Volvo begins Australian electric heavy-truck production
Volvo Group Australia announced on 2026-07-25 that the first battery-electric heavy trucks built by an original equipment manufacturer in Australia had rolled off the production line at its Wacol facility near Brisbane, Queensland, the same site where Volvo has built trucks for Australian conditions for more than 50 years. The current lineup offers a range of up to 300 km with a gross combination mass of 45 tonnes; a next-generation line with a 470 km range and 65-tonne GCM has just been launched, and a 700 km variant has been launched in Europe. Volvo said local serial production of the next-generation electric truck is targeted within 18 months. Logistics operator Linfox ordered 30 of the Wacol-built trucks for metro runs, to be added to its existing fleet of 2,500 diesel trucks, with the Australian government's AU$70 million investment helping bridge the diesel-to-BEV cost gap.
Ford turns to Apple software for self-driving EVs
Ford is working with Apple on a new line of electric vehicles in an industry-first arrangement that will let Apple's software influence how the vehicles operate, with Apple Maps set to affect the next generation of self-driving electric vehicles. The collaboration was framed by Entrepreneur as one of the most important announcements around Ford's electrification roadmap, though specific vehicle models, launch timing, and commercial terms were not detailed in the available reporting.
Ex-VW engineers arrested over Rivian joint venture
Two former Volkswagen AG engineers were arrested on insider-trading charges tied to bets placed ahead of the German carmaker's announcement of a $5 billion joint venture with Rivian Automotive, according to a Bloomberg-sourced report published by Livemint on 2026-07-24. The case centers on trading activity before the publicly disclosed VW-Rivian partnership was made public, and the reporting did not yet specify the financial gains alleged or the court handling the matter.
Volvo files EX50 trademark
A new Volvo trademark for the EX50 name surfaced on 2026-07-24, prompting speculation that the EX50 will become Volvo's next electric vehicle production model. The filing follows the launch of the EX60, which Volvo has positioned as its longest-range and fastest electric model to date. Details on body style, drivetrain, or market timing were not confirmed in the available reporting.
Mitsubishi commits to Thailand EV investment
Mitsubishi Motors is set to invest Bt16 billion (about US$473.23 million) in Thailand by 2030 to back the automotive sector's move toward electric vehicles, a Thai government spokesperson told reporters on 2026-07-24. The Japanese carmaker is assessing options for manufacturing and exporting pickup trucks in Thailand and developing an electric variant of the Pajero SUV, though specific plant locations and production volumes were not detailed in the initial statement.
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