gravity…

Volkswagen revealed on Tuesday at the IAA Mobility Show that it will invest up to €1 billion ($1.18 billion) by 2030 to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) across its operations, to enhance manufacturing efficiency and strengthen digital resilience. The AI investment is aimed at integrating machine learning across all areas of the company’s operations, from IT to industrial and engineering functions. The automaker will expand its use of artificial intelligence in vehicle development, IT infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Volkswagen currently operates over 1,200 AI applications, with several hundred more either in development or close to deployment. The automaker’s Collaboration with Dassault Systèmes…

South Korea’s LG Chem declared on Tuesday that Toyota Tsusho Corporation, a subsidiary of Japan’s automotive giant Toyota Motor Corporation, has purchased a 25% stake in its cathode active material plant in Gumi to expand the battery materials partnership. LG Chem continues to hold a majority stake in the plant, operating under the name LG-HY BCM Company, with 51% maintaining its position as the principal shareholder. Toyota Tsusho is now the second-largest shareholder, following the sale of a 25% stake by China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Company, which lowered its share from 49% to 24%. After the reduction of the Chinese…

Rimac Technology, a subsidiary of the Rimac Group specializing in automotive components, has introduced a revolutionary solid-state battery pack for electric vehicles. At the IAA Mobility event on Monday, the Croatian company showcased production-ready solid-state batteries, along with new hybrid and Evo formats, and next-generation e-axles capable of delivering exceptional torque performance. Developed in partnership with ProLogium and Mitsubishi Chemical Group, the solid-state battery system aims to push the limits of energy density and safety. Rimac’s ‘Next-Gen’ battery is believed to offer a 100 kWh capacity and an impressive energy density of 260 Wh/kg. Notably, it can charge from 10%…

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new GLC electric SUV, marking the brand’s first fully electric SUV variant for the U.S. market. Since its U.S. debut in 2015, the GLC has remained a cornerstone of the Mercedes-Benz lineup and one of its most consistently top-selling luxury SUVs. The model now moves into the next phase, featuring EQ Technology. The GLC with EQ Technology serves as a natural successor to the EQC. Unlike the previous EQC, the GLC EQ is built from the ground up as a dedicated electric vehicle (EV), rather than being adapted from an existing internal combustion engine (ICE) platform.…

Volkswagen has just unveiled its ID. Cross Concept electric car at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, ahead of the show’s official opening. The concept previews the next addition to the brand’s all-electric ID family, with the production model expected to launch in 2026. The ID. Cross signals Volkswagen’s strategic move into the fast-growing, affordable electric SUV segment, reinforcing the company’s commitment to electrification. Positioned as the all-electric successor to the popular T-Cross, the ID. Cross builds on the legacy of its internal combustion counterpart, which has already secured a strong foothold in the compact SUV market. The ID. Cross is…

The Canadian government has postponed its EV sales mandate by one year to review the program. Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday pushed back the policy, which originally required 20% of all new vehicles sold in Canada by 2026 to be electric. The target will now be delayed by a year, while Carney initiates a 60-day review of the EV program to explore ways to improve its cost-effectiveness. The decision is one of several actions the government revealed on Friday to support industries that were hit hard by tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The government had outlined plans…

The Trump administration is relaxing federal safety regulations for self-driving vehicles by eliminating standards initially created for manually operated vehicles, aiming to fast-track the adoption of autonomous technology. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean P. Duffy said on Thursday that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) intends to introduce three proposed rules by spring 2026 aimed at updating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for vehicles equipped with automated driving systems. The proposed changes would specifically ease requirements that currently hinder vehicles without manual controls, such as gear shift levers, defroster buttons, or certain lighting features, from being…