VinFast has announced it has started production at its 2nd domestic EV factory in the central province of Ha Tinh, reinforcing its rapid global expansion strategy. Furthermore, the new facility spans c.90 hectares and is designed to produce up to 200,000 vehicles annually. Thus, complementing VinFast’s existing plant in Hai Phong and supporting its ambition to become a global EV leader. The project is part of a broader $4bn investment plan and aligns with an expansion that comes amid increasing competition from established OEMs and (new) startups alike. This move also supports VinFast’s international growth, following the launch of its EVs in the USA, Canada, and Europe. By expanding both domestically and internationally, VinFast aims to secure a strong foothold in the global EV market while contributing to Vietnam’s industrial and environmental goals.
Turlock Unified School District (TUSD) has announced it has launched a significant clean energy initiative by introducing 9 new electric school buses and a smart solar-powered charging system. This project is part of TUSD’s broader goal to fully electrify its school bus fleet by 2035. The new Blue Bird electric buses replace older diesel models and are supported by advanced charging infrastructure developed in partnership with Schneider Electric and The Mobility House. Interestingly, the smart charge management system prioritises the use of solar energy generated by canopies installed over the transportation centre’s parking lot. This system then schedules charging during optimal solar production times, thus significantly reducing reliance on grid electricity and lowering utility costs. The buses are powered by a mix of AC and DC chargers, ensuring flexibility and efficiency. The project was made possible through collaboration with several partners, including Turlock Irrigation District, A-Z Bus Sales, Valley Air District, and NV5. With this move, TUSD joins a growing number of California districts leading the transition to zero-emission student transport, showcasing the synergy between solar energy and electric mobility.
RIZON has announced it is expanding its North American footprint with new deliveries of its Class 4-5 electric trucks to a diverse range of public and private fleets in California and Canada. These trucks, designed for urban and last-mile delivery, offer up to 160 miles of range and support multiple configurations, including dry vans, flatbeds, refrigerated units, and landscape dumps. Key features include advanced safety systems, such as Active Brake Assist and Side Guard Assist, as well as flexible charging options with Level 2 AC and DC Fast Charging. In California, new customers include Treefort Entertainment, LA Percussion, and South Bay Fabrication, all using RIZON trucks for zero-emission operations. Public sector deployments include a Central Valley municipality using a dump-body truck for wellness services, a Sacramento-area utility adopting a box-body model, and a school district integrating refrigerated trucks into its fleet. This expansion follows RIZON’s successful 2024 entry into Canada, where it now operates in British Columbia and Ontario. RIZON’s growing presence reflects increasing confidence in electric commercial vehicles as reliable, sustainable solutions for urban logistics and public service operations.
Scania has announced it has signed an agreement with South Australia’s Department for Infrastructure and Transport to supply 60 new battery-electric city buses. The deal, focused on Adelaide’s urban network, includes options for additional annual orders through June 2029, supporting South Australia’s goal to fully electrify its fleet of over 1,000 buses. The first deliveries are pencilled in for November 2025. The new buses will be Scania K-series two-axle low-entry models, each with a range exceeding 400km and a seating capacity of 43 passengers. They will be equipped with Scania’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, thus enhancing safety by helping drivers maintain lane position, manage speed, and avoid collisions. This agreement builds on an existing relationship; South Australia already operates 825 Scania vehicles and reinforces Scania’s market leadership in sustainable transport across Australia.
Octopus Energy has announced it is partnering with BYD to launch the UK’s 1st vehicle-to-grid (V2G) bundle, offering effectively free home charging for EV drivers. The Power Pack Bundle offering includes a leased BYD Dolphin EV with built-in V2G capability, a bi-directional Zaptec Pro charger, and a specialised home electricity tariff. This tariff allows users to charge their vehicles at no cost by selling stored energy back to the grid during peak demand periods. Octopus’s Kraken platform will then automate this process, charging when electricity is cheapest and discharging when it’s most valuable. To benefit fully, drivers are encouraged to plug in their vehicles around 20 times a month for 12 hours at a time. The bundle, priced around £300 per month, will be commercially available later this year, bypassing the pilot phase typical of other V2G initiatives. Octopus and BYD have also partnered with Motability Operations to extend this offer to disabled drivers, promoting inclusive access to low-cost EV ownership, which we champion. This initiative marks a significant step in making EVs more affordable and sustainable, while also supporting grid stability. It’s only the second such V2G bundle globally, following a similar launch in France in 2024.
Serve Robotics has launched its autonomous food delivery robots in Atlanta, expanding its partnership with Uber Eats. Customers can now order meals from local restaurants via the Uber Eats app and have them delivered by Serve’s AI-powered sidewalk robots. These robots, equipped with Nvidia Jetson Orin modules, are designed to navigate urban environments autonomously and carry large food items such as pizza boxes and sandwiches. The rollout in Atlanta follows successful deployments in Dallas-Fort Worth, with plans to deploy 2,000 robots nationwide by the end of 2025. The robots are currently operating in Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and Downtown Atlanta, where they are learning local routes and sidewalks. Serve Robotics highlighted Atlanta’s strategic importance as a fast-growing Southeastern market. The initiative aims to enhance delivery speed and freshness while offering a fun, futuristic experience. Local business leaders expressed enthusiasm for the technology, citing its potential to improve customer service and neighbourhood engagement. This expansion reflects the growing trend of integrating robotics into urban logistics and food delivery, positioning Serve Robotics as a market leader in autonomous last-mile delivery solutions.
Deals
Zeelo, a London-based transportation-as-a-service startup, has raised $23m in a Series B funding round to expand its operations and enhance its technology platform. The funding round was led by Blue Earth Capital, with Direttissima Growth Partners and Peter Bauer’s family office also participating. Zeelo specialises in providing sustainable, tech-enabled shuttle services for employers and schools across the UK, Ireland, and the US, using a network of over 650 operators and access to more than 10,000 vehicles. The new capital will be used to strengthen Zeelo’s market leadership in the UK and Ireland, accelerate growth in North America, and further develop its AI-powered transport management platform. The company also plans to pursue strategic acquisitions, building on its 2024 purchase of UK competitor Kura. Zeelo’s platform focuses on optimising routes, improving rider experience, and reducing transportation costs, while supporting employee retention and access.
Beep, an Orlando-based provider of autonomous shared mobility solutions, has raised $52.7m in funding co-led by Intel Capital and Blue Lagoon Capital. This capital will help launch its new autonomous mobility platform, NAVI. With NAVI, Beep aims to provide a scalable, data-driven platform that supports the broader adoption of autonomous transit across urban, campus, and mixed-use environments. Beep specialises in eco-friendly, driverless transportation services designed for first-mile and last-mile use cases, offering both scheduled and on-demand mobility networks. The new funding will support the development of pilot programs and expansion into key markets.
Raphe mPhibr, an Indian drone startup, has raised $100m in a Series B funding round led by General Catalyst. This startup is scaling its R&D and (local) manufacturing capabilities to meet surging demand for military drones amid rising geopolitical tensions, including the recent India-Pakistan conflict. Raphe mPhibr produces 9 drone models with payloads ranging from 4.4 to 441 pounds, serving Indian defence forces such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, and paramilitary units. Its product lineup includes the mR10 drone swarm, mR20 for high-altitude logistics, the X8 for maritime patrol, and the Bharat drone for rapid surveillance. It has partnerships with global defence firms such as Dassault Systèmes and Safran. Raphe mPhibr aims to reduce India’s reliance on foreign drone technologies and expand its global footprint.
Polestar has secured a $200m equity investment from PSD Investment, a firm controlled by Li Shufu (founder and chairman of Geely Holding Group), Polestar’s majority owner. The funding was raised through a private investment in public equity, with Polestar issuing c.190.5 million new Class A American Depository Shares at $1.05 each. To maintain its voting power below 50%, PSD Investment will also convert 20 million shares to a different classification. This capital infusion comes as Polestar continues to face financial challenges, including a c.$2bn loss in 2024 despite delivering 44,851 EVs. The company plans to use the funds for working capital and general corporate purposes as it scales operations and aims for profitability. In Q1 25, Polestar reported a 76% YoY increase in EV sales, delivering over 12,300 vehicles and boosting revenue by $278m. Polestar has made significant investments to establish its brand across 27 global markets and is optimistic about 2025 being its strongest year yet in terms of volume and financial performance. The investment also helps Polestar maintain its Nasdaq listing, which was previously at risk due to low share prices.