Author: Isabelle Fournier

Mind Robotics said on Wednesday it has secured $500 million in a Series A funding round co-led by venture capital firms Accel and Andreessen Horowitz to accelerate the development and deployment of artificial intelligence-enabled robotics systems for industrial manufacturing. The financing, expected to close later this month, follows a $115 million seed round led by Eclipse Capital in late 2025. As part of the investment, Sameer Gandhi will join Mind Robotics’ board of directors. Mind Robotics is developing a robotics platform designed to perform complex industrial tasks that require dexterity, adaptation, and reasoning—capabilities that traditional factory robots often struggle to…

U.S. electric vehicle startup Slate Auto has appointed former Amazon executive Peter Faricy as its new chief executive, replacing founding CEO Christine Barman just months before the planned launch of the company’s affordable electric pickup truck. Faricy took up the role this week, company spokesperson Jeff Jablansky told technology outlet TechCrunch. Faricy previously served as vice president of Amazon Marketplace and later worked as an adviser at McKinsey & Company and Bessemer Venture Partners. The company said his experience building Amazon’s marketplace platform played a key role in the appointment, particularly as Slate Auto counts Amazon founder Jeff Bezos among…

Rivian is planning an accelerated market rollout for its upcoming R2 electric SUV in the United States, positioning the model as a key step toward expanding into the mass-market EV segment. The company told investors it expects to sell between 20,000 and 25,000 units of the R2 this year, with the first vehicles scheduled to reach customers around June after production begins. See also: Rivian Plans R2 Production Capacity of Up to 155,000 Vehicles Annually If Rivian meets even the lower end of that target, the R2 would rank among the fastest-selling electric vehicles in its price category, according to…

The Ford Mustang Mach-E, introduced by Ford Motor in 2020, has faced ongoing debate over its place in the automaker’s lineup. Despite early skepticism, the electric SUV has established itself as a steady option in the growing EV market, although it has yet to surpass the sales dominance of the Tesla Model Y. One owner in Santa Cruz, California has pushed the vehicle far beyond typical usage levels. David Blenke has driven more than 316,000 miles (about 508,500 kilometers) in a Mach-E Premium equipped with the extended-range battery since purchasing it in June 2022. See also: Ford Unveils 2026 Mustang…

Lucid Group has reported strong growth in deliveries and revenue for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025, underscoring rising demand for its electric vehicles while highlighting the persistent financial pressures of scaling production. The California-based automaker delivered 15,841 vehicles in 2025, a 55% increase from the previous year, including 5,345 units in the fourth quarter alone — marking its eighth consecutive quarter of record deliveries. The gains were largely driven by the ramp-up of the Lucid Gravity SUV, the company’s second production model alongside the Air sedan. Financial performance improved in tandem. Lucid posted fourth-quarter revenue of $522.7…

Lucid Motors will lay off about 12% of its global workforce as the U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer attempts to streamline operations and improve financial performance, according to an internal communication from its interim chief executive. The California-based company, known for its premium Air sedan and Gravity SUV, has struggled with persistent losses despite rising vehicle deliveries. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, Lucid reported a net loss of $978.4 million, bringing cumulative losses since its founding to about $14.8 billion by the end of September 2025. “We are streamlining our organisation so we can operate with greater efficiency and…

U.S. electric vehicle maker Rivian reported higher revenue for 2025 despite a sharp fall in vehicle deliveries, with growth largely driven by software and technology development for partner Volkswagen. Rivian said total revenue rose 8% year on year to about $5.39 billion, even as deliveries fell 18% to 42,247 vehicles from a record 51,579 units in 2024. Automotive revenue declined 15% to $3.83 billion, reflecting lower sales volumes despite a modest increase in revenue per vehicle. The company’s Software and Services segment expanded sharply, generating $1.56 billion in revenue—up 222% from the previous year. Rivian attributed the surge primarily to…

The Government of Canada has earmarked more than $97 million for 155 clean transportation projects nationwide, with the majority of funding directed toward expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure as part of its new Automotive Strategy. Of the total, $84.4 million will support 122 projects under the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, enabling the installation of more than 8,000 new EV charge points across the country. The projects cover public locations, workplaces, fleets and multi-unit residential buildings. See also: Canada Explores Sino-Canadian EV Assembly Plant to Boost Global Exports Major recipients include the Pollution Probe Foundation, which will receive $7.3 million…

Rivian said it is again extending free access to its Autonomy+ driver assistance software, giving owners more time to use the company’s hands-free driving features before the system transitions to a paid offering. In an email sent to customers this week, Rivian said all new Rivian R1S and Rivian R1T vehicles will receive a 60-day trial of Autonomy+, with full access available through April 4. The extension also applies to existing owners, temporarily unlocking the complete Autonomy+ feature set. See also: Rivian Expands U.S. Incentives With Lease Cash, 0% Financing and Costco Discounts The trial includes Rivian’s recently introduced Universal…

Plug, a U.S.-based digital marketplace focused exclusively on electric vehicles, has raised $20 million in a Series A funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, as it looks to scale operations amid rising volumes of used EVs entering the secondary market. The round included participation from Galvanize and existing investors Autotech Ventures, Leap Forward Ventures and Renn Global. Founded in Santa Monica and launched in 2024, Plug said it has facilitated more than $60 million in used electric vehicle transactions to date, with sales in the fourth quarter of 2025 alone exceeding its full-year 2024 volume. The funding comes as…

Kia America has released pricing details for the 2026 Niro EV, offering the compact electric crossover in two trim levels as it continues to expand its battery-electric lineup in the United States. The 2026 Kia Niro EV will be available in Wind and Wave trims, priced at $39,700 and $44,700 respectively. Both prices exclude a $1,495 destination and handling charge, as well as taxes, title and dealer fees, the company said. See also: Kia Reveals Updated Niro Design, Leaves EV Future Unclear Kia said both versions of the Niro EV come standard with a technology-focused interior featuring dual 10.25-inch displays,…

A group of Colorado auto dealers has filed a lawsuit against the state, challenging its decision to grant Scout Motors a license to sell vehicles directly to consumers, escalating opposition to the new Volkswagen-backed brand’s retail strategy before it has begun production. More than one-third of Colorado’s Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche dealers submitted the lawsuit on Jan. 20 in Denver District Court, arguing that the state’s Department of Revenue Division of Motor Vehicles misinterpreted dealer franchise laws when it approved Scout’s direct-sales license in December. The dealers are not suing Scout Motors itself, but the state agency that authorized the…