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After EV plans fizzled, here’s how battery factories are trying to salvage billions in investments

Transportation

Battery Plants Built for the EV Boom Are Being Redirected to the Grid

Key Takeaways

Ford and LG Energy Solution are repurposing Michigan battery plants for energy storage systems.
Automotive News says the effort is aimed at salvaging billions invested for expected EV demand that did not arrive.
Our Next Energy has pivoted from EVs to grid uses and is exploring military battery applications.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 26, 2026·via autonews.com

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MG to bring semi-solid-state batteries to Europe, targeting budget EV buyers

Transportation

MG Brings Semi-Solid Batteries to Budget EVs in Europe

Key Takeaways

MG will launch the MG4 EV Urban in Europe with semi-solid-state batteries (~95% solid electrolyte) at around €20,000
The technology reduces thermal runaway risk and improves long-term battery durability vs conventional lithium-ion
MG is deploying advanced tech in a budget car first — a deliberate Chinese strategy to accelerate manufacturing scale and cut costs

DT Editorial Team·Mar 26, 2026·via autonews.com

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Toyota’s Mark Templin on tariff pressure, price hikes; Honda, Sony nix Afeela EVs

Transportation

Honda and Sony Cancel Afeela EVs as Joint Venture Collapses

Key Takeaways

Honda and Sony are canceling all Afeela EVs and reviewing the future of their Sony Honda Mobility joint venture
Weak consumer demand and costly Honda withdrawal from the venture drove the decision
The collapse follows a pattern of tech-auto partnerships struggling with manufacturing complexity and compressed margins

DT Editorial Team·Mar 26, 2026·via autonews.com

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Toyota’s Mark Templin: Tariffs demand ‘efficient organization,’ not just price hikes

Transportation

Toyota Executive Warns U.S. Tariffs Will Reshape the Auto Industry

Key Takeaways

Toyota COO Mark Templin said the tariff regime will fundamentally change the structure of the U.S. industry.
The framing emphasizes organizational efficiency over simple price increases.
The remarks point to trade policy as a strategic operating issue for automakers.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 25, 2026·via autonews.com

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Valeo building $225 million Texas plant to supply tech for GM’s next-gen vehicle architecture

Transportation

Valeo Breaks Ground on $225M Texas Plant for GM's Next-Gen Vehicle Brain

Key Takeaways

Valeo broke ground on a $225M McAllen, Texas plant to make the central compute unit powering GM's next-gen vehicle architecture
The architecture enables OTA updates 10x faster, 1,000x more bandwidth, and 35x more AI capability than current GM systems
GM will first deploy the platform on the Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028, with peak production scheduled for 2029–2030

DT Editorial Team·Mar 25, 2026·via autonews.com

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Daily 5 report for March 23: Can the industry keep up with ‘China speed’?

Transportation

China Speed Is Reshaping the Global Auto Industry — and Western Makers Are Struggling to Keep Pace

Key Takeaways

Chinese EV makers develop new models in 18-24 months, roughly half the time of Western manufacturers
Software-first design philosophy allows Chinese brands to iterate vehicle capabilities via over-the-air updates post-delivery
A domestic battery supply chain and deep CATL partnerships give Chinese manufacturers structural cost advantages
Western automakers are responding with JV deals, software capability investments, and compressed development cycles
The competitive gap is forcing a restructuring that will determine which automotive brands remain competitive through the 2030s

DT Editorial Team·Mar 24, 2026·via autonews.com

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Europe sales rise as buyers pick EVs over combustion-engine cars

Transportation

European EV Sales Rise 1.7% as Buyers Choose Electric Over Combustion Cars

Key Takeaways

European new vehicle registrations rose 1.7% year-on-year, with EVs claiming a growing share of sales
Revived subsidy programs in Germany, France, and other key markets provided direct purchase stimulus
Sub-€30,000 EVs from Renault, Volkswagen, Citroën, and Chinese brands are filling the mass-market gap
EU CO2 fleet average targets create a regulatory backstop that structurally drives EV sales regardless of consumer demand fluctuations
Charging infrastructure remains the top barrier for unconvinced buyers, with rural coverage still inadequate in many member states

DT Editorial Team·Mar 24, 2026·via autonews.com

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GM’s testing of eyes-off driving tech begins this week on public roads ahead of 2028 launch

Transportation

GM Begins Eyes-Off Autonomous Driving Tests on Public Roads

Key Takeaways

GM has deployed 200 test vehicles on California and Michigan highways running eyes-off Level 3 autonomous driving technology
The system is targeting a 2028 production launch in the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ flagship
Level 3 transfers legal responsibility from driver to vehicle — a distinct step beyond current Super Cruise Level 2 systems

DT Editorial Team·Mar 24, 2026·via autonews.com

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Bugatti Tourbillon gains Équipe Pur Sang package boasting 8 exhaust tips

Transportation

Bugatti Tourbillon Gets Eight Exhaust Tips and 1,775 HP

Key Takeaways

Bugatti's Équipe Pur Sang gives the Tourbillon eight exhaust tips — one per V-16 cylinder bank, exceeding even the legendary Type 57SC Atlantic's six
The Tourbillon combines a Cosworth naturally aspirated V-16 with three electric motors for 1,775 total horsepower
Carbon fiber-intensive package emphasizes visual drama and acoustic theater in a hypercar segment where 1,000 hp is becoming routine

DT Editorial Team·Mar 23, 2026·via motorauthority.com

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Mercedes-AMG plug-in hybrids recalled for loss of drive power

Transportation

Mercedes-AMG Plug-In Hybrids Recalled Over Software Power Loss

Key Takeaways

Five AMG E Performance PHEV models recalled for software error causing unexpected loss of drive power
Affected vehicles produce 670–800+ hp through turbocharged V8 engines paired with rear-axle electric motors
Fix expected via software update; recall highlights reliability challenges as electrified performance cars grow in complexity

DT Editorial Team·Mar 23, 2026·via motorauthority.com

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Zenobē acquires Revolv's 100 unit electric delivery van fleet

Transportation

Zenobe Acquires Revolv to Lead North American EV Fleet Market

Key Takeaways

UK's Zenobe acquires Revolv's 100-van California electric delivery fleet to enter North American markets
Zenobe's battery-as-a-service model removes total cost of ownership risk that deters fleet electrification
The acquisition accelerates entry versus building from scratch in an unfamiliar regulatory environment

DT Editorial Team·Mar 23, 2026·via electrek.co

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Toyota launches the C-HR+ in Europe as its longest-range EV with up to 607 km

Transportation

Toyota's C-HR+ Becomes Its Longest-Range EV at 377 Miles

Key Takeaways

Toyota's C-HR+ achieves 607 km WLTP range, setting a new benchmark for Toyota battery electric vehicles
The launch targets European markets where Toyota has lost share to Hyundai, VW, and Chinese EV brands
Toyota's hybrid battery management expertise translates to competitive real-world range retention

DT Editorial Team·Mar 23, 2026·via electrek.co

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Transportation

GM Patents Daisy Chain EV Charger to Power Multiple Vehicles

Key Takeaways

GM has patented a daisy chain charging system that connects multiple EVs to a single power supply, with smart algorithms allocating current based on each vehicle's state of charge and departure time.
The system could reduce home installation costs by allowing multiple charging nodes to share one circuit rather than requiring separate circuits for each vehicle.
The patent addresses a growing real-world challenge as multi-EV households become more common and residential electrical panels face increasing load demands.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 23, 2026·via jalopnik.com

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Transportation

EV Battery Recycling Breakthrough Recovers 99.99% of Lithium

Key Takeaways

Chinese researchers achieved 99.99% lithium recovery from EV batteries — far above the 80-90% rate of current commercial processes — using an optimized hydrometallurgical approach.
Near-complete recovery would allow large EV fleet markets to eventually source most of their lithium from recycling rather than new mining imports.
Commercial adoption depends on demonstrating competitive economics at industrial scale, with Chinese battery recycling companies likely evaluating the process now.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 23, 2026·via greencarreports.com

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5 stories shaping Canadian auto this week: Chery eyes Canada; Honda stays the course; more

Transportation

Chery Eyes Canada as Chinese Automaker Eyes North America

Key Takeaways

Chery Automobile is in early discussions about Canadian market entry as US tariffs effectively block direct American market access for Chinese-made vehicles
Chery's Omoda and Jaecoo sub-brands have earned positive reviews in Australia, providing a template for potential Canadian success
Canada's lower tariff structure and CUSMA production rules create potential pathways for Chinese automakers that do not exist in the US market

DT Editorial Team·Mar 22, 2026·via autonews.com

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GM-Pilot EV charging network now spans over 25 states

Transportation

GM-Pilot EV Charging Network Reaches 25 US States

Key Takeaways

The GM-Pilot Flying J EV charging network now covers more than 25 states through highway travel plazas already used by long-distance drivers
Charger speeds range from 50kW to 350kW, with the fastest stations adding 100 miles of range in under 15 minutes
GM vehicles integrate the Pilot network directly into navigation, routing charging stops alongside the trip's overall itinerary

DT Editorial Team·Mar 22, 2026·via greencarreports.com

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Jack Nicholson Drove A Hydrogen-Powered Car Before Green Energy Was Cool - Jalopnik

Transportation

Hydrogen Car Pioneer: Jack Nicholson Drove Fuel Cell Vehicle in the 1970s

Key Takeaways

Jack Nicholson drove a hydrogen-combustion Chevy Impala in the mid-1970s, decades before hydrogen vehicles became mainstream
The 1970s OPEC oil embargo triggered widespread alternative fuel experimentation that created the context for Nicholson's experiment
The car used hydrogen combustion rather than fuel cells, producing water vapor instead of CO2
Modern hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are twice as energy-efficient as the 1970s combustion approach Nicholson's car used

DT Editorial Team·Mar 22, 2026·via jalopnik.com

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Dead Cadillac Lyriq EV Leaves Baby Locked In Car - Jalopnik

Transportation

Dead Cadillac Lyriq Strands Infant After EV Battery Failure

Key Takeaways

A fully depleted Cadillac Lyriq traction battery left electronic door locks unresponsive, trapping an infant inside
Unlike ICE vehicles with independent 12V auxiliary batteries, some EVs can lose all electrical systems simultaneously when the main battery dies
Emergency responders needed tools to gain access since no electrical override or mechanical backup was functional
Industry standards for EV safety systems do not yet comprehensively address complete traction battery depletion scenarios

DT Editorial Team·Mar 22, 2026·via jalopnik.com

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2026 Range Rover Velar successor caught on video

Transportation

JLR Tests Fully Electric Range Rover Velar Successor on Public Roads

Key Takeaways

JLR is testing a Velar successor built on the new EMA electric platform, separate from the full-size Range Rover EV
The prototype's proportions confirm a distinct mid-size positioning rather than a size variation on the larger model
EMA is a ground-up EV architecture targeting 300-plus mile range and fast-charging speeds competitive with the segment
Range Rover's strong brand equity provides pricing power against German and Chinese rivals

DT Editorial Team·Mar 22, 2026·via motorauthority.com

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Karma reveals sultry Amaris series plug-in hybrid coupe

Transportation

Karma Unveils Amaris Plug-In Hybrid Coupe, Delays Pure EV to 2027

Key Takeaways

The Amaris uses a series hybrid architecture where the gasoline engine acts as a generator, not a direct drive source
Karma delayed its fully electric Kaveya coupe by one year to 2027 citing changing market conditions
Solar panel roof provides modest but cumulative range and efficiency benefits unique to Karma's lineup
The PHEV-first strategy may be tactically smart as pure-EV adoption in the luxury coupe segment trails projections

DT Editorial Team·Mar 22, 2026·via motorauthority.com

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