CATL establishes aviation unit as it moves closer to electric airplane development
China’s leading EV maker Contemporary Amperex Technology, or CATL as its better known, established a new aviation unit this week, signaling electric airplane development may be closer than expected.
CATL’s aviation unit explores electric airplanes
According to a report from Yicai Global, CATL and Chinese state-owned plane manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) are exploring the development of electric airplanes.
CATL and COMAC established a joint venture this week with Shanghai Jiao Tong University Enterprise Development group, COMAC Times Aviation.
COMAC has been developing “new energy” aircraft since 2019, with its Lingque-H hydrogen aircraft having already performed several test flights.
Qian Zhonhyan, the legal representative behind the new aviation unit and director of the COMAC research institute, was the chief designer of China’s first domestic large passenger aircraft, the C919.
According to corporate data, the firm will focus on designing and producing civil aircraft components, including engines and propellers.
Although CATL has yet to comment on the news, the EV maker is expected to use its new condensed batteries to power electric airplanes.
CATL unveiled the new condensed batteries at Auto Shanghai in April, with an energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg. In comparison, its ultra-efficient Qilin batteries promise an energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg with over 620 miles of range (1000 km), which is more than enough for an electric car.
The EV leader said the new batteries can achieve a high energy density and superior level of safety, “opening up a brand-new electrification scenario of passenger aircraft.”
The company said it was “cooperating with partners in the development of electric passenger aircrafts” in addition to launching an automotive-grade version.
A future with fully electric airplanes is a possibility, as battery advancements like CATL’s condensed batteries offer higher energy density at lighter weights. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in 2019 that for an electric eVTOL to be viable, it would need to achieve 400 Wh/kg.
Several companies, including Swedish startup Heart Aerospace, are developing electric airplanes that will help reduce emissions in air travel over the next several years.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) – one of the companies that invested in Heart’s aviation technology alongside other investors like United Airlines and Air Canada – has already opened orders for its first all-electric commercial flight. The flight is expected to take place in 2028.
Heart partnered with BAE Systems to develop a first-of-its-kind battery system in March. Meanwhile, CATL may already have its battery.
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GM is recalling nearly 23,000 Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models due to a defect where the tire tread could fall off.
GM is recalling more Chevy Equinox EV models
In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GM said it has decided to issue a safety recall for certain Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models from model years 2025 to 2026.
This time, it isn’t necessarily GM’s fault. The vehicles may be equipped with 21″ all-season tires that Continental Tire is recalling.
According to Continental, the tires were produced during the week of October 6, 2024, and may have a defect where the tire tread could partially or fully detach. The records show the defect is due to a nonconforming tread base rubber compound.
Owners of affected vehicles may notice unusual tread wear or bulging, vibration while driving, or tire noises. GM is unaware of any incidents related to the defect, but is issuing the recall out of an abundance of caution.
On September 18, 2025, GM inspected the assembly plant and confirmed there were no suspect tires in stock. The 21″ tires come standard on RS trims and are optional on LT1 and LT2 grades.
Although GM is recalling 22,914 Chevy Equinox EVs and Cadillac Optiqs, it estimates that only about 1% of them have the defect.
The recall includes:
- 2026 Cadillac Optiq: 214
- 2026 Chevy Equinox EV: 1,832
- 2025 Cadillac Optiq: 3,468
- 2025 Chevy Equinox EV: 17,400
GM dealers will check all four tires and replace them if needed, free of charge. Dealers were notified on October 16. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on December 1, 2025.
You can contact Chevrolet’s customer service number at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac’s at 1-800-333-4223. GM’s recall number is N252525030. Owners can also call the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the nhtsa.gov website for more information.
The Chevy Equinox EV is now the third best-selling EV in the US, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s entry-level Optiq SUV is the fifth-most-popular luxury EV. The recall is minor and only affects a small percentage of models, so it’s not expected to have a major impact.
If you want to test one of them for yourself, we can help you get started. Check out our links below to find available Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models near you.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tesla’s earnings madness, Rivian layoffs, Ford pausing F-150 Lightning, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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Some Tesla Cybertruck owners thought they were victims of vandalism, but it turned out that it was just a factory defect.
Earlier this year, amid Elon Musk’s controversial involvement in politics, there was a noticeable surge in vandalism against Tesla vehicles, particularly Cybertrucks.
Therefore, it’s not too surprising to see some owners worried that they were victims of vandalism when strange inscriptions appeared on their electric trucks.
Earlier this week, a Tesla Cybertruck owner posted on a Cybertruck Facebook group:
Any ideas how to remove a hydrochromic paint? Some person vandalized my truck. It only appears when wet.
The owner shared images of what he believed was invisible ink being used to vandalize his truck:
Several other owners chimed in and confirmed that they weren’t alone with this issue.
However, it is not vandalism. It’s a problem with Tesla’s protective film at the factory.
Another Cybertruck owner, Christian Maciel, had the same issue. He brought it to the Tesla service and shared the technician’s report.
The report mentioned “other owners report different initials (‘MPS’, ‘BLT’, ‘WC’)” showing up on the B pillar when wet – confirming that it is a widespread problem.
The culprit is an imprint from the factory protective film. Tesla wrote in the report:
Technician inspected the driver-side B-pillar and verified the presence of a persistent mark (‘BVT’) that appears when wet, confirmed as residue from factory protective film. The issue was caused by residue left after the removal of the factory’s protective film. Technician replaced the left-hand B-pillar applique to address the issue. The fix was validated by ensuring the mark no longer appears when the surface is wet.
They had to fully replace the part:
Tesla Cybertruck had about a dozen safety recall since going into production two years ago.
However, there are many more non-safety defects that led Tesla to conduct large-scale service of the Cybertruck.
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