Hyundai launches and prices electric Staria Load van
Hyundai has launched the electric Staria Load van, offering a 450km WLTP range, 84kWh battery, 230kW DC charging and a 1,005kg payload. The two-seat van uses Hyundai’s 800V E-GMP platform and includes vehicle-to-load power and over-the-air updates.
Zeekr confirms 7GT electric shooting brake for Australia in 2026
Zeekr will launch its 7GT electric shooting brake in Australia by the end of 2026, with three variants, up to 670km of WLTP range and prices expected to start at about A$55,000. Deliveries are due in early 2027.
Hyundai partners with UEFA as IONIQ 3 leads European EV expansion
Hyundai has agreed a multi-year partnership with UEFA’s Champions League from 2026/27 to 2030/31. The arrangement will promote its technology strategy, while the all-electric IONIQ 3 leads five planned European launches and is now being built at Hyundai’s İzmit plant in Türkiye.
NSW commits $16.5m to EV charging for fleets, councils and carparks
New South Wales will provide $16.5 million in grants for kerbside, council and commercial-carpark EV chargers. The scheme includes support for fleet electrification and requires funded sites to use 100% renewable electricity.
US auto groups urge Trump to block Chinese automakers
Six major US automotive trade groups have urged President Trump to keep policies restricting Chinese automakers from selling, importing or manufacturing vehicles in the United States, ahead of his expected meeting with President Xi Jinping.
Moventum Fleet Management appoints Mark Iorillo head of sales
Moventum Fleet Management has appointed Mark Iorillo as head of sales. He will lead customer acquisition, build the sales organisation and oversee new business development, bringing nearly two decades of fleet-management and sales leadership experience.
Germany authorises cab-less Level 4 autonomous truck for daily logistics
Einride and Lidl are operating Germany’s first cab-less SAE Level 4 autonomous truck on public roads under a KBA permit. The vehicle transports goods between Lidl facilities, with plans to expand the route and consider further Schwarz Group deployments.
Dressen appointed to lead ZF Aftermarket’s South African operations
ZF Aftermarket has appointed Maic Dressen as managing director of ZF Services South Africa and sub-regional head for sub-Saharan Africa and French overseas territories, overseeing regional growth and customer support.
Zagreb begins passenger testing of fully driverless robotaxis
Verne and Pony.ai have begun Level 4 robotaxi test rides without onboard safety staff on Zagreb public roads. Vehicles cover a 22-kilometre route to Franjo Tuđman Airport, supporting validation of remote supervision and future commercial driverless services.
Xpeng G9L to launch globally in Paris with Austrian production
Xpeng will launch its electric G9L SUV globally at the Paris Auto Show on 12 October 2026. European vehicles will be assembled at Magna Steyr’s plant in Austria, with electric and range-extender powertrains offered.
TMC and SureCam launch privacy-focused video telematics for car fleets
TMC and SureCam have launched MilesSecure, combining on-demand dashcam video with automated business-mileage capture for company-car and grey-fleet operations. The system supports HMRC-ready reporting while deleting location data from journeys marked as private.
CATL and DHL partner on electric-truck charging and battery swapping
CATL and DHL Group have signed an MoU to develop scalable charging, energy and battery-swapping solutions for electric freight across Europe, including green-corridor planning, OEM engagement and pilot projects.
Battery Imaging Library opens 4.5TB dataset to researchers
The open-access Battery Imaging Library brings together more than 4.5TB of experimental data from 48 scientists across 18 institutions. Its battery imaging datasets support modelling, image-analysis development, training and research into battery structure and performance.
Australian fleet survey highlights safety, customer and fuel pressures
A Geotab survey of 517 Australian fleet professionals found driver fatigue and safety were the leading concern, followed by customer expectations and fuel costs. The findings show fleet managers are balancing safety, service delivery, compliance and productivity.
Northern Highway intersection upgrade prompts Wallan road closures
Construction of the Northern Highway intersection upgrade in Wallan, Victoria, is progressing, with overnight Watson Street closures and traffic delays. The project will add lanes, improve turning capacity and upgrade lighting, signage and walking and cycling connections, with completion expected by mid-2027.
BHP slows electric haul-truck rollout as Fortescue defends charging strategy
BHP says current electric haul trucks are unsuitable for mass deployment because of charging downtime, while Fortescue argues charging must be assessed alongside energy costs, infrastructure and productivity. Fortescue is trialling 6MW chargers in Australia’s Pilbara region.
BYD adds Sealion 7 to Australia’s largest V2G trial
BYD is adding its Sealion 7 electric SUV to Amber Electric’s Australian vehicle-to-grid trial, which can include up to 1,000 EVs. Buyers committing to the trial receive a 6% discount, while BYD says more models will follow.
Fortescue plans first Australian Formula E team
Mining company Fortescue plans to enter Formula E with a team acquired from Penske and a Jaguar-powered electric race car. Its engineers will use the championship to develop battery, software and hardware technologies for mining and other applications.
AGL showcases open-source SDV platform at Automotive World Japan
Automotive Grade Linux demonstrated its open-source Unified Code Base running on RISC-V hardware at Automotive World Japan in Tokyo. The showcase featured a Flutter-based HMI, vehicle-control applications and support for instrument clusters and telematics gateways.
Mentorship programme supports safer commercial drivers
Southeastern Freight Lines driver Harold Perry explains how its Driver Mentor Programme pairs experienced and newer drivers to build judgement, confidence and safer habits. He also outlines how fleet managers can support driver training and safety.
Private fleets expand their share of company freight, NPTC survey finds
NPTC’s 2026 Benchmarking Survey, covering 89 private fleets and 2025 operations, finds respondents handled 72% of outbound freight and 64% of inbound movements. Seventy-one per cent expect to add equipment or handle more company freight over the next five years.
Euclidic completes 650-vehicle telematics upgrade for SRG Global
Euclidic migrated about 650 SRG Global vehicles from 3G plug-in telematics devices to 4G hardwired equipment across Australia. The provider coordinated installations around remote locations, customer-site access and vehicle availability to minimise operational disruption.
Regional NSW areas lead electric-vehicle uptake, analysis finds
Analysis of Transport for NSW registration data finds regional areas led BEV growth over six months. NSW passed 150,000 BEVs in August, up 35% in six months, with the strongest gains concentrated around regional cities and commuter areas.
Blacktown targets fleet productivity as service demand grows
Blacktown City Council plans to handle rising service demand through higher vehicle utilisation, asset sharing and telematics-led planning rather than automatic fleet expansion. Electric waste trucks could also enable longer operating hours and reduce the need for additional vehicles.
EV charging demand outpaces infrastructure growth, ChargePoint report finds
ChargePoint says charging sessions on its network rose 34% in 2025, versus 16% growth in vehicles, highlighting pressure on fleet infrastructure. Its report covers higher-powered chargers, AI-enabled management, uptime and emerging vehicle-to-grid applications.
2026 IFOY winners showcase AI-led warehouse automation
The 2026 IFOY Award winners include AI-enabled warehouse orchestration, rack-climbing and vision-guided robots, open software for mixed vehicle fleets, autonomous pallet handling and ergonomic container-unloading equipment.
SABOA conference highlights funding and infrastructure barriers to bus electrification
South Africa’s bus industry used the SABOA 2026 conference to discuss electrification, funding reform, infrastructure, cross-border regulation and digital transformation. Johannesburg is assessing bus-fleet electrification, while operators highlighted financing, workforce and safety challenges.
Putco adds six accessible Mercedes-Benz buses to South African fleet
Putco has received six Mercedes-Benz Low Entry buses, built with Marcopolo bodies, for its South African fleet. The universally accessible vehicles are designed to improve boarding and travel for disabled and mobility-impaired passengers, and are due to enter service shortly.
Powerstar to put VL 550 through its paces at South Africa’s Truck Test
Powerstar will enter its VL 550 extra-heavy truck in Truck Test 2026 on South Africa’s Johannesburg–Durban route. The 405kW Weichai-powered vehicle will be assessed for fuel consumption, journey times, speed and productivity under long-haul operating conditions.
Powerstar showcases trucks and tests Euro 5 prototypes in South Africa
Powerstar distributor Ever Star Industries showcased construction and mining trucks at Electra Mining Africa, while testing new 6×4 Euro 5 manual and automatic prototypes. The company also highlighted local assembly, expanded production and demand for water tankers in South Africa.
FleetGO joins Aptean to expand European logistics software operations
FleetGO, a European provider of fleet, transport and warehouse-management software, has joined Aptean. The deal is intended to provide additional scale and resources for product innovation and international growth while maintaining FleetGO’s customer and product commitments.
GM launches new V8 engines for 2027 full-size pickups
General Motors has detailed two new V8 engines, a carryover diesel and an upgraded turbocharged option for its 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, as US automakers renew competition in the profitable full-size truck market.
Digital twins support CCAM pilots across four European cities
Horizon Europe project FRODDO is using digital twins to test connected and automated mobility applications, including traffic-management simulation, early warnings, demand prediction and autonomous tow-truck monitoring across pilots in Ljubljana, Athens, Modena and Bursa.
Eclipse SDV showcases open automotive software initiatives in Japan
Eclipse SDV held a community meetup and exhibited at Automotive World Japan, presenting open-source software-defined vehicle projects, vehicle orchestration, diagnostics and compliance work. The events also expanded engagement with Japanese OEMs and industry partners.
Tesla changes Model Y L specifications amid rear-suspension complaints
Tesla has revised several Model Y L dimensions in its online manual, including ground clearance, while owners report rear suspension sag, premature tyre wear and recurring problems after spring replacements. The company has not explained whether the changes reflect hardware or documentation adjustments.
US toll agencies explore embedded vehicle payments to replace transponders
Around 16 US toll agencies are discussing pilots for connected-vehicle payments, allowing vehicles to process tolls using stored customer credentials. The approach aims to reduce transponder hardware and account-management friction while complementing existing electronic tolling systems.
ZF LIFETEC integrates occupant sensing with adaptive restraint systems
ZF LIFETEC has developed an integrated passenger-car safety system combining cameras, seat and seat-belt sensors with adaptive airbags and restraint algorithms. The production-ready technology adjusts protection to occupant size, position and posture, and will be demonstrated at InCabin Europe 2026.
Kapsch begins real-world V2X trial in Buenos Aires
Kapsch TrafficCom has begun a proof-of-concept V2X trial in Buenos Aires, connecting vehicles, roadside infrastructure and traffic management systems. The pilot is testing alerts for road hazards and closures, with traffic-signal priority and public-transport applications planned.
ADAS cuts crash losses despite higher repair costs, study finds
IIHS and HLDI research finds ADAS-equipped vehicles have higher claim severity but fewer crashes, reducing overall collision losses by about 5% and property-damage liability losses by nearly 30%. For fleets, parts shortages and calibration requirements can increase repair downtime.
BYD launches 501 km Yuan UP electric crossover in China
BYD has launched the 2027 Yuan UP Feichi Edition in China, adding a 501 km CLTC variant with a 51.13 kWh Blade Battery. Prices start at 74,800 yuan, while the compact electric crossover retains 301 km and 401 km versions.
AI speeds fleet analysis while keeping managers at the centre
Summit Fleet Leasing and Management says its AI Fleet Insights platform can accelerate analysis of costs, utilisation and operational exceptions. Managing director Darren Gore argues that experienced fleet managers remain essential to frame questions, validate results and apply insights to decisions.
Volvo starts FH Aero Electric production and unveils 80-tonne electric truck
Volvo Trucks has started series production of the 700-kilometre FH Aero Electric and unveiled an electric truck-and-trailer combination for gross combination weights of up to 80 tonnes. The combination targets European markets and supports megawatt or CCS2 charging.
Maserati plans Huawei-JAC partnership for new electric models
Maserati is reportedly planning two electric models with Huawei and JAC Motors, using Huawei technology and JAC manufacturing in China. Semi-knocked-down production would see bodies shipped to Italy for final assembly, with initial target markets including Europe and the Middle East.
Victoria unveils 10-year rail freight plan
Victoria has released a 2026–2036 rail freight plan to increase network capacity, resilience and efficiency. The government says investment will support regional freight, reduce road congestion and emissions, and enable a new inland freight terminal at Dandenong South.
Parkes uses fleet data and telematics to improve safety
Parkes Shire Council uses telematics, driver scorecards, trailer-braking data and near-miss reporting to reduce risky behaviour and improve fleet safety. Its programme includes retrofitting electronic braking systems and changing depot traffic flows based on evidence.
ArcFox Alpha T7 attracts 30,000 orders in one hour
BAIC’s ArcFox Alpha T7 has reportedly secured 30,000 orders within an hour of launch. The electric and range-extender SUV features Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 5 system, an 800V platform, CATL batteries and up to 715km of CLTC electric range.
MAN unveils electric eTGX at IAA Transportation 2026
MAN presented the new fully electric eTGX long-haul truck at IAA Transportation in Hannover. The 4x2 tractor offers up to 660km of range, while a 6x2 version with seven batteries is projected to reach 720km.
Utility Trailer expands TrailerConnect telematics platform
Utility Trailer has enhanced its TrailerConnect platform for North American fleets with remote diagnostics, improved fault-code visibility, fleet-management tools and expanded trailer performance data. The updates cover reefers, dry vans and flatbeds, with dealer-backed onboarding and support.