BYD makes more EVs than anyone, and it makes them for less money than most Western automakers can comprehend. But there is a cost, and it’s being paid by the workers in its supply chains, according to a new report investigating human rights risks in the EV industry.

Amnesty International’s Recharge for Rights study ranked 13 automakers according to how they address human rights risks in their mineral supply chains. BYD came bottom with a score of just 11 out of a potential 90 points, with Mitsubishi not far behind on 13 points.

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Hyundai (21), Geely and Nissan (22 apiece) came out looking like bad guys but Tesla (49) and top-rated Mercedes (51) performed far better. Not that even Benz’s score was enough to please the Amnesty investigators, who suggest that only a total of 68 points or more shows an adequate commitment to human rights issues.

Although EVs don’t produce tailpipe emissions, their batteries need huge quantities of minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. And while many of us are aware of the environmental damage caused by mining lithium, Amnesty International says the cobalt mining industry is ripe for the abuse of workers, some of whom in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, which generates 25 percent of the world’s supply, are children.

BYD was marked down for refusing to reveal the name of the smelter, refiner, and mine that supply its minerals, but Geely, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and GM were all guilty of a lack of transparency. In contrast, the best-rated brands were able to provide supply-chain mapping.

Human rights score

“As the global transition to electric vehicles gains momentum, drives global competition and allows for huge profit, Amnesty International is calling on all car makers to improve their human rights due diligence efforts and bring them in line with international human rights standards,” said the organization’s Agnès Callamard.

The need for automakers to prove the origins of their batteries’ minerals to be eligible for EV credits has improved transparency, Wired notes. And there are steep fines (and market access restrictions) awaiting companies who flout rules governing supply chain welfare contained in the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive that came into force in Europe this summer.

But Callamard believes there’s more to be done.

“Those lagging behind need to work harder and faster to show that human rights isn’t just a fluff phrase, but an issue they take seriously,” she says. “It’s time to shift gears and ensure electric vehicles don’t leave behind a legacy of human rights abuses – instead, the industry must drive a just energy future that leaves no one behind.”

America is a deeply divided country, but there’s one thing that unites all of us – hatred of car dealers. However, a new study suggests things are getting slightly better.

According to J.D. Power, overall customer satisfaction with purchasing a vehicle climbed from a score of 793 last year to 801 in 2024. That’s basically an 80% grade as scores are based on a 1,000 point scale.

More: Study Finds 25% Of Car Buyers Won’t Return To Dealership That Charged Above MSRP

So what’s behind the improvement? Pricing and inventory. The shortages and markups from the pandemic have largely subsided, meaning some of the power has shifted from dealers back to consumers.

Given these developments, it’s not surprising to learn the number of people paying over MSRP has dropped significantly. J.D. Power says 15% of mass market buyers paid over sticker last year, but that number dropped to 8% in 2024. For premium buyers, the number fell from 10% to 6%.

While everyone can get onboard with lower prices, dealers still have a lot of work to do in regards to personnel, paperwork, and delivery. It also appears the EV buying experience is significantly worse than that of an ICE-powered vehicle.

The buyer satisfaction score for mass market ICE-powered vehicles was 857, but just 822 for EVs. J.D. Power also noted a “similar pattern exists among buyers of premium vehicles.”

Part of this appears to be a lack of dealership employees knowledgeable about electric vehicles. However, even Tesla buyers had “markedly lower satisfaction with the effectiveness of the vehicle features explanation.”

Among premium brands, sales satisfaction was highest at Porsche. They were followed by Infiniti and Jaguar. Genesis got a dismal rating of 781, while Alfa Romeo was second to last with a significantly higher score of 810. That put them two points behind Mercedes and Lexus.

On the mainstream side of things, top honors went to Mini, Buick, and Subaru. Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Toyota were the worst.

Mitsubishi will soon expand its European lineup with two new compact SUVs, set to be locally manufactured by Groupe Renault. One will be an EV and the other an ICE/HEV model, and both will launch in 2025.

The company published a single teaser, with the two SUVs under a veil, next to Mitsubishi’s existing European lineup. The model on the left is most likely the Mitsubishi equivalent of the Renault Symbioz, which is heavily based on the Mitsubishi ASX and Renault Captur subcompact SUV twins. This is evident from the identical lighting signature and the slightly longer body.

More: Mitsubishi DST Concept Previews 7-Seater SUV With Boxy Looks For Asia

Mitsubishi’s new SUV will be available with gasoline, and self-charging hybrid powertrain options. Just like the Renault Symbioz, it will ride on the CMF-B architecture and is expected to measure 4,413 mm (173.7 inches) long.

The other upcoming SUV was originally announced in December 2023 as the first fully electric Mitsubishi following the i-MiEV from 2010. This one will be based on the Renault Scenic E-Tech, which shares the CMF-EV architecture with the Megane E-Tech, the Nissan Ariya, and the Alpine A390.

The Renault Symbioz and Renault Scenic E-Tech (left) compared to their Mitsubishi equivalents (right).

The Mitsubishi brother of the Renault Scenic E-Tech will feature a slightly tweaked exterior design, with unique LED graphics up front. Options will likely include 60 kWh and 87 kWh battery packs, alongside single-motor 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS) and dual-motor 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) powertrains.

The automaker revealed that its upcoming compact SUVs will be equipped with plenty of ADAS. They will also feature a Google built-in infotainment, likely mirroring Renault’s OpenR system.

As hinted at by the official teaser, the new Mitsubishi models will sit above the subcompact Clio-based Colt and Captur-based ASX, and below the Outlander PHEV. The latter was recently introduced in Europe with a more efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain and a bigger battery, allowing a combined range of 844 km (524 miles).