The mobility highlights of week 30/2026

Ford and Geely Auto have agreed to establish a production joint venture in Valencia, Spain, to jointly build electrified vehicles for the European market starting in 2028. Pending regulatory approvals, the joint venture is expected to launch in the first half of 2027. Ford will hold a 66% stake, while Geely will hold 34%.  

Through joint production, both automakers aim to increase plant capacity utilization, reduce costs, and pool their expertise in development, procurement, and manufacturing. The Valencia plant, with an annual capacity of around 500,000 vehicles, is set to be strengthened long-term as a manufacturing hub for low-emission and zero-emission vehicles. 

Ford plans to produce a new Bronco SUV as well as a multi-energy crossover co-developed with Geely. Geely will manufacture two battery-electric SUVs for Europe in Valencia. Both companies view the cooperation as a significant step toward boosting their competitiveness and securing the site’s industrial future. 

With the 16-in-1 Intelligent E-Drive, Geely has unveiled a new integrated electric drive unit set to be used in the Geely TT. Co-developed with InfiMotion, the 800-volt system bundles 16 powertrain functions into a lightweight 75-kilogram (165 lbs) unit and achieves an overall efficiency of 93.8%, according to the manufacturer. 

The system supports an all-wheel-drive configuration with up to 425 kW of power, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 3.8 seconds. New cooling and lubrication technologies are designed to improve thermal stability and allow for a service life of up to five million kilometers (over 3 million miles). 

The Geely TT demonstrated the system's efficiency by setting a Guinness World Record for the lowest energy consumption by a production electric sedan around Lake Qinghai (8.20 kWh/100 km). Another Guinness World Record was achieved for the longest synchronous drift by two electric vehicles on a wet track, covering more than 46 kilometers (28.5 miles). 

Horse Powertrain has unveiled a new range-extender system for electric vehicles called the HORSE D20 Methanol. Specially developed for Range-Extended Electric Vehicles (REEVs), the powertrain combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, a generator, and power electronics into a lightweight 170-kilogram (375 lbs) unit, delivering up to 105 kW of power. The engine operates exclusively as a generator to recharge the traction battery while driving.  

The system is designed to run on 100% methanol and enables cold starts down to -35°C (-31°F) thanks to a high-energy ignition system. According to Horse Powertrain, the system meets China's CN6b emissions standard and already performs better than the requirements of the upcoming Euro 7 standard. An axial flux generator, developed from scratch, achieves an electrical efficiency of 96.4% and offers higher power density compared to conventional solutions. 

According to company specifications, the overall system achieves a fuel-to-electricity efficiency of 47%. A 40 kWh battery can be fully recharged using 19.6 liters of methanol, expanding the range of battery-electric vehicles without requiring long charging stops.