
Toyota Q4 earnings fall amid EV transition delays
Toyota has reported a 21.5% decline in Q4 operating income, margins have fallen from 10% to 7.4%, and its North American unit has posted a $2 billion operating loss; its BEV market share has remained low amid sustained underinvestment.

OBE Power to deploy ChargePoint EV chargers
OBE Power has planned to deploy c. 2,500 ChargePoint ports at multifamily residences, has appointed ChargePoint as exclusive supplier and has covered energy reimbursements, maintenance, insurance and repairs at no cost to landlords.


Meridian reaches 500 public EV charging points
Meridian has installed its 500th public EV charging point, has focused recent expansion in the South Island, and has announced plans to add 900 more by 2030 and has reported strong growth in users and app registrations.


California launches $1bn electric truck rebate programme
The California Air Resources Board has announced a $1bn rebate programme for electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks, has opened retailer enrolment and has allocated $250m for 2024, and has projected about $1bn through 2030.


Autogari.MD integrates CargoTrack for coach tracking
Autogari.MD has integrated CargoTrack GPS to provide real‑time coach tracking in the browser, has reduced operator inbound calls by 1,875 in the first month and has validated the solution with four partner operators.


Ammann Prime Training and ABC ValueTec Sales in Argentina
Econovo Agrovial and Ammann have hosted Prime training for 38 technicians and have emphasised the plant’s fuel efficiency, mobility and as1 control; ABC ValueTec batch plants have achieved rapid orders, supported by strengthened local service and parts investment.


BYD patents composite sulphide solid-state electrolyte
BYD has filed a patent for a composite solid electrolyte membrane and has described a polymer-inorganic fibre network that has been designed to improve ionic conductivity and mechanical strength; the filing has not disclosed commercialisation timelines or performance metrics.


China's patent position in solid-state batteries
An industry analysis has found China has led global solid‑state battery patent filings but has warned that the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea have accelerated policy support and patent deployment, risking erosion of China’s comparative advantage.


ITS Australia Global Summit 2026 in Melbourne
The ITS Australia Global Summit has been scheduled for 22–24 September 2026 in Melbourne and has emphasised operational delivery, integration of intelligent transport systems and infrastructure performance, with international delegates and an accompanying industry exhibition.


Fortescue fits out 240-tonne electric haul truck
Fortescue has fitted out a 240-tonne battery electric haul truck and has commenced commissioning of a 6 MW fast charger, and has outlined plans to deploy over 300 electric haul trucks and a renewable-powered green grid in the Pilbara.


Chery launches 2027 C9 SUV refresh (Exeed Yaoguang)
Chery has launched the 2027 C9 (Exeed Yaoguang) refresh, offering 2.0‑litre ICE and 1.5‑litre PHEV variants with a 120 km CLTC range; pricing has been set at ¥124,900–¥139,900 and the model has received safety and cabin upgrades.


Denza Z9 GT Chopard Edition Sold for €700,000
BYD has sold a one-off Denza Z9 GT, created with Chopard, for €700,000 (about US$811,000) at the Cannes amfAR gala, with proceeds designated for AIDS research and featuring bespoke Chopard finishes.


Changan launches CS75 Plus and Eado BlueCore HEVs
Changan has launched the fourth-generation Eado and CS75 Plus BlueCore HEVs, has priced them from 79,900 yuan and 109,900 yuan respectively, and has adopted a shared 1.7 kWh battery with BlueCore hybrid control architecture.


BYD reports assisted driving reduces severe accident rates
BYD has reported its assisted-driving systems have been deployed on over 60 models and nearly three million vehicles, and have reduced airbag-triggered severe accident rates to one-sixth of human driving levels.


Geely launches refreshed EX2 with 460 km CLTC range
Geely has scheduled the refreshed EX2 launch for 28 May, introducing minor styling changes, Galaxy badging and a 47 kWh LFP battery option extending CLTC range to 460 km; pricing and supplier details have not been disclosed.


Geely Galaxy Starshine 7 launched with 312 kW output
Geely has launched the Galaxy Starshine 7 in China, offering 108,800–139,800 yuan standard pricing (98,800–129,800 yuan limited-time) and variants with up to 312 kW output, a Thor Hybrid 2.0 system and a 220 km CLTC electric range.


Arcfox Beta S3 launched with CATL battery-swap support
BAIC's Arcfox has launched the Beta S3 in China, offering eight configurations with battery‑swap and charging options, and has secured over 30,000 orders since pre‑sales; BaaS monthly rentals have been priced from 399 to 599 yuan.


Nissan recalls 68,265 N7 and N6 vehicles in China
Nissan has recalled 68,265 N7 and N6 vehicles in China after regulators identified accelerator‑pedal design wear; the company has said affected pedals and, for N6, brake pedals will be replaced free of charge, and no related injuries have been reported.


ROHM RESDxVx ESD diodes for above-10 Gbps interfaces
ROHM has introduced the RESDxVx ESD diodes, which have combined low terminal capacitance (0.24/0.48 pF) with 0.28 Ω dynamic resistance and have been AEC‑Q101 qualified for automotive variants targeting above 10 Gbps interfaces.


Einride to test autonomous electric trucks in Ohio
Einride has announced plans to test SAE Level 4 autonomous electric trucks on public roads and EASE Logistics property in Ohio, under the Truck Automation Corridor Project, to evaluate impacts on operations, safety and freight efficiency.


Presto to integrate with bp pulse US EV charging network
Presto and bp pulse have agreed to integrate more than 8,000 US charging locations into Presto’s platform, enabling real‑time availability, session initiation and fleet access, and bp pulse has sought to increase network utilisation through fleet partnerships.


Loop Global installs 64 EV chargers at Boston development
Loop Global has completed a Level 2 installation of 64 chargers at a multifamily development in Hyde Park, Boston, covering 25% of parking; utility incentives have covered about 70% of project costs.


AI dash cams reduce safety risks in ready-mix fleets
AI dash cams have been deployed in ready‑mix fleets to provide real‑time alerts, contextual video evidence, context‑weighted scoring and telematics integration, and have been reported to support claims handling and insurer renewal discussions.


BYD schedules 28 May intelligent driving conference
BYD has scheduled an intelligent-driving strategy conference for 28 May and has signalled a potential expansion of its God’s Eye ADAS, AI training and flash-charging technologies, prompting industry discussion about broader deployment and software-compute updates.


Stellantis eyes Mexico, Canada for China-branded cars
Stellantis has said it has identified opportunities to expand partnerships in North America, including producing Chinese-branded vehicles in Mexico and possibly Canada, while pursuing non-China collaborations in the United States.


Pilot confirms technical recovery of automotive plastics
The Global Impact Coalition has run a pilot that has demonstrated recovery of automotive plastics but has identified structural value chain barriers to commercial scaling; Phase 2 has engaged OEMs and suppliers to address economics, automation and design for circularity.


BYD leads China EV lawsuits by disclosed claim value
Chinese automaker BYD has led a publicly compiled tally with 6.9263 million yuan in disclosed claims against bloggers; other EV firms have also pursued legal action over alleged misinformation, defamation and reputational disputes.


Western Freeway upgrade secures $50m pre-construction
Federal and Victorian governments have committed $50 million to pre-construction for the Western Freeway upgrade between Melton and Caroline Springs and have advanced planning that forms part of a broader $1 billion federal commitment.


Material change cuts emissions on Melbourne level crossing
A material substitution has reduced embodied emissions by about 20 tonnes on the Hopkins Road level crossing removal in Melbourne by using SENSE 600 reinforcing steel, which has delivered equivalent strength with up to 16.7% less raw material.


New Fitzroy River Bridge opens ahead of schedule
The Fitzroy River Bridge has been completed over six months early using prefabricated REDCOR weathering steel girders and an incremental launch method; alliance partners have collaborated to mitigate logistical constraints and long‑term maintenance needs.


Global electric vehicle sales exceed 20 million in 2025
The International Energy Agency has reported that global electric vehicle sales have exceeded 20 million in 2025 and has forecast 23 million in 2026, while regional trends and potential fuel-excise cuts and rising electricity costs have been noted as risks.


Kia offers factory side-entry wheelchair option for PV5
Kia has unveiled a factory-option, side-entry wheelchair-accessible configuration for the PV5 electric van, and it has been offered initially in the UK and Europe, optimised for urban mobility; Australian availability has been scheduled for later this year.

Yuasa UXL GEN2 VRLA Battery for Extended Service Life
Yuasa has launched the UXL GEN2 VRLA battery for infrastructure DC power and has claimed improved lifecycle performance, thermal resilience and a temperature‑aligned warranty, with design lives of 20 years at 25°C and 10 years at 35°C.

Fleet Dash Cam ROI and Payback Estimates
Analysis has detailed an ROI model for network-connected dash cameras, showing operational savings from reduced claims, lower premiums, fuel and labour costs, and improved utilisation; fleets have reported payback generally within eight to ten months.


Freudenberg introduces DIAvent maxFlow battery vent
Freudenberg has released the DIAvent maxFlow, a thermal‑runaway degassing valve for lithium‑ion vehicle batteries that has delivered over 190 litres per second at 300 mbar, has featured a 50–200 mbar adjustable trigger and has allowed non‑destructive testing.


Bosch secures Mercedes-Benz electric motor contract
Bosch has secured a multi-year supply agreement with Mercedes-Benz for scalable electric motors, has reported up to 98% efficiency from new winding and rotor oil cooling technologies, and has positioned the deal within its broader global electromobility expansion.


BASQUEVOLT launches 402 Wh/kg lithium-metal NMC cell
BASQUEVOLT has launched the BQV400L, a 402 Wh/kg lithium‑metal NMC cell with 8.9C pulse capability, has been manufactured in Spain with 75% European sourcing, and has signed automotive validation agreements while third‑party safety testing has been commissioned.


Shell launches DC charging system for heavy-duty fleets
Shell has introduced the Recharge PowerPack 500, a liquid-cooled DC charger for European heavy-duty fleets, and has offered scalable output to 500 kW along with charge-point management, maintenance and fleet payment services.


Stellantis targets 35% North America sales increase
Stellantis has announced plans to increase North American sales by 35% by 2030 through expanded model ranges across Ram, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, a 50% model increase and a €60bn five-year turnaround plan targeting higher revenue and margins.


Bojangles opens first EV charging station
Bojangles has opened its first EV charging station in Savannah and has announced plans to deploy chargers across its 800 restaurants via partners XLR8 America and Energy and Environmental Design Services.


Denza Z9 GT battery replacement priced at ¥78,700
A Denza Z9 GT owner has reported a replacement 122.5 kWh Blade Battery 2.0 has been quoted at ¥78,700 (about US$11,600), and BYD’s battery-cost advantages have been noted in industry data.


Stellantis unveils €60bn five-year strategic plan
Stellantis has unveiled a five-year plan committing €60bn to products and technology, has targeted €6bn of annual cost savings by 2028, and has forecast positive free cash flow by 2028 after a €22.3bn loss.


EU approves €288m German aid for semiconductor projects
The European Commission has approved €288m in German state aid for two semiconductor projects, allocating €222m to Zeiss and €66m to Zadient to bolster Europe’s chip supply security and specialist manufacturing capacity.


Nio posts second consecutive profitable quarter
Nio has reported a second consecutive profitable quarter in Q1 2026, with operating profit of 66.8 million yuan and revenue of 25.53 billion yuan. It has disclosed a 19.0% gross margin and provided Q2 delivery and revenue guidance.


ABAX adds SMT2 tachograph support for LCVs
ABAX Group has launched ABAX Tachograph and has added SMT2-compatible tachograph functionality to its Smart Operations platform to help LCV fleets meet the EU Mobility Package requirements taking effect on 1 July 2026.


451.5 Wh/kg solid-state battery with three-minute charge
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a solid-state lithium-metal battery achieving 451.5 Wh/kg and a three-minute charge, with 700-cycle stability (81.9% retention at 20C) and a pouch cell that has passed a nail-penetration safety test.


Tesla launches Full Self-Driving in China
Tesla has made its Full Self-Driving system available in China after regulatory delays, while domestic vehicle manufacturers and robotaxi firms have advanced their autonomous technologies, and Tesla has remained fourth in April electric-vehicle wholesales.


WBG Pilot Line to Advance Europe's Semiconductor Capacity
The EU has launched a distributed WBG pilot line to accelerate commercialisation of SiC, GaN and emerging UWBG semiconductors, aiming to strengthen Europe’s value chain, reduce costs and support electrification and telecom applications through lab-to-fab industrialisation.


Finalists for 2026 Australian Construction Achievement Award
Seven projects worth more than $17 billion have been named ACAA finalists and have showcased contract models prioritising early contractor involvement, clearer risk allocation and outcome-focused commercial settings, facilitating collaboration across education, transport, health, aviation, marine and disaster-recovery sectors.

