Scooter Doll

Acura has officially launched its first-ever BEV – the ZDX, and we at Electrek got the invite to Montecito, California, to test drive the top-tier Type S trim of the crossover SUV. Acura did many things right in its first venture into electrification, but is it worthy of the performance grade the Honda division is known for? Even more, is it worth the price tag? You be the judge.

For a limited time, Costco members can take advantage of notable deals on several all-electric models from some big names in automotive, including Volvo and Polestar. Learn more about the current EV deals from the Costco Auto Program below.

One day after posting a significant drop in Q1 profits, Volkswagen Group is looking to trim down its administrative staff in Germany to bolster 2024 returns. Volkswagen said it is offering close to one billion dollars in bonuses for employees who opt to end their contracts early.

If Batman’s true identity, Bruce Wayne, existed in real life, what car would you think he’d drive? Boutique electric hypercar builder Automobili Pininfarina has teamed up with Wayne Enterprises – a luxury brand based on the Batman franchise developed by Warner Brothers, to create four different bespoke EVs that will be produced in limited quantities and sold to consumers with pockets as deep as master Wayne’s.

Mercedes-Benz joins a growing list of EU-based automakers publishing their Q1 2024 financial reports today, and the German brand is relaying a similar story of staggering profits.

Volkswagen Group released its financial numbers for Q1 2024 today, following similar trends from other EU-based automakers. The numbers detail a slowing of sales and a drop in profits. Despite a 20% decrease, the Group remains optimistic that it will end the year at its financial targets.

Just over a month after launching its first-ever BEV, smartphone developer, Xiaomi is touting some big production numbers for the SU7. Better yet, such output supports encouraging orders to date as the Chinese tech company is off to a hot start in its newly entered vehicle manufacturing segment.

Less than a month after beginning mass production of its new semi-solid-state battery packs, NIO has opened the technology to the public in China to trial this month, ahead of a full rollout of official operations.

Polestar is showcasing the charging capabilities of the upcoming Polestar 5 sports sedan using a prototype model and StoreDot’s Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) technology. This is the first EV to test StoreDot’s ultra-fast charging technology, and the initial tests are quite promising.

EV conversion specialist Everrati announced reshuffling its business-to-business (B2B) strategy, rebranding the division as “Powered by Everrati.” The branding partially results from increased customers to the B2B division, which is reporting encouraging year-over-year growth.

XPeng Motors kept things relatively short but sweet during its 20-minute presentation at the 2024 Beijing International Auto Show earlier today, but there’s a lot to get excited about following several updates from XPeng founder, chairman, and CEO He Xiaopeng, including an “entirely new breed” of EVs under a new sub-brand. Here’s the full recap.

Two big names in EVs announced a new strategic cooperation during the 2024 Beijing International Auto Show. Lotus Technology and NIO detailed plans to co-develop EV charging and battery swap technologies alongside wishes to create a unified battery standard system.

BMW USA has shared initial details of its 2025 model year i4 EV ahead of the all-electric sedan’s official launch this summer. Updates include a redesigned front fascia (all hail the kidney!), new exterior colors, and a digitized interior with sportier textiles.

EV developer Polestar is touting two announcements today. It has begun sales of its latest EV, the Polestar 4, in the US and officially crossed over into a new segment of technology, launching its flagship smartphone to support its vehicle customers. The phone itself is a little pricey, but Polestar is including it for certain EV customers.

Two next-generation battery material and cell manufacturers are cooperating to expedite solid-state battery development. LG Chem and Factorial Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, hoping to eventually lead the solid-state battery segment with a strategic partnership.

Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies has shared video footage of its ALIA eVTOL transitioning from vertical takeoff to forward propulsion and back in its latest test video. This is a key milestone as the company seeks certification for the aircraft ahead of several use cases.

In honor of Earth Day, Rivian has introduced a new “Electric Upgrade” offer, where new customers can take advantage of varying discounts on an R1S or R1T EV for trading in certain combustion models. There are other terms to qualify; learn more below.

Just weeks after announcing plans to showcase its solar EV technology to the public in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), startup Aptera Motors is taking things a step further. The company recently shared intentions to begin selling its nascent vehicles in the UAE, kicking off the new market entry with 53 production builds of an exclusive “Union Edition” model for early adopters in the Middle East.

EV brand ZEEKR has unveiled a new ultra-luxe version of its existing 009 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). The new 4-seat ZEEKR 009 Grand was designed to deliver passengers “extreme luxury,” clad with polished marble, chrome accents, a giant LCD screen, and booming speakers. Did we mention it’s also speedy? Check this thing out.

In addition to our recent drive of the Lucid Air Sapphire, we got the opportunity to test drive all of the American automaker’s 2024 models, including Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring, and have shared our thoughts below. As part of our visit, Lucid Motors also invited us behind the scenes at its design studio in California, where we got a look at the progress of its upcoming “Mid-Size” EVs.

According to a recent post from XPeng chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng, the automaker’s self-driving ADAS navigation-guided pilot (NGP) is being tested on German roads and showing “great promise,” leading the way for an XNGP rollout throughout Europe.

FINALLY YA’LL! Nearly two years after its initial announcement, we drove the 1,234 horsepower Lucid Air Sapphire in all its tri-motor glory. Spoiler alert! It did not disappoint. This EV is a masterclass in power and efficiency, setting the bar for a new breed of vehicles that are as fast as they are luxurious. Peep the full video review at the bottom.

As Hyundai’s N performance arm approaches the launch of its first-ever track-friendly EV, we got the chance to visit the world-famous Laguna Seca raceway in California to test drive the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N. Be sure to check out the full video review below.

Beginning today, customers in North America can customize and order the Eletre, a new hyper SUV from Lotus long promised as part of the sports car developer’s journey to go 100% electric. We’ve also learned when those initial Eletre customers can expect to take delivery and how much Lotus is charging in pricing the SUV’s two variants.