BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s Xpeng Motors and Volkswagen have agreed to expand their partnership to cooperate on ultra-fast electric vehicle charging networks in China, the automakers said on Monday.

The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to open their respective fast-charging networks to each other’s customers, which comprise more than 20,000 charging piles across 420 cities in China, they said in a joint statement. Continue reading “Xpeng, Volkswagen to build ultra-fast charging network in China”

HONG KONG, (Reuters) – Guangzhou-based Pony.ai Inc is seeking to launch its robotaxi services in Hong Kong, joining Baidu in a race to provide services in the city, as the autonomous driving firm looks to expand its operations globally.

Nasdaq-listed Pony.ai plans to provide robotaxi commuting services for airport staff within Hong Kong International Airport before expanding into other urban areas in the city, the company said in a statement late on Friday. It did not provide a time frame for the launch. Continue reading “China’s Pony.ai eyes robotaxi services in Hong Kong, joining Baidu”

Source : PTI | Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Saturday said India is ahead of other countries in the field of green hydrogen.

The Union government has floated a tender for the world’s largest green ammonia demonstration project, he said during a visit to a floating solar plant in the Omkareshwar Dam in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district. Continue reading “India is ahead of other countries in green hydrogen sector: Union minister Pralhad Joshi”

Source : PTI | Mobility solutions and financial services providerORIX Corporation India Ltd expects automobile leasing market in India to account for 7-8% of the overall vehicle sales in the next 5-7 years, up from about 2% currently with more younger people joining the workforce, its Managing Director and CEO Vivek Wadhera. With good traction in its business, the company expects 30-35% higher profit this fiscal year compared to the last year, Wadhera told PTI in an interaction.

“If you compare the Indian market to the western market, the overall leasing market in India is 1-2% of the total number of automobiles sold,” he said when asked how the automobile leasing market has been developing in the country.

Continue reading “Expect automotive leasing in India to account for up to 8% of total sales in 5-8 yrs: ORIX”

Summary

• Analysts project 2024 sales to near 16 million vehicles
• GM maintains sales crown with 2.7 million vehicles sold
• Stellantis and Tesla face challenges

DETROIT, (Reuters) – U.S. new-car sales in 2024 continued to rise from their pandemic lows, bolstered by replenished inventories, higher incentives and surging demand for hybrid vehicles, automakers reported on Friday. Continue reading “US new car sales rose to five-year high in 2024, helped by hybrids”

(Reuters) – Rivian surpassed analysts’ expectations for fourth-quarter deliveries on Friday and said its production was no longer constrained by a component shortage, a positive sign for the electric vehicle maker aiming to turn its first profit.

Shares of the California-based company rose nearly 19%. The stock lost more than 40% of its value in 2024. Continue reading “EV maker Rivian beats expectations for deliveries as supply snag eases”

Source : PTI | Force Motors Ltd on Thursday said it has bagged an order for the supply of 2,429 units of ambulances to the Medical Health and Family Welfare Department, Uttar Pradesh. In a regulatory filing, the company said the order is for supply of 2,429 units of BS-VI diesel ambulance to the department. The order is to be executed between December 2024 and March 2025, it said without disclosing the value of the order.

The company in a statement later said that the UP-Government Health Department’s decision to procure 2429 ambulances from Force Motors underscores the state’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare infrastructure. Continue reading “Force Motors bags order for supply of 2,429 units of ambulances up UP govt”

Source : PTI | Stakeholders from the electric vehicle (EV) sector will hold a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal here on January 3 on issues, including infrastructure related to charging and battery swapping, sources said. They said that officials from the Department of Heavy Industries are expected to attend the meeting.

Representatives from Tata, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz India, Hero MotoCorp, and other companies have been invited to the deliberations, they added.

Continue reading “EV players to meet Piyush Goyal on Friday, discuss infra-related issues”

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(Reuters) – Tesla reported its first decline in annual deliveries on Thursday, as the automaker handed over fewer-than-expected electric vehicles in the fourth quarter and incentives failed to boost demand for its aging line-up of models.

Shares of the company fell 3.5% before the bell, in a sign of investor worries over the challenges facing CEO Elon Musk, who expected promotions including zero-interest financing to power a “slight growth” in deliveries in 2024. Continue reading “Tesla annual deliveries fall for first time as competition hurts demand”

Source : PTI | Mid-size motorcycle maker Royal Enfield on Thursday reported a 25% rise in total sales at 79,466 units in December 2024, as compared to 63,387 units sold in the same month a year ago. Domestic sales were at 67,891 units, as against 57,291 units in December 2023, up 19%, Royal Enfield said in a statement.

Similarly, exports jumped 90% at 11,575 units last month, as compared to 6,096 units in December 2023. Continue reading “Royal Enfield sales up 25% at 79,466 units in Dec”

OSLO, (Reuters) – Chinese electric cars have surged to account for almost 10% of new car sales in Norway in only five years, data from the country’s road federation (OFV) showed on Thursday.

Wealthy Norway is far ahead of most countries in the switch to electric vehicles and unlike the European Union and the United States has not imposed import tariffs on Chinese EVs. Continue reading “Chinese electric vehicles gain market share in Norway”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle makers including Nio and Li Auto have followed market leaders Tesla and BYD in extending buying incentives to the start of 2025, as a price war in the world’s largest auto market continues for a third year.

Li Auto announced on Thursday cash subsidies of 15,000 yuan ($2,055) per car purchase as well as a three-year zero-interest financing scheme. Continue reading “Chinese EV makers extend buying incentives as price war enters third year”

(Reuters) – Indian carmakers Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors reported a rise in sales to domestic dealers in December on steady sport utility vehicle demand, while year-end discounts helped Maruti Suzuki record its first small-car sales growth in 20 months, company data showed.

Market leader Maruti Suzuki’s domestic sales rose 24% in December and Mahindra & Mahindra clocked a 16% jump, the two companies reported on Wednesday. Continue reading “Maruti, Mahindra lead Indian carmakers’ December sales to dealers”

Summary

• Person in Cybertruck killed, seven injured in blast
• FBI investigating whether an act of terrorism
• Incident occurred hours after man drove truck into crowd in New Orleans

LAS VEGAS, (Reuters) – A Tesla Cybertruck exploded in flames outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on Wednesday, killing the driver and injuring seven others, and the FBI was investigating whether the blast was an act of terrorism, officials said. Continue reading “Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump Las Vegas hotel, killing driver”

Source : PTI | Petrol and diesel consumption soared in December 2024 as holiday travel boosted demand, reversing the fall seen in previous months, preliminary data of state-owned fuel retailers showed Wednesday.

While petrol sales saw a year-on-year rise in recent months, diesel has been a laggard since monsoon. November was the first month that saw growth in diesel consumption and the trend continued into December. Petrol sales of three state-owned firms, which control 90% of the fuel market, soared 9.8% to 2.99 million tonne in December compared to 2.72 million tonne in the same month last year. Continue reading “Petrol and diesel sales soar in December”

Source : PTI | Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland on Thursday reported a 5% increase in total sales to 16,957 units in December 2024 compared to 16,154 units a year ago. Domestic sales rose 4% to 15,713 units from 15,153 units in December 2023, Ashok Leyland said in a statement.

Sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles in the domestic market were at 10,488 units over 9,932 units in the year-ago month, a growth of 6%, it added. Continue reading “Ashok Leyland total sales up 5% at 16,957 units in Dec”

Source : PTI | Nissan Motor India on Wednesday reported 51.42% jump in total wholesales at 11,676 units in December 2024 as compared to the year-ago month. The company had posted total wholesales of 7,711 units in December 2023.

Domestic sales were at 2,118 units last month as compared to 2,150 units in the year-ago period. Continue reading “Nissan Motor India sales up 51.42% at 11,676 units in December”

Source : PTI | India can enhance its economic potential and become a keystone in the global supply chain system by seizing the opportunity from the shift in global alliances, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said and asserted that “India is well positioned to more than fend for itself”. In his New Year message to the employees of the group, Mahindra said international relations could become more and more transactional, driven strongly by national interest and national muscle-flexing.

“Globally, the last few years have been full of shocks, changes and uncertainties, and the year that is drawing to a close has been no exception. We are seeing a shifting world where interdependencies and a flat world may well be things of the past,” he wrote. Continue reading “India well positioned to more than fend for itself: Anand Mahindra”

Source : PTI | More than 28 lakh new vehicles were registered in Maharashtra in 2024, a 12.32% increase from 25.63 lakh registrations in 2023, as per official data. Overall, 28.79 lakh vehicles were registered, including 20.50 lakh two-wheelers and around 4.50 lakh cars, a 12.32% jump from 25.63 lakh vehicles registered in 2023.

Other vehicles include more than 1.20 lakh trucks, over 9,800 public service buses, 87,300 three-wheelers, and 84,500 tractors. Continue reading “Maharashtra sees 12.32% rise in new vehicle registrations in 2024”

(Reuters) – Air taxi start-up Volocopter GmbH filed for insolvency proceedings on Monday, citing its inability to raise new funds to maintain regular operations.

The Mercedes-Benz and Honeywell-backed company plans to continue business operations during the insolvency proceedings while seeking additional funding. Continue reading “German air taxi start-up Volocopter files for insolvency”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to exceed 130 trillion yuan ($17.8 trillion), President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday in his New Year’s address, adding that the country would implement more proactive policies to promote growth in 2025.

The world’s second-largest economy has struggled to stage a robust revival this year as a prolonged property market downturn, mounting local government debt and subdued consumer confidence hampered growth. Continue reading “China’s Xi pledges more proactive economic policies in 2025”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Tesla will fix software in 77,650 China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars over safety hazards, China’s market regulator said on Tuesday.

The action, due to software issues that may fail to display the monitored tyre pressure immediately after the vehicle starts, is described as a product recall under Chinese regulations, the regulator said. It was not immediately clear if drivers might need, or would be eligible, to return vehicles to Tesla for refunds. Continue reading “Tesla to fix software for 77,650 China-made vehicles, says market regulator”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s capital Beijing passed new regulations on Tuesday to encourage autonomous driving technology in the city, with authorities planning to eventually allow driverless public buses and taxis.

Autonomous vehicles that pass road testing and safety assessments will be allowed to apply for road trials, the state-backed Beijing Daily newspaper reported, which said the new regulations take effect from April 1. Continue reading “Beijing unveils plans to boost driverless vehicle use in capital”

(Reuters) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday that Ford Motor Co would recall 20,484 hybrid crossover SUVs over battery concerns.

The recall includes certain Ford Escape and luxury Lincoln Corsair vehicles from model years 2020 to 2024.

“A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure,” the NHTSA said.

Dealers will perform a battery energy control module software update and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, for free, the auto safety regulator said.

Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas

Source : PTI | The Maharashtra motor vehicles department (MMVD) will procure interceptor vehicles equipped with radar systems capable of detecting multiple traffic violations simultaneously, officials said on Friday.

The deployment of such radar-mounted interceptor vehicles, which will be the first for any state in the country, is expected to significantly increase the number of e-challans issued by flying squads of Regional Transport Offices (RTO), in turn improving enforcement efficiency, they said. Continue reading “RTOS to equip interceptor vehicles with radar for better e-challan system”

Source : PTI | After constructing a record 56,700 km of National Highways (NHs) in the country in the last 10 years, the road transport and highways ministry will shift focus on quality of construction and maintenance of NHs in 2025.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) is primarily responsible for development, operation and maintenance of NHs. Since 2013-14, the length of NHs has increased from 0.91 lakh km to 1.46 lakh km. Continue reading “The road ahead: Quality construction, maintenance of highways”