Author: Isabelle Fournier

Polestar is facing a lawsuit from a New Jersey dealership over the electric vehicle maker’s planned withdrawal from the U.S. new-car market. Prestige Imports alleges that Polestar violated New Jersey’s Franchise Practices Act by failing to provide the required 60-day termination notice and by not providing sufficient grounds for ending the dealer relationship. The dispute follows Polestar’s decision to withdraw from new-vehicle sales in the United States ahead of model year 2027, when the U.S. Connected Vehicle Rule is expected to prevent the company from selling new vehicles in the country. Vehicles from earlier model years can still be sold.…

Toyota has launched the 2027 bZ electric SUV in the United States with a starting price of $34,980 before a $1,595 delivery fee. The updated model is available with front- or all-wheel drive, two battery capacities and a maximum EPA-estimated range of 314 miles. The 2027 bZ is also on sale in Canada, where pricing starts at CA$45,985. U.S. deliveries are scheduled to begin at dealerships in September. Toyota bZ Offers Multiple Powertrain Configurations The 2027 Toyota bZ is offered in XLE and Limited grades in the U.S., with both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. The base XLE FWD uses a…

PowerFlex, the U.S. subsidiary of EDF Renewables North America, is acquiring The Mobility House’s North American business through a share-exchange transaction that will expand its electric vehicle charging and energy-management activities. Under the agreement, The Mobility House’s U.S. business will be merged into PowerFlex, while The Mobility House will receive an equity interest in PowerFlex and become a minority shareholder. The transaction forms part of The Mobility House’s broader restructuring and strategic shift toward its European energy business. The Mobility House has spent several years developing its presence in the United States and Canada, with a focus on depot charging,…

Ford has revealed the Fathom as its first production model based on the Universal EV Platform, introducing a midsize electric pickup with a starting price of $29,945 including the U.S. destination fee. Pre-orders for the electric pickup are scheduled to open in early 2027, as Ford prepares to expand its range of more affordable battery-electric vehicles. Ford Targets New Electric Pickup Buyers The Fathom has been developed for customers whose needs differ from those of traditional pickup buyers, with Ford saying the target audience influenced the vehicle’s engineering, packaging and pricing. Kay Hart, general manager of Ford’s Model e division,…

The Canadian province of New Brunswick is investing more than CA$6 million in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and the electrification of its government vehicle fleet, including funding for 16 new fast chargers across the province. The investment is designed to expand public charging access in areas where private-sector infrastructure remains limited, while supporting the transition of government vehicles to battery-electric models. 16 Fast Chargers To Expand eCharge Network The largest portion of the funding, CA$5 million, will support the installation of 16 new fast chargers within New Brunswick’s eCharge network. The provincial Energy Department will work with NB Power to…

Lucid Motors has delayed the launch of its new mid-size electric vehicle platform until the second half of 2027 as the company implements a broad restructuring programme aimed at reducing costs and improving operational performance. The announcement accompanied the company’s second-quarter 2026 financial results, during which Lucid unveiled its “Back to Basics” transformation strategy targeting approximately $1.4 billion in savings this year. Cost Reduction Programme The restructuring initiative focuses on reducing operating expenses, capital expenditure and working capital while improving product quality and customer experience. Lucid said the programme is built around three priorities: strengthening liquidity and cost discipline, improving…

The Canadian federal government has announced an investment of C$10.9 million (approximately €6.75 million) to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and support education initiatives aimed at accelerating EV adoption across the country. The funding will support new public charging stations, awareness programs and guidance for installing charging infrastructure in multi-unit residential buildings. Funding to Expand Public Charging Network Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin announced that nearly C$9 million will be allocated to nine infrastructure projects, supporting the installation of almost 400 new public charging points across Canada. The investment is intended to improve the availability and accessibility of the country’s…

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has launched CommunityEV Carshare, a pilot programme designed to expand access to electric vehicle (EV) carsharing in underserved communities across Eastern Massachusetts. Supported by a $1 million Accelerating Clean Transportation for All (ACT4All 2) grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the initiative combines Zipcar’s electric vehicle fleet with off-grid solar-powered charging infrastructure supplied by Alwayz, VoloStar and Beam Global. Pilot Expands EV Carsharing Access The pilot introduces fully electric carsharing vehicles and transportable solar charging stations at four locations that currently have limited access to carsharing services. The programme has been launched in…

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…