
SCHURTER acquires majority stake in Biaodi
SCHURTER has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Biaodi, a China-based developer of high-voltage circuit protection for electric vehicles and energy applications, and has indicated plans to scale Biaodi’s business outside China via its manufacturing and distribution network.

Driivz chosen to power Duracell UK EV network
Driivz has been selected to provide software for Duracell E-Charge’s UK EV network and has been contracted to supply charging management, billing, roaming and monitoring capabilities to support network scaling and operational efficiency.


MG4 Urban reaches 100,000 units produced
SAIC's MG has produced 100,000 MG4 Urban units and has achieved monthly sales above 10,000 in seven of nine months; the Urban has been priced below the predecessor and the MG4 family has been expanded with the MG 4X.


Toyota to introduce four new EVs in US market
Toyota has announced plans to bring four battery-electric models to the US, has invested in a North Carolina battery plant and has partnered with Subaru to increase volumes, and has maintained a long-term, incremental EV strategy.


Polestar reports increased EV demand amid fuel-price surge
Polestar has reported increased demand for new and used electric vehicles as global fuel prices have risen after disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, and has recorded a widened Q1 net loss amid pricing pressure, tariffs and intensified competition.


Chevin highlights FleetWave customer case studies
Chevin Fleet Solutions has convened customers and industry leaders at its North America conference and has showcased FleetWave case studies that have demonstrated operational impacts, data-led improvements and supply-chain optimisation across large fleets and municipal utilities.


Pure Lithium scales to 500 MWh and plans GWh plant
Pure Lithium has reached full production at a 500 MWh all‑solid‑state battery line, has completed Pre‑A+ financing, and has announced plans for a GWh‑scale plant in 2026 and has deployed storage and battery‑swap pilot projects.


Lotus CEO: solid-state batteries a decade from production
Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng has said that solid-state batteries have remained years away from mass production and that technical and performance trade-offs have not yet been resolved, despite industry claims of imminent commercialisation.


BYD launches Denza B5/B8 Flash‑Charge editions in China
BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao has launched updated Denza B5 and B8 Flash‑Charge editions in China, has introduced YunNian‑P Ultra suspension and revised plug‑in hybrid powertrains, and has priced models from ¥259,800 to ¥419,800.


Intelligent transport systems and road safety outcomes
ITS Australia has emphasised members' roles in deploying intelligent transport technologies to reduce crashes, improve incident response and support safer network management during National Road Safety Week, and has called for continued industry–government collaboration.


AusRAIL 2026 to feature international rail leaders
Organisers have unveiled a refreshed two‑day format for AusRAIL 2026 and have confirmed international and local rail leaders, including LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, as keynote speakers to improve delegate engagement and targeted industry collaboration.


Microlise awarded King's Award for Enterprise 2026
Microlise has been awarded the King's Award for Enterprise 2026 for international trade and has expanded global operations, has supported more than 2,500 customers and has managed over 800,000 subscriptions across 197 countries, and has built local teams and partnerships.


Sponsors announced for 2026 Women in Industry Awards
The 2026 Women in Industry Awards, scheduled for 18 June in Sydney, have been supported by sponsors including Atlas Copco Group as Principal Partner, Australian Power Equipment (Platinum), Kenter and Grundfos (Gold), and the Australian Flexible Pavement Association.


Dash Cameras and GPS Trackers for Fleet Management
Analysis has compared dash cameras and GPS trackers for fleets, outlining claims and compliance impacts and scenarios where combined video telematics has delivered faster claims resolution, reduced losses and operational benefits, while GPS-only solutions have remained sufficient for low-risk fleets.


Henkel Battery Application Centre in Michigan
Henkel has opened a Battery Application Centre in Madison Heights that has replicated production dispensing with six‑axis robotics and heated pump systems, has supported co‑engineering on adhesive and de‑bonding solutions, and has used digital twin modelling for scale‑up.


22 kW bidirectional on-board charger in 4-litre package
A European consortium has been developing a 22 kW bidirectional on-board charger in a 4-litre package using monolithically integrated GaN semiconductors, supported by €33.7m of EU and member-state funding.


Chinese electric vehicles gain market share in Costa Rica
Chinese electric vehicles have gained market share in Costa Rica, where EVs have represented 18% of new‑car sales in Q1 2026; charging‑standard issues, lower‑priced models and fleet electrification have influenced consumer choice and operating costs.


Fluke FEV500 simulates EVs to test DC fast chargers
Fluke has launched the FEV500, an all‑in‑one tester that has simulated an electric vehicle to validate Level 3 DC fast chargers, has consolidated three instruments, and has supported ISO 15118 and DIN SPEC 70121 compliance for commissioning, maintenance and troubleshooting.


Investors Challenge Daimler Truck's EV Strategy
Activist investors have challenged Daimler Truck's lobbying and product strategy after 2025 profit and North America sales declines, noting lost EV market share to Tesla and Chinese entrants and arguing regulatory interventions have heightened concerns about the company's long-term competitiveness.


FlixBus and Green Drive launch electric intercity buses
FlixBus and Green Drive Mobility have partnered to introduce electric intercity bus services on the Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam corridor, deploying four electric buses initially and integrating FlixBus's digital ticketing with Green Drive's fleet operations for expansion in South India.


Hirschbach to Deploy Autonomous Trucks from 2027
Hirschbach has signed a memorandum to deploy 500 Aurora-equipped autonomous trucks from 2027, citing long-haul driver preferences; analysts have concluded the sector has faced high turnover and structural capacity imbalances rather than an overall driver shortage.


AI charging strategy extends EV battery life
Researchers have developed an AI-based rapid-charging strategy that has extended battery equivalent full cycles by 22.9% while keeping average charging time virtually unchanged; the method has used reinforcement learning and has required only software updates, pending physical validation.


ZF Aftermarket installs Euro 7 brake emission test rig
ZF Aftermarket has invested in an in-house brake emissions dynamometer in Spain and has developed the ZF dustIN platform, and has aligned testing capacity to support Euro 7 validation and aftermarket readiness for brake particulate regulations.


Tesla pilots virtual Supercharger waitlists
Tesla has begun testing a virtual waitlist at five US Superchargers, enabling drivers to join a queue via the app and track position and estimated wait; the pilot has not implemented enforcement to secure stalls for next-in-line drivers.


Night-shift employee transport: compliance and cost risks
Recent regulations in India have required employers to provide recorded, door-to-door night transport for female employees; audits have highlighted operational, safety and financial gaps, while AI-driven routing has been reported to reduce costs and improve punctuality.


Corporate mobility strategy for hybrid workplaces
Organisations have adopted integrated corporate mobility strategies to manage fluctuating commute demand, improve vehicle utilisation, strengthen compliance and control costs; technology has enabled real‑time planning, route optimisation and sustainability tracking.


Stellantis expands partnership with Leapmotor
Stellantis has expanded its strategic partnership with Leapmotor, has planned production of a model for Europe in 2028 and has agreed joint development of an Opel electric SUV to be built in Zaragoza, Spain.


AROBS appoints Adina Suciu as Group Transformation Officer
AROBS has appointed Adina Suciu as Group Chief Transformation and Integration Officer to coordinate integration and operational transformation across recent acquisitions and to align processes, teams and governance to support international expansion.


Chargefox lists Shell Recharge sites in app
Chargefox has listed four Shell Recharge sites, including 350 kW ultra‑fast chargers, on its app, has enabled access without additional accounts and has said more locations will be added across Australia over the next 12 months.


Federal Budget allocates $12bn to transport projects
The federal government has announced more than $12 billion in 2026–27 transport and infrastructure investments to boost freight productivity, strengthen supply chains and fund major rail, road and local infrastructure upgrades.


GMV presents Comprehensive Cluster Protection Model
GMV has presented a Comprehensive Cluster Protection Model to coordinate sector-based cybersecurity, and has proposed shared services and a 'cyber district' to improve incident response and support compliance with the EU NIS2 Directive.

Endeavour Awards 2026 supported by industry sponsors
Manufacturers’ Monthly has presented the 2026 Endeavour Awards, which have been supported by industry sponsors and a collaboration with Australian Manufacturing Week, and organisers have reported increased industry engagement and sold-out attendance in Brisbane.

Kapsch TrafficCom to upgrade EastLink MLFF tolling
Kapsch TrafficCom has been awarded a contract by ConnectEast and has been commissioned to upgrade EastLink’s MLFF roadside tolling system, a multi‑year project that has been scheduled for completion in mid‑2028.


Bipartisan bill would bar certain Chinese connected vehicles
Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill to ban Chinese-made connected vehicles, software and hardware from the US, citing national-security and data concerns, and have set phased compliance dates mirroring earlier Senate proposals.


Predictive maintenance to reduce oil and gas downtime
Predictive maintenance technologies have reduced unplanned downtime and improved visibility across oil and gas fleets, enabling operators to schedule repairs, lower emergency costs and shift maintenance from reactive to planned operations.


Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis over flooded-road bug
Waymo has recalled about 3,800 robotaxis in the US after it has identified a software defect that could permit vehicles to enter flooded lanes; it has filed a voluntary recall with the NHTSA and has deployed mitigations and software fixes.


GM cuts IT roles amid workforce restructuring
General Motors has eliminated about 500–600 IT positions, mainly in Austin and Warren, as it has transformed its IT organisation; affected employees have been offered tiered severance, health‑care payments and outplacement and have been required to sign release agreements.


inepro Metering launches portable EV meter testers
inepro Metering has launched the Tunkia TE1000 and TE1100, portable devices that have enabled on-site verification of EV charging meter accuracy, have provided traceable calibration and automated reporting, and have supported audits amid rising regulatory scrutiny.


Zubie-PurCo integrate telematics for rental inspections
Zubie and PurCo have announced an integration that has enabled PurInspect to ingest Zubie Sense telematics — location, mileage, impact and smoke detection — providing rental operators with earlier, data-driven damage detection and streamlined inspection workflows.


Germany to invest €1bn in heavy truck charging
The Federal Ministry of Transport has announced a €1bn, four‑year programme to fund heavy‑vehicle charging infrastructure, including depot and public sites, grid connections, battery storage and load management, and has allocated an initial €200m in 2026.


Cummins Declares Quarterly Dividend of US$2.00
Cummins has declared a quarterly common stock cash dividend of US$2.00 per share, payable on 4 June 2026 to shareholders of record on 22 May 2026.


AI charging strategy extends EV battery life in simulation
Chalmers researchers have developed a reinforcement‑learning charging strategy that has extended simulated EV lithium‑ion cycle life by about 23% without increasing charge times and has been deployable via software updates pending physical validation.


Chevin Fleet Solutions to exhibit at FleetCon 2026
Chevin Fleet Solutions has confirmed its exhibition at FleetCon 2026 and has announced FleetWave upgrades and integrations to demonstrate capabilities in operational efficiency, compliance and data consolidation for fleet managers and suppliers.


Government delays EV road-user charge, boosts charging
The government has postponed a road‑user charge for electric vehicles and has allocated additional funding for regional and kerbside charging, expanded Australia Post fleet electrification and extended dealer repair support measures to promote electric vehicle uptake.


SAM Act proposes federal changes for autonomous buses
Representative Kevin Kiley has introduced the SAM Act, which has proposed amending federal grant rules, funding testing and establishing a $100 million programme to accelerate deployment of ADS‑equipped buses within public transit networks.


Fraunhofer develops automated battery recycling robot system
Fraunhofer IPA has been developing a robotic system, funded with €5.09m and running to end‑2028, that automates battery characterisation, charging/discharging, sorting and disassembly, and has arranged an industrial trial with recycling specialist Umicore.




