#Van Ea

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.

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.

Ford Says 2021 Mustang Mach-E Batteries Have Retained 92% of Usable Capacity After Five Years

Ford says the batteries in its 2021 Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs have retained an average of 92% of their usable capacity after more than five years on the road. The company based that result on battery state-of-health data, current as of August 2026, covering about 36,000 model-year 2021 Mach-E vehicles sold to retail and fleet customers in the United States and Canada.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rivian Electric Van Spotted in Walmart+ Branding

A Rivian electric commercial van wearing Walmart+ branding has been spotted on a car hauler, adding another name to the list of companies whose liveries have appeared on the automaker’s delivery vans without a confirmed purchase announcement. The blue vehicle displayed Walmart+’s “Same day. Right to your door.” slogan, but neither Walmart nor Rivian had publicly commented on the sighting as of Tuesday afternoon.

GM Requires Second Battery Replacement for Some Chevy EVs and BrightDrop Vans

General Motors is requiring a second high-voltage battery replacement for a small number of Chevrolet electric vehicles and BrightDrop commercial vans after replacement battery packs were found to contain modules that should not have been reused. A new Customer Satisfaction Program, issued on October 26, covers 66 vehicles across the United States, including select Equinox EV, Blazer EV, Silverado EV and BrightDrop models.

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.

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.

Rivian’s August EV Registrations Rose 33% as Electric Van Demand Surged

The company ranked second behind Tesla, with its electric vans helping offset a steep decline in R1S registrations.

XPeng Begins Mona L03 Deliveries in France After July Launch

XPeng’s first Mona L03 customer in France received the SUV from chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng himself at a Paris handover on October 13. The milestone moves the model beyond its July launch and into customer deliveries in Europe, supporting the Chinese automaker’s effort to expand its presence in overseas mass-market segments.

Ford Fathom Prototype Spotted at Dearborn HQ With Prominent Front Sensor

Although heavy camouflage continues to conceal most of the truck’s design, the latest prototype sighting reveals a prominent sensor in the front grille and Michelin e-Primacy tires. Ford plans to fully unveil the all-electric pickup in early 2027.

14 Rivian R2s Grounded Over High-Voltage Battery Fastener Checks

Rivian confirmed the number of affected vehicles in a September 28 update, while service-side information indicates the inspections are focused on how battery packs were assembled.

GM’s Buick Electra Hits 150,000-Unit Production Milestone in China

The 150,000th vehicle was a 2026 Buick Electra E7 plug-in hybrid, which also reached 30,000 units produced as the Electra portfolio continues expanding across several vehicle types and powertrains.

US Senate Delays Vote on Bill That Would Permanently Ban Chinese Vehicles

Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin had planned to seek unanimous consent on September 24, but Republican Sen. Rand Paul raised concerns about the bill. The sponsors now plan to continue discussions with Paul before trying again next week.

3 Reasons Rivian Could Be Better Positioned for Its Next Growth Phase: Motley Fool

Three factors highlighted in a recent Motley Fool analysis are Rivian’s liquidity, its relatively limited shareholder dilution and its progress toward gross profitability. Together, they provide context for the company’s ability to fund operations while scaling its business.