Tesla China boss Tom Zhu named SVP as country sales boom

China has been a major sales driver for Tesla in recent times, thanks to the company’s aggressive price cuts. The country delivered 88,869 vehicles in March, according to fresh estimates from the China Passenger Car Association. That means more than half of the carmaker’s Q1 deliveries originated from its Shanghai factory. It’s no surprise then… Continue reading Tesla China boss Tom Zhu named SVP as country sales boom

JB Straubel could return to Tesla – as a board member this time

Tesla has nominated JB Straubel, the company’s former CTO who is now running his own startup Redwood Materials, as its next independent board member. The company said in a regulatory filing Thursday that Straubel, if elected by shareholders (which is almost a certainty) would take over the spot vacated by Hiromichi Mizuno, the former chief… Continue reading JB Straubel could return to Tesla – as a board member this time

The Kia EV9’s real killer app could be its software

When car companies use the term “flagship,” traditionally that means a high-end supercar or a plush luxury sedan. But the all-new 2024 Kia EV9 is a flagship of a different kind. It’s a crossover, for one. And a big one with three rows of seats, meant for big families. It’s electric, too, and capable of… Continue reading The Kia EV9’s real killer app could be its software

Everything that stood out to us at the 2023 New York Auto Show

“The auto show is dead.” That’s a refrain heard often by folks who cover the automotive industry. It’s true that these trade shows no longer mean two days of press conferences, sprawling new vehicle lineups from nearly every car company and extravagant offsite events. It’s also true that auto shows were downsizing even before the… Continue reading Everything that stood out to us at the 2023 New York Auto Show

Lyft re-launches EV service, starting with business travelers

Lyft is re-launching a feature that will allow riders to request an electric or hybrid vehicle for their next pickup. The service, Lyft Green, will initially only be available to business travelers in select cities when it begins April 17. Lyft had originally launched Lyft Green in 2019 in Seattle, with plans to scale across… Continue reading Lyft re-launches EV service, starting with business travelers

Tesla more than tripled its Austin gigafactory workforce in 2022

Tesla’s 2,500-acre manufacturing hub in Austin, Texas tripled its workforce last year, according to the company’s annual compliance report filed with county officials. Bloomberg first reported on the news. The report filed with Travis County’s Economic Development Program shows that Tesla increased its Austin workforce from just 3,523 contingent and permanent employees in 2021 to… Continue reading Tesla more than tripled its Austin gigafactory workforce in 2022

For SUVs and EVs, subtlety is out and plundering nature is in

Here in America, we like our steaks juicy, our tax subsidies to go to sports stadiums and our SUVs and crossovers to look as if they could venture into the wilderness and dominate the landscape at a moment’s notice. Maybe it’s anxiety from years of being cooped up inside during the height of the global… Continue reading For SUVs and EVs, subtlety is out and plundering nature is in

Jeep is adding an even cheaper plug-in hybrid to its 4xe lineup

Jeep revealed Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show its 2024 Wrangler portfolio — a smorgasbord of off-roaders with new capabilities and features — and tucked into the mix is another plug-in hybrid. The Stellantis brand said it will add the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Sport S 4xe to its lineup, an entry-level plug-in hybrid… Continue reading Jeep is adding an even cheaper plug-in hybrid to its 4xe lineup

The 2025 all-electric Ram 1500 Rev has an absolutely massive battery

The electric trucks war has prompted automakers to throw all kinds of technological and EV-inspired bells and whistles into their pickups in hopes of pulling in new buyers and capturing a greater slice of the market. This one-upmanship has also led to increasingly bigger battery packs in a bid to offer industry-topping range. It’s a… Continue reading The 2025 all-electric Ram 1500 Rev has an absolutely massive battery

The 2024 Hyundai Kona will be one of the most affordable cars with over-the-air updates

It’s no secret that Hyundai’s design department is kind of the one to beat right now. But when the redesigned 2024 Hyundai Kona goes on sale this summer, this compact crossover’s upgrades are more than just skin-deep. The 2024 Hyundai Kona will also feature over-the-air updates — the ability to wireless transmit software updates just… Continue reading The 2024 Hyundai Kona will be one of the most affordable cars with over-the-air updates