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Lucid Says Global Service Wait Times Fell 20 Percent as It Expands Its Network

Lucid says overall service wait times fell 20 percent globally in the third quarter, as the automaker expands its service network in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. The company said the improvement came in the third quarter, compared with the previous quarter, as it added staff, Mobile Service capacity and new Studio and Service Center locations.

Rivian R2 Named MotorTrend’s 2027 SUV of the Year

MotorTrend has named the Rivian R2 its 2027 SUV of the Year, selecting the midsize electric SUV from a field of 32 gasoline, hybrid and electric competitors. MotorTrend said the win makes Rivian the first EV startup to take two Of the Year titles, after the R1T was named 2022 Truck of the Year.

BYD Produces Its 19 Millionth NEV as Fang Cheng Bao Opens Tai 9 Reservations

BYD has produced its 19 millionth new energy vehicle, and the milestone car is a Fang Cheng Bao Tai 9 plug-in hybrid SUV. The company announced the figure on Monday, 124 days after it marked its 17 millionth NEV on July 8, and Fang Cheng Bao opened reservations for the Tai 9 the same day.

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.

Lucid Reduces Cash Consumption 30% in the Third Quarter of 2026 and Expands Its PIF Credit Line by $1.75 Billion

Lucid reported third-quarter revenue of $350 million and said it cut free cash flow consumption by 30% from the prior quarter, to $1.04 billion. Lucid also said its delayed-draw loan facility with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia was increased by $1.75 billion, taking pro forma liquidity to $3.75 billion.

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 to Wind Down Cybertruck Production at Texas Factory Around Mid-2027 for Cybercab

Tesla plans to wind down production of its electric Cybertruck pickup at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of 2027, with CEO Elon Musk saying the move will make room for increased Cybercab robotaxi production. Musk did not say whether Cybertruck production would end at other locations, and he later said the Cybertruck fleet will be around for a long time.

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.

New Audi A2 e-tron Achieves 12.8 kWh/100 km WLTP Consumption With SiC Inverter

Audi says the new A2 e-tron is its most efficient model ever, with the 140 kW version rated at 12.8 kWh/100 km in the WLTP cycle when fitted with the optional efficiency package. A key part of that is a newly developed silicon carbide (SiC) pulse inverter that reaches efficiencies of more than 97%, working alongside improvements to the electric motor and transmission.

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.

Volkswagen Reportedly Pauses Electric ID. Golf Development Amid Cost Pressures

Volkswagen has put development of its next-generation electric ID. Golf on hold for now, saying it needs to secure the investment before work can continue. The move adds fresh uncertainty to an EV that was first planned for 2028 and has already been pushed back to the end of the decade.

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.

Ford Says Its New EV Motors Are 30% More Efficient Than BYD’s

Ford’s $28,350 Fathom electric pickup, the first model on its new Universal Electric Vehicle platform, will use motors, gearboxes and inverters that CEO Jim Farley says are about 30% more efficient than BYD’s. Farley says that efficiency lets Ford fit a smaller battery, reducing the single biggest cost in building an electric vehicle.

Geely Auto Reports Record RMB 14.9 Billion Core Profit as Earnings Rise 41%

Geely Auto Group reported record core net profit for the first nine months of 2026, with core net profit attributable to owners of the parent rising 41% year over year to RMB 14.9 billion. The automaker also recorded record third-quarter revenue and profit, while expanding sales across its Geely, Zeekr and Lynk & Co brands and increasing exports to markets outside China.

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).

Polestar 2 Production Reportedly Ends in China Ahead of All-New Successor

Polestar 2 production in China has reportedly wound down after more than six years, with over 200,000 of the fastbacks built. The electric fastback has been one of the brand’s most important models since its launch, but customers in several European markets are already being directed toward existing inventory instead of new custom orders.

Rivian R2 Becomes Best-Selling Model as Automaker Raises Delivery Outlook

Rivian’s R2 has already become the company’s best-selling vehicle by volume, overtaking the R1T, R1S and electric delivery van during the third quarter. The milestone comes just months after customer deliveries began and has prompted the automaker to raise the baseline of its 2026 delivery forecast as it prepares for a larger production ramp.

GM Executive Says Removing Radar ‘Ignores Physics’ as Escalade IQ Readies Multi-Sensor Super Cruise

General Motors plans to launch an upgraded version of Super Cruise in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ electric SUV, using radar, lidar and cameras rather than relying on cameras alone. Sterling Anderson, GM’s chief product officer and a former leader of Tesla’s Autopilot program, argues that multiple sensor types provide capabilities cameras cannot match, pushing back against Tesla’s approach to autonomous driving.