Karma Automotive has announced forthcoming updates and shifts in its vehicle lineup, focusing on the use of extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrains. The company revealed that the Amaris, featuring a more potent iteration of Karma's EREV technology, aligns with its strategy to meet evolving market demands. Moreover, the Karma Gyesera, initially introduced as an EV, is set to debut later in 2025 as an EREV with updated styling, reflecting broader industry reassessment toward EVs, especi...

California-based Faraday Future (FF) recently hosted its inaugural Open AI Day at its Los Angeles headquarters, highlighting its AI strategy, products and technological innovations. The event, which drew AI experts, potential future talents and FF employees, marked the announcement of Future AIHER, a new subsidiary focused on the development and commercialization of AI extended range and AI hybrid extended-range electric powertrain systems. Future AIHER aims to provide solutions for FF and poten...

Mainland China has recorded strong growth in electric vehicle charging infrastructure in 2024 to support rapid electrification of the vehicle fleet in the country, China Daily reported Jan. 23, citing data from the National Energy Administration. The total number of charging facilities across the country increased 49% year over year, reaching 12.8 million units by the end of 2024. Total annual charging volume surpassed 100 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), representing year-over-year growth of 38...

As we approach the end of 2024, our Talking Heads series delves into conversations with the practice leads at AutoTechInsight. The aim is to explore the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in their respective domains. In 2024, the automotive sector faced a series of challenges that tested its adaptability. Supply chain disruptions, coupled with declining raw material costs like lithium, added to these difficulties. Amidst these challenges, manufacturers began pivoting toward plug-in h...

ZF has opened a new manufacturing plant in Shenyang, mainland China, the company said in a press release on Nov. 25. The new plant, called ZF Electric Mobility Systems (Shenyang) Co. Ltd., will produce advanced e-mobility products such as electric axle drives for new-energy vehicles (NEVs). The plant expands ZF’s capability to offer e-mobility solutions to its customers in the world’s largest electric vehicle market. The German supplier is installing new production lines and equipment at ...

Hyundai Motor has launched an electric vehicle charging subscription service for its customers in Indonesia. Starting Nov. 28, subscribers will have access to 518 chargers located at 288 charging stations throughout Indonesia, which are operated by Hyundai along with its EV partner companies. The subscription service, which can be accessed through Hyundai's smartphone app, offers different subscription plans including 50-kWh, 100-kWh and 250-kWh options. Once the limit of the chosen subscript...

A US Geological Survey (USGS)-led study has identified vast lithium reserves located beneath southwestern Arkansas, US, according to a press note issued by the USGS on Oct. 21. USGS, which deployed a combination of water-testing and machine learning models in identifying the valuable lithium reserves, estimates between 5 million and 19 million metric tons of lithium reserves located beneath southwestern Arkansas. “If commercially recoverable, the amount of lithium present would meet pr...

Stellantis has invested $29.5 million in its research and technical center in Auburn Hills, Mich., to introduce Moving Ground Plane (MGP) technology to reduce drag and boost the range of electric vehicles, the automaker said in a press release on Oct. 23. The upgraded wind tunnel at the technical center now offers the capacity to measure and reduce airflow resistance from wheels and tires, which is responsible for up to 10% of total real-world aerodynamic drag, and improves the aerodyn...

JSW Group, an India-based steel manufacturer that ventured into the automobile business with acquisition of a 35% stake in MG Motor India, is targeting to expand its battery-cells manufacturing capacity to 50 GWh between 2028 and 2030, Autocar Professional reported Oct. 4. The company's strategy involves a phased approach, starting with reaching a 10-GWh manufacturing capacity by 2026, followed by an ambitious scale-up to 50 GWh. In February, JSW Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MO...

Ford is exploring the possibility of producing electric vehicles at its Chennai plant in Tamil Nadu, India, marking a significant shift in its operational strategy in India, three years after it announced closing its local factories. However, the automaker is yet to decide on what it will manufacture in India, the world's third largest automotive market after mainland China and the US. “If you go by trend, the investors that come into Tamil Nadu over the past few years have brought their EV...

Kia has inaugurated Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, the first dedicated manufacturing plant of Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) for producing electric vehicles, in South Korea. The new plant, located at Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul, will have an annual production capacity of 150,000 EVs. The plant has already commenced production of the Kia EV3, with plans to introduce the EV4 in 2025. This transformation from an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle plant to an EV production hub alig...

Dutch company AMG has inaugurated the first lithium refinery plant in Europe, situated in the eastern German region of Bitterfeld-Wolfen. The new facility is poised to produce 20,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide annually, which is estimated to meet the battery supply needs of approximately half a million electric vehicles. This refinery marks the first step, with plans to extend the site's capacity to 100,000 metric tons annually through an additional four modules. “With t...

Kia America has announced that it will provide North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapters for its EV6 and EV9 models, enhancing the charging options for its customers in North America. Beginning Sept. 4, buyers of the model year 2024 or 2025 Kia EV9 or the 2024 Kia EV6 have started receiving an NACS adapter as complimentary, enabling them to connect to more than 16,500 Superchargers operated by Tesla across the US. For customers who purchased their vehicles before this date,...

General Motors (GM) has announced a significant expansion of its electric vehicle charging capabilities by providing its customers with access to over 17,800 Tesla Superchargers across the US and Canada. This initiative is facilitated through the use of a GM-approved North American Charging Standard (NACS) DC adapter, enabling GM EV drivers to easily find, charge and pay for charging sessions using GM vehicle brand apps. With this addition, GM EV owners will now have access to more ...

Tata Group has so far invested 9.5 billion Indian rupees (about $113.1 million) in its battery manufacturing subsidiary, Agratas, ETAuto reported Sept. 9, citing the latest report of Tata Sons. Agratas is focusing on developing advanced manufacturing capabilities to support the shift to cleaner energy solutions, especially electromobility. Agratas is working on setting up battery manufacturing plants in India and the UK. The company plans to build a 40-GWh gigafactory on the Gravity...

Minda Corp. has signed a technology licensing agreement with mainland China-based company Sanco Connecting Technology to offer electrical distribution systems solutions for the Indian electric vehicle market, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported Sept. 4. Under the agreement, the two partners will locally develop EV connecting systems, charging gun assemblies with sockets and accessories, bus bars, cell contact systems, power distribution units and battery distribution units. The collaborat...

After a decade of unannounced efforts, Apple has reportedly abandoned Project Titan, its ambitious plan to develop electric vehicles. Initially, the project aimed to create an EV to rival Tesla, later shifting focus toward a self-driving car to compete with Google's Waymo. However, it eventually returned to its original focus: An EV with driving-assistance features. As a result, some of its 2,000 employees will transition to Apple's AI division, though layoffs are expected.  In the lates...

In this S&P Global Mobility interview with Franco Cimatti, chief engineering officer of Aehra, a Milan-based start-up, he discusses the company's clean-sheet approach to designing battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). He also touches on Aehra's positioning, differentiation in the ultra-premium electric vehicle market, the transition from hybrids to full EV solutions, and their partnerships for carbon fiber and battery technology. The discussion delves into Aehra's vision for EV charging, bidirec...

Those who think it is a case of job done in terms of action on climate change for the auto industry, in the wake of the industry’s rapid adoption of electric vehicles, need to think again. We were gently reminded of this when the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in its recently released yearbook, highlighted that although businesses, investors and governments are stepping up to take climate action in greater numbers than ever before, it is not enough. The applica...

Vishay Intertechnology has opened a new manufacturing facility in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico, it said in a press release dated September 7. Initially, the plant will mass-produce power inductors, including electronic components that store and manage energy for handheld devices, computers and automotive electronics. The company has equipment and production lines set up at Vishay La Laguna. It is currently conducting internal and international standards qualifications to allow for the manu...

A report by Nikkei Asia dated July 24 said Japanese metal-maker Proterial has developed a prototype motor for electric vehicles that uses magnets which do not contain the rare-earth metal neodymium. Neodymium magnets are the most common type currently employed in EV motors, but since the main source of the rare earth is China, stable procurement has been an issue. The new magnet is mainly composed of ferrite. Tests of the prototype have confirmed that the motor output necessary for EVs can ...

The Canadian Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA) debuted its Project Arrow electric vehicle (EV) concept at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to a report published by CBC News on January 5, 2023. Project Arrow is a high-tech concept car designed to demonstrate the Canadian auto industry's capacity to build EVs. It was created with the help of over fifty local suppliers. The only non-Canadian component on the Arrow is the vehicle'...

WeRide, a company engaged in Level 4 autonomous driving has announced that it has recently obtained the permit for road tests of intelligent connected vehicles in Shenzhen and the permit for demonstration application of intelligent connected vehicles in Shenzhen, according to WeRide’s WeChat press release on 15 December 2022. WeRide will be able to carry out the first human demonstration operation of the micro-circulation shuttle of mass-produced autonomous driving mini-buses in Nanshan Dis...

Sumitomo Rubber Industries announced via press release on 22 August that it had begun supplying its high-performance FALKEN “ZIEX ZE310A ECORUN” tires for factory fitment on Nissan’s new X-Trail. According to the press release, the ZIEX ZE310A feature the following: Outstanding drive performance alongside refined ride comfort A tread pattern that ensures consistent contact pressure for lower rolling resistance A lightweight design for all-around environmental friendliness ...

Toyota and KDDI Corporation have entered into a new business and capital alliance to strengthen their long-term partnership, the two companies said in a joint press release on 30 October. As part of the new business alliance, Toyota and KDDI will work on new initiatives that go beyond the realm of their core businesses of mobility and telecommunication. The two partners will jointly conduct research and development (R&D) on telecommunication platforms that enable communications between peopl...