All articles tagged with #ev
Xiaomi’s EV division reported a Q1 operating loss of 3.1 billion yuan ($460 million) despite a 6.57% YoY rise in deliveries to 80,856 units, hit by Spring Festival drag and a mid-cycle SU7 facelift. EV revenue reached about 19 billion yuan with a 20.1% gross margin for the innovative segment; the company reaffirmed a 2026 delivery target of 550,000 units and plans for overseas expansion in 2027, including Europe as the first stop.
Rivian confirms early R2s will ship without lidar and says the difference in autonomy compared with lidar-equipped models won’t be noticeable for several years; lidar’s main advantage is richer data for future generations, there’s no plan to retrofit, and point-to-point hands-free driving will be available on the lidar-less Launch Package.
Honda posted its first annual loss since 1955, reporting a 403.3 billion yen ($2.6B) net loss for the year ending March after a 1.6 trillion yen ($10B) write-down on its EV investments. The hit came as US policy shifts—namely the end of the $7,500 EV tax credit and looser emissions rules—dented EV demand, pushing Honda and peers to pivot back toward profitable gasoline trucks/SUVs while forecasting further EV-related write-downs. GM also faced EV charges but remained profitable; Ford and Stellantis posted losses amid retrenchment in electrification. The industry remains committed to EVs, but faces tougher rules in Europe/Asia and rising competition from Chinese EV makers.
Nissan shifts from cost cutting to growth, forecasting 3.3 million global deliveries and a profit rebound under CEO Ivan Espinosa; Stellantis plans growth via partnerships, including a Europe-wide deal with Leapmotor; rising gas prices are boosting EV demand globally with April EV registrations up 6% year-on-year; Volkswagen's Porsche SE owners push for changes and higher returns amid market pressures.
TipRanks reports that Ford's leaked “12 Commandments of EVDC” reflect a culture focused on rapid, accountable product development, with cryptic tenets like “Down to the Atom,” “Sir Isaac Newton Decides,” and “Fail Fast.” The piece also notes Ford’s patent for a System for Detecting Moving Objects that could let a car autonomously dodge hazards. On the market side, Ford (F) carries a Hold rating with a mean target around $13.69, implying about 11% upside, and the stock rose modestly after the leak.
Ford presses ahead with its secretive Universal Electric Vehicle platform, betting on a North America–focused lineup of affordable EVs to reach profitability by 2029, even as the market slows, restructuring charges mount and EV chief Doug Field departs; the company is building out the Long Beach Electric Vehicle Development Center and pursuing megacasting and a leaner design to cut costs and outpace Chinese competitors, starting with a roughly $30,000 midsize pickup next year and a broader UEV family.
China used the Beijing Auto Show to tout a leap in EV battery tech as BYD and CATL race to slash charging times toward five minutes, highlighting Shenxing 3 EB (10–98% in about 6.5 minutes) and BYD Blade Battery 2.0 (10–97% in about 9 minutes), plus other suppliers like CALB, EVE Energy and Sunwoda delivering sub-10 minute charging for cars and e-bikes; Nio even showcased a three-minute battery swap, all within a broader push toward megawatt charging up to 1,500 kW, signaling China’s leading position in next-gen charging tech.
With U.S. gasoline topping $4, rental firms see a jump in EV demand: Hertz, after de-fleeting 30,000 EVs, reported March EV reservations up about 25% from February, and Turo saw EV bookings climb 11% in the final three weeks of March; as gas prices rise nationally, U.S. new EV sales slipped 25% in March due to the tax-credit expiration, though Europe saw a rebound as fuel costs climbed.
As Route 66 marks its centennial, a UK-based EV road trip from Chicago to Santa Monica shows the route is now drivable on electricity thanks to a growing charger network. The three-day, ~300-mile journey highlights charging times from 20 minutes to an hour, the need to pre-plan with PlugShare and ABRP, and occasional detours for charging or nostalgia at vintage diners and gas stations. The slower pace reveals more roadside Americana and a lighter carbon footprint (roughly 150–180 g CO2 per km saved), but rural gaps still pose challenges and higher petrol costs remain a risk for non-EVs.
A tornado damaged Building 2 at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois plant, the factory area assembling the R2 mid-size EV, forcing a temporary closure. Rivian says other facilities remain operational and Building 2 should resume this week. The R2, crucial for profitability and scheduled to start with a performance version around 330 miles of range for about $57,990, faces a later standard release in 2027. Rivian is also backed by a $1.25 billion Uber investment with thousands of R2 orders planned for robotaxi fleets.
Ford CEO Jim Farley said he chose a Xiaomi EV over a Tesla because Tesla lacks an updated vehicle, arguing Chinese brands’ cost competitiveness and manufacturing strength are key to Ford’s plan to bring more affordable EVs to the U.S.
Ford says Doug Field will depart next month, with ex-Tesla engineer Alan Clarke promoted to vice president of Advanced Development Projects to continue leading Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle platform. Field says he’s passing the baton as Ford pivots after a $19.5 billion EV write-down and the cancellation of some EV programs (F-150 Lightning, T3, electric van). The company also created a Product Creation and Integration unit led by COO Kumar Galhotra to scale digital products, and plans to refresh most of its lineup by 2029 with 90% of vehicles featuring new electric architectures by decade’s end.
Rivian could rebound and rally by 2031 if it (1) captures a meaningful share of the midsize SUV market with the lower-priced R2, and (2) achieves Level 4 autonomy in time to fulfill Uber’s deal for 10,000 autonomous R2s (with potential expansion and substantial investment). If either condition stall, Rivian remains a high-risk stock amid competition from Tesla and execution hurdles.
Ford CEO Jim Farley warns that allowing Chinese electric vehicles into the U.S. could devastate American manufacturing due to subsidized production and data/privacy concerns, a view echoed by policymakers as China’s EVs gain traction in Europe and Canada. He argues the U.S. must guard its industry, while Ford pursues competitive EVs (made in Kentucky) to keep pace, highlighting a broader global debate over protectionism vs. access to advanced tech.
Porsche posted a mixed Q1 2026: the 911 surged in the U.S. with 3,826 deliveries (up 83% YoY) while global sales fell 15% and U.S. volumes slipped 12.5%. The decline is driven by the end of the 718 Boxster/Cayman line (only 206 units in Q1) and the planned phase-out of ICE Macan this summer. In the U.S., Macan, Cayenne, Panamera and Taycan also declined, though the Cayenne Electric is expected later this summer. A new 911 variant debuts on April 14, providing halo potential, but Porsche’s long-term health depends on replacing the 718 and combustion Macan amid broader EV adoption challenges.