7 automakers unite 🌎...

Happy August. That means school is starting soon. For all you parents out there, we almost made it. It’s cool to see the progress of EVs in the South. Tesla chargers, Rivian Chargers, etc…

Now the news in 5 minutes or less.

Lost Time is never found again.

-Ben Franklin

Top 10ish EV/AV News Stories

Seven global automakers – BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, Stellantis NV – are forming a joint venture to establish an extensive high-powered charging network in North America, comprising at least 30,000 chargers.
Showcasing the all-new, fully electric Volvo EX30 for the first time in North America, Volvo Cars continues its aggressive shift towards becoming a fully electric automaker, offering customers the opportunity to reserve the 2025 Volvo EX30 starting at $34,950.
VinFast has broken ground at its electric vehicle manufacturing site in North Carolina's Triangle Innovation Point, marking a significant milestone for the company's global expansion and supply chain development in North America, with the $2 billion USD project set to produce VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9.
The Biden administration's push for rapid EV adoption in the U.S. to meet proposed vehicle emissions standards creates a potential opening for budget-priced electric cars from Chinese brands like BYD, Xpeng Motors, and Li Auto.
Chinese electric vehicle maker Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology introduced its "Four Leaf Clover" architecture, featuring an integrated computing platform controlling all intelligent functions like autonomous driving and smart cockpit functions, intending to license the platform to other automakers.
Toyota is strengthening its development of electric vehicle technology in China to compete with local rivals and catch up in the growing EV market, focusing on a "multi-pathway" approach that includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell cars, aiming to reduce manufacturing costs and improve competitiveness.
In Washington state, electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid sales have nearly doubled compared to the national average in the first five months of 2023.
Pushing back its production targets for electric vehicles, Ford now expects to reach a rate of 600,000 EVs per year by 2024 instead of by the end of 2023 and is uncertain about achieving over 2 million EVs per year by the end of 2026, but remains committed to its EV spending plan and profitability goal for its EV unit.
China dominates the global EV market, accounting for about 60% of global EV sales, while Europe and the United States follow as the second and third largest markets, respectively; the EV market is set for a 35% year-on-year increase in 2023.
Using Vehicle-to-Load technology, EVs like the BYD Atto 3 and Ioniq 5 can power homes and appliances during emergencies, as some people have demonstrated during blackouts and crises.
Autonomous trucking company TuSimple held its AI Day event in Shanghai, focusing on Level 3 and Level 4 functionalities for self-driving trucks.
Self-driving shuttles for older people and those with disabilities are set to be available in Detroit late next year, as City Council approved a $2.5 million contract with May Mobility to provide free autonomous rides for eligible individuals.