European company unveils lunar rover for space agencies at Paris Air Show

A dazzling array of cutting-edge aviation and aerospace innovations is on full display at the 55th Paris Air Show, drawing thousands to Le Bourget Airport near Paris, with a European lunar rover unveiled for space agencies.

From next-gen aircraft to futuristic space exploration tech, the biennial event offers a glimpse into the future of travel -- both on the Earth and in space.

Among the standout unveilings is the Mona Luna, the fully European lunar rover developed by Venturi Space France.

Venturi Space France, based in Toulouse, is firmly committed to the European Space Agency (ESA)'s goal to send the continent's first astronauts to the Moon's surface by 2030.

The 100 percent European-designed Mona Luna Rover showcased at the Paris Air Show represents a bold fusion of functionality and fashion.

"My mission here is to do exactly what I'm doing in other fields, is to listen to the engineers, to understand them and try to figure out how I can make all those constraints and all those technical details beautiful," said Sacha Lakic, product designer of Venturi Lab.

The rover is specifically designed to meet the needs of the ESA and the French National Center for Space Studies.

The Mona Luna weighs in at 750 kilograms. It is equipped with an electric propulsion system, solar panels and three high-performance batteries. It is also engineered to withstand several lunar nights, which is one of the biggest challenges for moon exploration. Temperatures near the Moon's equator gets as hot as 121 degrees Celsius during the day before plummeting to minus 133 degrees in the darkness.

Another part of the Mona Luna's design is focused on mobility, which can be a matter of life or death for astronauts navigating unpredictable terrain.

"You see the big wheels behind me? You have a very good traction on loose soil. You can have floatation. It means that you do not remain stuck on the lunar soils. So, extended mobility is also one of the main features of this robot," said Antonio Delfino, director and co-founder of Venturi Lab.

Companies like Venturi are accelerating the pace in developing these cutting-edge products as the global commercial space race continues to boom.

"Those [are] products that are imagined here on the Earth and then one day they will be on Mars, on the Moon. This is 'wow!' It's kind of a dream that is coming true," said Lakic.

Inaugurated in 1909, the biennial Paris Air Show is the world's largest in the aerospace sector, embodying excellence, innovation, and international cooperation in the industry. This year's event runs from June 16 to 22.

European company unveils lunar rover for space agencies at Paris Air Show

China and the European Union (EU) have agreed that it is necessary to provide general guidance on price undertakings for Chinese exporters of passenger battery electric vehicles to the EU, China's commerce ministry said on Monday.

The move aims to address relevant concerns in a more practical, targeted, and consistent manner with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, according to the Ministry of Commerce in a statement.

Accordingly, the European Commission will issue a Guidance Document on Submission of Price Undertaking Offers. In the document, the EU confirms that it will assess each undertaking application under the same legal criteria, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination and relevant WTO rules, in an objective and fair manner.

The progress fully reflects the spirit of dialogue and the outcomes of consultations between China and the EU. It shows that both China and the EU have the ability and willingness to properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation within the framework of WTO rules, thereby maintaining the stability of automotive industrial and supply chains in China, the EU, and the whole world. This is conducive not only to ensuring the healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations, but also to safeguarding the rules-based international trade order, the statement said.

On the same day, the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) also issued a statement welcoming the positive outcome of the consultations.

The CCCME noted that eligible Chinese EV makers may now submit price undertaking applications in accordance with the EU's guidance, and the European Commission has pledged to review all applications objectively, fairly, and under uniform standards.

The proper settlement of this case meets the shared expectations of industries along the EV supply chain in both China and Europe. It will help ensure the security and stability of related industrial and supply chains and safeguard the broader China-EU economic and trade relationship, the CCCME said.

The chamber expressed appreciation for the substantial efforts made by China's Ministry of Commerce in defending the interests of the domestic industry. It also pledged to encourage and support relevant Chinese enterprises in making full use of the consultation outcomes to protect their interests in exporting to the EU and promote healthy cooperation between the industries of both sides.

China, EU agree on price undertaking guidance for Chinese electric vehicle exporters: commerce ministry