Author: James Bryant

Hyundai Motor Group is expanding its Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) strategy across major global markets, rolling out Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) services that allow electric vehicles to store electricity, supply power to homes and feed energy back into public grids. The move is aimed at improving grid flexibility and supporting higher shares of renewable energy in power systems, the company said. In South Korea, the Group plans to launch the country’s first customer V2G pilot on Jeju Island by late 2025 using the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. The project is designed to use EV batteries as flexible energy resources…

Lotus plans to introduce its first plug-in hybrid vehicle in early 2026, marking a shift in strategy for the British sports carmaker after it previously committed to becoming a fully electric brand, according to Autocar and company executives. The move reflects a broader reassessment among automakers as demand for battery-electric vehicles grows more unevenly across global markets. Speaking during the company’s latest earnings call, chief executive Feng Qingfeng said the first plug-in hybrid model will deliver 912 horsepower and is scheduled to reach showrooms in China in the first quarter of 2026, with European deliveries later that year. The model…

Tesla has delivered its first Cybertruck vehicles outside North America, with initial customer handovers completed in South Korea on Nov. 27, 2025, marking the international debut of the stainless-steel electric pickup, the company said. Tesla Korea confirmed the milestone in a post on social media platform X. “On November 27, 2025, the first Cybertruck deliveries were completed in Korea,” the company said, adding that the occasion was “an event filled with excitement for a truly groundbreaking vehicle.” The deliveries follow Tesla’s earlier announcement that South Korea would be the first overseas market for the Cybertruck as part of a phased…

Hyundai Motor Group has marked the topping-out of its Future Mobility Battery Campus in Anseong, South Korea, a major step in building what it says will be its first comprehensive research and development hub dedicated to battery technology, with full completion targeted for the end of 2026. The group broke ground on the campus in January 2025 and is investing about 1.2 trillion won ($about 700 million) in the project, according to company officials. The facility covers nearly 20 hectares and will have a total floor area of about 111,000 square metres. Hyundai said the site will be equipped with…

A Florida driver has been left with a repair bill nearing $12,000 after a spilled water bottle allegedly caused extensive electrical damage to his Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicle, highlighting potential cost risks tied to modern EV electronics. Mike McCormick said the incident occurred while he was driving on a freeway in Florida when traffic ahead forced him to brake suddenly. The stop sent a water bottle from a rear cupholder onto the floor, where water reportedly seeped into wiring harness connectors beneath the seats. Within minutes, warning lights appeared on the dashboard, the turn signals stopped working and, by…

A study of real-world electric vehicle performance suggests that fears over rapid battery degradation may be overstated, with most modern EVs retaining the vast majority of their original driving range after three years on the road. The analysis was conducted by U.S.-based data firm Recurrent, which tracks battery health across thousands of electric vehicles. The company found that while some range loss does occur over time, the decline is generally modest and follows a predictable pattern. See also: EV Battery Replacement Costs Set to Drop Significantly, Boosting Long-Term Adoption Cadillac, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz ranked among the strongest performers in the…

Audi is rolling out a broad package of hardware and software updates across its Premium Platform Electric (PPE) and Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) vehicle lineups as part of its latest model-year change, with improvements aimed at efficiency, driving dynamics and digital features, the company said. The updates apply to Audi’s PPE-based electric vehicles — the Q6 e-tron SUV and Sportback, as well as the A6 e-tron sedan and Avant estate — which were co-developed with Porsche. Audi said the electric models will become more efficient following the update, although it did not publish new consumption or driving range figures and…

Hyundai Motor will suspend operations on its electric vehicle production line at its Ulsan plant for 12 days in December, marking the company’s 10th production halt this year as demand for battery-powered vehicles weakens, industry sources said on Nov. 28. The shutdown will affect Line 2 of Ulsan Plant 1, which produces Hyundai’s flagship electric model, the Ioniq 5, with operations for technical workers set to stop from Dec. 1 to Dec. 12. Hyundai said the suspension reflects ongoing difficulties in securing stable production volumes following a slowdown in electrification demand and changing market conditions. “We are making various efforts…

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…