All articles by Andy Morton
Andy Morton
The state of electrification in the auto industry
The momentum towards widespread electrification of passenger vehicles is now unstoppable. Across the auto industry, OEMs are racing to catch up with Tesla’s dominance, while battling regulatory pressures in the form of strict CO2 targets that mean electrification is no longer an option but a necessity. Automakers are increasingly moving away from broad, flexible powertrain strategies that balance combustion and electrification, with most now firmly set on an electric-only path.
Is LG Energy Solution eyeing more Tesla supply?
Reports suggests that LG Energy Solution – the recently spun off battery division of LG Chem – will expand its manufacturing footprint to produce more lithium ion (Li-ion) battery cells for Tesla vehicles. The US EV giant is widely considered to be the leading company in the growing EV sector, with traditional automakers racing to catch up, so any supply contract with Tesla should be considered especially lucrative.
Toyota scents a city car opportunity in Europe
Toyota has confirmed that it will produce an A-segment city car based on its TNGA-B architecture for European buyers. It will be the third compact TNGA-B model after the B-segment Yaris launched in 2020 and similar Yaris Cross SUV due later in 2021. The new model could get a new name, but it will probably keep the Aygo nameplate that’s been on sale in Europe for two generations alongside the badge-engineered Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108.
Rimac – what’s all the fuss about?
Electric vehicle startups are a dime a dozen at the moment.
Honda open to partnerships in race for EVs
Honda is looking to set up more partnerships to tackle future challenges – that is the message coming from the company’s incoming CEO, Toshihiro Mibe. The statement is intended as a rallying cry for the company – a recognition that rapid change is upon the automotive industry, and Honda will need to branch out to ensure it is ready to tackle it.
Ford joins the charge towards electrification
Ford is the latest global automaker to commit to a bold electrification strategy. The US company has announced that, by mid-2026, all of its models sold in Europe will be capable of zero-emissions driving using either battery-electric or hybrid-electric powertrains. Doubling down on the shift away from combustion engines, the automaker goes on to say that, by 2030, all its vehicles sold in Europe will be fully electric.
Tesla’s updated Model S lays down gauntlet for rising EV challengers
Tesla changed the public’s perception of electric vehicles in 2012 with the launch of the Model S sedan. This was the first ever mass-produced electric car that truly captured the public’s imagination, changing the image of EVs from compromised, eco-friendly economy cars, to desirable, advanced, high-performance premium vehicles. Accepted wisdom in the industry is that once the established automakers began to flex their muscles with their own EVs, as emission regulations tightened and forced them to enter the market, that the establishment would quickly catch up.
Tesla to expand Indian presence – possibly opening a new factory
Last weekend, a chief minister for Karnataka, India seemingly confirmed via a since-deleted tweet that Tesla will open its first Indian factory in the city. This revelation comes in the wake of an announcement from Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk that the company was in talks with several Indian states to explore the possibility of opening an office, showroom, R&D centre or possibly a factory in the country.
Tesla tech secrets spilled by Elon Musk
Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk recently sat down with auto engineer Sandy Munro to take a deep dive into some of the tech secrets that will underpin Tesla’s range over the next few years. The discussion ranged from the ‘hell’ of moving to full-scale production, to material science breakthroughs, to streamlining both hardware and software through each new vehicle iteration. This briefing will look at critical revelations from the discussion to get an idea of what Teslas of the future will look like.
GAC bets on graphene tech for batteries
Chinese vehicle manufacturer GAC has announced a breakthrough in battery technology that could give its vehicles an edge in the increasingly competitive electric vehicle (EV) market. Currently, the main limiting technology for electric vehicles is the battery pack – it’s the most expensive single component in the vehicle and is the main factor in determining how much range an EV achieves and, critically, how quickly it can recharge.