The current state of electric trucks might seem like it’s all about bulky, four-wheeled behemoths with sky-high price tags, but Stellantis just threw a curveball that’ll make you rethink everything you thought you knew. Fiat, known for its expertise in city cars like the Panda and the 500, has expanded to an even smaller segment.

The fully electric Fiat TRIS is the Italian automaker’s first-ever three-wheeled model, tailored for last-mile delivery. It was designed at the Centro Stile in Turin as an “affordable ultra-light commercial vehicle”. It will initially be sold in Africa and the Middle East, although availability may later expand to Europe.

More: Fiat’s 500 Hybrid Lets You Shift Your Own Gears

At just 3.17 meters (124.8 inches) in length, the Fiat TRIS is compact yet versatile. It’s available in three configurations: chassis-cabin, flatbed, and pickup, all riding on the same chassis and front-end design, featuring arrow-shaped LEDs and a snappy two-tone color scheme.

The utilitarian interior is all about practicality, designed with ergonomics in mind. It includes a 5.7-inch digital instrument cluster, a USB-C port, a glove box, storage nets, and a seat built for comfort during those “long working hours.” The absence of doors makes it easier for the driver to hop in and out during frequent stops. For safety and compliance, it’s equipped with a three-point seatbelt, front LEDs, a reverse buzzer, and a washer tank, ensuring the little LCV meets European homologation standards.

Impressive Capacity for Its Size

The TRIS offers a cargo area of 2.25 square meters (24.2 square feet), which is surprisingly spacious for a vehicle with such a compact footprint. It also impresses with a payload capacity of 540 kg (1,191 lbs), while keeping the Gross Vehicle Weight at just 1,025 kg (2,260 lbs).

The LCV is powered by a 48-Volt electric motor generating 12 hp (9 kW) and 45 Nm (33 lb-ft) of torque. Energy is stored in a 6.9 kWh battery from the Fiat Topolino, offering a WMTC range of 90 km (56 miles). Luckily, a full charge is completed in 4 hours and 40 minutes from a standard 220V household plug.

Three-wheeled vehicles aren’t exactly famous for their stability. But Fiat insists that the TRIS’ 12-inch wheels, wide rear track, and extended wheelbase will keep things steady. Despite its lightweight design, the EV’s chassis and tubular structure are said to match the “structural sturdiness found in passenger cars,” all while being protected from corrosion by an automotive-grade zinc coating.

More: Fiat’s Next Big Thing Is This Small Thing Reviving A Classic

Fiat CEO Olivier Francois stated: “With its debut in the Middle East and Africa, TRIS is set to transform last-mile mobility and open new doors to economic empowerment and social inclusion. And we believe its potential goes far beyond – Europe may be next, because this kind of smart, sustainable solution speaks a universal language.”

The TRIS is being produced in Morocco, alongside other Stellantis microcars like the Citroen Ami, Fiat Topolino, and Opel Rocks Electric. Pricing has yet to be announced, but expect it to be competitive and very much in line with Fiat’s reputation for affordability.

Fiat

Automakers are flocking to setup shop in a new location and it has nothing to do with Trump’s tariffs. in fact, quite the opposite, as Saudi Arabia has emerged as the automotive production capital of the Middle East.

Things kicked into high gear in 2023 when Lucid opened Advanced Manufacturing Plant 2 in the Kingdom. It assembles the Air using  semi-knock-down kits that are “pre-manufactured” at the company’s main plant in Casa Grande, Arizona.

More: Lucid Opens New Plant In Saudi Arabia, Will Build The Air EV

However, the plant aims to become a fully fledged production facility later this decade. If everything goes according to plan, it will be able to build up to 150,000 vehicles annually, which will be sold in Saudi Arabia as well as export markets.

While the Lucid plant wasn’t surprising considering Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund owned over 60% of the automaker at the time, Hyundai has now broken ground on a new plant in the King Salman Automotive Cluster within the King Abdullah Economic City. It will become the company’s first “production base” in the Middle East and it lays the “foundation for becoming a leading brand in Saudi Arabia.”

The plant is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2026 and have an annual production capacity of 50,000 units. The company didn’t say what will be built at the facility, but confirmed it will make vehicles with electric powertrains as well as internal combustion engines.

The Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Middle East (HMMME) facility is a joint venture between the automaker and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The latter will have a 70% stake, while Hyundai controls the remaining 30%.

While Saudi Arabia is an unusual spot for automotive production, their sovereign wealth fund has been enticing automakers to setup shop in the country. The investments are part of a national development project known as Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy. As part of this effort, Saudi Arabia wants to be less reliant on oil production and vehicle manufacturing is part of that.

The Middle East is home to an impressive array of supercars and exotic vehicles, which, unsurprisingly, sometimes meet unfortunate fates. These damaged cars often end up in junkyards, where they are dismantled for spare parts. Hagerty recently explored some of the vast automotive graveyards of Dubai and unearthed a few noteworthy discoveries, most notably, a wrecked example of the brand-new Lotus Eletre.

More: This Japanese Shop Is The World’s Top Destination For Restoring Nissan GT-Rs

Lotus introduced its first fully electric SUV, the Eletre, in 2022, though deliveries didn’t officially begin until 2024. The example found in the junkyard doesn’t appear to have any obvious cosmetic damage, so those shiny yellow body panels might still be good for salvage. However, the air suspension has failed, causing the car to sit lower than usual, and the door handles are popped out, likely due to some internal issues.

While the specific details of the Lotus Eletre’s condition are unclear, it’s possible that it was involved in one of the flash floods reported in the refion, which could easily spell the end for any car, especially one with so much advanced electronics inside. Depending on how high the water reached, the electronics could be toast, and the cabin could have taken on some serious damage.

An Unexpected Collection of Exotics

This yellow Eletre is just one of many sporty and luxury vehicles that keep piling up in Dubai’s junkyards. Well-known automotive photographer Larry Chen, based in Los Angeles, recently toured one of these vast yards, showcasing a variety of damaged vehicles from brands like Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Maserati.

According to Chen, it was likely one of the most colorful junkyards he’s ever visited, thanks to the eye-catching color palettes found in high-end cars.

The video, shared on Hagerty’s YouTube channe, offers a closer look at the incredible variety of vehicles and their varying degrees of damage. As Chen pointed out, the junkyard is well-organized, with specific rooms dedicated to various car parts.

That’s good news for anyone hoping to salvage some components, because, as he noted, some parts can be eye-wateringly expensive. A set of carbon ceramic brakes, for example, could cost up to $50k when purchased new. The same applies for body panels, accessories, and mechanical components from high-end cars like the V12-powered Ferrari 812 Superfast.

More: LA Junkyard Hides Treasure Trove Of Million-Dollar Classics Left To Rot

A nearby junkyard also focuses on American muscle cars, from brands like Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge, providing spare parts to meet the demand in that market.

Overall, Chen was impressed by the range of enthusiast vehicles found in the junkyard, a rare sight in many US-based yards. These types of cars, often worth far more than a standard junkyard find, tell an interesting story of how some of the world’s most coveted machines can end up discarded. You can watch the full 30-minute video of Chen’s tour above.

Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer and fourth-largest company by revenue, knows that the days of relying solely on oil are numbered. In a bid to future-proof itself, the company has entered into a partnership with BYD, the world’s second-largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, to collaborate on new energy vehicle technologies.

A Joint Development Agreement was signed by Saudi Aramco Technology Company and BYD this week. It “aims to foster the development and innovative technologies that enhance efficiency and environmental performance” as they are seeking “new energy vehicle breakthroughs.”

Read: This Tiny Engine Turns EVs Into Gas Hybrids

Limited details have been announced about the partnership, but it could have far-reaching effects across the automotive industry. As two titans of their respective industries, Aramco and BYD have huge amounts of power and can set trends and redefine markets that their competitors will have to follow.

Aramco says it is working to optimize transport efficiency, exploring advanced powertrain concepts and working on lower-carbon fuels. The Saudi giant believes that “multiple approaches” are needed for a practical energy transition.

“At the crossroads of technological innovation and environmental protection, BYD always believes that true breakthroughs come from openness and collaboration,” the company’s senior vice president, Luo Hongbin, said according to a Business Inquire report.

“We expect that SATC and our cutting-edge R&D capabilities in new energy vehicles will break the boundaries of geography and mindset to incubate solutions that combine highly-efficient performance with a lower carbon footprint. We are confident that this will support the world’s efforts to address the climate challenge.”

BYD no longer sells any consumer vehicles without a plug. Last year, it sold 4.27 million new energy vehicles. Of these, roughly 1.7 million were BEVs, while the remaining 2.48 million were PHEVs.

More: BYD’s Concepts Are All About Gold, Dragons, And Video Games

In China, the term new energy vehicles refers to those that are powered in part or primarily with electricity and alternative fuels. They include plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, and fuel-cell EVs. Aramco will logically be eager to grow the reach of BYD‘s plug-in hybrid models, which retain an internal combustion engine running on gasoline.

This partnership with BYD isn’t the only move Aramco is making in the automotive industry. The Saudi juggernaut also owns a stake in Horse Powertrain, the partnership between Renault and Geely that aims to develop and produce innovative new combustion engines. Earlier this week, Horse unveiled a hybrid powertrain concept that can add a small combustion engine to existing electric vehicle platforms.

In an industry where ownership changes faster than tire compounds at Monaco, McLaren has had its fair share of musical chairs. The McLaren Group, passed around like an unloved pet in recent years, found itself 100% owned by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund as of early last year. Then, in October, the fund handed off its stake to Abu Dhabi-based investment group CYVN Holdings. Now under new ownership, McLaren Automotive is merging with a company we bet you’ve never heard of.

That company is a British start-up called Forseven, which already has significant financial backing from CYVN Holdings. It has already hired more than 700 automotive industry experts and was planning to release several luxury models into the market. Now that it’s tied up with McLaren, these planned models will hit the market using the McLaren badge.

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The newly formed McLaren Group Holdings will consist of McLaren Automotive, Forseven, CYVN’s non-controlling stake in McLaren Racing, and the new McLaren Licensing business. CYVN is also a major stakeholder in Chinese EV brand Nio, and says McLaren will gain access to “visionary technologies and electrification.” Forseven’s own push into the automotive space has been helped by Gordon Murray Technologies, which CYVN also owns.

Thanks to the merger, McLaren’s range will grow into new product categories. No confirmation has been given about what these categories will be, but it’s reasonable to assume McLaren will grow beyond just selling supercars and hypercars, and may finally follow its rivals in building an SUV.

Future Model Plans

The brand has repeatedly denied working on an SUV in recent years, but last year, reports surfaced suggesting it could partner with BMW on an SUV. While that won’t be happening because of this deal, a different SUV project could be in the works.

Read: McLaren’s New MCL38 Editions Bring F1 Glory To The Road

Leading the newly formed McLaren Group Holdings will be Forseven CEO Nick Collins. The company is working on a six-month turnaround for McLaren Automotive and will reveal details about its future models later this year. Collins confirmed to Autocar that Forseven and McLaren will work on both ICE and EV models. It’s also possible that features like Nio’s autonomous driving features, and perhaps even its battery-swapping technologies, could be used while leveraging McLaren’s expertise in carbon fiber monocoques.

“This is a financial investment that we will build out and, in my mind, become one of the best, if not the best car company in the world,” Collins described. “That might take a very long time, but the people that back this have a long-term horizon for a sustainably profitable business that is admired around the world.”

McLaren shifted a touch over 2,000 cars last year, well behind the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, which delivered over 13,000 and over 10,000 cars, respectively. But, with McLaren venturing into new vehicle segments, its output will inevitably swell.

Tesla is facing a number of headwinds as the company has to deal with an onslaught of Chinese competitors as well as customers who are fed up with Elon Musk. The combination has resulted in attacks in the United States as well as plummeting sales in Europe.

Amid that background, Tesla is eyeing new markets to improve its fortunes. The latest is Saudi Arabia as the company has sent out RSVPs for their opening in Riyadh.

More: Tesla Cybertruck Joins Dubai Police, Looks Terrible In White

The event takes place on April 10 and guests are invited to explore the company’s lineup and “step into a world powered by solar energy, sustained by batteries, and driven by electric vehicles.” The Cybercab and Optimus robot will apparently be in attendance, and Tesla noted employees will be on hand to answer questions about ownership, home charging, and more.  

While Tesla is a newcomer to Saudi Arabia, the company already has a presence in the Middle East. In particular, there are stores and superchargers in Israel, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Tesla’s entrance into the market is interesting to note as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has poured billions into Lucid. Part of this helped to fund a plant in the country, which has begun semi knocked-down assembly of the Air. However, it’s slated to become a fully fledged production facility “after the middle of the decade.”

That isn’t the only thing making the situation awkward as Reuters noted Musk was originally banking on Saudi money to take Tesla private. This led to his infamous “funding secured” tweet, which turned out to be nonsense.

The publication also noted EVs only account for 1% of sales in the oil-rich country. This suggests Tesla’s sales problems are far from over.

Infiniti, following in the footsteps of its parent company Nissan, has dropped several teasers of upcoming models, giving us a glimpse into its future plans. Among the highlights are a new SUV Coupe, a facelifted QX60, and (naturally) an electric SUV.

QX60 Facelift and New QX65

We’ll start with the the second-generation QX60, which made its debut in 2021 and shares its foundation with the Nissan Pathfinder. Based on official teasers and spy shots, we can expect a mid-cycle refresh later this year. The redesign will include a new front end with an illuminated badge and a few other styling tweaks. So, if you were hoping for a major overhaul, it’s not exactly here. But, hey, a fresh look is still a fresh look.

More: All The New Nissan Models Arriving By 2027, From Sentra To Frontier

Next up is the Infiniti QX65 crossover coupe, set to debut in 2026. It’ll come with split LED headlights and a sharply sloped roofline inspired by the original Infiniti FX. Positioned as a sleeker, two-row alternative to the QX60, the QX65 will likely be powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS).

On the larger end of the spectrum, the QX80 will get a Sport package in 2025. This facelifted version will likely give the flagship SUV a bit more edge, though it’s unclear just how “sporty” it will actually get. Either way, it’ll be offered in Latin America and the Middle East.

Electric SUV

Infiniti has also teased a fully electric SUV, which seems to be the production version of the Vision QX Inspiration concept from 2019. Set to arrive in 2028, the new model will incorporate Infiniti’s latest “Artistry in Motion” design language, along with a range of tech features that sound impressive in the press release.

What About The Long Promised Electric Sedan?

Interestingly, the electric sedan, based on the Vision Qe concept, was notably absent from the press release. Initially, this model was supposed to debut before the SUV, but now it looks like the timeline might have shifted past 2028. It could be that Infiniti has quietly pushed back its electric car rollout in response to the US market’s shifting tax credits under President Trump. Originally, the plan was for Infiniti to manufacture its electric vehicles in Canton, Mississippi.

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