Cop26: carmakers agree to end sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2040

Cop26 Car firms agree at Cop26 to end sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2040 But ‘landmark agreement’ signed by 24 countries also notable for absences of major manufacturers Cop26 live news and reaction The agreement commits signatories to move to zero-emissions vehicles vehicles by 2040 ‘or earlier’. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters The agreement commits signatories… Continue reading Cop26: carmakers agree to end sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2040

Antihero to zero: VW rises from ‘dieselgate’ to lead charge on electric vehicles

Volkswagen (VW) Antihero to zero: VW rises from ‘dieselgate’ to lead charge on electric vehicles The body shop of the VW plant at Zwickau, Saxony, Germany. Photograph: Nicole Krueger/The Guardian The body shop of the VW plant at Zwickau, Saxony, Germany. Photograph: Nicole Krueger/The Guardian Volkswagen embraces the future with €35bn investment, including in its… Continue reading Antihero to zero: VW rises from ‘dieselgate’ to lead charge on electric vehicles

Carmaking recast: West Midlands finds new role in electric vehicle industry

Automotive industry Carmaking recast: West Midlands finds new role in electric vehicle industry Some firms reinvent themselves in the battery era, but others struggle as work moves abroad Alucast, based in Wednesbury, makes aluminium castings for big carmakers. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The Guardian Alucast, based in Wednesbury, makes aluminium castings for big carmakers. Photograph: Fabio… Continue reading Carmaking recast: West Midlands finds new role in electric vehicle industry

Tesla shares fall after Elon Musk’s Twitter poll backs sell-off plan

Tesla Tesla shares fall after Elon Musk’s Twitter poll backs sell-off plan Majority of billionaire’s 62.5 million followers vote that he should sell 10% of his stock in electric car firm Elon Musk said he was prepared to accept either outcome of the Twitter poll on his Tesla shares. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters Elon Musk said… Continue reading Tesla shares fall after Elon Musk’s Twitter poll backs sell-off plan

Ineos reveals third loss-making year in effort to make Land Rover rival

Automotive industry Ineos reveals third loss-making year in effort to make Land Rover rival James Ratcliffe’s car company may have spent well over £650m on offroader project Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire founder of Ineos, with his Grenadier prototype. Photograph: Chris Riefenberg Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire founder of Ineos, with his Grenadier prototype. Photograph: Chris Riefenberg… Continue reading Ineos reveals third loss-making year in effort to make Land Rover rival

Aston Martin’s new SUV aimed at women fails to put brakes on losses

Aston Martin Aston Martin’s new SUV aimed at women fails to put brakes on losses Luxury carmaker doubles sales thanks to rollout of the £160,000-plus DBX Overall sales of Aston Martin’s DBX SUV have more than doubled, from 660 in the third quarter of 2020 to 1,350 between July and September 2021. Photograph: Aston Martin/PA… Continue reading Aston Martin’s new SUV aimed at women fails to put brakes on losses

BMW profits rise to €3.4bn as focus turns to more expensive cars

BMW BMW profits rise to €3.4bn as focus turns to more expensive cars Carmaker is ‘overcoming difficult situations’, including global shortage of computer chips BMW is confident it will continue to make significant gains in electric vehicle sales in 2022, with orders for new electric cars, including the iX SUV and the i4 saloon, remaining… Continue reading BMW profits rise to €3.4bn as focus turns to more expensive cars

Toyota announces the bZ4X: the carmaker’s first mass-produced electric vehicle

Electric vehicles Toyota announces the bZ4X: the carmaker’s first mass-produced electric vehicle New vehicle a change for Toyota, which has to date relied heavily on hybrid technology Get our free news app; get our morning email briefing Toyota has announced its bZ4X electric vehicle, expected to arrive in Australia by late 2022. Photograph: Toyota Toyota… Continue reading Toyota announces the bZ4X: the carmaker’s first mass-produced electric vehicle

Industry lobbies against 2040 UK ban on new diesel trucks

Automotive industry Industry lobbies against 2040 UK ban on new diesel trucks HGV makers and operators urge MPs to delay end of fossil fuel use for new lorries The Road Haulage Association says the ban should be delayed until 2045 for larger lorries. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Reuters The Road Haulage Association says the ban should be… Continue reading Industry lobbies against 2040 UK ban on new diesel trucks

Tesla breaks $1tn valuation barrier after Hertz orders 100,000 vehicles

Tesla Tesla breaks $1tn valuation barrier after Hertz orders 100,000 vehicles Milestone comes after firm’s Model 3 became first battery-powered electric car to top Europe’s monthly sales chart UK battery ‘gigafactory’ plans expansion as EV demand soars Tesla joins the tech companies Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook and Microsoft among the US firms to have passed… Continue reading Tesla breaks $1tn valuation barrier after Hertz orders 100,000 vehicles