For years, alongside valid concerns about driving range, charging speeds, and infrastructure, buyers who choose not to go electric have often cited the high price of EVs as a major factor. But a new study shows that electric vehicles are more affordable than ever, with inflation-adjusted prices dropping by a solid 25 percent since 2018.

In fact, according to a report by industry analysts Jato Dynamics, the drop in EV prices has brought the gap between electric and combustion cars to its narrowest point yet. The difference stood at around 50 percent in the US until 2021, then the arrival of a glut of new EVs and aggressive price cuts by Tesla narrowed it to 33 percent in 2022. Last year it was just 15 percent.

Related: EV Prices Could Match Gas Cars By 2026, If Governments Don’t Ruin It

Those US figures are not necessarily representative of the car buying experience across the world. In some markets the closing of the gap isn’t only down to EVs costing less than they used to, but because combustion cars cost so much more in real terms than they previously did. In Europe the price gap between EVs and combustion vehicles was 27 percent in 2021 and actually climbed to 29 percent in 2023 before dropping back to 22 percent last year.

But any notions that American EV buyers are getting a great deal and their Euro cousins are getting stiffed disappears when you factor in the situation in China. Compared to Chinese drivers, European and American EV buyers are both being shafted.

Powertrain Price Changes 2018 to 2024 (Inflation Adjusted)

Take the Polestar 4 Dual Motor, which cost $62,900 in the US, or the equivalent of €59,452 at the time Jato complied its report. True, that looks good value next to the €79,424 British drivers are charged and the €69,300 being asked in the Eurozone. But the same EV costs just €52,190 (¥399,000) in China.

More: VW ID.7 Launches In China At Nearly Half The Price It Costs In Germany

Other comparisons between the four regions are made more difficult because the US doesn’t take many of the same cars. But a look at the table below shows UK drivers are paying in some cases more than twice as much as their Chinese counterparts for the exact same car built in the same factory.

Price Comparison For Identical EVs

Jeep dealers were already offering discounts on the Wagoneer S ahead of launch, so perhaps it’s not surprising we’re in fire sale territory now that units are trickling into showrooms. While this should be a win for consumers, the model is still seriously expensive.

Without further ado, we’ll introduce you to M&L Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Lexington, North Carolina which has a $12,409 discount on their 2024 Wagoneer S Launch Edition. This lowers the price from $72,590 to a far more palatable $60,181.

More: Electric Jeep Wagoneer S Already Getting Dealer Discounts Of Up To $3,000

Even Michigan’s notorious LaFontaine Automotive Group, which had a $16,600 markup on a Ford Maverick, has a $9,615 discount on their Launch Edition. This drops the price to $62,380.

It’s a similar story in Lexington, Kentucky where Freedom Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has a $10,000 discount on their electric crossover. The dealer also notes the $62,590 price doesn’t include a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Missouri’s Mayse Automotive has a big banner on their Wagoneer S proclaiming it’s “$10,000 Off MSRP!” However, they’ve apparently raised the price as the model only has a $7,000 discount as of this writing.

Those are just a handful of examples, but we found over 200 Wagoneer S’ being offered below MSRP. We can’t say we’re surprised as the electric crossover starts at $70,795 before a $1,795 destination fee. To put that number into perspective, the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT starts at $54,995 and has a $1,995 destination fee.

While the Wagoneer S appears to be massively overpriced, it offers some pretty good specs. In particular, it has a 100.5 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS) and 617 lb-ft (836 Nm) of torque. This enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.4 seconds, which is just a tenth of a second slower than the $79,990 Cadillac Lyriq-V.

Electric vehicles can now last just as long and often be more reliable than comparable ICE cars. That’s the conclusion of a new multi-national study conducted by researchers from the University of Birmingham and the London School of Economics (LSE), which analyzed over 300 million records, including data from 30 million cars.

Published in the journal Nature Energy, the findings are an interesting indication of just how far EV technology has come. Even so, the researchers caution that further study is needed to fully understand the long-term potential of these vehicles.

The study leveraged anonymized MOT test data from Great Britain for its main data set. This enabled the researchers to look at records from 2005 through 2022. Those records are detailed enough that they could infer when a car’s life ended and what type of powertrain each one used.

More: Are EVs Safer Than ICEs? Australian Crash Safety Body Has The Answer

In short, the peer-reviewed study found that early EVs struggled to last as long as ICE cars but at this point, they’ve already caught up. “While BEVs represent a newer technology that was traditionally less reliable, they have rapidly evolved, with the latest BEVs expected to outlast the average ICEVs within the same cohort,” the study said.

Faster Gains for EVs Than ICE Cars

One of the standout findings from the research is how quickly battery electric vehicles have improved in terms of reliability. The study found that, for every year of production, the likelihood of failure dropped by 12%, a figure that’s notably higher than the 6.7% improvement for gas engine vehicles and a mere 1.9% for diesels. In other words, if you’re considering a BEV, the chances of it not breaking down are dramatically higher with each newer model, making those early EV hiccups seem like a distant memory.

Co-author Dr Viet Nguyen-Tien from the LSE, said: “Our findings provide critical insights into the lifespan and environmental impact of electric vehicles. No longer just a niche option, BEVs are a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles – a significant step towards achieving a net-zero carbon future.”

Co-author Robert Elliott, Professor of Economics at Birmingham University, addd: “BEVs offer significant environmental benefits, especially as Europe switches to a more renewable energy mix. Despite higher initial emissions from production, a long-lasting electric vehicle can quickly offset its carbon footprint, contributing to the fight against climate change – making them a more sustainable long-term option.”

How Do Modern EVs Compare?

To quantify the progress, the researchers provided some hard numbers. A modern BEV now boasts an average lifespan of 18.4 years and can cover 124,000 miles (200,000) before calling it quits. This mileage not only matches but surpasses the average for petrol-powered cars.

For comparison, petrol cars typically have a slightly longer lifespan, averaging 18.7 years, but they cover fewer miles, around 116,000 (187,000 km) on average. Diesel cars, by contrast, have a shorter lifespan of 16.3 years but compensate with significantly higher mileage, often reaching about 255,000 miles (410,000 km) before retiring. These, of course, are averages, so, as the saying goes, your mileage may vary—yes, we know about your Japanese SUV that’s sailed past 300,000 miles without a hiccup.

Challenges Ahead

At the same time, they acknowledge that the community needs to continue researching the topic. For one thing, we’re still somewhat in the early days of the EV transition. We still don’t know how modern mainstream EVs will fare 20 or 30 years down the road.

In addition, battery replacement costs are still exponentially higher than similar component replacements in ICE cars. Finally, the researchers admit that some of the data included by the MOT could be faulty or flawed because of how they are recorded. In any case, it’s interesting to see that EVs are making the type of rapid progress needed to put them into the same realm as ICE-powered vehicles on the road today. 

Image Credit: Nature Energy

By the end of this year, Rivian plans to roll out a hands-free autonomous driving system in its vehicles, with an even more advanced eyes-off system following in 2026. If it pulls this off, the company will join a growing list of automakers offering systems that aim to ease the burden on drivers—assuming, of course, they don’t hit too many roadblocks along the way.

While speaking at a press roundtable in San Francisco, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe emphasized that Level 2 and Level 3 systems will provide significant value for customers. The brand’s current Rivian Autonomy Program offers semi-autonomous features, including radar cruise control and automatic lane centering, but it still falls short of Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise and Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems.

Read: Rivian Offers Up To $6,000 Off If You Request A Trade-In Estimate

“We think there’s an enormous amount of value to customers, to having a robust first level two, but importantly, level three in very specific domains,” Scaringe said during the event, according to InsideEVs. “Imagine a world where you leave your house, you’re still in the vehicle, but you get to the highway, and you have all of your time…. You don’t have to be looking at the road. You don’t have to be grabbing the wheels to say, ‘I’m still here.’ The vehicle [will be] capable of doing that.”

Systems could be added to the upcoming R2 and R3 series

Scaringe added that Rivian is “highly focused on” launching the hands-free driving array in 2025 before following it up with an eyes-off, Level 3 system in 2026. Mercedes-Benz is the only car manufacturer currently offering an approved Level 3 system in some states in the USA, known as Drive Pilot. While it’s a highly effective system, the driver must be ready to take control at all times.

Rivian’s current R1T and R1S models use 11 cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors to enable the various driver assistance functions. It’s possibly that only the recently-updated 2025 R1T and R1S models will get the new Level 2 and Level 3 systems rather than the company’s previous EVs. Other future models, like the smaller R2 and R3, could also launch with these trick self-driving systems.

Four automakers from Europe and China have joined forces to challenge EU tariffs on cars imported to the region from China. BMW, BYD, Geely, and SAIC all lodged complaints on Tuesday this week, just one day before the deadline.

The quartet is objecting to the tariffs set last year following an investigation by the European Commission into Chinese state aid in the Chinese car industry, Reuters reports. The panel concluded that available aid gave some automakers an unfair financial advantage when selling cars in Europe.

Related: China Hits EU With WTO Lawsuit Over EV Tariffs

Investigators said the help came in many forms, ranging from cheap loans to subsidized batteries, and because some automakers got more help than others, or were less transparent with the probe, the tariff amounts vary.

BYD cars were hit with a relatively low 17 percent rate, though that is on top of the standard 10 percent import duty for goods to the EU. Geely’s cars attract an 18.8 percent tariff and SAIC took both barrels, being blasted with a 35.3 percent tariff.

But what’s the deal with BMW? Although the tariffs on the Chinese automakers could help sales of its BMW-branded cars, they’re a big problem for Mini. The combustion Mini is still built at the Oxford plant in the UK but the new electric Cooper hatch and Aceman SUV are both produced in China. UK builds are coming, but not until 2026, which is why the US launch of each model has been postponed.

There have been no reports of other European carmakers who build cars in China and then export them to the UK, such as VW Group’s Cupra brand, also logging legal challenges to the tariffs. But even Mercedes, which doesn’t import Chinese-built EVs to Europe, has previously come out against the tariffs.

Several Chinese companies have been looking at ways to sidestep the duties by building their EVs in or close to Europe. Chery is already building cars at an old Nissan plant in Spain, BYD has plans to build factories in Hungary and Turkey, and earlier this month we reported that Chinese officials were interested in taking factories VW no longer needs, in part due to a downturn in its China sales operation.

Not too long ago, the Tesla Cybertruck was the must-have toy for America’s tech-obsessed wealthy, the kind of vehicle that promised to revolutionize trucks as we knew them Flash forward to early 2025, and one has been left abandoned in a Los Angeles parking lot, looking less like the future of automotive design and more like a forgotten relic of yesterday’s hype.

This particular Cybertruck appears to have been left in an LA parking lot sometime in the second week of January, where it’s clearly been sitting for several days. It seems like Tesla’s darling didn’t just lose its shine; it also got badly burned—literally. The truck has suffered significant fire damage, and almost every inch of it has since been vandalized with graffiti.

Read: Seattle’s Viral Tesla Cybertruck Heads To Auction After Months Of Internet Fame

While Cybertruck fans will probably hate seeing one in this state, I’d argue this wrecked example looks somehow better than a stock one. It almost resembles like an obscure piece of art, resting in an urban grave surrounded by high-rises, as if to represent the failures of modern-day life and capitalism. Or, perhaps we’re just reading a little too much into it…

Regardless, the damage done to the Tesla is extensive. It appears the initial fire started around the dashboard before spreading across much of the truck’s driver-side front corner. The frunk appears to have been cut open (probably by firefighters doing their thing), a tire has exploded, and part of the plastic aero disc has melted. There’s no word on whether the truck spontaneously combusted or perhaps if it was the victim of an arson attack.

It hasn’t taken long for local vandals to start tagging the truck with text like ‘Aso’ and ‘Beler.’ We have no idea what they mean – but in any case, it’s a sad thing to see a car, even one as divisive as the Cybertruck, in such a sorry state.

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A post shared by Miguel Osuna (@mi6uel_osuna)

Genesis isn’t content with simply building luxury models for the Hyundai Motor Group and has released some fabulous one-offs and concept cars in recent years. Soon after it unveiled a special GV80 off-roader at the Dakar Rally, it’s gone from sand to snow after revealing the GV60 Mountain Intervention Vehicle Concept.

Introduced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this wild creation is based on the road-going GV60. It’s been equipped with huge snow tracks instead of wheels and while the brand hasn’t detailed the full extent of the mechanical modifications made to the EV, it’s safe to say some significant changes had to be made to the suspension to support these tracks.

Read: 2026 Genesis GV60 Magma Debuts This Fall With Over 640 HP

The upgrades made to the GV60’s body make it look fitting of a starring role in the next James Bond film. Just imagine, the British spy driving this thing through the snow, desperately fleeing from his enemies. These include carbon fiber fender flares and the fitment of skid plates at the front and rear. Genesis has also added new driving lamps to the front grille and a light bar on a custom roof rack.

The cabin of this crossover is also quite special. It’s been fitted with new sport seats and carries all the necessary medical supplies and communication systems needed for mountain rescues.

While using an EV in freezing conditions far away from any serious charging infrastructure may not seem like the best idea, the GV60’s vehicle-to-load system could be useful, allowing it to power auxiliary devices.

Last year, Genesis unveiled another special concept for the World Economic Forum. It was dubbed the X Snow Speedium Concept and built on the standard X Speedium Concept shown previously, adding a lovely shade of white and a roof rack to carry skis.

Obviously, the new GV60 Mountain Intervention Vehicle Concept will not spawn a production model, but it’s interesting to see how far Genesis can take the electric crossover.

Cracking into the trucking business is no easy feat, just ask Nikola. Not only was its founder and former CEO Trevor Milton convicted of fraud in 2022 and sentenced to four years in prison, but the company has so far failed to make a positive name for itself – despite spending years developing some interesting electric trucks. Now, it’s being reported that parts or all of Nikola could be sold.

Unnamed sources toll Bloomberg that Nikola is in financial trouble and needs a savior. While a final decision has yet to be made by management, it’s possible the company could be sold, or it may need to bring on new partners. It’s also possible it could be forced to raise new funds.

More: Canoo Goes Bust With Less Than $50,000 Left And Millions In Debt

Nikola shares have lost roughly 95% of their value over the past 12 months, and the firm desperately needs to turn things around. Current chief executive Steve Girsky is said to be leading the effort to save it from the cash crunch. In October, Nikola said it only had enough cash to fund its obligations through the first quarter of 2025. At the same time, Girsky noted that Nikola was “actively talking to lots of potential different partners who value what we do and value what we’ve built,” Bloomberg reports.

“Despite external headwinds in the EV sector, we have been relentlessly working to raise capital, reduce our liabilities, preserve cash and provide excellent service for our customers,” the company added in a recent statement.

Read: Sparks Fly After Disgraced Founder Picks ‘Diesel Brothers’ Star For Nikola Board

Since Milton was axed by the company he created, the company has continued to produce its battery-electric and hydrogen-electric (FCEV) trucks. It’s been led by Girsky since August 2023 and has had to make several recalls over the past couple of years. In July 2023, it was revealed one of Nikola’s trucks reignited roughly a month after previously being damaged during a fire at a parking lot in its Arizona headquarters.

A few hours ago, Audi revealed a brand-new concept at its Facebook page. Dubbed the Q6 e-tron Offroad, it is the German automaker’s take on how a capable off-roader should look.

From the sole picture we have of its exterior, we can see that the concept is based on the Q6 Sportback e-tron, with very slim headlights at the top of the front end, although it differentiates itself with slim running lights further down the bumper and quad-LED lights that, we presume, were added to emphasize its off-road character. The same applies to the immensely wide wheel arches that house dark alloy wheels with beefy off-road tires and, at least from what we can see, a much longer suspension travel than the regular model.

More: Audi Confirms New Q3, A7, And PHEVs For 2025

Unfortunately, there’s no official press release at this moment, so all the information we have comes from Audi’s very laconic post. What it reveals is that it is fully electric (no surprise there) and it sports all-wheel drive (ditto), as well as “newly developed” portal axles (they didn’t care to elaborate on that).

All that, and the obviously high ground clearance, should make it quite capable off the beaten path, although Audi is keen to stress that it’s a concept and not a production vehicle. Nevertheless, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t spawn a road-going version sometime in the future, given the increased popularity of hardcore off-roaders, but truth be told, we wouldn’t bet on it.

Then again, there’s always the chance that it was developed with Dakar and rally-raid racing in mind – possibly in the new Stock category which demands that entries are not bespoke creations but rather based on production cars. Land Rover has already announced that it will compete in 2026 with a racer based on the 626 hp Defender Octa, and other manufacturers are expected to follow suit. However, the long stages in rally-raid events might pose quite a challenge for an all-electric car going flat-out, which would certainly make it even more interesting if Audi decides to race with one.

For what it’s worth, the Q6 Sportback e-tron quattro features a dual-motor setup with 383 hp (285 kW / 388 PS) that’s enough to propel it from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds and go up to 395 miles (636 km) on a single charge. Given the concept’s extreme nature, though, we wouldn’t be surprised if it is actually based on the 510 hp (380 kW / 517 PS) SQ6 Sportback e-tron, which can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.3 seconds, reach a 143 mph (230 km/h) to speed, and travel 377 miles (607 km) between charges.

In any case, we expect a full release, hopefully including technical specs, to come out at some point, and will update this story accordingly, so stay tuned.

Tesla’s refreshed Model Y, the world’s bestselling EV, is getting ready for its US launch. Just weeks after its international unveiling, the new Model Y Launch Series has appeared on Tesla’s website with a starting price of $59,990, excluding federal and state tax credits or delivery fees. While the outgoing Model Y remains available, this Launch Series edition comes fully loaded with every option as standard.

Read: 2025 Tesla Model Y Debuts With Cybercab Looks And Turn Signal Stalks

US deliveries have been penciled in for March, with the Launch Series offering the Long Range All-Wheel Drive powertrain and Tesla’s Acceleration Boost right out of the box. Exclusive to this edition are features like a unique badge, puddle lights and Launch Series branding on the wireless chargers. More notably, Full Self-Driving (FSD) is included at no additional cost, with all other upgrades, such as exterior and interior colors, a tow hitch, and larger wheels, are being offered as a no-cost options.

Price Breakdown: What You’re Getting

Factoring in the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, the new Model Y’s price falls to $52,490. For comparison, the outgoing Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive starts at $47,990, or $40,490 after the credit, which President Trump has previously indicated he will scrap.

While the Launch Series is pricier than the old equivalent model, it offers both 19- and 20-inch wheels as standard, whereas the old model’s 20-inch shoes are a $2,000 option. Additionally, the four color options – Stealth Grey, Pearl White Multi-Coat, Ultra Red, and Quicksilver – come at no extra cost. Interestingly, the new Glacier Blue color is not available in this edition.With the exception of the no-cost Stealth Grey, these colors command $1,000 and $2,000 premiums on the old Model Y. A steel tow bar can also be added at no extra charge, allowing the new EV to tow up to 3,500 lbs (1,587 kg).

It’s Actually $4,000 Cheaper Than Before

If you were to equip the pre-facelift Model Y Long Range AWD with all those options—Quicksilver or Ultra Red paint at $2,000, 20″ Induction Wheels at $2,000, a Tow Hitch at $1,000, a White Interior at $1,000, Acceleration Boost at $2,000, and Full Self-Driving (FSD) at $8,000—you’d spend $16,000 more than the base price.

That brings the total to $63,990 for the older Model Y, which is $4,000 higher than the new Launch Edition. In this scenario, the Launch Edition would actually save you money, but only if you had planned to add all those upgrades anyway.

The Tech Details

The Model Y Launch Series has an estimated range of 320 miles (515 km). In typical Tesla fashion, there is no mention of horsepower or torque figures, but we know the EV can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.1 seconds (with a rollout), thanks to the standard Acceleration Boost, and it reaches a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h).

By comparison, the outgoing Long Range All-Wheel Drive model without the Acceleration Boost offers a slightly lower EPA range of 311 miles (500 km) and takes 4.8 seconds to hit 60 mph. Interestingly, it outpaces the new model in top speed, reaching 135 mph (217 km/h)—a 10 mph advantage.

As with the new Model Y launched in international markets, the US-spec model arrives with all of the same visual updates and interior improvements. Among the most significant upgrades are a new 15.4-inch infotainment display, redesigned seats with a ventilated function up front, and an overhauled dashboard with configurable ambient lighting. North American buyers will also get the turn signal stalks found on international models.

Tesla also says the new Model Y in the US gets the same retuned suspension as other markets, boosting comfort and providing better steering response.

The rest of the range, including the standard Rear Wheel

Y pic.twitter.com/Dnr4IxVujb

— Tesla (@Tesla) January 24, 2025

Last fall, General Motors and Hyundai announced they were exploring a partnership focused on joint product development, manufacturing, and future clean energy technologies. Specifics were few and far between, but the ultimate goal was to “reduce costs and bring a wider range of vehicles and technologies to customers faster.”

Fast forward to today and Reuters is reporting Hyundai could supply electric commercial vehicles to GM. The announcement was made during an earnings call, where Hyundai Chief Financial Officer Lee Seung Jo said “We are considering re-badging our commercial EVs and supplying GM… The deal will pave the way for our entry into the North American commercial vehicle market.”

More: GM And Hyundai Want To Make Cars Together

Officials didn’t go into specifics, but discussions presumably revolve around the ST1 or PBV family of products, which includes the PV5 van. While Ford and Ram offer large commercial vans, GM has the ancient Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana. BrightDrop was also recently folded into Chevrolet, giving them large commercial vehicles that start at $77,900 and offer up to 614.7 cubic feet (17,406 liters) of cargo room.

A tie-up with Hyundai would enable them to offer something smaller and presumably more affordable, which could tackle rival vans such as the Ford E-Transit, Mercedes eSprinter, and Ram Promaster EV. It’s also worth mentioning that GM has a history of van partnerships and offered a rebadged Nissan NV200 as the Chevrolet City Express.

There’s no word on when we might see badge engineered Hyundai vans, but the company aims to sign binding agreements in the first quarter of this year.

In other news, the company reportedly announced it will build hybrids at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia. The facility currently builds the Ioniq 5 and will make the Ioniq 9 starting later this year.

Speaking of U.S. production, Hyundai will use its American plants to help minimize costs from possible tariffs applied by President Trump. However, it’s too early to say what the impact could be.

From being dogged by a data leak scandal last month to facing the ire of US dealers who want a piece of the Scout pie, it’s been a challenging few weeks for the Volkswagen Group. Let’s not forget that the brand enters 2025, reeling from layoffs as the company attempts to plug an overcapacity crisis in a bid to secure VW’s long-term future.

Things do seem bleak for the second-largest auto manufacturer in the world. Perhaps it was always going to get worse before it got better. And Volkswagen AG realizes that it’s on track to be penalized by some truly monumental fines from the European Union.

A $1.6 Billion Bill Is Coming

Speaking to analysts on a call on Wednesday, VW’s head of investor relations, Rolf Woller, spoke about potential penalties for exceeding the EU’s emissions targets. The company estimates that, if they are to fail in meeting those targets, they’ll be landed with a 1.5 billion Euro ($1.6 billion at current exchange rates) bill.

Read: VW Slashes Manager Bonuses By 10% For Two Years, Plans More Cuts Through 2030

And it’s looking increasingly likely that they won’t be able to meet the EU’s target. Volkswagen didn’t launch any new EVs last year, nor will they offer anything this year. Instead, we’ll have to wait until 2026 until the new ID.2 makes an appearance. Bloomberg relates how Woller also spoke on VW’s shrinking bottom line, which is further eroded by VW having to sell more EVs at the expense of more profitable combustion-engine models.

Meanwhile, demand for EVs across Europe is waning. Despite the increase in electric vehicle sales across the globe, the slowdown in segment growth hasn’t been as anticipated, with key regions such as Germany and Italy slashing EV subsidies. Meanwhile, VW’s existing battery-powered offerings are facing stiff competition from cheaper Chinese alternatives.

Manufacturers Ask The EU To Be Lenient

VW isn’t the only company that has raised the alarm over the European Union’s strict emissions targets. Earlier this year, some of the world’s largest automakers announced they wanted to pool their EU emissions with Tesla in a bid to avoid the proposed fines.

More: Toyota, Stellantis, Ford, And Mazda May Pay Tesla $1 Billion To Avoid EU Emissions Fines

According to documents released by the EU Commission, Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Stellantis, Subaru, and Leapmotor intend to create a ‘Superpool’ with Tesla. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz is looking to pool with Smart, Volvo, and Polestar. As of now, VW hasn’t announced any plans to pool with any other manufacturer’s fleets.

For a company that is undergoing some fairly intense restructuring under CEO Oliver Blume, the looming bill from the European Union comes at a somewhat inopportune time. Either way, analysts will be keen to observe how the industrial giant that is Volkswagen AG tackles the next two years.

If you’re on the fence about picking your next new car, safety is likely a significant consideration. And if you’re thinking about switching to an EV from an ICE, you may wonder just how much safer (or riskier) electric cars are over their combustion counterparts. It’s precisely this question that the folks over at ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) have been trying to answer, and the results may be surprising.

Armed with data from their own crash tests, ANCAP has ruled that, yes, EVs score proportionally higher on crash tests than ICE vehicles. But that comes with a caveat: namely, the operative phrase being “proportionally higher.”

Read: These Two Cars Managed To Earn A Shocking Zero-Star Safety Rating

Put simply, there are 57 EVs that have been tested by ANCAP, with only six of those falling short of the maximum score. But when it comes to ICEs, the pool is larger: of 117 combustion-powered cars, 18 fail to get full marks.

While statistically there are more five-star EVs than five-star ICE cars that have been tested (around 89 percent vs 85 percent), the difference isn’t that great. There are a few other factors to consider too. Firstly, most electric vehicles are relatively new models. Newer cars equals newer safety tech, which can often swing it in these tests. In addition, most of the EVs that are tested feature a higher MSRP, and will naturally come loaded to the rafters with crash protection.

Meanwhile, fighting in the ICE pool are cheaper entry-level cars that have fallen short of ANCAPs tests, with the Mahindra Scorpio, MG5 (zero stars each), and Suzuki Swift (one star). Three star ICE cars like the Hyundai i30 Sedan, MG3, Jeep Gladiator, and Jeep Wrangler failed to help the cause.

Meanwhile, there are no zero-, one-, or two-star awarded EVs on sale in Australia and New Zealand. The lowest you can get are four star examples, specifically the BMW i4, Hyundai Kona Electric, Fiat 500e, Opel Mokka and Citroen C4 (the last two only on sale in NZ). The sole three-star EV on sale down under is the Jeep Avenger.

Speaking to Drive, ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said that the disparity seen between EVs and ICEs isn’t that big when it comes to overall safety. But when it comes to price, with EVs being more expensive, it just doesn’t make sense to sell a low-scoring electric car: “I would say there’s also probably a factor of play there where… how are you going to go from a sales perspective if you’re bringing a one-star EV into Australia – it’s an expensive product.”

Tesla has just delivered some unwelcome news for Canadian buyers—steep price hikes are coming across nearly its entire lineup. The sharpest increase targets the Model 3 Performance, which will soon cost CA$9,000 (equal to US$6,200 at current exchange rates) more. Curiously, the Cybertruck remains the lone Tesla unaffected by these changes.

The updated prices, now reflected on Tesla’s Canadian website, will officially take effect on February 1, 2025. For prospective buyers, this means there’s a tight window to lock in current prices before the increases hit.

A Closer Look at the Price Hikes

The Model 3 takes the brunt of these adjustments, with price increases ranging from CA$4,000 to CA$9,000 (US$2,800 to US$6,300) depending on the trim. For example, the cost of the Model 3 Performance will rise from CA$70,990 (US$49,400) to a hefty CA$79,990 (US$55,600).

More: Trump Could Hit Canada And Mexico With Tariffs By Feb. 1, Driving Car Prices Up Thousands

Meanwhile, the Model Y, Model S, and Model X are set to experience a flat CA$4,000 (US$2,800) increase across all trims. Despite these adjustments, the Cybertruck maintains its current pricing, with the top-tier “Cyberbeast” model remaining Tesla’s most expensive offering at CA$165,990 (US$115,400).

What’s Behind the Price Changes?

Tesla hasn’t offered a direct explanation for the price increases, but the February 1 date coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Canadian goods entering the U.S. starting that same day. In response, the Canadian government has indicated plans to impose similar tariffs on U.S. imports. Whether Tesla’s timing is a preemptive move or mere coincidence remains unclear.

Read: Toyota World’s Most Valuable Car Brand, Tesla Falls To 4th Over Aging Cars, Musk

As reported by local website Drive Tesla Canada, Tesla increased prices of all Model 3 and Model Y trims by CA$1,000 (US$ 700) just over a week ago. Furthermore, Canada’s federal incentive program that slashed EV prices by CA$ 5,000 (US$ 3,500) has been discontinued, although the increased prices of Tesla models would make them ineligible anyway.

Below you can see the price change for every Tesla model in Canada, effective February 1st, 2025.

CANADIAN PRICES

Cadillac’s electrification journey is entering a new phase as the company has introduced the first fully electric V-Series. We’re talking about the 2026 Lyriq-V and it’s the quickest road-going Cadillac ever created.

Jumping right into the numbers, the high-performance crossover has a 102 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing an estimated 615 hp (459 kW / 624 PS) and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque. Those numbers carryover from the three-row Vistiq, but the Lyriq-V weighs 346 lbs (156.9 kg) less, as it tips the scales at 5,980 lbs (2,713 kg).

More: Cadillac Aims To Become America’s Best-Selling Luxury EV Brand In 2025

This enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in approximately 3.3 seconds in Velocity Max mode. That makes it the quickest Cadillac, as it’s a tenth of a second faster than the CT5-V Blackwing.

Unfortunately, the performance comes at a cost as the range is an estimated 285 miles (459 km). That’s quite a bit less than other all-wheel drive Lyriqs, which have EPA ranges of 303 and 319 miles (488 and 513 km).

When the battery is low, a DC fast charger can deliver up to 75 miles (121 km) of range in as little as 10 minutes. At home, a 7.7 kW AC charger gives up to 19 miles (31 km) per hour, while an 11.5 kW charger increases that to 27 miles (43 km) per hour. The available 19.2 kW charger is even better as it delivers up to 44 miles (71 km) of range per hour.

Performance upgrades extend beyond the powertrain as engineers installed a quicker steering ratio and a lowered multi-link suspension with continuous damping control. During a media briefing earlier this month, Lyriq-V chief engineer Dave Stutzman told us the changes allow for comfort as well as “confidence and control” for spirited driving.

The performance features don’t end there as the model has Launch Control and a customizable V-Mode. They’re joined by a Competitive Mode, which enables a “suite of traction management features specifically engineered to increase vehicle agility.”

When it comes time to stop, Brembo front brakes are called into action. They measure 15.35 inches (390 mm), which makes them nearly 2.8 inches (71 mm) larger than the discs found on the standard model. Besides the beefier brakes, the Lyriq-V offers red calipers with a V-Series logo.

Part of what makes a V-Series so special is the sound it makes. For the Lyriq-V, Cadillac created a “unique, multi-layered sound experience” that can be heard inside and out. During the briefing, officials said some elements were borrowed from their LMDh race car and noted the sound can ‘move around’ the cabin by using speakers in various locations. It will be interesting to hear what Cadillac has come up with but, if it doesn’t float your boat, you can shut it off.

A Slightly More Aggressive Design

Styling changes are relatively minor, but the Lyriq-V is distinguished by a unique front fascia and a revised intake with a mesh insert. They’re joined by sportier side skirts and additional body-color trim.

Designers also gave the model a unique chin spoiler as well as V-Series badges on the rear doors and tailgate. Customers can further up the ante with carbon fiber accents and an exclusive Magnus Metal Frost paint job.

The crossover rides on 22-inch wheels that have a dark finish as well as an etched V-Series logo. They’re wrapped in summer-only performance tires, but all-seasons are also available.

A Classy Cabin With Sporty Touches

The Lyriq’s interior has been highly praised and the performance variant doesn’t mess with success. However, drivers will be greeted by a unique steering wheel that features a V-Series logo as well as an aluminum Regen On Demand paddle. They’re accompanied by special front seats and upholstery.

A 33-inch display is the star attraction and it sports a ‘V-ified’ infotainment experience. Buyers will also find paperwood trim and illuminated V-Series door sill plates. The model will also become the first Cadillac to have a dual-plane augmented reality head-up display. Rounding out the highlights are a fixed panoramic glass roof, Super Cruise, and a 23-speaker AKG audio system.

Arrives Later This Year For Less Than $80,000

The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V will be built in Spring Hill, Tennessee and production will begin in the first quarter of this year. Pricing starts at $79,990 including destination, which sounds like a pretty good deal considering the all-wheel drive Lyriq begins at $64,115. The model is also significantly cheaper than the Tesla Model X Plaid, which starts at $94,990 but offers better range and performance.

Polestar is a relatively young player in the automotive industry. Launched as a standalone brand by Volvo and its parent company, Chinese auto giant Geely in 2017, it has spent the past eight years trying to establish itself while missing several sales targets along the way. In August 2024, Polestar appointed a new CEO, Michael Lohscheller, to help steer the company toward profitability.

Now, Lohscheller has an interesting (to say the least) plan: he wants to win over Tesla customers who are fed up with Elon Musk’s politics.

Musk has been at the center of multiple controversies, many of his own making. Very recent events aside, he’s polarized consumers with his support of President Donald Trump. On top of that, he’s made his opinion of politics in other nations well known too. In December of 2024, for example, he openly endorsed Germany’s far-right AfD party, while he has also made some controversial comments concerning the political landscape in the UK.

More: Polestar Pins Turnaround Hopes On Porsche Macan-Sized SUV

Lohscheller thinks this might play into the hands of Polestar. Speaking to Bloomberg News, he said that, “We get a lot of people writing that they don’t like all this. It’s important to listen closely to what they say. And I can tell you, a lot of people have very, very negative sentiments.” In fact, he was even more willing to condemn Musk’s support of the AfD.

“For Germany, somebody outside of Germany endorsing right-wing political parties is a big thing. You want to know what I think about it? I think it’s totally unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. You just don’t do that. This is pure arrogance, and these things will not work.” That said, he did temper his language by saying that Musk was very successful and that he’d done “incredible things with Tesla.”

While Lohscheller’s condemnation of foreign interference in national politics is pointed, it highlights an interesting contradiction. As CEO of Polestar, owned by Chinese automotive giant Geely, he represents a brand tied to one of the world’s most politically influential nations. At a time when China’s role in global industries faces scrutiny, critics might question whether his rebuke of Musk’s “arrogance” fully aligns with Polestar’s own context.

On the flip side, Lohscheller sees an opportunity here to take advantage of disgruntled Tesla owners who want out of any association with Musk. He’s told his salespeople to specifically target such individuals in an effort to get them into a Polestar. Ultimately, whether they come from Tesla or any other brand, Lohscheller just needs customers in seats right now.

Polestar is actively burning through some $110 million a month. It’s surviving in part thanks to almost a billion in funding from banks. To turn things around, though, it’ll need to continue to cut costs while it introduces new models and, hopefully, gains market share. 

Nissan was one of the original proponents of electric vehicles as they introduced the Leaf in 2009. Despite a massive head start, the company doesn’t have much to show for it other than the Ariya.

That’s not to say the automaker didn’t try as we’ve seen numerous projects announced and then delayed or killed off entirely. The most memorable example is the Infiniti LE from over a decade ago but, more recently, the company delayed a pair of electric sedans that were slated to be built in Canton, Mississippi.

More: Nissan Delays US-Built Electric Sedans, Plans Rogue-Sized EV

The revisions continue today as Auto News is reporting Nissan has decided against building a subcompact electric crossover in Canton. The model was reportedly codenamed the PZ1L and it would have been larger than the Leaf, but smaller than the Rogue.

While it sounds like America will miss out on the model, the vehicle is still slated to be built at the company’s Sunderland plant in England. However, Nissan still has plans to build two other electric crossovers at their U.S. facility.

Nissan’s Brian Brockman told Auto News they want to focus on the other EVs that will be made in Mississippi. He went on to suggest they’ll be better suited for the U.S. market and sell in higher volumes.

While a number of questions remain, it’s believed slower than expected electric vehicle adoption played a role in the decision. President Trump’s return to the White House has also added a lot of uncertainty as he has promised to “end the Green New Deal” and “revoke the electric vehicle mandate.” He’s also expected to try eliminating the $7,500 clean vehicle tax credit, which would make EVs significantly more expensive.

Nissan teaser from 2021

Electric vehicles often face unfair scrutiny for fire incidents, fueled by a handful of high-profile cases. Despite data showing EVs are actually less prone to spontaneous combustion than gas-powered or hybrid models, public perception can be hard to shake. That said, police and firefighters in Salem, Oregon, aren’t blaming faulty engineering for the fiery demise of a red Model X outside a local Tesla dealership. Instead, they believe it was the result of an arson attack.

Authorities were alerted to the fire at a Tesla store at approximately 3:45 a.m. on the morning of January 20. While they were able to extinguish the burning Model X, they were not able to save it from total destruction.

Read: Cybertruck Went Up In Flames At Tesla Dealership In Georgia Hours Before Vegas Blast

It’s unclear where the blaze started, but an image shared online by Salem police shows that much of the Model X’s rear end has melted and the rear window has shattered. There’s no word on whether the Tesla’s battery pack also caught fire or not.

The police suspects that this was a case of arson as the glass front door of the Tesla store was also smashed out. There’s a good chance the store was equipped with plenty of surveillance cameras, and any evidence will be used to identify and catch the perpetrators.

The Salem Police Felony Crimes Unit has been tasked with investigating the inferno and is asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Salem Police Tip Line at 503-588-8477.

This isn’t the only Tesla to meet a fiery fate in recent weeks. On December 31, a Tesla Cybertruck parked at a dealership in Georgia caught fire in the early hours of the morning. In that case, authorities suspect the blaze originated in the vehicle’s battery pack, although investigations are ongoing.

Image Credit: Salem Police Department

An all-electric version of the Range Rover is just around the corner, but an electric Land Rover Defender is not on the agenda for the British brand – at least not for the current-generation model.

Jaguar Land Rover has been building the current L66- generation Defender since 2019 offered with several different petrol and diesel engines, including a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid. Given the growing demand for high-end EVs, it could make sense for an electric version to be launched as a potential rival to the also electric Mercedes-Benz G580.

Electrifying the Current Defender? Not So Simple

According to JLR’s Chief Commercial Officer, Lennard Hoornik, electrifying the current Defender (built on the D7x platform) is far more complicated than it sounds. In an interview with Autocar, he explained that the existing platform simply isn’t suitable for an electric powertrain without major compromises, meaning we may have to wait until next decade for its replacement

Read: What Do You Want To Know About The Land Rover Defender With The Inline-Six?

“Electrifying the current ‘L663’ car, on its D7x platform, is not what we want,” Hoornik said. “The L663 is brilliant at what it does, and we do have a [four-cylinder] plug-in hybrid version already, but it’s not easy to find the extra space you need within that chassis for batteries, given the axle packaging and capability that it needs.”

Space, Space, and More Space

Hoornik went on to emphasize how difficult it is to fit the necessary EV components into the existing Defender’s architecture. The problem isn’t just about stuffing in batteries where they’ll fit; it’s also about maintaining the Defender’s off-road capability, which requires careful packaging of its axles and other components.

JLR has committed to offering electric models for each of its newly-formed subbrands, including Range Rover, Discovery, Jaguar, and Defender. “[We] remain committed to that,” Hoornik said, “but finding the space on the current Defender platform is really, really hard, so we will need to use something different.” He said that “the EV will need to come at quite a significant step in the evolution of the Defender.”

While Hoornik didn’t specify if this significant step will come with a new generation of Defender, that would be the most likely route the brand takes. Either that or it may have to build a distinct Defender EV sitting atop a unique architecture, selling it alongside the current ICE model.

Tech advocates tell us driverless cars will be safer than human drivers and that even today’s more primitive driver assist tech prevents accidents. But the first few weeks of 2025 have delivered multiple news stories reminding us why almost all of the currently available systems still need a driver overseeing them by law.

The latest of those concerns Chevy’s Equinox EV, whose adaptive cruise control might not activate the brakes when the SUV is confronted with a hazard, the NHTSA says. The report indicates that the EV has no problem sensing the need to slow down, but an incorrect software calibration means the brakes might not get the message.

Related: US Escalates Ford BlueCruise Probe After Fatal Mach-E Crashes

Around 2,890 all-wheel drive models not fitted with GM’s fancy Super Cruise system will need to drop by their local dealership to have the software updated, though strangely unsold cars will be updated remotely.

Front-wheel drive versions of the electric SUV and all-wheel drive ones whose owners did pony up for Super Cruise aren’t included in the recall. All new examples of the Equinox built since early December were produced with the new software included.

But what about those other drive-assist stories I alluded to at the top of this post? First, we heard the NHTSA was looking into Tesla’s Actually Smart Summon remote parking feature after receiving reports of EVs not noticing posts and parked cars while driving unoccupied. And this week the agency escalated its probe into Ford’s BlueCruise system in the wake of two fatal accidents involving Mustang Mach-Es being driven at night.

The Equinox – which was recalled more than once during 2024 – isn’t the only Chevy EV making recall headlines this week. The automaker’s electric Silverado truck and its GMC Sierra twin have also come under the NHTSA spotlight. Five examples of the 2024 pickups might not have had a rear seatbelt securing bolt tightened and will need to be checked out at a service center.