Latest News
13 May
Stellantis to start Fiat 500 Hybrid production at Mirafiori in November
Credit: Stellantis
Fiat has commenced the assembly of the first pre-production units of the Fiat 500 Hybrid at its Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy. This development signifies a critical phase in the vehicle’s industrialisation process, with full production scheduled to commence by November.
The Fiat 500 Hybrid represents the company’s commitment to sustainable mobility and reinforces its strong ties to Italy. With its hybrid engine, the Fiat 500 Hybrid will offer consumers in Europe and other markets a greener choice of the iconic city car.
Over 70% of the vehicles produced at the Mirafiori plant are exported outside Italy, underlining the global appeal of the Fiat 500.
Stellantis paused the production of the electric Fiat 500 at the Mirafiori plant late last year. The temporary break in production was due to subdued demand for electric vehicles in the European market.
14 May
GM and LG Energy to commercialise LMR battery cell tech
General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced what they claim is a breakthrough in battery technology with plans to commercialise lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells. These cells are designed for GM’s future electric trucks and full-size SUVs, marking an advancement in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Ultium Cells, a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, is gearing up to commence commercial production of the LMR prismatic cells in the US by 2028, with pre-production activities slated to begin at an LG Energy Solution facility by late 2027.
The collaboration aims to position GM as the first automaker to implement LMR batteries in EVs, the company said.
13 May
BYD’s delayed Brazil factory to be operational by 2026 end
BYD’s new factory in Brazil, initially expected to start producing vehicles at the beginning of this year, will now be “fully functional” by December 2026. Reports suggest the delay is due to an investigation into labour abuse. By the end of 2025, the factory is set to begin manufacturing cars from semi-finished kits.
Despite the setbacks, the company has seen significant growth in Brazil, selling 76,713 vehicles in the last year, a 328% increase from the 17,937 sold in 2023. The investment in Brazil represents BYD’s largest market outside of China, converting a former Ford manufacturing site into a complex with an annual capacity of 150,000 electric cars.
14 May
Innoviz’s LiDAR platform to boost VW autonomous tech
Innoviz Technologies has collaborated with Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility to integrate the InnovizTwo LiDAR units into the ID. Buzz AD, VW’s L4 autonomous shuttle in 2025. The move is expected to fast-track the integration of InnovizTwo LiDAR units, enhancing the shuttles’ capabilities for planned commercial operations in European and US cities from 2026.
The partnership’s expansion is bolstered by Innoviz’s recent collaboration with Fabrinet for mass production of the LiDAR platform.
12 May
Sunderland gigafactory secures £1bn for UK’s electric vehicle growth
The British car industry has received a boost with the announcement of a £1bn ($1.3bn) investment in the gigafactory in Sunderland. The facility will manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, supporting the production of up to 100,000 electric vehicles (EVs) annually.
This development is set to create 1,000 jobs, enhancing the UK’s electric vehicle capacity six-fold. In a landmark transaction, the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance have provided financial guarantees, unlocking £680m in financing from banks including Standard Chartered, HSBC, SMBC Group, Societe Generale, and BBVA. This funding will cover the construction and operation of the new plant.
