Author: Floyd Hawkins

Tesla has released its latest over-the-air software update, version 2025.26, which introduces several new features across its electric vehicle lineup in the United States, including a beta version of the conversational AI tool Grok, developed by Elon Musk’s xAI. The update is available for Tesla vehicles equipped with AMD processors and includes enhancements to ambient lighting, dashcam functionality, audio presets, charging information, and a new onboarding guide aimed at improving user experience. The AI feature, Grok, remains in beta and requires a Wi-Fi connection or Tesla’s Premium Connectivity package to operate. See also: Tesla Q2 2025 EV Deliveries Fall 13%…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a recall query into 27,816 Polestar 2 electric vehicles following reports that a software fix meant to resolve rear-view camera issues may be inadequate. The Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer, Polestar, had recalled certain 2021 to 2024 model year Polestar 2 units in June 2023 to address problems with the rear-view camera system. The issues included limited visibility, inoperability, or incorrect functionality when the vehicle was placed in reverse gear. See also: Polestar 4 Earns 5-Star Safety Rating from European NCAP Polestar’s proposed remedy at the time was a software update…

Polestar’s latest electric model, the Polestar 4, has been awarded a 5-star safety rating by the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), marking the third vehicle from the brand to receive the program’s highest distinction. In NCAP’s comprehensive evaluation, the Polestar 4 scored an overall 83%, leading the latest batch of tested vehicles that included models such as the Lynk & Co 02, OMODA 9, ZEEKR 7x, and MG P9 EV. The vehicle performed strongly across all four of NCAP’s testing categories. The Polestar 4 received a 92% rating for adult occupant protection, with maximum points awarded in both side…

Nio’s sub-brand Onvo has begun pre-sales of its first model, the L90, a three-row battery electric SUV designed to compete directly with offerings from domestic rival Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI). Pre-sales were announced at a technology launch event in Hefei, with the official market launch set for later this month and first deliveries to begin on August 1. The Onvo L90 starts at RMB 279,900 ($39,000) with an 85-kWh battery pack. Under Nio’s battery-as-a-service (BaaS) subscription model, the starting price drops to RMB 193,900. The pricing strategy places the L90 significantly below Li Auto’s flagship six-seat SUV, the Li L9,…

Rivian has taken a notable step beyond electric trucks and SUVs with the quiet launch of a new micromobility startup, Also Inc., which recently reached a $1 billion valuation despite remaining in stealth mode. The move signals Rivian’s strategic interest in smaller electric vehicles while maintaining focus on its core offerings. Also Inc. was spun out of Rivian earlier this year with an initial $105 million in funding from the EV maker and venture capital firm Eclipse. In July, the company secured an additional $200 million investment from Greenoaks Capital, boosting its valuation and drawing investor attention to the growing…

Elon Musk announced Thursday that Grok, the large language model developed by his artificial intelligence startup xAI, will be integrated into Tesla vehicles beginning as early as next week. The move marks a deeper collaboration between the two Musk-led companies and signals the automaker’s first in-vehicle application of a conversational AI system. “Grok is coming to Tesla vehicles very soon. Next week at the latest,” Musk said in a post on social media platform X, shortly after xAI livestreamed the release of its latest model, Grok 4. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1943251229511160001 During the livestream, Musk and members of the xAI team showcased Grok…

Kia is preparing to introduce an all-electric city car priced below €25,000 before the end of the decade, as part of a broader electrification strategy that will also include software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and range-extender technology for larger models. The move comes as the South Korean automaker aims to balance battery-electric, hybrid, and combustion powertrains to meet diverse global demand. “We are studying and developing a sub-€25,000 EV. That is one area we are working on,” said Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song in an interview with Autocar, confirming the company’s commitment to accessible electric mobility. The planned city EV…

Europe’s automotive industry could rebound to its post-financial crisis peak of 16.8 million vehicles produced annually if the European Union upholds its 2035 ban on new fossil fuel car sales and implements supportive industrial policies, campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) said on Tuesday. In a new report, the group said a robust clean car strategy could boost the automotive value chain’s contribution to the European economy by 11% by 2035. However, rolling back the emissions goal and failing to adopt a cohesive industrial plan could cost the EU up to one million auto sector jobs and jeopardize two-thirds of…

Alphabet-owned autonomous driving company Waymo has launched new mapping operations in Philadelphia and New York City, in a move that signals continued interest in expanding its self-driving services to the U.S. Northeast. The initiative is part of Waymo’s ongoing strategy to introduce its technology to new cities through what it calls “road trips” — deployments of manually driven vehicles equipped with its autonomous driving systems to gather street data and test mapping capabilities. While these trips do not mark the immediate start of commercial operations, they often serve as the first step toward potential future rollouts. https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/1942253605140009290 “For Philadelphia, you’ll…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has announced an exclusive partnership with UK-based charging provider Ohme, offering new customers a comprehensive home charging solution that includes hardware, installation, and ongoing support. The collaboration marks Xpeng’s first dedicated charging partnership in the UK market since its entry earlier this year. As part of the agreement, customers purchasing an Xpeng G6 Long Range model before the end of September will receive a complimentary Ohme home charger. The G6 Long Range features an 87.5kWh battery, and Ohme estimates that a full charge on a dynamic EV tariff such as Intelligent Octopus Go could cost…

Polestar said on Thursday its upcoming SUV model, the Polestar 7, will be manufactured at Volvo Cars’ new plant under construction in Slovakia, marking the Swedish electric vehicle maker’s first vehicle to be produced in Europe. The company, which does not own its own factories, currently relies on facilities operated by Volvo Cars and Geely in China and the United States. One Polestar model is also set to be manufactured in South Korea starting this year. Polestar and Volvo Cars, both owned by China’s Geely and its founder Li Shufu, have signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize the agreement.…

Lucid Group reported a 38% increase in vehicle deliveries for the second quarter, but the U.S. luxury EV maker fell short of Wall Street expectations as high interest rates and economic uncertainty continued to weigh on consumer demand. The California-based company delivered 3,309 vehicles in the three months ended June 30, missing the 3,611-unit forecast by analysts polled by Visible Alpha. See also: Lucid Prepares Trio of Midsize EVs Aimed at $50,000 Market While up from 2,394 deliveries a year earlier, the results reflect continued pressure on the premium EV segment, as more cost-conscious buyers shift to hybrid or gasoline-powered…