Tesla Full Self-Driving Expands in Europe, Entering Its Second Country
Tesla has expanded its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised suite to Lithuania, making it the second European Union country to offer the system after the Netherlands. The rollout follows a mutual‑recognition framework that leverages the Dutch approval, which was earned after 1.6 million kilometres of testing under UNECE safety standards. In Europe, FSD is priced at €99 per month (about $108), and today is the last day for customers to buy the software outright. The move signals Tesla’s accelerating push to monetize autonomy across the continent.
SAIC Audi Sets May 29 Launch for AUDI E7X SUV, Dropping Premium Pricing
SAIC Audi will officially launch the all‑electric E7X SUV on May 29, pricing it between 289,800 yuan ($42,670) and 379,800 yuan ($55,900). The price represents a cut of more than 130,000 yuan from Audi’s original internal target, signaling a shift...
Nio Discloses First Carbon Reduction Target and Links Executive Pay to ESG Goals
Chinese EV maker Nio announced a 43% reduction in the full life‑cycle carbon footprint per vehicle by 2035, using 2023 as the baseline. For the first time, senior‑executive compensation is tied directly to ESG performance metrics. The company also celebrated...
How Toyota Became an EV Winner
Toyota has surged into the U.S. EV market’s third‑place slot with its bZ series, highlighted by the newly released C‑HR electric crossover. After years of lagging behind rivals, the automaker is rolling out a suite of EVs—including an updated bZ,...
BYD Top Scientist Says 9-Minute Flash Charging Won't Damage Battery Life
BYD’s chief battery technologist Sun Huajun affirmed that the company’s new flash‑charging system—capable of delivering 1,500 kW and recharging a battery from 10 % to 97 % in nine minutes—does not compromise lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) battery life. The claim is backed by extensive durability testing,...
Xiaomi EV Reportedly Taps New Battery Suppliers for Second Brand to Target EREV Market
Xiaomi is launching a second electric‑vehicle sub‑brand, Skynomad, with its first model Kunlun N3 slated for H2 2026. The company tapped Sunwoda (60% share) and CALB (40%) to supply the 70 kWh battery pack, moving away from its reliance on CATL and...
Tesla Is Making Sweeping Improvements to Robotaxi
Tesla unveiled Robotaxi app version 26.4.5, introducing remote operator voice calls, proactive AI‑driven assistance, and manual override plus remote‑start capabilities for steering‑wheel‑less Cybercabs. The update also adds soft‑matching dispatch, multi‑stop routing, cabin‑sync controls, and a high‑security kill‑switch. These features are...
EPA Unwinds Massive Biden-Era Auto Emissions Regulations That Had 2027 Deadline
The EPA announced a proposal to postpone the compliance deadline for the Biden‑era auto emissions standards from model year 2027 to 2029, arguing that low electric‑vehicle (EV) adoption and costly industry write‑downs make the original timeline unrealistic. The 2024 rules...
What's the Deal with Level 2/2+ Safety?
Level 2 and emerging Level 2+/2++ vehicle automation rely on a human driver to supervise speed and steering functions. Safety hinges on the driver’s ability to intervene promptly, yet manufacturers often market these systems as more capable than they are, fostering driver...
Forget the Waymo/Uber News, Focus on the Nuro and WeRide Partnerships
Waymo announced a 1,400‑square‑mile expansion into 11 U.S. cities ahead of the World Cup, while Uber’s public campaign against Waymo intensifies as their partnership unravels. The discussion on Autonomy Markets shifts focus to Uber’s remaining allies, highlighting Nuro’s new engineering...
Tesla Model Y Prices Just Went up for the First Time in Two Years
Tesla raised Model Y prices for the first time in two years, adding $1,000 to the Premium RWD and AWD trims and $500 to the Performance version. The entry‑level RWD and AWD models stay at $39,990 and $41,990, preserving affordability. The...
New Record For Electric Car Sales In Nordic Countries In April
In April, electric vehicles dominated new‑car sales across the Nordics, with two‑thirds of all registrations being EVs. Norway reached a 98.6% electric share, while Denmark surged to 81.9% after a rapid market maturation since 2022. Sweden and Finland lagged behind,...
Tesla Full Self Driving (Supervised) Now Permitted in Belgium
Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (Supervised) system received its first permission to operate in Belgium after a similar approval in the Netherlands. For now, a single vehicle will conduct a 5,000‑kilometre trial in Flanders to assess differences in road infrastructure and traffic...
Tesla Slashing Down Payments & Loan Terms in China Amidst Dropping Sales
Tesla is lowering the down‑payment on its Model 3 in China to ¥55,900 (about $8,200) and offering a five‑year loan at 0.99% interest, a move aimed at halting a sales slump. Chinese sales fell 10% year‑over‑year in April and 15% across...
We Rode Zoox and Motional in Las Vegas. One Is Ready to Scale, One Is Not. Field Report
A field report from Las Vegas shows Zoox’s robotaxi service suffers from prohibitive wait times—averaging 48‑67 minutes—making it commercially unviable. In contrast, Motional runs a fleet of over 100 Hyundai‑based vehicles and is already conducting driver‑out testing, delivering smoother rides with...