Month: September 2026

WUHU, China, Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The winners of the 2026 Torino Automotive Design Award (TADA) were announced on Sept. 11 at Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy. The award brings European and Chinese automotive design communities together through design, fostering dialogue and exchange between the two sides. This year’s competition featured 87 models from 46 Chinese brands across three categories: City Car, Family Car and Premium Car. The models were evaluated across exterior design, interior design and technological innovation. In the City Car category, LEPAS, Chery Auto’s Premium NEV brand, won the Best Interior Design Award for the LEPAS L6’s cabin design. Meanwhile, Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. (9973.HK), received the 2026 TADA Person of the Year award for his longstanding commitment to China’s automotive industry and his efforts to advance cooperation between the Chinese and European automotive sectors.

The LEPAS L6 brings the brand’s Leopard Aesthetics into the cabin, expressing Exquisite Space through a balance of aesthetics and functionality. Beyond spaciousness, comfort-oriented materials and thoughtful details create an elegant and composed interior space, while spatial layout, functional design and technology combine to deliver both design and practicality, earning recognition from TADA. The jury highlighted the L6’s spacious, refined and thoughtfully designed cabin, noting that generous passenger space, premium materials and flexible storage solutions create a comfortable and practical environment, while advanced technologies are naturally integrated throughout the interior.

The award recognizes the LEPAS L6’s cabin design philosophy and product design capabilities, while reflecting LEPAS’s focus on design and continued exploration of elegant mobility experiences.

Inside the cabin, the LEPAS L6 features a flat rear floor that creates a greater sense of space. Its gull-wing wraparound cabin combines a clean and orderly visual language with thoughtfully designed storage and functional areas, bringing the concept of Exquisite Space to life through thoughtful details. Optimized NVH performance further enhances cabin quietness and contributes to a more comfortable driving experience. Dual wireless charging, physical controls, and heated and ventilated seats further add everyday convenience and comfort. Intelligent technology is integrated throughout the cabin, complementing its design and functional layout for everyday use.

The LEPAS L6 EV has now officially launched in Thailand. With Chery Auto’s global capabilities spanning the full value chain, LEPAS is expanding its global presence with a diversified product portfolio covering multiple powertrain technologies to meet diverse market needs. Its products are being progressively introduced across Southeast Asia, Europe and other global markets. As its global presence continues to expand, LEPAS is building closer connections with users across different markets. By listening to users and understanding regional differences in mobility habits and aesthetic preferences, LEPAS is taking a new step from global market expansion toward user co-creation.

This October, LEPAS will host its inaugural LEPAS Global Elegant Lifestyle Week under the theme “TOGETHER IN ELEGANCE.” The event will bring together global users, partners and cross-industry guests to exchange perspectives across diverse cultures and lifestyles and continue exploring different expressions of elegant mobility across various scenarios.

About LEPAS

LEPAS is Chery Auto’s Premium NEV brand, dedicated to creating elegant mobility experiences for users worldwide. Committed to becoming the Preferred Brand for Elegant Mobility Life, LEPAS brings together Leopard Aesthetics, Elegant Technology, and Exquisite Space – transforming elegance into a driving experience you can see, feel, and trust. Supported by a growing global dealer network of more than 500 sales and service outlets, LEPAS is expanding its international footprint through localized operations, delivering products and experiences tailored to users across global markets.

About Chery Auto

Founded in 1997, Chery Auto is a global automotive manufacturer specializing in vehicle development, intelligent technologies, and new energy solutions. The company operates in more than 130 countries and regions, supported by a strong international network of research, production, and strategic partnerships. Chery Auto has remained China’s No. 1 passenger vehicle exporter among Chinese brands for 23 consecutive years. Guided by its global philosophy of “In somewhere, For somewhere, Be somewhere,” Chery Auto is committed to advancing sustainable mobility through continuous innovation and global collaboration.

Peiwen Tan
Email: tanpeiwen@mychery.com
Website: lepasinternational.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at 

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — King Copper Discovery Corp. (“King Copper” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: KCP, OTCQB: TBXXF, FSE: 3RI0) is pleased to announce that Aurora Copper Peru SAC, its operating company in Peru, has received 8 additional concessions adding approximately 7,170 hectares of contiguous new exploration claims to the north of the Colquemayo Copper Project (the “Project”), in southern Peru. The concessions were added through strategic staking, significantly expanding the Company’s land position and increasing the opportunity for new discoveries across this emerging copper district.

The new concessions were secured through staking following a review of historic data and satellite imagery. The additional concessions share geological similarities including historic data showing geochemistry anomalies for gold, copper and molybdenum. This work has significantly advanced the Company’s understanding of the broader Colquemayo copper mineral system and strengthened management’s confidence that Colquemayo is a district scale project with the potential of hosting multiple porphyries.

The staking program increases King Copper’s land position by over 100% from approximately 6,600 hectares to approximately 13,770 hectares, representing another important milestone in the Company’s long-term strategy at Colquemayo. King Copper’s district consolidation and exploration strategy has in part been guided by geological similarities to linked epithermal and porphyry systems in the Andes, a prime example being the Vicuña District in the Chile-Argentina border, which encompasses a significant mineralized footprint and hosts multiple porphyries, including Filo del Sol and Josemaría.

By securing these additional contiguous concessions, King Copper has established a more unified district position that strengthens the long-term opportunity at Colquemayo while supporting responsible project development. This expansion also offers an enhanced opportunity for the Company to continue building strong, collaborative relationships with local stakeholders and neighboring communities in the region.

Jonathan Richards, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Extensive technical work to-date has significantly advanced our understanding of the broader system and reinforced our belief that Colquemayo has the potential to host multiple porphyry systems. Securing additional mineral concessions surrounding he core Project area was the natural next step that strengthens our position across the district, enhancing the long-term opportunity at Colquemayo.”

The land consolidation complements the Company’s receipt of the Declaración de Impacto Ambiental (“DIA”), an important milestone that provides the environmental certification required to advance the Company’s planned and fully-funded 36,010 metre diamond drill program.

The permit authorizes up to 36,010 metres of diamond drilling from 40 drill platforms comprising up to 59 drill holes within the 6,600-hectare permitted project area. As previously announced, the Company remains focused on executing a phased exploration strategy designed to target new discoveries within this large copper system already identified within the 6,600 ha land package covered by the DIA.

Drill targets

The Company continues to advance towards drilling and is in the process of awarding the drill contract. The initial drill holes are designed to step out from the strongest Cu/Au/Ag (copper/gold/silver) intersections, including those encountered in hole 36 at Amata-Cairani target. It will also test downdip targets where spectral data and presence of porphyry style veining indicate the proximity of a potential porphyry intrusion, such as in Coripuquio. Besides Amata-Cairani and Coripuquio, four other targets have been defined as priority in the initial drilling.

On Behalf of the Company,
Jonathan Richards, Chief Executive Officer and Director.

Contact Information:
Harp Gosal | Director of Capital Markets & Communications
E: hgosal@kingcopperdiscovery.com
Website: www.kingcopperdiscovery.com
Address: #1212-1030 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6E 3M5

For Investor Relations enquiries, please contact +1 604 218 1142

Statements

About King Copper Discovery Corp and Our Projects: King Copper is a TSXV-listed exploration company focused on the Colquemayo copper-gold project in South America. The Company is led by a team responsible for multiple copper-gold-silver discoveries.

Forward Looking Statement: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements, including the expected closing date of the Financing, the investor’s expected ownership interest in King Copper and the expected use of proceeds from the Financing. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “projects”, “potential” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “could” or “should” occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the receipt of regulatory approvals, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, as well as legal, social, and economic conditions in Argentina and Peru, where the Company’s mineral exploration properties are located. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Qualified Person: The scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Douglas Kirwin, M.Sc., FGS, FAusIMM (CP), FSEG, a technical advisor to the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).

Milestone Highlights Growing Adoption of Itron’s Smart Water Solutions Across Europe

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash., Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), the intelligent infrastructure provider for modern energy and water management, has shipped its three millionth Itron Cyble 5 communication module, which was received by Consorcio de Aguas de Bilbao Bizkaia (CABB), a public water utility consortium in northern Spain serving more than 1 million residents across over 100 municipalities in the province of Bizkaia. This milestone celebrates the continued adoption of the Cyble 5 module by water utilities across Europe and globally as they modernize their infrastructure.

As utilities and cities work to upgrade water operations, the Cyble 5 module enables a practical path to modernization by transforming existing mechanical meters into smart devices without requiring full meter replacement. Key features of the module include:

1. Transforms mechanical water meters into smart meters – this allows utilities to collect water consumption data via drive-by or advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) rather than manual reads
2. Easy clip-on design – the module is easy to connect with no wiring or wall mounting required
3. Built to withstand harsh conditions – Cyble 5 is equipped to withstand water exposure, contaminants, corrosion and temperature fluctuations.

For a consortium such as CABB, these capabilities are critical. Bizkaia is one of the rainiest regions in Spain, requiring infrastructure that can perform reliably in challenging environments. CABB serves both densely populated urban areas and geographically dispersed communities, creating added complexity for operations and data collection.

Prior to deploying Itron’s Cyble modules, CABB relied on manual meter reading, a time-consuming process that delayed access to consumption data. This limited the utility’s ability to quickly identify anomalies such as leaks or unusual usage patterns. With Cyble 5, the utility can now collect meter data efficiently, both through its AMI system and via mobile (drive-by) reading, improving operational efficiency and increasing data availability.

Data collected through Cyble 5 modules is managed through Temetra, Itron’s meter data collection and management solution. Temetra enables CABB to securely store and access meter data remotely, providing greater visibility into water consumption across its network. This allows the utility to improve billing accuracy, accelerate analysis of water consumption patterns and respond more quickly to potential leaks or pipe breaks in the system.

“CABB has collaborated with Itron for nearly 20 years, and as CABB continues to advance its water operations, Itron has consistently provided the technology and support needed to streamline and modernize processes,” said CABB in a statement. “Bizkaia has seen steady population growth, making it essential that CABB’s water infrastructure can scale to meet increasing demand. The insights generated through the Cyble 5 modules and managed in the Temetra platform are helping CABB build a more connected network and support more effective day-to-day operations.”

“Reaching three million Cyble 5 modules shipped is an important milestone,” said Justin Patrick, senior vice president of Devices at Itron. “Looking back at our first and second million milestones, each deployment has reflected the unique needs of utilities across Europe. From the United Kingdom to France and now Spain, Cyble 5 has proven to be effective in a wide range of environments. We’re proud to support CABB by delivering data through our Temetra platform that enables more informed, data driven decisions across their network.”

Cyble 5 communication modules easily transform mechanical meters into communicating devices to keep operations running smoothly, while ensuring accurate billing and maximizing revenue. To learn more, see the product brochure.

About Itron

Itron is transforming how the world manages energy, water and city services. Our trusted intelligent infrastructure solutions help utilities and cities improve efficiency, build resilience and deliver safe, reliable and affordable service. With edge intelligence, we connect people, data insights and devices so communities can better manage the essential resources they rely on to live and thrive. Join us as we create a more resourceful world: www.itron.com.

Itron^®, the Itron Logo, Cyble, and Temetra are registered trademarks of Itron, Inc in the United States and other countries and regions. All third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated.

For additional information, contact:

Itron, Inc.

Alison Mallahan
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
509-891-3802
PR@Itron.com

Paul Vincent
Vice President, Investor Relations
512-560-1172
Investors@itron.com

Itron, Inc.

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• Blog: https://itron.com/blog

SOL accumulation accelerates, with total treasury holdings increasing over $10M week over week

Quarter-to-date, SOL has outperformed the Nasdaq-100 by 54%, and DFDV has outperformed SOL by 2x over that same period

CHAD over-allotment option closes for an additional $1.65 million in gross proceeds

Latest purchase expands treasury to 2,490,304 SOL and SOL equivalents

BOCA RATON, FL, Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DeFi Development Corp. (Nasdaq: DFDV) (the “Company” or “DeFi Dev Corp.”), the first U.S. public company with a treasury strategy built to accumulate and compound Solana (“SOL”), today announced that it has added approximately 101,381 SOL to its treasury since September 14, 2026, bringing total holdings to approximately 2,490,304 SOL and SOL equivalents.

The latest increase represents approximately 4.24% treasury growth in one week and reflects continued SOL purchases alongside organic treasury growth. With the recently established $300 million CHAD ATM providing an additional source of growth capital, the Company believes its SOL accumulation flywheel is continuing to gain momentum.

“We are firing on all cylinders,” said Joseph Onorati, Chief Executive Officer of DeFi Development Corp. “We added over $10 million of SOL in just one week and our stock continues to outperform SOL. With CHAD now established as an additional funding engine, we believe we are better positioned than ever to accelerate our treasury growth.”

The Company also announced the closing of the underwriter’s exercise of its over-allotment option in connection with CHAD’s initial public offering, generating approximately $1.65 million in additional gross proceeds through the issuance of 206,250 additional CHAD shares.

CHAD, DFDV’s Nasdaq-listed Variable Rate Series C Perpetual Preferred Stock, was designed to provide the Company with a scalable source of perpetual capital for acquiring additional SOL. The Company has also established an at-the-market (“ATM”) offering facility for up to $300 million of CHAD, with any issuance intended to occur at or above CHAD’s $10.00 stated amount.

Learn more about CHAD at www.defidevcorp.com/chad.

For more information, visit defidevcorp.com. To stay up to date with the latest developments and insights, subscribe to our blog.

About DeFi Development Corp.
DeFi Development Corp. (Nasdaq: DFDV) has adopted a treasury policy under which the principal holding in its treasury reserve is allocated to SOL. Through this strategy, the Company provides investors with direct economic exposure to SOL, while also actively participating in the growth of the Solana ecosystem. In addition to holding and staking SOL, DeFi Development Corp. operates its own validator infrastructure, generating staking rewards and fees from delegated stake. The Company is also engaged across decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities and continues to explore innovative ways to support and benefit from Solana’s expanding application layer. The Company is also an AI-powered online platform that connects the commercial real estate industry by providing value-add services and software subscriptions to multifamily and commercial property professionals, as the Company connects the increasingly complex ecosystem that stakeholders have to manage. The Company’s data and software offerings are generally offered on a subscription basis as software as a service.

Forward Looking StatementsThis press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated issuance price of shares under the ATM program, the intended use of proceeds, and the Company’s ability to expand its SOL treasury and increase revenue, and can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company’s current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of its business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside of the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (i) fluctuations in the market price of SOL and any associated losses that the Company may incur as a result of a decrease in the market price of SOL; (ii) a failure for the demand for SOL, or activity on the SOL network, to continue to develop and grow as predicted in our DFDV Model or at all; (iii) volatility in our stock price, including due to future issuances of common stock and securities convertible into common stock; (iv) the effect of and uncertainties related to the ongoing volatility in interest rates; (v) our ability to achieve and maintain profitability in the future; (vi) the impact on our business of the regulatory environment and complexities of complying with such environment, including changes in securities laws or other laws or regulations; (vii) changes in the accounting treatment relating to the Company’s SOL holdings; (viii) our ability to respond to general economic conditions; (ix) our ability to manage our growth effectively and our expectations regarding the development and expansion of our business; (x) our ability to access sources of capital, including debt financing and other sources of capital to finance operations and growth; and (xi) other risks and uncertainties more fully described in the section captioned “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports we file with the SEC.

As a result of these matters, changes in facts, assumptions not being realized, or other circumstances, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from the expected results discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Investor Contact:
ir@defidevcorp.com

Media Contact:
press@defidevcorp.com