Author: Ryan Fisher

DS Automobiles, the premium offshoot of Citroën, has launched its all-electric flagship model, the DS No8, a bold coupe-SUV that underscores the brand’s ambitions in the luxury EV space. However, in a sign of mounting industry uncertainty, DS is not ruling out adding a combustion-based variant in the future. Speaking to Autocar at a recent international press event, DS product chief Cyprien Laurentie admitted that adapting the No8 to accommodate a combustion engine “is always a possibility.” While the current No8 range includes only electric options—with outputs ranging from 227 hp (169 kW) to a maximum of 370 hp (276…

Waymo announced on Tuesday it is expanding its autonomous ride-hailing service across new regions of the San Francisco peninsula and parts of Silicon Valley, following a recent regulatory approval from California authorities. The company will begin operating in Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame, and is extending service into more parts of Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Starting Wednesday, Waymo will also expand its Los Angeles service to include Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and the entirety of Sunset Boulevard. https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/1935012059806061025 Although Waymo has been cleared to operate in San Jose, it has…

Waymo’s robotaxi service commands significantly higher prices than rivals Uber and Lyft in San Francisco, but many riders are willing to pay a premium for the experience, according to a new pricing analysis by ride-hailing app Obi. The study, conducted from March 25 to April 25, aggregated nearly 90,000 real-time ride offers from Waymo, UberX, and Lyft’s standard service. Obi found that Waymo’s average fare was $20.43, compared to $15.58 for Uber and $14.44 for Lyft. Despite the gap, user interest in Waymo’s driverless vehicles has remained strong. “I didn’t expect consumers being willing to pay up to $10 more,”…

Consumer Reports on Wednesday called on Republican lawmakers to reconsider a proposed annual fee on electric vehicles (EVs), warning that the measure would disproportionately burden EV and plug-in hybrid owners compared to those driving gasoline-powered vehicles. The influential consumer advocacy group criticized provisions in a tax and budget bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in May, which include a proposed $250 annual fee on EVs. Senator Bernie Moreno has reportedly proposed raising that fee to $500 for EVs and $250 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). “These are punitive taxes designed to confiscate fuel savings from consumers who…

General Motors’ premium brand Cadillac has officially launched the high-performance Lyriq-V electric SUV in Europe, expanding the model’s availability to Germany, France and Switzerland. Customer orders opened this month, with pricing starting at over €108,000 and first deliveries expected in November 2025. The Lyriq-V marks Cadillac’s first all-electric entry into its performance-oriented V-Series lineup, traditionally reserved for its most powerful models. Initially revealed in January and targeted at English-speaking markets, the Lyriq-V will now also be offered in key European markets, with prices starting at €108,809 in Germany, €110,184 in France, and 112,771 Swiss francs in Switzerland. Featuring a dual-motor…

Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle unit, Waymo, has suspended its driverless taxi operations in certain areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco after multiple vehicles were vandalized during protests sparked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. At least five Waymo Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis were damaged amid the demonstrations, with one vehicle reportedly set on fire. The protests, which erupted in response to federal immigration enforcement efforts, led to clashes in major city centers, where several Waymo vehicles became entangled in the unrest. According to a report by KRON4, Waymo halted its services in affected zones “out of an abundance of…

Touroll has introduced the Urbano 3, a new trekking e-bike equipped with a mid-drive motor and integrated battery, targeting riders seeking strong performance and a full suite of commuting features at an affordable price point. Priced at €1,049 and available via Geekmaxi, the bike ships from EU warehouses—minimizing delivery times and avoiding customs charges, though after-sales service and warranty claims may pose some challenges. At the heart of the Urbano 3 is an Ananda mid-drive motor that delivers 70 Nm of torque and pedal assistance up to 25 km/h, in line with EU regulations. A 468 Wh battery is built…

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said 2026 will be a “really critical year” for the electric vehicle maker as it gears up to deliver the R2, a new five-passenger SUV starting at $45,000, aimed at expanding the company’s customer base and accelerating EV adoption in the U.S. Speaking to Bloomberg, Scaringe expressed optimism about the R2 and its sibling crossover, the R3, calling them a “much lower priced” alternative to Rivian’s current premium models. The R1T pickup and R1S SUV are priced from $87,000 and $75,900, respectively. “Most of our customers have never owned an EV before,” Scaringe said, underscoring Rivian’s…

Joby Aviation, a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has reached a preliminary agreement with Saudi Arabian conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) to distribute up to 200 electric aircraft valued at approximately $1 billion over the coming years. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to explore a distribution partnership that could provide Joby with a rapid pathway to commercializing its eVTOL vehicles in the Saudi market. While the MoU does not yet constitute a finalized contract, sources familiar with the matter indicated that more detailed terms are expected later this year. Paul Sciarra,…

Germany’s new coalition government is pushing ahead with a fast-tracked subsidy scheme aimed at boosting electric vehicle (EV) uptake among businesses, with a draft bill proposing generous depreciation allowances for newly purchased all-electric vehicles from mid-2025. According to a legislative draft seen by local outlets including Handelsblatt, Tagesschau, and DPA, companies could be allowed to write off 75% of the purchase value of purely electric vehicles in the first year. Deductions would then decrease progressively to 10% in year two, 5% in years three and four, 3% in year five, and 2% in year six. The scheme would apply to…

Tallinn Airport has completed the first phase of a major upgrade to its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, installing 32 new AC charging stations in the basement level of its multi-storey car park. The expansion, developed in partnership with Estonian energy company Alexela AS, is aimed at supporting the growing number of EV users traveling through the airport. The newly designated EV zone features 22kW AC chargers with integrated Type 2 cables, suitable for both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Charging is restricted to actively charging vehicles only, with payment options available through the Alexela mobile app, online portal,…

A new German-led project titled BatteryPass-Ready has officially launched to prepare battery manufacturers and supply chain stakeholders for the upcoming EU regulation mandating digital battery passports by February 2027. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWK), the two-year initiative will offer a testing and simulation environment to support companies in complying with data transparency and lifecycle tracking requirements. The battery passport system, a core part of the revised EU Battery Regulation, is designed to promote transparency across a battery’s full lifecycle, from production and usage to end-of-life recycling. It aims to enable a more circular…