Author: Moira Shortle

Tesla has been seen testing its Cybercab robotaxi, a steering-wheel-less, self-driving vehicle, on the roads around its Gigafactory in Texas, marking a new stage in its autonomous vehicle development. The relaxed regulations on autonomous testing in Texas, compared to stricter rules in California, make it an ideal site for Tesla to advance its robotaxi testing. The Cybercab, unveiled last month on the Warner Bros studio lot, was first demonstrated on private roads that mimic city environments. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and self-driving head Ashok Elluswamy shared that the studio lot provided a safe, closed environment to showcase the robotaxi’s potential…

Lucid reported better-than-expected revenue for the third quarter, reaching $200 million and narrowly surpassing analysts’ estimates of $198 million, according to LSEG data. The luxury electric vehicle manufacturer, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, also reiterated its annual production goal of 9,000 vehicles for 2023, despite a challenging economic environment. The company delivered 2,781 vehicles during the third quarter but saw a dip in production, manufacturing 1,805 units. To meet its full-year target, Lucid will need to produce 3,357 vehicles in the last quarter. Despite high interest rates affecting budgets and pushing customers toward less expensive hybrids,…

KYMCO, the Taiwanese scooter manufacturer, has announced a significant milestone in its collaboration with U.S.-based electric motorcycle company LiveWire. The long-anticipated KYMCO RevoNEX electric motorcycle will now be constructed on LiveWire’s S2 Arrow platform, a versatile foundation currently used in LiveWire’s Del Mar and Mulholland electric models. The latest design of the RevoNEX was unveiled at the 2024 EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show, with KYMCO Chairman Allen Ko showcasing the bike onstage. “Every detail of the new RevoNEX has been meticulously crafted to bring riders the most unique electric riding experience,” Ko said, highlighting the brand’s commitment to delivering a premium…

Volvo’s new electric SUV, the EX30, will reach U.S. customers earlier than initially planned, following a surge in pre-order demand, the automaker confirmed. Deliveries of the EX30, which is Volvo’s smallest and most affordable electric vehicle, are now set to begin in late 2024, a shift from its previously anticipated 2025 debut. The move comes after high interest in the EX30 Twin Motor Performance variant, which Volvo identified as the model’s most popular version. Starting at $44,900, this dual-motor variant offers 422 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, marking it as Volvo’s fastest vehicle…

Suzuki has introduced its first electric vehicle, the eVitara, marking a new chapter in the automaker’s history. Yet, for fans of the compact off-roader Jimny hoping for an EV variant, Suzuki’s President Toshihiro Suzuki has cast doubt on that possibility, citing concerns about the impact on the vehicle’s defining characteristics. “If you talk about the Jimny EV, I think it would ruin the best part of the Jimny,” Suzuki stated, emphasizing that the battery weight could undermine the off-roader’s agility and distinctive lightness. This stance appears to contradict Suzuki’s official electrification roadmap announced earlier in 2023, which hinted at a…

U.S. retail giant Walmart is gearing up to debut its BrightDrop electric delivery vans in major cities, with plans to expand its sustainable fleet in the coming months. Walmart initially reserved 5,000 of these EVs from BrightDrop, a General Motors subsidiary, as part of a broader strategy to electrify its delivery network. The first batch of 400 BrightDrop vans will soon begin serving areas like Austin, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Northwest Arkansas, Orlando, and the San Francisco Bay Area by year-end, in support of Walmart’s in-home delivery service expansion to 62 million homes. Walmart’s Vice President of Dedicated Delivery, Warren Moore,…

Tesla’s latest software update, 2024.38.4, introduces a new feature for Track Mode V3 called Powertrain Endurance, aimed at optimizing performance during extended track sessions, the company confirmed. The addition reflects Tesla’s continued refinement of Track Mode, which initially debuted in 2018 to enhance the track performance of its electric vehicles (EVs). As EV community reports and screenshots show, Powertrain Endurance allows drivers to customize their vehicle’s performance output with three settings: Standard, Increased, and Maximum. According to Tesla, the Standard setting provides peak output, though performance may be quickly limited due to thermal management constraints. https://twitter.com/TeslaNewswire/status/1850789656234717203 The Increased option strikes…

The Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency and the National Public Roads Administration have proposed pushing back Norway’s climate target for van sales to 2027, shifting from the initial 2025 deadline to allow only zero-emission new van sales. This adjustment follows feedback from Norsk elbilforening, Norway’s association for electric vehicles, which had previously advocated for the revised timeline. While Norway has led the transition to electric vehicles, the original 2025 target for 100% electric van sales has proven challenging, with electric vans making up less than 29% of light commercial vehicle sales last year—far below the 82% achieved in passenger car sales.…

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has unveiled plans to enhance the nation’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem by adding 110 new EV charging outlets. This initiative marks a significant step in the company’s commitment to decarbonizing Thailand and positioning itself as a leader in the EV charging market. Building on its 50 years of experience in electricity supply and transmission system development, EGAT aims to increase its charging infrastructure from 211 outlets at the end of last year. Reports indicate that the company plans to deploy an additional 100 charging stations by next year. Nissara Thammapala, director for innovative…

Polestar announced today that its electric vehicles now have access to more than 17,800 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada, marking a significant expansion in charging options for Polestar owners. The integration aligns Polestar with several other EV manufacturers who have adopted Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for future models, providing seamless compatibility with Tesla’s extensive charging infrastructure. Starting mid-November, adapters enabling Supercharger access will be available at Polestar Service Points, and future Polestar models will integrate the NACS port directly, eliminating the need for adapters. “By offering customers access to the Tesla Supercharger network, we are able…

A new trial in the UK, known as the V2VNY project, is testing cost-effective, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) workplace charging technology aimed at reducing both carbon emissions and energy costs. This initiative is the first to use an alternating current (AC) V2G charger instead of the traditional direct current (DC) technology, marking a potential shift toward more affordable options for EV owners and businesses looking to benefit from V2G at their workplaces and homes. The project has installed initial chargers that allow electric vehicles (EVs) to send stored energy back to the grid, particularly during peak demand times when electricity prices are…

Wayve, a London-based autonomous vehicle startup backed by Uber and SoftBank, is set to begin testing its “Tesla-like” self-learning automated driving software in San Francisco and the Bay Area. This marks the company’s first on-road trials outside the UK, signifying a significant step in its expansion efforts. To facilitate this U.S. expansion, Wayve has established a new office in Sunnyvale, California. The startup aims to enhance its AI development, allowing vehicles to interact with and learn from human behavior in real-world environments. This initiative is designed to improve the safety of autonomous vehicles, contributing to safer roads for all users.…

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) program has marked its fourth anniversary, evolving from an advanced driver-assist system into a contender that could soon rival leading autonomous robotaxi services in the market. Launched in October 2020, the FSD Beta program was initially restricted to a select group of Tesla owners participating in the company’s early access program. This group played a crucial role in providing valuable real-world data, aiding the development of the FSD system. Currently, the program is referred to as FSD (Supervised), a designation that indicates it is a step closer to achieving fully autonomous driving. Elon Musk has hinted…

Tesla has appointed Michael Snyder as Vice President of Energy and Charging, responsible for the company’s charging infrastructure. Snyder, who holds a degree in electrical engineering, has been with Tesla for over ten years and previously led the Megapack division, which focuses on large-scale energy storage solutions. While specific details of his new role have not been disclosed, his updated LinkedIn profile reflects this appointment. This leadership change follows the merger of Tesla’s energy and charging operations, a move anticipated after the dismissal of the Supercharger team in April. Both divisions have been experiencing significant growth, with the energy business…

General Motors (GM) has officially released the highly anticipated 2025 Chevy Equinox EV LT, now available for order at a starting price of $34,995. With an EPA-estimated range of up to 319 miles for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) model, the Equinox EV LT is being marketed as the most affordable electric vehicle in the U.S. that offers over 315 miles of range. The new model follows GM’s earlier release of higher-priced versions of the Equinox EV, with deliveries beginning in May. The arrival of the $35,000 LT model is expected to draw significant attention, particularly given its competitive pricing and features,…

Renault showcased an extensive range of electric vehicles at the Paris Motor Show, including a diverse collection of transport concepts alongside the debut of the Renault 4 E-Tech. The company’s display highlighted innovations designed for various modes of transportation, from road to air and sea. In addition to unveiling the R4 E-Tech, Renault introduced four electric transport concepts developed in collaboration with several French startups. These concepts are available for pre-order and are expected to enter limited production by next spring, coinciding with the release of the R4 E-Tech. The new electric offerings include a retro-designed caravan, a two-seat electric…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, examining its safety under reduced visibility conditions, including fog and glaring sunlight. The probe follows a fatal collision in which a Tesla using FSD struck a pedestrian, as well as other incidents in similar conditions. The NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation will focus on the system’s ability to detect and respond to reduced roadway visibility. It will assess whether other crashes have occurred under similar conditions and determine the contributing factors. The agency will also review Tesla’s over-the-air software updates to FSD, marketed as…

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to argue on Thursday that isolating the U.S. economy, as proposed by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, would be “deeply misguided.” Yellen is expected to warn that such measures, including sweeping tariff hikes, would raise costs for American consumers and hurt U.S. business competitiveness. Her remarks, to be delivered at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, caution against a return to unilateral economic policies that she says are no longer viable in today’s interconnected world. Though Yellen does not mention Trump by name, her comments reference his recent calls for imposing…

Hyundai has revealed the Inster Cross, a crossover version of its electric city car, showcasing a more adventurous design. Set to enter production later this year, the Inster Cross was introduced at the Paris Motor Show as an exciting addition to Hyundai’s electric vehicle lineup. The base model, the Hyundai Inster, which debuted in June, is derived from the Casper combustion engine variant available in Korea. It offers two battery options: a 42 kWh battery paired with a 71 kW electric motor or a 49 kWh battery with an 85 kW motor. The Inster boasts a provisional range of up…

Audi has encountered difficulties in finding a suitable investor for its factory in Brussels, heightening the potential for a plant closure. Volkswagen (VW) has also attempted to identify alternative uses for the facility but has not succeeded. On Tuesday, Chief Operating Officer Gerd Walker stated that none of the 26 interested parties had presented a “viable and sustainable concept” for the future of the factory. An internal search within the Volkswagen Group for future vehicle production or alternative functions for the site has yielded no results. Throughout the year, Audi has publicly expressed concerns about the Brussels plant, where the…