Author: Eve Stevens

Rolls Royce develops 100 highly bespoke EVs for super-rich clientele

Rolls Royce develops 100 highly bespoke EVs for super-rich clientele

Posted by | Apr 14, 2026 | , |

In the world of the super-wealthy, hyper-personalisation ensures ultimate exclusivity, promising a completely unique driving experience that sometimes even money cannot buy. This is the strategy that Rolls-Royce is banking on when it comes to its luxury EV segment, pledging to produce just 100 highly bespoke vehicles for a small number of super-rich customers.

These custom-built, two-seater vehicles will be developed alongside clients in a four-year-long process that began back in 2024. 

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UK automotive industry expects £4.6 billion uplift by 2030, new predictions suggest

UK automotive industry expects £4.6 billion uplift by 2030, new predictions suggest

Posted by | Apr 13, 2026 | , , |

According to the latest report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the UK automotive industry could deliver a £4.6 billion injection to the UK economy by 2030.  

The uplift is driven by the UK’s commitment to ban the sale of all new petrol vehicles by 2035, a decision that is pushing automotive manufacturers towards electric vehicles with prescriptive rule of origin laws. Much like EU content laws, the UK government will offer preferential trade conditions for cars that exceed a threshold for UK or EU manufactured content.  

The SMMT forecasts that this strategy will increase demand for UK-made parts by 80% by 2030, providing considerable opportunities for investment and a healthy boost to domestic supply chains.  

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Government backs 8 projects to drive UK autonomous mobility sector

Government backs 8 projects to drive UK autonomous mobility sector

Posted by | Apr 10, 2026 | , , |

Eight autonomous projects have received funding from a UK government-backed initiative aimed at driving the progress of autonomous solutions in the emerging UK market.

The eight projects, announced yesterday, will receive financial backing from the government-backed £150 million CAM Pathfinder programme, as part of the Feasibility Studies 2 competition. The funding marks a significant step in advancing the country’s Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) industry—already valued at £3.7 billion.

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GM’s electrification long game: The Detroit automaker still banking on EVs

GM’s electrification long game: The Detroit automaker still banking on EVs

Posted by | Apr 9, 2026 | , |

As many U.S. automakers walk back on their ambitious EV targets, General Motors Co. is remaining steadfast in its commitment to expand its electric segment. Since the end of the federal EV tax credit and the rollback of fuel economy regulations, the U.S. EV industry has been clouded by uncertainty.

More recently, soaring gas prices , driven in part by the Iran War, have exposed the vulnerability of an economy built on fuel-intensive ICE engines. Against this backdrop, many automakers are turning to hybrid powertrains in an effort to meet market demands and remain profitable in an unpredictable market.

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Trump administration denies Ford tariff relief despite aluminium supply disruption

Trump administration denies Ford tariff relief despite aluminium supply disruption

Posted by | Apr 8, 2026 | , |

It has been over a year since President Trump announced a sweeping suite of country-by-country tariffs on imported foreign goods. After many reversals, walk-backs, and changes of mind, some industries have emerged largely untouched by these unpredictable and, at times, erratic shifts in trade and foreign policy.

For industries that rely on steel, aluminium, or semiconductors—of which automotive is one—the story is different. Owing to Section 232, materials deemed critical to matters of national security are subject to Trump’s high and unwavering tariffs.

A year after “liberation day,” many OEMs are calling for a reappraisal of Trump’s stringent tariffs due to mounting pressure caused by aluminium supply disruptions. Among these is legacy automaker Ford, which, under the leadership of CEO Jim Farley, has been vocal in its opposition to import tariffs.

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NHTSA drops investigation into Tesla’s “Actually Smart Summon” autonomy

NHTSA drops investigation into Tesla’s “Actually Smart Summon” autonomy

Posted by | Apr 7, 2026 | , |

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has closed its investigation into Tesla’s divisive “Actually Smart Summon” feature, an autonomous system that allows vehicles to collect passengers from parking lots or garages remotely using an app. 

The feature requires the passenger to select a location within a short radius and claims to be able to navigate out of tight parking spaces or from the other side of a busy car park to collect waiting riders. 

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Volvo begins testing hydrogen-powered long haul trucks in multipronged decarbonization effort

Volvo begins testing hydrogen-powered long haul trucks in multipronged decarbonization effort

Posted by | Apr 2, 2026 | , |

Volvo Trucks is making headway in its mission to decarbonize the heavy transport segment, beginning on-road testing of its hydrogen combustion engine trucks. Rather than relying on a single solution, the company aims to reduce emissions across its operations through a combination of electrification, green hydrogen technology and other renewable fuels.

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Baidu robotaxi malfunction causes disruption on the streets of Wuhan

Baidu robotaxi malfunction causes disruption on the streets of Wuhan

Posted by | Apr 1, 2026 | , |

On Tuesday, disruption was reported on the streets of Wuhan following a malfunction in Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi fleet.

Videos on social media captured the vehicles as they stopped in the middle of lanes of traffic, with passengers trapped inside. Some of the footage appears to show a vehicle involved in a highway collision, although police reports suggest no one was injured during the incident.

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Wayve rolls out autonomous robotaxi trails in the UK capital and MOVEmnt is invited

Wayve rolls out autonomous robotaxi trails in the UK capital and MOVEmnt is invited

Posted by | Mar 31, 2026 | , , |

Earlier this month, the MOVE team had the opportunity to test drive one of Wayve’s autonomous vehicles and experience their Level 3 autonomous technology in real time.

Following their landmark $1.5 billion investment round, we caught up with the Wayve team to learn how the UK start-up is positioning itself as a serious contender in London’s robotaxi race.

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Will surging oil prices reignite EV demand amid the Iran conflict?

Will surging oil prices reignite EV demand amid the Iran conflict?

Posted by | Mar 31, 2026 | , , |

Since war broke out in Iran on 28 February, global oil prices have soared to unprecedented highs. The spike follows disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s busiest shipping channel for crude oil.   

As the global conflict unravels and the oil crisis intensifies, analysts are recognising a renewed interest in electric vehicles (EVs) as consumers attempt to shield themselves from the impact of rising energy costs. 

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Jaguar Land Rover shuts UK plant due to fire at supplier site in Norway

Jaguar Land Rover shuts UK plant due to fire at supplier site in Norway

Posted by | Mar 27, 2026 | , |

Jaguar Land Rover is once again grappling with disruption, as production at one of its key UK facilities is set to pause following a fire at a supplier site in Norway. The interruption will affect output of its flagship Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles at the Solihull plant, with operations halted until April 8. This latest grievance represents a significant setback for the automaker in a two year period punctuated by disruption. 

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Uber, Pony.ai and autonomous start-up Verne launch robotaxi trials in Croatia’s capital

Uber, Pony.ai and autonomous start-up Verne launch robotaxi trials in Croatia’s capital

Posted by | Mar 26, 2026 | , |

As autonomous pilots accelerate across Europe, Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, represents the latest test bed for robotaxi trials, thanks to a partnership between Uber, Pony.ai, and autonomous technology start-up Verne.

The partnership brings together the autonomous driving technology of Chinese robotaxi developer Pony.ai with Verne’s fleet management expertise.

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Automakers scale back on “luxury” EV plans as global appetite wanes

Automakers scale back on “luxury” EV plans as global appetite wanes

Posted by | Mar 25, 2026 | , |

Just this week Honda and Sony have announced they are among dozens of companies scaling back plans to develop luxury EVs. The news follows recent walk backs from automotive manufacturers in the luxury segment including Bentley and Rolls-Royce. 

Honda and Sony’s strategic partnership should have delivered a flagship Afeela EV with a premium price tag of $90,000 but the Japanese groups have changed course, abandoning the model altogether. Honda announced an eye-watering $16bn in EV write downs over the last two years following fluctuations in the global market, forcing the company to rethink its global EV strategy. 

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General Motors begins testing “hands-free, eyes-off” personal autonomy on public highways

General Motors begins testing “hands-free, eyes-off” personal autonomy on public highways

Posted by | Mar 24, 2026 | , |

General Motors may have taken a back seat in the robotaxi race after the collapse of autonomous robotaxi venture Cruise back in 2024, but the company is not resting on its self-driving laurels.  

Since then, the Detroit automaker has turned its attention to developing autonomy in personal vehicles, announcing yesterday that it would begin testing its hands-free, eyes-off driving system on public highways this week.

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Uber partners with Rivian in $1.25bn robotaxi deal, promising 50,000 vehicles by 2031

Uber partners with Rivian in $1.25bn robotaxi deal, promising 50,000 vehicles by 2031

Posted by | Mar 20, 2026 | , , |

Uber is forging ahead with its vision for a driverless future through a new partnership with American EV maker Rivian Motors.

The agreement outlines plans for Uber to invest an initial $300mn, potentially rising to $1.25bn by 2031, contingent on Rivian hitting key autonomy milestones. Alongside the investment, Uber intends to purchase up to 50,000 autonomous vehicles, beginning with 10,000 robotaxi-ready versions of Rivian’s upcoming R2 SUV. The remaining 40,000 could follow from 2030.

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Einride paves the way for autonomous “smart corridors” in Texas

Einride paves the way for autonomous “smart corridors” in Texas

Posted by | Mar 19, 2026 | , |

Founded in 2016, autonomous trucking company Einride is forging ahead with a partnership with the State Highway 130 corridor, a major toll road in Texas. This strategic collaboration aims to build out a smart freight corridor between Austin and San Antonio, operating as a testbed for Einride’s cab-less autonomous freight vehicles.

The project will represent the first time an autonomous truck company has partnered with a toll road operator to deliver this kind of service. Einride’s vision includes plans to build out Texas’ EV infrastructure through the co-development of next-generation rest stops with electric charging facilities and autonomous truck docking infrastructure.

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Hyundai and Kia deepen strategic partnership with leading chipmaker NVIDIA

Hyundai and Kia deepen strategic partnership with leading chipmaker NVIDIA

Posted by | Mar 18, 2026 | , , |

On Tuesday, Hyundai Motor Group announced it is accelerating its advancements in the autonomous mobility space by deepening its collaboration with world-leading chipmaker NVIDIA. This partnership represents a wider shift in the industry, as automakers are increasingly turning to the tech world to accelerate the development of autonomous and software-defined vehicles through partnerships with chipmakers, AI firms, and software companies.

Hyundai Motor Group, made up of Hyundai Motor and Kia, has positioned this strengthened partnership as a means to drive forward progress on its Level 4 all-electric robotaxis through its joint self-driving venture, Motional.

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The design vs safety dilemma: Why carmakers are embracing buttons over touchscreens

The design vs safety dilemma: Why carmakers are embracing buttons over touchscreens

Posted by | Mar 16, 2026 | , |

As automakers seek to maximise the sleek, futuristic look of new models, the market has seen a sharp increase in the number of vehicles minimising bulky handles and buttons in favour of digital screens and concealed, automated handles.

Whilst these design features may offer the forward-looking glamour that elevates the in-car experience, concerns over safety have seen automakers retreating back to intuitive design features, including tactile buttons and manual handles.

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Elon Musk’s Tesla approved to enter UK energy market amid security concerns

Elon Musk’s Tesla approved to enter UK energy market amid security concerns

Posted by | Mar 13, 2026 | , , , |

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, could soon have sway over the UK’s private energy sector after its subsidiary, Tesla Energy Ventures, received approval to operate as an electricity supplier in the United Kingdom. The licence, granted by the UK energy regulator, clears the path for the company to enter a market that has faced turbulence in recent years and rising concern among households over an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

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Industry experts herald 2026 as “pivotal year” for UK autonomy at CAM Innovators’ Day

Industry experts herald 2026 as “pivotal year” for UK autonomy at CAM Innovators’ Day

Posted by | Mar 12, 2026 | , |

Industry experts gathered at the IET in London yesterday to discuss the key obstacles and scalable, practical use cases of autonomy within the UK.

The annual CAM Innovators’ Day, hosted by Zenzic, brought together some of the industry experts driving innovation in autonomy and connected mobility. Among those attending were representatives from government, industry leaders, scale-ups and key stakeholder groups, with speakers from Google, Waymo and several autonomous startups, including Oxford-based group Oxa.

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