Today's Automotive Pulse
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Rivian rolls out R2 EV for 2026 launch
Rivian unveiled its R2 model slated for a 2026 release, detailing specifications and pricing aimed at a broader consumer base. The company is banking on the R2 to elevate its brand to a household‑name status comparable to Tesla.
Michigan Just Unlocked $51M to Fix EV Charging Gaps
Michigan has secured the final $51 million of its $106 million NEVI allocation after receiving “fully built out” certification from the Federal Highway Administration. The state can now shift from corridor‑focused chargers to a broader deployment that addresses geographic gaps, reliability, medium‑duty fleets, and long‑term planning. To date, MDOT has installed 83 NEVI‑funded fast‑charging stations and is coordinating with local governments, utilities, and private partners. A third round of applications will open, giving every Michigan community a chance at funding.
Only 22% of China's 310 GWh Lithium-Ion Output Reached a Domestic EV
China’s lithium‑ion battery output surged to 309.7 GWh in Jan‑Feb 2026, yet only 68.3 GWh (22%) fed domestic electric‑vehicle (EV) installs, a steep drop from 50% in 2024. CATL lifted its 2026 production target by roughly 30% to 1,300 GWh, prompting regulators from MIIT,...
Rivian R2 EPA Numbers Out: 217 kW DC Charge, up to 335mi Range, Heat Pump
Rivian’s upcoming R2 received EPA certification showing a 335‑mile range on the launch performance edition with 21‑inch wheels, dropping to 314 miles on 20‑inch all‑terrain tires. The vehicle packs an 86.8 kWh battery and delivers an impressive 144 MPGe combined efficiency, though...
Tesla Autopilot Saves Millions, Yet Still Faces Lawsuits
Tesla self-driving saves a lot of lives – the statistics are unequivocal. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, of course. Even when we improve safety 10X, saving 90% of the million lives lost in auto accidents every year, Tesla will still...
Ferrari Had to Ask NASA How Quick Is Too Quick for the Upcoming Luce EV
Ferrari’s upcoming Luce electric sedan has prompted the marque to consult NASA and medical experts to pinpoint the acceleration threshold that remains comfortable for occupants. The Luce is slated to sprint from 0‑62 mph in 2.5 seconds, a figure that sits just...
From WagonR to Scorpio: How India’s Top Cars Stack up on CO2 Emissions Ahead of CAFE-3
India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has submitted model‑specific CO₂ emission data to the Prime Minister’s Office as part of preparations for the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE‑3) regime, which will take effect on April 1 2027 and run through 2032....
Toyota’s Updated Electric SUV Is a Surprise Hit
Toyota’s refreshed bZ4X electric SUV has become a surprise bestseller, moving over 10,000 units in the United States during the first quarter of 2026 and outpacing Ford’s entire EV lineup. The model also topped Japan’s domestic EV sales for four...
Ford Recalls Nearly 255K SUVs for Camera Image Processing Module Errors
Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 255,000 SUVs—including 2025 Explorers, Lincoln Aviators, 2022‑2025 Navigators and 2024‑2025 Nautilus models—after a software flaw can overload image‑processing module A, causing intermittent loss of the rear‑view camera and several advanced driver‑assist systems. The defect is...
Across New York, Debate About the Inevitability of Driverless Cars Begins
In New York, labor groups and community leaders gathered to oppose Waymo’s driverless‑car rollout, emphasizing job‑loss risks as the state’s pilot permit expires. Governor Kathy Hochul withdrew a proposed robotaxi pilot after failing to secure stakeholder support, while Waymo has...
South 8 Technologies Lands $9.2M California Grant to Scale LiGas Electrolyte Production in San Diego
South 8 Technologies secured a $9.2 million grant from California’s PowerForward Battery Manufacturing program to expand its LiGas® liquefied‑gas electrolyte production in San Diego. The funding will enable the startup to reach an annual electrolyte capacity of 100 MWh and produce 2 MWh of battery cells,...
DoorDash’s Autonomous Delivery Strategy with Ashu Rege
DoorDash Labs’ Vice President Ashu Rege outlined the company’s autonomous delivery roadmap, highlighting the in‑house DOT robot and the broader Autonomous Delivery Platform (ADP) that can support varied delivery formats. He contrasted DoorDash’s approach with robotaxi firms, emphasizing cost efficiencies...
Vishay Launches Automotive PV MOSFET Driver
Vishay Intertechnology has released the VODA1275, an automotive‑grade photovoltaic MOSFET driver built in a compact SMD‑4 package with an 8 mm creepage distance and a CTI‑600 mold compound. The driver offers 20 V open‑circuit voltage, 20 µA short‑circuit current, and an 80 µs turn‑on...
EV Driver “Fills Up” For Less Than $30 On Road Trip
A Kia EV6 driver reported a road trip from South Carolina to Louisiana where a full charge cost less than $30 and took under 30 minutes. Using apps such as PlugShare, Kia Map, Tesla and ChargePoint, he found stations quickly...
Swedish EV Charging Provider Milepost Acquires Mer’s AC Charging Stations
Swedish EV charging operator Milepost has purchased Mer’s portfolio of roughly 250 AC charging stations, extending its network from Åre to Malmö. The acquired sites mainly deliver 22 kW power, with a handful capable of 50 kW, and will be integrated by...
Electra Battery Materials Restarts Construction on North America’s First Cobalt Sulfate Refinery
Electra Battery Materials has restarted full‑scale construction of North America’s first cobalt sulfate refinery near Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, after a two‑year pause. The plant is designed to produce 6,500 tonnes of battery‑grade cobalt sulfate per year and is backed by...
NYC Law Enforcement Agencies Now Have 1,000 Plug-In Vehicles in Service
The City of New York’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services announced that more than 1,000 plug‑in vehicles are now assigned to its law‑enforcement agencies, including nearly 500 units for the NYPD. Across all 15 agencies, the fleet comprises 781 battery‑electric...
Mazda Will Keep Its Cheapest Cars Alive In Some Markets
Japanese automaker Mazda announced it will continue selling its entry‑level Mazda2 hatchback and CX‑3 subcompact SUV in selected overseas markets, while developing next‑generation versions of both vehicles. The refreshed models are expected to share a common platform and incorporate styling...
Purolator Orders 100 Electric Step Vans From Workhorse
Workhorse Group received a purchase order for 100 battery‑electric step vans from Canadian logistics provider Purolator, doubling the carrier’s electric step‑van fleet. The order follows Purolator’s earlier purchases from Motiv, now part of Workhorse after a 2025 merger. Workhorse, which...
German Haulage Firm Electrifies over Half Its Fleet
"The haulage firm Nanno Janssen in 🇩🇪, has already converted well over half of its fleet to electric: 58 out of 90 lorries The first one purchased back in 2024 w/ federal funding, Furthest distance his company travelled with an electric lorry so...
Auto, Manufacturing CEOs Remain Upbeat on Growth; Bet Big on AI: KPMG
KPMG’s 2025 CEO Outlook shows automotive and industrial manufacturing leaders remain upbeat, with 87% and 81% respectively expressing confidence in sector growth despite geopolitical and cost pressures. Around three‑quarters of CEOs also trust their firms can execute large‑scale transformations. AI...
US Regulator Ends Probe Into Tesla's 'Actually Smart Summon' Feature After Software Fixes
Tesla’s “actually smart summon” feature, installed in about 2.59 million vehicles, has been cleared by the U.S. auto‑safety regulator after the automaker issued over‑the‑air software updates. NHTSA found the incidents linked to the feature were low‑speed, caused only minor property damage...
Tesla Becomes South Korea’s Top Imported Car, Up 330%
Tesla just pulled off a historic first in South Korea: It is now the #1 import brand in Q1, up +330% YoY. Top 3: Tesla: 20,964 BMW: 19,368 Merc: 15,862 Remember all who said MY is doomed in Q1 last year? Bet they all have...
J.P. Morgan Sets $145 Target for Tesla
This is the J.P. Morgan analyst who just put a $145 price target on $TSLA btw https://t.co/4MYZZS8Zsm
Octopus Energy Launches 50% Cheaper On-Street EV Charging
Octopus Energy announced a new on‑street EV charging offer that cuts rates by half. New customers can charge at about 22.5p per kWh (≈$0.28/kWh), translating to roughly £16 ($20) for a full MG4 charge or 7p ($0.09) per mile. The...
Tesla Business Superchargers Expand with Discounted V3s in Kansas
"It was some of the last V3s being sold at a discount to move stock." Tesla Supercharger for Business grows with rare V3 site in Belleville, Kansas Read on EVwire: https://t.co/e5hIoqYGOZ by @ResidentSponge
AI Safety Will Curb Crashes; Convenience Drives Driverless Adoption
Hopefully never. AI active safety features should hopefully make it nearly impossible for humans to crash while driving manually too. Convenience and saving on insurance, not a dystopian ban on driving, will be the incentive to move to a fully...
Deeptech Startup drivebuddyAI Secures Patent for Real-Time Road Quality Assessment System
DrivebuddyAI, an Ahmedabad‑based deep‑tech startup, has secured a patent for its Integrated Dynamic Road Quality Assessment System. The solution fuses GNSS positioning, IMU acceleration data, and AI‑enhanced video to detect potholes and rough patches in real time and geo‑tag them....
Future Trend Could Sabotage Tesla Robotaxis and Cause Crashes
Prediction: There will be some stupid af cultural movement where people start doing this to Tesla robotaxis en masse ...and that will suck for everyone involved. It'll happen, mark my words. Might also lead to an accident if suddenly there's real driver without...
NHTSA Clears Tesla Remote Driving Feature as Safe
In other words: An NHTSA probe into Tesla ASS determined it is safe to tap. What Detroit News really fought hard to NOT say ("remote driving feature, lol"), we leaned into instead: https://t.co/UP5Sm96MtF https://t.co/HGerL9tcIv
How the Bizarre Nissan Primera Paved the Way for the Qashqai
Nissan's final Primera, launched in 2001, featured a bold coupe‑like silhouette and a high‑tech cockpit that included one of the first reversing cameras and extensive electronic kits. Despite these innovations, the model struggled against a consumer shift toward premium German...
High Gas Prices May Not Yet Boost EV Sales
"However, analysts said it was still too early to predict if high petrol prices would translate into meaningful rise in sales of EVs, noting persistent concerns among mainstream consumers about their ability to go on long journeys in a large...
BMW Wants To Save The Manuals
BMW’s M division is actively working to keep manual transmissions in its performance lineup, targeting a survival window through at least 2029. Engineers are exploring stronger clutch packages and may even detune engine output to protect manual durability. The Z4 M40i...
Russia March 2026: Toyota, Belgee up, Tenet Plateaus
Russian new‑car sales rebounded 30.6% year‑on‑year in March 2026, reaching 104,278 units and putting Q1 growth at 7.3%. Haval surged to second place with a 14.2% market share, while Toyota jumped 150.8% to 2.7% share for an eighth straight Top 10...
Top 20 Vehicles Sold In United States in Q1 2026
The first quarter of 2026 reaffirmed trucks and SUVs as the U.S. market’s backbone, with Ford’s F‑Series remaining the top seller despite a 16 % drop. Chevrolet’s Silverado and Honda’s CR‑V held the second and third spots, also slipping modestly. Ram’s...
Mitsubishi Motors to Build HEV in Philippines From 2028
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines announced plans to produce a new hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) at its Santa Rosa plant, targeting a mid‑2028 launch pending approval under the government’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS). The automaker will invest in facility upgrades to...
Nexen Tire Supplies OE Tyres for Renault Filante
Nexen Tire’s Roadian GTX all‑season tyre has been selected as the original equipment fitment for Renault Korea’s hybrid Filante crossover. The 19‑inch tyre is engineered to meet the higher performance and low‑noise demands of hybrid powertrains. The deal covers the...
Ertico's Third ITS Market Radar Report Calls for 'Stronger Coordination'
Ertico released its third ITS Market Radar, mapping Europe’s intelligent transport systems across suppliers, vehicle manufacturers and connectivity firms. The report highlights how EU initiatives such as the Digital Decade, the AI Act and the European Mobility Data Space are...
German Auto Industry's EV Failure Hits Us Harder
Axel: 🔥🔥🔥 "And the failure of the German auto industry, which has completely lost its competitiveness in electric vehicles, naturally hits us even harder." ⚡️⚡️⚡️ #alwaysbecharging https://t.co/JoUlcn88vC
Tesla Broadens Most-Wanted Model Y to Eight New Markets
Tesla has opened orders for the long‑wheelbase Model Y L in eight Asian markets—Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines—targeting families seeking three‑row electric SUVs. Local pricing translates to roughly $57,200 in Malaysia, $184,300 in...
Baidu Silent About Failure Of 100 Robotaxis In Wuhan
Baidu's Apollo robotaxi fleet in Wuhan experienced a mass failure, with roughly 100 vehicles freezing in traffic and leaving passengers stranded. The incidents caused minor collisions as cars halted mid‑lane. Baidu has remained silent, offering no public explanation or remediation...
SiC Devices Power Next‑Gen Medium‑Voltage Solid‑State Transformers
Drew Baglino: "Medium voltage is the next frontier." "The latest SiC devices are more than a better switch. They are the foundation for solid-state transformers, or SSTs." #alwaysbecharging ⚡️⚡️⚡️ https://t.co/6ck5EnX9Sb
China’s Taxis Shift From VW to BYD Electric
“Anecdotal Observations of a China Newbie: 13 yrs ago in Shanghai, half of the taxis were VW-Santanas with internal combustion engines. Today in Beijing, Xi'an, or Guilin, they're Chinese electric cars, mostly BYD. VW and other German brands are still...
![[Gasgoo Express] Former Honor CMO Guo Rui Appointed Chairman and CEO of Luxeed; JAC Establishes Zunjie Zhixing Company in Shanghai.](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://gascloud.gasgoo.com/production/2026/04/6a20d35d-737f-4bf9-b633-1db49aecdb16-1775314429.png)
[Gasgoo Express] Former Honor CMO Guo Rui Appointed Chairman and CEO of Luxeed; JAC Establishes Zunjie Zhixing Company in Shanghai.
Former Honor chief marketing officer Guo Rui has been appointed Chairman and CEO of electric‑vehicle startup Luxeed, bringing Huawei‑era branding expertise to the firm. Luxeed, which is positioning itself as a premium EV player, expects his leadership to accelerate product...
Planned Investment of 100 Million Yuan, Another Project Lands in Shanghai Jiading
Delian Group has signed a cooperation framework with Shanghai Deruili Technology to launch a 100 million yuan (~$14 million) investment in Anting, Jiading, creating a comprehensive service complex for automotive new materials. The project will initially focus on technical development, consulting,...
Bethel Wins New Designation From Leading Global Automaker, Marking Its Largest Overseas Contract
Bethel Automotive Safety Systems has signed a six‑year development and supply agreement with a leading North American automaker for front brake calipers and rear electronic parking‑brake assemblies, targeting mass production by the end of 2028. The contract covers 2.335 million vehicles—about...
Understanding Shaanxi's Automotive Industry Cluster at a Glance
Shaanxi’s automotive sector is organized around a Guanzhong cluster, with Xi’an at its core hosting over 1,000 suppliers and a full‑stack OEM ecosystem. Baoji and Xianyang serve as secondary hubs, focusing on heavy‑truck components and cost‑effective parts manufacturing. The province...
GAC Subsidiary Sells Lithium Mining Stake to Controlling Shareholder, Raising 1.92 Billion Yuan
GAC Group’s subsidiary Youpai Energy is selling a 12% stake in Xinjiang Kunlun Lanzuan Mining Development for roughly ¥1.92 billion (about $270 million) to the automaker’s controlling shareholder, Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group. The deal reduces Youpai’s holding from 20% to 8%, turning...
Farasis Energy Secures Next-Generation High-End Electric Bus Battery Pack Project From West European Bus Manufacturer
Farasis Energy announced a repeat partnership with a century‑old West European bus manufacturer to supply custom high‑end pouch battery packs for the client’s next‑generation flagship electric bus. The deal, while undisclosed in financial terms, confirms Farasis’s technology meets Europe’s stringent...
Nissan's Turnaround Hinges On This Unique Hybrid System. It's Nothing Like Toyota's
Nissan will debut the Rogue Hybrid e‑Power in the United States in late 2026, featuring a pure series‑hybrid architecture that runs the gasoline engine solely as a generator. The system promises fuel‑economy north of 40 mpg, rivaling the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid...
Sorting Out Remote Operators & Remote Assistants
The piece argues that autonomous vehicle (AV) operations involve far more human roles than the traditional driver versus non‑driver dichotomy. Remote Assistants, Drivers, Operators, and Deciders each carry distinct safety responsibilities, contradicting industry claims that only the AI bears liability....