
Global updates and expert commentary on the energy and automotive sectors
London, April 28, 2025 (Oilandgaspress) –- U.S. Rig Count is up 2 from last week to 587 with oil rigs up 2 to 483, gas rigs up 1 to 99 and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to 5. Canada Rig Count is down 6 from last week to 128, with oil rigs down 6 to 81, gas rigs unchanged at 47 and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0. Absence of conclusive news is pushing oil prices all over the placer as traders anticipate potential increase in OPEC+ supply from the May 5 meeting
Ten Mercedes-Benz eCitaro G fully electric articulated buses with the new pure hydrogen “H₂ mode” drive mode will be put into operation by the city bus fleet of Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) in 2025. With them, the SSB is giving the starting signal for the construction of an emission-free bus fleet in the bus network of the state capital of Baden-Württemberg. SSB has been a development partner of Daimler Buses for the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro G fuel cell with ₂ mode.

SSB will no longer be purchasing diesel buses. From 2027, it intends to operate in the city centre of Stuttgart exclusively with emission-free buses, and from 2035 to be climate neutral across the entire Stuttgart bus network.
On 14 April 2025, the first of the ten new fuel cell articulated buses with H₂ mode was presented in Stuttgart by Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Transport Winfried Hermann, Dr Frank Nopper, Chair of the SSB Supervisory Board and Mayor of Stuttgart, and Thomas Moser, Technical Board Member and Spokesperson of the SSB Board of Management. The handover was carried out by Heinz Friedrich, Head of Sales & Service Germany at Daimler Buses, and Carsten Reineck, Public Transport Sales Germany at Daimler Buses.
Long range, significant recuperation benefits, high drive power
With the new H₂ mode operating strategy, the eCitaro G fuel cell electric articulated buses equipped with a hydrogen-based fuel cell as a range extender can be operated exclusively with hydrogen as an energy source in certain operating scenarios. The pure hydrogen drive mode makes them independent of stationary charging processes. This increases their operating radius compared to hybrid or purely electric technologies.
The three-door fuel cell articulated buses of the SSB are characterised by their long range as well as significant recuperation benefits and high drive power. The battery and the fuel cell are also the energy source for the drive system in the “H₂ mode” operating strategy. However, external charging of the batteries on the mains network during stationary phases is no longer necessary, as they are charged by the fuel cell while driving. The fuel cell always operates in the efficient operating range between 20 and a maximum of 40 kW, even in H₂ mode. . Read Related News

TRATON GROUP got off to a slow start to 2025, yet expects an improved business performance in the second half of the year due to a renewed increase in incoming orders. On the back of this, the full-year outlook is maintained. As previously reported, unit sales declined by 10% to 73,100 vehicles (3M 2024: 81,100) in the first quarter of 2025. Sales revenue also decreased by 10% to €10.6 billion (3M 2024: 11.8 billion). With a share of 21% (3M 2024: 19%) of total sales revenue, the Vehicle Services business made a considerable contribution to business performance. Incoming orders rose by 12% to 74,300 vehicles (3M 2024: 66,400) in the first quarter. The book-to-bill ratio, or the ratio from incoming orders to unit sales, was 1.0 (0.8).
At €646 million (3M 2024: €1,106 million), adjusted operating result was significantly below the prior-year period. This means that adjusted operating return on sales decreased by 3.3 percentage points to 6.1% (3M 2024: 9.4%). Scania Vehicles & Services achieved an adjusted operating return on sales of 10.5% (3M 2024: 14.3%) in the first quarter. With customers generally remaining cautious, lower unit sales in the truck business led to a volume-related decline in sales revenue. Moreover, Sca-nia’s profitability was impacted by higher exchange rate effects. TRATON’s North American brand International achieved an adjusted operating return on sales of 2.3% (3M 2024: 5.0%) in the first quarter. Due to cautious buyers in an uncertain economic environment truck unit sales saw a significant decline; unit sales of buses increased, however. The decline in sales revenue was partly offset by a favorable product mix.
Volkswagen Truck & Bus increased its adjusted operating return on sales by 2.1 percentage points to 13.1% (3M 2024: 11.0%) in the reporting period. Increased truck sales can be mainly attributed to a positive market development in Brazil in the first quarter. Exchange rate effects had a negative impact on the rise in revenue. . Read More
Africa Oil Corp.’s representatives on Impact Oil & Gas Limited’s Board have received an update on the Marula-1X drilling operation on Block 2913B (PEL 56), offshore Namibia.

Highlights
• Safely drilled the Marula-1X well to a total depth of 6,460m (measured depth) on block 2913B, targeting Albian aged sandstones, within the Marula fan complex, approximately 47 Km south of the Venus-1X well, using the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible drilling rig.
• No hydrocarbons were encountered in the primary target in the Marula-1X well. No Drill Stem Test was performed.
• A comprehensive analysis of the well results is now underway.
Impact has a 9.5% interest in Blocks 2912 and 2913B in Namibia’s Orange Basin. Africa Oil through its 39.5% interest in Impact, has an effective interest of approximately 3.8% in these blocks. Block 2913B contains the Venus light oil discovery. .. Read Related News
Wintermar Offshore Reports 1Q2025 Results Wintermar recorded a 31.4%YOY increase in Gross Profit to US$6.6 million for 1Q2025, with US$4.1 million Operating Profit (+52.5% YOY), driven by Owned Vessels gross margin expansion.
Margin expansion in the Owned Vessel Division continued to boost profitability, despite a slow quarter where Total Revenue fell by 9.2%YOY from US$18.4 million in 1Q2024 to US$16.7 million in 1Q2025. The lower revenue stemmed from a slower than expected start after the monsoon season which primarily affected the Chartering Division.

Owned Vessel Division
The Owned Vessel Division continued to perform well as the high tier vessels and mid-tier DP vessels saw improved utilization. Gross Profit from Owned Vessel jumped by 55.8%YOY to US$6.1 million for 1Q2025 as compared to 1Q2024, generated from revenues of US$14.8 million (+6.1%YOY). With more PSVs working, Owned Vessel gross margin has continued to increase to 41.2% in 1Q2025 from 28.1% in 1Q2024. Average charter rates for 1Q2025 were 31% higher than 1Q2024, due to a larger number of high yielding vessels in the Company’s fleet.
The lower end of the mid-tier segment did not fare as well in 1Q2025, as some mid-tier vessels came off spot contracts. OSV demand was slow during the quarter, with some project delays, even though there were some ongoing tenders. Fleet utilization dropped to 57% in 1Q2025 as compared to 63% in 4Q2024. Two additional HLBs were delivered in February and March 2025 which only commenced operations in April 2025.Total Indirect Expense rose by 6.5%YOY to US$2.4 million in 1Q2025 as compared to US$2.3 million in 1Q2024. This increase was primarily driven by the increase in marketing expenses and staff salaries.
With the growing participation in international tenders, Marketing Expenses in 1Q2025 doubled to US$0.17 million (+125.3%YOY) from US$0.08 million in 1Q2024. Staff Salary contributed US$0.09 million to the increase, rising 5.2%YOY to US$1.8 million in 1Q2025, due to an expansion of permanent employees and higher salaries.
Operating Profit for 1Q2025 was US$4.1 million, which increased 52.5% compared to the same period in the previous year. The operating margin rose to 24.7% in 1Q2025 from 14.7% in 1Q2024. . Read More

Wintermar’s Operating Profit jumped by 101.5%YOY to US$17.8 million on the back of a 13.5%YOY increase in Total Revenue to US$82.4million, from higher charter rates and a better fleet mix of DP (Dynamic Positioning) vessels.
Owned Vessel Revenue rose by 28.9%YOY to US$62.1million for FY2024 from US$48.2million in FY2023.
This was driven by a larger number of DP vessels in the fleet which pushed the average charter rates for 2024 up by 26% as compared to the average charter rate in 2023. These factors contributed to a 106.2%YOY jump in Gross Profit from Owned Vessels to US$22.4million for FY2024 with vessel utilization in 2024 at 66%, slightly lower than 68% for 2023. . Read Related News

Bentley Motors unveils a one-of-a-kind Koa veneer surfboard, created in collaboration with Marnie Rays and Otter Surfboards — exploring the notion of craftsmanship and adventure. The project was aimed at embodying the spirit of adventure, which is why Bentley collaborated with Marnie Rays – a retreat that ensures luxury escapes without the fuss. Providing guests with an elevated experience that’s all about good times and good company.
The surfboard was handcrafted using Bentley Koa veneer, sourced from the same woodshop in Crewe that is usually reserved for crafting the interiors of the world’s most desirable high performance grand tourers. The veneer was chosen during a visit to Bentley’s Crewe HQ by Lindsey Holland (founder of Marnie Rays) and James Otter (founder of Otter Surfboards), with the expert guidance of Bentley’s craftspeople ensuring the highest quality material for this unique creation. Koa veneer, selected over Bentley’s other nine wooden veneer options, pays homage to the traditional method of surfboard crafting in Hawaii. . Read Related News

The third Air|Water event took place at the weekend, attended by more than 1,000 cars, as the organisers look to turn it into a fixed event on the Porsche calendar. Exploration and inclusivity are at the heart of Air|Water driven by Mobil 1, the all-encompassing Porsche event held at the weekend in southern California. The brainchild of Patrick Long, the co-founder of Luftgekühlt, and Luft’s creative director Jeff Zwart, this third staging of the fast-growing Porsche festival once again saw thousands of enthusiasts travelling from across the US and beyond to experience Air|Water’s unique celebration of Porsche in all its forms. Unlike Luft’, which focuses exclusively on Porsche’s air-cooled cars, the purpose of Air|Water is to be a broader church for fans of the brand, offering the opportunity for anyone interested in the wider world of Porsche to discover more. And while Luftgekühlt moves to a different location each year, Air|Water has returned to Costa Mesa in Orange County, with a fixed venue now designed to promote the idea of an annual meet up. Read Related News

Stellantis is the leader of sales in the EU30 hybrid car market At the end of the first quarter of 2025, Stellantis secures first place in the hybrid car segment and achieves a market share of 17.3% in the total EU30 market, up from the total for the year 2024, consolidating its second place. Luca Napolitano, Commercial Operations Officer for Stellantis, emphasizes: “We are fighting for the top spot in Europe and maintaining high pressure in the B-SUV segment, where we launched three key new models, the Citroën C3 Aircross, Opel/Vauxhall Frontera and FIAT Grande Panda. Furthermore, our decision to expand the range of hybrid vehicles, offering more choices to customers and facilitating a gradual transition to electric propulsion, granted us the leadership in the hybrid segment.”On total EU30 market in March 2025, in the B segment Stellantis has 3 models among the top 5 best sellers (PEUGEOT 208 is #2, Citroën C3 #4, Opel Corsa #5). In the B-SUV segment, PEUGEOT 2008 climbs to the podium, while in the C-SUV segment PEUGEOT 3008 is also among the top 5.
Confirmed leadership in the sales of EU30 light commercial vehicle segment with a share of 30.2%, rising to 31.5% in the electric vehicle segment. Stellantis Pro One is also #1 in 8 of the top 10 markets.** Read Related News
Mobilisights, the Data as a Service business unit of Stellantis N.V., is the exclusive provider of embedded telematics data for Stellantis’ 14 automotive brands. Mobilisights, Stellantis’ Data as a Service business unit, is pleased to expand its customer base with a new agreement that provides Zubie with seamless access to data from Stellantis’ connected vehicles operating in the United States, allowing Zubie customers to optimize fleet and car rental operations with actionable insights. This agreement takes Mobilisights one step closer to its vision and mission of revolutionizing the experiences of customers and businesses with the transformative power of automotive data, contributing to a smarter and safer world.

Mobilisights is the exclusive source for embedded telematics data from Stellantis brands, harnessing insights from millions of the company’s vehicles. Without aftermarket devices, native vehicle data can be activated instantly, directly from the vehicle to the cloud. Refueling and EV charging become more efficient as fleet managers monitor fuel costs, charging status, vehicle range, and charge reimbursement. Vehicle health monitoring allows fleet managers to identify issues and schedule preventative maintenance, reducing unplanned downtime. Route optimization further decreases idle-time and increases fleet availability. Additionally, fleet managers can coach driver behavior, increase safety and enhance the fleet’s reputation. Read Related News

Launch Campaign for the New Opel Frontera The new Opel Frontera is the perfect family SUV but has been made different. This is made unmistakably clear by the pan-European 360-degree campaign, which starts as a cross-media campaign in Germany today. Because while many modern cars are becoming ever more complicated and expensive, the Frontera offers exactly what most customers really need: It has space aplenty, focusses on the essentials, is intuitive to use and, above all, it is affordable. In short: Opel’s family-friendly, electrified SUV is ready for daily adventures. In cooperation with the creative agency Jung von Matt,
Opel shows in an entertaining, tongue-in-cheek way that the Frontera is much more than a comic book star: it is an everyday hero that customers can count on. The result? The Frontera as the heroic lead in its own story – fresh and unexpected and straight to the customer benefits of our latest launch. We believe this will position our new Frontera in its target market and continue to build on our brand tone of voice, that people clearly now link to Opel,” said Rebecca Reinermann, Vice President Marketing Opel and Vauxhall. Read More

Alpine sport fastback will be unveiled on 27 May 2025 in Dieppe (France) Alpine’s engineering teams had a clear goal when designing the A390: offer the future A390 5-seat sport fastback the agility and driving pleasure of the legendary A110. It incorporates all of Alpine’s dynamic DNA, with performance at the highest level of the brand’s models, while offering the space of a genuine 5-seater (dimensions: 4,615 mm x 1,532 mm x 1,885 mm).
Before the A390 hits the market, Alpine’s sport fastback’s dynamic performance is being tested at the state-of-the-art Ladoux Technology Centre in Auvergne. Its 4,100 m wet test track is ideal for pushing the A390 to its limits with its two specific Michelin tyres, 20 and 21 inches.
It is the perfect proving ground for testing the technologies that equip the A390 and determine its dynamic performance: its three electric motors, which enable Alpine Active Torque Vectoring, and its five driving modes, including the new Track Mode, which adjusts the settings of the ESC (Electronic Stability Control). The teams are using the track to validate the mapping of these various technological components. The A390 is shod with specific tyres developed jointly with Michelin, identifiable by their A39 marking: 20-inch Pilot Sport EV, 21-inch Pilot Sport 4S. . Read More

Oil prices are expected to decline following reports that OPEC+ may increase output
Oil and Gas Blends | Units | Oil Price | Change |
Crude Oil (WTI) | USD/bbl | $63.13 | Up |
Crude Oil (Brent) | USD/bbl | $66.94 | Up |
Bonny Light 25/04/25 CBN | USD/bbl | $68.32 | Down |
Dubai | USD/bbl | $65.61 | — |
Natural Gas | USD/MMBtu | $2.93 | Up |
Murban Crude | USD/bbl | $66.14 | Down |
OPEC basket 25/04/25 | USD/bbl | $68.74 | Down |

Baker Hughes Rig Count: U.S. +2 to 587 Canada -6 to 128
U.S. Rig Count is up 2 from last week to 587 with oil rigs up 2 to 483, gas rigs up 1 to 99 and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to 5.
Canada Rig Count is down 6 from last week to 128, with oil rigs down 6 to 81, gas rigs unchanged at 47 and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0.
Region | Period | Rig Count | Change |
U.S.A | 26 April 2025 | 587 | +2 |
Canada | 26 April 2025 | 128 | – 6 |
International | March 2025 | 899 | -6 |

More Energy, Oil & Gas Stories !!! �The squeaky wheel gets the oil�
OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole @oilandgaspress.
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