Yazılar

Avride Partners with Hyundai to Expand Robotaxi Fleet

/in /tarafından

Self-driving technology startup Avride has announced a strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Co to expand its fleet of robotaxis. Under the deal, Avride will incorporate 100 Hyundai IONIQ 5 cars into its fleet this year, with plans to grow further by 2026 as the company seeks to enhance its autonomous vehicle services and expand into new regions.

Avride, based in Texas, is joining a growing group of companies advancing autonomous vehicle technology and expanding their fleet of robotaxis. This includes Tesla, which is preparing to launch its own autonomous ride-hailing service in California and Texas, and Alphabet’s Waymo, which recently rolled out its robotaxi service on Uber’s platform in Austin.

As part of the partnership, Avride’s IONIQ 5 cars will be retrofitted with the company’s self-driving technology and used exclusively on Uber’s platform in Dallas, Texas. These vehicles will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Metaplant facility in Georgia, and the two companies also aim to explore autonomous delivery services using Avride’s technology.

Avride’s connection with Hyundai is not new, as the startup was previously part of Russian company Yandex’s self-driving division and has collaborated with Hyundai’s automotive supply unit in the past to develop systems for autonomous vehicles.

Foxconn Open to Buying Stake in Nissan for Potential Cooperation

/in /tarafından

Foxconn (2317.TW), Taiwan’s leading electronics manufacturer, has expressed interest in purchasing a stake in Nissan (7201.T), but emphasized that its primary goal is to collaborate rather than invest in the automaker. Chairman Young Liu stated on Wednesday that Foxconn would consider buying shares if cooperation with Nissan required it, but reiterated that acquiring shares was not their main focus.

Foxconn is in discussions with Renault (RENA.PA), Nissan’s largest shareholder, about potential collaboration. These comments come amid uncertainty surrounding Nissan’s future after it stepped away from merger talks with rival Honda (7267.T), which would have created the world’s fourth-largest automaker.

Sources have indicated that Nissan and Honda, who had been exploring a merger, are expected to announce the end of their talks on Thursday due to growing differences between the two companies. This deal would have been a significant shift in an automotive industry facing mounting pressure from electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, particularly China’s BYD (002594.SZ).

In light of the changing landscape, Nissan is reportedly open to partnerships with new players, including Foxconn, which is best known for its role as Apple’s primary iPhone manufacturer. While Foxconn seeks to diversify its business, it is not looking to establish itself as an automotive brand. Instead, it intends to offer commissioned design and manufacturing services for electric vehicles.

Neither Nissan nor Renault has commented on Foxconn’s chairman’s statements regarding potential collaboration.

Global Electric Vehicle Sales Rise 18% in January

/in /tarafından

Global sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles saw an 18% increase in January compared to the previous year, with Europe and the United States experiencing stronger growth than China for the first time since last February, according to research firm Rho Motion.

Europe began the year with robust sales as new CO2 emission targets took effect in the European Union, boosting demand. However, China experienced a 43% month-on-month sales decline in January, primarily due to the Chinese New Year holiday period. Despite this, the global market showed steady growth.

Governments worldwide are implementing policies to support electric vehicle (EV) adoption, which remains crucial amid ongoing trade tensions and challenges in the automotive industry, such as plant closures and job losses. In January, China extended its auto trade-in subsidies into 2025, while Europe began consultations on new CO2 emission targets.

BY THE NUMBERS:

  • Global EV and plug-in hybrid sales rose 17.7% year-on-year, reaching 1.3 million units in January.
  • Sales in China grew 11.8%, totaling 0.7 million vehicles.
  • European sales rose 21%, totaling 0.25 million, with Germany seeing a 40% increase.
  • The U.S. and Canada saw a 22.1% rise in sales, reaching 0.13 million units.
  • Sales in other global markets surged 50%.
  • On a monthly basis, global sales fell by 35%, primarily due to a sharp decline in China.