#J D Power

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nio Opens First New European Battery Swap Station in More Than a Year

Nio has opened a new battery swap station in Germany, its first new site in Europe in more than 13 months. The third-generation facility brings the automaker’s European total back to 61 locations after a Danish station closed in late 2025.

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.

Toyota bZ Closes In on Hyundai Ioniq 5 as US EV Rankings Shift

The Tesla Model Y remains America’s best-selling electric vehicle in 2026, but Toyota’s bZ is emerging as a stronger contender in the race among non-Tesla models. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 still ranks among the country’s leading EVs, although its sales have weakened sharply.

Geely Auto Marks First UK Anniversary With 15,264 Registrations and Expansion Plans

Geely Auto, which entered Britain with the EX5 electric SUV, has recorded 15,264 vehicle registrations in the UK during its first year in the market, as the Chinese automaker builds its retail network and prepares to expand its lineup. The company, which launched in Britain on October 23, 2025, now has 80 operational retail locations and 92 employees.

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.

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.

Chevy BrightDrop Inventory Falls to 209 Units After Q3 Sales Jump to 1,344

Remaining U.S. dealer stock of the discontinued Chevrolet BrightDrop electric commercial van has shrunk to just 209 unsold vehicles nationwide. The rapid drawdown comes after third-quarter U.S. deliveries nearly tripled to 1,344 vans, up from 460 in the second quarter.

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.

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.

2027 Ford Mustang Mach-E Adds Trail Package, Makes Extended-Range Battery Standard

Ford is overhauling the 2027 Mustang Mach-E lineup by making the extended-range battery pack standard across every trim and debuting an off-road-inspired Trail Package. The updated electric crossover also introduces a lower-cost front motor designed to match the outgoing unit’s output while keeping retail pricing in check.

Lucid Begins Building Gravity GT-S Units, Says Shipments Will Start Soon

The update comes as Lucid’s website continues to list the model as available in late 2026, without a formally announced production start or first delivery date.