Yazılar

Stellantis to Provide Two EV Vans to Iveco for European Market Expansion

/in /tarafından

Stellantis and Iveco announced a new agreement on Friday in which Stellantis will supply Iveco with two fully-electric (EV) van models, marking a significant step in Iveco’s expansion of its electric vehicle lineup in Europe. The vans, produced by Stellantis, are expected to go on sale by mid-2026, under a ten-year supply agreement. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The new EV vans will be based on Stellantis’ mid- and large-sized EV van platforms, and will be manufactured at Stellantis’ plants in Atessa (Italy), Gliwice (Poland), and Hordain (France). Once produced, the vans will be distributed across Europe, including the United Kingdom, through Iveco’s established channels.

The two upcoming vans, with gross vehicle weights ranging from 2.8 to 3.1 tons and 3.5 to 4.25 tons, are designed to complement Iveco’s existing battery electric vehicle (BEV) offerings. These vans will help extend the brand’s footprint in the lighter weight segment of the European EV market.

This new partnership follows a similar agreement that Iveco reached last year with Hyundai Motor for the supply of a mid-sized electric van in the 2.5-3.5 ton weight range, further expanding its EV portfolio. Iveco Group, controlled by Exor, the investment arm of Italy’s Agnelli family, is also the largest shareholder in Stellantis.

Xiaomi’s YU7 Electric Crossover SUV to Compete with Tesla’s Model Y

/in /tarafından

Xiaomi, the Chinese tech giant, is set to launch its first electric crossover SUV, YU7, with a driving range of up to 770 kilometers (478 miles), according to a government document released on Thursday. The YU7 is expected to hit the market this summer, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Tesla’s Model Y.

The YU7 will feature a battery-powered drivetrain combined with traditional crossover SUV characteristics. Along with the 770 km variant, Xiaomi will also offer shorter-range versions with 675 km and 760 km ranges. The vehicle has been added to a list of models that qualify for purchase tax breaks, as indicated in an industry ministry notice.

Tesla, which began deliveries of its refreshed Model Y in February, offers a long-range variant with a 719 km driving range per charge, up from 688 km in the previous version. Its rear-drive variant now offers a range of 593 km, a significant increase from its previous 554 km range.

French Battery Maker ACC Welcomes EU Auto Sector Support, but Expresses Concern Over Timeliness

/in /tarafından

Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a French battery manufacturer, expressed its support for the European Union’s action plan to bolster the auto sector, but also voiced concerns that the measures may arrive too late to address current challenges.

The European Commission recently introduced an action plan aimed at helping the auto industry achieve zero carbon emissions from cars and vans by 2035. A key element of this plan is the allocation of 1.8 billion euros ($1.94 billion) to help secure the supply chains for battery raw materials.

While ACC, a joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes, and TotalEnergies, welcomed the medium-term support outlined in the plan, the company raised concerns about the urgency of the situation. In a LinkedIn post, ACC noted, “Nevertheless, we fear that the urgency of the situation we are currently going through is not being considered. To benefit from it, we will have to have managed to survive until then.”

ACC has been forced to scale back its battery production ambitions amid uncertainties surrounding electric vehicle demand in Europe and the rise of more affordable battery technologies. The company initially planned to build nine production blocks by 2030 across France, Germany, and Italy, supported by a 7.3 billion euro investment. However, the projects in Germany and Italy have been put on hold, and currently, only one block in France is operational, producing batteries for Stellantis. A second block is expected to begin operations by the end of the year.