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Kautex Textron Pentatonic Customer
Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG has been awarded a new business contract from a major automotive OEM to supply its full Pentatonic battery enclosure system. The scope of the agreement covers the complete enclosure architecture, including the top cover, bottom tray, and an integrated thermal management solution. The system is engineered for a multi-vehicle platform to support next-generation hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs).
The Pentatonic system utilizes lightweight thermoplastic composite and composite-metal hybrid materials to replace traditional steel or aluminum structures, reducing assembly steps and improving spatial management efficiency. By integrating cooling components directly into the housing, the configuration simplifies the bill of materials and eliminates secondary manufacturing steps. Production for this program will be localized in North America, with start of production (SOP) scheduled for 2028 utilizing highly automated compression molding concepts.
This contract marks a continuation of Kautex’s expansion into new mobility architectures. The Tier One supplier operates 30 production facilities across 13 countries, leveraging its high-volume plastic processing expertise in conventional fuel systems to scale its composite battery enclosures, underbody skid plates, and autonomous vehicle sensor cleaning systems.
GM Energy Pass Accesses Multiple Networks
General Motors (GM) has introduced Energy Pass, a unified public electric vehicle (EV) charging platform integrated directly into its native brand applications, including MyChevrolet, MyCadillac, and MyGMC. The solution addresses network fragmentation by aggregating digital access, session initialization, and billing settlement into a single application programming interface (API) layer. At launch, the platform provides access to Tesla Supercharger, IONNA, and Electrify America networks, with ChargePoint and EVgo integrations pending, encompassing approximately 70% of operational DC fast-charging infrastructure in the United States.
The architecture emphasizes automated transaction protocols by expanding Plug & Charge deployment under the ISO 15118 standard. This functionality enables automated cryptographic authentication and billing processing upon physical coupling, eliminating manual mobile application or RFID validation. Plug & Charge capability is active at IONNA Rechargeries and EVgo locations, with extensions scheduled for ChargePoint and the Tesla Supercharger network later in 2026.
This software integration coincides with a hardware transition to the North American Charging Standard (NACS) across GM’s EV product portfolio. Native NACS inlets are integrated into the 2026 Cadillac OPTIQ and 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, with full portfolio adoption across the Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac lineups mandated for the 2027 model year. An over-the-air (OTA) software update scheduled for late 2026 will enable Plug & Charge compatibility at Tesla Superchargers for native NACS-equipped GM vehicles, positioning Energy Pass as a core telematics asset to optimize customer lifetime value (LTV) and reduce ecosystem friction.
Xos’ $3m Contract for 12 Xos Hubs
Commercial electric vehicle manufacturer Xos, Inc. has finalized a US$3m follow-on contract to supply 12 Xos Hub mobile energy storage and charging assets to an undisclosed autonomous vehicle (AV) fleet operator. The deployment scales across North American and European logistics corridors, following initial European shipments earlier in 2026. The Xos Hub architecture provides localized DC fast-charging capabilities isolated from immediate high-power grid interconnection requirements, bypassing traditional utility infrastructure bottlenecks and reducing deployment lead times from months to days.
The procurement highlights mobile energy infrastructure as a critical operational bridge for software-defined, autonomous freight operations facing long utility interconnection queues. Industry forecasts project the global mobile energy storage market will expand from US$58bn in 2025 to US$156bn by 2032, registering a 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) driven by severe sub-station capacity constraints and rapid commercial fleet electrification. By utilizing trailer-mounted, battery-buffered charging systems, the AV operator can establish flexible operational design domains (ODDs) without asset-heavy capital expenditures on permanent real estate upgrades.
This transaction model positions Xos as an embedded infrastructure partner within a multi-continental autonomous logistics footprint, matching a deployment methodology heavily utilized by regional operators like Einride. The recurring procurement structure indicates that mobile storage units are shifting from temporary stopgaps to permanent, flexible infrastructure line items within scalable robotaxi and autonomous trucking networks. By buffering grid power, these systems mitigate peak-demand surcharges and stabilize total cost of ownership (TCO) metrics for high-utilization autonomous fleets.
Derq & ATITY ITP
Derq has finalized a commercial collaboration with AT&T to integrate its AI-driven roadway analytics platform into the AT&T Intelligent Transportation Platform (ITP). This partnership leverages AT&T’s established network infrastructure to facilitate the deployment of edge-based safety intelligence, supporting traffic management centers and emergency response operations with real-time detection of collisions, wrong-way driving, and hazardous road conditions.
The integration utilizes Derq’s AI/ML pipelines to feed predictive insights into AT&T’s data lakes, enabling scalable traffic management and advanced V2X and V2N applications. By moving beyond historical data analysis to proactive risk identification, the architecture aims to enhance safety protocols within urban and highway mobility environments, positioning the combined offering as a foundational component for next-generation digital transportation infrastructure.
Waymo EV Battery Reuse
Waymo has announced a new partnership with B2U Storage Solutions to repurpose retired electric vehicle batteries from its autonomous fleet into large-scale energy storage systems for local power grids.
Instead of being immediately recycled after their automotive service life ends, Waymo’s batteries will be given a second life storing renewable energy. B2U’s technology integrates used EV batteries into grid-scale storage facilities that capture excess solar and renewable energy during periods of high production and release it during times of peak electricity demand.
The initiative supports growing clean-energy needs in states such as California and Texas, where renewable energy generation continues to expand. By extending battery life beyond vehicle use, Waymo aims to advance a circular economy model while helping stabilize electricity grids and reduce waste.
The partnership is expected to deploy hundreds of megawatts of energy-storage capacity in regions where Waymo operates its autonomous ride-hailing services. Initial projects will focus on California and Texas.
Waymo says the program builds on its sustainability efforts by maximizing the environmental and economic value of its all-electric autonomous fleet, while B2U views the agreement as a significant step toward expanding battery repurposing across the automotive industry.
Stellantis Testing Factorial Energy Solid State Cells
Stellantis has commenced real-world road testing of Factorial Energy solid-state battery cells integrated into a Dodge Charger Daytona development vehicle. The validation program represents the initial automotive integration of solid-state technology within a vehicle platform in North America. The vehicle utilizes Factorial Factorial Electrolyte System Technology (FEST) cells, which possess a demonstrated energy density of 375 Wh/kg and support a 15% to 90% fast-charging capability in 18 minutes.
The integration architecture features a patented, Stellantis-designed mechanical enclosure engineered to accommodate the unique physical and thermal characteristics of the FEST chemistry within the production-derived STLA Large platform. Software controls and thermal management loops were adapted to sustain cell operations across an operating envelope ranging from -30°C to 45°C. By leveraging the STLA Large architecture, which underpins high-volume pipeline electric vehicles (EVs) like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Alfa Romeo Stelvio EV, successful validation establishes a direct path toward scaled industrial manufacturing using existing lithium-ion production lines.
The timing of the field evaluation coincides with Factorial capital market initiatives, following the company initial public offering on the Nasdaq on June 8, 2026. Transitioning from laboratory bench testing to multi-variable road validation allows the engineering teams to evaluate cell degradation, mechanical stress, and control systems under dynamic real-world payloads. This milestone represents a critical step toward addressing historical industry bottlenecks in pack-level solid-state integration and proving commercial scalability for next-generation software-defined vehicle architectures.