Author: Andy Williams

Tesla has reduced lease prices for the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck in the United States, lowering monthly payments by as much as 23%. The update, which appeared on Tesla’s website this week, also included a notice stating that “prices increase in November,” leading some customers to mistakenly believe the change applied to vehicle purchase prices rather than leases. The clarification came after users noticed the new pricing details on Tesla’s Current Offers page, where the company specifies that the November adjustment refers exclusively to lease programs. Vehicle purchase prices in the U.S. remain unchanged for now. See also:…

Xpeng exported 5,004 vehicles in September, reflecting a 79.4 percent increase from the same month last year and a 65.8 percent rise compared with August, according to data shared by the company on Weibo. From January to September, Xpeng’s total exports reached 29,723 units, up 125.2 percent year-on-year. The figures were released alongside rankings from Chinese automotive outlet Yiche, which placed Xpeng 17th among automakers exporting the most vehicles from China. See also: Xpeng Appoints New Smart Driving Chief as AI Push Accelerates Chery led the list with 138,714 units, followed by BYD with 69,258 units, while Tesla ranked eighth…

Toyota is moving closer to producing its smallest electric vehicle, the FT-Me, following a £15 million ($20 million) grant from the UK government’s DRIVE35 program. The pint-sized electric car, measuring just 2.5 meters (98 inches) long, is designed for urban mobility and features a solar roof intended to extend its range. The funding, managed by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, forms part of a £30.3 million ($40.5 million) project, with Toyota expected to contribute the remaining £15 million. See also: Toyota and Sumitomo Metal Mining Advance Development of Cathode Materials for Solid-State EV Batteries The project involves several partners, including…

Formula E has confirmed its final calendar for Season 12 following the recent FIA World Motorsport Council (WMSC) meeting, featuring 17 races across 10 venues. The updated schedule removes the previously undecided May 30 race, marking one of the longest seasons in the championship’s history and the final campaign of the Gen3 era. The new season begins on December 6, 2025, at São Paulo’s Sambadrome before heading to Mexico City on January 10 for the series’ 150th race. Subsequent rounds include stops in Miami, Jeddah, Madrid, Berlin, Monaco, Sanya, Shanghai, Tokyo, and London. Notably, China will host two events —…

Electrify America has received the EV Charging Innovation Excellence Award at the 2025 Battery Awards, held during The Battery Show North America. The honor recognizes the company’s efforts in advancing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure through large-scale deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS) that support its nationwide Hyper-Fast charging network. See also: Electrify America, Royal Farms to Add EV Fast Chargers at Maryland Stores The award highlights Electrify America’s progress in improving access to high-speed EV charging while addressing grid limitations that can restrict deployment. The company has installed more than 170 BESS units—representing over 65,000 kilowatt-hours of storage…

GAC Group has introduced its AION V electric SUV to Finland, marking the company’s third market entry in Europe and a key milestone in its broader “European Market Plan.” The launch, conducted in partnership with global automotive distributor Inchcape, highlights GAC’s growing commitment to expanding its presence across the continent and advancing sustainable mobility in the Nordic region. The AION V is positioned as a technologically advanced electric SUV that meets European expectations for safety and efficiency. The model delivers a WLTP range of 510 kilometers and has earned the 2025 Euro NCAP five-star safety rating, underscoring its emphasis on…

The United Arab Emirates has taken a major step toward smart mobility with the launch of its first commercial fleet of autonomous electric trucks, developed through a partnership between Evocargo and RAK Ceramics. The deployment, located in the Al Jazeera Al Hamra industrial zone, marks a breakthrough for the nation’s logistics industry as it embraces both automation and sustainability. The Evocargo N1 trucks are now in daily operation, transporting ceramics and sanitary ware for RAK Ceramics. With a range of up to 200 kilometres per charge, the self-driving vehicles navigate complex industrial environments, processing road signs and infrastructure data in…

The global race to dominate the autonomous vehicle sector is accelerating, with robotaxi services leading the charge, according to a new report by market intelligence firm IDTechEx. The study forecasts an exponential rise in software revenue from self-driving taxis over the next two decades, underscoring fierce competition among technology developers and automakers in the United States, China, and Europe. The report, titled “Autonomous Driving Software and AI in Automotive 2026-2046: Technologies, Markets, Players,” predicts a 1,000-fold increase in robotaxi software revenue through 2046. It identifies major players such as Waymo, Tesla, Zoox, and May Mobility in the U.S., and Baidu’s…

General Motors has raised the starting price of its 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV to $36,495, including destination fees, while introducing new style packages for its popular electric SUV. The model continues to hold the title as the best-selling electric vehicle in the United States outside of Tesla. The 2026 Equinox EV, which carries over most of its features from the 2025 model, adds new personalization options aimed at expanding its appeal. The Midnight Package, priced at $595, features black emblems, bowties, badging, wheel caps, and 19-inch black-painted aluminum wheels. Meanwhile, the Tech Bronze Package, available for both LT and RS…

Tesco has rolled out its 1,000th electric delivery van in the United Kingdom, marking a significant step toward its goal of operating a fully electric home delivery fleet by 2030. The milestone van will serve customers from Tesco Extra in Cardiff, making the store one of only three in Wales with an entirely electric delivery fleet. The Cardiff Extra branch’s 20-vehicle fleet now carries out around 5,000 deliveries each week. Although Tesco did not specify which model its 1,000th van is, photographs suggest it could be a Maxus. Earlier this year, the retailer added its first Iveco eDaily to the…

Voyah Automotive Technology, the premium electric vehicle brand of Dongfeng Motor Group, has filed for an introductory listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, according to documents published on Thursday. The listing will not raise new capital, with China International Capital Corporation (CICC) acting as sole sponsor. Voyah, unveiled by Dongfeng in 2020 and formally established in 2021, targets the premium EV market with models priced between 200,000 yuan ($28,090) and 500,000 yuan. Its lineup includes the Zhuiguang sedan, Zhiyin SUV, Free SUV, and Dream MPV. The company reached cumulative production of 200,000 vehicles in April this year, doubling its…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has expanded its battery-electric truck portfolio with the introduction of the new eActros 400, offering over 40 customizable configurations to address diverse logistics requirements in heavy-duty long-distance and distribution transport. The model builds on the technology of the larger eActros 600 and is part of the company’s second-generation eActros lineup. The new variants allow customers to select between two battery packs, different cab designs, and multiple chassis configurations. The eActros 400 is equipped with two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs totaling 414 kWh, enabling a range of up to 480 kilometers, while the eActros 600 continues with…

Mobileye said on Monday its Mobileye Drive™ autonomous system is moving from pilot programs to scalable deployment, supported by new technology and partnerships aimed at expanding Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) solutions such as robotaxis, ride-sharing and ride-pooling. The company said initial pilots are operating in Norway, Germany and the United States, using NIO vehicles with human safety operators to refine on-demand shuttle services and build ecosystem readiness. The first-generation system relies on a sensor suite of cameras, radar, lidar and EyeQ™5 processors. See also: Mobileye Raises 2025 Revenue Outlook as Self-Driving Chip Demand Rebounds Mobileye said its second-generation platform will enable production-scale…

Xiaomi’s electric vehicle unit, Xiaomi EV, delivered more than 40,000 vehicles in September, the company announced on social media platform Weibo, marking a record monthly performance. The milestone comes as Xiaomi expands production capacity to meet rising demand. Xiaomi launched its SU7 electric sedan on March 28, 2024, targeting competitors such as Tesla’s Model 3. Its second model, the YU7 SUV, debuted on June 26, positioning the automaker against Tesla’s Model Y. The launch of the YU7 generated a surge in orders, putting significant pressure on factory production capacity. See also: Xiaomi Unveils SU7 Ultra EV in Japan, Plans Retail…

Charge Point Operator (CPO) PowerGo has opened a new public fast-charging hub at Basic-Fit Ekeren in Antwerp, providing a mix of charging solutions for gym members and electric vehicle (EV) drivers along the A12 highway. The site is equipped with two 150-kilowatt fast-charging points and five 30-kW chargers. The project is part of a partnership between PowerGo and Basic-Fit that began in 2023 to install charging hubs at gym locations across the Netherlands and Belgium. “We want to support our members in their fitness goals, but also in practical ways,” said Gerard van Medevoort, International Energy Manager at Basic-Fit. “At…

Autonomous driving technology company WeRide has obtained a trial permit from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to operate self-driving vehicles in the city. The approval marks a step toward commercial deployment of robotaxi services in the Middle East, where the company plans significant fleet expansion. WeRide said its initial trial will involve 50 Robotaxi GXR vehicles operating in areas including Jumeirah, Za’abeel First, Al Manara, Umm Suqeim, and Al Safa. Future service areas are expected to include Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai International Airport, and central business districts. The company aims to begin fully driverless commercial operations in 2026. The…

General Motors said its all-new 2026 Chevy Captiva EV is arriving in the Middle East, following a regional unveiling in early August. The electric crossover will be launched gradually across the region during the third quarter, with initial sales expected in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Chevrolet Middle East described the Captiva EV as a five-passenger, all-electric model with a range of 415 kilometers under the NEDC cycle. The vehicle is powered by a single-motor front-wheel-drive system producing 201 horsepower and 310 Nm of torque, supported by a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery compatible with fast charging. The Captiva…

Tesla said owners in Australia and New Zealand have driven more than 1 million kilometres using its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system since its rollout earlier this month, underscoring strong uptake in the smaller right-hand-drive markets. According to Tesla Australia & New Zealand, drivers are covering the equivalent of “67 laps around the continent of Australia or 625 trips from Auckland to Invercargill” with FSD engaged. On a daily basis, owners are logging about 83,200 km (51,700 miles), the company said on social media platform X. https://twitter.com/TeslaAUNZ/status/1972569938843013400 The rapid adoption is notable as access to FSD Supervised in the region…

BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has reached a milestone with the opening of its 100th franchised dealership in the United Kingdom, less than two years after its market entry in April 2023. The expansion underscores the company’s rapid growth and increasing footprint in the U.K. automotive sector. The new retail locations bring most customers within an average drive time of 27 minutes to a BYD dealership. Recent openings include Canterbury, Chichester, Croydon, Ipswich, and Saint Albans, enhancing accessibility for prospective buyers across the country. BYD said the growth has been supported by strong consumer demand for its electric and…

The United States and European Union have sealed a trade agreement that cuts tariffs on EU cars, including electric vehicles, from 27.5% to 15%, retroactive to Aug. 1, after weeks of delay. Washington confirmed the reduction on Thursday, saying the EU had introduced the necessary legislative proposal to implement the changes. The tariff cut follows the July 27 announcement of a framework deal between then-U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, though implementation had stalled amid further negotiations. Under the terms, EU car exports to the U.S. will now face a 15% duty, while U.S.…