Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs
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What Will Happen in Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso Merger?

Akihiro Komuro Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation have reached a final agreement to merge their operations in April 2026, but what will this mean? A basic agreement was initially reached in 2023, but the decision was delayed due to irregularities in Hino’s engine performance certifications. The merger will finally move forward following Hino’s settlement with U.S. authorities.
The commercial vehicle industry has undergone rapid changes over the past two years of stalled negotiations, so both companies will need to quickly demonstrate the benefits of the merger to make up for lost time. The biggest change is the tightening of environmental regulations.
In May 2024, the European Union (EU) strengthened CO₂ emission regulations for large trucks. By 2030, emissions must be reduced by 45% compared to 2019 levels. This is an increase from the previous target of 30%. By 2040, emissions must be reduced by 90%, a very strict requirement.
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Sodium Batteries: Another Sign EVs Here To Stay

Guy Youngs The rising demand for zero-emission mobility goes beyond the nice idea of preventing a catastrophic climate crisis. EVs are a better fit for the connected, electrified lifestyle of the 21st century; they offer more opportunities for convenience, they are more useful for weathering power outages and climate-connected emergencies, and they are more adaptable to the needs of fleet managers, among other advantages.
However, while some researchers note that “salt batteries” are not quite ready for prime time, other stakeholders — including industry leader CATL — are already laying plans for mass production. Last month, CATL also burned up the Internet when it announced a suite of two sodium-ion batteries ready for full volume production by the end of this year.
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IEA Global Outlook Shows U.S. Falling Behind On EVs
The U.S. had a robust policy in place to promote the adoption of electric cars, and it used all the tools conservatives say they like — carrots such as financial incentives instead of sticks such as mandates. But now, according to the IEA (International Energy Agency), USA is moving backwards while the rest of the world continues to move forward.
In its EV Global Outlook 2025 report, the IEA says that 20% of new cars sold worldwide in 2024 were electric, a definition that includes plug-in hybrids as well as battery-electric cars.
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Will Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks Follow Car Storyline?
A decade ago, many people believed hydrogen fuel cells were the future, not battery-electric cars. The debates raged and it was common to have press releases, auto executive statements, and debates about the future of hydrogen-powered cars.
In the last decade or so, the market apparently has decided that hydrogen-powered cars do not make sense, and they can’t compete in the market as a result. Despite this situation, there are still plenty of discussions, trials, and vehicle development programs for hydrogen-powered trucks.
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Will Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks Follow Car Storyline?

Guy Youngs In the last decade or so, the market apparently has decided that hydrogen-powered cars do not make sense, and they can’t compete in the market as a result. Despite this situation, there are still plenty of discussions, trials, and vehicle development programs for hydrogen-powered trucks.
In theory, hydrogen can compete in the truck market, but in practice, it’s an entirely different matter. Battery technology keeps improving rapidly, and solutions for battery-electric trucks are becoming clear. If battery costs keep coming down — as expected — and proper charging hubs for heavy-duty electric vehicles get developed, battery-electric trucks seem set to win the day.
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Report Shows U.S. Falling Behind On EVs
The U.S. had a robust policy in place to promote the adoption of electric cars, and it used all the tools conservatives say they like — carrots such as financial incentives instead of sticks such as mandates. But now, according to the IEA (International Energy Agency), USA is moving backwards while the rest of the world continues to move forward.
In its EV Global Outlook 2025 report, the IEA says that 20% of new cars sold worldwide in 2024 were electric, a definition that includes plug-in hybrids as well as battery-electric cars.
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GM Halts Hydrogen Fuel Cell Plant
In a move that signals a shift in strategy, General Motors (GM) has pressed pause on its highly anticipated hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing facility in Detroit, MI. First announced in September 2024, the $55 million factory was set to breathe new life into the old State Fairgrounds site and create roughly 300 skilled jobs in the process. Spanning nearly 292,500 square feet, the facility was expected to become a major player in GM’s push toward alternative fuels.
In May 2025, those plans were officially put on hold.
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BMW Testing EVs with All-Solid-State Batteries
The first BMW EVs powered by all-solid-state batteries are now on the road for testing. BMW used an i7 to test the “holy grail” of EV battery tech, promising longer driving range at a lower cost.
BMW and Solid Power have been working together since 2022 to advance the new EV battery tech. In December 2022, BMW revealed plans to license Solid Power’s tech for a new solid cell prototype line at its Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Parsdorf, Germany.
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Changan Solid-State Battery Increases Range
According to CnEVPost, Chinese automaker Changan claims it has developed a solid-state battery that will allow electric cars to travel up to 1500 kilometers without needing to be recharged. That’s a massive 932 miles.
Changan says its batteries will be in production by the end of this year, with verification and calibration procedures taking place next year. By 2027, it expects production cars using its solid-state batteries to be on the road in China.
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CATL Next Generation Batteries Coming Soon
A few weeks ago, BYD announced new battery technology that allows electric cars to recharge in about 5 minutes. This month, at the annual Shanghai Auto Show, CATL fired back with fast charging news of its own. It claims its second generation Shenxing battery can add 520 kilometers (323 miles) of range in just five minutes of charging time. The BYD announcement claims its batteries can add 400 kilometers (250 miles) in 5 minutes using a Level 3 fast charger
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