Renault's low-cost brand, Dacia, is set to expand its electric vehicle (EV) lineup, starting with a fully electric version of its Sandero model by the end of 2027, according to CEO Denis Le Vot. Currently, Dacia offers only one all-electric model, the Spring, but its affordable pricing positions the brand as a strong competitor against the growing presence of Chinese automakers in the European market.

The Sandero, which was Europe's best-selling car last year, will lead the charge with its "full electric solution," highlighting Dacia's commitment to combining affordability with electrification.

This move reflects Dacia’s strategy to maintain its competitive edge in a market increasingly shaped by sustainable mobility trends and intensifying competition.

The Houston Auto Show and Houston Boat Show (Houston AutoBoative) are back at NRG Center from January 2 to February 2, now part of the newly launched Automotive Experience Alliance (AEA). This coalition of 30 auto shows aims to drive innovation and set industry standards.

This year’s event features test drives of the latest electric vehicles, attractions like NASA space rovers, and a showcase of top brands including Rolls Royce, Toyota, Bugatti, and more. Sponsored by clean energy coalition Evolve Houston, the event highlights sustainability efforts to promote electric vehicle adoption in the city.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket launched for the first time on Jan. 16 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff occurred at 2:03 a.m. EST, with its upper stage reaching orbit 12.5 minutes later.

This test flight, dubbed NG-1, marks a significant milestone for Blue Origin. "We got to orbit safely," said Ariane Cornell, the company’s VP of in-space systems.

New Glenn’s success solidifies its role as a heavy-lift rocket contender, paving the way for future missions.

General Motors (GM) has signed a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar agreement with Norway’s Vianode to supply synthetic graphite anode materials for its Ultium Cells EV batteries. The deal, starting in 2027, will coincide with Vianode’s launch of a production plant in North America, strengthening GM’s EV supply chain and supporting its sustainability goals.

On January 13, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, further expanding its global satellite network. Among the 21 satellites were 13 equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities, a key advancement in providing global cellular connectivity. The launch took place at 11:47 a.m. EST, and the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage booster returned to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff. The booster made a flawless landing on the drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, marking its 15th successful recovery.

The Falcon 9's upper stage continued its mission, deploying the satellites into low Earth orbit approximately 65 minutes after launch. This mission marks SpaceX's sixth launch of 2025, contributing to the company’s ongoing impressive launch cadence. In 2024, SpaceX completed over 130 Falcon 9 missions, a significant portion of which were dedicated to Starlink launches.

Image credit: SpaceX via X