Author: David Smith

Audi has expanded its electric e-tron GT line-up with a new entry-level variant, the e-tron GT quattro, offering 430 kW of peak power and a driving range of up to 622 kilometres. The model is available to order in Germany with a starting price of €108,900, roughly a year after the launch of the facelifted e-tron GT series. The new quattro variant joins the existing S and RS e-tron GT models, which deliver at least 500 kW of output. While Audi has labelled the new addition a “base model,” the company has been cautious in using the term due to…

Lucid Group said it plans to double vehicle production in 2025 and expand into new international markets, including Europe and the Middle East, as part of a broader global growth strategy. The announcement follows the company’s fifth consecutive quarterly delivery record, with 3,140 vehicles handed over in the first quarter and 2,213 units produced at its Arizona-based facility. Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff confirmed the expansion plans during the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum on Tuesday, noting that Lucid will enter additional markets in the Middle East this year. “We have started Abu Dhabi and we’re looking into Qatar and other additional markets…

A year into ownership, a Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model has received a largely positive review from an EV owner who has driven the vehicle 3,500 miles, citing its strong efficiency, road-trip capability, and overall comfort. The owner, known online as “The Ioniq Guy,” leased the vehicle for just over $300 per month and has documented his experience in a recent video. Despite relatively low mileage, he reported an average energy efficiency of 3.9 miles per kilowatt-hour—surpassing other EVs such as the Tesla Model 3 at 3.2 miles/kWh and the Chevrolet Blazer EV, which reportedly struggles to exceed…

Lucid Group is offering incentives of over $20,000 on select 2025 Air models in May, as the electric vehicle manufacturer seeks to attract new buyers amid growing competition in the premium EV segment. The company said the 2025 Lucid Air Touring is now available with savings of up to $20,500, including a $1,000 site bonus, a $2,000 conquest incentive, a $10,000 Air Credit, and a $7,500 EV credit. Lease options for the Touring model start at $599 per month for a 36-month term. See also: Lucid Maintains 2025 Production Outlook Despite Tariff Risks; Q1 Revenue Falls Short Other trims in…

China’s largest automaker BYD is aiming to sell half of its vehicles outside its domestic market by 2030, as it accelerates global expansion in Europe and Latin America, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The target, which has been communicated privately to investors in recent months, represents a major leap from current volumes and would position BYD among the world’s largest automakers by sales. Nearly 90% of BYD’s record 4.27 million vehicle sales in 2023 were in China. See also: BYD to Launch Affordable Mini EV in Japan by 2026, Targeting Kei Car Market Executives have emphasized the…

Ford Motor is raising prices on several of its Mexico-built vehicles, including the Mustang Mach-E, Maverick pickup, and Bronco Sport, as the automaker prepares for the financial impact of proposed U.S. tariffs on Mexican imports. The price increases are part of the company’s mid-year pricing adjustments and are set to apply to vehicles imported after May 2, which are expected to reach dealerships by late June. See also: Ford Fiesta Could Return as Affordable EV Through Volkswagen Partnership The move follows Ford’s recent estimate that new tariffs could cost the company approximately $2.5 billion this year. While Ford has the…

Israeli public transport operator Electra Afikim will expand its partnership with Electreon by deploying the company’s wireless charging technology at a second site, the Ovnat terminal in Petah Tikva, following the successful operation of a similar system at its Rosh HaAyin depot. The initial collaboration between the two companies began in November 2023, with the installation of inductive charging stations at Rosh HaAyin, where 23 electric buses have been operating under a daily routine of overnight and daytime charging. The decision to expand comes after a year and a half of uninterrupted use. See also: Michigan Expands Wireless Charging Infrastructure…

Alphabet’s self-driving subsidiary Waymo said on Monday it will produce fully autonomous Jaguar I-PACE and Zeekr vehicles at a newly built factory in Mesa, Arizona, beginning later this year. The move is part of a multi-million-dollar collaboration with Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International and is aimed at significantly scaling the company’s Waymo One ride-hailing service. The 239,000-square-foot Mesa facility will serve as the production hub for integrating Waymo’s self-driving technology — known as the Waymo Driver — into vehicles built on multiple platforms. “The Waymo Driver integration plant in Mesa is the epicenter of our future growth plans,” said…

A former Lucid Motors customer says he is moving on from the startup EV maker less than a year after leasing his Air Pure AWD, citing recurring service issues and poor customer support. In a candid online post, the owner said the vehicle itself performed well but that the ownership experience did not meet expectations for a premium electric vehicle brand. “When you buy a Lucid, you’re not just getting a stylish, fun-to-drive EV – you’re buying into an experience. And sadly, that experience has been… underwhelming,” the owner wrote in a Reddit post, detailing the challenges of owning the…

Tesla has introduced a new financing incentive for the U.S. market, offering 1.99% APR for 72 months on the Model Y Long Range AWD, as it looks to stimulate demand amid slowing global sales. The promotion, shared on the automaker’s official North American X account, applies to orders placed after May 2 by “well-qualified” buyers. The offer requires a 15% down payment, though Tesla notes that customers using the $7,500 federal EV tax credit at the point of sale can secure zero down payment financing at a slightly higher rate of 2.99% for the same term. See also: Tesla Expands…

Autonomous vehicle technology firm Pony.ai has partnered with Tencent Cloud, a division of Tencent Holdings Ltd, to fast-track the deployment of Robotaxi services across China by leveraging Tencent’s cloud infrastructure and digital ecosystem, the companies said on Thursday. The strategic alliance aims to enhance Pony.ai’s autonomous driving systems by integrating with Tencent’s platforms, including Weixin (WeChat), Tencent Maps, and its cloud computing and AI technologies. As part of the partnership, Pony.ai’s Robotaxi services will be accessible through Weixin’s “Mobility Services” and Tencent Maps, expanding the reach of its intelligent transport offerings. See also: Pony.AI Unveils Seventh-Generation Autonomous Driving System, Targets…

China has unveiled its long-term electric vehicle (EV) development strategy, aiming to make pure electric vehicles (BEVs) the dominant force in new vehicle sales by 2035. The ambitious plan was detailed in a guideline by 10 government agencies, including the Ministry of Transport. The guideline highlights China’s vision of integrating transportation with energy systems, focusing on clean, low-carbon energy consumption. By 2035, the country aims to establish a transportation network that fully integrates new energy systems with an emphasis on scientific and technological innovation. This marks the first time a specific goal for BEVs has been mentioned in China’s automotive…