HELLA GmbH & Co, based in Lippstadt, Germany, is investing in the expansion of its manufacturing site in Großpetersdorf, Austria. The size of the investment has not been disclosed, but it is understood to amount to several million euros.

Easymile SAS, based in Toulouse, France, has provided its autonomous vehicles in Norway with a software update focussing on features specifically relevant to Nordic conditions, including enhanced ground perception and improved rain and snow filtering. The software development has been supported through EasyMile’s partnership with Applied Autonomy AS, based in Kongsberg, Norway.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has opened the application process for its Low or No Emission Program for buses. The scheme is offering USD1.1 billion in competitive grant funding. In addition, the government is offering USD372 million in funding under the Grants for Bus and Bus Facilities (BBF) Program.

Paris-based Forsee Power SAS has announced a new ultra-modular heavy-duty battery system, titled the ZEN PLUS. Forsee says the system offers a greater energy density to support high power applications, making it suitable for buses, off-road vehicle, and heavy trucks.

DAF Trucks N.V., based in Eindhoven, has begun field testing the new generation of the XF, XG, and XG+ distribution trucks. DAF will unveil its New Generation of distribution trucks in the second half of the year. The new series will become available in addition to the range of DAF CF trucks.

Grammer AG, based in Ursensollen, Germany, is serving as the coordinator for the Adaptive Process Chains for Increasing Production Quality and Efficiency (AdaProQ) project initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Carrier Transicold SAS, based in Rueil-Malmaison, France, has opened a new, larger service centre in Germany. The firm has moved to a new location in Leipzig, nearer to the airport.

ChargePoint Holdings Inc, based in Campbell, California, has expanded into the European fleet market through a partnership with Picnic, an online-only supermarket that serves around 200 cities across the Netherlands, Germany, and France with its fleet of over 2,300 electric vehicles.

Clarience Technologies LLC, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, has entered a technology alliance focused on trailer applications with Lafayette, Indiana-based trailer builder Wabash National Corp.

BYD Inc, the US subsidiary of Shenzhen, China-based BYD Auto Co Ltd, has announced the appointment of Michael Stafford to the role of Director of Business Development. In his role, Stafford will lead the company’s battery electric truck team.

Bridgestone Corporation, based in Tokyo, Japan, has launched a joint programme to develop chemical recycling technologies that utilise used tyres to achieve high-yield production of isoprene, a raw material used in synthetic rubber production.

Weeks after opening its new silicon wafer fabrication facility in Dresden, Robert Bosch GmbH, based in Stuttgart, has announced it is to invest EUR400 million in its silicon chip manufacturing facilities throughout 2022. The investment will expand its wafer fabrication sites in Dresden and Reutlingen, Germany, and its semiconductor operations in Penang, Malaysia.