Author: James Bryant

Mercedes-Benz USA has announced U.S. pricing for the all-new electric CLA, marking the first model in a new electric vehicle family built on the company’s 800-volt architecture. The rear-wheel-drive CLA 250+ will start at $47,250, while the all-wheel-drive CLA 350 4MATIC will be priced from $49,800. Both prices exclude a $1,250 destination charge. The 2026 model-year vehicle will begin U.S. press evaluations in December, with customer deliveries to follow shortly afterward and volume production ramping through the first quarter of 2026. See also: Mercedes Prepares Entry-Level GLC 200 EQ With LFP Battery and Sub-€60,000 Starting Price The new CLA will…

The Leapmotor A10 is gearing up to enter China as one of the most competitively priced electric crossovers on the market, arriving in the first half of 2026 with a starting price below 100,000 yuan (around 14,070 USD). Despite its budget-friendly positioning, the A10 brings a compelling mix of range, technology, and quirky design elements. At first glance, its exterior may appear understated, but closer inspection reveals several unique styling cues—from its rectangular taillights with LED “smiling faces” to its three-segment headlights and functional air ducts. See also: Leapmotor Debuts A10 Compact EV With 500-km Range, LiDAR and Sub-RMB 100,000…

The fully electric Volvo EX90 has received a top five-star rating in the latest Euro NCAP safety tests, placing the seven-seat SUV among the highest-performing vehicles assessed this year. Euro NCAP’s programme evaluates vehicle safety for European markets and highlighted the model’s strong scores in both adult and child occupant protection. Volvo said the result reflects decades of safety development supported by extensive real-world crash analysis. “The EX90 builds on 55 years of research,” said Åsa Haglund, head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre, noting that the company draws on data from more than 50,000 real accidents involving over 80,000…

Rivian has indicated that its upcoming R3 model will be priced lower than the R2, according to comments made by CEO RJ Scaringe during a recent discussion with the Rotary Club of Atlanta. The announcement positions the R3 as a smaller, lighter, and more affordable option within the company’s vehicle lineup, aimed at attracting a broader customer base. The pricing guidance applies specifically to the standard R3 model, while the R3X variant, designed for higher performance, is expected to carry a higher price. Rivian has not released exact pricing details, and the company continues to keep the R3’s pricing structure…

Fast-charging provider Fastned has added three new fast-charging locations in Europe, including one on Germany’s A2 highway near Porta Westfalica and two in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, strengthening its network along key traffic corridors. The Löwenburg parking area on the A2, part of Germany’s Deutschlandnetz initiative, features three Alpitronic HYC400 chargers offering six charging points with a minimum 200 kW and peak 400 kW output. See also: Fastned Charging Revenue Rises 44% in Q3 2025 as Network Expansion Accelerates Fastned charges 0.73 euros per kilowatt-hour at this location, consistent with other Deutschlandnetz sites, with payment options via app or…

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) said it has allocated $24.4 million in federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funds to build 26 new DC fast-charging stations across the state. The sites, located along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, are expected to provide 24/7 access with four DC fast chargers per location, each capable of delivering at least 150 kW. Governor Brian Kemp said the initiative demonstrates the state’s commitment to expanding EV infrastructure. “We appreciate Georgia DOT for fulfilling the state’s commitment to a robust, reliable fast-charging network that meets federal standards and serves communities across Georgia,” Kemp said.…

Foxconn will invest between $2 billion and $3 billion annually in artificial intelligence over the next several years, Chairman Young Liu told Reuters, underscoring the company’s shift toward next-generation technologies as growth in consumer electronics slows. Liu spoke during a visit to Tokyo earlier this month, with his comments embargoed until Friday to align with the Apple supplier’s annual Hon Hai Tech Day. “For now, AI will be the majority of the investment,” he said, adding that spending on AI infrastructure and technology development over the next three to five years will account for more than half of Foxconn’s roughly…

AVATR expanded its global footprint on November 21 with its official entry into Latin America, introducing the brand and launching the AVATR 11 at the São Paulo International Motor Show. Brazil, one of the world’s largest automotive markets, has been selected as the company’s strategic base for future expansion across the Americas. The event also included the regional reveal of the AVATR 012, a limited-edition model developed with designer Kim Jones, establishing a dual-flagship presence for the brand in the premium smart NEV segment. See also: Changan Sets 2030 Target for 50 New NEVs and Expands Global Sales Ambitions The…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company’s next Full Self-Driving (FSD) software update, version 14.3, will deliver a significant breakthrough only hours after the automaker began rolling out FSD v14.2 to owners. “The last big piece of the puzzle finally lands,” Musk remarked, hinting at a substantial advancement in the company’s long-running autonomous-driving program. Tesla’s latest release, FSD v14.2, follows the v14.1.x series, with many owners transitioning directly from v14.1.7 — previously the most refined build — to the new version. Drivers reported that v14.2 resolved several long-standing issues, including hesitation at intersections and so-called “brake stabbing,” where the vehicle…

Stark Future has signed a strategic partnership with Chinese battery producer EVE Energy to develop a new cylindrical cell format intended for the company’s next-generation electric motorcycles. The new 26120 cell is designed specifically for two-wheel applications, replacing the widely used 21700 automotive cell. In announcing the collaboration, Stark CEO and founder Anton Wass said, “To build the best motorcycles in the world, we shouldn’t compromise the battery cell format by using compromised technology from the car industry.” The companies said the 26120 cell is engineered to take fuller advantage of motorcycle chassis packaging, maximizing space efficiency while delivering higher…

General Motors has officially launched the 2026 Chevy Captiva EV in Brazil, four months after the model’s regional debut. The introduction marks a key step in Chevrolet’s strategy to expand its portfolio of affordable electric vehicles in South America, with Brazil positioned as the main volume market for the new crossover. The automaker is offering the Captiva EV exclusively in its Premier trim at launch, featuring a darkened exterior package with gloss black accents and a black bowtie emblem. The model arrives with a comprehensive suite of standard safety and connectivity features, including the Chevrolet Intelligent Driving advanced driver assistance…

Electrify America has completed a 1,765-mile demonstration drive along the US East Coast, aiming to highlight charging network reliability and long-distance travel capability ahead of the holiday season. The six-day trip covered 14 states, relying exclusively on Electrify America stations from Portland, Maine, to Key West, Florida. The demonstration was conducted by Rachel Moses, Electrify America’s senior director of sales and marketing, following an online challenge from a Reddit user to complete a long-range journey using only the company’s fast-charging infrastructure. The route included 15 charging stops, among them the company’s first operational station installed in 2018 in Chicopee, Massachusetts,…

Leapmotor unveiled its new A10 small electric SUV on Thursday at the opening of the 2025 Guangzhou auto show, launching reservation bookings ahead of its market arrival next year. The company did not release full pricing details but said the highest-spec variant will remain below RMB 100,000 ($14,060). Consumers can place a RMB 99 intent deposit to access reservation benefits. Leapmotor said the model will begin mass deliveries in the first half of 2026. The A10 offers a driving range of up to 500 km and supports fast charging, enabling the battery to replenish from 30% to 80% in 16…

Nio has introduced new exterior color themes for the ET9 Horizon Edition, a special version of its flagship executive sedan, as the company continues efforts to strengthen its premium positioning. The electric vehicle maker unveiled two new theme colors on the opening day of the 2025 Guangzhou auto show: one combining red with gold, and another pairing black with silver. The models are priced from RMB 818,000 ($115,000), or RMB 710,000 under the Battery as a Service (BaaS) plan, matching the specifications of the Horizon Edition launched in late September. The ET9 currently offers only a 102-kWh battery pack, and…

Scania demonstrated the precision capabilities of its autonomous truck technology through a coordinated stunt involving professional mountain biker Matt Jones, highlighting advancements in AI-driven vehicle systems currently deployed in mining operations and under development for highway freight transport. The event, conducted in partnership with Red Bull and Silicon Valley-based PlusAI, saw two self-driving trucks move in precise synchronization, creating a sub-one-second window for Jones to jump between them. The demonstration required extensive planning and multiple development phases, including software development, practice sessions, and safety validation protocols. Scania engineers, alongside partners at Red Bull and PlusAI, spent several months ensuring the…

IONNA, the EV fast-charging joint venture backed by eight global automakers, said it will invest more than $250 million in California over the next three years as it accelerates deployment of its charging network across the United States. The announcement followed kickoff events held at five metropolitan locations across the state. The company said it has now contracted more than 1,000 charging bays in California as part of its multiyear investment plan through 2028. Nationwide, the network has more than 1,100 bays either operational or under construction, and around 4,000 contracted across the country. IONNA CEO Seth Cutler said the…

Xpeng announced that it has produced its one-millionth vehicle, a milestone for the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker. The announcement was made by Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng at the opening day of the 2025 Guangzhou auto show. The milestone comes 14 months after Xpeng reached 500,000 vehicles, which took 82 months from the company’s first production car, He said. Delivery of the one-millionth vehicle is expected in the coming days. As of the end of October, Xpeng’s cumulative deliveries reached 945,588 vehicles, with 42,013 units delivered in October alone. This represents a 75.66 percent increase compared with the same…

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) will exempt electric trucks from time-slot restrictions at its Hamburg container terminals under a pilot programme running until mid-2026, allowing the vehicles to be processed flexibly at any time during the booked day. HHLA introduced its slot booking system in 2017 to reduce congestion at Germany’s busiest seaport. All container trucks must reserve a time window for processing, and those arriving without a valid booking cannot be handled. Trucks are normally processed only within a 60-minute slot, with additional tolerance depending on capacity. Significant delays require cancelling and rebooking, and slots cannot be arranged…

The European Commission has approved more than €600 million in grants for 70 projects aimed at electrifying and decarbonising transport across the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), marking the latest funding round under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF). The projects span 24 EU countries and cover road, maritime, inland waterway and air transport. According to the Commission, the selected initiatives will “deploy alternative fuels supply infrastructure such as electric recharging stations, hydrogen refuelling stations, electricity supply and ammonia and methanol bunkering facilities.” The programme will help install more than 1,000 charging points of 150 kW for passenger cars and light…

Germany’s Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), working with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics (EMI), has reported that sodium-ion batteries require tailored safety designs after a series of controlled stress tests revealed major differences in behaviour compared with established lithium-based cells. The institutions examined three cylindrical 18650 cell types: sodium-ion cells containing nickel, iron and manganese (NFM), lithium-ion cells with nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC532) cathodes commonly used in electric vehicles and portable electronics, and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells often deployed in energy storage systems. The assessment focused on mechanical abuse conditions…