After losing ground in China and Europe, Ford looks to expand in a market full of untapped potential for electric vehicles – Indonesia. The automaker is investing in an EV plant in Indonesia – the world’s largest producer of nickel – setting up shop next to its joint venture $4.5 billion nickel processing project in the country.
While Ford has yet to officially confirm reports, the Indonesian government is said to have already held talks with several global car manufacturers – “including with Volkswagen Group and Ford,” according to reports.
Ford is currently making massive job cuts in Europe and losing market share in China, but it sees Indonesia as a potential bright spot. The automaker returned to the Indonesian market in 2022 after a six-year absence through its partnership with Bangkok-based RMA Group. Ford now sells the Thai-made Ranger pickup truck and Everest SUV, with a combined 664 deliveries so far this year.
But Indonesia is focusing on EVs for two reasons, to exploit the country’s rich nickel resources and push for job creation for its huge, young workforce. It has been courting automakers to invest in the country, drawing on its market size, low car penetration, and strategic position to South Asian markets as key selling points. As for nickel, Indonesia produces 20.6% of the global total.
At an event in Jakarta, deputy Industry Minister, Faisol Riza told reporters that “Ford has promised to realize its factory and investment in Indonesia by next year,” according to media including the Jakarta Post and Global Data-owned Just Auto.
Last year, Ford joined global mining giant Vale and China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Company in investing in a $4.5 billion nickel processing project on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, with operations expected to start in 2026. The mine is expected to produce up to 120,000 tonnes of a nickel intermediate product per year for EV battery cathodes.
Since President Prabowo Subianto took office in October, the Indonesian government has been in talks with a few major automakers, including Volkswagen and Ford. “It looks like some of the global vehicle manufacturers that were once here and then disappeared will be coming back,” Faisol Riza said at the event. “We aim for all manufacturers to establish factories in Indonesia because of their high social and economic impact, particularly in job creation.”
Indonesia plans to boost local content requirements for BEVs to 40% by the end of 2026, rising in stages to 80% by the end of 2030.
Photo credit: Ford
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In a move that helps the brand duck protectionist anti-Chinese tariffs, Volvo Cars has switched production of its award-winning EX30 models destined for US roads from its Zhangjiakou plant in China to the Ghent facility in Belgium.
Volvo EX30 production began in the company’s Ghent factory back in April, but those first cars were earmarked for the Swedish domestic and European export markets, but that move wasn’t primarily motivated by avoiding tariffs. As Electrive reports, the company seemed happy enough to continue importing its small electric crossover from China and accepting the new 28.8% tariffs (up from 10%), but the wait times to get the vehicles shipped in from China was imply too long.
In 2024, Swedish and German buyers had to wait up to eight months for their EX30 in some cases, according to Volvo Cars’ European boss, Arek Nowinski, per Automotive News. Once production in Ghent is fully up to speed, however, wait times should be cut to about 90 days. Those wait times, and the price hike associated with the tariffs, have hurt sales of the originally Chinese-made Volvo EV. In 2024, for example, the EX30 ranked third in European EV sales, but slipped out of the top 10 first half of 2025.
“The car is now being built in Europe, which means faster delivery times,” Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson to Automotive News. “We should return to the sales and market share figures for the EX30 that we had before the introduction of tariffs.”
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Coming to Staying in America
Volvo EX30; via Volvo Cars.
The EX30’s switch to Ghent is good news for American fans of the compact, lickety-quick Volvo EV. Now that it’s no longer exclusively made in China, Volvo has decided to give it a stay of execution as it revamps its US product lineup to better align with market trends (read: SUVs) and the changing political landscape (read: tariffs and inflation).
The reason? The Made in China version of the EX30 would virtually unsellable in the US due to the implementation of 147% tariffs on vehicles imported from China. Vehicles imported from Europe, meanwhile, carry just 15% tariffs, keeping the EX30 in a competitive price bracket.
Expect to see both Ghent and South Carolina play an increasingly large role in Volvo’s US product mix – at least for the next three-odd years.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo Cars, Automotive News, via Electrive.
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It featured four advanced electric motors with a combined power of nearly 1,300 horsepower. The U9 can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in just 2.36 seconds.
With a motor at each wheel and a highly advanced electric-air suspension, the U9 can turn on itself and even jump over potholes.
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But that was only the beginning.
Based on a new filing with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), BYD is preparing to launch a new ‘Track Edition’ of the Yangwang U9:
When an automaker releases a “track” version of a car, it typically primarily features body changes for better aerodynamic performance, adding downforce, and it will also often feature bigger brakes.
The Yangwang U9 ‘Track Edition’ appears to feature all that… and much more.
The filing reveals that BYD updated the motors at each wheel to a new 555 kW motor. That’s a higher-performing motor than in most performance electric vehicles. The U9 Track Edition has four of them for a total of 2,220 kW (3,019 hp).
I would have thought that this was a typo if it wasn’t for the insane electric vehicles coming out of China these days.
Here are a few pictures from the MIIT filing:
There are a lot of performance specs that are not included in the MIIT filing. Therefore, it will be interesting to see when the vehicle is fully unveiled and BYD reveals what kind of performance it can achieve with 3,000 hp packed in 4 electric motors.
Here are a few other features mentioned in the filing:
Standard features:
20-inch wheels with 325/35 R20 tyres
Carbon-fibre roof
Large fixed carbon-fibre rear wing
Rear diffuser with adjustable blades for aerodynamic optimisation
Optional aerodynamic parts:
Standard or enhanced carbon-fibre front splitter
Electric rear wing
Electrek’s Take
How are they going to keep that thing from flying away? Seriously.
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The eBike space is crowded in 2025, but the Kingbull Jumper Go stands out with a rare combination of features: a compact 20” frame, full suspension, a step-through design, and a powerful Class 3 motor capable of hitting high speeds. Whether you’re commuting through the city, riding off-road trails, or just looking for a versatile, approachable ride, the Jumper Go delivers serious performance, especially for the price.
Key specs
On paper, the Kingbull Jumper Go has all the hardware you would want and need for its size and price. It blends commuter-friendly features with the components you’d expect from more premium off-road eBikes. These specs on paper translate to real-world use amazingly. Here’s a quick rundown of the key specs:
Motor: 750W Bafang rear hub motor
Top Speed: 28 MPH with pedal assist (up to 40 MPH unlocked; check local laws)
Battery: 48V 20Ah Samsung removable battery
Max Range: Up to 80 miles per charge
Gearing: Shimano 8-speed drivetrain
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
Suspension: Front 80mm fork + rear mid-frame air shock
Tires: 20” x 4.0” Kenda fat tires (puncture-resistant)
Frame: Step-through aluminum frame with internal cable routing
Display: Integrated LED display with speed, assist level, and battery status
Lighting: Integrated 48V headlight and rear brake light
Included Accessories: Rear cargo rack, full fenders, mini tool kit, zip ties, tire pump
Together, these features make the Kingbull Jumper Go a rare all-in-one package: powerful, approachable, and ready to handle daily commutes and adventures without compromise.
Real-world experience
I have been living with the Kingbull Jumper Go for two weeks now and have been using it as my daily driver. I have used it for pretty much everything, from small grocery runs, to running a quick errand, to just taking me from place to place. Here is what you need to know.
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The setup
The setup was surprisingly simple. The bike has everything needed for assembly, including a mini tool kit, zip ties, and even a tire pump. The Kingbull Jumper Go comes about 80% pre-assembled, with the rear tire and monitor intact. I had to install the front tire, front fender, handlebar, headlight, and seat. Assembly took roughly 20 minutes, and I am someone who does not do this often. It was great that I did not need any of my own tools to get the bike ready. The final thing I did was ensure it was fully charged before getting on it.
The ride
On the road, the 750W motor gives you quick acceleration and plenty of torque, easily handling hills and the urban terrain I live in. The five levels of pedal assist and throttle control give you full flexibility in how much effort you want to put in. I got the bike to almost 30mph with the pedal assist and to 22mph using the throttle. The suspension system, which features an 80mm front fork and a rear mid-air shock, makes city potholes and light off-road trails smooth and manageable.
I live in New Jersey, and if you know anything about our roads, they are terribly maintained and have potholes everywhere. The Kingbull Jumper Go kept the ride very smooth and managed those potholes perfectly. I also took it through some gravel roads, trails, and through some wet terrain, and it was great. The fat tires gives you a strong sense of confidence both on road and when you are dealing with a more challenging terrain.
The design
The step-through frame is especially helpful for beginners and for riders who are sharing this bike with someone who is a different height. The step-through frame also makes it easy to dismount or quickly react by easily putting your feet down without feeling like you are going to tip over.
The 20” Kenda fat tires provide great traction and comfort on surfaces ranging from pavement to grass and gravel. The Tektro hydraulic brakes are responsive and reliable, offering solid control even at higher speeds. You also get a fantastic LED display with real-time speed, distance traveled, and battery life. It is also plenty bright, so the display is easily visible even in the brightest conditions.
After riding this for two weeks in both urban and off-road settings, the Kingbull Jumper Go proved to be equally capable as a commuter eBike, urban cruiser, and all-terrain bike. Its compact frame makes it easier to handle and store compared to larger full-size fat-tire bikes, but without compromising on performance.
Kingbull Jumper Go Pricing and availability
The Kingbull Jumper Go is currently available through Kingbull’s official website for just under $1,699. However, they have a limited-time summer promotion offering $100 OFF with code Electrek, bringing the price down to $1,599. That discount makes it one of the best values on the market for a full-suspension, Class 3 fat-tire eBike. Kingbull’s 2-year warranty also backs it and offers local test ride availability in California, giving potential buyers added peace of mind and confidence in the brand.