The Zeekr X was announced a little over a year ago and the first vehicles hit the streets last fall, but only in mainland China and Europe. Today, the company announced it started production of the right-hand drive model. Even though the X post wasn’t explicit enough about which markets should expect the RHD Zeekr X, in a previous press… Read more…
Category: ArenaEV
Mercedes-Benz forges alliance with Chinese Momenta for next-gen electric CLA
Mercedes-Benz has announced its collaboration with Chinese startup Momenta to develop a state-of-the-art intelligent driving solution. This groundbreaking system is set to be integrated into Mercedes-Benz’s forthcoming all-electric CLA model, promising a new era of autonomous driving capabilities. The resulting driving assist system doesn’t require high-definition maps to work. That will enable the electric CLA to navigate and provide assisted… Read more…
Tesla partners with BYD’s FinDreams for energy storage Megafactory in Shanghai
Tesla is expanding its energy storage business in China by partnering with BYD’s battery-making unit, FinDreams. This is Tesla’s first venture into energy storage manufacturing outside the US, with the new Megafactory being built in Shanghai. The Megafactory, located in the Lingang area of Pudong, Shanghai, will focus solely on producing Megapack, Tesla’s large-scale energy storage system for office buildings… Read more…
Volvo’s Charleston factory in the US kicks off EX90 SUV production
Volvo’s factory just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, is now producing the company’s premium all-electric SUV, the EX90. The first deliveries to customers will commence in the second half of this year. Inside Volvo’s Charleston factory The factory is home to the S60 ICE sedan as well and has been operational since 2018. That’s why Volvo had to make additional… Read more…
VW adds new ID.7 GTX trim, Pro S and ID.7 Tourer Pro S go on sale
Volkswagen has announced a new GTX trim for the ID.7 and revealed that it will go on pre-sale alongside the existing ID.7 Pro S and ID.7 Tourer GTX and Pro S trims on June 6. All GTX and Pro S models ship with the bigger 86 kWh battery, which offers a longer WLTP range – 595 km on the 250… Read more…
European auto giants stall EV battery plant as they consider chemistry shift
Automotive giants Mercedes and Stellantis have temporary halted their ambitious European battery factory projects. The decision, announced by their joint venture Automotive Cells Company (ACC), raises questions about the future direction of EV battery technology and production in Europe. ACC, formed in 2021 to establish a robust European battery supply chain, secured a substantial €4.38 billion investment earlier this year.… Read more…
Volvo EX90 will have world’s first battery passport
Volvo’s delayed EX90 is finally about to start production, which will take place at the brand’s plant in Charleston, South Carolina, in the US. Deliveries are set to start sometime in the second half of this year to customers in North America and Europe. The EX90 will be the world’s first car to have a battery passport. This will record… Read more…
Nissan suspends all combustion engine deveopment to focus on an electrified future
Nissan has declared its unwavering commitment to an electric future, confirming that it will cease all investments in developing new combustion engines. This is a significant shift in the automaker’s strategy as it joins the growing ranks of manufacturers fully embracing electrification. While Nissan’s future is undeniably electric, the company acknowledges that the transition will not be instantaneous. Francois Bailly,… Read more…
Kia EV9 electrifies US sales and breaks records
Kia’s electric vehicle sales soared to unprecedented heights in May, fueled by the successful launch of its groundbreaking three-row electric SUV, the EV9. This surge propelled the automaker to its second-best sales month ever in the US market, solidifying its position as a formidable player in the growing EV landscape. A significant contributor to this remarkable achievement was the EV9… Read more…
Tesla releases 2024.20 software update with headlight and AC improvements
Tesla has begun rolling out its latest software update, 2024.20, to its fleet. While not a significant overhaul, the update packs several enhancements designed to improve the driving experience, particularly in hot weather and on winding roads. One of the standout features is the improvement of Tesla’s adaptive headlights. Vehicles equipped with matrix LED headlights can now adjust their beam… Read more…
GAC Aion Hyper GT set to conquer the global EV market
China’s GAC Aion is ready to make a splash in the global EV market with the upcoming launch of the Aion Hyper GT “global model” on June 6th. This exciting new iteration of the Hyper GT electric sedan boasts an impressive 710 km range, cutting-edge 800V platform technology, and advanced driver assistance features. The Hyper GT “global model” will be… Read more…
Nissan conducts a successful autonomous driving test on streets of Tokyo
Nissan has been working on autonomous driving since 2017 and today, the company announced it conducted a successful test in the real world, using a Nissan Leaf prototype. Nissan says it’s the next step towards offering an autonomous mobility service in 2027. The new Nissan Leaf prototype had an array of 14 cameras, 10 radars and 6 LiDAR sensors, a… Read more…
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TA will take on Pikes Peak and Nurburgring N24
Hyundai N is boldly moving towards the future of motorsport with its all-electric lineup at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. However, the Korean automaker is not only vying for its fourth consecutive TCR class victory with three Elantra N TCR cars. The company is also showcasing the impressive capabilities of its Ioniq 5 N TA (Time Attack) Spec at the legendary… Read more…
Xiaomi SU7 electric car sales exceed expectations
Xiaomi has surpassed initial delivery targets with its first-ever electric vehicle, the SU7. This impressive feat is a testament to the growing demand for electric cars, particularly in China, and further solidifies Xiaomi’s position as a major player in the automotive industry. Xiaomi delivered 8,646 SU7 units in May, a modest increase from the initially reported 8,630. This revised figure… Read more…
Renault’s sub-€20,000 Twingo EV will be developed with a Chinese partner
Oh, how the tide has turned. Chinese companies used to partner up with European ones to get access to their technology, but nowadays in the EV space it’s exactly the other way round. For example, Renault today has announced that it will develop the upcoming Twingo EV in partnership with an unnamed Chinese engineering company in order to “improve development… Read more…
Citroen E-C3 stars in its first commercial
Citroen launched the first commercial for its E-C3 affordable car. The video highlights the fact that the E-C3 is one of the few affordable fully electric vehicles in Europe, aiming to make EVs more accessible. It offers a reasonable 320 km range, as per WLTP, and starts at €23,000, without accounting for incentives across Europe, which means it might be… Read more…
Jeep introduces the rugged Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept
Earlier today Jeep unveiled the Wagnoeer S all-electric SUV for the North American market, and at the same time the brand also presented the rugged-looking Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept. Unlike the Wagoneer S, the Trailhawk is a concept so it won’t see the light of day as is. It’s meant as a showcase of what Jeep can accomplish when it… Read more…
Volkswagen lets you unleash your creativity with custom wraps for ID. Buzz
Volkswagen is giving its new electric ID. Buzz a modern twist. The automaker has partnered with Wrapmate to introduce an online 3D configurator that allows ID. Buzz owners to unleash their creativity and personalize their vehicles with unique wraps and decals. This innovative collaboration is set to launch on June 2, coinciding with the second annual International Volkswagen Bus Day.… Read more…
600 hp Jeep Wagoneer S makes official debut
Jeep just unveiled its first foray into the full-size electric SUV market with the Wagoneer S. It will be joining the the Jeep Avenger urban crossover in the expanding EV lineup of the iconic US brand. The Wagoneer S boasts an impressive dual-motor powertrain generating 600 horsepower and 837 Nm of torque, propelling the SUV from 0 to 97 km/h… Read more…
Fisker cuts hundreds of jobs in bid to live another day
Fisker’s woes continue. The troubled EV maker has now reportedly cut hundreds more jobs, in a desperate attempt not to go under. The company is continuing its search for funding. If it can’t find any, then the alternatives are a buyout (though that fell through once before) or simply bankruptcy, which at this point is always looming. Workers suspected they… Read more…