Opel, Leapmotor, Kia, Riese & Müller, Tesla, Honda and more

Opel has confirmed its participation in IAA MOBILITY 2025, offering the perfect platform to showcase its new electrified models and innovations, according to a statement. Opel CEO Florian Huettl emphasized, “IAA MOBILITY 2025 is the ideal stage for us to introduce our emotional and electrifying new Opel vehicles to the public. We already offer a battery-electric version for every model in our portfolio. We also have a long-standing IAA tradition: 60 years ago, we were the first European automaker to present a concept car at the IAA — so be excited this year as well.”

Leapmotor, after a successful European debut at IAA MOBILITY 2023, will also be present at IAA MOBILITY 2025. The company plans to unveil a new development alongside their already-famous models, T03, B10, and C10. Specific details about the new model will be revealed later. “Our appearance at IAA MOBILITY 2025 in Munich reaffirms the long-term strategy of our brand and the key role the European market plays. Global expansion remains one of our core goals – and Europe is at the top of our agenda. Of course, this includes Germany as the largest automotive market in Europe,” said Zhu Jiangming, Global CEO of Leapmotor.

After revealing the designs of the PV5 and EV4 last week, Kia introduced the vehicles and the concept study EV2 to the public for the first time at Kia EV Day on February 27, 2025, in Tarragona, Spain. The compact EV4, which was previewed at Kia EV Day 2023 in Seoul, South Korea, marks the brand’s first electric sedan and hatchback model. With the Kia Concept EV2, the company offers a glimpse into a new small crossover. Kia’s first PBV production model, the PV5, promises exceptional flexibility thanks to radical modularity and is built on a special platform enabling innovations in hardware, software, customer experience, and manufacturing processes. At the EV Day, Kia also unveiled the state-of-the-art E-GMP.S architecture, specifically tailored for PBV models and designed to offer flexible configurations through its modular body system. Kia also introduced AddGear, allowing customers to personalize their Kia PBV models with a wide range of tailored accessories to enhance functionality for both private and business use. Furthermore, in partnership with Samsung Electronics, Kia presented SmartThings Pro, an optimized IoT system offering plug-and-play services for PBVs.

German e-bike manufacturer Riese & Müller announced usage of reusable packaging for the European shipping of its e-bikes. The BikeBox, developed by Circular Logistics, is made of 60% recycled polypropylene (PP) and is designed to be reused up to 30 times. Compared to conventional packaging, the reusable system will reduce CO2 emissions by over 70% and save up to 210 kg of cardboard per box. In addition to being more sustainable, the material of the BikeBox is more durable than conventional cardboard, providing better protection against transportation damage. The BikeBox can also be stored outdoors without damage from weather or precipitation. Riese & Müller also highlighted the safety benefit of the BikeBox, which avoids the risk of injury when opening and cutting cardboard. The concept has been successfully tested in several trials since 2023, and series production is expected to begin with over 1,000 dealers across Europe.

The Tesla Cybertruck has received the highest safety rating of five stars from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In standardized testing, the vehicle achieved the maximum score for both frontal and side-impact tests. During the rollover test, a rollover risk of 12.4% was determined, which corresponds to a four-star rating. The frontal crash rating combines results from barrier tests for the driver and passenger, demonstrating robust protection for occupants. The side crash rating, which includes both barrier and pole impact scenarios, also confirmed effective safety for passengers.

This week, Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, confirmed in a podcast that Tesla is preparing significant updates for its premium models, the Model S and Model X, by the end of 2025. Further details were not disclosed.

Honda presented their new fuel cell module which is set to enter mass production in 2027, at H2 & FC EXPO in Tokyo. This module features a power output of 150 kW and offers double the lifespan of its predecessor at half the production cost. The volumetric power density has tripled, allowing for more flexible integration into various applications. Additionally, Honda plans to begin serial production of a stationary fuel cell generator in 2026, designed to provide clean hydrogen power for large facilities such as factories and offices.

The RAI Institute introduced the Ultra Mobile Vehicle (UMV), a two-wheeled robot designed for stunts like bunny hops over tables. The UMV can drive autonomously, turn, and abruptly stop using a technology called "Track-Stand" to maintain balance. All movements, landings, and balancing acts are controlled through reinforcement learning without human intervention. This innovative design could pave the way for new robotics competitions, where multiple UMVs compete to show off the best tricks.

Yamaha unveiled a prototype of a new electric motorcycle featuring SPHEV technology. This innovative system combines a traditional internal combustion engine with a motor-generator mounted directly on the crankshaft and an electric drive motor on the rear wheel. The prototype, based on a maxi-scooter, can start in pure electric mode and seamlessly switch to hybrid mode at higher speeds, with both the internal combustion engine and electric motor providing propulsion. The system also offers two boost modes: the Dual-Boost mode, where both the combustion engine and electric motor combine, and the Triple-Boost mode, where the motor-generator delivers additional torque directly to the crankshaft.

U.S.-based manufacturer Cyctron introduced the Infini X1, an iE-Bike packed with high-tech features. Powered by an Ananda mid-motor with 100 Nm of torque and equipped with a 672-Wh battery, the bike is capable of a range of over 100 kilometers. The frame and handlebars are made from lightweight carbon. Notable features include an integrated 4K action camera that records rides in high resolution, a fingerprint sensor for theft protection, and GPS tracking with geofencing. Additionally, the Infini X1 supports wireless charging for mobile devices and a 65-watt USB-C port.

Chinese automaker SAIC Motor and tech giant Huawei have announced a strategic partnership to develop new, intelligent electric vehicles (EVs). This collaboration spans product definition, production, supply chain management, as well as sales and services. The goal is to develop competitive, intelligent EVs that offer users an advanced driving experience. SAIC plans to leverage its expertise in vehicle production and development, while Huawei will contribute its skills in software, hardware, chips, and cloud solutions.

Voyah, the premium electric vehicle brand of Chinese automaker Dongfeng, has begun development on its third-generation solid-state batteries. These new batteries will maintain an energy density of 300 Wh/kg while offering an increased charge rate of 3 to 5 C, theoretically allowing for a full charge in about 12 minutes. The solid-state batteries will feature no liquid electrolytes and are designed to operate in a very wide temperature range. Voyah has already used semi-solid-state batteries in previous models such as the Dream MPV and Zhuiguang sedan and plans further optimizations on this technology enhancing performance and safety of its electric vehicles.