Author: Todd Gilbert

Tesla has begun offering its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software to all eligible customers in Australia and New Zealand, expanding availability beyond a limited early access program launched last month. The system, available through an over-the-air update starting Tuesday, can now be activated on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles equipped with the company’s latest Hardware 4 (HW4/AI4). https://twitter.com/TeslaAUNZ/status/1968314169578697069 Australian customers can purchase FSD for A$10,100, while buyers in New Zealand are charged NZ$10,900. Early adopters paid less, with some securing the system for as little as A$7,500 several years ago. Tesla also plans to introduce a subscription option in the…

Jaguar Land Rover , Britain’s biggest carmaker, said on Tuesday it will extend a pause in production at its UK plants until Sept. 24, prolonging the shutdown to more than three weeks following a cyber attack earlier this month. The company, owned by India’s Tata Motors, shut down its systems in early September after the breach disrupted manufacturing and retail operations. JLR said its three UK factories, which normally build about 1,000 cars daily, will remain offline, and many of its 33,000 employees have been told to stay home. “We have taken this decision as our forensic investigation of the…

Ford said it will relocate its global headquarters from the iconic Glass House, which has served as its home since 1956, to a newly built Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn this November. The new site will serve as the centerpiece of the wider Henry Ford II World Center campus and is expected to be fully completed by 2027, the Detroit News reported. The new facility will span 2.1 million square feet across four floors, offering double the employee capacity of the 950,000-square-foot Glass House. Ford said the building will integrate closely with its Research & Engineering and Trackside facilities, placing…

Volkswagen will delay the start of production for its key electric models, the ID. Golf and ID. Roc, to 2030, after earlier plans had already been postponed. The company is also seeking a financially strong partner for its battery subsidiary PowerCo as it navigates cost pressures and slower-than-expected EV demand. According to Handelsblatt, the Wolfsburg plant will begin production of the ID. Roc compact SUV in summer 2030 as the first model built on Volkswagen’s new SSP platform, followed by the ID. Golf. The Golf had originally been scheduled for 2028 and later shifted to 2029, while the ID. Roc…

BYD has rolled out the 2026 model year Seal 07 DM-i, introducing wider range options, updated dimensions and lower prices as it seeks to broaden the appeal of its hybrid sedan. The new Seal 07 DM-i is offered in four trims, with two providing a 135-km battery range and two offering 230 km. Prices start at RMB 149,800 ($21,040) and rise to RMB 186,800. The previous model, launched in August 2024, had five trims priced between RMB 139,800 and RMB 195,800, most of which delivered a 125-km electric range. The updated model’s adjustments to specifications and pricing structure are expected…

Argo Cargo Bikes, a Denver-based e-bike developer, has launched the Argo Fy Cargo Bike Kit 2.0, a conversion kit designed to turn standard rear-hub motor e-bikes into fully functional cargo bikes. The kit allows users to carry heavy loads or transport passengers without having to purchase a dedicated e-cargo bike, offering a cost-effective solution for urban mobility. The kit features a reinforced aluminum frame with additional ribs for durability, as well as a redesigned steering system that provides a wider turning angle for enhanced maneuverability. A waterproof phenolic plywood cargo box is included, capable of supporting up to 68 kilograms,…

Volkswagen Group will build its next family of electric small cars in Spain, with production expected to reach 800,000 units per year by the end of the decade, Seat’s interim CEO Markus Haupt said at the IAA Mobility show in Munich. Haupt said the target comprises 500,000 vehicles from Martorell, including the VW ID. Polo and Cupra Raval, and 300,000 from Pamplona, where the VW ID. Cross and Skoda Epiq will be produced. Speaking to Spanish portal La Tribuna de Automoción, Haupt described himself as “absolutely optimistic” about achieving these volumes. The projection marks a significant increase over earlier forecasts.…

Autel Energy has completed its first integrated electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the United States, advancing its effort to deliver scalable and grid-friendly energy solutions. The installation, located at the company’s manufacturing plant in Greensboro, North Carolina, received full approval from Duke Energy. The system combines a 250 kWh battery cabinet with a 125 kW power conversion system, powering one Autel MaxiCharger DC Fast charger and two DC Compact units. By integrating storage, the project is designed to reduce peak demand costs and improve site resilience. “These first utility-approved EV + BESS projects…

Taiga Motors on Tuesday announced its next-generation Orca electric watercraft, introducing a new three-seat model, upgraded digital features and vehicle-to-grid charging, with deliveries set to begin in 2026 and global expansion into Europe. The lineup includes the Orca WX3, a three-passenger crossover model designed for recreational use and tow sports, and the Orca P2, an updated version of the company’s two-seat performance craft. Both models will be equipped with DC fast charging and bidirectional charging, allowing the watercraft to supply power for homes, cabins or dockside equipment. The Orca WX3, priced from $23,999, features a longer hull for added stability,…

France will grant an additional €1,000 ($1,090) subsidy for the purchase of electric cars assembled in Europe and equipped with European-made batteries from Oct. 1, the government said on Monday. The measure adds to the existing “bonus écologique” scheme that offers households up to €4,200 depending on income and environmental criteria. “Ecological transition is a lever for reindustrialisation,” said Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Ecological Transition. “By increasing the environmental bonus by €1,000, we are promoting electric vehicles whose batteries are produced in Europe and whose manufacture emits fewer greenhouse gases. This is a win-win situation for purchasing power, the climate…

German automotive supplier ZF is using the IAA Mobility show in Munich to present a wide range of technologies, including its new SELECT e-drive platform, thermal management system and an upgraded hybrid transmission. The company said its approach to electrification is moving away from “off-the-shelf products” towards a modular platform that allows manufacturers to configure different types of electric drives. The SELECT system integrates electric motors, inverters, converters, reduction gearboxes and software, with each module offered as a kit of multiple options. ZF said this approach enables shorter development times and faster innovation cycles while maintaining cost efficiency. “In the…

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are expected to make up more than half of new light vehicle sales in Europe by 2032, overtaking hybrids after 2030, consultancy EY said in a report published on Tuesday. The study forecasts BEVs will climb to nearly 100% of new car sales across the region by 2050, driven by policy targets, a rebound in consumer demand and the introduction of lower-cost models. “Policy targets, a rebound in demand and affordable models are expected to drive EV uptake,” EY said, noting that softened emissions penalties through 2027 will not prevent the shift. The findings come as…