Scooter Doll

A couple months after confirming certification in Europe, Chinese automaker HiPhi has begun sales of its first two models overseas – the HiPhi X SUV and HiPhi Z GT. The automaker shared pricing of these first two models, which will soon be joined by a radical-looking third EV you can see below.

Over six months after expanding upon an existing partnership to bring mass production of eVTOLs to the US, Stellantis and Archer Aviation have shared a progress update. The partnership has now moved from the “concept phase” to the “execution phase” as its high-volume eVTOL production facility continues construction in Georgia.

During this year’s Paris Air Show, eVTOL developer SkyDrive announced a basic agreement with fellow Japanese manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corporation to assist in producing the former’s SKYDRIVE aircraft. SkyDrive also announced a redesign to its eVTOL that will now transport more passengers.

Following a hint that this was coming during its Q1 2023 earnings report, Nikola Corporation shared a business update that includes plans for decreased cash usage and a “reorganizing” of its workforce. The EV startup is prioritizing the North American market as it looks to lean down and optimize to ensure the continued production of its zero-emissions trucks.

Italian premium EV startup AEHRA continues to garner a demand for attention with its latest model reveal – The Sedan. Bold choice to choose not to name your EV models, but AEHRA has some confidence going into today’s reveal, showcasing a new model designed by former leads at Lamborghini and Ferrari. After seeing a full glimpse of The Sedan, we are starting to take notice ourselves.

Today, Mercedes-Benz shared details of its expansion of AI functions to bolster its MBUX user experience, particularly its “Hey Mercedes” voice assistance technology which has now been integrated with renowned chatbot ChatGPT. On a recent visit to the automaker’s International Design Center, we got the chance to test out ChatGPT first hand in a Mercedes EV. Get ready for some really bad jokes.

XPeng Motors’ City NGP Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) is now available in the China’s capital city of Beijing – the first automaker to make the technology available. With today’s expansion, City NGP is already available in four of China’s largest cities as the EV automaker looks to cover dozens of additional territories later this year.

As Volkswagen Group refocuses its business strategy to further prioritize profitability and cashflow, it is announcing a new optimization program pertaining to its Passenger Cars namesake specifically. The “Accelerate forward | Road to 6.5” program will leverage synergy across the VW Passenger Car brands in order to more than double profits to 6.5%.

This week, we got a special invitation to Carlsbad, California, to peek behind the curtain of Mercedes-Benz’s International Design Center (IDC). It was here that the automaker’s creative team shared details of its fifth design strategy, which includes NFTs, augmented reality, and some exciting new motor technology. The true star of the show, however, was the debut of Mercedes’s latest all-electric concept, the Vision One Eleven – a hyper-futuristic nod to an experimental legend that debuted over 50 years ago.

BrightDrop – GM’s all-electric, last-mile delivery unit – is venturing outside of the US for the first time and crossing the border north to Canada. FedEx, one of BrightDrop’s earliest and largest customers, will deploy an initial fleet of electric vehicles around some of the larger metropolitan areas in Canada.

Just three days after hitting showrooms and opening pre-orders, XPeng Motors’ G6 SUV is garnering a lot of hype in China as over 25,000 customers have already reserved one. This is encouraging news for the automaker, which has put a lot of faith into its latest model as the EV that will compete with the Tesla Model Y and help boost its delivery numbers this year.

ABM, the largest installer of EV chargers in the US has decided to take some of its charger technology in-house. Together with the help of software developer Noodoe, the services provider has introduced a lineup of ABM branded EV chargers for the first time that support a range of outputs and charge speeds.

FinDreams, the battery unit of Chinese automotive conglomerate BYD, is establishing a joint venture with Huaihai Holding Group. Together, the two companies intend to establish themselves as the world’s largest supplier of sodium-ion batteries for small EVs.

Silent Resorts – the exclusive partner of solar electric boatbuilder Silent Yachts, is building off the early success of its first fully-sustainable residences and intends to bring a new solar-powered resort to the island nation of Fiji. These exclusive residences are being erected to promote sustainability and exploration while offering some income opportunities for the exclusive members who buy in.

Nearly six months into its Accelerator crowdfunding program, solar EV startup Aptera is putting a pause on new investments while it files requested paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As a result, many of the loyal believers that make up the Aptera community and have helped get the company this far will no longer be able to invest unless they meet certain criteria.

Fisker Inc. announced that it will soon begin selling (and possibly producing) its flagship Ocean SUV in China. Executives from the American automaker recently visited Shanghai and discussed collaboration opportunities in the country, which has enabled plans for a delivery center opening this year followed by first Ocean deliveries in 2024.

Rivian is saying it hears its customers loud and clear, and if they want to get themselves into a shiny new R1T, they’ll have the opportunity to drive off in one next weekend in Normal, Illinois. Customers who venture down to Rivian’s service center at its production hub next week can come see the electric pickups up close, buy one, take delivery, and take it home. You know, almost like a car dealer.

Califooooorniaaaaaa here we coooommmmeeeee (autonomously). Mercedes-Benz has just announced that its SAE Level 3 autonomous driver assist system, DRIVE PILOT, has been certified to operate in the entire state of California, beginning with a couple of familiar models.

No, that is not a roman numeral ten. Burgeoning EV automaker ZEEKR has rolled the first models of its new “X” SUV off its assembly lines in China less than two months after its initial launch. The automaker sees the SUV as a competitor to Tesla and premium automakers as it expands outside of China into new markets.

Ford Motor Co. has shared an update on its journey to scale production of its super popular, all-electric F-150 Lightning in order to reduce customer wait times. The American automaker has bolstered production of its XLT trim, in particular, and is limiting new reservation wait times down under four months.

The world’s first electric boat racing series has been teasing its forthcoming schedule for over a year, and it has finally arrived… although it’ll start a tad later than expected. The UIM E1 World Championship Series has unveiled its official race calendar, which will begin in Saudi Arabia and continue through several beautiful coastal cities in Europe.

The Aspark Owl – an all-electric hypercar in development for eight years and quite easily the most expensive EV in the world to date – was recently spotted driving in Monaco. The company has announced its first two dealers ahead of its limited run production finally beginning.

As freight logistics specialist Schneider National continues to electrify its fleet of regional and long-haul trucks, it decided to take charging into its own hands… at least in Southern California. The company just opened a new depot about half the size of a football field, capable of charging over 30 electric trucks simultaneously.

A young battery startup in China claims its latest cell technology is able to alleviate a major issue for EV owners today – the loss of charging performance and range in inclement weather, especially cold climates during winter. By utilizing superconducting materials, Greater Bay Technology says its new cells can charge and function as normal within six minutes, no matter the temperature outside.