Anyone who knows the phrase "badge engineering" knows that General Motors is one of the biggest offenders. Throughout history, the company has offered vehicles that are mechanically identical but sold under two, three or even four brands. In the electric era, the company is trying to further differentiate its products, as Alex Dykes explains in…

The earliest NMC cells used roughly equal thirds of nickel, manganese, and cobalt. GM’s current “high-nickel” Ultium cells swapped out much of that cobalt for nickel while adding aluminum. They use roughly 5 percent cobalt and 10 percent manganese, said GM battery engineer Andy Oury, with the rest being nickel and aluminum. The LMR cells,…

General Motors on Tuesday said it’s planning to become the world’s first automaker to use lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) batteries in production trucks and full-size SUVs starting in 2028. The new chemistry marks a major pivot, not just from today’s nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, but also from pouch cells GM has long relied on. Going…

Tesla's insurance arm is taking a beating by paying out more than it earns from premiums, according to data from S&P Global. This is significantly higher than the national average loss ratios calculated for other insurance companies. It could mean that not even Tesla can repair its own cars affordably after an accident. In 2019,…

Audi adds plug-in hybrids to the engine lineup of the new A6. Two power outputs are available: 295 and 362 hp, and buyers can choose a sedan or wagon body. Both power versions have a WLTP range of 66 miles regardless of body style. Plug-in hybrid sales are rising, and buyers prefer models with big…

Xpeng is seen by some as the Chinese answer to Tesla, not only because of its emphasis on tech, particularly self-driving, but also in terms of positioning. One of three Chinese EV start-ups listed in the US for a long time, it was best seen as an also-ran thanks to disappointing sales against better-known…

There are too many moving pieces in the electric vehicle puzzle right now. Affordable EVs are allegedly on their way, as several automakers have promised. But tariffs, of course, got here first. Now there’s a real possibility that those low-cost EVs may not end up reaching their price targets. And just as the market seemed…

Volvo's financial situation is bad. The automaker reported losses on all fronts for the first quarter. As a result, it's implementing a big cost-cutting plan. Volvo Cars is not in great shape. After posting record sales and profits last year, the Swedish automaker is going into a cost-cutting frenzy to try to stay on top…

Here's something I figured out pretty quickly at the Shanghai Auto Show this past week: You can tell a lot from which cars and which brands the crowds are interested in. This event is, after all, the biggest annual automotive trade show (along with its biennial counterpart in Beijing) in the world's largest new car market and…

Ford’s top electric vehicle engineer said on Wednesday that the automaker is actively working on a “game-changing” battery chemistry for its future EVs. The breakthrough will reportedly enable low-cost and longer-range Ford EVs by the end of the decade. Charles Poon, the director of electrified propulsion engineering at Ford said his team has developed a…