Autos
Europe accused of ‘mixed signals’ as it softens its 2035 EV mandate
In 2022, the European Union voted to impose a decisive vehicle emissions mandate banning the sale of all new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, including hybrids. The legislation reflected the EU’s united effort toward mass electrification and a clean energy transition.
Now, less than a decade out from its 2035 combustion engine ban, Europe is getting cold feet about its EV mandate, with Brussels voting yesterday to revise the goal.
Europe accelerates towards a circular economy with new regulation on End-of-Life Vehicles
The European Union has announced new legislation that could reshape how vehicles are designed, produced, dismantled and recycled across the EU, following a provisional agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission’s proposed Regulation on End-of-Life Vehicles.
The End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) Regulation comes ahead of the possible relaxation of Europe’s EV mandate, up for debate in Brussels this week, demonstrating Europe’s enduring commitment to a sustainable automotive sector despite EV trepidation.
Ford and Renault announce strategic partnership to co-develop small EVs in Europe
Ford may have walked back its decision to go all-electric in Europe by 2030, but its commitment to electrification persists. Today, Ford announced a landmark alliance with French automaker Renault to co-develop a series of small electric vehicles for the European market.
The strategic collaboration should see jointly developed EVs rolling out as early as 2028, with plans to expand the partnership to include small commercial vehicles.
From metal to monthly fees: How subscription services are redefining the SDV
Subscription services are, for many of us, an accepted part of modern life; from streaming platforms such as Netflix or Spotify to meal subscriptions, gym memberships, and pay-as-you-go dating apps, the paid subscription model has transformed the way we consume, replacing traditional ownership with a flexible, ongoing service relationship.
Now the world of automotive is catching up, with more and more OEMs now offering subscription services and over-the-air updates at an extra monthly cost.
Building resilient SDVs: The importance of integrated cyber defence
Today, cars are less a vessel to get you from A to B and more an extension of our homes, living rooms, and phone screens. As vehicles become increasingly software-defined, equipped with features such as over-the-air updates, adaptive cruise control, smartphone integration, and more, they become highly adaptable, able to fix their own bugs and update themselves without the need for third-party intervention. The global trend is set: the future lies in SDVs.
U.S. government endorses female crash dummy to close safety gap for female motorists
News In the U.S., licensed female drivers outnumber licensed male drivers by about three million, and yet when it comes to safety features, the majority of vehicle testing is still carried out using outdated data and models designed to protect the average man....
WeRide and Uber launch first driverless robotaxi service in the Middle East
News Uber is ramping up its investment in autonomous vehicle technology, launching its driverless robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind in the Middle East. The announcement, made on Wednesday, is part of a joint venture with Chinese company and global...
Pony.ai and Bolt launch strategic partnership to accelerate autonomy in Europe
News Europe’s transport and mobility landscape is edging closer to full automation, as Estonian ride-hailing giant Bolt announces a strategic partnership with Chinese autonomous driving specialist Pony.ai. The collaboration marks a significant step toward introducing...
China’s diesel-powered trucks face rapid electric overhaul
News China is accelerating its transition from diesel-powered trucks to electric alternatives at breakneck speed. Once almost entirely dependent on diesel for heavy freight, the country has seen a sharp rise in electric truck adoption, signalling profound changes for...
Autonomy on a macro scale: Pony.ai announces line-up of Gen 4 autonomous trucks
News Pony.ai, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced its line-up of fourth-generation (Gen-4) autonomous trucks, positioning itself at the forefront of China’s autonomous logistics transformation. Set to hit Chinese roads in 2026, these...
Zoox to rival Waymo as they launch in San Francisco
News Google began testing its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo, in San Francisco back in 2009. Since then, the Bay Area has become a hotbed for autonomous innovation, with Waymo now expanding its service to Californian freeways, as announced earlier this month....
Rivian and Volkswagen’s transatlantic SDV alliance races ahead
News A year ago, German legacy automaker Volkswagen announced a strategic partnership with American EV innovator Rivian under the joint venture RV Tech. The collaboration aims to produce a new line-up of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), combining the automotive...
EV sales steadily rise in Latin America
News With the EU’s EV mandate up for debate and the politicisation of electric vehicles casting doubt on the American EV market, the global outlook for EV uptake seems, at first glance, murky. However, if we look more broadly at the global landscape, the race to...
EVs to pay London congestion charge from 2026
News London’s congestion charge is set for one of its biggest shifts in years, with both the cost of entering the zone and the treatment of electric vehicles set to dramatically shift in 2026. The development represents mayor Sadiq Khan’s latest step to incentivize...
Waymo’s driverless robotaxis are arriving on highways in these U.S. cities
News The autonomous ride-hailing service Waymo is set to expand its operations onto U.S. highways in the coming days, offering the world’s first paid, driverless highway service. Waymo has selected three U.S cities to roll out its driverless robotaxi service- San...
GM urges supply chain to end reliance on China
News In an effort to tackle the company’s reliance on Chinese markets, American automotive giant General Motors is urging its suppliers to remove Chinese parts from their supply chains. Executives at the company have warned suppliers to rethink where they are sourcing...
Should the EU stand firm on its EV mandate?
Opinion Two years ago, the European Union decided to impose a mandate, banning the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars by the year 2035. Now, just a decade out from this historic target, the mandate is up for review with the process likely to begin in the...
Lucid Motors accelerates towards autonomy, partnering with Nuro, Nvidia and Uber
News American automotive and tech company, Lucid Motors, is accelerating its move into the autonomous vehicle market with its high-tech Gravity crossover, forming a powerful alliance with Nuro, Nvidia, and Uber to challenge leaders such as Tesla and Waymo. With a...
Volkswagen develops AI chip to win back Chinese market
News German carmaker Volkswagen has announced plans to develop its first in-house chip for use in its next generation of smart driving vehicles for the Chinese market. VW will develop the AI chip as part of a joint venture between its software unit, Cariad, and...
Waymo’s self-driving taxis are coming to Detroit
News Waymo, owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is consolidating a foothold in the Midwest. This week, the company announced it will be moving to the Motor City, bringing its self-driving robotaxi service to Detroit. Detroit will be the sixth U.S. city to...
China eases restrictions on Nexperia chip exports
News In a move that could ease mounting pressure on the global auto supply chain, China has announced plans to grant export exemptions for certain semiconductor products made by Nexperia, the Dutch chip manufacturer caught in the crossfire of recent trade tensions....
GM promises “eyes-off, hands-free” autonomy by 2028
News While automakers such as Volkswagen and Stellantis battle it out in the autonomous ride-hail space, American multinational General Motors (GM) has shifted its focus to developing autonomous technology for personal vehicles. GM introduced its Super Cruise...
BYD’s bumpy quarter spurs global outlook
News China’s electric vehicle giant BYD is hitting a few speed bumps after years of seemingly unstoppable growth. The company, once the shining star of the EV boom and a formidable rival to Tesla, reported a sharp 33% drop in third-quarter profits, underlining the...
Toyota commits $10 Billion to U.S. auto plants in landmark Japan–U.S. investment deal
News Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. has outlined a plan to invest $10 billion in U.S. auto plants. On Tuesday, the U.S. government released a document detailing an investment framework between Japan and the United States. The factsheet contained plans for...
Enviro100AEV Bus wins “2025 Vehicle of the Year” at Self-Driving Industry Awards in Margate
News On Friday 24 September, the arrival of the third annual Self-Driving Industry Awards saw Margate seafront transformed into a futuristic showroom, displaying a selection of the autonomous projects in operation across the UK. Passers-by had the opportunity to...
WeRide and Uber launch robotaxis in Saudi Arabia
News In the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, users of Uber will now have the option to hail an autonomous robotaxi alongside standard ride-hail services. The development is the result of a strategic partnership between Uber and WeRide, forged in September 2024, which saw...
Tesla profits fall by 37% despite strong sales
News On Wednesday, Tesla announced that its profits had fallen by 37%, to $1.4 billion, compared with the previous year. Despite the drop in profits, Tesla sold more cars between July and September than it did in the third quarter of the previous year. Many analysts...
Luxury carmakers struggle behind in the race to electrify
Feature The luxury car market has long been associated with speed, extravagance, and above all, the ‘roar’ of combustion engines. Dominated by automakers with legacies in high-end manufacturing, it is an area of the industry that has historically been slow to embrace...
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