Earlier this year, Kia unveiled the all-electric EV4 in both sedan and hatchback guises. Fast forward to late July, and the South Korean carmaker has dropped details about one of the EV4’s most grueling tests from its development: a torturous 6,200 miles (10,000 km) stint at the fabled Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany.

Kia has released several images of the EV4 being tested on European roads in hatchback guise, curiously still wrapped in camouflage even though the finished car was presented several months ago. Unfortunately, there’s no imagery of it on the ‘Ring. What we do know is that the 6,200-mile (10,000 km) test session at the circuit formed part of a 68,000-mile (110,000 km) European road durability test.

Read: Kia’s First Electric Sedan Is Here To Beat The Model 3 At Its Own Game

The Nurburgring test aimed to simulate 90-95 percent of its maximum performance output, and it underwent multiple hypercharging sessions between laps. By the end of the track test, as well as the on-road testing, the EV4’s battery returned a state-of-health reading of 95 percent. EV4s sold to the public will be guaranteed to retain at least 70 percent of their original capacity after 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or eight years of regular use.

“To provide our customers a reliable, everyday EV, we had to validate the EV4’s durability both in real-world and extreme environments,” the manager of durability development at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center, Stephan Hoferer said. “With the rigorous testing – from icy roads to racetracks, we’re confident the EV4 will deliver dependable performance well beyond everyday needs.”

All EV4s are based on a 400-volt architecture and will be available with a front-mounted 201 hp electric motor in all trims. In the US, the base model will come standard with a 58.3 kWh pack, while the flagship variant gets a 81.4 kWh unit.

Evidently, the EV4 is not the type of car that owners will be taking to the track. But, if the Korean brand that in the past few years goes from strength to strength wants to spice it up with a hot, GT-branded version, it certainly has the know-how to do so.

Even if opinions on Tesla and its billionaire CEO are sharply divided, there’s little debate over the company’s track record in building some of the most capable electric vehicles on the road.

Alongside the cars themselves, Tesla also maintains a wide catalog of accessories, many of which are affordable, easy to install, and ship directly to buyers. The newest addition to that lineup may not be a technological leap, but it’s likely to catch on with owners.

Read: California EV Buyers Are Turning Their Backs On Tesla

Tesla’s online shop was recently updated to include a front lighting system designed for the front of both the Model 3 and Model Y. Given how handy the front storage compartment of the two best-selling Tesla models is, it’s perhaps somewhat of a surprise they don’t usually feature any kind of lighting system. Come to think of it, many EVs with storage frunks don’t include a light, so Tesla’s solution is a good one.

The kit, costing $100 in the US or CA$130 in Canada, includes a thin lighting strip that runs along the underside of the frunk’s rubber seal. Also included in the kit is a small power module that sticks to an area near the frunk’s emergency release switch connector. It then plugs straight in. The light strip is held in place by tape and includes IP67 dustproof and waterproof ratings.

Compatibility Limits

Importantly, the lighting kit is only available for 2020-2024 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, meaning the newer ‘Highland’ Model 3 and ‘Juniper’ Model Y are not suitable for this kit. However, Not a Tesla App reports that a similar kit is being developed for these models.

As mentioned, there are dozens of other accessories offered for all Tesla vehicles, including the slower-selling Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck. Among the most popular are roof racks, all-weather floor liners, sunshades for Tesla’s panoramic glass roofs, and new storage cubby trays.

Lexus is preparing to wind down production on several key models, signaling the end of an era for some of its longest-running nameplates. Most variants of the IS sedan, the RC coupe, and the fully electric UX SUV are on their way out, with production in Japan officially scheduled to stop in November 2025.

Those who visit the dedicated model pages on Lexus’ official website in Japan will see the following announcement:

“Thank you for considering our vehicles. Production of the IS 500 / IS 350 / IS 300h (AWD) / IS 300 / RC 350 / RC 300h, and RC 300 will end in November 2025. Sales will end once orders reach the production numbers for November. Depending on when you consider purchasing a vehicle, some packages may no longer be available. Please contact your Lexus dealer for details.”

More: The Last V8 Lexus Sports Sedan Marks The End Of An Era

A similar message (albeit with a more apologetic tone) appears on the page for the RC F Final Edition, which serves as a sendoff for the V8-powered coupe introduced in January 2025. This version was limited to just 200 units in Japan, and Lexus has confirmed that all of them have been spoken for:

“Thank you for your continued patronage of our products. We regret to inform you that the RC F ‘Final Edition’ has reached its limited number of 200 units and is now sold out. We would like to thank you for your continued patronage of the RC F. The RC ‘Final Edition’ will be on sale until production ends in November 2025.”

With this, only the rear-wheel-drive IS 300h will remain in production for the Japanese market, while all other IS and RC variants are being phased out.

An Aging Lineup But Changes are Coming

This development doesn’t come as a major surprise. Lexus recently introduced what are expected to be the final model year updates for both the IS sedan and the RC coupe. These vehicles date back to 2013, making them over a decade old. The IS received facelifts in 2017 and 2020, while the RC underwent a mid-cycle refresh in 2018.

More: Lexus Sedan’s Radical Redesign Could Finally Bring Back The IS Spirit

As reported by Creative Trend, a new generation of the IS is rumored for 2026. Despite earlier plans for going EV-only, the new IS is expected to offer both electric and hybrid powertrain options, following the example of the larger Lexus ES sedan.

The situation is a little bit more complicated for the RC coupe, which might not get a direct successor. Instead, Lexus is reportedly working on a sporty coupe that could potentially replace both the RC and the LC. The latter is also in its twilight years, as hinted at by the recently-unveiled LC 500 Pinnacle Edition. The end date for the LC production is expected in 2026 although a specific date has yet to be set.

UX 300e Also Set to Exit

Last but not least, the automaker has also announced that production of its smallest electric SUV will end in November 2025. We’re talking about the UX 300e, that was unveiled in 2019, a year after the debut of the gasoline and hybrid versions of the UX in 2018.

Japanese newspaper Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun reports that the UX 300h hybrid is expected to follow, with production ending during the 2025 fiscal year, which concludes on March 30, 2026. While Lexus hasn’t announced a successor, the UX remains a globally marketed model in a highly competitive segment. Its close ties to the Toyota C-HR and Corolla Cross suggest a next-generation version is likely in development.

The 2026 Kia EV4 won’t arrive in the United States until early next year, but spy photographers have already caught a high-performance hatchback in Europe. It combines performance and practicality in a bid to battle rivals such as the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX.

The prototype is heavily disguised, but we can see a few telltale signs indicating this isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill model. The most notable are the neon yellow brake calipers, which have been a fixture on the EV6 GT and EV9 GT. They’re joined by two-tone wheels that could be unique to the model.

More: 2026 Kia EV4 Arrives To Take On The Tesla Model 3 And VW ID.3 

While the black disguise hides most of the design, we wouldn’t be surprised to find sportier bumpers and additional body color accents. The EV4 GT could also come equipped with a revamped interior featuring a sport steering wheel, special seats, and plenty of GT badging.

The standard EV4 rides on the E-GMP platform and offers a 58.3 or 81.4 kWh battery pack. They’re joined by a front-mounted motor producing a modest 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS). In sedan form, this should allow for ranges of 235 miles (378 km) and 330 miles (531 km).

shproshots

The EV4 GT will undoubtedly kick things up a notch, and we can expect it will have an 81.4 kWh battery that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system. This could enable the car to have an output over 402 hp (300 kW / 408 PS), and some are speculating it could have up to 480 hp (358 kW / 487 PS).

Regardless of the final power figure, we can expect a sportier driving experience thanks to a retuned suspension. We also wouldn’t be surprised to find a virtual gear shift feature, which simulates shifts with engine sound effects, visuals, and a tactile sensation through motor torque adjustments.

Henrik Fisker’s dream of building an EV empire to rival Tesla collapsed last year, but if you browse one dealer’s website, you’d think you imagined the whole thing. It has more than 20 cars in stock with almost no miles, and the website blurb appears to make no mention that Fisker went belly up or that looking after one of the EVs in the years to come could prove tricky.

The dealer is Newport Fisker in Costa Mesa, California, whose inventory – first spotted by Daily Revs – is made up of 36 Teslas and 24 examples of the Ocean, the only model Fisker managed to get to production before financial troubles sank the company. All but one of those 24 is a virtually unused 2023 model, with most having just 50 miles (80 km) on their digital odometers.

Related: Rivian And Chase Rescue Fisker Ocean Owners From Drowning

Prices range from $22,990 to $27,990, down from the Ocean’s original $41-71k MSRP, which could potentially offer some good value for a brand new EV – even one that reviewers found was a bit rough around the edges. But it still might not be low enough to tempt most people to overlook the bankruptcy baggage, specifically concerns over how a buyer might deal with any technical problems down the road as there’s no factory left to support them.

Fifteen of the EVs are in fancy One trim, which delivered up to 564 hp (572 PS / 420 kW) for a sub-4-second zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) time and paired to a big 106 kWh battery for an EPA-rated range of 360 miles (580 km). The minimalist dashboard’s party piece was a 17.1-inch touchscreen that could rotate between portrait and landscape orientations on all but the base ‘Sport’ model.

Based on the huge number of recalls announced so far, anyone who does take the plunge can expect to encounter some problems at some point. But several commenters on Reddit who picked up the story say they’ve bought similar Oceans from Newport Fisker and are very happy with them so far. They also recommend new buyers check out YouTube channels such as Ocean Views by MTN Ranger for tips on keeping the EVs working.

Incredible as it may seem, Newport Fisker isn’t the only dealer with dozens of almost brand-new Oceans waiting for new homes. Lumin Fisker of Folsom, CA, has 26 examples, but they’re considerably more expensive, being priced at between $30,995 and $37,495. Would you take a gamble on a nearly-new Ocean if the price was low enough? And how low would that price have to be?

Newport Fisker

H/t to Daily Revs

After a brief hiatus, Chevrolet’s popular electric hatchback is almost ready to make a comeback. General Motors is reviving the budget-friendly Bolt, promising it will return “better than ever” as part of the 2027 model year lineup. Teasers of the upcoming version offer a more detailed preview than usual, though the design appears to lean more toward a thorough refresh than a full redesign.

One catch is that, while Chevrolet has confirmed the Bolt EV will be revealed in full this year, the 2027 model year designation likely points to a market launch in 2026

Back in December 2023, GM CEO Mary Barra confirmed that a new generation of the Bolt would debut in 2025, alongside a cryptic teaser that was focused on the model designation on the tailgate. Reports that followed in 2024 suggested that the Bold would return as a whole family of EVs. This time, however, Chevrolet has released clearer images that give a better sense of what’s coming.

More: Chevy’s Biggest Surprise Might Wear A Classic Name And Look Nothing Like The Original

Unlike the usual dimly lit teasers, the latest images show the 2027 Bolt out in the open, fully uncovered. Up front, it features a set of sharp-looking LED headlights with a familiar but more assertive appearance. These flank a slim grille with the Chevrolet emblem, while the lower bumper is textured and features a honeycomb-style cooling intake.

At the back, the taillights adopt a more conventional shape compared to the previous model, and are not attached to the rear glass anymore. Also visible is the updated NACS charging port on the front fender, which will allow Bolt owners to tap into Tesla’s Supercharger network. The black trim extending from the headlights remains a signature design detail, carried over from earlier versions.

Design Tweaks and Technology Updates

Chevrolet refers to the Bolt as “the first long-range, mass-produced EV available to customers at a truly affordable price.” The company says the upcoming version will build on that foundation with updates to the front fascia, rear lights, and charging hardware—plus “some other cool stuff” to be revealed later.

More: Chevy Has A New SUV For Budget Buyers But Not Everyone Gets It

Together, the comments and visuals suggest that the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt will be a heavily redesigned version of the original that debuted in late 2016 and received a mid-lifecycle update in 2021 before being discontinued in late 2023.

While early reports pointed to the new Bolt switching to GM’s Ultium platform, now no longer referred to by that name, it appears that the car will continue to use a revised version of its previous BEV2 architecture. This updated platform will incorporate newer tech, and GM is expected to use a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack to help keep costs down.

Production of the previous Bolt EV and EUV ended in late 2023 at the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan. The upcoming model is slated to be built at the Fairfax factory in Kansas City.

Chevrolet says more information about the 2027 Bolt will be shared in the coming months. A full unveiling is expected before the end of the year, although whether deliveries will begin this year or in early 2026 remains to be seen. Pricing is expected to come in slightly above the outgoing version, which started at $28,795.

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Even as the EV market continues to shift and evolve, Mercedes-Benz is moving ahead with plans to expand its electric lineup. Mercedes-Benz has been working on the new all-electric GLC with EQ Technology for quite some time, and we now finally know when it will be unveiled.

Read: Mercedes Previews New GLC EV With 320+ kW DC Fast Charging

As previously speculated, it will premiere at the IAA Mobility show in September, more commonly known as the Munich Motor Show. In an era where electric SUVs and crossovers are becoming increasingly popular, the GLC EV will play an important role for the German brand.

The upcoming GLC EV will effectively replace the EQC, a model that struggled to make an impression. It’s expected to match the overall size of the combustion-engine GLC, but with a distinctly updated design. Mercedes describes it as “a new face of the brand,” signaling a more modern and refined aesthetic.

Design Details Come Into Focus

Mercedes has released a single teaser image previewing the new model, but prototypes spied in recent months have offered us a better look at the model. The teaser hints at an illuminated front grille that gives the SUV a more prominent presence. Prototypes have also revealed reworked LED headlights and taillights, indicating a comprehensive redesign.

Key rivals to the GLC with EQ Technology include the Porsche Macan Electric and the BMW iX3, which will soon be thoroughly updated as part of the brand’s Neue Klasse era. Fittingly, the automaker has developed an 800-volt electrical architecture for the SUV that offers DC fast charging speeds of up to 320 kW. That means it will be possible to add roughly 162 miles (260 km) of range in just 10 minutes.

Launch Version and Future Plans

The first version arriving on the market will be the GLC 400 4Matic with EQ Technology. Mercedes hasn’t shared specific performance details yet, including motor configuration or acceleration times, but a more powerful variant is likely to follow not long after.

Other than presenting the electric GLC, in Munich Mercedes will also showcase the MB.Drive Assist Pro semi-autonomous driving system and offer rides in a specially-equipped CLA. The EQS and S-Class with Drive Pilot will also be available for demo drives. Joining the GLC with EQ on display be the radical new Concept AMG GT XX.

Less than a month ago, BMW announced a recall impacting more than 70,000 of its electric vehicles, revealing a software issue that could cause the high-voltage system to shut down unexpectedly. Fast forward to July, and the German brand has issued another recall for several of its EVs in the United States. This time, the recall is also related to battery cell modules that may have been assembled incorrectly.

Read: BMW Recalls Thousands Of EVs That Can Lose Power While Driving

According to the recall notice, the issue stems from the process of compressing individual battery cells to form a single module. In this case, BMW says the force used to combine the cells within the module may have exceeded its specifications. This means that over the lifetime of the vehicle, and when combined with repeated charging sessions, the module frame could fail.

What Can Go Wrong

If the frame does weaken or fail, it could lead to a shutdown of the high-voltage system. This would result in a total loss of propulsion, creating a potential crash risk. There’s also an increased chance of fire if a failure occurs.

The recall impacts a total of 136 vehicles. Oftentimes, only a small percentage of affected vehicles are thought to have the issue. That’s not the case here, as BMW believes that all 136 vehicles have battery cell modules that may not have been assembled to specifications.

Those include 2022-2025 BMW iX models manufactured from November 3, 2021, and February 14, 2024, as well as 2023-2024 BMW i7s built from June 12, 2023, to July 19, 2023, and 2022-2023 BMW i4s assembled from June 2, 2022, to May 11, 2023.

Notably, vehicles involved in the recall may not suffer from any issues for quite some time. In its analysis, BMW says that damage to the module frame of impacted models may not occur until the latter part of 2026. Nevertheless, it’s decided now is the time to issue a recall.

Owners will begin receiving notification letters on September 5. Dealers have already been instructed to replace the affected high-voltage battery cell modules on all impacted vehicles.

Long before electric vehicles became a common sight on roads, there was a time when resourceful hobbyists took matters into their own hands. Back then, converting gas-powered cars into EVs was a niche pursuit, often tackled with simple electric powertrains and a lot of trial and error.

Among the few small companies that specialized in these conversions was an American outfit called Jet Industries. Now, one of its creations is heading to auction.

Read: Dodge’s New Charger Coming To Europe And The Middle East In 2025

From the outside, this 1980 Dodge Omni 024 looks just like any other. But beneath its ordinary exterior, the original engine has been replaced by a compact 23-horsepower electric motor. That’s a laughable figure by modern EV standards, but this was the 1970s and 1980s, when the idea of an electric car was still closer to a science project than a production model.

Vintage Tech Under the Hatch

Pop the trunk and you’ll find a dedicated compartment that holds the battery pack. It’s unclear how many Dodge Omni 024s were converted by the Texas-based firm, but it’s certainly quite rare.

There’s also no word on how far it could travel on a single charge. What we do know is that rather than using a lithium-ion pack like most current EVs, this special Omni simply had a bunch of 12-volt lead-acid batteries in the rear, reportedly weighing upwards of 1,000 lbs.

Photos Mecum

Curiously, all of the batteries have been removed from the trunk of this Dodge, so it no longer runs. Mecum Auctions is handling the sale of the EV, but has not provided any photos of its underside. Chances are, there’s plenty of rust there, judging from the photos of the trunk.

A Rare Find, If Not a Valuable One

While the car’s uniqueness is undeniable, its value is likely modest. Given its condition and limited appeal beyond collectors of obscure automotive history, a sale price in the low thousands wouldn’t be surprising.

It may not run, and it’s definitely not fast, but if you’ve got a soft spot for oddball EVs and a high tolerance for rust, this relic might be calling your name. Check out the listing here, just don’t forget your trickle charger and a tetanus shot.

Photos Mecum

Fun retro style and a bargain price tag have helped make Renault’s 5 EV a massive hit, and now the automaker is looking to replicate that success one rung down the size and affordability ladder. The automaker has already shown next year’s Twingo in concept form, and now we’ve got pictures of the baby EV testing in prototype form.

Renault has bolted its Twingo badge to various small cars over the years, but the new one harks back to the 1993 original, an egg-shaped one-box hatch with distinctive frog-like eyes. But instead of two doors and a wheezy petrol engine, the new one has a practical four-door layout and zippy all-electric powertrain.

Related: Renault’s Updated Twingo Concept Hints At Next Year’s €20,000 EV

The 5’s baby brother goes on sale next year when it’s expected to cost less than €20,000 (£17k / $23k). That’ll make it slightly more expensive than the most basic Dacia Spring and Leapmotor 01, and put it into battle with the €19,990 Dolphin Surf from China’s BYD and – eventually – VW’s ID.1.

Renault previewed its budget EV with the Twingo E-Tech concept, which made its debut last year and was wheeled out again at the start of 2025, after some minor cosmetic surgery. The first shots of a prototype tell us the production car will stick close to the concept’s promise. Its wheels are pushed tight into each corner to free up as much interior space as possible, the windshield is swept back, just like the original Twingo’s, and the bulging headlights ensure it has the same friendly face.

The large charging port flap on the passenger fender is a different shape, sitting on the other side of the one on the concept, and this test car appears to have conventional door handles, whereas the show car had them concealed in the front door skin and the upper door frame next to the C-pillar. We’re hoping they’ll have migrated to their original concept positions by the time the car makes its production debut.

Nicolas Laperruque/SHProshots

We don’t get to see inside the Twingo this time, but the concept had a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and a separate 10.1-inch floating infotainment screen. Renault doesn’t make a habit of overpromising and underdelivering. It didn’t reveal any tech specs for the Twingo E-Tech, but common sense says it’ll identify on a shortened version of the same AmpR Small architecture found in the Renault 4 and 5.

If it gets the same 40 kWh battery and 94 hp (95 PS / 70 kW) single-motor setup as the base 5 it should be good for over 200 miles (320 km) of range and zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) in around 11 seconds, though 121 hp (122 PS / 90 kW) and even 148 hp (150 PS / 110 kW) upgrades could be an option tick away.

Renault

VW’s sporty Cupra brand just posted its best-ever half-year sales figures, but one plan that could have helped supercharge the company’s growth has just hit the skids. A project to launch Cupra onto the American market within five years is now off the table, it confirmed this week.

Related: Cupra’s Latest Concept Hints At Its Future

Citing “ongoing challenges within the automotive industry” and “evolving market dynamics,” Cupra has abandoned its US 2030 expansion strategy, and though it didn’t go into any more detail than that, a slowdown in EV take-up in America and import tariffs on cars exported there from Europe are surely behind the decision.

Under the terms of a deal just reached between the US and the EU, European cars will attract a 15 percent levy, up from just 2.5 percent before the tariff chaos started this spring.

Electric Crossovers and a North American Footprint

Cupra announced it would land on US soil with two electric crossovers, one a successor to the current combustion Formentor, and the second a bigger electric SUV. The larger model was to be built at a VW Group plant in North America, though possibly one in Mexico, whose output is now subject to hefty 30 percent tariffs. Another report suggested Cupra was talking to the US Penske dealer group about selling EVs, PHEVs, and combustion models.

But Cupra was eager to make clear this week that it wasn’t abandoning its ideas of expanding to North America altogether, merely putting them on indefinite hold. Four years from now, with another US president in the hot seat, the trade situation could look quite different.

“We’re not stopping, just postponing our U.S. launch and will continue to monitor market developments in the coming years to determine the best timing and approach, aligned with the brand’s long-term vision,” said Sven Schuwirth, Executive Vice-President for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Cupra’s parent company, Seat.

Tariffs Are Taking a Toll Elsewhere, Too

Cupra’s sales are already impacted by another set of tariffs because the China-built Tavascan is clobbered with a 21.3 percent duty when entering the EU, on top of the 10 percent applied to all imports. But despite the setback, increased production costs for all of its models, and greater competition, Cupra deliveries grew by 33.4 percent to 167,600 in the first six months of 2025.

Lead image Cupra/ChatGPT

Even in a world where long-delayed product launches are the norm, the second-gen Tesla Roadster has become somewhat of a running joke in the automotive world. First presented as a running prototype in November of 2017, Tesla had promised to start building the electric hypercar killer in 2020. We’re now more than halfway through 2025, and Tesla has yet to unveil the production version.

Read: 8 Years Later, Tesla’s Still Taking $50K Roadster Reservations Musk Promised For 2020

Despite its prolonged absence, Tesla insists the Roadster remains in development, with ever-growing promises to match. According to Tesla’s head of vehicle engineering, Lars Moravy, the Roadster will be the “last best driver’s car.” Given how outlandish that statement is, we’re surprised Tesla boss Elon Musk didn’t make it.

New Promises of Progress, But Few Details

Moravy made the comment during the recent X Takeover event, around the 26-minute mark in the video below. He mentioned that Musk was recently shown “some cool demos” of the new model, but didn’t provide any further details about what those demos involved.

“We spent a lot of time in the last few years rethinking what we did, and why we did it, and what would make an awesome and exciting last best driver’s car,” Moravy said. “We’ve been making it better and better, and it is even a little bit more than a car. We showed Elon some cool demos last week and tech we’ve been working on, and he got a little excited.”

Rocket Thrusters and Lofty Goals

Tesla has made some very bold claims about the Roadster. In 2018, Elon Musk said it would be sold with a SpaceX option package that added around 10 small rocket thrusters to “dramatically improve acceleration, top speed, braking & cornering.”

More recently, in mid-2024, he went as far as to say that “the new Tesla Roadster can fly”. Until Tesla demonstrates this publicly, these remarks come off as little more than efforts to buoy the company’s stock price.

As we recently revealed, Tesla continues to accept $50,000 reservations for the Roadster, despite not yet announcing the car’s final price tag or when customers can expect to take delivery.

Tesla’s Robotaxi service may have generated plenty of headlines since launching in a geofenced area of Austin recently, but soon, Waymo will be adding a second Texas city to its program. Already providing more than 250,000 paid trips in Austin and other major US cities every week, Waymo will launch in Dallas next year, showing Tesla a thing or two about how to run a successful robotaxi service.

Rather than going it alone, Waymo is leveraging the operational scale and expertise of Avis to help ensure smooth day-to-day management as it enters a new market. The rental giant will help to manage its fleet operations, as well as infrastructure, vehicle maintenance, and general depot operations.

Read: Tech Founder Predicts The End Of Driving For Your Kids And Maybe You Too

“We look forward to bringing our fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the people of Dallas next year, offering a new era of safe and seamless transportation,” Waymo co-chief executive Tekedra Mawakana said. “Working together with our fleet partner Avis, Waymo will offer more riders a stress-free way to get around.”

The self-driving car division of Alphabet didn’t disclose how much of Dallas will be covered by its robotaxi service. Nevertheless, Waymo says it is confident it can contribute to Dallas’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating all traffic-related deaths and reducing severe injury crashes by 50 percent by 2030.

“We are excited that fully autonomous ride-hailing services are scheduled to begin in Dallas next year,” Dallas city manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert added. “The Waymo and Avis partnership will offer an innovative, technology-based transportation option for our residents and visitors.  We look forward to the launch of this new service.”

Dallas won’t be the end of Waymo’s expansion. The company is reportedly considering launching in Houston and San Antonio in the future. It could also expand into San Diego, Boston, and New York. According to ABC News, Waymo is also eyeing Tokyo as the first market outside of the US for its robotaxis.

Ferrari has promised to reveal its first ever EV next spring, having given us a look at the Elettrica’s (name still tentative) electric heart at the back end of this year. It’s uncharted land for the Italian supercar brand so it appears to be checking its work against a Chinese car that’s already wowed the world with its performance.

Related: Xiaomi Shatters Its Nurburgring Record Again And Immediately Launches Limited Edition

That car is a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sedan, which was spotted coming out of the gates of Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters in Italy, its yellow paint and dual silver stripes – the same combo used in most of Xiaomi’s marketing pics – making it difficult to miss.

An Unexpected Visitor at Maranello

Ferrari, like every other brand, is constantly buying and borrowing cars from rival automakers for research purposes. But even five years ago the idea of the world’s most famous sports car company thinking a Chinese car was worth investigating would have been laughable.

Plenty has changed in those five years. The SU7 Ultra is currently the fastest electric production car around the Nurburgring, its 7:04.957 time improving on the Porsche Taycan’s by almost three seconds. And separately, an Ultra prototype has recorded an unholy 6:22.091, putting it ahead of everything except VW’s ID.R racer and Porsche’s 919 Evo Le Mans weapon.

The SU7’s Taycan-like coupe-sedan bodywork hides a triple-motor electric drivetrain that makes 1,526 hp (1,547 PS / 1,138 kW), sends it to 62 mph (100 kmh) in 1.98 sec and delivers a 223 mph (359 kmh) top speed.

Ferrari already knows how to make cars handle, so it seems possible that its focus of interest would be the electric platform and things like thermal management during sustained fast driving. And we also know that Xiaomi’s CEO shares an equal interest in Ferrari’s products. Lei Jun was spotted last year driving a red Purosangue, and we’re sure he’ll be keen to get his hands on Maranello’s EV when deliveries begin in fall 2026.

Company insiders have suggested the Italian brand’s first EV will be a limited production car to get people used to the idea of an engine-less car with a horse on the hood, and that it’s the second EV, which will take on an crossover-like form, that will be more significant. But Ferrari has delayed that car until 2028 due to weak demand in the luxury EV space, Reuters reported last month.

Weibo/Sago Soup/Piniluoshan

H/t to CarNewsChina

Surging car sales from China’s automakers might not be quite as clear-cut as they seem. Behind the headline-grabbing numbers lies a practice that’s prompting questions: some companies appear to be boosting reported sales by insuring vehicles before they’re actually sold.

A new report from Reuters sheds light on this strategy, claiming that several of China’s top car manufacturers have been counting cars as “sold” once they’re insured, even if those vehicles haven’t yet reached buyers. Thanks to this approach, sales figures appear stronger than they truly are, giving the impression that targets are being met.

Read: China’s Next Supercar Is Coming For Ferrari And They’re Not Laughing Anymore

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Neta and Zeekr had insured tens of thousands of vehicles before selling them to buyers, allowing the companies to book sales early under Chinese industry car registration practices. In the case of Neta, it reportedly recorded early sales of at least 64,719 cars from January 2023 to March 2024, more than half of the total 117,000 vehicles it sold over that period.

As it turns out, many other companies could be doing the same. Reuters recently examined 97 customer complaints related to the controversial sales practice, and in more than a dozen cases, buyers were told by dealerships that the method was used specifically to help manufacturers hit sales goals. In many cases, customers only discovered their new vehicles had been previously insured after completing the purchase.

Dealerships affiliated with major brands such as FAW Hongqi, SAIC Roewe, SAIC VW, Dongfeng Nissan, GAC Toyota, GAC Honda, and SAIC GM have admitted to official media that insuring unsold vehicles is a practice used to meet sales targets.

Interestingly, a Honda spokesperson told Reuters that GAC Honda dealers are prohibited from taking out compulsory insurance before selling new cars. Similarly, FAW Hongqi says it does not engage in such shady practices. GM China also said that it only counts deliveries, not insured vehicles, in its sales reports.

Two key metrics are used to track sales in China. The first are reported from automakers to the industry association, showing sales from automakers to dealers. The second is retail data based on mandatory traffic insurance registrations, which captures actual sales to consumers.

The practice is understood to have first emerged as early as 2016 but is believed to have grown in popularity from early 2023 when the Chinese car price war kicked off. Companies like Li Auto have reportedly leaned heavily into publishing weekly sales rankings on social media, using only insurance registration numbers to demonstrate their performance.

China’s Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) has pushed back against the use of insurance data for public sales rankings, calling the figures unreliable and blaming them for fueling what it described this month as increasingly cutthroat.

Air suspension systems offer a unique advantage in modern vehicles, letting drivers adjust ride height on the fly. This makes them especially useful for off-roaders and pickup trucks, where flexibility and ground clearance are key. The Tesla Cybertruck is one of many vehicles to come standard with air suspension, but according to one owner, his truck’s suspension failed dramatically, and with no clear explanation.

Also: Cybertruck Owner Returns To Dead EV After Two Weeks Plugged In

Writing on the Tesla Owners Online forum, a member living in Texas says he was at home when he heard a low “shotgun-like bang” from his Foundation Series Cybertruck parked outside. He looked and noticed “smoke or dust” rising from the Tesla’s bed in his driveway.

Most people who hear a bang from an EV may expect the battery to have spontaneously caught on fire, but that’s not what happened here, or at least according to the owner.

A Sudden Collapse

Following the noise, the right side of the Cybertruck immediately began to sag after the bang. The EV was towed to the nearest Tesla service center in Houston. A technician found that one of the shocks and springs had pushed itself upward and damaged part of the Tesla’s frame.

Despite the unusual nature of the failure, Tesla declined to cover the damage under warranty. According to the service center, the failure was the result of an “outside influence.” They also requested $250 from the owner to release the vehicle in its current condition.

The owner has suggested that the extreme Texas temperatures could have caused the air suspension to blow, noting that the truck hadn’t been driven for over 12 hours when the suspension failed in spectacular fashion.

External Damage, or a Design Flaw?

Not everyone on the forum agrees with the temperature theory. One user suggested that, for the air suspension to fail as described, the casing would likely have had to suffer prior damage, possibly from an off-road excursion. The owner admits to driving his Cybertruck off-road, and it’s certainly possible the suspension could have been damaged without him noticing.

Regardless of what caused the damage, no vehicle should suffer catastrophic suspension failure like this, unless it’s driven off a cliff or something like that. While air suspension systems can occasionally run into issues, a spontaneous failure that impacts the frame raises questions, either about unseen damage, the system’s durability, or both.

Could extreme heat have triggered the failure, or did off-road use quietly weaken the suspension until it finally gave way? The cause remains unclear, but it’s certainly not the kind of bang any EV owner wants to hear.

Electric vehicles don’t drive around with half a bathtub worth of flammable liquid slung beneath the rear seat, but it seems they’re even more likely to present a fire risk. The latest automaker to issue a fire-related recall is Hyundai, which is telling some of its EV owners not to park near other cars or buildings until they’ve had some important repair work done to their cars.

Also: Hyundai’s Fastest Electric Sedan Can Drift And Snarl Like A Gas Car While Hitting 62 In 3.2

The advice – which is easier said than done for people who live anywhere near civilization – applies only to a small number of owners of MY25 Ioniq 5s. Hyundai estimates 10 of the EVs are equipped with batteries whose bus bars weren’t correctly tightened, leading to a risk of a short circuit which could in turn cause a fire.

What Went Wrong

A busbar is a metal strip, usually made from copper or aluminum, that connects the individual cells that make up a battery pack. A neat description from Ennvoi says the battery is the heart of an EV and the busbars are the blood vessels that send electrical current through the car’s various systems.

Hyundai believes a torque tool controller belonging to the Battery System Assembly (BSA) supplier failed, resulting in some bus bars being insufficiently tightened. The error was discovered a routine inspection of battery packs and an audit revealed some of those dodgy batteries has already made their way into delivered cars.

Although no accidents or fires have yet been reported, Hyundai cautions that over time the bus bar retaining bolts could work loose and cause an electrical arcing inside the battery pack. It could also trigger a voltage sensing error that would send the EV into limp mode.

What Affected Owners Should Do

Those 10 rogue Ioniq 5s will need to head back to a dealership to have their bus bar bolts tightened. Hyundai says owners can continue driving until they get the fix, but recommends they think carefully about where they park between now and when they get the all-clear.

Most e-bikes look a little futuristic, but what if you want to ride around on a two-wheeler that looks more like a classic Café Racer, but without spewing harmful toxins into the atmosphere? Well, a company by the name of Beachman has the answer with its new ’64 e-bike, combining modern powertrain technologies with retro looks inspired by some classic motorcycles. By warned, however, this thing isn’t cheap.

Read: City Cracks Down On E-Bikes With Strict New Rules

At first glance, the Beachman ’64 may look like a motorbike, but practically, it’s more similar to an electric bicycle. For starters, it’s only powered by a small 2.88 kWh lithium battery. Secondly, it tops out at 45 mph (72 km/h) and can only travel 55 miles (88 km) on a single charge. So, it’s more of a fun recreational vehicle than the Café Racer motorbikes that have inspired it.

Mode Options for Varied Terrain

Three different driving modes are offered. The first, known simply as E-Bike Mode, caps the top speed to 20 mph (32 km/h) while Mopar Mode unlocks a top speed of 30 mph (48 km/h). The dedicated Off-Road Mode is needed to get to 45 mph (72 km/h).

Shoppers who need a little more than 55 miles of range can opt for a larger 3.6 kWh pack, boosting range to 70 miles (112 km). Both models include regenerative braking, and the battery can be charged to 80 percent in three hours from a normal household plug.

Classic Design

Visually, the Beachman ’64 ticks all the right boxes. It comes equipped with grippy off-road tires, slim motorcycle-style handlebars, and a prominent central headlight. A quilted leather seat adds a touch of vintage charm to the overall design.

In the US, pricing for the ’64 starts at $4,800. That puts it close to the cost of some entry-level gas motorcycles, but if you’re looking for an electric alternative with vintage style, the options are far more limited. While it may not be the most practical electric bike on the market, it’s certainly one of the more stylish.

The Tesla Cybertruck can be called a lot of things, but a smashing sales success isn’t one of them. In fact, even Ford’s F-150 Lightning outsold it in the first half of the year. Despite that, the automaker might not be done with truck models.

Over the weekend, Lars Moravy, the company’s VP of Engineering, shared that a smaller truck could be on the table. That could open the door to bringing the Cybertruck’s distinctive design to a broader, global market.

Read: You’ll Notice What’s Gone From Tesla’s New Budget EV Before You Even Step Inside

At a Tesla owners and investors event in California, Moravy responded to a question about the idea of a smaller, more compact truck, saying, “We always talked about making a smaller pickup.” Specifically, the automaker knows that the Cybertruck, in its current form, is simply too big for some markets.

A Truck That Fits More Markets

Building a smaller truck wouldn’t just help expand Tesla’s footprint in the pickup segment. It could also meet needs the current lineup doesn’t quite address.

“I think in the future, as more and more of the robotaxi comes into the world, we look at those options and we think about, OK, that kind of service is useful not just for people, but also for goods,” said Moravy, according to Business Insider. This could be a signal that Tesla is looking to expand into the medium-truck or even small van segment.

Speaking specifically about the former, Moravy elaborated further, saying, “We’ve definitely been churning in the design studio about what we might do to serve that need for sure.”

Right now, Tesla doesn’t have anything that really fits into the category of ‘delivery vehicle.’ In fact, many of its remote service vehicles are small gas-powered vans. No doubt, it would prefer to service customer vehicles with one of its own.

Practicality could prove a big selling point, too. The Cybertruck isn’t selling the way Tesla hoped it would. Early adopters picked it up, but sales have stalled out. Plenty of folks see it as a lifestyle vehicle more than a tried-and-true pickup in the conventional sense. Perhaps a mid-size truck would be a way to crack back into the practicality market, the same way the Model Y did so where the Model X couldn’t.