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Tesla is one step away from having to recall FSD in NHTSA visibility crash probe

Tesla Full Self-Driving Beta 10.69 barrier

NHTSA has escalated its investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system’s inability to handle reduced visibility conditions, upgrading the probe to an Engineering Analysis covering an estimated 3,203,754 vehicles — the step that typically precedes a recall.

The agency found that FSD’s degradation detection system fails to warn drivers when cameras are blinded by common road conditions like sun glare and fog, and that Tesla may be under-reporting related crashes.

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Xiaomi launches next-gen SU7 with 902 km range and LiDAR, still undercuts Tesla

Xiaomi SU7 second gen update

Xiaomi is officially launching the next-generation SU7 electric sedan today with a sweeping set of upgrades — up to 902 km of CLTC range, standard LiDAR across all trims, and an 897V charging architecture on the top model.

The updated sedan starts at 229,900 yuan (~$33,000), still undercutting the Tesla Model 3 in China by about 5,600 yuan (~$800) despite a price increase of 10,000-14,000 yuan over the outgoing model. Xiaomi racked up nearly 89,000 pre-orders in the first 24 hours when reservations opened in January.

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Buying a used EV? What you should know about batteries, warranties, and more

The price of gas is rising almost as fast as the price of new cars, pushing more shoppers toward the cheapest low-mile used options on dealer lots: off-lease EVs. But while the deals look good, first-time EV buyers still have concerns. Here’s what used EV buyers need to know about batteries, warranties, and real-world ownership.

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This beautiful Icelandic e-bike is taking on the premium eMTB world

Iceland isn’t exactly known for doing things the easy way. Between volcanic terrain, unpredictable weather, and long stretches of rugged wilderness, it’s the kind of place that tends to shape products around necessity rather than excess.

And that philosophy is exactly what shows in Lauf Cycles’ newest launch: the company’s first-ever electric mountain bike, the eElja.

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New EV fee proposals charge owners 2-3x what gas drivers pay in federal tax

A growing number of states and federal lawmakers are pushing flat annual fees of $200 to $250 on electric vehicles, amounts that charge EV owners two to three times more than what the average gas car driver pays in federal fuel tax. The proposals are being framed as a way to fund road infrastructure, but the math doesn’t add up.

At a time when EVs represent roughly 10% of new car sales in the US and deliver billions in health, environmental, and energy security benefits, these blanket fees are a punitive approach that discourages adoption rather than fairly distributing road costs.

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Today’s Green Deals include EGO’s 21-inch touch drive mower, Anker 3,840Wh power station bundles, Segway e-scooters, more

Today’s 9to5Toys Green Deals is headlined by EGO’s 21-inch Select Cut cordless electric touch drive mower down at $779 alongside a near low on Anker’s 3,840Wh SOLIX F3800 power station bundles from $1,804. You can also cash in on Segway’s ZT3 Pro e-scooter with Apple Find My for $850 and this 40V Greenworks cordless electric combo kit for $125. Head below for a closer look at the details.

Head below for other Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek‘s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

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Tesla says FSD was off before Cybertruck crash — but the video tells a different story

Tesla FSD Cybertruck crash

A viral dashcam video shows a Tesla Cybertruck slamming into a concrete overpass barrier on a Houston highway while allegedly using “Full Self-Driving.” Elon Musk responded by saying Tesla’s logs show the driver disengaged the system 4 seconds before impact.

Tesla fans jumped on this as yet another example of the media spreading FUD about the company. But watching the actual video tells a more nuanced — and more concerning — story about the real problem with FSD.

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Former Uber CEO says Waymo ‘obviously’ ahead of Tesla in robotaxi race

Tesla Full Self-Driving Beta Hero

Travis Kalanick, the former CEO of Uber who helped pioneer the ride-hailing industry, says Waymo is “obviously” ahead of Tesla in the robotaxi race, and that Elon Musk’s company needs a “ChatGPT moment” for its vision-based autonomous driving to catch up.

The comments came during an appearance on the All-In podcast this week, where Kalanick also revealed he’s jumping back into the self-driving game himself with a new robotics venture called Atoms.

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Washington opens Tesla’s direct EV sales loophole to Rivian and Lucid

Washington state legislators just voted overwhelmingly to allow Rivian and Lucid to sell electric vehicles directly to consumers, ending a 12-year arrangement that gave Tesla exclusive access to direct sales in the state.

Senate Bill 6354 passed the House 84-9 and the Senate 47-2 — a bipartisan blowout that now heads to Governor Bob Ferguson’s desk for signature.

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