Author: Isabelle Fournier

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched the process of developing a new federal safety standard that would require a more visible and reliable emergency door egress system for new vehicles equipped with electronically operated door handles, following safety concerns highlighted in a report by Bloomberg. Rulemaking Targets Industry-Wide Safety According to a regulatory filing, the proposed rule would apply to all automakers using flush, electronically operated door handles rather than targeting a single manufacturer. The announcement accompanied NHTSA’s decision to deny a petition filed in November 2025 requesting a formal defect investigation into the emergency mechanical…

Hyundai has lowered the starting price of the 2026 Ioniq 5 N in the United States by $6,300 while introducing a range of technology and charging upgrades for its high-performance electric vehicle. The 2026 model now starts at $59,900, excluding a $1,600 destination charge, reflecting Hyundai’s effort to make its N performance lineup more accessible to a wider group of buyers. Lower Price Accompanied by Charging Upgrades Among the most significant updates is the adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector, replacing the Combined Charging System (CCS) inlet used on the previous model. https://evmagz.com/hyundai-ioniq-5-owner-faces-nearly-12000-repair-bill-after-water-spill-in-florida/ The change gives Ioniq…

Honda has confirmed it will discontinue the Prologue after the 2026 model year, bringing an end to its first mass-produced battery-electric vehicle developed for the North American market and concluding its electric vehicle collaboration with General Motors. The decision was confirmed by the automaker in a statement to CarBuzz, which reported that sales of the Prologue will end following completion of the 2026 model year. Honda said existing owners will continue to receive service and support through its dealer network. End of the GM Partnership The Honda Prologue entered the U.S. market in March 2024 as the company’s first volume-production…

Bosch has secured a funding agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce worth up to $225 million under the CHIPS and Science Act to support the expansion of its semiconductor manufacturing operations in Roseville, California. The federal funding will contribute to Bosch’s planned investment of up to $2 billion at the site, where the company is establishing a production facility for silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors used primarily in electric vehicles. According to Handelsblatt, Bosch acquired the Roseville facility from TSI Semiconductors in 2023 and has since been converting it into a dedicated manufacturing plant for silicon carbide chips. Pilot production…

Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales in the United States rose sharply in the second quarter of 2026, reaching their highest level since the nationwide EV purchase incentive expired last year, according to Cox Automotive. A total of 247,226 BEVs were sold between April and June, up 14.2% from the first quarter. However, sales remained 20.5% lower than the same period in 2025. Tesla Leads as Market Recovers Tesla remained the dominant player, delivering 124,800 vehicles during the quarter, more than half of all BEVs sold in the country. The Model Y was the best-selling EV with 84,863 deliveries, followed by the…

Fiat has opened orders for its compact Topolino electric quadricycle in the United States, marking the latest expansion of the company’s global micromobility strategy just days after launching the model in the United Kingdom. The vehicle is now available through select U.S. dealerships with a starting price of US$13,995, excluding destination charges. At launch, the Topolino is not street legal in the United States. Instead, Fiat is positioning the model as a neighborhood and lifestyle vehicle, with plans to introduce Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) conversion kits by the end of summer 2026. Designed for Neighborhood Mobility Unlike its European positioning…

General Motors (GM) has announced a nationwide recall of nearly 15,000 Cadillac Vistiq electric SUVs in the United States and temporarily suspended shipments of new vehicles after identifying a defect involving the third-row power seats. According to a recall notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue could increase the risk of injury if a passenger becomes trapped during operation of the power-folding seat. Nearly 15,000 Vehicles Affected The recall covers 13,629 Cadillac Vistiq vehicles from the 2026 model year and 911 units from the 2027 model year, with GM estimating that all recalled vehicles contain…

Micron Technology and General Motors (GM) have entered into a long-term Strategic Customer Agreement (SCA) to secure the supply of advanced memory and storage semiconductors for GM’s next generation of software-defined vehicles. The partnership is designed to strengthen supply chain resilience while supporting the growing computing requirements of connected, AI-enabled and highly automated vehicle platforms. Securing Critical Automotive Memory Under the agreement, Micron will provide GM with a long-term supply of key memory technologies, including low-power DRAM (LPDRAM), NOR flash memory and Universal Flash Storage (UFS) NAND products. Beyond supply commitments, the companies will jointly validate and qualify future memory…

Subaru’s newest electric SUVs are already outselling the Solterra on a monthly basis, just months after arriving at dealerships, highlighting growing consumer interest in the brand’s expanding battery-electric vehicle lineup. The company introduced the 2026 Trailseeker and 2026 Uncharted alongside the updated 2026 Solterra, broadening its electric SUV portfolio with models targeting different customer segments. New Models Gain Momentum In June, the Trailseeker became Subaru’s best-selling electric vehicle with 953 units sold, followed by the Uncharted with 699 units. The Solterra recorded 218 units during the month. The trend began in May, when the Uncharted led Subaru’s electric vehicle sales…

Slate has confirmed that its affordable electric pickup truck will not be sold in Canada, keeping the highly anticipated model exclusive to the U.S. market despite growing demand for electric vehicles north of the border. According to Automotive News, a company spokesperson said Slate currently has no plans to expand vehicle sales into Canada. “We do not have plans to sell vehicles in Canada,” the spokesperson told Automotive News in an email. The company did not provide a reason for the decision, although pricing challenges created by import tariffs are expected to make the vehicle significantly less competitive in the…

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 20,991 model-year 2026 battery electric vehicles in the United States after identifying a software defect in the battery electronic control unit (ECU) that could cause the electric drive system to shut down while driving. The voluntary safety campaign, filed under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Recall No. 26V393, affects the Toyota bZ, Lexus RZ and Subaru Solterra. Toyota estimates that all recalled vehicles contain the affected battery ECU software. Battery ECU Software Issue According to Toyota, the battery ECU contains two integrated circuits that share part of the same memory address. Under…

Slate Auto has announced pricing for its all-electric Slate Truck, with the pickup starting at $24,950 as the company prepares to begin customer deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2026. The startup said the vehicle will be available for preorder with a $300 deposit and will be sold directly to consumers as either a pickup or an SUV, with owners able to convert between body styles after purchase. Entry-Level Electric Pickup The Slate Truck starts at $24,950, while the Squareback and Fastback SUV variants are priced from $29,950. Slate Auto said more than 180,000 customers have already placed reservations for…

Rivian has removed the entry-level Dual Standard versions of its R1T pickup and R1S SUV from its online configurator, leaving higher-priced variants as the new entry point for its flagship electric vehicles. The change follows earlier comments from the company indicating that the Dual Standard models would be phased out as Rivian continues refining its product lineup. Entry Prices Increase Before being discontinued, the R1T Dual Standard carried a starting price of $72,990, while the R1S Dual Standard started at $76,990. With those models no longer available, the Dual variants equipped with the larger battery pack become the new entry-level…

Fire Cloak has been selected to continue supplying electric vehicle fire-containment blankets across the Formula E championship for the 2026 season. The UK-based company said its fire blankets are designed specifically for incidents involving lithium-ion battery systems and will remain available for use throughout the all-electric racing series. Focus on Battery Fire Safety The blankets are intended to help contain fires associated with thermal runaway, a condition in which overheating battery cells trigger a chain reaction that can spread through a battery pack. Fire Cloak said its product is among the first to receive certification under DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11, a…

Rivian has begun delivering its new R2 electric SUV to customers, marking a significant milestone for the U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer following the start of series production earlier this year. The company also announced that existing R2 reservation holders are now being invited to configure their vehicles and place final orders, as Rivian ramps up production of its latest battery-electric model. Deliveries Follow April Production Start The R2 entered series production in April 2026 at Rivian’s manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, after more than two years of development. https://twitter.com/Rivian/status/2064332349484028333 Rivian first unveiled the midsize electric SUV in March 2024 and…

PepsiCo and Gatik have signed a multi-year agreement to expand the deployment of autonomous trucks across PepsiCo’s North American supply chain, building on an existing partnership that began in 2022. The agreement covers the use of Gatik’s driverless freight technology within PepsiCo’s regional transportation networks, where products are moved between manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and other operational sites. Autonomous freight operations are already running daily in Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjNqnMnf_G4 Gatik described the arrangement as the largest commercial autonomous freight deployment to date, highlighting the growing role of autonomous trucking technology in large-scale logistics operations. Focus on Regional Supply…

Rivian has expanded its proprietary fast-charging network to more than 1,000 DC fast-charging ports across the United States, marking a new milestone in the company’s efforts to build out charging infrastructure for electric vehicle drivers. According to data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), the Rivian Adventure Network (RAN) now operates more than 1,000 charging ports spread across 148 locations nationwide. The milestone follows the opening of four additional sites during the past month, adding a total of 44 charging stalls to the network. Expansion of Proprietary Charging Network The Rivian Adventure Network was first…

Orange EV has reported record order volumes for its electric terminal trucks, including a single customer order for 600 vehicles, as demand for zero-emission yard equipment continues to grow in North America. The Kansas-based manufacturer said deployment of the 600-truck order is already underway, with full implementation expected in 2026. The orders also include supporting infrastructure such as charging systems, battery energy storage solutions, uptime guarantees and extended warranty packages. Large-Scale Fleet Electrification Gains Momentum Orange EV said the latest orders reflect a broader shift in the market from pilot programs toward large-scale electrification of yard operations. According to the…

New data from automotive research firms Edmunds and Cox Automotive indicate that more U.S. consumers are trading gasoline-powered vehicles for electric vehicles, although analysts caution that it remains too early to determine whether the trend reflects a lasting market shift or a temporary response to higher fuel prices. According to Edmunds, the percentage of new EV buyers trading in a gasoline-powered vehicle increased from 67.1% in January 2026 to 72.1% in April 2026. The data also showed an increase in repeat EV purchases. In January, 26.2% of EV buyers traded in an existing electric vehicle for a new one. By…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into how Rivian services rear suspension components on its vehicles following reports from two owners who experienced a loss of vehicle control while driving. The investigation is being conducted by the agency’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), which said both affected vehicles had previously undergone service work. One of the vehicles had also been involved in a collision before repairs were carried out. Investigation Focuses on Rear Toe Link Component According to the ODI, Rivian identified in March 2025 that the rear toe link—a key suspension component that…