Today's Automotive Pulse
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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.
Geely Throws in Extra Incentives, Including Free Home Charger, to Help Drive EX5 Sales
Geely Australia is extending incentives for its EX5 Extended Range EV, adding a 1.88% comparison‑rate finance deal over 36 months and a free 7 kW home charger (installation excluded). The model’s price rises by about $660 USD, placing the Complete trim at roughly $27,700 USD and the Inspire at $30,350 USD before on‑road costs. The new battery boosts WLTP range to 475 km, up from 430 km, and the offer runs until 30 April 2026. Over 4,000 units have been sold, making the EX5 a top‑5 EV in Australia for 2025.
Kia Slashes Prices on the EV3 and EV5 Electric SUVs
Kia announced price cuts for its entry‑level EV3 and the popular EV5 in Australia, lowering the EV3 Air SR to about $31,000 USD (≈ $46,990 AUD) and the EV5 Air SR to roughly $33,000 USD (≈ $49,990 AUD) to clear 2025 model‑year stock. The discount of...
XCharge NA + JOJO Launch EV Fast Chargers in Illinois – First Sites Live
XCharge North America and JOJO Superfast have begun deploying an EV fast‑charging network across Illinois, launching nine sites with two already operational. Each location will feature four 200 kW C6 Smart DC chargers, primarily installed at Menards home‑improvement stores to capture...
Podcast: EV Deliveries From Tesla, Rivian, Toyota Electric Pickup Truck, and More
The Electrek Podcast highlighted several key EV developments this week, including Tesla’s Q1 2026 deliveries of 358,000 units—missing expectations and leaving a 50,000‑vehicle inventory surplus. Tesla also announced the end of Model S and Model X production, with only about 600 units remaining,...
EV Charging – The Importance of Affordable, Convenient Access
Chinese automaker BYD unveiled its Flash Charging technology paired with the second‑generation Blade Battery, claiming a 60 % charge in five minutes. While the breakthrough highlights EV maturity, the article argues that ultra‑fast charging is not the primary solution for everyday...
China Robotaxi Outage Leaves Passengers Stranded on Highways
A software malfunction in Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi fleet caused dozens of vehicles to halt on Chinese highways, leaving passengers stranded for extended periods and resulting in several low‑speed collisions. The outage highlighted gaps in real‑time monitoring and emergency response...
Peak Nano and Advanced Conversion Partner on DC-Link Capacitors for 800 V+ SiC EV Inverters
Peak Nano and Advanced Conversion have teamed up to co‑develop DC‑link capacitors tailored for 800 V+ silicon‑carbide (SiC) inverter systems in electric vehicles and other e‑mobility platforms. The solution pairs Peak Nano’s NanoPlex LDF film, which holds a dissipation factor below...
Global Battery Materials Ships First Graphite Samples to US Customer, Opens Quebec Processing Lab
Global Battery Materials (GBM) has shipped its first natural graphite samples from the Kearney Mine in Ontario to an unnamed U.S. customer for qualification testing, marking the inaugural step in a North American supply chain. Simultaneously, GBM opened a new...
Everged Replaces Outdated EV Chargers at No Up-Front Cost
Everged has introduced a Zero Cost Swap Program that lets EV‑charging site owners replace outdated or non‑functional chargers with new Level 2 or DC fast chargers at no upfront expense. The company covers removal, installation, activation, 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, and offers...
EV Adoption in America: Who's Winning, Who's Losing?
U.S. electric‑vehicle sales plunged in Q1 2026 after the Trump administration scrapped the federal tax credit, prompting automakers to cut production and cancel battery plants. Analysts forecast a 28% drop in new EV sales, while gasoline prices hovering just above...
ST Introduces STripFET F8 MOSFET Series for Automotive
STMicroelectronics launched the Smart STripFET F8 MOSFET series targeting automotive power‑distribution and battery‑management applications. The first part, STL059N4S8AG, is a 40 V, 420 A N‑channel device with a record‑low 0.59 mΩ RDS(on) in a compact PowerFLAT 5×6 package. Its high thermal conductivity, 175 °C rating...
'Like a Cabover' With More Side Glass: Tesla Semi Panorama, Walkaround Vid
Tesla’s long‑awaited electric Semi, featuring a 500‑mile range, was showcased at the American Trucking Associations event, highlighting a panoramic cab with 6.5 feet of headroom and a central driver seat. The truck’s power draw is estimated at 1.7 kWh per mile, roughly...
Iskraemeco eMobility’s Next‑generation Modular DC Fast EV Charger
Iskraemeco eMobility has launched the iFC240, a next‑generation modular DC fast charger targeting public networks, commercial fleets, and high‑traffic corridors. The unit delivers between 120 kW and 240 kW and can be upgraded or reconfigured with minimal downtime thanks to its modular...
Kia PV5 Crew Debuts: Flexible Electric Van for Passenger and Cargo Use
Kia unveiled the PV5 Crew, a flexible electric van that can toggle between a two‑seat cargo layout and a five‑seat crew configuration in seconds. The vehicle uses a tool‑free seat‑lever system and is built on the E‑GMP.S platform with a...
India: ChargeZone to Set up over 1,000 Highway Charging Stations
ChargeZone, India’s largest EV‑charging operator, will install more than 1,000 fast‑charging stations along national‑highway corridors by March 2027. Each station requires roughly US$120,000 in capital, funded through a Dealer‑Owned, Company‑Operated (DOCO) franchise model. The State Bank of India will provide loans...
Spain March 2026: Toyota, Hyundai Shoot up, BYD Breaks Records, Highest Monthly Volume Since June 2019
Spain’s new‑car market posted a robust March 2026, delivering 130,340 units – the first month above 130,000 since June 2019 and 11.7% higher than a year earlier. Total sales are now 7.6% ahead of the 2025 year‑to‑date total, while rechargeable...
LG Energy Solution Brings Battery Software to SDVerse
LG Energy Solution has become the first battery company to list its software on SDVerse, the automotive industry’s inaugural B2B software marketplace. The South Korean firm introduced five battery‑software products covering diagnostics, degradation management, and performance simulation. SDVerse, co‑founded by...
Nio Firefly Sets Apr 7 for EV Upgrade to Sustain Sales Momentum
Nio’s sub‑brand Firefly will unveil an upgraded Firefly EV on April 7, featuring a larger battery and more powerful motor. The refresh follows a strong March delivery surge, with the brand moving 6,119 units—a 130% month‑on‑month rise—and reaching 50,000 cumulative deliveries...
China Retail January-February 2026: Volkswagen and Xiaomi YU7 #1 Year-to-Date
China's retail car market contracted 15.3% year‑to‑date, with 2.61 million units sold through February. Volkswagen reclaimed the top brand spot in both January and February, marking its first consecutive‑month lead in two years. The Xiaomi YU7 emerged as the best‑selling model...
CATL Signs Deal with Chinese Express Giant to Electrify Delivery Trucks
Chinese battery leader CATL has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with logistics giant STO Express to accelerate electrification of its delivery truck fleet. The partnership will deploy charging and battery‑swap infrastructure, leveraging CATL’s Qiji Energy network, which already includes over...
Questions About Robotaxis? Ask Nacto
The US National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) has published a free 16‑page guide to help municipal officials understand and manage robotaxi operations. While robotaxis are already on city streets, they are straining existing transportation networks and exposing gaps...
The Risks of Autonomous Vehicle Self-Certification in Freight
The article warns that allowing autonomous‑vehicle (AV) manufacturers to self‑certify their freight trucks could bypass critical safety oversight that human drivers currently undergo. It highlights the stark contrast between mandatory medical exams for Class 7/8 drivers and the proposed lack of...
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz Isn't On Pause—And It Could Get A Camping Version, VW CEO Says
Volkswagen announced it will skip the 2026 model year for the ID. Buzz in the United States, moving directly to a 2027 launch. The decision stems from a demand‑supply analysis and aims to avoid a short production run after a delayed...
The Automotive Update: Hope for Europe’s New and Used-Car Markets?
The latest JD Power webinar predicts Europe’s new‑car market will grow modestly in 2026, with 40% of participants expecting a 0‑2% year‑on‑year increase and overall light‑vehicle sales rising just 0.1%. EV adoption remains uneven, but price gaps are narrowing as small...
Avant Car to Launch Electric Car Sharing Service in Ljubljana
Ljubljana has signed a 20‑year agreement with Avant Car to launch a public electric car‑sharing service. The municipality will contribute roughly $12.3 million to build 400 parking spaces, while Avant Car is investing about $20.2 million to provide 400 EVs and 160...
MAN Launches Lion’s City E Production in Ankara
MAN Truck & Bus has begun series production of its fully electric Lion’s City E bus at the Ankara plant, adding a third global e‑bus manufacturing site after Poland and South Africa. The model, with about 3,300 units already delivered across...
Power Corner: Analog Devices’ Etienne Moulin on the Convergence of Robotics and Automotive Power Requirements
Analog Devices’ high‑performance power team, led by Etienne Moulin, highlights the growing overlap between robotics and automotive power architectures, especially the shift to 48‑V systems. The company’s Silent Switcher technology delivers LDO‑level regulation with buck‑regulator efficiency, achieving up to 96%...
Rivian Shares Production and Delivery Numbers Ahead of Full Q1 2026 Financial Results
Rivian reported producing 10,236 electric vehicles and delivering 10,365 units in Q1 2026, slightly above its Q4 2025 output. The figures align with the company’s reaffirmed 2026 delivery guidance of 62,000‑67,000 vehicles. Rivian also highlighted a strategic partnership with Uber that could...
Gulf Countries Roll Out More Autonomous Taxis
Uber and Chinese partner WeRide added a fully driverless route in Riyadh, linking Hayat Mall and Riyadh Gallery after more than 1,700 trial trips. The duo also launched completely autonomous services in Dubai’s Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim districts, operating without onboard...
Improving Recycling Rates for Cell-to-Pack Battery Systems
The Fraunhofer IPA‑led ‘Difference’ project targets the low recyclability of Cell‑to‑Pack (CTP) battery designs, which replace traditional modules with directly integrated cells. By focusing on robot‑assisted, laser‑based disassembly, the consortium aims to separate adhesives, foams and metals efficiently. The initiative,...
GM’s US Sales Decline in Q1, Toyota Held Flat by RAV4 Change
General Motors reported a 9.7% year‑on‑year drop in U.S. sales for Q1 2026, moving to 626,429 units. Toyota’s U.S. sales slipped only 0.1% to 569,420 units, narrowly missing the chance to overtake GM as the top‑volume OEM. Analysts note that a...
Stellantis Explores Chinese EV Production in Canada with Leapmotor – Report
Stellantis is in early talks with Chinese EV maker Leapmotor to revive its underused Brampton, Ontario plant, which has left about 3,000 union workers idle after U.S. tariffs forced a Jeep SUV shift to the United States. The discussions follow...
Uber Expands $4,000 Grants For Drivers Who Switch To EVs
Uber has broadened its $4,000 "Go Electric" grant to every driver in the United States, extending a program that was previously limited to New York, California, Massachusetts and Colorado. The incentive applies to Platinum and Diamond drivers who switch to...
Osprey Opens New Midlands Ultra-Rapid EV Charging Hub
Osprey Charging has opened a new ultra‑rapid EV charging hub at Twyford Services near Evesham, featuring 16 Kempower chargers capable of 300 kW output. The site can potentially serve up to 32 vehicles at once and offers a range of payment...
E-Bus Radar 2026: Germany Operates 600+ Hydrogen Buses in 2026
PwC’s E‑Bus Radar 2026 shows Germany added 1,397 new electric city buses in 2025, a 79% jump over the previous two years, pushing the total zero‑emission fleet to 4,752 vehicles. Battery‑electric buses dominate with 4,034 units, while fuel‑cell buses surged...
GM to Invest over $150m in Saginaw Casting Facility in US
General Motors announced a $150 million investment in its Saginaw Metal Casting Operations to equip the plant for sixth‑generation V‑8 engine block and head production. The upgrade will run alongside existing fifth‑generation V‑8 output, with the new engines slated for launch...
AVs vs Humans: Safety Comparisons Need a Standard
Autonomous‑vehicle firms are publishing safety data, but comparisons to human drivers lack a universal baseline. Waymo claims its driver has ten times fewer serious‑injury crashes and 88% fewer property‑damage claims than average motorists, yet the definition of an "average driver"...
Mercedes-Benz Brings Steer-by-Wire to Production EQS
Mercedes‑Benz will equip the refreshed EQS luxury electric sedan with steer‑by‑wire, making it the first German automaker to launch the technology in a production vehicle. The system replaces the mechanical link between steering wheel and front wheels with electronic signals...
VinFast Adds Seven-Seat VF MPV 7 to India EV Lineup
VinFast has opened bookings for its seven‑seat VF MPV 7 in India, with a booking fee of INR 21,000 (about $250). Bookings begin on 2 April and the official launch with full pricing is set for 15 April 2026. The MPV features a 60.13 kWh battery...
“Tipping Point:” Tesla Sales Surge, EV Registrations up Sharply as Australian Drivers Go Electric
Tesla’s Australian sales jumped to 3,485 units in March, a 22% year‑over‑year increase and the highest since September, driven by a sharp rise in Model Y demand. The company’s quarterly volume rose 40% to 7,260 vehicles despite supply bottlenecks that have...
Honda Cuts Prologue EV Prices by $7,500 While It’s Still Available
Honda announced a $7,500 price reduction for the 2026 Prologue electric SUV, bringing the entry‑level EX FWD price down to $39,900. The move follows a steep 65% sales decline in the first quarter of 2026, after the federal EV tax...
Republican Senator Calls Chinese Cars A ‘Cancer,’ Vowing Stricter Ban
Republican Senator Bernie Moreno announced plans to broaden the U.S. ban on Chinese electric vehicles, targeting not only the cars themselves but also associated software, components, and joint‑venture partnerships. The proposal would reinforce the existing 100% tariff regime and aim...
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 EV Is Red-Hot After Another Record Sales Month in March
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 recorded a second straight record month in March 2026, moving 4,425 units – a 13% increase over the same period last year. The model’s cumulative Q1 sales hit 9,790, up 14% year‑over‑year, helping Hyundai post its strongest first‑quarter...
Europe’s Auto Forecast 2026: Technology, Policy and EV Adoption
A JD Power‑Autovista24 webinar revealed that Europe’s 2026 new‑car outlook has been trimmed to a modest 0.1% growth, down from a 1.7% rise projected months earlier. The downgrade reflects slower GDP growth in the EU, the US and China, and potential...
Xiaomi Hires Tesla’s Former Head of Sales in China to Lead Its Auto Retail Push
Xiaomi has hired Kong Yanshuang, former Tesla China general manager, to head its automotive sales division. The move aims to professionalize Xiaomi’s retail operations as it targets 550,000 EV deliveries in 2026. Xiaomi’s refreshed SU7 sedan starts at ¥229,900 (about...
Subaru Electrifies New York with 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid, Getaway EV Debut
Subaru unveiled its 2027 lineup in New York, introducing the Forester Wilderness Hybrid and the all‑new Getaway EV. The Forester Hybrid delivers a 25% fuel‑economy boost and 194 hp using an optimized 2.5‑liter Boxer engine paired with a lithium‑ion battery. The...
Subaru Unveils Getaway, a 420hp 3-Row EV SUV, and We Got a Sneak Preview
Subaru unveiled the Getaway, a 420‑horsepower three‑row electric SUV slated for an October launch. Built alongside Toyota’s Highlander EV at Toyota’s Kentucky plant, the Getaway features a 95.8 kWh usable battery delivering more than 300 miles of range and 150 kW fast‑charging via...
How Will London’s Driver Market Respond to Autonomous Vehicles?
London is poised to become the next major robotaxi market as Waymo, Wayve and China’s Apollo Go plan trials this year, targeting over 146 million annual taxi and private‑hire trips. The UK’s Automated Vehicles Act 2024 fast‑tracks driverless licensing to spring 2026,...
Kia Unveils Bigger, Roomier Seltos at New York Auto Show
At the New York Auto Show, Kia unveiled the 2027 Seltos, a larger, wider version of its compact SUV that shares design cues with the Telluride and Sorento. The model introduces a new hybrid powertrain exclusive to the X‑Line trim,...
Ford’s CEO Says An Affordable Tesla Model 3, Model Y Rival Is Coming
Ford CEO Jim Farley announced that the automaker will launch an all‑electric, affordable vehicle to compete directly with Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y. The new models will sit on Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, the same architecture slated for a...