It’s been just six months since BMW unveiled the second-generation iX3, and it’s already proving to be extremely popular. Indeed, the German brand has already announced a second shift at the Debrecen plant where it’s manufactured.
During its most recent earnings report, BMW chief executive Oliver Zipse noted that production of the iX3 has been ramping up at the plant in Hungary and that European deliveries have just started. He revealed that “order books for the iX3 are full and reach well into this year,” noting it’s proving to be popular among private and fleet customers.
Read: BMW iX3 Starts Thousands Below Polestar And Audi Rivals Down Under
Zipse went on to reveal that more than 50,000 orders have been placed for the new iX3, a very impressive figure for what is the first in a new generation of EVs from BMW. At full capacity, the plant in Debrecen will be able to build up to 150,000 vehicles annually.
There’s More To Come
Making the demand for the iX3 particularly impressive is the fact that only a single version has been released at this stage. This model, badged the iX3 50 xDrive, has a sizeable 108 kWh battery and a pair of electric motors combining to produce 463 hp and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque. It has a class-leading driving range of up to 500 miles (805 km) and supports charging speeds of up to 400 kW.
By the time the new iX3 range has matured, the 50 xDrive is expected to be positioned in the middle of the family. Sitting below it will be 40 and 40 xDrive versions, both of which are expected to use a smaller battery pack, while also costing quite a bit less.
Sitting towards the top of the range should be an M60 model, potentially delivering upwards of 600 hp from its upgraded motors. As reported by BMW Blog, this model could then be joined by a fully-fledged M variant in late 2027, rated at more than 800 hp.
Production of the iX3 will also spread. BMW is also expected to produce it in China and in Mexico, which should give it enough capacity to meet global demand for the EV.
Luxury EVs have developed a nasty reputation for losing value at a frightening rate over the past few years, especially in the upper end of the market. However, you may be surprised to learn just how much this Lucid Air has depreciated since it was delivered in March of 2022.
The Air you’re looking at is the Dream Edition Performance, which was introduced as the flagship iteration of the all-electric sedan. With the exception of the almighty Sapphire, it’s the highest-powered version of the Air that’s been sold, thumping out a ridiculous 1,111 hp and 1,025 lb-ft of torque.
Read: Lucid Owner Gets A $50,000 Lesson On Depreciation
A look at the window sticker reveals the original owner paid $170,500 for the car. Given the performance it offers, the sleek exterior styling, and the upmarket interior, that’s not an unreasonable amount of money. But, after being driven 22,000 miles (35,000 km) over the past four years, the car’s value has plummeted, recently selling for $67,067 in Cars & Bids.
A Six Figure EV Bargain
The result is a staggering $103,433 wiped off the price. Spread across the 22,000 miles it covered, that works out to just under $5 lost for every mile driven.
For a sense of scale, that drop would cover a substantial chunk of a home in some US states. Bankrate data puts the median house price at about $282,400 in Alabama, $255,300 in Arkansas, $285,600 in Illinois, $230,600 in Iowa, $301,000 in Pennsylvania, and $249,300 in Michigan, to name a few. In other words, the money lost on this one car equals well over a third of a typical home in those places.
While it’s hard not to feel bad for the original owner, it’s nice to see a car as good as the Air becoming more accessible. The listing reveals the performance sedan has been fastidiously maintained over the past four years, and has had several parts replaced and numerous recall campaigns completed.
Off the line, the Air Dream Edition Performance can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 2.5 seconds and storm down the quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds. Thanks to the sizeable 118 kWh battery pack, it can also travel up to 451 miles on a charge when equipped with the 21-inch wheels like this one.
Then there’s the cabin. While the Air may often be compared to the Tesla Model S, its interior is more luxurious and better equipped. Key features include Nappa full-grain leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front massage seats, a 34-inch infotainment and gauge cluster display, and a 21-speaker sound system. This Air also includes the Santa Monica interior trim, combining dark blue and light cream-colored leather.
Bad news for the first owner, great news for the next one. So the question is, would you buy a used Lucid Air knowing just how quickly these things depreciate?
Cars & Bids
Gas prices are already starting to climb as tensions in the Middle East push oil markets higher. The increases haven’t been dramatic yet, but depending on how the war with Iran unfolds, they could keep creeping up for quite some time. How bad would it have to get for those of you with gas cars to switch to an EV?
According to AAA, the U.S. average recently climbed to about $3.25 per gallon after a sharp weekly jump, as crude markets react to the fallout from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. And there’s a good chance this is only the beginning.
Analysts say the biggest risk is disruption to oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important energy choke-points in the world. If supplies stay tight, gas prices could keep rising for weeks or even months.
More: Global Oil Shock Triggers The Largest Ever Strategic Reserve Release As Gas Prices Surge
Recent forecasts tied to the ongoing war suggest crude could stay elevated for a while. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects oil to remain high enough to push U.S. gasoline prices higher in 2026, even if the conflict cools down, with average prices projected around the mid-$3 range.
In more extreme scenarios, oil staying near or above $100 per barrel for an extended period could drive inflation higher and make everyday driving significantly more expensive. In fact, Reuters reports that some big names in the banking and finance industry worry that it’ll climb to $120 a barrel. Some analysts think $150 a barrel is possible.
For reference, when oil prices hit $130 a barrel in 2022, gas prices reached about $5 per gallon. At $150 or more, we could see $6 or $7 a gallon fuel prices. That’s exactly the kind of situation where EVs suddenly start looking a lot more appealing, even to those who wouldn’t normally consider buying one.
So where do you draw the line? If fuel prices keep climbing with no sign of relief, when would you finally consider parking the gas-powered car and moving to an EV?
Most people outside China have probably never heard of the Maextro S800. Yet this large Chinese luxobarge has quietly begun outselling some very familiar names. In recent months, it has moved more units than the Porsche Panamera, BMW 7-Series, and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class combined in China.
Foreign automakers are all struggling to compete with homegrown competition in the Chinese market, not least of all, Porsche. The German sports car brand is at a problematic stage, experiencing one of the biggest drops in sales, both in China, and globally.
Read: Porsche Is Shutting Down A Third Of Its Dealerships In China
The number of deliveries in China fell by approximately 26 percent last year, Bloomberg reports. And, for all its territories in 2025, Porsche had supplied approximately 279,449 cars to customers all around the world. That’s 10 percent below the year prior.
Chinese Demand Wanes
For years, China had been Porsche’s single most important growth engine. Wealthy buyers were drawn in by the brand’s reputation for performance and status. That dynamic has shifted with the emergence of a new generation of consumers, who are more aware of the advantages of electric vehicles and the idea of electric propulsion.
Combine that with Chinese automaker’s unique grasp of how to cater to the wants and needs of the home market consumer, as well as the ability to consistently beat Western offerings on price and performance, and it’s little wonder why cars like the S800 are doing so well in a segment that was once rich with Germany’s finest.
Still, the rate at which Chinese automakers have been able to capitalize within the luxury automobile market is nothing short of alarming. Their model lines are competing head-on with long-established luxury brands throughout Europe and, in most instances, provide highly advanced digital and battery technology that buyers are seeking.
However, for consumers, local EV makers are viewed as a representation of innovation, rather than being compromised, especially when it comes to younger buyers.
Strong Local Offerings
Brands like Huawei’s Maextro, Xiaomi, and BYD have gained market share in the luxury EV range. The S800, for instance, starts at the equivalent price of $103,000, which is around 40 percent cheaper than the Panamera.
Xiaomi’s SU7 EV, meanwhile, is not only quicker than the all-electric Taycan to 100 km/h (2.1 seconds vs 2.7 seconds), it has a higher top speed (350 km/h vs 270 km/h) and offers nearly double the horsepower and torque (1,548 PS / 1,770 Nm vs 884 PS / 890 Nm). And it does all that, while costing a third of the price of the Porsche.
Having expansive product offerings and high levels of domestic loyalty, such firms have started attracting clients who, not too long ago, would have only considered a car with a foreign badge as worthy.
But, in the case of Porsche, this change is a challenging fact. Prestige alone is no longer sufficient to ensure success. So much so that Bloomberg reports that Porsche is not only downsizing its dealer structure, but is also in the process of winding down its EV charging network.
Righting The Ship
Under the leadership of its new CEO, Michael Leiters, Porsche has started to re-evaluate its strategy. The company is leaning on its traditional strengths, focusing on relatively high-margin sports cars and SUVs and pushing a bit heavier on the full complexity electrification. The idea is not to compete on price with the domestic manufacturers of EVs but to shore up what makes the brand unique.
Leiters has told investors the company is looking to see margins improve, though modestly this year. These difficult times have tightened Porsche’s operations’ profit margins, and the company hopes for better cost control and a well-defined product strategy to stabilize performance. The approach is cautious optimism as opposed to quick promises of a turnaround.
China Still Remains Part Of The Plan
Even though Porsche are scaling back their presence in China, they’re not ready to throw in the towel just yet. “The needs of Chinese customers have fundamentally changed,” Porsche China President Alexander Pollich said. “We are a niche brand, a small-scale manufacturer that can hardly change the economic environment, nor reverse the overall market trend. What we can do is to truly examine ourselves and strengthen the core capabilities.”
Porsche will be launching the all-electric Cayenne in the near future and will also introduce more gasoline-powered and plug-in hybrid SUVs, with China-only models high on the agenda. To support this effort, the company is establishing an all-new development hub in Shanghai that will operate independently from Germany.
First on the agenda is designing a new infotainment system that can better match the unique demands of Chinese buyers, likely with native integration for the local apps many owners use daily, rather than relying on the global software stack developed in Germany. In a market that is evolving as quickly as China’s, that kind of local focus may prove just as important as performance or prestige.
Volkswagen’s replacement for the ID.4 is not shaping up as a clean-sheet electric SUV. Instead, the company seems set to give the existing formula a fairly thorough rethink, reworking what it already has rather than tearing it up and starting again from scratch.
And it will likely arrive wearing a badge most buyers already know. Volkswagen is preparing to pin the Tiguan name onto what will become its core compact EV, a move meant to make the brand’s electric lineup feel less like a collection of tech codes and more like the VW showroom people already recognize.
Read: VW Locks Gas Tiguan In Until 2035 With Two Major Updates Planned
Recent prototype sightings give us a good idea of where the design is headed. Using those clues, we put together a production-style rendering and gathered everything currently known about the upcoming model.
Design Direction
Arguably, the electric Tiguan won’t get your pulse racing in the same way, say, Mazda’s new CX-6e will, but that’s okay. Visually, the ID. Tiguan retains the ID.4’s underlying proportions but refines them with more conventional SUV cues.
Also: Kia Killed The Stinger, But An EV8 GT Might Redeem Everything
The front fascia is a squarer affair, ditching the rounded look in favor of rectangular LED headlights connected by a full-width light bar and an illuminated VW badge. A more upright bumper with subtle vertical elements exudes minimalism.
In profile, it now has a straighter shoulder line, revised window graphics, and linear lower cladding. The roofline remains largely unchanged, while the flush door handles have been replaced by a conventional ‘pull-action’ setup. Out back, a full-width taillight cluster mirrors the front, while a revised bumper and subtle roof spoiler clean up the overall look.
Buttons Are Back!
Inside, the previous and much-despised haptic feedback and slider setup from the ID.4 will be ditched. A large infotainment screen will remain, but like the new ID. Polo, it will bring back proper physical buttons for the steering wheel and HVAC controls, plus an actual volume knob.
See: Ford’s $30K Electric Pickup Wants To Beat Cybertruck At Its Own Game
On the tech front, it will bring AI integration with ChatGPT, conversational voice commands, and other connected services. Interior quality is also set to improve, with increased recycled materials and fabric surfaces. Occupant space will largely stay the same, offering generous rear-seat legroom and a flat floor.
Under The Skin
Under the skin, the ID. Tiguan will continue to ride on Volkswagen Group’s MEB architecture, most likely in its updated MEB+ form. The overall battery and chassis layout should remain familiar, with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear suspension. Expect recalibrated driver-assistance systems and a handful of upgraded safety features to round out the updates.
As previously reported, powertrain options are also expected to closely mirror the current lineup with minor tweaks. Base variants will continue to use a single motor on the rear axle, developing around 282 hp (210 kW). Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive versions will yield close to 335 hp (250 kW).
Also: The Next Hyundai Elantra Will Look Nothing Like The Car In Your Driveway
The 400-volt system will employ LFP batteries with roughly 77kWh to 86kWh of capacity, targeting WLTP metrics in the 311-342 mile (500–550km) range, alongside improved DC fast-charging capability.
Rivals and Reveal
When it arrives, the ID. Tiguan will find itself in very busy territory. The usual suspects are all here, including the Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq, Zeekr 7X, and Peugeot e-5008. Volkswagen is expected to reveal the model sometime in 2026, with sales likely following in 2027.
So, what do you make of the ID. Tiguan’s familiar, slightly more conventional look? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Electric cars were supposed to take over the world in a neat upward line. Instead the global EV market and new-vehicle buyers threw in a curveball and carmakers are scrambling to adapt.
Approximately 1.1 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide in February, according to new data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, which sounds impressive until you look closer. Sales were down 11 percent compared with the same month last year and also down 11 percent compared with January.
Related: These Used EVs Are Selling Faster Than Gas Cars In Today’s Market
So yes, EV demand is still big. But it’s not as big as it was, and it differs wildly from region to region. Europe, for instance, is still booming. EV sales there are up 21 percent so far this year, helped heavily by subsidies and government incentives. Germany (up 26 percent) and France (+30 percent) are leading the charge, and Italy’s market has nearly doubled thanks to generous EU backed incentives.
Ford’s Tough Time
Meanwhile, North America is heading the opposite direction. True, February sales climbed 8 percent, but year-to-date they’re down a staggering 36 percent as demand weakens. Some automakers are feeling the pain more than others. Ford’s EV sales have reportedly dropped 70 percent so far this year.
China, still the biggest EV market, is somewhere in between. Domestic EV sales are down 26 percent since the start of the year after the country reintroduced purchase taxes and tweaked its trade in incentives. But Chinese brands are making up for that by exporting more EVs than ever. In the first two months of 2026 alone, Chinese EV exports more than doubled and topped half a million units.
| YTD ’26 | Change vs ’25 | |
| Global | 2.2 million | -8% |
| China | 1.1 million | -26% |
| Europe | 0.6 million | 21% |
| North America | 0.17 million | -36% |
| Rest of World | 0.37 million | 84% |
For automakers the slowdown creates a practical problem. Billions have been invested in battery factories designed to feed a huge wave of EV demand. And when that demand softens, those batteries still need a job.
That’s why more automaker and suppliers are turning toward energy storage. Large grid scale battery systems are suddenly becoming a convenient way to soak up spare production while also helping stabilize electricity networks.
VW Hooks Up
Volkswagen, for example, recently switched on its first large scale battery storage facility in Germany. In Salzgitter, the VW Group’s energy subsidiary Elli has connected a storage system to the grid with an output of approximately 20 megawatts (MW) and a storage capacity of 40 megawatt-hours (MWh).
Instead of powering cars, the batteries help store renewable electricity and release it when the grid needs extra juice. Other automakers including Tesla, BYD, GM, Ford, Renault, Mercedes and Hyundai are also either already selling energy storage systems or working on them.
While the world continues to grapple with virtually universal rises in pump prices, could we be in for an EV renaissance? As automakers wrestle with long-term electrification strategies, another trend is gaining attention, the growing acceptance of used electric vehicles in the USA.
Yes, EVs are no longer just for first adopters. In the States, the falling resale value and a rising number of used cars in inventory are introducing normal consumers to the used EV marketplace much faster than expected. What may previously have felt like an experiment now looks like a practical solution to stubbornly high new car prices.
Read: These Used EVs Are Selling Faster Than Gas Cars In Today’s Market
Used EV demand is climbing at a noticeable pace. In January alone, sales were 21 percent higher than a year earlier. Figures cited by Reuters show the trend stretching across the entire year, with used EV sales in 2025 ending up 35 percent higher than in 2024.
EV Depreciation Is Real
Price movement is a major reason. Data from Cox Automotive, gathered across major automotive marketplaces, indicates that the decline in prices for used EVs has been much sharper in the past year, narrowing the gap between them and comparable gas-powered vehicles.
The premium for used EVs over comparable gasoline vehicles narrowed to $1,376 in January from $2,591 in December. Analysts attribute that change to a glut of lease returns, deep discounts on new electric models, and federal tax credits that are evolving how shoppers crunch the numbers.
| Vehicle | Units Sold |
| Tesla Model 3 | 72,673 |
| Tesla Model Y | 53,847 |
| Tesla Model S | 18,257 |
| Ford Mach-E | 16,355 |
| Chevy Bolt | 14,103 |
It was not only Tesla showrooms that were impacted when Tesla reduced the prices of three new models in 2023 and 2024. These reductions lowered resale in the entire electric market. When the new cars had gone cheaper, used cars were forced to be drop their prices too.
Add to that car rental firm Hertz’s large-scale sale of Teslas, and you suddenly have many more second-hand options in the used EV market.
Confidence in EV Ownership Is Improving
Affordability helps, but confidence is just as important. Data on battery performance still continues to show that modern packs are built to last well past 100,000 miles. Most manufacturers offer long battery warranties, which gives peace of mind to shoppers who fear costly repairs.
Charging access has also improved. Public fast charging stations are being added along highways and in urban areas with the help of both private companies and federal funding. With increased visibility and reliability of infrastructure, the fear of being stranded with a low battery for many drivers is a thing of the past.
Mercedes is cooking up its first fully electric C-Class and AMG clearly isn’t planning to miss out on the performance possibilities. Fresh spy shots show a hotter version of the upcoming C-Class with EQ Technology testing in disguise, and even under camouflage it looks ready to pick a fight.
At first glance the prototype already looks different from the traditional combustion C-Class formula. Instead of the familiar three-box sedan shape, this EV shows off a sleeker fastback profile. It feels a little sportier and a little less buttoned up, if less dynamic than the new BMW i3.
Related: The Mercedes C-Class Is About To Do Something It Should Have Done Years Ago
Look closer and the AMG clues start piling up. The test car rides on big forged alloy wheels that barely hide the massive drilled brake rotors behind them. There’s also a subtle but unmistakable party trick at the back. Tucked just under the rear window sits a pop up active spoiler to keep the EV tied down at high speed.
Up front and out back you can also spot Mercedes’ latest star themed lighting signatures. The distinctive star-design daytime running lights are becoming a brand trademark for the next generation of EVs, and together with a huge new illuminated grille they’ll make the production C-Class instantly recognizable as a Benz even at night.
Three Motors, Up To 800 hp
Under the skin the AMG-flavored C-Class EV shares its MB.EA architecture with the recently revealed GLC with EQ Technology. That platform is designed specifically for electric models and supports an 800 volt electrical system for ultra fast charging and improved efficiency. Mercedes has confirmed the stock non-AMG models’ 94 kWh battery will offer a driving range of up to 497 miles (800 km), though the performance derivative will likely sacrifice a few miles.
In return, it’ll generate far more muscle. According to our spy photographer, the system output could reach 789 hp (800 PS / 588 kW) thanks to Mercedes’ new eATS 2.0 motor generation and a tri-motor setup.
New technology, old foes
If those numbers hold true, the electric C-Class AMG might deliver performance that embarrasses plenty of old school V8 sports sedans. Competition will be fierce, though. BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse-based i3 will spawn its own M performance versions, and expect Audi to cook up some speedy versions of the electric A4, too.
Mercedes is expected to officially unveil the electric C-Class lineup later this year, though we’ll have to wait a few months after that to see the AMG version in full.
Tesla has a knack for dropping surprises at just the right time, and its latest patent has sent anticipation for the new Roadster skyrocketing. A filing published this month describes a new approach to performance seating, one that replaces the normal train of metal brackets and hinges with a single sculpted shell.
The document that was first spotted by Teslarati outlines a monolithic frame that integrates the seat base, backrest, headrest, and side supports into a single composite structure. It’s a radical departure from the multi-piece setups of most sports cars. The fact that such materials as Kevlar-nylon and carbon-nylon composites are mentioned gives us an indication of Tesla’s purpose of reducing unnecessary weight while providing the seat with more strength.
Read: This Might Be The Tesla Roadster’s Biggest Update Since 2017
Conventional seats also depend on dozens of connected parts, each of which adds mass and introduces possible points of failure. By making the seat all in one, the engineers are hoping for a lighter build with fewer places for the wear and tear of time.
Design Built For Performance
The patent also points out the way Tesla wants these seats to behave. Rather than having metal gears recline the structure, they depend on what they call an integrated flexible hinge which means the material itself flexes where it is needed to do so. And that allows the frame to bend in certain areas, but be rigid in others, enabling designers to fine-tune the seat for support during hard acceleration or tight cornering.
Tesla isn’t stopping at the frame though. The patent substitutes for ordinary electric motors and rails with small actuators that can move the seat in various directions. With the six degrees of freedom, the system is capable of moving the seat with more precision than most luxury vehicles. It’s a degree of adjustability normally reserved for high-end performance interiors.
An Imminent Reveal?
This patent comes at a time when Tesla fans also are watching closely. Elon Musk recently announced that the Roadster’s design reveal is on April 1, and it’s cause for high expectations for a car that has been stuck in the development limbo for years.
The timeline has stretched far beyond the original plan. Tesla first showed a Roadster prototype back in 2017 and initially targeted a 2020 launch. That deadline came and went. Still, recent trademark filings for updated Roadster badges suggest the company may finally be preparing to reveal the production version in full.
Weight reduction has always been one of Tesla’s tenets as an engineering company, as well as the move to large castings for structural components. A more graduated and integrated seating configuration makes a lot of sense in that strategy, especially for a vehicle that is eyeing extreme acceleration figures.
Sleek estate cars have become somewhat of a rarity these days. Buyers keep drifting toward crossovers and SUVs, and manufacturers have largely followed the money. Traditional wagons, especially the low and sporty ones, now feel like a niche choice. China, however, still has a few brands willing to keep the format alive. Avatr is one of them.
The company has now previewed its newest addition, a wagon called the 06T. Similar in size and profile to the Zeekr 007 GT, Avatr’s new model will be sold both as a range-extender and as a fully-electric wagon. It also has a seductive Shooting Brake shape that should get many car enthusiasts excited.
Read: Avatr Just Extended The 06 In More Ways Than One
Measuring 4,940 mm (194.4 inches) long, 1,960 mm (77.1 inches) wide, and 1,475 mm (58 inches) tall, the 06T rides on a 2,940 mm (115.7-inch) wheelbase and shares its underpinnings with the existing 06 sedan. The sedan’s rear design has always looked a bit awkward, but stretching the roof into a wagon shape helps smooth out the proportions and gives the overall profile a more natural look.
The Juicy Details
Pictured here in a new color known as Liujin Orange, the fully electric version uses an 89.33 kWh battery pack. Buyers will have two rear-wheel-drive EV options to choose from. The entry model uses a pair of 302 hp (225 kW) motors, while the more powerful version upgrades to two 337 hp (251 kW) units.
Sitting above these two variants in the range will be an all-wheel drive variant. In addition to having the two 337 hp motors at the rear, it also includes a 282 hp (210 kW) unit at the front, combining to produce 955 hp (712 kW). There’s no word on how quickly it’ll hit 60 mph (96 km/h), but we know all models will be capped at a 149 mph (240 km/h) top speed.
Avatr will offer the three EV variants alongside an extended-range version of the 06T. This model uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine producing 154 hp (115 kW), which functions solely as a generator for the battery pack. Propulsion comes from two 248 hp (185 kW) electric motors mounted at the rear axle. Battery capacity has not yet been disclosed, and there is still no information on either the combined driving range or the all-electric range.
The new year hasn’t been kind to traditional automakers, many of which now find themselves confronting an EV reality in the U.S. that looks very different from what they had been planning in boardrooms not long ago. A mix of policy changes and cooling demand is forcing several manufacturers to rethink electrification plans that, until recently, sat at the center of their long-term strategies.
Read: Honda Cancels 0 Sedan, 0 SUV, And Acura RSX EVs
Honda is the latest to change course. The company confirmed this week that it will scrap all three electric vehicles it had planned to build in America, citing weakening demand, especially in the US market. The move places it alongside Ford, GM, and Stellantis, all of which have recently scaled back their own EV programs.
Taken together, the retreat is proving expensive. Those four automakers alone have absorbed close to $70 billion in losses tied to their EV investments, reports Auto News. And that figure doesn’t even include other manufacturers, such as Porsche, which have also begun dialing back their electrification plans.
The drop in EV demand in the US can be largely traced to decisions made by the Trump administration. New government policies not only encourage manufacturers to prioritize combustion-powered models, but the removal of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit has also further weakened demand at a time when adoption was already slowing.
In fact, EV registrations fell 48 percent in December compared to last year, dropping to just 75,427 vehicles. As a result, EV market share slipped from 9.9 percent to 5.3 percent.
The EV Graveyard
Ford has already revealed that its retreat from EVs has cost roughly $21 billion. The company scrapped plans for a three-row electric SUV and ended production of the F-150 Lightning last year after it failed to meet sales expectations.
Stellantis recently said its EV pullback will cost about $26 billion, following the cancellation of several electric models. GM has also stepped back, halting production of the Chevrolet BrightDrop electric van in Canada and repurposing a Michigan plant for gas trucks after originally planning to build EVs there.
As noted by Auto News, Honda is booking 2.5 trillion yen or $15.7 billion in expenses and losses due to its EV U-turn. In addition to killing off the 0 Saloon and the 0 SUV, the car manufacturer has killed off the all-electric Acura RSX. That sleek coupe SUV was unveiled as a pre-production prototype last year and would have been the first to use Honda’s in-house global EV platform.
Honda is booking 2.5 trillion yen or $15.7 billion in expenses and losses tied to its EV U-turn. Alongside the cancellation of the 0 Saloon and the 0 SUV, the automaker has also killed the all-electric Acura RSX. The stylish coupe SUV debuted as a pre-production prototype last year and was set to become the first model built on Honda’s in-house global EV platform.
Honda’s big electric push in the United States may soon get a lot smaller, and not just because the company has scrapped three new EVs at the eleventh hour. According to a report from Auto News citing AutoForecast Solutions, Honda isn’t planning a second generation of the Prologue crossover once the current production run ends later this year. And if that happens, the brand would effectively exit the US EV market altogether.
The Prologue only launched in 2024 and initially looked like a success story. Nearly 39,000 buyers took one home in 2025, helped along by heavy incentives and a handy federal tax credit worth $7,500. Then the incentives disappeared, and so did much of the demand.
Related: That Strange Clicking Noise In Honda’s Prologue Is Now A Lawsuit
After the US government scrapped the EV tax credit, Prologue sales reportedly plunged. Deliveries in early 2026 have fallen about 74 percent compared with the same period last year, Auto News reports. Honda has already cut production roughly in half and now expects to sell fewer than 18,000 units this year.
We asked Honda about the report and it refused to confirm that the Prologue was on its way out, but didn’t categorically deny it either.
“The Automotive News article is based purely on speculation,” a spokesperson told us. “The Prologue remains in our lineup.”
Regardless of whether it stays or goes, the Prologue was always a slightly unusual project anyway. It isn’t built by Honda but by General Motors at a plant in Mexico using GM’s electric platform. Honda essentially borrowed the technology as a fast way to get an EV into American showrooms while it developed its own architecture. Acura already cancelled its version of the Prologue, the ZDX, last September, after just one year of production.
Now the company appears ready to pull back even further. Earlier this week, Honda confirmed it is scrapping several future electric models planned for North America and due to be built in Ohio. Those three models shown in the gallery below are the 0 Series SUV, the futuristic 0 Series Saloon, and the upcoming Acura RSX crossover.
Suppliers Were Already Up And Running
The strategy shift could cost the automaker up to $15.8 billion in write-downs and expenses, and suppliers Auto News spoke to are also in line for some hurt. They’d already started building RSX parts and had begun hiring and training staff in readiness for the start of EV production in July.
Honda dealers, however, aren’t exactly mourning the change. Many say customers simply prefer hybrids right now and are happy to skip expensive full electric models altogether.
If you were among those who rushed to buy a new Lucid Gravity, you may want to look away now. Early resale results can reveal a lot about how the market values a new model. A flagship Dream Edition with just 3,500 miles (5,632 km) has sold for $96,000, nearly $46,000 below its original MSRP, offering a clear snapshot of how buyers currently price the SUV on the used market.
There’s a lot to like about the Gravity, particularly the Dream Edition model. It features a 123 kWh battery pack, four electric motors, and a combined 1,070 hp and 909 lb-ft of torque. Does anyone need an SUV with this much power? No, but being able to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.1 seconds and storm down the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds in a luxury SUV is still pretty cool.
Read: He Sold His $142K Lucid At A Huge Loss After Just 400 Miles Of EV Reality
The Dream Edition is also equipped with all the luxury features you could ever want, including the Comfort and Convenience Package, which adds soft-close doors and power rear window shades, alongside an AR HUG, dynamic ambient lighting, and Nappa leather upholstery and seats with heated, ventilated, and massaging functions.
Perhaps the biggest downside of the Dream Edition is the cost. In the US, it has an MSRP of $141,550, including destination charges, which feels like a lot, particularly given that the entry-level Gravity Touring with 560 hp is available from just $79,900.
Sure, it has roughly half the power, but most of the same features. Additionally, the 828-hp Gravity Grand Touring starts at $94,900, and also seems like a relatively bargain compared to the Dream Edition.
As the Cars & Bids auction shows, depreciation has been significant. This particular example was registered in early December and driven just 3,500 miles, yet it lost $45,550 in value. That works out to roughly $13 lost for every mile driven.
Ineos says development of the smaller Fusilier is back underway, nearly two years after the project was paused as enthusiasm for EVs began to cool. Exactly when it might appear in showrooms is still unclear, but the program itself is no longer sitting on the sidelines.
The company first pulled the wraps off the Fusilier in early 2024, outlining plans for a new bespoke skateboard platform underneath. Both a fully electric version and a range-extender variant were on the table from the start. In the bigger picture, the model is expected to become a key gateway into the Ineos lineup, positioned as a smaller, more attainable alternative to the Grenadier.
Read: New Ineos Fusilier EV Is A Smaller SUV With Optional Range-Extender
“The concept of the Fuselier – something that’s a bit smaller than the Grenadier – is still a vision that is alive and well in the company, and we’re actively pursuing what that vehicle would look like, or a vehicle like that would look like going forward,” the region director for Ineos in Australia, New Zealand, and APAC, Justin Hocevar told Car Expert. “That’s what we’ll be talking about in the not-too-distant future. In terms of announcing the timeline, I don’t think it’s years away.”
What’s Changed?
According to Hocevar, Ineos was “charging into” the Fusilier project too quickly, and had to pause it to ensure a range-extender powertrain could work with it.
“The project morphed over time, and part of the pause on that project had a lot to do with our desire to have an alternative new-energy powertrain in that vehicle – hybridization or a range-extender solution,” he said.
Hocevar stopped short of putting a firm date on the Fusilier’s arrival. Still, his suggestion that the wait is not “years away” hints that the project is moving along at a healthy pace, which should reassure anyone keeping an eye on Ineos’ next move.
Whenever it finally lands in showrooms, the compact off-roader will enter a growing niche. Mercedes-Benz is preparing a smaller G-Class and Land Rover has a baby Defender in the pipeline. Ineos appears ready to take a slightly different approach, leaning toward a more traditional, less tech-heavy interpretation of the segment.
Stellantis has already made its position clear when it comes to competing with China’s fast-moving EV industry. Rather than trying to match those manufacturers head on, the group chose a different path, investing in Leapmotor and taking responsibility for selling the brand’s cars across Western markets.
Now it is strengthening another partnership as well. The automaker has deepened its relationship with German tuning house Irmscher, suggesting Stellantis sees more value in outside expertise than in building a dedicated in-house performance division like many rival brands have done.
This second collaboration between Leapmotor and Irmscher is for the new B10, sitting below the slightly larger C10 in the company’s range. Known as the B10 Dynamic, the finished vehicle will be capped at just 500 units and has undergone a series of updates. Could you call it desirable? Probably not, but it does make the B10 that little more interesting.
Read: Stellantis’ Leapmotor Found An Unlikely Ally In Germany’s Tuning Scene
Immediately making this B10 differ from a regular one is that it sits 1.1 inches (30 mm) lower, presumably due to the fitment of lowering springs. A new set of 19-inch wheels has then been installed, perfectly fitting within the arches. According to Imrscher, chassis changes mean the B10 offers better steering feel and reduced body movement, improving handling.
A True Tuner Special
Further adding to the sporty vibe of the B10 are black graphics positioned along the doors and running across the rear quarter panels. These graphics, combined with the black wing mirrors, the wheels, black bumpers, and black rocker panels, may look a little too wannabe-racer for some. For others, they may be just about right.
Stellantis has only released photos of the B10 Dynamic’s exterior, but says the interior has been tweaked too, now including Irmscher embroidery and decorative stitching. There’s also an aluminum plaque in the cabin, denoting each car as one of 500.
Each example being built is based on the B10 Pro Max. This version has a 67.1 kWh battery pack and a 218 hp motor driving the rear wheels. Irmscher hasn’t touched the powertrain, so those figures remain the same. As for the price? It’s a rather hefty €38,500 ($44,300).
A mother is facing multiple charges after authorities allege she assaulted a school bus driver while trying to board her children in Cobb County, Georgia, reported WSB-TV 2.
According to the news report, Zaria Stovall is accused of boarding a Marietta City Schools bus and confronting the driver Feb. 24.
Police say via the article that Stovall refused to get off the bus and threatened the driver. The encounter escalated into a physical altercation, during which Stovall allegedly struck the driver and threw a spray bottle at him.
Stovall’s children were on the bus at the time of the incident. Authorities have not said what prompted the confrontation.
She was charged with simple assault, simple battery, criminal trespassing and disruption of public-school education, according to authorities.
Stovall later posted a $5,000 bond, jail records show. Authorities have not released additional details about the driver’s condition.
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The post Mother Faces Charges After Allegedly Assaulting School Bus Driver appeared first on School Transportation News.
Police arrested a 71-year-old school bus driver in Florida and charged him with lascivious molestation after a 9-year-old student reported inappropriate behavior during a school bus ride.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, the case began March 4, when a school resource deputy received a report about concerning behavior involving a bus driver. The school bus driver allegedly asked a 9-year-old student to lift her dress while she was riding a school bus.
Deputies immediately launched a preliminary investigation. According to the press release, investigators gathered additional information during follow-up interviews that prompted the case to be referred to the agency’s Criminal Investigations Division for further review.
Authorities identified the suspect as Edwin Garcia of Port St. Lucie. Following the investigation, Garcia was arrested and charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under the age of 12 by an offender 18 years of age or older, officials said.
Garcia was transported to the St. Lucie County Jail for processing. The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active, and anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact authorities.
Related: Former Georgia School Bus Monitor Charged After Alleged Student Assault
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The post School Bus Driver Arrested for Allegedly Asking Student to Hike Skirt appeared first on School Transportation News.
Dreame, best known for robotic vacuums and home gadgets, is now chasing something far larger than dust. The Chinese tech company has revealed another addition to its planned automotive lineup, a crossover concept called the Nebula Next 01X. The tall, coupe-like EV made its public debut this week at the China Home Appliances and Consumer Electronics Expo.
The tech firm has not put a single production car into showrooms yet, but its automotive ambitions are already split across three separate brands: Nebula Next, Kosmera, and Star Motor. The 01X builds directly on the Nebula Next 01 coupe revealed back in January.
Read: Chinese Vacuum Brand Drops A 1,876 hp Taycan-Trampling Reality At CES
That car sat low and sleek, but much of its styling DNA has simply been lifted and stretched upward here, turning the concept into something that lands closer to the Ferrari Purosangue end of the crossover spectrum.
Tech To Match The Looks
Dreame’s Star Motor brand has already shown a willingness to borrow heavily from existing cars. With the 01X, the company seems to be borrowing from itself instead. The crossover closely mirrors the earlier 01 Coupe. It wears the same vivid green paint, and the lower sections of the body are trimmed in carbon fiber. The Ferrari-inspired LED headlights appear unchanged, and the rear end follows almost exactly the same design theme.
For as wild as the shape of the SUV is, it’s perhaps what’s found under the skin that’s most interesting. Dreame claims to have developed the first volume-production-ready solid-state battery pack, aiming to start a small number of deliveries this year before ramping up production in 2027.
According to Dreame, the 01X’s battery pack is a 60Ah unit with an energy density of 450 Wh/kg. Thanks to battery packs delivering a stupendous 1,876 hp, the vehicle can apparently hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 1.8 seconds.
Whether or not the 01X ever lands in the hands of buyers remains to be seen. While we’ve seen plenty of established companies venture in the world of EVs successfully, such as Xiaomi, as well as numerous startups like Nio do the same, we’ve seen even more companies try and fail to do so.
Dreame has big ambitions, but creating one-off concepts is much easier than building mass-market production models, so it still has a long way to come.
Photos Autohome
Every automaker has its own take on how infotainment should work. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay make that experience far more uniform. Up until now, though, Lucid Gravity owners haven’t had access to either. Now, a big software update is coming, and it’ll remedy the situation for the luxury SUV owners.
The update is part of the latest version of Lucid’s software, and it allows drivers to connect their phones to access navigation, music, messages, and apps directly through the vehicle’s infotainment display. Both wireless and wired connections are supported, depending on the device. According to Lucid, the rollout begins in North America first, with other markets expected to follow shortly after.
CarPlay And Android Auto Arrive
The addition of smartphone mirroring may seem like a small update, but it’s a big deal for owners. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are among the most requested features in modern vehicles, and their absence has been a frequent complaint from Lucid customers despite the company’s otherwise advanced software system.
“Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are two of the most sought-after features by our customers,” said Emad Dlala, SVP of Engineering and Software at Lucid. “We are now providing a seamless connection between mobile devices and the Lucid Gravity. We’re excited to introduce these features to Lucid Gravity, which now offers even greater comfort and convenience for owners.”
Read: Lucid Shows Its Pedal-Free Future As It Confirms Subscription For Its Current Cars
From here on, every new Gravity leaving the factory will include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment. The Air sedan already lists both systems on its infotainment menu, so the SUV was the obvious next step.
Do Older Gravity Models Get It?
Yes, existing Gravity owners will receive the capability through the OTA update without needing to visit a dealer. This is a key selling point for the brand; not just these pieces of software themselves, but the ability to update the car.
According to Lucid, more than 95 percent of the vehicle’s functions can be refined or expanded through over-the-air updates. Put another way, it hopes to consistently introduce new capabilities without hardware changes. This move will no doubt add value to potential buyers.
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