Author: Floyd Hawkins

Tesla has initiated the deployment of its latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta, version 12.3, to customers in the United States, marking another milestone in the company’s ongoing software development efforts. The announcement was made by Teslascope, a close follower of Tesla’s software updates, early on Saturday morning. The rollout includes thousands of customer vehicles across the U.S., including some on the East Coast. Notably, all vehicles receiving the update are on software versions 2023.44.30.8 and 2023.44.30.14. https://twitter.com/teslascope/status/1768906547714003444 This latest update is significant as it appears to be reaching FSD beta customers in every U.S. state. However, in Canada, the update…

Tesla will be increasing prices for all Model Y cars in the United States by $1,000 starting April 1, the company confirmed on its website. The announcement comes after a previous price increase on March 1, where Tesla raised prices for its Model Y rear-wheel drive and long-range vehicles by $1,000 each, bringing their prices to $43,990 and $48,990, respectively. “Prices will increase by $1,000 for all Model Y trims on April 1,” Tesla stated on its website. The company did not clarify whether the April increase would be in addition to the March increase for the rear-wheel and long-range…

Cadillac, known for its legacy of luxury and performance, is forging ahead with its electrification plans without abandoning the essence of its famed V-Series performance cars. The brand recently unveiled a teaser for its “Opulent Velocity” concept car, hinting at a future where luxury and speed seamlessly coexist in an electric vehicle (EV). The teaser, released just ahead of the 12 Hours of Sebring, holds significance as Cadillac unveiled its first V-Series car exactly 20 years ago. The concept’s name, “Opulent Velocity,” embodies the core qualities that V-Series enthusiasts crave: luxury and speed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDBjdQ3vosk While details about the new concept…

Zeekr has filed for its upcoming model, the Zeekr Mix, marking its second venture into the Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) segment following the Zeekr 009. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently unveiled the latest list of models eligible for public comment before potential market release, including the Zeekr Mix. The public comment period for the Zeekr Mix is scheduled from March 13 to March 19. This marks the final regulatory step before a model can be officially approved for sale in China. The Zeekr Mix lineup includes two models: MR6471BEV02 and MR6471BEV04, both featuring single-motor configurations and manufactured…

Rivian’s newly revealed R3 (and R3X) have sparked comparisons to iconic hot hatches from the ’80s, but according to Jeff Hammoud, Rivian’s chief design officer, the resemblance to Group B rally cars is intentional. Hammoud explained, “The brief I gave the design team was like, we need this to be our Solo Rally Car. So on our image boards, we had the Delta Integrale and the Audi Quattro coupe from that era.” See also: Rivian Electrifies with R3X: High-Performance Tri-Motor Crossover Unveiled Despite drawing inspiration from these rally legends, Hammoud emphasized that the R3 manages to avoid being a mere copycat,…

Posco has secured deals worth nearly 1.2 trillion won ($9 billion) to supply rare earth permanent magnets to finished carmakers in North America and Europe, marking a significant step towards creating a global permanent magnet supply chain outside of China. The South Korean company  announced on Tuesday that its US operation has signed a deal worth about 900 billion won to supply permanent magnets to an unnamed automaker in North America from 2026 to 2031. These magnets will be used in drive motors for the automaker’s mid and large-size electric vehicles. See also: South Korea’s Posco Unveils Ambitious Plans for Electric…

As Hyundai prepares to unveil its highly anticipated Ioniq 9, the brand’s first three-row electric SUV, glimpses of the vehicle in testing are starting to emerge, showcasing its substantial size and elegant design. Already a force in the global EV market with models like the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, Hyundai’s foray into the three-row electric SUV segment signifies its commitment to expanding its electric vehicle lineup. See also: Hyundai’s Ioniq 7 Electric SUV Set to Become the Ioniq 9 The Ioniq 5, in particular, has seen strong sales globally, including in the US, where it ranked as the sixth best-selling…

The Cybertruck, Tesla’s futuristic electric pickup, has sparked fervent anticipation among enthusiasts. However, for one owner, known as ‘Malinecentral’ on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum, excitement turned to disappointment as their attempt to gauge interest in their truck led to unforeseen consequences. Malinecentral shared their story on the forum, revealing that they had listed their Cybertruck for sale on various online platforms, setting a whimsical asking price of $242,069. To their surprise, Tesla’s Loss Prevention team intervened, flagging their account and subsequently blacklisting them from making future purchases from the automaker. See also: Tesla Cybertruck Achieves Record Charging Speed with…

BYD  has sent a delegation to the Mexican state of Jalisco to explore the possibility of constructing an electric vehicle (EV) plant there, Bloomberg reported on March 9. According to the report, BYD executives from China met with state officials last week, as well as with Chinese suppliers already established in Jalisco, such as Haitian, which manufactures machines for auto parts. Roberto Arechederra, Jalisco’s economic development secretary, stated that BYD conducted a detailed analysis of the educational centers in the area and the population size near the potential plant location. The construction of a Mexican plant could cost approximately $600…

Rivian is in discussions with the state of Illinois about a new incentive arrangement, following the unveiling of its upcoming R2 SUV earlier this week, now set to be built within the state. During the automaker’s unveiling of the highly anticipated R2 on Thursday, Rivian announced plans to produce the forthcoming SUV at its factory in Normal, Illinois, instead of at a future plant in Georgia. The company is also pausing construction on the new factory outside of Atlanta to focus on achieving profitability with the upcoming R2, R3, and R3X EVs. See also: Rivian R2’s Charge Port Location Sparks Debate…

ADS-TEC Energy, a provider of energy storage solutions, has secured a contract to supply its fast charging stations for the NXT 50five projects in the Netherlands. The NXT 50five projects, a joint venture between 50five and NXT Mobility, aim to install approximately 200 fast charging locations across the country over the next four years. The contract was awarded to NXT 50five following a competitive tender organized by the Metropolitan Region Amsterdam – Electric (MRA-E), with around three-quarters of the 74 municipalities in the north-west region participating in the tender. See also: Caverion to Partner with ADS-TEC for Expansion in Nordic Countries…

Mack Trucks has introduced a mobile off-grid charging system aimed at helping fleet managers assess the feasibility of integrating electric trucks into their operations. The announcement was made at the American Trucking Associations Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting, where renderings of a Mack MD Electric truck equipped with a “renewable propane” powered generator and 120 kW charger were showcased. Ryan Saba, Mack Trucks’ energy solutions manager, explained that this system allows customers or dealers to charge trucks, whether for a demo unit or a multi-unit ride-and-drive event, without requiring charging infrastructure at their site. The goal is to provide…