Rivian (RIVN) is losing its vice president of manufacturing, Tim Fallon, to Jeep, Dodge owner Stellantis (STLA) to spearhead its upcoming EV offensive in the US.
Rivian loses EV manufacturing boss to Jeep, Ram
For the past two years and seven months, Fallon has helped Rivian scale the output of not one but three electric vehicles.
Before that, Fallon worked for Nissan for 16 years in various plant manager roles, including vice president at its Canton Assembly Plant in Mississippi.
Fallon is now pursuing a new opportunity, according to an internal email sent to employees from CEO RJ Scaringe, viewed by Bloomberg. A Rivian spokesperson confirmed the departure, saying, “We’ve had different leaders as we approach different levels of scaling our business.”
“We’re positioning the organization structure for the future,” the spokesperson added. Fallon is the latest of a string of high-level leaders who have left the company recently.
Fallon will join Stellantis as head of manufacturing in North America, effective September 2. The transition comes as Stellantis prepares for its EV offensive in the US.
Production at Rivian’s Normal, IL plant (Source: Rivian)
Meanwhile, Carlo Materazzo will lead Rivian’s manufacturing in the interim. Rivian brought on Materazzo, a former Stellantis exec, last November.
Stellantis preps for new EV launches in the US
Stellantis is launching the first Jeep, Dodge, and Ram electric vehicles in the US in the coming months.
Jeep unveiled the all-electric Wagoneer S this summer. The electric luxury SUV is redesigned with a new illuminated grille and other design upgrades for the modern age.
Jeep Wagoneer S (Source: Stellantis)
Powered by the STLA Large platform, Jeep’s EV gets over 300 miles range and up to 600 horsepower. It can also fast charge(20% to 80%) in 23 minutes.
The interior is loaded with Jeep’s latest tech, including a “best-in-class” display setup with 45″ of screen space.
Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition Radar Red interior (Source: Jeep)
Ahead of its official launch later this year, Jeep is putting the electric SUV through the paces in New Zealand for cold weather testing.
The Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition starts at $71,995 and is expected to hit US dealerships this fall. In 2025, it will roll out globally. Jeep’s electric SUV is expected to rival the Rivian R1S and Tesla Model Y in the US.
2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV Scat Pack (Source: Stellantis)
Another Stellantis brand, Dodge, revealed prices for its first EV earlier this month. The Dodge Charger Daytona EV will start at $59,595. The 670 hp Scat Pack model will start at $73,190.
The electric Charger Daytona looks, drives, and feels like a Dodge, CEO Matt McAlear said. Dodge claims the Scat Pack model maintains its throne as the “World’s quickest and most powerful muscle car” with a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3.3 seconds. The first Charger EV models are also expected to hit US dealerships by the end of 2024.
2025 Ram 1500 REV (Source: Ram)
Ram’s first electric pickup, the RAM 1500 REV, is also planned to begin rolling out in the fourth quarter of 2024.
While Stellantis is gearing up for a new EV offensive in the US, Rivian has its own ambitions. After major upgrades at its Normal manufacturing plant in April, Rivian expects drastic improvements in efficiency and output.
Rivian’s next-gen R2, R3, and R3X (Source: Rivian)
Rivian produced just 9,612 vehicles in the second quarter due to the shutdown. However, it remains on track to hit its 57,000 production goal in 2024.
The EV maker also gained approval for a massive plant expansion in Normal this week as it prepares for its smaller, more affordable R2.
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Lotus Cars’ compelling, high-performance electric sports sedan and SUV received a number of fresh updates earlier this week, but packs superior infotainment tech, styling tweaks, and (of course) a mind-bending 905 electric horsepower. (!)
The next update on the list is the addition of 22″, 10-spoke ultralight alloy wheels across the entire Eletre lineup. Both the 600 and 600 SE variants retain last year’s 6-piston fixed front and floating rear brake calipers, while the top-tier 900 model gets a high-performance, 10-piston, carbon-ceramic braking system that’s more than capable of hauling the Eletre SUV down from speed, lap after lap.
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They’ll need those brakes, too – because these things are fast, and getting faster with seemingly every new software update. “Things can always go faster,” reads the official Lotus copy. “The new Eletre and Emeya ‘900’ provide unmistakable evidence, representing superlatives in terms of performance. Both rely on a 675 kW (~915 hp) strong dual-motor powertrain.”
Both Lotus 900s can put that power to the ground effectively enough to rocket from 0-62 mph (100 km) in a well under 3.0 seconds on their way to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph (256 km/h) in the Eletre, and 160 mph (265 km/h) in the Emeya. The 600s aren’t exactly slow, either, packing 405 kW electric motors (~600 hp) good for 0-60 times in the mid 4s.
Inside, the Eletre and Emeya designs carries over without major changes. Lotus enhanced the features list on various trims. The 600 models now include 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, as well as 15-speaker audio systems from KEF. The 600 SE further adds a PDLC smart panoramic sunroof, 20-way power-adjustable front seats, front seat massage function, and active rear-wheel steering.
CarNewsChina reports that the updated 900 model builds upon the 600 SE’s new offerings with an intelligent, active anti-roll control suspension system.
Pricing for the 2026 Lotus EVs starts at 538,000 yuan (74,800 USD) in China, and climbs to over 838,000 yuan (116,500 USD) for the top-shelf Lotus Eletre 900 SUV. All models carry the same two-speed transmission and 112 kWh battery (102 kWh in the UK), good for up to 610 km (~375 miles) of driving between charges.
It wasn’t that long ago that a 900+ hp car was a cammy, rough-riding mess of a machine that you could barely take through a drive thru, but could probably land on the cover of a car magazine. Today, that same 900 hp in a quiet, smooth, reliable EV hardly generates a headline. And, almost in defiance of the “everything just keeps getting more expensive” truism, these mind-bending supercars can be had for less than what cars like this used to cost with gas engines and a third of the power.
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The welding equipment experts at Lincoln Electric know a thing or two about high-voltage equipment. Now, they’re bringing that electrical expertise to a whole new market with a portable, self-contained, 50 kW DC fast charger designed to deliver a quick shot of range and get stranded drivers back on the road.
Lincoln Electric’s Velion 50 kW DC fast charger is pitched as a durable, compact mobile charging unit that’s perfect for tow truck operators and construction fleets dealing with vehicles and fleet assets that couldn’t quite make their way back to a charger. So, you’re looking at this and thinking of one of those red, 5-gallon gas tanks that helps get drivers off the highway and to the next exit, congratulations: you get it!
“[Velion is] Designed for flexible, mobile use,” said Bruce Chantry, Vice President, Electric Vehicle Solutions at Lincoln Electric, during a buzzword-packed introduction of the new machine. “Designed in collaboration with the market and leveraging decades of expertise in power electronics, our solution is engineered to provide the flexibility customers need today, with a future-ready design to meet the demands of tomorrow.”
Designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States with over 70% domestic content, the Velion charger meets all National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) and Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements.
Lincoln Electric plans to sell the Velion DCFC to municipal fleets and state highway agencies, first, and envisions it being deployed in tough environments like construction sites, emergency response arenas, and complex fixed fleet depots. Car dealerships, museums, and probably ambulances too, could benefit – but I’m sure that’s just scratching the surface.
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Watch the Lincoln Electric launch video for the Velion from earlier this summer, below, then let us know how you’d like to see a mobile fast charger get deployed in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Lincoln Electric Velion DCFC
Velion 50 kW mobile charger; via Lincoln Electric.
The company hasn’t announced pricing or battery energy capacity (in kWh) for the new Velion, but I’d guess it’s something higher than 15 kWh, but less than 20. If you guys have a better guess, I’d love to hear it!
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Electric vehicles have come a long way, but let’s be real—they still have their hangups: “range anxiety,” long charging times, and questions about safety and sustainability. But what if all those worries could be put to rest?
At IAA Mobility in Munich, CATL, one of the world’s biggest battery makers, unveiled a new technology that could revolutionize EVs.
Shenxing Pro: Go Far, Last Long
CATL debuted two versions of its next-gen Shenxing Pro battery. One is all about distance and durability. Picture this: a single charge gets you up to 758 km (or about 470 miles). That’s enough to drive from Houston to Memphis without a single stop. And it’s not just about the distance; this thing is built to last. It promises a lifespan of 12 years or 1,000,000 km, with only around 9% degradation after 200,000 km. That’s a huge leap from today’s EV batteries, which often lose up to 30% of their capacity over the same period.
Fast Charging, Even When It’s Freezing
Tired of waiting around for your car to charge? The second version of the Shenxing Pro is for you. It’s the Super Fast Charging model, designed to get you back on the road in minutes. CATL says it can add a whopping 478 km of range in just 10 minutes under perfect conditions. And here’s the best part: it holds its own in the cold. We all know how much cold weather messes with most EV batteries, but the Shenxing Pro still delivers up to 410 km of range in just 20 minutes at a chilling -20°C. That’s better than many EVs perform in normal temperatures!
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No Propagation 3.0: Safety First
Safety is a top concern with EV batteries, especially the risk of thermal runaway—that’s when one cell overheats and triggers a dangerous chain reaction. CATL’s new No Propagation 3.0 platform is engineered to stop that domino effect cold. It uses special fireproof coatings and a cell structure that quickly cools down and relieves pressure. In the rare event of a problem, the battery can still provide stable power for over an hour. That extra time is a lifeline, giving drivers the chance to get to safety and ensuring critical systems like advanced driver-assistance features stay online when you need them most.
Getting Greener, At Scale
CATL is also tackling the sustainability issue head-on. Through a new initiative called the Global Energy Circular Commitment (GECC), they aim to cut the use of new raw materials by half over the next two decades. They’re already a leader in this space, operating the world’s largest battery recycling network. Since 2024, they’ve recycled over 130,000 tons of used batteries, recovering 99.6% of crucial metals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
The Whole Package
What’s so impressive about the Shenxing Pro isn’t just one feature—it’s everything working together. By improving range, charging speed, safety, and sustainability all at once, CATL isn’t just fixing a single problem; they’re taking on the biggest obstacles to widespread EV adoption. If these batteries live up to the hype, the next wave of EVs could be more efficient, more reliable, and a whole lot greener.
The bottom line? CATL’s latest battery tech in tandem with other commitments could prove to be the building blocks for the next wave of EVs in Europe and beyond.
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