Peter Johnson

Despite overall sales slipping 1.5% in the first quarter, the BMW Group sold over 64,000 fully electric vehicles, up over 80% from last year. In an impressive showing, BMW brand EV sales more than doubled (+112.3%) in Q1 and will remain the “main growth driver” this year.

New Zealand’s first solar-powered electric, stratospheric aircraft was launched using an Audi e-tron S Sportback. The “Kea Atmos Mk1” from Kea Aerospace is designed to collect high-resolution aerial data to monitor the weather, tree health, and pollution, among other agricultural uses.

Burritos, electric vehicles, and renewable energy are the future, and nobody knows this better than Chipotle. Chipotle Mexican Grill unveiled a new all-electric restaurant design that utilizes 100% renewable energy from wind and solar sources. Oh, and did I mention there will be EV chargers?

The Hyundai Motor Group revealed Tuesday plans to become a top three global EV producer by 2030 with a new roughly $18 billion domestic investment (KRW 24 trillion) to spark growth.

Ford revealed during a media conference call on Tuesday that it plans to retool and transform its Oakville assembly plant in Ontario to prepare for the auto industry’s future. The facility will be renamed the Oakville EV complex to represent its role in the company better.

The first-ever fully electric Chevy Blazer EV is set to go on sale this summer, followed by a powerful high-performance SS trim. This SS version will be the first performance model of a Chevy EV, with an estimated 557 horsepower, turning the all-around family car into a speed demon. Check out the latest video of the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV SS tearing across the Daytona International Speedway below.

If your truck bed isn’t cutting it with limited storage and functionality, Rivian‘s new patent could change that. The EV maker’s latest patent application describes a “movable panel” on the truck bed, providing secret storage compartments and utility surfaces for work or play.

One of Toyota’s most prominent suppliers and Japan’s leading auto parts manufacturer, Denso, appointed a new CEO Monday as the industry’s shift to EVs heats up globally.

The GMC Sierra EV will be the second fully electric truck from the GM brand, following the GMC Hummer EV pickup. With an estimated 400 miles of range, the new GMC Sierra EV is poised to take on the Ford F-150 Lightning and the upcoming electric Ram 1500 REV. The automaker teased a few early designs for its upcoming electric truck recently.

With new electric vehicle sales approaching a record 7% of the total US auto market, the used EV market is beginning to pick up. According to new data from Cox Automotive, used EV sales were up 32% in the first quarter, with a clear new path to increase rapidly.

Ram Trucks is preparing to launch its first electric pickup, the 2025 Ram 1500 REV, with a massive battery providing up to 500 miles range. After Ram owner Stellantis said it plans to build the electric truck in the US, new reports suggest Illinois, home of the recently idled Jeep assembly factory, is pushing to bring production back to the facility and join the future of the industry.

Toyota’s newly elected CEO, Koji Sato, is tasked with pulling the automaker out of the past and into the modern era. After announcing plans to introduce 10 new EV models on Friday with 1.5 million in electric vehicle sales by 2026, is the automaker doing enough?

Volkswagen’s electric version of its iconic microbus, the VW ID. Buzz has just gotten even more adventure-friendly. Custom German auto tuner ABT revealed today it has developed solar modules to fit on the roof of the ID. Buzz to add roughly 1,800 miles (3,000 km) per year to the vehicle’s battery or for off-grid power.

Ford introduced a new artificial intelligence-based technology called Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist that can automatically back up and align the F-150 Lightning pickup’s hitch ball to a trailer with the push of a button.

Polestar, the Swedish EV maker known for its Scandinavian minimalist design, said it remains on track to hit 80,000 deliveries this year after delivering roughly 12,000 vehicles in Q1. The EV maker has an exciting year ahead of it with its first electric SUV, the Polestar 3, launching.

The world’s largest retailer, Walmart, plans to build its own “coast-to-coast” EV fast-charging network by 2030 to help deliver a convenient and affordable charging experience. 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart…

After teasing the all-electric compact van several times, Ford took the sheets of its third electric van Thursday, the E-Transit Courier, for the European market.

Kia updated its electric vehicle strategy Wednesday at its CEO Investor Day 2023 in Seoul, Korea. The automaker says it’s now aiming to sell 1.6 million EVs by 2030, up 400,000 from the previous guidance of 1.2 million.

With Kia forecasting 4.3 million overall sales by then, it would mean EVs would only account for 37% of all sales.

The new 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric debuted Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show. According to Hyundai’s estimates, the small electric SUV will feature up to 260 miles of range with advanced safety and convenience features.

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Hyundai is teaming up with the visionary wizards from Walt Disney Imagineering to create a Disney-inspired IONIQ 5 electric SUV concept complete with visual elements, accents, music, and lightning.

Ram finally revealed the details of its long-awaited first electric truck, the Ram 1500 REV. The electric truck will rival the Ford F-150 Lightning and upcoming Chevy Silverado EV with impressive targeted range, towing, and other features.

Ford acknowledged Wednesday that its entire lineup of electric vehicles, including the F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and E-Transit commercial van, are eligible for the EV tax credit. However, not all will receive the full $7,500 incentive.

A leading pest control agency in Texas, SafeHaven, in collaboration with Merge Electric Fleet Solutions, announced Tuesday that its EV pilot program found that deploying a Ford F-150 Lightning reduced CO2 emissions by 78% compared to its current Ford pickup.

Ford Motor released its first quarter sales Tuesday showing a 41% increase in EV sales. Despite the growth, Ford was outpaced in the first three months of 2023 by rival GM on the back of record Chevy Bolt EV sales.