Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:44:40 +0000 InsideEVs InsideEVs | Electric Vehicle News, Reviews, and Reports https://insideevs.com/ https://insideevs.com/news/812962/ferrari-luce-official-pricing-revealed/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:44:31 +0000 The Ferrari Luce Officially Starts At $560,800 The first-ever electric Ferrari makes a Rolls-Royce Cullinan look like a bargain.
There's a tired saying in the automotive biz regarding expensive car prices: "If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it." And as tired and cliché as it is, it's true. People who can afford cars like the new Ferrari Luce don't care how much it costs, they just buy it. That doesn't mean we plebeians aren't allow to be shocked at it's newly released official price tag, though. First reported by Car and Driver, and confirmed to us by Ferrari, the Luce starts at an eye-watering $560,800.
I know car prices of any kind shouldn't really be shocking anymore, as tech bro Instagram accounts have trivialized owning cars with mansion-like price tags. But I'm not sure I'll ever see a half-million-dollar MSRP and not at least widen my eyes with a smidgen of disbelief. In Ferrari's defense, there's a lot of car here, and it seems to be pretty damn special to drive. Even if you don't like the looks, the Luce is probably the most do-it-all Ferrari of all time, so it might actually be the most justifiably expensive car in Maranello's lineup.
Photo by: Ferrari
For all that money, you get four electric motors that combine for a Bugatti Veyron-beating 1,035 horsepower. Remember, this is a four-door sedan, not a hypercar, and yet it has hypercar power and performance. Juicing those motors is a massive 122 kWh battery pack that should give it around 280 miles of range. That's not much range when compared to most Teslas, Lucids, Rivians, BMWs, and even Hyundais. But the vast majority of the cars that beat the Luce on range get nowhere near its level of power and performance.
Sure, you can get a Lucid Air Sapphire that's more powerful and faster, for half the price, but it isn't a Ferrari, is it? Pull up to a Michelin star restaurant in the Lucid, no one notices. Pull up in a Ferrari and you get all the eyeballs, for better and worse.
Ferrari Luce
Photo by: Ferrari
Much has been said about the Luce's looks and perhaps deservedly so. It's the most divisive Ferrari ever, so it will be interesting to see how it's received by customers. Style can be just as important as pricing for Ferrari's wealthy clients. So are customers willing to drop more than half a mil on something that doesn't drop everyone's jaw? If it were my money, and I wanted an electric daily, I'd probably wait for something like the Bentley Torcal, which is expected to be significantly less expensive. Then, I'd spend the leftover cash on used 458 Italia Spyder. But I can't afford to put tires on the Luce, so my opinion doesn't really matter.
Check Out The Ferrari Luce EV's New Look
The Ferrari Luce EV Proves The Haters Wrong
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Nico DeMattia) https://insideevs.com/news/812962/ferrari-luce-official-pricing-revealed/ https://insideevs.com/news/812887/2027-ford-mustang-mach-e-trail-battery-range/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000 The 2027 Ford Mustang Mach-E Has More Range As Standard The extended-range battery is now fitted at no extra cost across the lineup. Plus, there’s a new Trail trim with lifted suspension. The Ford Mustang Mach-E soldiers on after half a decade on the market. A larger battery is now standard on the 2027 model, leading to more range on the base models. A new Trail trim comes with a lifted suspension and vehicle-to-load as standard.
The 2027 Ford Mustang Mach-E is here, and it comes with a few meaningful updates over the outgoing model. The American automaker’s first electric crossover now comes standard with the extended-range battery pack, which means more driving range, even on the base models.
The 73-kilowatt-hour battery that used to be installed on the Select and Premium trims as standard has been removed from the lineup, leaving the 88-kilowatt-hour pack as the only option for these two trims. Meanwhile, the Mach-E GT and Rally get a 91-kilowatt-hour battery, just like before.
2027 Ford Mustang Mach-E Trail
Photo by: Ford
As a result, the driving range of the base Mustang Mach-E will also get a boost. The 2026 model with the small battery and rear-wheel drive had an estimated 260 miles of range, while the all-wheel drive version got 240 miles on a full charge. The extended-range battery increased these figures to 320 miles and 300 miles, respectively.
Ford also redesigned the front electric motor used on all-wheel-drive models. The secondary drive unit makes the same power as the outgoing model, but it’s cheaper to make, which makes the whole car a little bit more affordable, considering the switch to the larger-capacity battery.
The 2027 Mustang Mach-E Select RWD starts at $42,040 (including destination), which is $2,200 more than the outgoing model with the smaller-capacity battery.
2027 Ford Mustang Mach-E Trail
Photo by: Ford
Another big change is the addition of a new Trail trim. It comes with dual-motor all-wheel drive, 19-inch wheels, and Michelin CrossClimate2 tires, just like the Rally trim, which is still being offered. The Mustang Mach-E Trail also gets a small suspension lift, with four tenths of an inch (10 millimeters) extra in the front and six tenths of an inch (15 millimeters) more in the rear, as well as special graphics and a Pro Power Onboard system that can deliver up to 400 watts of power through two household sockets.
As a reminder, the Mach-E Rally has a one-inch (25 mm) suspension lift compared to the standard model.
The 2027 Ford Mustang Mach-E Trail is a $2,295 package that can only be added to the Select eAWD Mustang Mach-E. Ford says the CrossClimate2 tires and specially tuned suspension should result in more confidence while driving on pavement, gravel, and dirt roads.
This is not an off-roader by any stretch of the imagination, but a slightly more capable EV that should have no problems taking its owner and their passengers on dirt roads. What’s more, the automaker is offering a Thule Clamp-On Cross Bar Kit as an optional accessory that can accommodate bikes, kayaks, or gear boxes. An optional Interior Protection package that includes all-weather floor mats and a cargo-area protector is also available for the Trail.
Order books are now open for the 2027 Ford Mustang Mach-E at dealers across the United States. The Build & Price experience is scheduled to open early next year, with the first Trail models expected to ship in the first quarter of 2027.
Ford Opens Fathom EV Pickup Invite List Ahead of Launch
This YouTuber Got Burned By His Lucid Air And Elon Musk. So He Bought A Mustang Mach-E GT
Ford Recalls 43,000 Mustang Mach-E EVs Over Diffs That May Go ‘Bang’
Ford’s New AI Assistant Can Read Your Car’s Manual And Diagnostics
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Iulian Dnistran) https://insideevs.com/news/812887/2027-ford-mustang-mach-e-trail-battery-range/ https://insideevs.com/news/812906/bmw-m3-documentary-track-testing/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:49:54 +0000 BMW’s Electric M3 Had To First Win Over One Of Its Own Winning over a skeptical test driver takes more than horsepower. The electric BMW M3 impressed its Nürburgring test driver with its confidence and precision. The M3 EV will sit above the i3 M60, with four motors and a stronger focus on track performance. BMW will offer both electric and gas-powered M3s, giving buyers a choice.
BMW knows some enthusiasts will need convincing that an electric M3 deserves the M badge. But apparently, that persuasion campaign started within the company. In its latest M3 EV development documentary, BMW singles out one particularly demanding audience: the man who drives its M cars on Nürburgring record runs.
Jörg Weidinger, a racing driver and BMW M development engineer, helps determine how these cars behave when pushed. Colleagues described winning him over with electric propulsion as a challenge. After driving the near-production M3 EV at the Sachsenring, however, he sounds rather pleased.
“That’s impressive. A real leap forward. The experience is incredible,” he says, and his reaction centers on the confidence the car inspires. Coming from someone whose job is to find the limits of M cars, that is an encouraging response, even though, let’s not forget, this is still BMW’s own promotional video.
What the engineers are trying to achieve with the M3 EV is pretty interesting. Their discussions focus on steering feedback, an accelerator that lets the driver dial in power precisely, and brakes that are easy to modulate. The goal is a car drivers can place accurately and understand as they approach its limits. It’s about more than speed.
That theme runs through the series. An earlier installment covered how to make the electric M3 controllable and rewarding near the limit. Another explored how its artificial acceleration sound could help drivers judge speed and acceleration, drawing lessons from combustion engines without simply copying their sound (as Mercedes-AMG did).
The latest video takes that work to BMW’s Miramas proving ground in France, where elevation changes challenge the chassis during fast cornering. The team wants predictable responses even when the road unsettles the car.
The M3 EV's driving character will be defined by its four motors, which allow precise, individual torque control at each wheel, coordinated by M-specific software. BMW has also shown the M Concept Neue Klasse, which hinted at the production model’s wider, more aggressive body kit.
The electric M3 will sit above the new i3 M60 xDrive, due in 2027. While the M60 is a sportier version of the regular i3, the M3 goes further with four motors, a high-performance battery, and a chassis tuned for track driving. It’s about more than extra power, though; it will also handle better, offer more grip, and cope better when pushed hard on a circuit.
The Electric BMW M3 Looks Aggressive Already
2027 BMW M3 EV Spied Testing On The Nurburgring Where It Needs To Excel
The BMW iX5 Gets A Range Boost Ahead Of U.S. Launch
A BMW i3 EV Went 753 Miles On A Single Charge. Its Energy Consumption Was Astonishing
Buyers will still have a combustion alternative. BMW will offer both electric and gas-powered M3S and says their prices should fall in the same ballpark. The documentary even suggests enthusiasts may want one of each.
With a new combustion M3 coming, BMW has to give buyers a good reason to choose the electric one. Seeing its Nürburgring specialist grin after driving it is a promising start. But getting the same reaction from someone spending their own money will be harder.
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Andrei Nedelea) https://insideevs.com/news/812906/bmw-m3-documentary-track-testing/ https://insideevs.com/news/812869/seattle-curbside-ev-chargers-2030/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:58:05 +0000 Seattle Is Installing Hundreds Of Curbside EV Chargers Residents will decide where the Level 2 chargers will be installed, and the city will prioritize areas with apartment buildings. Seattle wants to install hundreds of new EV chargers where apartment dwellers live. The city is asking residents to apply for sites where the new chargers should go. After the sites are selected, the Level 2 curbside chargers will be installed on a rolling basis from fall 2027 through 2030.
Hundreds of new curbside Level 2 EV chargers will be installed in Seattle, in an effort to make life easier for electric car owners who live in multifamily buildings. The project will prioritize areas with apartment buildings and few charging options, and residents can apply for new sites on the Seattle City Light portal.
In total, up to 200 new Level 2 EV chargers will be installed across the city by 2030. Until fall 2027, residents can send in applications for new locations. Then, City Light and the Seattle Department of Transportation will review those applications and select the locations where the new stalls will be installed. According to the city, locations will be chosen in batches of 40-50 at a time, on an ongoing basis.
Seattle already has 58 chargers installed across the city as part of a previous pilot program.
Designing the sites and permitting will kick off in spring 2027, followed by the start of installations in fall 2027. Each site will see about two weeks of active construction, with all locations expected to go online by 2030.
Areas near multifamily housing that are not already served by curbside chargers will be prioritized. What’s more, the program will use a so-called “walk score” metric to ensure new sites are nearby businesses and parks, which leads to higher utilization rates. Communities that suffer from pollution and have experienced underinvestment will also be on the priorities list.
The project comes after a successful pilot that deployed 58 chargers at 31 locations across Seattle in 2023 and 2024. In the last year alone, these chargers have been used 45,000 times, according to SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali, quoted by The Seattle Times.
The new chargers will be paid for by the $1.55 billion Seattle Transportation Levy that was approved by voters in 2024. The budget will be used to reduce air pollution, offer more sustainable transportation options, and install more EV chargers across the city, including at parks, community centers, and libraries.
From the $32 million dedicated to electrification in the levy, roughly $21 million will be spent on the 200 curbside chargers. An additional $2 million will come from Seattle City Light. Currently, it costs $0.21/kilowatt-hour to charge at the city’s curbside EV chargers, with a peak power output of 9.6 kilowatts.
Over half of all homes in Seattle are apartments or condominiums, which often don’t have off-street parking. This makes it quite inconvenient for EV owners, who sometimes have to rely on costlier DC fast chargers that are located near shopping centers or major traffic corridors. Curbside charging can fix the issue, as the stalls are closer to home, and the car can stay connected to the chargers for multiple hours without affecting other drivers.
The solution is widely spread across Europe, and American cities are slowly adopting it, too. Besides Seattle, New York City, Detroit, and San Francisco are taking action and deploying more EV chargers in residential areas.
I Tested New York City’s First Lamppost EV Charger. It’s A Game Changer
What If We're Thinking About EV Charging All Wrong?
New York City Is Finally Making EV Charging Easier With 600 New Curbside Chargers
This Curbside EV Charger Fits Right Into The Sidewalk
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Iulian Dnistran) https://insideevs.com/news/812869/seattle-curbside-ev-chargers-2030/ https://insideevs.com/news/812853/spotify-new-in-car-app-audi/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:56:45 +0000 Spotify’s First Native In-Car App Is Hitting Audi EVs First Built without Google’s design restrictions, the new app will go live on the Audi A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron around the world. Spotify is launching its first truly native in-car music streaming app, and Audi has dibs. The new application breaks free of the design limitations previously imposed by Google. On cars with a passenger display, Spotify can show lyrics.
There’s a new Spotify in-vehicle app, and Audi EVs are the first to get it. And no, you’re not wrong—Spotify already has an application designed for Google-based infotainment systems, but the new one was built from start to finish by the Swedish company without having to comply with Google’s design restrictions.
The previous iteration of Spotify’s Android Automotive app worked as a headless setup, where the music streaming service was in charge of the data, playlists, and music catalog, but Google guidelines set hard rules on how the interface looked. Now, the new app is headful, meaning that Spotify can do whatever it wants with the user interface, drawing pixels on the car’s display as it desires.
Photo by: Spotify
“We’re drawing all the pixels,” said Jonathan Tarlton, Automotive Business Development Lead at Spotify, in an interview quoted by The Verge. “We own the user experience. So we’re not in a template or a framework. It’s 100 percent Spotify.”
As a result, the new setup can take advantage of all the crazy features found in today’s cars. On cars with a passenger display, Spotify can show music lyrics. The front passenger can scan a QR code to join a shared listening session and add songs to the shared queue.
The center display can show videos and lyrics, too, but once the car starts moving, these features are restricted, and only the audio continues playing. Voice commands are baked in, with Spotify claiming its new app taps directly into the vehicle’s built-in voice assistant. On Audi vehicles, drivers can use the “Hey Audi” command to manage playback hands-free.
To get the new Spotify in-car app, Audi owners can install or update it directly from the Audi Application Store on the car’s infotainment system. A smartphone is required to complete the sign-in process by scanning an on-screen QR code, but after this step is completed, the in-car experience is decoupled from personal devices.
That said, Spotify is not giving up on phone projection systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The company said it’s still “heavily invested” in phone projection, but it wants to offer users choice. “We want to be wherever they are, and we want to make sure that they’re accessing Spotify in the way they want to access it, whether they’re locked into the iOS ecosystem or Android on the phone as well,” said Tarlton for The Verge.
The new Spotify in-vehicle app is available now in the United States for the A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron electric models, as well as the A5, Q5, and A6 combustion models from the model year 2026 onwards. Audi said the new app will be launched in 47 markets worldwide, including Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
This is just the beginning, though. While Audi is the first automaker to ship the new Spotify app, more car manufacturers are expected to join in the future.
Here's What's Good (And Bad) About Owning An Audi E-Tron GT
This Audi EV Set A Guinness World Record By Driving 831 Miles Without Recharging
Audi Developed The A2 E-Tron 21 Months Faster Than Usual. The Secret Wasn’t More Engineers
Google Maps Is Getting Gemini AI In CarPlay
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Iulian Dnistran) https://insideevs.com/news/812853/spotify-new-in-car-app-audi/ https://insideevs.com/news/812833/tesla-backlog-fsd-driver-sales/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:39:41 +0000 Tesla Says 75% Of New Car Buyers Subscribe To FSD In North America Tesla's newest subscription numbers show that 75% of buyers subscribe to Tesla's $99 per month autonomy software. Tesla is selling FSD like crazy in North America. 75% of those buyers also purchase Tesla's $99 per month FSD subscription with it. That marks a whopping 1.74 million FSD subscribers worldwide.
Tesla has spent years arguing that the most valuable part of its cars isn't the vehicle itself, but the software that underpins its autonomy. Now Tesla is crediting its self-driving prowess as the biggest contributing factor behind its largest vehicle order backlog in four years.
According to the automaker, Full Self-Driving is the secret sauce that makes its brand so desirable. In fact, it says that FSD is behind most of recent customer demand, with most new car buyers coupling their vehicle purchase with a paid subscription to FSD.
Photo by: Tesla
Tesla says that 75% of its new vehicle deliveries in North America included FSD last quarter. That number is up from 55% in Q2 and is an astonishingly high attach rate for a $99 per month add-on, especially when consumers as a whole largely reject automotive subscriptions.
That number shows that Tesla has been steadily increasing the number of subscribers contributing to software-based annual recurring revenue. It now reports 1.74 million FSD subscriptions across its fleet—that's up 67% year-over-year, and, no, that's not counting free trials.
"Every car that we are delivering comes with a month of FSD subscription," said Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's VP of AI Software. "But still people are signing up even though they have that free [month] available."
Notably, that million subscriber figure also includes those who purchased FSD as a one-time purchase. However, Tesla also revealed that it finally crossed the 50% threshold for purchases versus subscriptions. That means 875,000 people around the world are paying Tesla $99 per month for FSD (or about $1.04 billion in revenue per year if the number of FSD subscribers doesn't decrease).
Tesla isn't saying how long those drivers stay subscribed to FSD. It says that it will share more data like churn rates in the future, but is being fairly tight-lipped about that data as it seeks regulatory approval to turn on FSD in overseas markets like Europe and China.
There's still a qualifier attached to the FSD nameplate: "Supervised." Tesla teased that it will soon be ready to roll out unsupervised FSD to buyers by next summer—with an asterisk, of course. FSD will remain geofenced to approved markets, and only in cars with the latest and greatest hardware. It also plans to welcome customer cars onto the Tesla robotaxi network around the same time.
More importantly, it's finally starting to look less like Tesla pushing FSD as some sort of future promise and more like a feature that buyers not only want, but believe will still mature into a true autonomous driving product.
'End Of The Year': Tesla Says Cybercab Customer Deliveries Will Begin Soon
GM Is Adding Its Own Version Of Tesla's Sentry Mode To Cars
Rivian Was The Second Best-Selling EV Brand In Q3 2026, But Still Far Behind Tesla
The Boring Company Uses Tesla Model 3 Sleds To Shuttle Shipping Containers Through Its Tunnels
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Rob Stumpf) https://insideevs.com/news/812833/tesla-backlog-fsd-driver-sales/ https://insideevs.com/news/812834/tesla-cybercab-customer-deliveries/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:17:21 +0000 'End Of The Year': Tesla Says Cybercab Customer Deliveries Will Begin Soon But the vast majority of Cybercabs will be owned by Tesla, CEO Elon Musk says. Tesla will begin delivering Cybercabs to private customers at the end of the year, according to a Tesla executive on Wednesday's earnings call. Customers will more or less be beta testers, and the majority of Cybercabs will be owned and operated by Tesla, Musk says. Musk originally said the Cybercab would cost less than $30,000.
Tesla will deliver Cybercabs to customers by the end of the year, Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy said during the company's third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. But don't get too excited about owning a $30,000 Tesla: CEO Elon Musk quickly walked back ambitions for how many the company will deliver to private individuals.
"In short, we're trying to get to customers by the end of this year, 2026," Moravy said in response to a question on customer deliveries. "Obviously we're producing them on the line in Texas, but all of those are currently going into our own internal robotaxi fleet."
The company has produced a few hundred Cybercabs for development. It is currently offering paid rides in Austin, Texas, with expansion plans for Dallas, soon. But the company is also under investigation by the federal government for using a vehicle without some federally required equipment. (Another robotaxi company, Zoox, recently got the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's blessing to offer autonomous rides in a vehicle without typically required controls.)
The lack of a steering wheel also opens questions for private ownership, which Musk originally promised for a price of under $30,000. How or whether you'll be able to drive it remains an open question. But again, it doesn't sound like Musk is too worried about the answers to this question. More and more, he is promoting the Cybercab as a holistically owned mobility service, not a product for customers.
The Roadster Will Have Tesla’s Most Advanced Battery Pack Yet
Want The Flying Version Of The Tesla Roadster? You'll Need An Invite
Will The Flying Tesla Roadster Be Street Legal? Nope.
How Tesla Is Pressuring European Regulators To Approve FSD
"Cybercab is primarily going to be something that is offered as 'transport as a service.' Whereas our other cars will be more the cars you want to own, like the 3 and the Y, and the Roadster, obviously," CEO Elon Musk said on the call. "The vast majority of the Cybercab stuff will be essentially Tesla-owned and transport as a service."
That's a different vision than I'm used to hearing from Musk. He has long talked about how you'll be able to own a Model 3 or Model Y and have it pay for itself by offering rides on Tesla's ride-sharing app. When the Cybercab was unveiled, that was a big part of the pitch.
But it was always a weird one. To offer autonomous rides, you need to handle charging, demand matching, fleet mix, cleaning, and maintenance, and it makes sense for the vehicles to be dedicated taxis, as all of its competitors use.
The Model 3 and Y may still support private owners volunteering them for robotaxi duty, should Tesla ever solve broad-spectrum autonomy. But as for Cybercab owners, well, it sounds like there won't be many of them to begin with.
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Mack Hogan) https://insideevs.com/news/812834/tesla-cybercab-customer-deliveries/ https://insideevs.com/news/812832/midterm-elections-ev-sales/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:31:54 +0000 The Midterms Won't Mean Much For EV Policy, Analysts Say Even if Democrats flip congress, they won't be able to make meaningful change.
It's no surprise that the current Trump administration is doing all it can to roll back alternative fuel laws and shut down electric vehicle sales. Naturally, EV fans are hoping that if Democrats can flip congress blue in next month's midterm electrics, they'll be able to make some changes. Unfortunately for EV fans, according to S&P Global, it doesn't seem like they'll be able to do much even if they do take control of Congress.
Let's say most of Congress flips blue, and Democrats gain majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives. They could certainly try to draft legislation to help EVs again. They could write bills that would bring back EV tax credits, attempt to make Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards strict again and set penalties for automakers who don't comply. All of those things were reversed by the Trump administration, though, so the President would likely just veto any attempts to course correct.
Photo by: Mack Hogan/InsideEVs
It is possible to override the president's veto, but it requires two thirds of Congress to vote in favor of doing so. It is highly unlikely that Democrats would control 2/3rds of either house of Congress, let alone both. And if they don't they'll need Trump to sign off on all changes, which seems almost impossible, given his disdain for EVs. So even with a blue wave, "there would still be the challenge of a veto and then overcoming that veto, which is a very, very high hurdle," Jeff Meyer, CERA's director of mobility and energy, told S&P Global.
So it seems that, unless the Blue Wave is more of a Blue Tsunami, customer will have to wait until at least 2028 for meaningful change back in favor of EVs. Which means at least two more years of both China and Europe increasing their lead in the market. According to S&P Global, the plug-in market share is around 60% in China, while it's near the single digits in America. Even Europe's is significantly higher, at around 45%. As those markets continue to buy EVs, automakers in those countries will continue to innovate. All the while, American EV growth will be stunted and we'll be far behind once we even have the chance to catch back up.
General Motors' EV Sales Are Way Down. But It's Not As Bleak As It Seems
Oregon's EV Rebates Are Back. Here's How To Get Up To $7,500
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Nico DeMattia) https://insideevs.com/news/812832/midterm-elections-ev-sales/ https://insideevs.com/news/812803/gm-sentry-mode-coming-soon/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:57:51 +0000 GM Is Adding Its Own Version Of Tesla's Sentry Mode To Cars GM's new OnStar Connected Cameras sound like a page out of Tesla's tech-focused playbook. GM cars will soon get a camera-based surveillance system similar to Tesla's Sentry Mode. The system detects events and will upload clips directly to GM's new OnStar app when it launches in 2027.m Select vehicles will receive the feature via an OTA update.
Modern cars have eyes everywhere: cameras looking forward, backwards, sideways, at blind spots, in the cabin. You name an angle, the car probably sees it. Most of the time, they're meant to serve as a way to avoid clipping a car just out of your mirror's view or nailing a curb in a tight parking spot.
But if they're always watching, why not put them to work? GM announced a new feature that does just that at its GM Forward tech showcase in New York.
The automaker showed off OnStar Connected Cameras, a feature that uses the car's existing cameras to automatically capture important events and make them available to drivers on the upcoming OnStar app. The idea is similar to Tesla's Sentry Mode or Rivian's Gear Guard, though GM's implementation is a little bit different. While Sentry Mode might start recording when someone gets close to your Tesla, OnStar Connected Cameras need a more severe trigger.
Photo by: General Motors
If an incident occurs, the system can save footage from the car's exterior cameras—the same ones that help power Super Cruise and 360-degree parking cameras—to automatically capture important events and save the clips to the OnStar app. Nick Festa, GM's executive director of product management for OnStar, told InsideEVs that the recording will look forward and back about 30 seconds, meaning each clip will have about a minute's worth of context around it.
GM specifically frames the idea around the chaotic moments following an accident where everyone suddenly has a completely different recollection of what happened and a bit of clarity could be the difference that determines who's at-fault for that fender bender.
Festa also confirmed to InsideEVs that the system works when parked. If the vehicle's theft alarm is triggered, Connected Cameras can create a 30-second long event recording.
Some of GM's cars offer a dashcam view today. For example, the Cadillac Escalade offers the Surround Vision Recorder that can record the SUV's external cameras to a USB drive. OnStar Connected Cameras will offer the full local recordings, plus the uploaded clips that are saved to the OnStar app. The company stressed that its implementation is also privacy-focused, with the clips being end-to-end encrypted. Only the authorized OnStar account holder can choose who, if anyone, they want to share clips with.
Festa said "select" vehicles on the road today will be able to use the feature, including full-size SUVs and Cadillacs. The function will roll out in the new OnStar app, which launches in 2027 and replaces individual Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC apps.
GM Is Closing Its Detroit EV Battery Plant
The 2027 Cadillac Escalade IQ Gets A NACS Port And Faster Home Charging
GM Is Giving Away Free EV Chargers—And Paying New Owners To Charge
GM's New UI For Trucks Plays Nice With CarPlay
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Rob Stumpf) https://insideevs.com/news/812803/gm-sentry-mode-coming-soon/ https://insideevs.com/news/812808/rivian-r2-q3-sales/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:48:28 +0000 Rivian Was The Second Best-Selling EV Brand In Q3 2026, But Still Far Behind Tesla Move over Chevy, there's a new second-place in town.
Tesla is still the best-selling EV brand in America and there isn't a close second. However, there is a new second place contender, and it's Rivian. Chevy was the runner-up brand behind Tesla this time last year, but now that the Rivian R2 has been on sale for long enough, it's helped propel the brand past the American giant.
According to data from Cox Automotive, Rivian sold 19,239 vehicles in Q3 2026, putting in firmly in second place on the EV sales podium for a brand. (General Motors as an overall automaker still outsells Rivian in EVs.) That's a 45.7% increase, year-over-year, for Rivian, proving just how important the R2 is for the lineup. Right behind it was Toyota, with 12,904 sales, and surprisingly Cadillac behind Toyota, with 12,358 sales. No one comes even close to Tesla, though, which sold 144,094 cars last quarter.
What's ironic about the R2 boosting Rivian's sales to second place is that it wasn't even the best-selling Rivian of the quarter. If you count passenger cars, the R1T still outsold the R2 by a hefty margin, 5,852 sales versus 3,456. The vast majority of Rivian's Q3 sales came from the EDV500/700, which is a commercial fleet vehicle. It's one of the few commercial vehicles on the list, but it's by far the most successful, partly thanks to Rivian's Amazon contract.
Tesla seems unreachable at this point, though. Its second-best selling car, the Model 3, by itself sold more than the total number of EVs Rivian and Toyota sold combined, with 40,346 sales. The Model Y was Tesla's most popular car, finding 99,037 homes. But now that there are some highly competitive cars in the Model Y's space, like the new Rivian R2 and BMW iX3, that market should get more competitive.
There's still no question that the Rivian R2 is a massive help for the brand, even if it wasn't Rivian's best-seller last quarter. And it's only getting started. Once more customers learn about the R2 and its competitive pricing, it will only get more popular. Its only real barrier for most people will be its range, which falls behind that of the Model Y for the most part. But it makes up for that with character, off-road capability, and increased practicality. So the R2, with its lower price and improved tech, has a good chance of becoming Rivian's best-selling car and what helps the brand inch close and close to Tesla.
Here's What It's Like To Take Delivery Of A Rivian R2
Used EVs Hit A Record Share Of Overall Used Car Sales In September
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Nico DeMattia) https://insideevs.com/news/812808/rivian-r2-q3-sales/ https://insideevs.com/news/812811/china-compete-build-structural-advantage/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:02:57 +0000 Chinese Cars Cost Way Less To Build Than European Ones. Here’s Why Consulting firm AlixPartners found that, structurally, Chinese EV Manufacturers are on a totally different planet. AlixPartners found that, on average, a European EV that cost $31,000 to make would only cost about $20,000 to make in China. The firm says that structural advantages, like corporate organization that enables a faster speed of development and cheaper battery costs, are big reasons why China is ahead. Europe could catch up if it invests in more battery manufacturing and streamlines its corporate structure.
Chinese cars are catching on for a reason, and it’s not super hard to see why. Chinese brands are making big inroads globally among value-oriented consumers in search of a deal. These cars are generally very good, especially for the cheaper-than-average prices they’re offering. Of course, this has sent Europe into an existential crisis, as the Chinese brands threaten the future of its automotive industry. Some insist that this is merely political policy from Beijing to underprice cars and weaken global industry.
Not so fast. A recent analysis from financial consulting and market analysis company AlixPartners examined China’s rise on a deep level. The firm shows that financial subsidies or incentives aren’t the full explanation for China’s superiority in the EV space. AlixPartners found that there’s a roughly 35% production cost difference on average between Chinese EV models and European ones. At the end, the analysis emphasized the importance for European manufacturers to fundamentally change how they all operate in order to maintain relevance and profitability.
Photo by: Kevin Williams/InsideEVs
“A Chinese-branded EV made in China costs about $20,000 to produce versus $31,000 for a European equivalent,” the study said. Why? Well, there’s a combination of reasons, some larger than others, but all add up to structural advantages in how Chinese companies are managed and how these companies utilize their manufacturing advantages, and not really just subsidies.
For starters, the study says that Europe’s battery manufacturing and raw material sourcing are too reliant on external inputs, which is a structural barrier to high costs.
Essentially, the study asserts that from top to bottom, making and sourcing a battery is just too pricey in continental Europe. Its largest source of raw materials is from battery recycling, but the capacity for such recycling is below where it needs to be for it to be sustainable for battery production. European energy prices are way higher than those in the U.S. and China, too, only further driving up the price of production. AlixPartner’s suggested solution is essentially subsidies and incentives for manufacturers to continue to establish and run battery production plants, even subsidizing energy costs when the plants are running.
Photo by: Getty Images
Also, the concept of “China Speed” is one of the biggest advantages Chinese brands have against most of the Western world. In essence, Chinese car companies have reduced and accelerated decision-making timetables compared to industry norms. Some big decision-makers have far fewer layers of management, and testing is often virtual, with physical in-person validation happening at the very end.
This speed and confident decision-making showed up all through China’s EV development. Whether it be from software-defined vehicles or physical platform and ergonomic development, these brands are just so much more agile, able, and willing to put new technologies into practice. Of course, sometimes China has been accused of moving too fast, as the race-to-market strategy has resulted in some blunders that could likely have been caught with more extensive testing. For example, Lynk & Co’s software bug could accidentally turn off the lights via voice commands while driving. The resultant accident from the Lynk & Co Z20 went viral on Chinese social media, and other Chinese EV drivers learned that their cars, some made by other brands, were susceptible to the same problem.
AlixPartners’ study ends with a word of caution: Tariffs only buy time to catch up, and they won’t thwart China’s competitive advantage. Sure, European localization of Chinese EVs will erode some of the cost advantages that Chinese brands have with their home supply chains, but the structural advantages of how these companies are run will continue. Western firms need to reinvent themselves if they want to keep up.
Overall, AlixPartner’s paper is a fascinating look into some of the things I’ve seen a glimpse of on the ground in China. Insisting that China’s dominance in EV manufacturing is more complicated than simply throwing everything on government policy; rather, it's a big country with smart people running big companies in incredibly wise ways.
Volkswagen Says Its Latest EVs Are 70-80% As Profitable As Gas Cars
Canadians Are Holding Out For Chinese EVs
Volkswagen’s Family Of Cheap EVs Already Looks Like A Hit
Chinese EVs Are Praised For Value, But This $150,000 Minivan Has A Serious Braking Problem
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Kevin Williams) https://insideevs.com/news/812811/china-compete-build-structural-advantage/ https://insideevs.com/news/812810/gm-fourth-generation-ev-platform-lmr-battery/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:02:35 +0000 GM's Next-Generation EV Platform Has 30% Less Wiring And 20% Less Battery GM revealed some details of its fourth-generation EV platform at its GM Forward event on Wednesday. GM announced a fourth-generation EV platform in New York on Wednesday. It will use lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) batteries that reduce costs. The new EV architecture will result in EVs that are 15% lighter and 20% more energy efficient, GM said.
General Motors is getting ready to roll out a fourth-generation EV architecture with big efficiency and computing-power gains, the company announced on Wednesday at its GM Forward event in New York City.
The automaker didn’t provide a firm timeline for when the new vehicles will roll out or which specific nameplates will use it. GM President Mark Reuss told the crowd that it will serve “a remarkable set of vehicles in several segments” and that the launch would happen “very shortly.” The company said the platform will underpin EVs in its “highest-volume” segments, which a spokesperson clarified means its crossover SUVs.
The announcement was light on concrete details about the new EV platform, but GM said the idea is to build cars that use fewer expensive batteries while still delivering the right amount of range. That could help it cut down on EV production costs and continue scaling up its electric efforts.
GM Gen 4 EV Platform Render
Photo by: General Motors
“We continue to develop our future EVs and work to reduce battery costs,” Reuss said on stage, noting that GM is a global company and EV sales are rising around the world. “And when the U.S. market is ready for EVs in large numbers, we will be there for them.”
All told, GM said the fourth-generation EVs allow for a 15% reduction in vehicle mass, 20% greater efficiency, 20% less battery capacity overall, and 25% better aerodynamic performance. The company has also reworked its drive units and power electronics to cut the number of parts inside of each motor by 40%.
At the core of GM’s new EV technology lie lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) batteries, a chemistry that GM says is cheaper than high-nickel cells while being 33% more energy-dense than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) ones.
GM LMR battery materials Photo by: General Motors
“With that being unlocked, that changes everything,” Zach Walker, GM’s director of global EV architecture, told me. “When you talk about equivalent or more range for 20% less battery, which is a dominating [bill-of-materials] cost of the system, you can extrapolate what that means for the value proposition to us and really to the customer.”
The prismatic cells will be structurally integrated into vehicles, Walker said. He wouldn’t specify whether the cells will be installed in a cell-to-pack format or use some kind of module structure. But he said the new architecture will allow for better battery packaging that can, for example, make the vehicle lower and more aerodynamic.
It can do so without having to compromise the shape of the car. "Like, you can go slam a roof, and then the customer’s driving, like, a clown car," he said.
Crosstown rival Ford is also working on a blank-slate EV platform that it says will be more efficient and cheaper to produce than the technology that went into the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. But it seems to be farther along. The $30,000 Fathom pickup is supposed to hit production late next year as the first model on the new Universal Electric Vehicle platform.
The Cadillac Escalade IQ
Photo by: Cadillac
Like Ford, GM is also overhauling the electrical and computing architecture in its new EVs, trading dozens of discrete electronic control modules that control specific functions for a far more powerful and centralized system. In that way, it’s also following in the footsteps of Tesla and Rivian. In theory, that should allow for deeper over-the-air software updates, new features, and more centralized control over different parts of the vehicle.
The new system uses a single Central Compute Unit located near the front of the vehicle to handle perception, propulsion, safety systems, and chassis controls. “This unified foundation provides the heavy computing power required to run both sophisticated in-cabin AI and autonomous driving simultaneously,” GM said in a press release.
The end result, GM said, is an electrical and compute architecture with 30% less wiring than current EVs (which saves complexity and weight), 40 times more processing power, and 50% faster cellular connectivity for video streaming and other features. The architecture hits streets in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ and will be critical to delivering GM’s first eyes-off driving system, which debuts in that vehicle. It’ll also be found in the fourth-generation EVs and across GM’s gas-vehicle lineup, starting with pickup trucks and three-row SUVs.
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Tim Levin) https://insideevs.com/news/812810/gm-fourth-generation-ev-platform-lmr-battery/ https://insideevs.com/news/812806/gm-not-walking-away-evs/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000 General Motors Isn't 'Walking Away' From EVs, Top Exec Says A fourth-gen EV platform powered by LMR cells is coming soon. GM says a fourth-generation EV platform is coming soon. Despite sinking sales in the U.S., GM is not "walking away" from EVs. This new-generation EV platform will use lithium manganese-rich (LMR) cells.
As the entire U.S. EV market recalibrates in dramatic fashion, General Motors wants you to know it still sees electric cars as the future.
During today’s GM Forward event in New York, GM President Mark Reuss reiterated that the company is not giving up on EVs. Rather, it’s coming back stronger with cars that are better tailored for the realities of our EV market.
“We're a global company. One of every four vehicles sold around the world is [an EV], and that number is only rising,” Reuss said. “We're not walking away from that. We're embracing it. We continue to develop our future EVs and work to reduce battery costs. And when the U.S. market is ready for EVs in large numbers, we will be there for them."
"The investments we're making in battery technology, EV platforms, software, energy management, and advanced manufacturing are investments in an electric future," he said. "They demonstrate that GM is committed to EVs for the long term, even as we give customers choice today."
At Wednesday's event, GM laid out a vision that includes heavily updated EVs and more high-tech combustion vehicles too. The company touted shorter development times, software-defined vehicles with more powerful compute architectures, and a fourth-generation EV platform that will underpin a range of crossovers down the line.
Details about the platform are still scant, but GM says it is designed for mainstream adoption and uses its lower-cost lithium manganese-rich (LMR) cells. GM has positioned LMR cells as key to reducing costs for both manufacturing and buyers. It says the cells can cost about the same as lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, while offering energy density that rivals high-nickel batteries. The new vehicles, GM says, will need 20% less battery than its previous ones and will weigh less too. The new platform will also use a centralized computing platform.
In the U.S., EV sales have faltered over the last year after the EV tax credit disappeared and pro--EV regulations were axed. General Motors spent years building out a broad lineup of EVs, and it hasn't been spared in the new more difficult environment. Chevrolet EV sales have been roughly cut in half so far this year, while electric Cadillac sales are down about 10%.
The results are clear. Gas trucks are back in focus for GM, the Bolt is ending production with fewer than expected units produced, and Honda’s variants of GM’s Ultium cars are dead. But the powertrain is only gaining ground globally.
EVs made up around 30% of car sales in Europe in September. In some European countries, new EV sales are already outpacing combustion vehicles. GM knows this well from operating in China, where electrified vehicles are vastly more popular than gas-powered ones. It sees the writing on the wall: EVs will only become more significant over time, despite the choppy waters in the U.S. right now.
GM didn't announce a timeline for its fourth-generation EVs at GM Forward, but Reuss said they should launch "very shortly."
Additional reporting by Tim Levin
Updated at 4:06 PM ET with additional comments from GM President Mark Reuss.
GM Is Closing Its Detroit EV Battery Plant
The 2027 Cadillac Escalade IQ Gets A NACS Port And Faster Home Charging
GM's New UI For Trucks Plays Nice With CarPlay
GM And LG Restart EV Battery Production In Ohio After Seven-Month Shutdown
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Kevin Williams) https://insideevs.com/news/812806/gm-not-walking-away-evs/ https://insideevs.com/news/812764/gm-onstar-ai-assistant-cadillac-lyriq/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000 GM's OnStar AI Assistant Debuts In The 2027 Cadillac Lyriq The digital assistant can control various vehicle functions and answer specific questions through voice commands. General Motors is launching an in-vehicle artificial intelligence-powered voice assistant. The new OnStar AI Assistant will debut in the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq through a software update, with more GM models to follow. By using natural voice commands, drivers can control vehicle functions, plan charging stops, and ask about errors.
General Motors is introducing a new AI assistant in its vehicles, starting with the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq luxury electric SUV. The new OnStar AI Assistant will hit the Lyriq EV through an over-the-air software update in the coming months, with additional GM vehicles to follow. The 2027 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado will be next, a GM spokesperson told InsideEVs.
The automaker said its new AI-enabled feature can answer complex questions and adjust various vehicle features without the driver having to take their eyes off the road. The voice assistant can be activated with the “Hey, OnStar” key phrase, followed by a command.
"We're evolving OnStar to become a true driving partner," GM CEO Mary Barra said at the automaker's GM Forward event in New York on Wednesday. "Coming soon, we'll offer a new layer of intelligence that lives in your dashboard and understands your vehicle. It's designed to learn your preferences and adapt to better support your drive."
The 2027 Cadillac Lyriq is the first model in GM's lineup to get the new OnStar AI Assistant. The feature will be introduced in the coming months through an over-the-air software update.
Photo by: Cadillac
For instance, if it’s too hot inside, the driver can say “It’s getting warm in here,” and the air conditioning system will lower the temperature. Additionally, the new OnStar AI Assistant can plan charging stops in EVs if the driver asks something like, “Do I have enough range to get there?” It can also explain what a specific error message or warning light means.
GM said the new native AI assistant combines real-time vehicle data, context, and connected services to deliver personalized answers. The system has access to vehicle data like tire pressure, charging status, and projected range, and can control features such as the dome lights, the electronic glove box, and the charge port, among others. Furthermore, it can explain specific features installed on the vehicle, making the user’s manual redundant.
An operator will be ready to take over when the AI assistant can’t offer a clear answer. GM said that when a question calls for human assistance, an OnStar Advisor will be called to handle the situation.
But that’s not all. As part of GM’s tech-forward repositioning, a new OnStar smartphone app will replace the current OnStar Guardian and Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicle brand apps starting next year.
The automaker said the new app will include an AI chat feature where drivers can ask about their vehicle. It'll also have a camera-surveillance feature akin to Tesla's Sentry mode, a first for GM. When a vehicle's theft alarm goes off, its surround cameras will record a video of the incident, which will be available to view in the OnStar app. When it comes to video recordings, GM said they have time limits and are encrypted, and that the company can’t access remote video files.
These changes bring GM closer to what tech-heavy companies like Tesla and Rivian are known for. Built-in dashcams and in-vehicle AI assistants can make modern cars feel like smartphones, but they can also make life a little easier, as long as they don’t cost an arm and a leg to activate.
General Motors said the OnStar AI Assistant will be part of its standard OnStar Basics subscription service, which is included with new vehicle purchases at no extra cost.
Additional reporting by Tim Levin
Updated 2:19 pm ET with comments from General Motors CEO Mary Barra
Ford’s New AI Assistant Can Read Your Car’s Manual And Diagnostics
Apple's Self-Driving Car Program Failed. But It Still Made Your iPhone Better
Rivian Says Fight Over Apple CarPlay Is 'Completely Obsolete' Thanks To AI
Google Maps Is Getting A Huge Update With Immersive 3D Maps And AI
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Iulian Dnistran) https://insideevs.com/news/812764/gm-onstar-ai-assistant-cadillac-lyriq/ https://insideevs.com/news/812707/google-gemini-maps-carplay/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000 Google Maps Is Getting Gemini AI In CarPlay Drivers using iPhones will be able to ask natural-sounding questions, and Gemini will reply with relevant information. Google is bringing its Gemini AI assistant to Maps in CarPlay. Drivers who connect their iPhones to the car’s infotainment system can ask multi-step questions while on the road. Gemini in Google Maps for CarPlay is rolling out now for drivers in the U.S., with more countries to follow.
Google’s artificial intelligence-powered Gemini voice assistant is coming to Google Maps in CarPlay. The feature, which is rolling out now in the United States, enables iPhone users to ask natural questions while using Maps on CarPlay, and Gemini will offer relevant answers and potential navigation actions, without requiring the driver to take their eyes off the road.
The American tech giant showcased the new integration in a short video where the driver asks Gemini, “Where’s that park with the view of the skyline and the Space Needle?” The app replies with, “That is Kerry Park, located on Queen Anne Hill. Would you like me to navigate there?” Along with the voice response, Maps also showed the route to Kerry Park.
However, the big thing about Gemini coming to Google Maps on CarPlay is that drivers can ask several subsequent questions about their potential destination, like the weather forecast, whether the venue is crowded at the time of arrival, and if there’s a way to avoid tolls while getting there.
To use Gemini in Google Maps on CarPlay, drivers need to tap the Gemini icon on the car’s display. The move comes after the technology company deployed its “most significant update in over a decade” to its GPS navigation app. Back in March, Maps got a new Immersive Mode that includes a detailed 3D map with buildings, overpasses, crosswalks, traffic lanes, traffic lights, and stop signs.
Additionally, the overhaul brought Gemini into the mix via a feature called “Ask Maps,” but that’s only available when using Maps directly on an iPhone. With this latest update, Gemini can be used in CarPlay.
The move couldn’t have happened without Apple’s involvement. The maker of the iPhone started allowing third-party voice-based conversational apps to interface with CarPlay in iOS 26.4, which was released in March, according to MacRumors.
Google said that Gemini in Maps on CarPlay is now available to drivers in the U.S., with a global rollout happening, too.
Google Maps Is Bringing EV Route Planning To Android Auto
The Ford Mustang Mach-E Can Now Precondition Its Battery Via CarPlay
Google Maps Is Getting A Huge Update With Immersive 3D Maps And AI
Electrify America Adds Real-Time EV Charger Info To Google Maps
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Iulian Dnistran) https://insideevs.com/news/812707/google-gemini-maps-carplay/ https://insideevs.com/news/812699/electrify-america-largest-ev-station-florida/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:26:38 +0000 Electrify America’s Largest EV Charging Station Is Missing One Big Thing The company’s newest station is now open for business in Orlando, Florida. Electrify America opened its largest EV fast charging station to date. With two dozen 350 kW chargers, the Florida site has plenty of options for quick top-ups. All stalls have the same type of connector, so some EV owners will need to have an adapter at hand.
Electrify America just flicked the “on” switch at its largest-ever EV fast charging station. Located in Orlando, Florida, the site offers 24 individual stalls, each capable of delivering up to 350 kilowatts of power.
That’s great news for Orlando residents who need a quick top-up, but the site’s location near Interstate 4, the Orlando International Airport, Walt Disney World, and Universal Studios means it’s well-positioned for EV drivers who are just passing by, too.
Electrify America's largest EV fast charging station opened in Orlando, Florida
Photo by: Electrify America
Plenty of dining and shopping options are also available nearby at the Sand Lake Corners South shopping center, so drivers can spend their time doing something else while their car is charging.
All this being said, there is one important thing to keep in mind. Every one of the 24 stalls at Electrify America’s largest DC fast charging station has a CCS1 connector. It’s not the end of the world, but it means that drivers of NACS-equipped EVs will need to have a charging adapter at hand if they want to top up at this location. All Tesla and Rivian EVs sold in the United States have a NACS charging port, and an increasing number of legacy automakers are fitting the compact connector on their electric models, including General Motors, BMW, Stellantis, and Mercedes-Benz.
The shift in connector preference came after Tesla opened the floodgates, allowing competing EV manufacturers to gain access to its Supercharger charging network in the U.S., which uses NACS plugs exclusively.
Earlier this year, Electrify America set the stage for its future, launching what it calls large-format stations. These can cater to at least 20 EVs simultaneously, with each stall capable of delivering up to 350 kW. The company already has a handful of large-format sites in California, including a location where a 1.9-megawatt battery helps balance the grid.
“This new station in Orlando represents our continued commitment to bringing fast, reliable, and convenient charging to Florida,” said Anthony Lambkin, vice president of Operations at Electrify America. “Florida’s EV community is growing fast, and we’re excited to keep growing with it.”
Florida had the second-highest number of registered EVs after California, according to the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, so expanding its footprint here makes a lot of sense for Electrify America.
America’s Biggest Non-Tesla EV Fast Charging Network Just Hit A New Milestone
Wawa Branded EV Chargers Are Here Thanks To Electrify America
Electrify America Just Made EV Charging Easier By Ditching An Annoying Policy
America Now Has More Than 80,000 Public Fast Charging Ports
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Iulian Dnistran) https://insideevs.com/news/812699/electrify-america-largest-ev-station-florida/ https://insideevs.com/news/812651/bmw-ix3-tesla-rivian-comparison/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 20:08:16 +0000 Can The BMW iX3 Take Down The Tesla Model Y L And Rivian R2? The iX3 is one of the most sophisticated electric crossovers on sale. But can it beat the latest and greatest from Tesla and Rivian?
Tesla has had a stranglehold on the electric midsize crossover segment for a while. The Model Y was really the first mainstream car in that space, and by far the most popular model within it, but it now it has some very steep competition. The two most recent newcomers to challenge Tesla are the Rivian R2 and BMW iX3, and in this new video comparison from Out of Spec Studios, you get to see which of the three is best.
The BMW is the unlikely car in the group, as it's from a mainstream luxury automaker and is the most traditional of the bunch. The Tesla has the most comprehensive assisted driving system, the Rivian has the best off-road tech, but the iX3 is framed more as a long-range all-rounder.
It has by far the best range and charging capability of the bunch, with up to 434 miles of EPA range. Out of Spec didn't see that in their real-world testing, but they did see 340 miles of highway range, which was by far the most in this test. Th EPA's range testing cycle includes a mix of city and highway speeds, so the R2's 330-mile range goes down significantly on pure highway trips. Out of Spec did 253 miles at 70 mph, far below the others. The Model Y managed 290 miles in the same test.
According to Out of Spec's host Kyle Conner, each car gives you a big reason to want it. The Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" driver assistance system is very useful if you like that sort of thing, and far better than the other two systems. (All three systems still require driver supervision.) The Rivian has the most character by being the most fun to drive, while also being the best off-road. But the BMW iX3 crushes the other two in terms of range and charge speed. So which one is the best? According to Conner, the iX3 is the one he'd take home if he had to choose, but he fully admits that the others offer compelling packages.
The BMW iX3 M60 Gets 603 Horsepower And Yellow Lights
Here's What It's Like To Take Delivery Of A Rivian R2
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Nico DeMattia) https://insideevs.com/news/812651/bmw-ix3-tesla-rivian-comparison/ https://insideevs.com/news/812642/waymo-quintuple-fleet-5000-robotaxis/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:55:10 +0000 Waymo Plans To Have 20,000 Cars By The End Of 2027 Waymo plans to grow its fleet of driverless cars five-fold by the end of next year, Semafor reported. Waymo's fleet of driverless cars could soon get a major boost. A new report says that Waymo could be looking to increase its fleet five-fold by the end of 2027. That means moving from 4,000 cars to 20,000 in just 14 months.
The robotaxi race is on. While there are quite a few players in the running, the clear leader in the U.S. is Alphabet's Waymo. The company is apparently getting ready to kick things up a notch.
Waymo aims to quintuple its fleet from roughly 4,000 cars today to 20,000 by the end of 2027, Semafor reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the plans. The company reportedly wants to grow its fleet to 8,000 vehicles by close of 2026.
Photo by: Lyft
We have an idea of where Waymo is getting the money to fund this inevitably expensive endeavor. Last month, it locked in$5 billion in debt financing which it said it will use to "accelerate the continued expansion of our fully autonomous ride-hailing service across the United States and internationally."
Expanding means more than just buying up more Zeekr vans and outfitting them with computers and sensors. Waymo also needs teleoperators to steer remotely cars when they create a traffic jam, plus the infrastructure and operational might to operate a taxi service. Think folks back at the depots who vacuum the cars and plug them in to charge. Not everything is autonomous, after all.
Waymo has been steadily expanding its fleet of cars and the areas it operates in throughout 2026. As of September, Waymo was serving 15 major cities across eight states, making it by far America's most significant robotaxi operator. Waymo averages upwards of a half-million paid rides every single week. It's also testing services in London and Tokyo, with expansion announced for Canada, Singapore, and Spain.
To grow service in existing locations and expand to new ones, Waymo will need to scale its fleet considerably with help from partners like Hyundai and Geely. Hyundai recently said that it plans to make "tens of thousands" of Ioniq 5 robotaxis for Waymo, while Geely-owned Zeekr's boxy Ojai people movers have also started rolling out in three cities.
Tesla, by contrast, only started autonomous rides last year and isn't close to matching Waymo's current scale. If Waymo does manage to quintuple its driverless fleet in roughly the next year, the gap between it and the rest of the pack could grow even greater.
Waymo's Latest Safety Numbers Sure Make Human Drivers Look Bad
Hyundai CEO's Answer For The EV Slowdown: Build Robotaxis
Waymo Is Bringing Driverless Rides To Las Vegas
Waymo Just Made A New Friend In Nashville, And It's Not Uber
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Rob Stumpf) https://insideevs.com/news/812642/waymo-quintuple-fleet-5000-robotaxis/ https://insideevs.com/news/812647/boring-company-model-3-freight/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:19:44 +0000 The Boring Company Uses Tesla Model 3 Sleds To Shuttle Shipping Containers Through Its Tunnels The shipping containers fit "like a glove."
The Boring Company found an interesting use for Tesla Model 3s that weren't being driven: use them as freight sleds. Back in August, the Elon Musk-backed company showed off a remote-piloted sled called a Liner Truck made using a Tesla Model 3 battery pack and powertrain. It brings preformed concrete tunnel segments through the tunnel to the boring machine. Now, though, TBC shows that it can even pull a standard shipping container through the tunnel, even if it only has about an inch worth of room to spare on either side.
TBC posted a clip to X, showing off the Liner Truck carrying a shipping container through the tunnel, and it looks like its top corners are going to scrape against the inside walls. A pebble in the pavement could cause a big enough bump to make the container and tunnel connect. So the Liner Truck better drive perfectly, but that will be tricky because the Liner Truck is remotely operated. TBC doesn't want anyone in the tunnels, as part of its Zero-People-In-Tunnel philosophy. So it might be tough to operate that Liner Truck and its freight with such a small margin of error.
The Liner Truck is a strong little thing, though. Despite using a Model 3 battery pack and powertrain, this little guy is capable of towing more than a some heavy-duty pickups. According to TBC, it can haul 22,000 pounds, which is how much each load of those preformed concrete tunnel sections weighs. That's about as much as an F-250 Super Duty with a Power Stroke V8.
Admittedly, the little Liner Truck can only go 12 mph while towing that much weight, and it has 28 miles of range. It is a Model 3 powertrain after all. But it isn't built for speed or distance, it's built to carefully, slowly bring heavy freight through very narrow tunnels.
With TBC just raising $3 billion in September, pushing its evaluation to $23 billion, it has a lot of tunneling to do. Most of that $3 billion came from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), so it now plans to dig 150 kilometers (93 miles) of tunnels there. Additionally, it just begun digging another 10 miles in Nashville, Tennessee. All of those tunnel-digging machines need those concrete tunnel liners, so they need more of these Liner Trucks if it wants to "solve traffic." That sound you just heard was all of our eyes collectively rolling, because TBC's only functional tunnels are the few miles worth in Vegas, but hey at least these little sleds are neat.
The Boring Company Raises $3 Billion To Help Put More Teslas In Tunnels
The Boring Company Connects LVCC Loop With The Las Vegas Strip
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Nico DeMattia) https://insideevs.com/news/812647/boring-company-model-3-freight/ https://insideevs.com/news/812617/leapmotor-begins-european-production-stellantis/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:16:42 +0000 This Chinese EV Is Now Made In Europe. More Are Coming Stellantis is building Leapmotor’s B10 electric crossover in Spain, with a second model ready to join it next year. Leapmotor has started building the B10 in Spain, with the B05 expected to follow in early 2027. Leapmotor previously assembled the T03 in Poland using Chinese kits, but production ended in March 2025. Chinese brands are expanding European production through local partners, existing factories and new plants.
Chinese automakers don’t necessarily need to build factories to start making cars in Europe. Sometimes, a European manufacturer already has the space and is happy to help. That’s what’s happening in Spain, where Stellantis has started building the Leapmotor B10 electric crossover and is preparing to add another model.
The companies officially started B10 production at Stellantis’ Zaragoza plant on October 16. This fulfills Leapmotor’s Spanish production plans announced earlier this year, giving the Chinese brand a manufacturing base in a major overseas market and, by extension, the entire European Union. Stellantis says it chose the facility for its available capacity, manufacturing expertise and quality.
Next to start production in Zaragoza is the B05 electric hatchback. Leapmotor confirmed its production allocation yesterday but without specifying a start date. Spanish news agency EFE reports the launch in the first quarter of 2027.
Leapmotor B05
Photo by: Leapmotor
This isn’t Leapmotor’s first attempt at European production. The tiny T03, which surprised us with its value and driving manners, was previously assembled at Stellantis’ Tychy factory in Poland. That operation started in 2024, using semi-knocked-down kits shipped from China.
Stellantis controls 51% of its joint venture with Leapmotor, giving it rights to manufacture and sell its vehicles outside China. The Polish T03 experiment was short-lived, though, and Stellantis ended T03 assembly on March 30, 2025, without explaining why.
Leapmotor is far from the only Chinese automaker looking to establish a manufacturing presence in Europe. BYD is building its own massive factory in Hungary, while Xpeng turned to contract manufacturer Magna in Austria. GAC followed Xpeng’s lead, bringing new work to a facility that previously assembled the Fisker Ocean.
Existing factories can also offer a route back into production after their previous occupants leave. Chery partnered with Ebro to use Nissan’s former Barcelona plant. Audi’s shuttered Brussels factory illustrates why those possibilities shouldn’t be mistaken for completed deals, though. Nio reportedly wanted to take it over, although its CEO denied the plans, and in September a property company was announced as the buyer.
For European automakers, Chinese expansion now presents an awkward choice: compete with these brands, build their cars, or do both. Stellantis has chosen the third option. At Zaragoza, a Chinese competitor’s growth is also keeping the factory lights on.
China Agrees To Limit Hybrid Imports To EU To 350,000 Annually
Even China’s Truck Makers Are Building EVs In Europe Now
Dacia’s Tiny EV Keeps Its Name, But Not Much Else
China’s Rolls-Royce Rival May Have Found A Shortcut Into Europe
]]> contact@insideevs.com (Andrei Nedelea) https://insideevs.com/news/812617/leapmotor-begins-european-production-stellantis/