Renault Group unveiled its autonomous vehicle strategy[2] and launched, for the very first time in Europe, with its partner WeRide, an open-road experimentation, with two autonomous miniBuses running during the Roland-Garros tennis international. With 1,000 km covered and nearly 700 people transported, this first full-scale test demonstrated the maturity of the technology as well as the relevance of this passenger transport solution. Following this successful experimentation, many mobility players (local authorities, transport operators, private site managers, etc.) have shown their interest in operating this solution in their territories. New experimentations are already underway across Europe, such as in Zurich (Switzerland),…

GROWTH HAS SURGED for dealers using the latest AI-powered ‘chatbots’ to convert customer enquiries into leads, according to new analysis. Even Christmas Day and New Year’s Day saw a significant appetite among customers for ‘chatting’ with the latest generation of advanced dealer bots developed by AI tech specialists AutoConverse, new figures reveal. Last month saw a 43% increase in customer conversations with dealer chatbots compared with January 2024 – with a conversion rate of more than 48%. This means that almost half of all interactions between customers and bots resulted in a concrete lead for the sale of a product…

ABB Robotics’ third Automotive Manufacturing Outlook Survey, in partnership with the leading publication Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, has highlighted how moving to the “Smart Factory” is viewed as a critical next step by global manufacturers and major suppliers. “Automotive manufacturers are acutely aware that advanced robotics, Artificial Intelligence and digital twinning technology are positive drivers of change,” said Joerg Reger, Managing Director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line. “Together, these technologies are forming the building blocks of ‘Smart Factories’ which will help carmakers introduce new models more quickly and cost-effectively, while greatly reducing energy consumption and costs and meeting sustainability targets.”…

18% of Brits believe you cannot take an EV charger when moving home 17% think an EV can be manual 14% believe EVs cannot drive through water Younger generations are most likely to believe in EV myths, while older generations remain more sceptical Steve Beattie, Sales and Marketing Director at BYD UK, debunks the most common EV myths and explains why education is so important during the transition to electric vehicles Almost one in five (18%) Brits believe that you cannot take an electric vehicle (EV) charger with you when moving house, according to new research by BYD UK. EVs…

AI Generated Descriptions and Vehicle Highlights now available to all retailers through Portal and Auto Trader Connect Follows November launch of Smart Image Management which is already being utilised by over 7,100 retailers to optimise their adverts every day. Advanced AI powered by Auto Trader Intelligence, underpinned by more than 80m visits and circa 619m combined search minutes every month, as well as 1.6m daily vehicle observations. 26th February 2025 – Auto Trader is giving retailers direct access to its wealth of data and insights with the launch of two brand-new AI (artificial intelligence) powered tools as part of its…

Kia Corporation has entered into a strategic partnership with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. to introduce next-generation ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) solutions for its Platform Beyond Vehicles (PBVs) offerings. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding during Kia’s 2025 EV Day in Spain, marking a significant step toward redefining both the ‘In-Vehicle’ and ‘Out-of-Vehicle’ experience for PBV customers. The signing ceremony was attended by Sangdae Kim, Head of Kia’s PBV Division, and Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President of B2B Integrated Offering Center at Samsung Electronics. The collaboration aligns with Kia’s wider Platform Beyond Vehicle strategy, which seeks to expand the…

A study has found that used combustion engine models are on average £2,560 more expensive than equivalent electric models from the same manufacturer, a difference of 10%. CarGurus – a leading automotive marketplace in the U.K. to shop, buy, and sell used vehicles – analysed the average prices of electric vehicles (EVs) that offer equivalent fuel-powered models from the last four model years to determine which option provides the best value. The study examined second-hand vehicle listings from the U.K.’s top 30 manufacturersi, comparing those that offer standalone electric and comparable fuel-powered models. The brands with the greatest selection of…

The BMW Group is presenting its next leap forward in the field of electric drive technology – and in the process ushering in a new era of all-electric driving. At the Tech Days event in Landshut, the company has provided some initial insights into the development and production of high-voltage batteries and electric drive systems using the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology. Every fully electric Neue Klasse vehicle will enjoy the benefits. The first Neue Klasse model will go into series production later this year at Plant Debrecen in Hungary. Below is an overview of the technology highlights: The…

ZF is equipping NIO’s flagship electric vehicle, the ET9, with its latest generation steer-by-wire system. The technology Group is supplying both the steering wheel actuator for steering and steering feel as well as the redundant steering gear actuator and associated software. The Smart Electric Executive Flagship model thus has no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels. Since the creation of its “Chassis Solutions” Division at the beginning of 2024, ZF now has a comprehensive portfolio of purely electronically controlled steering and braking systems and controlled damping systems. In combination with ZF’s own cubiX software, these technologies…

The Volkswagen Group and CGI, one of the world’s largest business and IT consulting firms, announce the deepening of their global collaboration. This move strengthens the Volkswagen Group’s long-term capabilities to further expand a powerful IT infrastructure for the future. As part of their joint efforts, both partners have launched the new entity MARV1N (pronounced “Marvin”) which will act as an international development unit for Group-wide digitalisation projects and support the developers at Volkswagen. With these additional resources, the Volkswagen Group plans to develop new IT systems faster and more efficiently. The Volkswagen Group is advancing the modernisation of…