The automotive industry is currently in a state of collective disorder. And while Donald Trump’s constantly evolving tariffs, which make the headlines daily as they have far-reaching consequences in whole countries and their economies, may play a huge role in that, it’s not the only one.

Electric vehicles, which were touted by almost everyone as dominating all major markets in the (very near) future, are definitely gaining ground with each passing year, just not at the rate most automakers were expecting. Excluding China and Norway, the rate of adoption by buyers is not as high as initially predicted, which has led many manufacturers to reverse their pledge to go all-electric and continue producing ICE-powered models in the interim.

More: GM Just Blinked After Trump’s Tariff War Escalated

Now, GM is about to temporarily lay off 200 out of its 4,500 workers at the all-electric Factory Zero plant in Detroit. As reported by US News, a company source explained that this move is not related to Trump’s tariffs but rather to the automaker adjusting its production to “align with market dynamics”.

For those among us who don’t speak corporate, this means that Factory Zero, which builds solely electric vehicles, specifically the Hummer EV SUV and pickup truck, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, the GMC Sierra EV, and the Cadillac Escalade IQ, needs to slow down for a while as demand for EVs is not as strong as GM anticipated.

Factory Zero used to be known as the Detroit-Hamtramck plant until 2020, when GM decided to turn it into a state of the art hub for manufacturing electric vehicles based on its Ultium platform. To that end, it poured in $2.2 billion which at the time, was, in the company’s own words, the “single largest investment in a plant in GM history”.

The plant’s grand opening took place on November 17, 2021, and then President Joe Biden was there to celebrate this milestone alongside General Motor‘s leadership and factory workers. “GM’s U.S. manufacturing expertise is key to achieving our all-electric future,” GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra said at the opening.“This is a monumental day for the entire GM team. We retooled Factory ZERO with the best, most advanced technology in the world to build the highest quality electric vehicles for our customers.”

Moreover, executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability Gerald Johnson stated that “To meet our ambitious EV transition, GM’s North American EV vehicle assembly capacity will reach 20 percent by 2025, and then 50 percent by 2030”. Seems that this target turned out to be more ambitious than GM expected, but if it’s any consolation, the same is true for practically all major car manufacturers – except the Chinese.

Well, that took a minute, didn’t it? We’re talking about Tesla‘s response to the accusations that it sold a suspiciously huge number of cars in Canada right before the country’s EV rebate program was about to end. Critics and officials question if these were actual sales and whether the company was just gaming the system instead.

So what exactly happened in Canada? In early March, it came to light that four Tesla stores sold 8,653 cars in just three days and claimed C$43.1 million (US$30M) in rebates. This means that each store sold an average of 30 Teslas per hour, 24 hours a day, even when they were supposedly closed, for this three-day period. And if you believe that, I know someone who has a bridge to sell you.

Tesla Claims It Was All Legal, Officials Should Know Better

However, according to Electrek, in a letter dated March 28, Tesla’s director of sales and service for Canada, Fereshteh Zeineddin, says that those filings were normal and that Transport Canada, the government department responsible for the incentive program, should know better.

More: Tesla Accused Of Gaming Canada’s EV Rebate Program After 4 Stores Sold 2 Cars Per Minute Wiping Out $43M In Grants

He explains that many of these rebates were for cars that were already sold but dealers hadn’t simply filed for them yet. Thus, according to the EV maker, it wasn’t really a shady practice on Tesla’s part – just a case of its staff getting their priorities straight as the electric vehicle subsidy program was about to end. The company says that backlogged files were allowed anyway, so it did nothing wrong. Furthermore, these weren’t money that would end in Tesla’s pockets; rather, as per the program, dealers would offer the incentive to buyers and then get reimbursed by the government.

Frozen Rebates Must Be Paid, Or Else…

Tesla also took issue with Canada’s Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland ordering the rebates to be frozen “in order to fully examine each claim individually and determine whether all are eligible and valid,” as she told the Toronto Star. It adds that, due to this investigation, its employees are viewed negatively by the public and have been subjected to verbal abuse and harassment, and if Transport Canada doesn’t resume payments, it may pursue legal action.

Until the investigation is over, we have no way of knowing whether Tesla is telling the truth or not so, until then, it is presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is worth noting, however, that according to the National Post, Tesla deliveries in Canada plunged some 70 percent between December 2024 and January 2025, which makes this sudden surge peculiar. And if we had to guess, the huge drop in sales and the harassment incidents might be the result of Elon Musk getting increasingly political, not just in the US but wherever he sees fit, and not caused by Transport Canada’s investigation.

Bonus Irony: Musk’s Take on Canada

Speaking of Musk and Canada, here’s a bit of irony. Despite holding a Canadian passport and having lived there from 1989 to 1992, Musk recently posted on X that “Canada is not a real country.” He was responding, apparently in jest, to his political buddy Donald Trump’s suggestion that Canada should be annexed as the 51st U.S. state. Maybe he’s just trolling. Or maybe he’s trying to test how much diplomatic damage he can do from his phone.

Whatever the case, the Canadian government doesn’t seem amused—and it’s making very clear that Tesla’s C$43.1 million rebate claim isn’t going to slide through unchecked.

Launching a new brand into an established market is a brave move with no guarantee of success. But if she has any doubts about Denza’s chances in Europe, BYD boss Stella Li isn’t letting on, claiming in a recent interview Denza’s new vehicles were ‘ten times better’ than than those they aim to outpace, and which include the likes of Mercedes, Audi, BMW, and possibly even Porsche.

BYD’s gains in Europe with its own EVs and PHEVs gives Li reason to be confident. But Denza is shooting for a totally different, more image and status-conscious audience. A premium brand designed to slot between everyman BYD and pricey YangWang, Denza will take on established European names like Mercedes, which could be embarrassing for Benz because Denza started off as a BYD-Daimler co-op before BYD carried on alone.

Related: Chinese Brand Mercedes Created With BYD Is Now Coming For Mercedes In Europe

The Z9 GT is odds-on the first Denza to hit European roads later this year and will offer a more coupe-like alternative to cars like the Audi A6 and A6 e-tron Avant, and BMW 5-series and i5 Touring. A sporty shooting brake whose Porsche Panamera-like profile is the work of former Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini designer Wolfgang Egger, the Z9 is a triple-motor EV with 952 hp (965 PS / 710 kW). An 858 hp (870 PS / 640 kW) 2.0-liter PHEV is also available.

‘This car is really ten times better than the competition,’ Li told Car Magazine at the Denza brand launch at Milan Design Week. ‘We have a lot of unique features the other legacy brands do not have.’

Tech-Forward, Price-Savvy Strategy

Those features are not limited to aggressive pricing, though you can be sure Denza’s cars will offer more standard equipment at a much lower cost than than their rivals to help hook buyers in. Technology is a big focus: the Z9 will crab-walk and slow-motion drift into parking spaces and round tight turns, tricks you won’t find on premium Western cars (check out the video below).

‘We are confident that buyers will find distinctive, unique appeal in the car’s mix of sophisticated, elegant design, strong performance and astounding technology,’ Li said, adding that Denza’s superior customer service will be key to it carving market share.

European pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but in China, the Z9 GT starts at 334,800 yuan and tops out at 414,800 yuan (around $45,800 to $56,800). That’s a serious value play when you consider the Panamera Sport Turismo and Taycan Cross Turismo start at 1,008,000 yuan ($138,000) and can balloon past 1,500,000 yuan ($205,000) depending on options.

Credit: BYD/Denza

We all knew this was coming, or at least, we should have. Actually, it already happened once. The all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona only began deliveries earlier this year, but now a second wrecked example has surfaced at auction in Florida. And while it might be repairable, given the lukewarm reception to Dodge’s electric muscle car, we’re not holding our breath for a heroic restoration.

This dark blue Charger Daytona was involved in a wreck with just 1,085 miles (1,746 km) on the clock and is in a very sorry state. We don’t know exactly what happened, but the damage appears to be limited to the driver’s side. In all likelihood, it was either T-boned by another car or perhaps slid sideways into something, but that seems less likely as all four wheels look pristine.

More: First Wrecked Dodge Charger Daytona EV Surfaces

The driver’s door has been caved in from the impact, and the dents extend across part of the rear quarter panel. The impact was also strong enough to trigger the side curtain airbags, which more often than not turns a crash into an insurance write-off. Even though the Charger is almost brand-new, it seems the insurer decided it wasn’t worth repairing, perhaps in part because spare parts could be in short supply and some damage may have been done to the frame.

If the door and rear quarter panel are the only areas of damage, they should be easy enough to replace if anyone wants to be brave and revive this Charger Daytona. The Copart listing notes it’s the flagship Scat Pack model, meaning it has a pair of electric motors with a combined 670 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque. These motors are fed by a 100.5 kWh battery pack.

Watch: Dodge Charger Still Thinks It’s 1970 And Racing Ford’s Fastest EV Just Proved It The Hard Way

And then there’s the wildcard option. Somewhere, a Dodge traditionalist is already grinning through a cloud of tire smoke, dreaming of yanking out the EV guts and shoehorning in a good old-fashioned HEMI V8. Would it be completely unnecessary and gloriously chaotic? Absolutely. But if there were ever a platform ripe for an identity crisis, it’s this one. Well, we don’t technically know if it’s possible, but hey, when has that ever stopped someone with a welder, a questionable parts stash, and a dream?

If nobody steps up to repair it, or commit heresy by stuffing a gas engine under the hood, there’s always the fallback plan: part it out. The battery and motors alone could find new life in some future EV project. Then again, given how early we are in this car’s life cycle, even that seems like a stretch. Either way, this Charger Daytona’s next chapter probably won’t look anything like Dodge imagined.

Copart

Update: Well, that didn’t take long. After we first reported on the image you see here, TechCrunch spoke with a “person with direct knowledge of Slate Auto’s vehicle design,” who confirmed—on the condition of anonymity—that the truck is “likely one of the concept vehicles the startup has created to show to potential investors” at its design center in Long Beach, California. Original story follows below.

A mysterious electric pickup truck has sparked curiosity online after a photo surfaced of a camouflaged two-door truck being offloaded from a flatbed in Los Angeles. The timing couldn’t be more interesting: news also broke that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is quietly backing a Michigan-based EV startup called Slate Auto, which claims it’s developing a $25,000 electric model in the form of a compact, two-door pickup.

More: Jeff Bezos Secretly Backs EV Maker Building A $25K Pickup For The Masses

The image, posted to Reddit by user Discostranger09, shows the pickup truck being unloaded from a shipping container just outside their office. The flatbed truck is marked with the name “Time Towing LLC,” though there may be an additional word obscured at the front of the logo. The original poster didn’t offer much more than that, though commentators said the photo was likely taken somewhere in Los Angeles.

From what’s visible, the vehicle looks like a mashup of an older Range Rover and a Jeep Renegade—boxy, upright, and unapologetically stubby. The absence of a grille opening at the front suggests its electric, reinforced by what appears to be a charging port near the rear corner. A quick image search doesn’t match it to anything currently on the market, though admittedly, that’s far from definitive.

Is This Slate Auto’s First Prototype?

Naturally, Redditors were quick to speculate. The most popular theory is that this mystery truck is Slate Auto’s debut model, possibly caught during testing or transport. Others floated ideas ranging from a Rivian prototype to a one-off custom build, though no solid evidence has surfaced to support any theory just yet.

What We Know About Slate Auto

Slate Auto remains mostly under wraps, with limited information available beyond a recent TechCrunch report. According to that story, the company was quietly formed in 2022 as a spinout of Bezos’ investment in Re:Build Manufacturing. Since then, it’s been building out its team in Detroit, recruiting talent from legacy automakers like Ford, GM, and Stellantis, as well as from floundering EV startups such as Fisker and Canoo. Their goal? A $25,000, two-door, two-seat electric pickup aimed at a late 2026 release.

While Slate Auto hasn’t confirmed anything about the vehicle, they’ve announced that more news is coming on April 23. Whether that will include a formal reveal or just more corporate breadcrumbs remains to be seen.

In the meantime, we’ll keep digging to see what else we can uncover about the truck in question. If you recognize it—or if you’re the one who built it in your garage over a long weekend—drop us a line.

Photo discostranger09/Reddit

Mazda’s first crack at building an electric SUV, the quirky and range-challenged MX-30, was too weird for its own good, but the EZ-60 revealed this week in China plays it straight and that looks like a smart strategy.

Images released ahead of a full debut at the Shanghai Auto Show later this month show a bigger SUV with conventional doors, but just enough of a sporty Mazda vibe to tempt a few prospective Tesla Model Y buyers to switch sides.

Related: Four Mazda Models Are Being Discontinued This Year, But One Could Return

The EZ-60 is a production version of last year’s Arata concept, and will be renamed CX-6e for sale outside China, reflecting its position in the lineup as an electric alternative to the combustion CX-60. The final design stays close to the concept’s and features a much more assertive face than its Tesla rival, frameless door glass, camera-based mirrors, a coupe-like rear with a sloping roofline and dramatically angled D-pillar. 

Mazda hasn’t confirmed it’ll come to Europe but a debut there is all but inevitable given the region is one of the strongest markets for EVs and Mazda has already committed to launching its 6e sedan (known as the EZ-60 in China) in Europe later this year. We’d be amazed if it isn’t on sale in Europe in 2026.

Shared Platform, Familiar Hardware

Both sedan and SUV are built around architecture from Chinese automaker Changan, whose Deepal S07 is already engaged in a battle with the Model Y, and coming to Europe before the end of 2025. We’ll have to wait until the EZ-60’s full reveal on April 23 to find out the exact specs, but we’re expecting substantial similarities to the 6e when it comes to battery and motor details.

For reference, the European-market 6e sedan has a choice of 68.6 and 80 kWh batteries and comes with a choice of two different motors. Both are single-motor setups driving the rear wheels, one serving up 241 hp (244 PS) and the other, 255 hp (258 PS). Electric range varies from 300 -345 miles (483-555 km), though the heavier and less aerodynamically efficient SUV probably won’t be quite so long-legged.

Charging and Range-Extender Tech

Deepal’s platform isn’t as advanced as Hyundai-Kia’s and can only charge at 200 kW, although that puts it on par with many European carmakers. But the architecture is versatile enough that the S07 is also offered with a 1.5-liter range-extender combustion engine in China, though Mazda won’t be borrowing that tech because it already offers the CX-60 as a PHEV.

Unfortunately for American buyers, the CX-6e won’t be crossing the Pacific. Since it’ll be built in China, it faces steep import barriers and little incentive under current US EV tax credit rules. For now, it looks like this one’s staying in markets where Mazda’s EV strategy is already gaining traction.

Salmon exposed to anxiety medication in the wild behaved more boldly, according to new research in Science.

In this webinar, you will learn about the latest innovations in radio communications and dispatching solutions for K-12 student transportation.

Whether you are deploying a new radio and GPS location tracking system or looking to add range and capacity to your existing system, this webinar will help you determine the best solutions for your school or district transportation. We will present an overview of current two-way radio systems and standards that use licensed UHF and VHF frequencies, and nationwide 4G/5G/LTE Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC). Here are some of the valuable takeaways from this complete guide to radio communications webinar:

• How to choose the best radio system for your specific coverage and call capacity requirements
• How to migrate from analog to digital for improved performance
• How to extend the range and expand the capacity of your radio system
• How to add wide area coverage with PoC radios for buses and dispatching to your existing school’s radio system

This webinar is brought to you by Hytera.

REGISTER BELOW:

Presenters:

Ty Estes
Marketing Director
Hytera

Ty Estes is the Marketing Director for Hytera US Inc, where he oversees promotion of the company’s radio communication products. Estes has over twenty years of experience in marketing wireless communications and network technologies, and he has chaired committees in telecommunications trade associations and authored several technical papers. Estes has a bachelor’s degree in English from California State University, Long Beach.

Julie Ann Baker
PoC Product Manager
Hytera

Julie Ann Baker is the Hytera US Inc. Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) Product Marketing Manager. In this role, she is responsible for product planning and marketing, gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, and analyzing and understanding how PoC product line meets the needs of a variety of vertical markets. Baker has worked in high-tech for Intel Corporation, Microchip Technologies, and Hytera US. Julie Ann has a BSEE and MBA.

The post (Free Webinar) The Complete Guide to Radio Systems for Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

North Providence Schools in Rhode Island is adding video cameras to its school buses to catch motorists who drive past stopped buses and run their stop signs, reported WPRI 12.

A school bus driver from the district, Cynthia Sanchez, told local news reporters that she often sees drivers ignore the stop sign on the side of her bus. Sanchez stated that she often radios dispatch to report a vehicle’s license plate number every time someone runs her red light at 30 mph. Yet nothing changes.

According to the news report, school buses from the district have now been equipped with new cameras to hold those drivers accountable for illegal passing.

Police chief Alfredo Ruggiero told local news reporters that the district received the BusPatrol cameras through a grant. The devices can be found all around the bus, from the stop sign to the windshield.

The cameras begin to record when school bus operators open the loading doors and stop recording when doors close.

According to the article, as of April the town is giving motorists a 30-day grace period to comply with the law by mailing a warning letter. Starting May 1, motorists can face fines between $250 and $500. Their driver’s license could also be suspended for 30 days.

Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Related: Ohio Bill Seeks School Bus Illegal Passing Fine Increase, Safety Fund
Related: Georgia Gov Signs Law Following Fatal Illegal Passing Incident
Related: School Bus Cameras Could Soon Catch Pittsburgh Drivers That Don’t Stop

The post Rhode Island District Adds School Bus Video to Reduce Illegal Passing appeared first on School Transportation News.

We would like to extend our congratulations to this year’s APAC Cleantech 25 awardees. In recent years, we have covered in detail the...

The post Innovation Without Borders: APAC Cleantech 25 and the Global Energy Shift appeared first on Cleantech Group.

BYD has launched a pair of new EVs in China underpinned by its innovative new Super e-Platform. Although BYD seems to release a new EV every other week, the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV are particularly significant because they promise charging times almost on par with filling up an ICE-engined car with gas. If the automaker’s charging speed claims are accurate, the Han L and Tang L could solve one of the last remaining headaches of EV ownership.

The Super e-Platform is a 1000-volt architecture and was only announced back in March. In the case of the Han L sedan, all versions of it use an 83.2 kWh Blade battery, while the Tang L has a larger 100.5 kWh pack. According to BYD, the Han L can charge from 10-70% in just 6 minutes. Yes, that’s not a typo: six minutes. It can also gain 248 miles (400 km) of range in five minutes and takes just 20 minutes to charge the battery from 0-100%.

Read: BYD’s New 1,000 kW EVs Fill Up As Fast As Gas Cars

The Tang L EV also benefits from stupendous charging speeds. It can get 230 miles (370 km) over range in 5 minutes and needs just 30 minutes to charge from 0-100%. Admittedly, these charging speeds can only be achieved when using one of BYD’s new 1,000 kW fast chargers that were also unveiled in March. The company wants to install 4,000 of these chargers across China, but has not provided a timeline of when they’ll be available.

BYD Tang L

Prices for the Tang L start at 219,800 yuan (~$30,000) for the LiDAR Premium model and increase to 239,800 yuan or (~$32,700) for the LiDAR Flagship. Both of these versions have a 671 hp and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) electric motor driving the rear wheels and can travel up to 436 miles (701 km) on a single charge. Those seeking even more performance can opt for the AWD LiDAR Flagship for 279,800 yuan (~$38,100). It has dual electric motors with 778 hp and 373 miles (601 km) of CLTC range.

Three versions of the BYD Tang L have also been announced, and prices vary between 229,800 yuan (~$31,200) and 289,900 yuan (~$39,400). It easily outmuscles the sedan, with the base rear-wheel drive packing 788 hp and the dual-motor AWD version rated at 1,100 hp. Depending on the specification, local media quotes driving ranges between 348 miles (560 km) and 416 miles (670 km).

BYD Han L

Luxury carmakers have long tried to turn their vehicles into lifestyle statements, and Cadillac is leaning all the way in with a dining experience that’s more indulgence than transportation. The all-electric Escalade IQ is already one of the most luxurious SUVs on the market, and now Cadillac wants to show just how plush it really is.

Read: Cadillac Projects EVs Will Make Up 35% Of Its Sales This Year

To do that, the brand is expanding its “Cadillac of Reservations” experience, an upscale backseat dinner where guests are served a high-end meal inside the IQ.

Most of us have probably only ever eaten fast food in our cars, but Cadillac doesn’t expect its customers to chow down on a Big Mac. Instead, it’s partnered with high-end restaurants in Beverly Hills, Miami, and San Francisco, to serve up five-course dinners using the IQ’s stowable tray tables.

It sounds like an odd idea, but there’s something appealing about eating a fancy meal in the back of a Cadillac SUV, with the seats reclined, the massage and heated functions turned out, and the AKG 40-speaker sound system pumping a special song for each dish. It’s certainly much more private than eating at a packed-out restaurant.

The Cadillac of Reservations experience was first launched in New York City with COQODAQ where the restaurant’s famed fried signature was served up. On April 24, April 25, and April 26, the experience moves to Beverly Hills, thanks to La Dolce Vita, an Italian-American restaurant frequented by Hollywood A-listers. There will be just three seatings per night for parties of two, with reservations open through Resy.com later this month.

Next Stops: Miami and San Francisco

Following the Beverly Hills stop, the rolling restaurant heads to Miami in early summer. There, Cadillac teams up with COTE, a restaurant that blends Korean barbecue with American steakhouse style. In late summer, the tour wraps up in San Francisco, where State Bird Provisions will take over the backseat kitchen duties. The restaurant describes itself as adventurous and modern American.

For as perfect as the Cadillac Escalade IQ is to host a premium dining experience, the new Escalade IQL would perhaps be even better as it’s 4.2 inches (107 mm) longer than the standard model.

If you’re still intrigued—and honestly, who wouldn’t be at least a little curious about a five-course meal served in an electric SUV—here’s when you’ll be able to make a reservation:

• For April 24: April 21 HERE
• For April 25: April 22 HERE
• For April 26: April 23 HERE

We bet you’ve never heard of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Chances are, though, that you’ve either heard or read about Foxconn, the Taiwanese tech giant that builds iPhones for Apple – and the former is its official name.

Another thing you’re probably aware of, if you’ve been paying any attention to car-related news, is that tech companies are not content with making smartphones and laptops anymore and are actively engaging in the automotive business now that EVs have taken off. Which, in a way, makes perfect sense as traditional automakers are trying to outdo each other by offering lots of advanced tech in their new vehicles.

Foxconn Ready To Build A Range Of EVs

Since customers are more interested in things like advanced infotainment systems and electrification sort of levels the playing field between newcomers and established players in the car game, the likes of Xiaomi, Huawei, and even Sony decided to take advantage of that.

Foxconn recently made headlines as one of the parties interested in Nissan, which is in serious trouble. The Japanese company though would rather get in bed with fellow manufacturer Honda, but the proposed merger eventually fell through.

Enter Jun Seki, a Foxconn top executive who also happens to be Nissan’s former COO after then CEO Carlos Ghosn was ousted from the company and prosecuted by Japanese authorities. Seki said that Foxconn already has what it takes to build a range of EVs. They will initially be manufactured in Taiwan and shipped around the world, but the company can also produce them locally to cater to each market’s demands.

US-Market EVs Will Be Built Locally

“It is right to make them in the market where they are sold”, Seki said according to Autonews. “But it is inefficient without a certain number of units, so we are making them in Taiwan now as a transitional measure.”

This is a wise strategy, especially when it comes to the US, which is the world’s second biggest market after China. With Trump’s new tariffs shaking up the industry and making imported cars pricier than ever, forcing a number of established brands to suspend their shipments as they scramble to formulate a new strategy, a newcomer with no customer base has no choice but to manufacture its vehicles locally if it wants to be competitive.

Foxconn already builds the Model C midsize crossover that’s sold its home market since December 2023 as the Luxgen N7. Its global expansion, though, will start with the Model B minivan that’ll be launched in Taiwan in the second half of the year and will be sold in Australia with the badges of a Japanese brand that’s believed to be Mitsubishi. However, in the fourth quarter it plans to import the Model C in the US for customers to try out, and in 2027 it will introduce the stylish Model D minivan.

Teaming Up With The Japanese Would Be Ideal

After the negotiations between Honda and Nissan ended, Foxconn reportedly proposed an alliance between itself, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi, touting its expertise in cutting-edge technology as a key advantage for the automakers’ future models.

Seki admitted that Foxconn is working with Mitsubishi, but wouldn’t elaborate on the matter. He did, however, state that Japanese brands make for great partners due to their focus on quality. “Japanese carmakers are careful planners, and we understand that but are also very fast,” Seki said. “We can do things faster while understanding Japanese prudence.”

Moreover, Seki made it clear that Foxconn won’t launch the EVs it will build under its own name. Rather, following the example of its electronics division, it will manufacture them for other brands, just like the iPhone, thus it won’t be seen as a competitor but a valuable partner.

Momentum continues to build for the Shanghai Auto Show as Volkswagen will use the event to introduce three new concepts. They’ll highlight the company’s “In China, for China” strategy and be presented by their Chinese joint ventures.

The company didn’t go into many specifics, but confirmed there will be two crossovers. One will be an EV from Volkswagen Anhui, while the other is a B-segment SUV with a range-extended powertrain from SAIC Volkswagen. Rounding out the lineup is an electric notchback from FAW-Volkswagen.

More: ID. Every1 Concept Previews VW’s Cheapest EV

The teasers aren’t very revealing, but they suggests the models will have slender headlights that are connected by an illuminated bar. That’s not much to go on, but the company said the concepts will embody their new “China DNA – both in terms of technology and design and in relation to development time, which has been cut by more than 30 percent.”

Speaking of the latter, Volkswagen confirmed the concepts preview upcoming production models. These will be launched starting next year.

Volkswagen’s design boss Andreas Mindt said, “We have adapted our established European design values – stability, likability and the ‘secret sauce’ – to the Chinese market. The result is a design philosophy that honors the heritage of our brand while at the same time reflecting the desires and expectations of a new generation of customers in China.”

His sentiments were echoed by Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer who said, “Our aim is to remain the leading international automaker in China. We have everything that it takes to be successful: shorter development times, strong partners, sophisticated local development, production and infrastructure as well as the right products and innovations for our Chinese customers.”

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For years, the idea of an affordable, mass-market electric vehicle has hovered just out of reach—a promised revolution that never quite arrived. That could finally be changing, and not from where you might expect. Henry Ford is credited with making automobiles available to the masses at the beginning of the 20th century. Now, if the latest reports are accurate, Jeff Bezos wants to do the same with electric vehicles.

More: Amazon Could Have Saved Self-Driving Startup Argo AI, But It Backed Out

The $25,000 EV has long been touted as the model that would finally convince buyers to go electric and ditch ICE-powered cars once and for all. Despite all the promises made by various brands, no such thing has materialized yet in the US. However, that may soon change.

Slate Auto: A New Player With Familiar Backing

According to a recent report by TechCrunch, Bezos is investing in Troy, Michigan-based EV startup Slate Auto, which plans to build a two-seat electric truck that will have a $25,000 starting price. The company was founded in 2022 out of the Amazon founder’s investment in another company called Re:Build Manufacturing, and is relatively unknown, especially compared to other high-profile start-ups.

Nevertheless, it has reportedly being hiring a number of employees in Detroit, among them from legacy automakers like GM, Ford, and Stellantis, as well as not-so-successful startups such as Fisker and Canoo. According to its LinkedIn page, as of April 8 it has between 201-500 employees and 334 associated members.

A Throwback-Inspired Future Vehicle

Details about the planned pickup truck understandably remain under wraps, although TechCrunch claims insiders told them it is inspired by affordable icons of the automotive industry like the Ford Model T and the VW Beetle.

More: Elon Musk Calls Jeff Bezos A Copycat After Amazon’s Zoox Acquisition

Elon Musk might have gotten there much earlier, but Bezos also became involved in the electric vehicle space, and Amazon is backing Rivian big time. In fact, it has so far invested more than $1.3 billion into the EV maker, which has signed a deal to supply the retail giant with delivery vans.

It’s not just Amazon that Slate Auto relies on, though, as it reportedly secured at least $111 million in a Series A funding round in 2023. More recently, it told its employees at the end of 2024 that it has also secured Series B investments, although this hasn’t been officially filed with the SEC yet.

Production Plans on the Horizon

Slate Auto intends to commence production of its EV by late 2026. The new model will manufactured at a plant outside Indianapolis, Indiana, although it’s not clear whether it’s an all-new factory or if the brand has purchased an existing facility.

Lead image Amazon

Smart has introduced the #5 Brabus, ahead of its launch at the Shanghai Auto Show later this month. It’s a high-performance electric crossover that will be offered in several markets outside of North America.

Set to become Smart’s range-topper, the #5 Brabus follows in the footsteps of the regular model but adopts unique 21-inch monoblock wheels with a two-tone finish. We can also see red brake calipers, red accents, and a ton of Brabus badging.

More: Smart’s New #5 Compact SUV Isn’t Coming To The US And That’s A Mistake

The interior is high-tech and luxurious, as there’s a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and dual 13-inch displays. Drivers will also find an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with illuminated Brabus lettering.

Elsewhere, there are microfiber and Dinamica seats with red contrast stitching. They sport heating and ventilation up front as well as heating out back.

Rounding out the highlights are a panoramic glass roof, a microfiber headliner, and sporty pedals. Customers will also find red seat belts, a 256-color ambient lighting system, and a 20-speaker Sennheiser Signature audio system with more than 2,000 watts of power.

Smart didn’t release detailed specifications, but confirmed the crossover has a 100 kWh battery pack that feeds an all-wheel drive system with a combined 637 hp (475 kW / 646 PS). This enables the hot Smart to rocket from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.8 seconds and claim a WLTP range of 336 miles (540 km). That’s faster than a BMW M3, and there’s even a Brabus mode featuring simulated engine sounds to “further enhance the driving experience.”

When the battery is low, customers can take advantage of the crossover’s 400 kW DC fast charging capability. It enables the battery to go from a 10% to 80% charge in as little as 18 minutes.

The Smart #5 Brabus will go up for order in Germany on April 24, and pricing starts at €60,900 ($66,850). UK orders are slated to begin in the fourth quarter, although there’s no word on pricing there yet.

Tesla’s sales sank alarmingly in Q1, falling 13 percent to 337,000, a fact that on its own would be enough to make Volkswagen’s German execs crack a wry smile. But what they’ll really have them bro-hugging in Wolfsburg is knowing that Tesla’s misfortune is almost certainly linked to VW posting record EV sales figures over the same period.

Related: Tesla’s European Sales Have Collapsed, Down 45% As EV Market Surges 31%

Sales of fully-electric VW Group vehicles jumped 59 percent in the first three months of the year, reaching 216,800 compared with 136,400 in Q1 2024. By comparison, Tesla reported 336,681 deliveries in the same period, down 13 percent from last year. But even that success is dwarfed by what happened in Europe.

EV Momentum in Europe

EV sales there exploded by 113 percent to 158,100, up from just 74,400 a year earlier, no doubt helped by widespread dislike of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, particularly in Germany, where Musk came out in support of the far-right AfD party. A poll last month found 94 percent of Germans wouldn’t buy a Tesla due to the CEO’s antics. That sentiment appears to be hitting where it hurts: in Q1, Tesla’s sales in Germany plummeted 62 percent compared to the same period last year.

Strong Gains in the US, Trouble in China

US sales also grew significantly, Americans taking home 19,900 EVs, representing a 51 percent increase. But there was bad news from China where EV sales plummeted 37 percent to 25,900 units. And although the global EV sales result is definitely worth celebrating, it ought to be viewed in the context of the sales of vehicles of all power types.

VW GROUP EV SALES

That number did improve, but only by 1.4 percent to 2.13 million units, the decline in demand for combustion cars offset by both the surge in demand for EVs and a 15 percent uptick in PHEV sales. Overall sales in China were down 7 percent, the only region to see a fall.

VW’s Top-Selling EVs

VW’s best-selling EV globally was the ID.4/ID.5, which racked up 43,700 sales, followed by the ID.3 hatch with 28,100 deliveries. Audi’s Q4 e-tron – a reskinned ID.4 – placed third with 22,800 sales, the Skoda Enyaq found 20,200 buyers and VW’s ID.7 scored 19,100 sales.

Porsche’s Macan Electric only ranked seventh with 14,200 sales but since it wasn’t on sale in Q1 2024 its appearance in this year’s Q1 helped Porsche’s EV deliveries jump by 326 percent.

EV SALES BY BRAND

Kia’s EV rollout shows no sign of slowing down, and the automaker isn’t scared to push into segments it’s never played in before, including electric trucks. The Korean company confirmed that it would launch an electric pickup in North America, and it should be here within the next couple of years.

Related: Kia Confirms First Midsize Pickup For America

Trucks are consistently some of the best-selling vehicles in the US, and although Kia doesn’t have any on sale in America, it recently revealed the aesthetically-challenged Tasman that’s already earmarked for sale in Australia, another nation of truck lovers.

Skipping the Tasman, Straight to EV

But it looks like Kia isn’t interested in bringing the Ford Ranger-rivaling Tasman to the US, and will instead jump straight into the electric pickup market with an entirely different truck. We already knew, thanks to a spy video captured last year by Kindel Auto, that an EV was in development, with the prototype showing a more conventional Kia front-end design, and intel suggesting body-on-frame construction.

No details on its size were given today, but Kia CEO Ho Sung Song had previously expressed a desire to sell a mid-size truck to the US – one that would be built in the US, probably at Hyundai’s Georgia plant, to avoid both the older Chicken tax on imported light trucks and Trumps new import tariffs. Hyundai should get its own version of the pickup.

Kia’s statement says the pickup will be built on a new platform and be ‘designed for both urban and outdoor use.’ It described the model as ‘innovative,’ claiming it would have best-in-class interior and cargo space, a ‘robust’ towing system, be capable off road and have advanced media and safety systems.

Big Goals in a Small Market

Kia says its long-term goal is 90,000 annual sales and a 7 percent market share of the overall truck market. Ford only sold 7,187 examples of the F-150 Lightning in Q1, and Tesla shifted fewer than 12,000 Cybertrucks, so Kia is really aiming high with its new electric hauler.

But electric pickup choices are few and far between, and there are literally no options for anyone wanting a midsize or smaller electric truck, meaning Kia could be shooting at an open goal if it gets the thing to market quickly.

But how quickly it’ll come, Kia didn’t say. Based on last year’s spy shots, we’d say a 2026 or 2027 debut looks realistic. We’re hoping it has some of the butch attitude of the new Tasman Weekender revealed this week (pictured below), but we’re still not sure about that face.

Tesla’s Cybertruck rollout has been full of surprises, most of them frustrating. Among the more puzzling was the $16,000 Range Extender, which was supposed to significantly boost the truck’s underwhelming driving range. To reserve it, customers had to put down a $2,000 non-refundable deposit. That’s a lot of money for a product that may no longer exist as the option appears to have now vanished from Tesla’s online configurator.

While there’s been no official statement about the option being scrapped for good, Tesla has a long history of quietly dropping features and adjusting pricing with little to no warning. For anyone who put money down expecting that extra range, this isn’t great news.

Read: Tesla Delays Cybertruck Range Extender Battery To “Mid-2025”

The Range Extender always seemed a little odd. For $16,000, Cybertruck owners could get an auxiliary battery pack that would take up nearly half the truck bed. It was intended for those who found the stock range too limiting, never mind the compromise in utility.

Tesla never publicized the battery capacity of this pack, only promising it would boost the dual motor’s range from 340 miles (547 km) to 445+ miles. It was also going to increase the tri-motor Cybertruck’s range from 320 miles (515 km) to 440 miles (708 km). The company even opened reservations, asking buyers for a $2,000 non-refundable deposit.

Big And Heavy

Some estimates suggested the Range Extender pack would need a capacity of around 47 kWh to bump up the truck’s range so significantly. That’s a similar-sized battery to some small EVs on the market, and the pack may have weighed upwards of 600 lbs (272 kg). If that were the case, it would need to be professionally installed by a Tesla center, and would not be something that owners could easily fit and remove if they were planning any long road trips.

Tesla initially planned to launch the battery in early 2025, but in October last year, it pushed back that launch until mid-2025. That time is now fast approaching, and the Range Extender is nowhere to be seen.

Nissan is plotting its return as a serious contender in the EV space, this time with a new electric vehicle platform aimed at supporting a broader lineup. The architecture could underpin up to five new models, including crossovers, sedans, and possibly even a lightweight pickup truck. In news likely to please American buyers—especially in light of Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports—all of them will be built in the United States.

Read: 25% Tariff Just Killed These Infiniti Models For Americans

Nissan’s product planning chief for the Americas, Ponz Pandikuthira, says the new platform will focus on compact and adjacent segments, laying the groundwork for more efficient and accessible EVs. It’s designed to accommodate the company’s next-generation electric motors and will use more affordable lithium-ion battery packs, promising faster charging times compared to what Nissan currently offers.

“The platform’s versatility and Nissan’s factory capacity in the US open the door to partnership opportunities with another OEM to lower manufacturing costs,” Pandikuthira told Auto News . Such a collaboration could allow Nissan and a potential partner to share development costs and scale production more effectively

Crossovers Take Priority

The Japanese company had initially planned to launch two all-electric sedans using this new platform to replace the Maxima and Altima. However, due to market demands, it’s changed its plans, and the platform will now debut beneath the skin of two crossovers from Nissan and Infiniti. Pandikuthira told Autonews that at least one of these models would launch in 2028, but demand will dictate if the Nissan model or the Infiniti is released first.

“The C-segment in the crossover space is the ideal starting point for us,” Pandikuthira said. “As a brand, it’s also our strength.”

Both crossovers will be assembled at Nissan’s plant in Canton, Mississippi. The Nissan-branded crossover is said to have a “brawny” shape with similarities to the Xterra crossover, whereas the Infiniti will adopt a more refined styling.

Is an Electric Pickup Coming?

There’s also talk of a compact electric pickup. While the project hasn’t been green-lit yet, Nissan is considering a unibody construction and a possible market entry around 2030. It would target what Pandikuthira describes as a growing segment of buyers looking for capable yet eco-conscious lifestyle vehicles.

“There’s a growing niche of people who want an adventure vehicle but are environmentally conscious and don’t want to take a V-8 off into the woods,” he said. “Do you have 100,000 of those willing to buy a Nissan electric truck? Doubtful. But that segment could grow, and we are keeping an eye on that.”

EV Sedans Still in Limbo

As for the remaining vehicles planned for the platform, Nissan is less certain. The company acknowledges that its strategy around electric sedans remains unsettled. Launching an affordable one could prove difficult, and premium sedans don’t align with Nissan’s core brand positioning.

“Premium sedans are not our niche,” Pandikuthira admitted. “If the [electric] sedans start at $45,000-plus … you’re not in the core of the sedan market anymore.”

With demand for electric sedans lagging, Nissan may keep the current Altima in production through the end of 2027, even though it was originally scheduled to be discontinued this year.