#I Light

Finland Approves Tesla Assisted Driving for Use on Public Roads

Finland’s transport authority has recognized a Dutch provisional type-approval so Tesla Assisted Driving can be used on Finnish roads. Traficom said on November 11 that the recognition, dated November 10, allows Tesla to start offering the system to customers in Finland immediately.

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.

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.

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 Fathom Electric Pickup’s Top Trim Will Reportedly Cost Less Than $40,000

Ford’s upcoming Fathom midsize electric pickup is being positioned as an affordable EV truck, with even its highest trim reportedly expected to stay below $40,000. The Fathom will be the first vehicle on Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle platform, with a starting MSRP of $28,350, or $29,945 including the $1,595 destination fee, and a planned late-2027 launch.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rivian Acquires Third Dimension AI to Speed Up Autonomy Testing and Validation

Rivian has purchased Third Dimension AI, a two-year-old software firm headed by a former Tesla Autopilot simulation leader that converts recorded road-sensor data into interactive 3D driving worlds. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the startup’s 15-member staff, located primarily in the United Kingdom, will fold into the autonomy and AI division under Senior Vice President James Philbin.

BMW Raises 2027 iX5 60 xDrive Range Estimate to 450 Miles Ahead of EPA Rating

BMW has bumped its projected EPA driving range for the upcoming 2027 iX5 60 xDrive—the first battery-electric X5—to as much as 450 miles on a charge, a 15-mile gain over the preliminary figure shared at its June reveal. The updated number remains an internal BMW projection rather than a certified federal rating, with official EPA figures expected in the next few weeks.

Polestar Eyes LFP Batteries as It Targets a Climate-Neutral Car by 2035

Swedish EV maker Polestar is looking at lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology to help meet its 2035 target for a zero-emission production car, Head of Sustainability Fredrika Klarén said. Every current model in the Swedish brand’s lineup relies on nickel manganese cobalt cells, and the company has not yet named a launch timeline for an LFP-equipped vehicle.

Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90 Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Ratings for 2026

Both are fully electric, three-row luxury SUVs that met the institute’s requirements for crash protection, headlights and front crash prevention systems.

Porsche Delivers 7,002 Cayenne Electrics Since Launch as Electric Macan Tops 23,000

Porsche has delivered 7,002 all-electric Cayennes since the model’s market launch in the summer, helping keep the Cayenne the brand’s best-selling model line. The electric Macan added 23,029 deliveries in the first nine months of 2026, while Porsche’s total deliveries fell 16% to 178,532 vehicles.

Rivian Plans to Bring Third-Party AI Assistants Into Future Vehicles

The company has not announced a rollout timeline, but it is expected to provide more information at its Autonomy & AI Day on December 9. The planned expansion builds on Rivian Assistant, the automaker’s existing in-vehicle AI system.

2019 Chevy Bolt EV Gets New Battery After 470,000 Miles for Under $3,000

In a new Out of Spec Renew video, the presenter documents the installation, software programming and estimated repair costs, showing how a used battery sourced from another Bolt can extend the life of a high-mileage electric vehicle.

YouTube’s Engineering Explained Host Replaces Problematic Lucid With Mustang Mach-E GT

Fenske purchased the electric crossover as his new daily driver after Lucid bought back his sedan under lemon law provisions, and he is now giving Ford’s performance-oriented Mach-E a chance to become his next long-term EV.