Author: Harding Greenwood

Tesla has launched a six-seat version of its Model Y sport utility vehicle in China, featuring an AI-powered assistant that enables passengers in any row to control vehicle functions through voice commands. The Model Y L, designed as Tesla’s first three-row SUV, provides rear passengers who are unable to access the touchscreen with the ability to manage air conditioning, music, and other infotainment settings. The virtual assistant incorporates seat-based spatial awareness, allowing the system to identify the passenger issuing commands and limiting control if restrictions are enabled. https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaLounge/comments/1n28qay/just_checked_out_the_tesla_model_yl_in_person/ Unlike in the United States, where Tesla vehicles use its Grok AI…

Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive Inc. has successfully completed a series of demonstration flights using its flagship SKYDRIVE aircraft above Expo 2025 in Osaka, marking a key milestone in the company’s development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology. The demonstration flights, conducted between July 31 and August 24, 2025, involved short loops departing from the expo’s vertiport, flying over Osaka Bay, and returning to the base. Each flight lasted several minutes, and the successful series is part of SkyDrive’s broader efforts to advance scaled eVTOL production and achieve flight certification in Japan and the United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9aD9Gmiiwg SkyDrive, which…

MG Motor, a subsidiary of SAIC Motor, launched the updated version of its MG4 compact hatchback on Friday at the Chengdu auto show, strengthening its position in China’s crowded electric vehicle (EV) market. The new MG4 is positioned as one of the most affordable EVs in the country, with a starting price of RMB 68,800 ($9,650) and promotional pricing beginning at RMB 65,800. A semi-solid-state battery variant has been added to the lineup, priced at RMB 102,800 with a discounted offer of RMB 99,800, with mass deliveries scheduled to begin later this year. The semi-solid-state battery, developed by SAIC-backed QingTao…

Honda is offering new Labor Day discounts on its electric models, including the Prologue SUV and the Acura ZDX, as the automaker seeks to build on strong sales momentum in the United States. The Prologue, launched in March 2024, has become one of the country’s top-selling electric SUVs, ranking second in the second half of last year behind Tesla’s Model Y. In July 2025, it outsold rivals such as Ford Motor’s Mustang Mach-E and Hyundai’s Ioniq 5. Honda is offering 24-month leases on the 2025 Prologue starting at $159 per month with $1,099 due at signing, including a $3,500 conquest…

Chery-owned brand Jaecoo has unveiled its first fully electric vehicle in the UK, the Jaecoo E5 compact SUV, with prices starting at £27,505. The model is positioned as the battery-electric version of the petrol-powered Jaecoo 5 and is built on Chery’s T1X platform, which also underpins Omoda and Exlantix cars. It carries a 61.1kWh battery, supports 80kW DC charging, and delivers a WLTP range of up to 248 miles. The company said charging from 30% to 80% can be achieved in 27 minutes on a fast charger, or overnight on an 11kW home unit. Two trims are available: the Pure,…

Vodafone UK said on Wednesday it will complete the electrification of its 1,000-strong company car fleet by 2026, a year ahead of the original schedule, as part of its broader plan to achieve net zero emissions across operations by 2030. The fleet electrification programme, launched in 2019, initially targeted a full switch to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2027. The accelerated timeline was achieved through a structured transition plan developed in partnership with leasing firm Arval UK. Craig Login, property contract manager at Vodafone UK, highlighted the progress, saying: “In 2020 just 16 per cent of the fleet was battery-electric (BEV)…

Finnish EV charging platform provider Virta has appointed Juhani Hintikka as its new chief executive, succeeding interim CEO Christian Girardeau, the company said in a statement. Hintikka, a veteran of Nokia, Comptel, F-Secure and WithSecure, takes the helm as Virta expands its role in integrating EV charging with energy markets. “He has a proven track record of building technology companies in complex environments and will drive the next phase of Virta as a leading enabler for the EV charging station business and integrator of EV charging and energy markets,” the company said. Girardeau, who took over on January 1, 2025,…

Tesla has unveiled the Model Y Performance in Europe, featuring an updated high-voltage battery, adaptive suspension, and a revised chassis with sportier exterior and interior touches. The launch includes new pricing and specifications across Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. In Germany, Tesla’s configurator lists a base price of €61,990, with an additional €980 in destination and regulatory fees, bringing the total to €62,970. Prices are similar in the Netherlands (€62,990) and the UK (£61,990), making the Performance version roughly €9,000 more expensive than the Model Y Long Range Dual Motor. Compared to the previous Performance model, which was priced…

Ford Motor has launched a new fast-charging initiative designed to improve electric vehicle (EV) accessibility, unveiling its Ford Charge network on Thursday. The program makes more than 1,100 DC fast chargers at over 320 dealerships available to the public, extending access beyond Ford owners to drivers of any compatible EV. The chargers form part of Ford’s BlueOval Charge Network, which already integrates more than 200,000 public charging points across the United States and Canada. By bringing dealership-based chargers into the fold, Ford said the initiative would provide broader coverage along major travel corridors, with most highway routes offering fast-charging access…

Volkswagen unveiled the second generation of its T-Roc compact SUV, featuring a redesigned body, hybrid drive options, upgraded technology, and a more spacious interior. Pre-sales began in Germany on August 27, with prices starting at 30,845 euros, ahead of its November market launch. The new T-Roc is 12 cm longer than its predecessor and adopts a coupé-like silhouette while maintaining its SUV identity. Standard LED headlights, optional IQ.LIGHT LED matrix systems, and illuminated Volkswagen logos at the front and rear aim to give the vehicle a sharper design. Customers in Germany can choose from six exterior colors, including Canary Yellow…

Shangjie, the new automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and SAIC Motor (SHA: 600104), has attracted strong early demand for its debut model, the H5 SUV, securing more than 50,000 pre-orders within the first 18 hours of pre-sales, the company said on Weibo. Pre-sales for the H5 began on Aug. 25, with a starting price between 169,800 yuan ($23,730) and 209,800 yuan, making it the most affordable model under Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) brand lineup. The SUV, which officially launches on Sept. 23, will feature Huawei’s ADS 4 advanced driving assistance system — the lowest-priced vehicle equipped with…

Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp have collectively sold more than 1.5 million eco-friendly vehicles in the United States, driven by rising demand for electric and hybrid models, the South Korean automakers said on Monday. The milestone comes 14 years after the brands introduced their first U.S. hybrid vehicles, the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5, in 2011. Currently, two out of every ten Hyundai and Kia vehicles sold in the U.S. fall under the eco-friendly category, which includes battery electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), conventional hybrids, and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Sales of eco-friendly vehicles have accelerated rapidly in…