Scooter Doll

We currently sit three weeks away from NIO Day 2023, the annual event held by one of China’s leading EV automakers that caps off the year with new and exciting technologies to come. We know NIO intends to unveil a new flagship model during the event, and it’s rumored to be the automaker’s top-of-the-line sedan, possibly named the ET9. Here’s what we know.

Following several new documents containing details of the Tesla Cybertruck posted to the EPA’s website, we have been able to better understand the efficiencies the truck will achieve. While Cybertruck should perform better than nearly all its current competitors in the electric pickup segment, the slightly smaller Rivian R1T appears to have it beaten – even with larger wheels and battery packs.

This morning, Lucid Motors shared details of its 2024 model year Air sedans, which are available for sale starting today. While the updates are minimal, Lucid is offering more customization options across its flagship EV, three of which (should) see lower pricing… some at the cost of some performance.

Rivian’s chief financial officer Claire McDonough shared some very interesting tidbit and excellent insight to the American automaker’s end of year goals and where it is headed in 2024. One juicy piece of information she gave the public during a recent interview is that Rivian is developing a new simplified battery pack structure different from the Standard pack, that will eventually make its way into new R1 EVs. Here’s the latest.

Two larger names in energy systems management have come together in a new deal that entails industry veteran Generac making a minority investment in Wallbox – a growing global supplier of EV chargers. Through the agreement, Generac will offer US customers Wallbox’s full lineup of charging solutions, including its bidirectional home DC unit.

American EV automaker Fisker Inc. recently shared a business update, outlining several changes in the works, including leadership moves, accelerated deliveries, and potential partnerships with other OEMS. However, one less encouraging update is Fisker’s announcement it is once again lowering its production targets for the year to prioritize liquidity.

Legacy German automakers and competitors in the luxury EV segment, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, announced they have teamed up for a new joint venture to implement a EV fast charging network consisting of over 1,000 stations in the next few years. Where the European companies intend to deploy these chargers however, may surprise you.

During a “Uni Wheel Tech Day” event held in Seoul earlier today, Hyundai Motor and Kia Corporation presented a potentially game-changing approach to the design of an EV’s drivetrain. The Universal Wheel Drive system, or “Uni Wheel” for short, moves main components to the wheel hub, creating additional space in a given vehicle’s interior. Learn more in the video below.

In January 2024, Audi will take on the super tough Dakar desert rally for a third time, bringing with it an upgraded version of its RS Q e-tron prototype. Audi says this year’s fully electric off-road e-tron is safer, more reliable, more comfortable, and even a tad lighter. Can it take the podium in the desert this go around?

UK-based automaker Lotus is taking its 2028 electrification goals to another level, announcing a new line of EV charger options to support its growing lineup of all-electric hypercars. The new chargers are available in China en route to other markets soon.

Hydrogen-electric plane technology developer ZeroAvia announced it has signed an agreement with the newly launched, carbon-conscious airline EcoJet to provide up to 70 zero-emission plane engines. With ZeroAvia’s help, Ecojet looks to become the world’s first all-electric airline.

Luxeed – a young, premium EV brand developed between Chery Automobile and Chinese tech giant Huawei, has shared new details of its flagship sedan, the S7. In a matter of months since first teasing the Tesla Model S competitor, followed by an influx of pre-orders, Chery and Huawei have now shared trim variants, pricing, and of course, range – which tops out at an impressive 855 km.

Less than a week after confirming an EV leasing program was in the works, American automaker Rivian has officially added the option to its online configurator. Beginning today, customers in 14 initial states can sign up to lease an R1T pickup from the automaker’s existing inventory.

After beginning sales in Europe last year, Chinese EV automaker Great Wall Motor appears poised to expand its reach across the continent to at least eight additional countries. Furthermore, the automaker intends to establish a new European R&D center as it ponders bringing EV production over from China as well.

Less than two weeks after cutting the ribbon on its first charging hub in the US, Mercedes-Benz has begun operations at its first location in Europe. Can you guess where? Don’t think too hard…

A recent report out of Austria states that local contract manufacturer Magna Steyr has been chosen by Volkswagen’s new all-electric truck brand Scout, to develop the latter’s first wave of vehicles. The order is reportedly worth nearly $500 million – potentially Magna Steyr’s biggest development contract ever.

Just over a month after Volta Trucks announced it was filing for bankruptcy, shareholder and lender Luxor Capital Group looks to breathe new life into the commercial EV startup, potentially salvaging hundreds on jobs in the UK.

According to a local media outlet in China, Geely-owned EV brand ZEEKR is quickly following up with an encore to its first mass-market sedan, which debuted last week. According to the report, ZEEKR already has a new mass-market SUV in development, which could arrive as early as next year and offer some competition to Tesla’s’ Model Y – currently the world’s bestselling EV.

After years of expanding autonomous robotaxi rides throughout China, self-driving specialist Pony.ai continues to scale its technology in another segment – commercial trucks. Today, the company announced it has acquired the first ever license in Guangzhou, China to begin testing its autonomous truck technology on open roads in packs formations.

YangWang, the luxury sub-brand of Build Your Dreams (BYD), is showcasing some impressive capabilities in its flagship U8 SUV it wants to float by you. The SUV has been on sale for months in China, but BYD wants to remind you that the U8 actually has an emergency mode in which it floats and can navigate back to solid ground. See more in the video below.

Less than a week after pulling its first demand lever to get new customers behind the wheel of its existing R1T pickup inventory, Rivian is further incentivizing would-be drivers by introducing a lease program for the first time, ahead of Tesla’s Cybertruck launch on November 30th.

Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe is adding another title to his resume, assuming the responsibilities of leading all product development as the American automaker’s current chief product officer begins a transition into platform development ahead of a future advisory role.

Vietnamese automaker VinFast has officially launched its VF 7 EV in its native country, rounding out a lineup of six initial SUVs covering the A to E vehicle segments. While the initial launch begins in Vietnam, the VF 7 should eventually make its way to the US, and it’s starting at a rather enticing price point.

Last week, I got an invite from Audi to venture to (normally) sunny Los Angeles and take a spin behind the wheel of its latest EV model – the SQ8 e-tron. Available as a standard quattro and Sportback version, the tri-motor SQ8 takes the previously launched Q8 e-tron and refines it in a number of ways to improve performance… well, everything aside from range, that is.