Author: Moira Shortle

Tesla has officially launched the updated Model Y Performance in the United States, opening its order books with prices starting at $57,500 before incentives. The move brings the refreshed high-performance version of its best-selling SUV to U.S. customers after its earlier rollout in Europe. See also: Tesla Plans Upgrades to Smart Summon to Improve Multi-Level Garage Navigation The design refresh for the Model Y began earlier this year, though Tesla initially held back the performance variant. With the U.S. launch, new details have been confirmed, including an EPA-estimated driving range of 308 miles (496 km) and acceleration from zero to…

Subaru has introduced the 2026 Solterra, its redesigned all-electric SUV, with upgrades in performance, range, and technology while retaining the same starting price as the current model. The new lineup includes the addition of a high-performance XT version producing 338 horsepower. The Solterra Premium will remain priced at $38,495, while the expanded lineup adds the Solterra XT and Touring XT trims. The new XT powertrain enables a 0 to 60 mph time of under five seconds, positioning it as the most powerful Solterra to date. The standard Premium and Limited trims also see a power boost, now reaching 233 horsepower.…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Linktour Automotive has announced plans to enter the European market, unveiling its strategy at the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich. The company is focusing on the premium microcar niche, positioning its vehicles as lifestyle products with advanced technology and lightweight aluminum construction. Linktour will target the L6e and L7e categories of urban vehicles, emphasizing style, personalization, and smart features rather than competing in high-volume, low-cost segments. The automaker said its approach is designed to create a new class of urban mobility that combines efficiency with consumer appeal. Backed by parent company Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group, one…

Daimler Buses said it has secured an order from Regionalbus Leipzig for nine eCitaro battery-electric buses and the construction of a new electric bus depot, as the municipal operator begins its shift away from diesel vehicles. Regionalbus Leipzig, which runs about 160 vehicles on 80 urban and regional routes in southern Leipzig, plans to fully electrify its fleet by the early 2040s. The nine 12-metre solo buses are due for delivery by early 2027, with an option for 18 more by mid-2028, Daimler Buses said. As part of the contract, Daimler will expand the operator’s existing depot with a new…

Tesla is offering Canadian buyers of its Model 3 electric vehicle a choice between a $5,000 discount or lifetime free Supercharging, the company said, in one of its largest Canadian incentives in recent years. The promotion applies to in-stock vehicles that are delivered by September 30, 2025, and does not extend to custom factory orders. For eligible purchases, Tesla will automatically apply the $5,000 discount at checkout. Buyers who prefer the lifetime free Supercharging option must contact Tesla to make the switch after placing their order. The promotion aims to provide flexibility for customers, allowing those who charge primarily at…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng is advancing plans to roll out a robotaxi service in 2025, betting on a vision-only self-driving system and its own AI chip to compete with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. The Guangzhou-based company has developed the “Turing” chip to power its driver-assist platform, called XNGP, and is moving away from LiDAR in favor of camera-based vision. Xpeng says machine learning breakthroughs make the technology viable for navigating dense urban traffic. Candice Yuan, who heads Xpeng’s autonomous driving division, said the firm’s Level 4 self-driving system – which does not require driver input – is already…

Dreame Technology, a Chinese company best known for its robot vacuum cleaners, has taken another step in its automotive push less than a month after announcing its entry into vehicle manufacturing. The company’s EV division launched its official Weibo account this week, posting a rendering of its first electric model and revealing partial specifications. The design features coach doors supported by seven patents, a hidden B-pillar structure, and use of 2,000 MPa aerospace-grade steel, enabling body torsional stiffness above 45,000 Nm/deg. A prototype is expected to debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the United States. Dreame announced on…

BYD on Monday launched three new variants of its Tang DM-i hybrid SUV with an extended 175-kilometer battery range, replacing earlier versions that offered 115 kilometers. The refreshed lineup aims to bolster the model’s competitiveness in China’s crowded hybrid SUV market. The new variants are priced at 179,800 yuan, 189,800 yuan, and 199,800 yuan. BYD has also cut the price of the entry-level 115-km version from 179,800 yuan to 169,800 yuan. Buyers who complete purchases before the end of October will be eligible for a 10,000-yuan trade-in subsidy, effectively lowering the starting price of the Tang DM-i lineup to 159,800…

Nissan has lowered its production plan for the upcoming LEAF electric vehicle for the September to November period due to delays in battery procurement, the Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday. The revision was linked to lower-than-expected battery yields at a Nissan affiliate, according to the report. The Nikkei did not specify the original or updated production numbers but said output at the company’s Tochigi plant in eastern Japan would be reduced by several thousand units per month. The plant will manufacture the new LEAF for both the U.S. and Japanese markets. See also: Dual-Battery Nissan LEAF Limo Travels Nearly…

Vulcan Energy has received approval to build a commercial lithium processing plant in Frankfurt-Höchst, the German-Australian company said on Thursday, marking a key step in its plan to supply sustainable lithium to Europe’s battery and automotive sectors. The Central Lithium Plant (CLP), as it is known, will process lithium chloride extracted from geothermal brine at Vulcan’s upstream facility in Landau into battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM). In its initial phase, the plant is expected to produce up to 24,000 tonnes of LHM annually, a volume the company says is sufficient for around 500,000 electric vehicle batteries. Vulcan said its geothermal…

The European Investment Bank (EIB) said on Monday it will provide €17.5 million in venture debt financing to Greek electric vehicle charge point operator Joltie, backed by the InvestEU programme, to fund the deployment of about 2,200 chargers in Greece and Cyprus by 2029. Founded in 2022, Joltie differs from many European charge point operators by manufacturing its own branded charging hardware and managing its own network. The company currently operates more than 500 chargers across both countries and accounts for roughly a third of all installed charging points in Greece. The new funding will allow expansion into underserved regions,…

BMW  said it is confident it can return to growth in China, its largest market, with the rollout of its all-electric Neue Klasse lineup, beginning with the iX3 sport utility vehicle unveiled this week. “We are more than competitive with this product,” Chief Financial Officer Walter Mertl told Reuters. “With increasing availability of the Neue Klasse, we will see growth in China again.” The German luxury carmaker has struggled in the country amid fierce competition from domestic rivals and a slowdown in consumer spending tied to a property market downturn. Sales in China fell 15.5% in the first half of…