Today's Automotive Pulse
%2031.jpg)
Rivian R2 Aims to Make the Brand a Household Name by 2026
Rivian unveiled its R2 electric SUV, slated for a 2026 launch, positioning it as a fun, autonomous‑ready model. The company is betting the R2 will elevate Rivian to the same household recognition as Tesla.
VinFast Pivots to Indian E‑scooter Market Amid U.S. Setbacks
VinFast Auto announced plans to introduce three electric scooters – the Evo, Feliz and Viper – in India, shifting its focus from a stalled U.S. rollout to emerging two‑wheel markets. The move follows a volatile stock performance (+3.20%) and mounting cash‑burn concerns, highlighting a strategic retreat to regions with stronger government support and demand.
Audi Launches $4.4 B Electric Sedan as VW Vows New EV Every Two Weeks in China
Audi unveiled the A6L e-tron, a luxury pure‑electric sedan built at a 30 billion‑yuan ($4.4 bn) plant in Changchun, while Volkswagen announced it will launch a new EV every two weeks in 2026 – its biggest electric‑mobility offensive in China. The moves...
China Auto Systems Posts 19.9% Q1 Sales Rise, EPS up 54%
China Auto Systems released its Q1 2025 earnings call transcript, reporting net sales of $157.1 million, a 19.9% year‑over‑year increase. Growth was led by electric power steering systems, which rose 54%, while North American sales fell 10.3%. The results reflect a...
Tesla Shifts From Model S/X to Affordable SUV While Revving up Humanoid Robot Plans
Tesla announced the end of Model S and Model X production and is contacting suppliers to develop a smaller, lower‑cost electric SUV. The move is framed as a way to free capacity for its long‑term humanoid robot (Optimus) and autonomous‑driving...
The Battery Chronicle Briefing #1: 2025 Recap and Q1 2026 Analysis
The battery sector recorded its strongest year in 2025, with global plug‑in EV sales surpassing 20 million and lithium‑ion demand topping 1.5 TWh across vehicles, storage and other uses. While demand surged, many manufacturers lacking scale folded, including high‑profile Western startups such...
Canada’s EV Strategy Shifts From Flop to Opportunity
Canada’s EV Strategy Pivot: From Failure-ish to Opportunity Max Fawcett and I discuss the new auto strategy, focusing on EVs. #cdnpoli https://youtu.be/Hk65LKmuikU
Hyundai's MobED Redefines Shake-Free Autonomous Transport
Hyundai’s MobED: Award-Winning Modular #Robot Platform Redefining Shake-Free #Autonomous #Transport via @RealXavier011 #AI #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML #MI https://t.co/ZW7iBhYeCv
BYD Files Regulatory Paperwork for Seal 08 Luxury EV with 684 Hp Blade Battery 2.0
BYD has submitted official filings for its flagship Seal 08 sedan, a high‑performance luxury EV delivering up to 684 hp and a claimed 1,000 km range. The move underscores BYD’s ambition to compete with established premium brands in the fast‑growing electric luxury...
New GMC EV OS Makes Unpairing Phones Hard
That shiny new 2026 @GMC Hummer EV, and every 2027 GMC EV, has its own, new infotainment OS. Everything's changed. Deleting an already paired phone? Not so easy. Here's how to do it, just for the record: https://t.co/3sDS8631E1 #cars #auto...
Tesla's Self-Driving Debuts in EU via Netherlands
Tesla Self-Driving is rolling out in the Netherlands now — the first time it has been available in the EU
Blue Bird Corp Posts Record $398 M Q3 Revenue, Beats Expectations
Blue Bird Corp announced a new quarterly revenue record of $398 million for Q3 2025, a 20% jump from the prior year, and a record adjusted EBITDA of $58 million. The results pushed the company to raise its full‑year guidance and underscored...
Final Plaid MS/MX Signature Series Launch Impresses
This is actually VERY cool move, a final Signature series run for Plaid MS and MX
German Media Praises Tesla FSD Approval, Boost
what am I seeing a positive article on Tesla FSD approval, from large German media? Welt gets 90 million monthly visits on their site. what is happening (also, you can't really overtake someone that's behind you anyway, but OK we get it) https://t.co/0IgvfN3eBV
Maruti Suzuki to Launch 4 EVs by 2031
Maruti Suzuki announced it will add four new battery‑electric models to its lineup by 2031, aiming to become the top BEV player in India. The company highlighted a milestone delivery of 108 e VITARA units in a single day and noted...
Cybercab Purchase Will Include FSD, No Subscription Needed
This assumes that buying a Cybercab means you need to subscribe to FSD I say it'll be bundled in the purchase price
Europe's First Robotaxi Debuts on Uber, Waymo Delays NYC
The latest episode of #AutonomyMarkets has dropped. Watch or listen on your favorite podcast player. Europe’s First Robotaxi Launches on @Uber as NYC Stalls @Waymo https://t.co/IvNM5ajLR0
Cheap to Buy and Cheap to Own: This EV Will Actually Save You Money
The 2026 Nissan Leaf has been re‑engineered as a compact crossover that starts under $30,000, making it the most affordable new EV in its segment. A larger 75‑kWh battery pushes the S+ trim’s EPA‑rated range past 300 miles, while the...
Europe’s First Robotaxi Launches on Uber as NYC Stalls Waymo
Uber and Volkswagen’s MOIA have begun on‑road validation for the ID, paving the way for Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service launched on Uber’s platform. In the United States, Waymo rolled out fully driverless rides in Nashville, covering a 60‑square‑mile area...
WholeMars Joins Ride AI Robotaxi Event Lineup
great to notice @wholemars on the agenda of the Ride AI industry event on April 15th 👏 The event is one of *the* gatherings for robotaxi industry in the US this year. https://t.co/UD8yUbmyF1
Ford Is Taking Lemons in the World's Largest Auto Market and Making Lemonade
Ford has turned a persistent loss streak in China into a profit by pivoting from domestic sales to exporting vehicles built in the country. A brutal price war, driven by a market that is now roughly 50% new‑energy vehicles, has...
Hyundai Unveils IONIQ Premium EV Sub‑Brand in China with VENUS and EARTH Concepts
Hyundai Motor Company launched its all‑electric IONIQ brand in China, unveiling the VENUS sedan and EARTH SUV concepts at a Beijing event ahead of Auto China 2026. The move signals a focused push into the world's largest luxury car market...
Uxin COO Jack Wang Highlights 142% YoY Retail Transaction Surge in Q1 2025
Uxin Limited posted 4,090 retail vehicle sales in Q1 2025, a 142% increase from the same quarter a year earlier. COO Jack Wang said the surge stems from a revamped sales strategy and accelerated superstore expansion, positioning the firm for...
Saturday Links: Denying Scientific Consensus
The latest Saturday Links roundup curates dozens of stories spanning electric vehicles, energy, climate, AI, and culture, highlighting accelerating market shifts and policy moves. Off‑lease EVs are flooding the used‑car market as gasoline prices rise, while Ukraine’s drones are chipping...
XPENG, Fuyao Group Deepen Cooperation
XPENG announced a strategic partnership with Fuyao Group to mass‑produce an AI‑powered dimming privacy glass for its new GX flagship SUV. The glass, the world’s first privacy solution integrated with AI smart‑dimming technology, has entered mass production and delivery. XPENG...
Chery's First Overseas Operations Center Opens, European Localization Enters Functional Integration Phase
Chery Auto launched its first European Operations Center in Barcelona, paired with a Spanish research institute focused on electrification and smart mobility. The move marks a shift from market testing to systematic regional management, centralizing compliance, finance and supply‑chain functions....
![[Gasgoo Express] NIO's William Li Discusses ES9 Design, Saying Originality Is Difficult but Must Be Done; March Passenger Vehicle Exports...](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://gascloud.gasgoo.com/production/2026/04/d969c976-b941-4bc9-8450-b8c17fb24f4a-1775916343.png)
[Gasgoo Express] NIO's William Li Discusses ES9 Design, Saying Originality Is Difficult but Must Be Done; March Passenger Vehicle Exports...
NIO founder William Li highlighted the difficulty and necessity of original design while unveiling the ES9, an intelligent executive flagship SUV that blends Chinese cultural aesthetics with cutting‑edge technology. On the same day, China’s passenger vehicle exports surged to 695,000...
Mundra Becomes India's Largest Auto Export Hub, Adani Port Ships Record 6,008 Cars in Single Vessel
Mundra Port, operated by Adani’s APSEZ, set a national record by loading 6,008 cars onto a single roll‑on/roll‑off vessel, cementing its status as India’s largest auto export hub. The port now ships vehicles to more than 100 countries, reflecting the...
Waymo Robotaxi Drives Wrong Way Through San Antonio Whataburger Drive‑thru, Sparking City Outcry
Waymo’s driverless taxi entered a Whataburger drive‑thru in San Antonio from the opposite direction, forcing police to manually move the occupied vehicle. The episode underscores operational flaws in Waymo’s emergency response system and fuels growing municipal criticism of robotaxi fleets.
Porsche Q1 Deliveries Tumble 15% as China Sales Plunge 21%
Porsche reported a 15% decline in global deliveries for Q1, with China volumes down 21% to 7,519 units. CEO Michael Leiters said the slump forces a strategic rethink, including job cuts and a focus on higher‑margin models.
Tesla Owners Demand Mandatory First-Time FSD Activation Quiz
'@elonmusk, a lot of Tesla owners are actually calling for this - mandatory first-time FSD activation video quiz - to be a requirement everywhere, including the US. It is not often that customers ask to introduce friction by themselves. Might be...
Tesla FSD Mileage Resets on Chrome Window Resize
Tesla FSD Safety page bugs out and returns to 6,226,277,786 miles driven (and equal city miles), if resizing the window on desktop Chrome. I have no clue who should know this, but thought I'd share it regardless https://t.co/rzmMgMtfnY
EAM Jaishankar Hands over 90 Electric Buses to Mauritius PM, Highlights "Green Partnership"
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar handed over 90 electric buses to Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, marking a tangible step in the India‑Mauritius "Green Partnership" on sustainable transport. During the same visit he inaugurated Mauritius’s first dedicated renal transplant unit, expanding...
Netherlands' Fleet Now Has More EVs than Diesel Cars
Congratulations, Dutch people, on waking up to significantly safer streets pending. But here's another cool fact. There are now more EVs than diesel cars on the Netherlands' roads. Not in new car sales... in the full fleet registered. https://t.co/13Ilxu5MmJ
UK: Volkswagen Gives ID.4 and ID.5 Larger Batteries and V2L
Volkswagen has rolled out technical updates for the ID.4 and ID.5 in the UK, boosting battery capacities and adding vehicle‑to‑load (V2L) capability. Pure variants now use 58 kWh packs (up from 52 kWh) and other trims get 79 kWh, delivering up to 40 km...
France Doubles Electrification Aid to Cut Fossil Fuel Dependency
France announced a €10 billion ($12 billion) annual aid package through 2030 to accelerate electrification and reduce reliance on imported oil and gas. The plan targets replacing 85 TWh of gas consumption, installing one million heat pumps per year, and shifting two‑thirds of...
Canada Invests $10.6 Million in EV Charging Infrastructure
The Canadian government is allocating CAD 10.6 million (≈US$7.8 million) to 14 electric‑vehicle charging projects that will add more than 1,600 Level 2 and DC fast chargers across Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island. Major installations include 262 chargers at the Greater...
Deep Dive WeRide: Business Model, Unit Economics, Fleet Data, Financials and More
WeRide, one of China’s leading autonomous‑vehicle firms, now operates five distinct AV products in 12 countries and holds driverless permits in eight. The company’s revenue model blends asset‑light robotaxi services with higher‑margin robobuses and robosweepers, differentiating its China and international...
Delhi to Exempt Road Tax for Electric Cars Priced Under ₹30 Lakh
Delhi’s draft Electric Vehicle Policy 2026‑2030 proposes a full waiver of road tax and registration fees for electric cars priced up to ₹30 lakh (about $36,500) through 31 March 2030. Strong hybrid EVs would receive a 50 percent reduction in the same charges. Starting 1 January 2027,...
IONITY Offers Weekend Electric Cayenne Turbo Test Drives
A year later: IONITY Parsdorf offering Cayenne Turbo test drives all weekend (east of Munich 🇩🇪) ⚡️⚡️⚡️ #alwaysbecharging #porsche #bev https://t.co/tTwPKsdSU3
Tesla’s Supervised Self-Driving Software Gets Dutch Okay, First in Europe
Dutch regulator RDW approved Tesla's Full Self‑Driving Supervised system for highways and city streets, marking the first European authorization of the technology. The approval follows 18 months of testing and positions the Netherlands as a gateway for EU‑wide certification. Tesla...
Japan Stalls EVs; China Accelerates Ahead
Defending the Empire of the Sun while the boundaries erode According to Japanese brands, EVs can’t be affordable or profitable until 2030 Meanwhile, China says hold my beer https://t.co/JF9N1irJJi
Some Positive US EV Sales News, and Some Questions — YouTube Show
In a recent CleanTechnica YouTube discussion, host Larry Evans and co‑host review a series of upbeat U.S. electric‑vehicle (EV) sales reports. Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 saw a year‑to‑date sales rebound, Kia’s EV lineup is holding steady, and Cadillac’s luxury EVs posted growth...
Waymo's Scattered Rollout May Avoid Rapid
Why does Waymo spread their cars across dozens of cities? They should completely saturate one city til they match Uber’s pick up times. I assume they’re trying to lose because winning in self-driving means putting too many people out of work,...
Stellantis Q1 Sales Rise 4.1% as Jeep, Ram Drive Turnaround
Stellantis reported a 4.1% rise in first‑quarter vehicle sales, driven by a 2.8% gain at Jeep and a 20% surge at Ram. The automaker attributes the rebound to aggressive pricing, a refreshed sales organization, and a focus on high‑margin trucks,...
Autel Showcases Ultra-Fast EV Charging in Thailand, Combining 780A High-Current Performance with Seamless App Experience
Autel Energy demonstrated its ultra‑fast MaxiCharger lineup in Bangkok, delivering up to 960 kW (780 A) through liquid‑cooled cables. In a live test, a Zeekr 009 jumped from 20% to 80% state‑of‑charge in just 10 minutes, matching the time needed for a coffee...
RAM 3500 Driver Switches to a Silverado EV, and the Fuel Savings Are SHOCKING
A rural driver swapped his 2023 RAM 3500 diesel for a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and documented dramatic cost differences. The diesel truck averages 17 MPG, costing about $0.35 per mile, while the Silverado delivers over 2 miles per kWh at...
BYD Teams with KFC China to Roll Out 9‑Minute EV Flash Chargers at Drive‑Thrus
Chinese EV maker BYD has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Yum China to equip KFC drive‑thru locations with flash‑charging equipment that can replenish a vehicle from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. The rollout leverages BYD’s second‑generation Blade battery...
Polestar Posts 7% Sales Jump in Q1, Europe Drives Growth
Polestar announced that its first‑quarter 2026 global vehicle sales climbed 7% to 13,126 units, propelled by a Europe‑focused strategy. Strong performance in Germany, the United Kingdom and other key markets helped offset tariff pressures and higher production costs.
Cars.com Shares Surge 7% After Raising Buyback Target to $90 Million
Cars.com announced a $90 million share‑buyback program, up from more than $60 million, and reaffirmed full‑year guidance. The news lifted the NYSE‑listed stock 7.15% to $9.74, while the company also unveiled AI‑driven dealer tools and $25‑$30 million in projected cost savings.
Subaru Reveals Pricing and Specs for Trailseeker, Its Second EV in Australia
Subaru unveiled the Trailseeker, its second electric vehicle for Australia, priced at AU$67,990 (~US$44,900) for the AWD entry model and AU$73,990 (~US$48,800) for the Touring trim. The SUV packs a 280 kW dual‑motor system that accelerates from 0‑100 km/h in about 4.4 seconds,...