#Air

Polestar Reveals the Formula 2030 Concept to Preview the Next Polestar 2 and Polestar 7

Polestar has revealed a new concept car, Formula 2030, as a physical preview of the brand’s future design direction. Design features from the concept are confirmed to appear on the next-generation Polestar 2, planned for 2027, and on the forthcoming Polestar 7 compact SUV, due in 2028.

Mercedes-Benz Opens Orders for the VLE 400 4MATIC and New Entry-Level Electric VLE Variants

Mercedes-Benz is now taking orders for an all-wheel-drive version of its electric VLE Grand Limousine, the VLE 400 4MATIC, and has added lower-priced entry-level variants of the model. The 310 kW VLE 400 4MATIC uses a 115 kWh battery and is rated for up to 654 kilometers of WLTP range, while a five-seat VLE 300 electric starts at 70,735.39 euros including VAT in Germany.

Nio Delivers Its 40,000th ES9 Less Than Six Months After the Model Went on Sale

Nio has delivered its 40,000th ES9 flagship electric SUV, less than six months after the model went on sale in China. William Li, Nio’s founder, chairman and CEO, disclosed the figure on Wednesday as he delivered the vehicle to Zhang Wenjie, who chairs Hangzhou H-Power Biopharmaceutical Group.

Rivian Will Add Alternative Routes, Spoken Alerts and Arrival Charge Controls to R1 and R2 in Update 2026.41

Rivian plans to bring a set of navigation upgrades to its R1 and R2 vehicles in the next over-the-air software update, 2026.41. Owners will be able to pick other routes, hear Waze and Google Maps alerts out loud, see more road warnings and traffic-sign icons, and choose how much charge they want left at a stop or at their destination, though Rivian has not said when the software will start to roll out.

Tesla Starts Robotaxi Service in San Antonio at 5 a.m. Central on November 9

Tesla has opened its Robotaxi service in San Antonio, with the official account saying rides would be available from 5 a.m. Central on November 9. The company posted a launch-geofence map of central and north San Antonio but did not say how many vehicles would run the city, which models would be used, or what hours and fares would apply.

BMW to Bring Navigation-Guided Level 2 City Driving Assistance to the iX3 in Germany From 2027

When a BMW Maps route is running, the SAE Level 2 system will be able to help with turning, changing lanes in town, giving way at junctions and getting through roundabouts, though the driver stays responsible for the car.

Ford Pro Opens Sales of Electric Transit City Van in Argentina on November 9

The van uses a 56 kWh LFP battery rated for up to 381 km in the WLTP urban cycle and 254 km in the WLTP combined cycle, while pricing is being held back until the van’s public debut at the Fenatran show in São Paulo.

Rivian Software Business Generates $256 Million in Q3 Gross Profit as Automotive Unit Loses $80 Million

Rivian’s software and services unit posted $256 million in third-quarter gross profit at a 42% margin, while the EV maker’s automotive business lost $80 million. Rivian is leaning harder on AI and autonomy to grow that software business, with Autonomy+ and an upcoming Point to Point feature aimed at turning driver assistance into recurring revenue.

XPeng Launches GX and G9L Extended-Range SUVs in 11 Middle East and African Markets

XPeng has put its GX and G9L extended-range flagship SUVs on sale in 11 countries each across the Middle East and Africa, pairing an 800V architecture with 5C fast charging as it pushes further overseas. XPeng says the battery can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 10.7 minutes, and it cites a maximum combined NEDC range of 1,210 km.

Lucid Stock Closes at Record Low After Falling 5.6% on October 30

Lucid shares ended Friday, October 30, at a record closing low of $3.02, leaving the EV maker’s stock down more than 71% so far this year. The close came in below the previous record low of $3.10 from October 19 as investors weighed Lucid’s weak deliveries, its funding needs and its upcoming November 9 earnings report.

Lucid Air Pure Completes 40,000 Miles With No Major Reliability Problems

A 2024 Lucid Air Pure has completed 40,000 miles in Car and Driver’s long-term test, giving the publication an extended look at the luxury electric sedan’s reliability, comfort, efficiency and everyday usability. The car went through two winters and several drivers without leaving anyone stranded, although a handful of smaller problems and quality issues emerged along the way.

BYD Tang EV Arrives at Chinese Dealers With 691 HP and New Electric Platform

BYD’s third-generation Tang EV is now showing up at Chinese dealerships, with its public debut expected at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November. Built on a dedicated EV platform for the first time, the redesigned SUV gets five seats, dual-chamber air suspension, a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor and an all-wheel-drive version producing 515 kW (691 hp).

BYD Launches Third-Generation Qin Plus DM-i With Up to 220 km of Electric Range

BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, bringing longer electric range, a larger body and optional LiDAR to its plug-in hybrid sedan. Limited-time prices start at 76,900 yuan, with the updated model retaining BYD’s fifth-generation DM hybrid technology.

BMW Electric M3 to Feature Simulated Gear Shifts and Artificial Sound

BMW M Chief Executive Officer Frank van Meel confirmed in a video interview published Monday, October 26, that the division’s upcoming battery-electric M3 sedan will pair synthesized soundtrack cues with virtual gearshifts. Slated to enter production in Munich in 2027 on the Neue Klasse architecture, the quad-motor sports sedan is being engineered to give track drivers audible and tactile feedback.

2027 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select Drops Phone-as-a-Key Feature

Ford has removed Phone As A Key capability from the entry-level Select trim of the 2027 Mustang Mach-E after including the digital key feature as standard equipment on the 2026 Select. Shoppers who want smartphone-based locking and starting will now need to step up to at least the Premium trim, even as Ford makes the extended-range battery standard across all models.

Nuro CEO Defends LiDAR as Lucid-Uber Robotaxi Program Nears Launch

Nuro Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer Jiajun Zhu has outlined the engineering case for multi-sensor autonomy as Nuro, Lucid and Uber prepare to launch commercial robotaxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year. In a set of four internal strategy memos shared publicly on Tuesday, October 27, Jiajun Zhu explained why the autonomous Lucid Gravity fleet pairs solid-state LiDAR and radar with cameras.

Tesla Shares Hit Three-Month High as Texas Robotaxi Registrations Top 1,000

Tesla stock climbed to its highest intraday level in more than three months on Tuesday, October 27, after the automaker’s registered robotaxi fleet in Texas crossed the 1,000-vehicle mark. Records from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles list 1,051 registered autonomous vehicles in the state, split between 544 two-seat Cybercabs and 507 Model Y crossovers.

XPeng Begins Global L05 Shipments Ahead of Its China Launch

XPeng has started exporting its L05 midsize SUV to international markets ahead of the vehicle’s domestic Chinese launch. Planned for 65 countries and regions, the midsize SUV is heading overseas before XPeng discloses market-by-market shipment numbers or powertrain allocations.

Ford Adds Factory-Built Special Service Vehicle Version of the 2027 Mustang Mach-E

Ford is introducing a factory-built Special Service Vehicle (SSV) edition of the 2027 Mustang Mach-E, giving police departments and fleet operators their first turnkey agency package on the electric crossover. Built off the entry-level Select trim, the law-enforcement package bundles dual-motor eAWD, a 91 kWh extended-range battery and performance hardware borrowed from the Mach-E GT.

Lucid Recalls 2,888 Air EVs in Saudi Arabia Over Fire Risk, With a Free Over-the-Air Fix

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce has announced a recall of 2,888 Lucid Air electric sedans after identifying an exterior-lighting circuit issue that can overheat and create a fire or crash hazard. Covering 2023 through 2026 model-year cars, the campaign is being resolved through a free over-the-air software patch without requiring dealership visits.