Automotive & Mobility

Bonn – November 10, 2026 -- The Construction and Property Agency of North Rhine-Westphalia (BLB NRW) has commissioned 22 new charging points for electric vehicles at Campus Poppelsdorf in Bonn. The site is among the first to go live in a state-wide program of up to 2,000 charging points.

Rollout targets about 200 state-owned sites across North Rhine-Westphalia

BLB NRW is carrying out the program on the initiative of the state government. The chargers are primarily intended for state service vehicles. Most will also be open to the private vehicles of state employees and members of the public.

Paul Höller, State Secretary in the state's Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy, attended the symbolic launch. He said the state is placing chargers where people move in daily life and tied the effort to its goal of a climate-neutral state administration.

Pittsburgh – November 10, 2026 -- A Massachusetts inventor is offering THE FIFTH WHEEL, an adapter that generates electricity while an electric vehicle is moving, for licensing or sale to manufacturers and marketers.

Adapter charges the auxiliary battery while the vehicle is in motion

The inventor, from Canton, Mass., designed the device as an auxiliary battery-charging feature for electric vehicles. It is intended to remove the need to stop and recharge at home or at a public charging station, which the inventor says increases efficiency and avoids delays. The stated goal is to let drivers cover longer distances without recharging stops.

Pittsburgh – November 10, 2026 -- An Orlando, Fla., inventor has submitted QUACK TRAK, a dashboard rack for rubber duck collections, to InventHelp's national sales office and is offering it for licensing or sale to manufacturers and marketers.

QUACK TRAK holds rubber ducks in place on vehicle dashboards

The rack is designed to stop ducks from sliding around or falling off while the vehicle is moving. According to the inventor, the display also does not block airflow from the dashboard vents.

Design avoids drilling, adhesive and permanent modifications

QUACK TRAK requires no drilling, adhesive or other permanent changes to the vehicle. It has an expandable design that is easy to mount and use, and the inventor identifies owners of jeep-style vehicles as the ideal users. The source also describes the rack as attractive in appearance.

WARMINSTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. – November 10, 2026 -- Havis has launched the VSX Console for 2021-2027 Ford F-Series vehicles, giving fleet operators a single upfit configuration they can standardize across every truck in service.

The console integrates control heads, computing equipment and accessories into one workspace. Havis says it is built to fit the F-Series interior like factory-installed equipment. Agencies and fleet managers can configure the upfit once and replicate it fleet-wide, which the company says streamlines installation and improves driver ergonomics.

Steel-and-polycarbonate build cuts console weight

Havis combines steel and polycarbonate construction to reduce weight while keeping the durability the brand is known for. A heavy-duty steel chassis is designed for shift-after-shift operation in challenging environments.

Dongying – November 10, 2026 -- Chinese brake supplier FRONTECH says its brake pad capacity can reach 10 million sets a year and that its disc plant runs 176 fully automated finishing lines. The company presented both figures to European aftermarket buyers at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, held September 8 to 12.

Automechanika drew about 4,400 exhibitors from more than 80 countries

The fair covered the full automotive aftermarket, and exhibitors discussed how AI, electromobility, digitalization and autonomous driving are changing the industry. FRONTECH used the event to promote its automated brake disc and pad lines and to pitch customized supply to international distributors, wholesalers and aftermarket brands.

MILAN – November 10, 2026 -- EICMA, the International Two-Wheeler Exhibition, closed its 83rd edition as the largest ever held at Fiera Milano Rho, with 765 exhibitors and 2,142 brands from 52 countries across 300,000 square metres.

EICMA expands to ten halls, double its 2021 footprint

The event occupied ten halls for the first time since moving to the Rho exhibition district, one more than in 2025. EICMA CEO Paolo Magri said the hall count has doubled from five since 2021, reflecting companies' decision to keep investing in face-to-face meetings.

EICMA's history dates to 1914.

Foreign brands make up 74% of the 2026 lineup

Of all brands exhibiting, 74% came from abroad. Among direct exhibitors, 30% were participating for the first time or returning to the show.

BEIJING – November 08, 2026 -- Xiaomi's smart auto factory in southeast Beijing deploys more than 700 robots and has reached 100 percent automation in key processes, according to details given to overseas media representatives who toured the site on November 6.

Factory covers 718,000 square meters with six NEV-specific processes

The campus integrates R&D, production, sales and customer experience for Xiaomi's new energy vehicles (NEVs). Xiaomi has upgraded traditional auto-making processes to six tailored to NEV production. AI technologies are used to improve quality inspection accuracy significantly.

Tamas Kovacs, CEO of ATV Hungary, singled out the extensive use of robotics, automation and AI across the manufacturing process. He said the plant demonstrates China's progress in industrial innovation.

Seoul – November 08, 2026 -- LG Electronics has earned its first ISO 26262 ASIL D product certification, the highest automotive functional safety level, for the central gateway system developed as central communication unit (CCU) 2.0 for the Genesis GV90. TÜV Rheinland awarded the certification. It is the first ASIL D product certification the body has issued in the automotive central gateway category.

TÜV Rheinland assessed processes, design documentation and verification results

ISO 26262 grades safety requirements from ASIL A to D based on the severity of potential harm, exposure to hazardous situations and controllability of the resulting risks. ASIL D requires the most stringent measures to prevent and mitigate safety-related failures. TÜV Rheinland reviewed LG's development processes, design documentation and verification results to confirm compliance with the applicable ASIL D requirements.

YANCHENG – November 07, 2026 -- FAW Bestune delivered the first 500 JOYEE N01 electric vehicles to African customers on October 28, the opening tranche of a 2,000-unit first batch of overseas orders, as global mass production of the model began.

FAW launches global production of the JOYEE N01 at its Yancheng branch

The launch ceremony took place at the Yancheng Branch of China FAW. The event marked the model's official entry into the global market.

JOYEE N01 builds on a Bestune Xiaoma line with nearly 300,000 users

The JOYEE N01 is an upgrade of the BESTUNE XIAOMA, which has been recognized by nearly 300,000 users since its 2024 launch. The N01 keeps the rounded body lines and wide choice of exterior colors of its predecessor, aimed at young families. It has a four-door layout for rear-seat access.

LAS VEGAS – November 07, 2026 -- CassTime has launched an AI-driven "T+D Solution" that combines digital parts trade with localized repair services. The system is already operating in Saudi Arabia, where its partner's Tamam platform handles business for nearly half of the country's insurance companies.

Li Li, CEO of International Business at CassTime, presented the offering at the 2026 CassTime Partner Conference. The announcement follows AAPEX 2026 in Las Vegas, which drew more than 45,000 professionals from 128 countries and regions and over 2,500 exhibitors.