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Electric Cars

The future of transportation is electric. Tesla proved with the Model S that customers would want to buy luxury vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries. Other EV startups like Faraday Future, Byton, Lucid Motors, and SF Motors are chasing after Elon Musk. And major automakers like Jaguar, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz have each released their own Tesla challengers. There are obstacles, such as the need for a more robust charging network. But battery-powered cars are here to stay.

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Dominic Preston
$100 to take your video down.

That was EV accessory manufacturer Hansshow’s offer to YouTuber Branden Flasch, after he posted a pretty damning takedown of their “Dangerous, useless and overpriced” charging adapter.

Believe it or not, the apparent attempted bribe was only the opening gambit in a conversation that goes on to include accusations of corruption, plenty of profanity, and arguing the adapter must be safe because Flasch didn’t die. You’re gonna want to read this for yourself.

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Twitter
Dominic Preston
When is a Tesla Robotaxi not a Robotaxi?

When it’s in the Bay Area. Tesla has sent out invites for its “ride-hailing service,” conspicuously absent any Robotaxi branding.

Tesla doesn’t have permits for autonomous taxis in California, so its rides include a supervisor in the driver’s seat, who Reuters reports must be “ready to take over at all times” — in Austin the supervisor sits in the passenger seat. A first fan video shows the car doing most of the work, but the human driver’s hands always stay near the wheel.

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Instagram
Dominic Preston
Chevy teases the next-gen Bolt EV’s redesign.

Get a first look at the new fascia, NACS charging port, and brake lights on the Bolt, with Chevy promising “More this fall.”

GM killed the Bolt in 2023 before resurrecting it for its newer Ultium battery tech (which... it’s also killing, at least as a brand name). The new Bolt will boast faster charging and multiple models, but that won’t include a small hatchback — only the larger EUV Bolt is making a comeback.

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Richard Lawler
Elon Musk says Samsung’s mystery $16.5 billion AI chip deal is for Tesla.

A regulatory filing surfaced Monday morning in Korea showing the underperforming electronics giant won an order to build chips for an unnamed large global tech company in a contract that runs through 2033.

Then, a few hours later, Elon Musk tweeted the arrangement was for Tesla’s “next-generation AI6 chip,” built at Samsung’s plant in Texas, confirming an earlier report by Bloomberg.

Update: Added info from Elon Musk’s tweet.

Tweet by Elon Musk reading “Samsung’s giant new Texas fab will be dedicated to making Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chip. The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate. Samsung currently makes AI4. TSMC will make AI5, which just finished design, initially in Taiwan and then Arizona.”
Image: Elon Musk (X)
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Youtube
Andrew J. Hawkins
Elon Musk finally admits the new, more affordable Tesla is just a stripped down Model Y.

Tesla has been promising more affordable models as the thing that will help pull it out of its current rut. But in an earnings call Wednesday, the company’s CEO came right out and confirmed rumors that it would just be a stripped down version of the Model Y, rather than a brand new vehicle program. “It’s a Model Y,” Musk said. “I let the cat out of the bag there.” The cheaper Model Y is currently in production and expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2025. (Musk’s response to the question starts at 1:00:14.)

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Andrew J. Hawkins
Tesla touts its first fully driverless vehicle delivery with a photo of the car violating parking rules.

The delivery took place in Austin, Texas, last month. Apparently the vehicle did fine until it arrived at its destination, at which point it promptly parked in a fire lane. This photo appeared in the company’s second quarter earnings report for shareholders. Nice work, everyone.

photo of Tesla driverless delivery vehicle in a fire lane
Screenshot: Tesla
Everything Eater editors ate at the Tesla Diner in Los AngelesEverything Eater editors ate at the Tesla Diner in Los Angeles

Eater editors taste through half the menu at the new Tesla Diner in Los Angeles

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Andrew J. Hawkins
Lucid now selling its own NACS charging adapter.

The adapter will cost $220 and can be ordered on Lucid’s website. With it, Lucid Air sedan owners can simply roll up to any Tesla Supercharger station and plug in. Charging sessions can be initiated and paid for through the Lucid app.

Of course, Lucid Gravity owners won’t need to bother with the adapter since their electric SUV comes with a native NACS port. Lucid is also announcing a bump in the 2026 Air Touring’s range to 431 miles — maintaining the California company’s perch as king of the range among all other EVs.

1/2Photo: Lucid
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Youtube
Sean Hollister
Today I learned a real car can jump spikes and potholes like Speed Racer.

This is the BYD Yangwang U9, one of the fastest production EVs at 233MPH — but all I care about is how much closer we are to Speed Racer’s auto-jacks! Since BYD doesn’t want to get sued, a disclaimer states that “U9’s Leaping Function is prohibited for practical scenarios,” but it claims the feature works under very specific conditions. Would I rather have this or wheels that turn sideways, hmm...

BMW M5 review: a PHEV worth its weight

The German brand’s new plug-in hybrid may lack personality, but it makes up for it in styling.

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Andrew J. Hawkins
New Trump tariffs on graphite will make EVs even more expensive.

EV prices could go up by as much as $1,000 thanks to the Trump administration’s decision to impose a 93.5 percent tariff on graphite imports from China. Tesla lobbied against the levy, arguing that US-based graphite producers aren’t prepared to supply the essential battery material “at the quality and purity required by Tesla and other battery cell manufacturers.” But those pleas fell on deaf ears. In addition to Tesla, companies like Ford and Panasonic that are building battery plants in the US are going to be negatively impacted.

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Andrew J. Hawkins
Tesla’s head of sales is outie.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Troy Jones, director of Tesla’s North American sales, is leaving after 15 years at the company. This comes after Tesla reported a steep drop in sales for the second quarter. Other execs have similarly been fleeing. Elon Musk fired Omead Afshar, who formerly led operations in North America and Europe. And the company’s director of human resources for North America, Jenna Ferrua, departed in June, according to the Journal. The C-suite is getting thin.

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Andrew J. Hawkins
Rivian’s maps get Google-fied.

The electric automaker is launching its new map built on top of Google Maps using the service’s Automotive SDK. Rivian, which notably does not allow Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in its vehicles, says the new maps feature real-time traffic updates, tappable points of interest, and satellite imagery.

And since it’s embedded software, it can integrate important vehicle information, like how much range will be left on arrival and whether charging stops will be needed. And don’t forget Rivian’s “charging score” so you can tell whether a charging station is up to snuff.

1/4Image: Rivian
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Dominic Preston
Tesla’s India launch isn’t a short-term fix.

Don’t expect Elon’s EV company to turn its fortunes around any time soon after launching in India today. It may be the world’s third-biggest auto market, but EVs make up less than 5 percent.

Throw in heavy auto import tariffs that leave the Indian Model Y priced almost a third more than in the US, and it’s clear Tesla should expect a slow start.

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Andrew J. Hawkins
Tariffs are ruining Volvo’s plans to sell new EVs in the US.

The Swedish automaker said it will take a one-off, non-cash impairment charge of 11.4 billion Swedish kronor ($1.19 billion) in the second quarter related to two plug-in models: the EX90 and ES90. That means Volvo is basically reducing the value of the EVs on its balance sheet. The reason is because Donald Trump’s tariffs are making it impossible for Volvo to make a profit on these models. The EX60 is still on track, apparently.

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Andrew J. Hawkins
GM will pursue cheaper EV batteries.

The automaker announced today that it will upgrade its Spring Hill, TN factory for the production of low-cost lithium-ion phosphate batteries. The factory is run by Ultium Cells, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, building on a $2.3 billion investment from 2021. Tesla and Ford are also producing electric vehicles with LFP batteries, which tend to be cheaper and longer lasting but aren’t as energy dense as NCM (nickel cobalt manganese) batteries. Ultium Cells also supplies batteries to Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, and Rivian.

Why GM’s CEO is still betting on electric vehicles (and racing)

Mary Barra talks about GM’s EV future in light of Trump’s whiplash policies, and how diversity and inclusion still have a role to play in GM’s workforce.

Abigail BassettCommentsComment Icon Bubble
Rivian R1S review: second time’s the charm

The second-generation version of the electric three-row SUV is great on pavement, but really shines off-road.

Peter NelsonCommentsComment Icon Bubble
The great EV pullback has begunThe great EV pullback has begun
Electric Cars