Rock Tech Lithium Inc. has received funding from the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space for a project titled ELiSePro, which stands for Efficient Lithium Recovery Using Selective Processes. The initiative aims to enhance lithium yield at the company's Guben, Germany, site, contributing to Germany's raw material independence. Rock Tech will collaborate with RWTH Aachen University on this project to explore various ion separation methods, such as nanofiltrat...

CATL has confirmed the suspension of production operations at a significant lithium mine in the Yichun area of Jiangxi province in mainland China, following the expiration of its mining permit on Aug. 9. The company is in the process of expediting the permit renewal and intends to resume operations once approval is received, saying the suspension will have a minimal impact on its overall operations. A local media outlet, Cailian, reported that while the mining permit for CATL's Jianxi...

The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has announced the allocation of $5 million in state funding through the Direct-Current Fast-Charging (DCFC) Plazas program to create 56 new fast-charger ports at nine sites across Colorado, US. This initiative is part of the seventh round of the program, aiming to enhance access to electric vehicle chargers statewide. This expansion will boost Colorado's network of over 1,400 fast-charger ports by approximately 4%. Gov. Jared Polis and CEO Executive Directo...

The US has resumed funding for electric vehicle chargers after a federal court overturned a previous decision to halt the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The Trump administration has issued new guidance detailing how states can utilize federal funds to build EV chargers. These guidelines aim to streamline applications and reduce bureaucratic barriers to access the program's $5 billion in funding, which is scheduled to expire in 2026. The updated policy no longer requi...

NVIDIA and AMD have reached an agreement to pay the US government 15% of their revenue from sales of specific chips in China to secure export licenses, according to a report from the BBC dated Aug. 11. This development follows previous US restrictions on the sale of advanced chips, particularly those used in AI, to China due to national security concerns. Security experts, including some who served during the first term of US President Trump's administration, recently expressed concerns ...

The semiconductor industry is experiencing significant developments as US President Donald Trump announced on CNBC's Squawk Box that his administration plans to introduce tariffs on semiconductors and chips, potentially as soon as next week. However, the details of these tariffs remain unspecified. This move could have profound implications for US hardware and AI companies. In 2022, the US CHIPs and Science Act was enacted, providing $52 billion in subsidies to encourage domestic chip manufactur...

Italy has approved subsidies amounting to nearly €600 million to boost the purchase of electric vehicles due to lagging sales, as announced by the Environment and Energy Ministry. These subsidies aim to encourage the acquisition of electric cars and commercial vehicles by offering up to €10,000 to individuals and up to €20,000 to small firms, covering up to 30% of the vehicle's total purchase price. The financial support is part of the EU's post-COVID recovery funds and is targeted at i...

CATL has reportedly suspended operations at its significant lithium mine in Jianxiawo, Yichun, in the Jiangxi province of mainland China. While unfavorable for CATL, the development might benefit other lithium producers who have endured prolonged price suppression. The cessation of operations is attributed to CATL's inability to renew a vital mining license that expired Aug. 9. The company is in discussions with government agencies to extend the license but is preparing for a closure las...

Go Electric Vehicle Indiana (GOEVIN) has announced the recipients of its Charging Infrastructure Funding Opportunity, which aims to expand publicly accessible direct current fast charging (DCFC) and Level 2 charging infrastructure across Indiana, US. GOEVIN is a public-private partnership including the Indiana Environmental Management Department and Drive Clean Indiana. The organization is committed to promoting electric vehicle adoption and providing educational information on the benef...

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has shown interest in examining Tesla's Full Self-Driving features, particularly its driverless-taxi service. The US safety regulator communicated with Tesla on July 1 to arrange a visit to Austin to experience the service firsthand, as detailed in an email uploaded to the NHTSA's website on Aug. 7. The regulators also requested information on the size of Tesla's robo-taxi fleet, plans for public rollout, and the use of...

SGS-TÜV Saar has awarded Geely Auto the world's first certification for AI safety process compliance under the ISO/PAS 8800:2024, marking an important milestone in the automotive industry. This certification affirms that Geely Auto's safety process architecture aligns with the latest standards for AI systems in road vehicles, setting a precedent for secure and standardized AI integration in autonomous driving technologies. With AI playing a crucial role in advanced mobility by enhancing sensing...

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has certified the self-driving vehicles of Amazon.com's subsidiary, Zoox, for demonstration purposes and concluded its investigation into their compliance with federal requirements. The probe, initiated in 2022, examined whether Zoox's vehicles, which lack traditional driving controls, met safety standards during self-certification. Zoox applied for exemptions from some federal safety requirements in June, which the NHTSA granted, all...

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has launched the Fast Charge California Project, a $55 million incentive program aimed at covering up to 100% of the installation costs for electric vehicle fast chargers at business and public sites statewide. CEC said that the applications for this program will be accepted until Oct. 29. This initiative is part of the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), which is the largest EV charging incentive program in the US. Since its in...

Japanese carmaker Nissan has launched an electric truck charging station at its Sunderland Plant in the UK. This electric vehicle charging station is part of an initiative to establish an electric, end-to-end supply chain that will result in a reduction of 1,500 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. The charging facility, which has been developed with an investment of about £1.4 million, includes seven charging stations capable of powering up to 10 electric heavy goods v...

The German Federal Ministry of Transport has established the Road Traffic Remote Control Ordinance (StVFernLV) to allow testing of remote-controlled motor vehicles on public roads, set to take effect on Dec. 1, according to a report published by Electricdrive on July 30. The regulation aims to integrate remote steering technology with autonomous driving, enabling remote intervention in complex traffic situations. Potential applications include car sharing and municipal services, where vehicle...

India achieved a major milestone in electric mobility with 29,277 public electric vehicle charging stations installed nationwide, according to the Ministry of Heavy Industries. Karnataka emerged as the leading state with 6,097 public charging stations, followed by Maharashtra with 4,155 and Uttar Pradesh with 2,326. Tier-2 cities also significantly contributed to the expansion, hosting 4,625 charging stations as of April 2025. The country's EV charging infrastructure has grown nearly fivef...

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the availability of over $21 million to support zero-emission mobility transportation solutions. The state government's Clean Mobility Program aims to fund community-led demonstration projects that enhance connections through micromobility, ride-sharing and on-demand shared transportation options. This initiative seeks to reduce pollution and provide residents, especially in underserved areas, with affordable transportation solutions to access ser...

Shanghai issued new demonstrative operation licenses for driverless intelligent connected vehicles, marking a major milestone in the city's autonomous driving roadmap. The announcement was made during the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), held from July 26 to July 28, as reported by CGTN on July 28. Pony.ai, Baidu and Saike Intelligent Technology were among the first recipients of the new licenses. Covering four vehicle models and two key business scenarios, the licenses a...

Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corp. Ltd. (TNGECL) plans to establish 500 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as part of efforts to promote EVs and reduce pollution in the state. Recently, TNGECL signed a memorandum of understanding with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) for technical support. A team from TNGECL and ITDP visited New Delhi to study the city's EV model, focusing on its policies, infrastructure and strategies fo...

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) is undergoing a significant transformation at its Manchester, New Hampshire, site, transitioning from producing gaskets for combustion engines to focusing on e-mobility and hydrogen applications. This shift is supported by major investments and a funding initiative from the US Energy Department. The site will now prioritize manufacturing sealing solutions for battery housings and e-drive systems, necessitating the introduction of new semi- and fully-auto...

Thailand's National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee (EV Board) has approved changes to the EV3 and EV3.5 incentive packages to promote the country as an export hub for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). The revisions, proposed by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), include a rule where one vehicle produced for export counts as 1.5 vehicles, potentially boosting electric vehicle exports to approximately 12,500 units in 2025 and about 52,000 in 2026. Additionally, the EV Board has extende...

Ather Energy, an electric two-wheeler manufacturer, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), part of India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. As announced by the ministry, the MOU is designed to accelerate the growth of the clean mobility and advanced manufacturing sectors in India. Under this agreement, Ather Energy will collaborate with DPIIT through the Build in Bharat initiative, part of the Startup Polic...

The UK government is introducing a £25 million fund aimed at supporting local authorities in the installation of pavement channels for electric vehicle charging cables. This initiative is designed to make home charging more accessible for EV drivers who lack a driveway. The Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant forms part of a larger £63 million package announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) back in July 2025, with the goal of facilitating the transition to EVs throughout the UK...

San Francisco's Mayor Daniel Lurie and the Board of Supervisors have secured a $5 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure in San Francisco. This grant, combined with a $2.8 million contribution from the city, will fund the installation of 403 new EV charging ports at city-owned facilities. This infrastructure will support 800 additional light-duty EVs, covering 40% of the city's non-public safety light-duty fleet. The City ...

The US has reached a new trade agreement with South Korea, imposing a tariff of 15% on all goods imported from the Asian country, CNN Business reported July 30. US President Donald Trump termed the bilateral trade agreement, which was announced before the Aug. 1 deadline, as a “full and complete trade deal.” Announcing the deal on his social networking website Truth Social, Trump said the deal would also pave the way for investment of $350 million from South Korea...

Tesla plans to offer a chauffeur-style service with human drivers to a limited audience in the San Francisco Bay Area, Reuters reported July 25. This development is contrary to reports suggesting Tesla would offer a robo-taxi service. Currently, Tesla cannot operate autonomous vehicles as it lacks the necessary permits and has not applied for them, unlike Waymo, a unit of Alphabet, which operates autonomous services, Reuters reported, citing a spokesperson for the California Public Utilities Com...

Cornwall Council plans to enhance its electric vehicle charging network by installing up to 2,000 charge points starting 2026. The council secured £5.5 million from the Transport Department's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to expand the availability of charge points. These installations will provide lower power, cost-effective residential charging with slower speeds. Initially, charge points will be placed in council car parks, with additional on-street charging being intr...

WeRide has been granted Saudi Arabia's first robo-taxi autonomous driving permit to operate its autonomous vehicle business and deploy robo-taxis across the country. Pilot operations have already begun in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Uber and local partner Ai Driver, covering areas such as King Khalid International Airport and key locations in the city. The permit was officially granted at a ceremony attended by His Excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, the minister of...

On July 4, US President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law with an aim of cutting down government spending to address the US' rising national debt, reducing tax liabilities for the working middle class and driving down energy costs with a massive expansion of domestic oil and production capacity, among several other key goals. When it comes to electric vehicle adoption in the US, the OBBBA terminates the $7,500 tax credit for new EV purchases and the $4,000 cr...

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has pledged A$44.9 million to support Calix in constructing a demonstration plant utilizing its Zero Emissions Steel Technology (ZESTY). This plant, powered by renewable electricity and hydrogen, aims to produce up to 30,000 metric tons of low-carbon hydrogen direct reduced iron (HDRI) and hot briquetted iron (HBI) annually, marking a significant step toward cleaner steel production. ZESTY incorporates Calix's proprietary Flash Calciner technolog...

The US has reached a framework for a trade deal with the EU, allowing the US to impose a 15% import tariff on most goods from the EU. This agreement was jointly announced by US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, July 27, at Trump's luxury golf course in Turnberry, Scotland. This development concludes a lengthy period of uncertainty with the EU, the US' largest trading partner. Trump confirmed the 15% levy on most imports from the EU, inclu...

The UK government has announced an additional £150 million investment to advance the nation's Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) industry through the CAM Pathfinder program, which will run until 2030. This initiative seeks to tackle the challenges related to bringing CAM vehicles to market by providing funding to projects in the UK that are developing pioneering technologies, products and services, ranging from cutting-edge software to smart transportation solutions. The program aim...

Japan and the US reached a trade agreement, allowing the US to impose a reciprocal tariff rate of 15% on goods imported from Japan, CNN Business reported on July 22. “We just completed a massive deal with Japan, perhaps the largest deal ever made,” President Donald Trump said on his networking website, Truth Social. The bilateral trade deal, reached before the Aug. 1 deadline, will lower the 25% tariff announced in April 2025 on goods imported from Japan. Earlier this month, ...

UK's Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood has initiated a consultation on the automated passenger services (APS) permitting scheme and the draft statutory instrument, which are essential for regulating taxi-, private-hire-, and bus-like services of self-driving vehicles in Great Britain. This consultation, launched July 21, seeks input from the public and industry to ensure that self-driving vehicles are safe and accessible before they become available in 2026. The focus is on safety, ...

WattEV is expanding its electric truck charging network in the US with the development of three new charging depots in the Southern California region. Funded by over $24 million in grants from the state of California, the upcoming electric truck charging hubs will be located at Otay Mesa near the US-Mexico border in San Diego County, Baker, along the I-15 corridor between Southern California and Nevada, and the Port of Long Beach, which is the country's busiest container port. These planne...

The US Commerce Department plans to impose preliminary antidumping duties of 93.5% on anode-grade graphite imported from China. This decision follows conclusions that these materials, essential for electric vehicle batteries, are being sold in the US at below fair market value. A fact sheet from the Commerce Department indicates a uniform antidumping margin and cash deposit rate of 93.5% for all Chinese producers. The imports affected by this decision are valued at $347.1 million in 2023. The...

On July 15, mainland China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology made some critical changes in their "Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Export from China." The authorities have added a new restricted technology item to the list — battery positive electrode material preparation technology. This includes new battery lithium iron phosphate (LFP) preparation technology, battery lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) preparation technology, phospha...

SK On has entered into an agreement with EcoPro Innovation to secure a supply of lithium hydroxide in the US. The strategic collaboration should enhance SK On's domestic electric vehicle battery supply chain in the US, as per the compliance mandate laid out under the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Under the agreement, SK On is slated to receive up to 6,000 metric tons of domestically produced lithium hydroxide by the end of 2025, which can power about 100,000 EVs. The lithium hydroxid...

WeRide announced that it has received authorization to conduct road tests for autonomous logistics vehicles in Huangpu, Guangzhou, mainland China, marking it as the first and only company to secure such permission in the district. This development comes after WeRide obtained an initial permit in the district for its Robovan W5. The Robovan W5 now holds its second active road testing permit, following a previous approval in Guangzhou's Nansha District in April. WeRide said that this progress s...

NVIDIA announced plans to restart sales of its H20 AI accelerator in China after receiving US government assurances regarding export licenses during NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's visit to Beijing, according to a report published by Trendforce on July 15. This move could benefit Samsung, which previously supplied HBM3 for the H20. Huang met with US President Donald Trump and expressed intentions to resume sales, with the expectation that licenses will be approved soon. Previously, NVIDIA faced a $...

The Scottish government has introduced a new £2 million Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Market Readiness Fund for the financial year 2025–26. This initiative is aimed at encouraging collaboration among HGV operators, manufacturers, financiers and charge-point operators (CPOs) to foster investment in the decarbonization of HGVs. The fund is a continuation of work begun with the HGV Decarbonisation Pathway in 2024, focusing on identifying necessary charging infrastructure locations to support zero...

The UK government has confirmed its plans to reintroduce grants for purchasing new electric cars, offering discounts of up to £3,750, Autocar reported July 14. This new Electric Car Grant is supported by £650 million of government funding and applies to certain new electric vehicles priced at or below £37,000. According to a spokesperson from the Department for Transport (DfT), these discounts can be applied to new EVs starting from July 18. This initiative follows the discontinuation of t...

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 30% tariff on products imported from Mexico and the EU, beginning Aug. 1, CNN Business reported July 13. The US government's decision to impose the tariffs came after weeks of negotiations with its two key trading partners that failed to reach a mutually agreeable conclusion. Trump sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, emphasizing the US government's intention to continue working with the...

The automotive industry is engaged in a significant debate regarding the use of consumer-grade chips in vehicles, a discussion brought to the forefront by Li Fenggang, executive deputy general manager of FAW-Audi Sales Co. Ltd. Li emphasized that cars should not be treated as fast-moving consumer goods and that Audi remains committed to safety and reliability. FAW-Audi Sales, a joint venture between Audi and the FAW Group in mainland China since 1991, is at the center of this conversation. ...

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD announced a new policy regarding its God's Eye assisted driving system in smart parking scenarios within China, Reuters reported July 9. The company has committed to taking responsibility for any losses or damages to vehicles using the system, which achieved a smart parking capability equivalent to Level 4 automation, according to the report. This means that drivers can disengage from the driving task under specific conditions, with the automaker assu...

New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the allocation of $3 million to three projects, which are aimed at advancing technologies to efficiently integrate electric vehicles into the power grid. New York State is also making available $4 million in grants to address data collection and operational challenges faced by utilities in managing EV charging. These initiatives are expected to enhance grid flexibility, shift charging schedules to meet energy demands and reduce costs for co...

The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB has initiated the KOOP project in collaboration with the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) of RWTH Aachen University and mixing technology specialist, hs·tumbler, to explore new battery technologies with a focus on sodium-ion batteries. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the project aims to expedite the industrialization of innovative productio...

US President Donald Trump announced his plans to impose a 50% tariff on imported copper, further escalating his administration's strategy to bolster domestic industries through tariffs, Fox Business reported July 8. This announcement, made at a Cabinet meeting, aligns with Trump's America First policy, which aims to enhance industrial supply chains by encouraging companies to procure materials from within the US. During the meeting, Trump highlighted that copper will join steel...

The Malaga depot is undergoing a $12 million upgrade to become Western Australia's largest electric vehicle bus charging facility, supporting 110 electric buses. This upgrade involves the installation of solar panels, batteries and new charging infrastructure, with 16 chargers already in place and the rest to follow by the end of 2025. These electric buses can travel up to 300 km per charge, reducing CO2 emissions by about 40 metric tons annually. Electric buses have been introduced to suburb...

Mainland Chinese automakers are advancing rapidly in assisted-driving technology, driven by consumer demand for innovation. However, Beijing is urging caution alongside progress. Following a fatal accident involving a Xiaomi SU7 sedan, regulators are finalizing new safety rules for driver-assistance systems, aiming to balance innovation with safety and prevent companies from exaggerating system capabilities, according to a Reuters report dated July 4. Clear regulations could provide main...

Mainland China plans to upgrade its electric vehicle charging infrastructure by increasing the number of ultrafast-charging stations to over 100,000 by 2027 to address the issue of range anxiety, Yicai Global reported July 8, citing a new policy blueprint. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) instructed local authorities to create construction plans for charging facilities in highway service areas, prioritizing the upgrading of stations with utilization ra...

US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, effective Aug. 1, as the 90-day negotiation period offered in the first week of April comes to an end this week, the Associated Press (AP) reported July 8. Trump communicated this decision through letters posted on the social networking website Truth Social to the leaders of the respective countries, cautioning them against retaliatory measures that could lead to a further increase in tariffs...

An international standard on test scenarios for autonomous driving systems has been officially released, as announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China on July 8. Led by China, this standard outlines the evaluation procedures and test methods essential for assessing autonomous driving systems. The issuance of the standard represents an important international consensus on autonomous driving test and verification technologies, addressing growing industry demands f...

Electric vehicle drivers in South Australia now have access to the state's first comprehensive EV charging network, known as RAA Charge. The EV charging network is developed by the Royal Automobile Association (RAA). This expansive network includes over 550 charging plugs spread across 144 sites, making it one of the largest in Australia. The implementation of this EV charging network was facilitated by a grant of A$12.35 million from the South Australian government, aiming to expedite the tr...

MHP Consulting UK Ltd. and Bentley Motors collaborated to establish Cybersecurity and Software Update Management Systems (CSMS & SUMS) for Bentley, achieving compliance with UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) with zero non-conformities, as reported in a press release July 3. Bentley's compliance certification was completed over 24 months. With the rise of connected vehicles and cyber threats, OEMs must demonstrate robust systems to protect vehicles and user...

According to a Reuters report dated July 3, the United States has lifted export restrictions to China for chip design software developers and ethane producers, indicative of improving trade relations between the US and China. Key electronic design automation (EDA) software companies, including Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems and Siemens, have announced restoring access to their software for Chinese customers. On the same days, the US notified ethane producers about rescinding a licensing requir...

According to a report published by TrendForce on July 4, NXP has intensified its focus on its China localization strategy amid growing US export controls and potential tariff risks. The company announced plans to collaborate with a local Chinese foundry to manufacture its chips entirely within China. Although NXP operates a significant packaging and testing facility in Tianjin, the majority of its wafer fabrication occurs in the US and Singapore. This move aligns with broader trends among semico...

The European Commission has announced that six pioneering electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing projects will receive €852 million in grants from the Innovation Fund. EU's Innovation Fund is funded by revenue from the EU Emissions Trading System. These grants are part of efforts to spur growth and investment in the EU's battery manufacturing industry, supporting the Industrial Action Plan for the European automobile sector and the Clean Industrial Deal. The selected projects a...

Volkswagen and Renault are driving pilot projects focused on bidirectional charging in Europe. While these projects are being managed at a small scale, both carmakers are expected to scale up their respective vehicle-to-grid (V2G) projects to support the EU's power grid in the future. Utrecht has become the first European city to launch a large-scale V2G system through a collaboration involving Renault Group, We Drive Solar, MyWheels, and the local municipality. The initiative, which is named...

The US electric vehicle tax credits, which include a $7,500 credit for new EV purchases or leases and a $4,000 credit for used EVs, are set to expire Sept. 30 following the recent tax and budget legislation passed by Congress. This change marks the end of incentives that have boosted EV sales in recent times. The Electrification Coalition expressed concerns that the expiration of these credits could hinder the US' role in the global shift toward electric transportation, potentially ceding lea...

The Petaling Jaya City Council (Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya [MBPJ]) in Malaysia is planning to install 1,000 electric vehicle chargers at strategic locations and public parking areas across Petaling Jaya in two phases. According to Petaling Jaya Mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon, this initiative is a part of the city's low-carbon urban development agenda and involves collaboration with green energy solution providers. The first phase aims to install 500 EV chargers, with the help of strategic p...

The Czech Republic is set to become the second country in Europe, following Germany, to allow the operation of vehicles equipped with SAE Level 3 autonomy, beginning Jan. 1, 2026. On April 24, 2025, President Petr Pavel signed an amendment to the Road Traffic Act, legalizing the movement of Level 3 vehicles on Czech roads. Under this new legislation, drivers will not be required to actively engage in driving tasks but must be ready to take control within 10 seconds if prompted. This amendment...

An electric vehicle advocacy group has called on the US House to revise a Senate-approved bill that would eliminate the $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicle sales and leases, and the $4,000 credit for used EVs, effective Sept. 30. The Electrification Coalition emphasized that removing these credits could undermine the US manufacturing industry and hand over control of the future of transportation to mainland China, urging the House to oppose the bill. Calstart, a California-based nonpro...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a preliminary investigation into over 90,000 Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles due to concerns regarding potentially defective front steering knuckles, USA Today reported July 1. The investigation specifically targets certain Range Rover Sport models from the 2014 to 2017 model years. The US vehicle safety agency announced the investigation on Monday (June 30) after receiving reports of instances where one or both aluminu...

The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) has approved investment projects totaling 28.6 billion baht (approximately US$870 million) focused on digital infrastructure and travel sectors. The BOI has also enhanced incentives for the use of local content in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and electrical appliances (E&E). The BOI has introduced incentives for local content use in the automotive and electrical appliance sectors by offering a two-year, 50% corporate income tax reduction. T...

A federal judge, Tana Lin, has ordered the Trump administration to release billions of dollars earmarked for the construction of electric vehicle charging stations in more than a dozen US states. This decision grants a preliminary injunction for the distribution of funds under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which was allocated $5 billion and was set to be utilized from 2022 to 2026. The program was originally signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021, but fa...

A senior executive from Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), the largest manufacturer of EV batteries, has called for authorities in mainland China to intervene to address the ongoing price war in the new-energy car market. Ni Jun, CATL's chief manufacturing officer, emphasized that the discount war will not end unless Beijing steps in, as the strategy of reducing prices to gain market share threatens smaller competitors. BYD, the world's largest EV manufacturer, initiated signific...

Emma Nehrenheim has been appointed as the new managing director of the European Battery Alliance (EBA), led by InnoEnergy under the mandate of the European Commission. InnoEnergy manages the EBA's industrial development program under the European Commission's mandate. These programs aim to build a competitive and sustainable battery industry in Europe, crucial for the continent's clean energy transition. Nehrenheim, who has previously served Northvolt as the chief environmental officer and...

Tesla Inc.'s self-driving taxis experienced issues on their first day offering paid rides, with instances of traffic law violations being captured, Bloomberg reported June 23. One significant incident involved a Model Y that failed to execute a left turn properly, entering a lane meant for opposite direction traffic in Austin. The vehicle swerved and crossed a double-yellow line to reenter the correct lane, an infraction caught on video by Rob Maurer, a Tesla investor, the report said. Additi...

Hubject Financial Services GmbH, a subsidiary of Hubject, has secured regulatory permission from Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht [BaFin]) to process payments under the Payment Services Oversight Act in Europe, marking a significant milestone for the eMobility industry. This makes Hubject, which is noted as a leading eRoaming Service provider, the first eMobility company to obtain such a license from BaFin. Hubject p...

The European Council has adopted a position on the end-of-life vehicles (ELV) regulation, aiming to ensure that new vehicles are designed to support reuse, recycling and recovery. This includes setting a mandatory target for recycled plastics and the potential for future targets for recycled steel, aluminum and other critical raw materials. The regulation's scope has expanded to include trucks, motorbikes and quadricycles, requiring their design to allow part removal. Producers must esta...

The CellLab research project at the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen University is focusing on developing an advanced analytics infrastructure to explore the intricate relationships between battery production and performance. This initiative, funded by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, aims to establish a laboratory capable of supporting the safe and reproducible operation of all necessary measuring instruments. The facility ...

The Irish government has allocated about €8 million in grants to fund the development of 53 new high-power electric vehicle charging hubs across Ireland's national road network. The installation of EV chargers at the finalized sites is expected by the year-end. The official announcement was made by Ireland's Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien. The planned EV charging hubs are expected to provide 175 fast and ultrafast-recharging points across the 53 chosen lo...

Antimony suppliers and battery-makers are facing significant challenges due to mainland China's restrictions on antimony exports, which include a ban on shipments to the US. This has led to soaring prices, causing the US battery industry to view the shortage as a national emergency, as Steve Christensen of the Responsible Battery Coalition said. The cost of antimony has escalated to more than $60,000 per metric ton, more than quadrupling over the past year, impacting industries reliant on this m...

Critical Metals Corp., a critical minerals mining company, has received a Letter of Interest (LOI) from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) for a non-dilutive funding package of $120 million. This funding is intended to develop the Tanbreez Project in Greenland, recognized as one of the largest rare earth deposits globally. EXIM's consideration involves financing up to $120 million, repayable over 15 years as part of its Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative (SCRI). This fund...

The US Senate's draft tax bill proposes increasing the investment credit for semiconductor manufacturers from 25% to 30%, according to a Bloomberg report on June 17. This incentive aims to encourage chipmakers to begin new projects in the US before the 2026 deadline, allowing them to continue claiming credits for ongoing construction beyond that date. The tax credit, part of the 2022 Chips and Science Act, is designed to revitalize the US semiconductor industry by offsetting the shift of prod...

India has instructed state-run miner IREL to suspend a long-standing agreement on rare earth exports to Japan to prioritize domestic needs and reduce dependence on mainland China. Two sources familiar with the matter revealed that this decision comes amid global concerns over mainland China's dominance in rare earth processing and its recent export restrictions, which have impacted automakers and manufacturers. Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has indicated that halting exports of materi...

Mainland Chinese automakers such as SAIC Motor, Changan, Great Wall Motor, BYD, Li Auto and Geely are set to launch models featuring 100% domestically produced chips, with at least two brands planning mass production by 2026, according to Nikkei Asia report on June 17. These models will include updated versions of existing lines, as part of mainland China's push for self-reliance in chip production. The initiative is overseen by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), whic...

The UK government is expanding local electric vehicle charge points across England to aid millions of EV drivers without off-street parking. Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood announced the country's plan to install over 100,000 local charge points, in addition to the existing 80,000 public charge points. This initiative is supported by the £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, which is part of a broader £4 billion investment to promote the switch to EVs and...

In a press release on June 13, US Transportation Department Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the acceleration of the safe development of automated vehicles through the streamlining of the Part 555 exemption process by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The adjustment allows manufacturers to sell up to 2,500 vehicles annually that do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, as long as they provide equivalent safety levels and serve the public interes...

For more than 30 years, automakers and suppliers—including manufacturers of complete seats and seat components—in North America benefited from nearly hassle-free movements of vehicles and auto parts between the US, Canada, and Mexico; first as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and later under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). However, the trade dynamics have changed rapidly this year after the US government announced several tariffs on imports of goods i...

US President Donald Trump has signed three congressional resolutions to reverse California's efforts to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and phaseout diesel engines and the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. These resolutions seek to repeal state-level mandates supported by former President Joe Biden's administration. General Motors and Toyota had opposed California's rules concerning EVs and gas-powered engines. California's plan, which inspired similar initiatives in 11 other sta...

Zimbabwe plans to ban the export of lithium concentrates from 2027 as part of efforts to enhance local processing capabilities, according to Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando. This decision follows a 2022 ban on the export of lithium ore. The country, Africa's leading lithium producer, has been encouraging domestic processing, with a focus on lithium sulfates, which can be refined into battery-grade materials. Lithium concentrates are primarily exported to mainland Chi...

US and mainland Chinese officials have agreed on a framework to revive trade and ease mainland China's export restrictions on rare earths, though the agreement offers limited potential of resolving long-standing trade differences, a Reuters report said June 11. After intense negotiations in London, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the framework would add substance to a previous agreement from Geneva, which aimed to ease bilateral tariffs that had reached high levels. The Geneva ...

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor has accumulated a rare earths stockpile sufficient to last about a year, Reuters reported June 10. The company does not expect any immediate effects from the global supply chain disruptions triggered by mainland China's export restrictions on rare earth elements and magnets. Mainland China's decision to limit exports of rare earths and related magnets in April caused challenges in the supply chains vital to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semicondu...

The UK government has announced that pilot programs for self-driving taxi and bus-like services will be advanced to spring 2026, a move that should bring significant economic benefits and position the UK as a prominent player in automated vehicle technology. The initiative is projected to create 38,000 jobs and add £42 billion to the UK economy by 2035, aligning with the government's Plan for Change by boosting employment and investment. The pilot programs will focus on innovation, stringent re...

US-based battery-swap technology company Ample has established its first modular battery-swapping stations in Madrid. This initiative was facilitated by the Moves Singulares award, a Spanish government-backed program aimed at promoting innovative technologies to support the transition to electric mobility. With €9.76 million in financial backing, Ample plans to install additional modular EV battery-swapping stations in Madrid's city center. This development is part of a larger strategy...

Dongfeng Motor, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC) and FAW Group, the leading state-owned automakers in mainland China, have committed to reducing supplier payment terms to 60 days, ETAuto reported June 11. The development comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny over delayed supplier payments and opaque financing practices in the automotive supply chain. This initiative is expected to improve capital flow and financial transparency in the mainland Chinese automotive industry, which ha...

Mainland China has issued temporary export licenses to rare earth suppliers for the top three US automakers, according to a June 6 report by Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter. These licenses, valid for six months, come amid supply chain disruptions caused by mainland China's recent export curbs on rare earth materials. The restrictions, imposed in April, have impacted industries globally, including automakers, aerospace manufacturers and semiconductor companies. The export curb...

Cork and Kerry County Councils have initiated a joint public consultation to gather input on the future expansion of electric vehicle charging points in the southwest region of Ireland, which encompasses rural and tourist-heavy areas. This initiative is part of an overarching national plan aimed at developing four primary EV charging categories: Home/apartment charging, residential neighborhood charging, destination charging and motorway/en-route charging. Given Cork City's urban nature, its ...

Waymo suspended its robotaxi service in areas of Los Angeles after five of its self-driving vehicles were vandalized during protests over immigration raids, The Detroit News reported on June 9. During the protests, images showed Waymo vehicles covered in graffiti, as protesters waved Mexican and Guatemalan flags, and one individual struck a vehicle with a skateboard. Some electric scooters were reportedly thrown into the fires. In ...

Electric vehicle-battery maker AESC has paused the construction of its planned gigafactory in Florence, South Carolina, US, due to market uncertainties. Ongoing work at the planned battery manufacturing plant, which was intended to produce EV battery cells for BMW and expected to employ about 1,600 people, has been halted amid speculation surrounding US President Donald Trump's decisions on import tariffs and a proposal to eliminate subsidies to consumers for buying EVs. Trump's move c...

On June 4, the European Commission announced the adoption of a first list of 13 strategic projects for securing access to strategic raw materials in countries outside the EU, including overseas territories. These projects aim to diversify the EU's supply sources while enhancing local economies in third countries. This initiative aligns with a previously adopted list of 47 Strategic Projects within the EU, both developed under the Critical Raw Materials Act, effective since May 2024, to fortif...

Mainland China recently approved several export license applications for rare earth-related items in response to the increasing international demand for medium and heavy rare earth elements, primarily utilized in high-tech manufacturing sectors such as industrial robotics and electric vehicles. This strategy aims to balance mainland China's resource security with its status as a crucial supplier in the global high-tech value chain. The Commerce Ministry said that the export controls on rare e...

Believ, a leading electric vehicle charge-point operator (CPO), secured a £300 million investment facility to install at least 30,000 charge points across the UK by 2030, with an aim to expand the country's EV charging infrastructure. The funding was led by joint owners Liberty Global and Zouk Capital, along with Santander, ABN Amro, NatWest, and MUFG. It positions Believ as a well-supported CPO in the UK. This investment marks a significant step in expanding the public charging ne...

Marelli Holdings, a major auto parts supplier owned by private equity firm KKR, is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US, according to a June 7 Reuters report. The report referenced Kyodo news agency as the source of the news, with Kyodo citing unnamed sources. Marelli is a key supplier for Nissan and Stellantis, and is exploring this option to ensure that its business operations continue uninterrupted, even if negotiations with creditors do not yield positive re...

India is in discussions with companies to establish long-term stockpiles of rare earth magnets by offering fiscal incentives for domestic production. The effort aims to reduce India's reliance on mainland China, which dominates 90% of the processing of these magnets crucial for industries such as clean energy, defense and automobiles. Mainland China's decision in April to curb exports of rare earth materials has prompted global industry concerns, highlighting the need for India to develop its ma...

US Critical Materials Corp. and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) are undertaking efforts to bolster America's access to critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs) by developing an environmentally responsible demonstration facility on the Idaho National Laboratory Campus. This initiative is in response to a March Executive Order by President Donald Trump, which declared a national emergency due to US reliance on foreign nations for these essential materials. REEs are vital for the US' def...

Suzuki Motor has suspended production of its Swift subcompact car owing to the shortage of rare earth materials and magnets in Japan. Mainland China's restrictions on rare earth exports have caused the shortage. Citing unnamed sources aware of the development, a news report published by Reuters on June 5 stated that Suzuki became the first Japanese automaker affected by these curbs. Production of the Swift models, excluding the Swift Sport version, was halted on May 26 because of a sh...

The Barnet Council in the UK is advancing its efforts to support the transition to electric vehicles by initiating the installation of up to 1,000 new on-street charge points. The first 500 are under installation and are expected to be operational within three months, while the remaining 500 will be installed over the next three years, increasing the total number of EV charge points in Barnet to 2,500. This initiative is being executed in collaboration with Char.gy, a prominent UK-based EV ch...