Automotive & Mobility

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 15, 2025 - XPENG AEROHT has secured a manned aircraft special flight permit from the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for its modular flying car "Land Aircraft Carrier" in Ras Al Khaimah, enabling manned flight tests across the country and marking a notable step in the overseas commercialization of China's low-altitude eVTOL technology.

Aviation permission becomes a market-entry signal for advanced air mobility
The permit, granted in Ras Al Khaimah, is positioned as the first such authorization obtained by a Chinese flying car company overseas. For B2B stakeholders-from mobility operators to public-sector agencies-regulatory access is often the gating factor that turns "future mobility" narratives into measurable pilots, procurement conversations, and infrastructure planning.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 15, 2025 - XPENG AEROHT, the flying car affiliate of Chinese EV maker XPENG, has begun trial production at what it describes as the world's first intelligent factory for mass-produced flying cars-an operational milestone as next-generation mobility moves from prototypes to industrial output.

Trial production signals a commercialization inflection point
The company started trial production on November 3, 2025, positioning the facility as a bridge between engineering validation and repeatable manufacturing. For the broader eVTOL and "low-altitude mobility" ecosystem, factory readiness matters because it shifts the discussion from flight demonstrations to supply chains, quality systems, and scalable assembly-areas that typically determine whether new vehicle categories can reach customers on schedule.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 11, 2025 - Mercedes-Benz is expanding its sustainability playbook with "Tomorrow XX", a cross-portfolio technology program designed to decarbonize vehicle components, scale circular materials and turn end-of-life cars into a strategic raw-materials source. For OEMs, suppliers and material innovators, the initiative signals how one of the world's leading premium automotive brands plans to industrialize low-carbon, circular design across its global lineup.

Holistic sustainability roadmap across the Mercedes-Benz portfolio

Tomorrow XX extends the holistic, multi-disciplinary approach first showcased in the VISION EQXX and CONCEPT AMG GT XX to the entire product portfolio, across all drivetrains. From the earliest design stages through to end-of-life, every component and material is being scrutinized for CO₂ impact, resource intensity and recyclability.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 10, 2025 - VisIC Technologies has raised $26 million in a Round B financing that positions its Gallium Nitride (GaN) power devices at the center of the next wave of electric vehicle (EV) drivetrain innovation for global automotive and mobility markets. Led by a global semiconductor leader with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia (HKMC) joining as strategic investor, the funding will help VisIC industrialize its D³GaN™ platform for high-volume traction inverters and adjacent high-voltage applications.

GaN Steps Forward as EV OEMs Push Beyond Silicon and SiC

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 5, 2025 - Stellantis Pro One is using Solutrans 2025 in Lyon to underline its leadership in Europe's light commercial vehicle (LCV) market, combining a strong electric line-up, factory-integrated CustomFit conversions, V2G pilots and renewable fuel demonstrations to help craftsmen, SMEs and large fleets decarbonize without compromising capability.

Electric and Custom-Built Vans for Every Professional Use Case

On its Solutrans stand, Stellantis Pro One presents a broad mix of electric and combustion-powered vans configured through its CustomFit program, designed to address different trades and duty cycles from city logistics to specialist services. The display underlines that electrification and tailored conversions are now core to the Stellantis business model rather than niche options.

Key vehicles on show include:

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 5, 2025 - Stellantis is preparing a leadership handover at the top of its global motorsport operations, appointing seasoned engineer and team principal Olivier Jansonnie as Head of Stellantis Motorsport from January 31, 2026, as long-time motorsport chief Jean-Marc Finot retires after nearly four decades shaping performance programs across multiple brands.

Leadership transition at Stellantis Motorsport from 2026

From early 2026, Olivier Jansonnie will assume responsibility for Stellantis Motorsport, reporting to Emanuele Cappellano, Head of Enlarged Europe, European Brands and Stellantis Pro One. The transition will be managed jointly with outgoing leader Jean-Marc Finot to ensure continuity across factory programs, customer racing and high-performance road car initiatives.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 5, 2025 - Stellantis is launching the HVO Aurora project as a practical way for European light commercial vehicle (LCV) fleets to certify the real-world use of renewable diesel, turning low-carbon fuel consumption into traceable data that supports decarbonization strategies and day-to-day operations.

HVO Aurora tracks real-world use of renewable diesel

HVO Aurora is built around Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable fuel produced from waste streams such as used cooking oil and animal fats. By design, it targets a key question for fleet operators: how to prove that vehicles are actually running on low-carbon fuel in daily use, not just on paper.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 4, 2025 - Vortex Control Technologies (VCT) has signed a fleet-wide retrofit agreement with Norwegian to equip all Boeing 737-800 aircraft with its patented Finlet fuel-saving modification, aligning the Nordic carrier's cost discipline with a more aggressive sustainability strategy in short- and medium-haul aviation.

Aerodynamic retrofits move from trial to fleet standard

Under the new agreement, Norwegian will install VCT Finlets across its entire 737-800 fleet, following in the footsteps of early adopters such as Avelo Airlines, SunExpress and the U.S. Air Force. The deal marks a pivot from pilot programs to full-fleet deployment, signaling growing confidence among operators that incremental aerodynamic improvements can deliver material savings at scale.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 28, 2025 - Hyundai Auto Canada has appointed long-time executive Ken Maisonville as chief operating officer (COO), reinforcing its focus on operational excellence and customer experience as the brand navigates intense competition, electrification and shifting consumer expectations in the Canadian automotive market.

New COO Role Unifies Sales, Marketing and Aftersales

In his newly created role, Maisonville will oversee Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, bringing these core commercial functions under a single leadership umbrella. The move is designed to accelerate decision-making and align strategies across the full customer journey, from brand awareness and lead generation to purchase, ownership and long-term retention.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 28, 2025 - Growing demand for lightweight, design-driven and performance-oriented components is steadily expanding the global automotive alloy wheel market, with new research from Valuates Reports projecting revenues to rise from USD 11.4 billion in 2022 to USD 14.17 billion by 2029, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% driven by OEM integration and aftermarket upgrades worldwide.

OEM Shift to Lightweight Wheels Reshapes Automotive & Mobility Strategies

In the global Automotive & Mobility industry, alloy wheels have moved from optional upgrade to core specification as manufacturers seek every opportunity to reduce vehicle weight and improve driving dynamics. Lower unsprung mass translates into smoother acceleration, more responsive steering and more efficient braking - all critical attributes as automakers balance efficiency, comfort and safety.