Volvo will stop funding Polestar and is considering a move that could give parent Geely greater control of the EV brand, Reuters reported Thursday. The news comes after Polestar announced that it missed already-reduced 2023 delivery targets. The brand’s shares are also down 83% since it went public in June 2022 via a merger with…
EV sales are still booming in California—and they continued to capture an even larger piece of the market in 2023. Although there was a slight downturn in the market share of EVs toward the end of 2023, EVs finished the year up 5% in market share in the Golden State versus 2022. And looking at…
Ford provided an update on Wednesday on its plans to adopt the Tesla charge port for future EVs and to allow current and recent EV models to charge on the Tesla Supercharger network. To the latter point, Ford revealed that the accessory adapters needed to get drivers of current and recent American Ford EVs on-network…
Which automaker CEO sees EV acceleration as a safety feature? Which very exclusive luxury EV was recalled this week? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. GM this week announced that it is ready to bring some plug-in hybrid models back to the North American market. It’s a shocker that may have many longtime…
Volvo pulls away from Polestar. Dealers think the Biden administration is moving to fast on EVs—says a survey looking at a very small slice of the business. Ford gets ready to offer Supercharger adapters. And EV and PHEV sales are continuing to surge. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Ford will provide adapters…
Dealers think the Biden administration’s EV policies are forcing the auto industry to move ahead of market demand, according to a new Automotive News survey. The publication’s 2024 Dealer Outlook Survey compiled responses from 208 U.S. car dealers and dealership managers. Nearly 83% of those surveyed said the federal government was pushing too hard on…
Three of the largest commercial truck manufacturers have joined forces on charging infrastructure. Daimler Trucks North America, Navistar, and Volvo Group North America on Wednesday announced Powering America’s Commercial Transportation (PACT), described in a joint press release as a “coalition focused on education and advocacy for accelerating the construction of nationwide infrastructure” for electric medium-duty…
Plug-in hybrids reached record sales in 2023, with more than 250,000 vehicles sold, or about 20% of total plug-in vehicle sales, according to the Department of Energy. Last year saw strong sales for EVs as well, which surpassed one million units for the first time. The combined market share of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs…
The BMW 5-Series lineup adds two more plug-in variants for the 2025 model year. The automaker confirmed Tuesday that the 2025 BMW 550e xDrive plug-in hybrid will join the lineup for the new model year, along with a third version of the all-electric BMW i5 that launched for 2024 as part of a redesigned 5-Series…
EV sales will reach 8.0% of the total U.S. new vehicle market this month, S&P Global Mobility has predicted. The market share of EVs won’t increase dramatically over the previous month, as automakers, dealers, and consumers digest new federal tax credit rules brought on by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that went into effect with…
Rolls-Royce is recalling its first EV. Ford is offering some sweet Mustang Mach-E deals to fleets. And yes, GM is planning to bring plug-in hybrids back. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. GM has announced that it is ready to bring some plug-in hybrid models back to the North American market. It’s a…
Rolls-Royce is recalling many of the first electric cars it has ever produced over an insufficient electrical ground that could increase the chances of a fire. The U.K. prestige luxury brand notes that potentially affected 2024 Spectre electric coupes were made from October 24, 2023 through December 11, 2023. Production of the Spectre started in…
Canoo electric vans head out soon for postal delivery. Is an EV’s 2.0-second 0-60 mph acceleration a safety feature? And are worries about charge time overtaking range and other charging concerns as a top barrier for EV adoption? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Recent study results from Deloitte suggest that driving range…
The U.S. Postal Service will purchase six electric vans from startup Canoo, to be delivered later this quarter. The vans will be right-hand-drive versions of the Canoo LDV 190 van, according to a press release from the startup. Canoo’s website lists the LDV 190 has having a 79-kwh battery pack yielding an estimated 200 miles…
Tesla has the top-selling vehicle on the planet, it claims. Lucid teases a Model Y rival. Porsche puts a price on its electric SUV. And many VW ID.4 EV buyers will be able to claim the full EV tax credit. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Volkswagen has confirmed that “most” 2023-2024 ID.4…
Stellantis last week detailed its STLA Large platform, which the automaker claims can house powertrains capable of hurling an EV from 0-60 mph in 2.0 seconds. That breathtaking acceleration figure may be something Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares now claims is a safety feature. That’s because quick acceleration allows for quicker overtaking, Tavares told Top Gear…
The redesigned 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has a base price just $500 more than the equivalent non-hybrid model. Pricing starts at $38,345 for the least-expensive hybrid model—the SEL with front-wheel drive (all prices include a $1,395 destination charge). The non-hybrid front-wheel drive Santa Fe SEL starts at $37,845. However, the non-hybrid Santa Fe is…
Which CEO of a global automaker suggested that EVs may never top 30% of the global vehicle market? Which EV from a U.S. automaker became the top-selling vehicle on the planet, electric or not? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending January 26, 2024.…
It’s all pricing and economics news this morning, and it’s mostly good news for those interested in driving greener. Subaru boosts Solterra fast-charging, Honda prices its Prologue, and Hyundai sets a very modest premium for its hybrid Santa Fe SUV. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Subaru has sped up DC fast-charging for…
The 2024 Subaru Solterra gets handful of changes for its second model year, the highlights being battery improvements and a new driver-assistance system. The Solterra can now DC fast-charge from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes, according to Subaru, compared to about an hour previously. The automaker also claims an improved battery conditioning system that…
Honda’s first electric SUV, the Prologue, arrives at dealerships starting in March, the automaker confirmed Thursday, along with first official pricing for the model. As promised, the Prologue starts under $50,000. But for those who want all-wheel drive and a loaded version, it ranges nearly up to the $60,000 mark. In Single Motor front-wheel-drive form,…
The electric Porsche Macan already has been teased one last time, but it will finally make its U.S. debut in the second half of 2024 as a 2024 model, the automaker confirmed on Wednesday. The EV editions of the SUV, though built on a different architecture, will share the Macan name with the current lineup…
Tesla could be making its $25,000 EV next year, according to a report. The Apple Car project has backed away from the driverless-car designs. And Hyundai shows what a difference active aero can make to boost EV range. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Hyundai and Kia boast that its active air skirt…
The chairman of Toyota is most definitely not all-in on EVs—or the idea that they might even be a third of the market, perhaps ever. In comments published Tuesday in Toyota’s own Toyota Times corporate newsletter, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda said in an event earlier this month that he does not see battery electric vehicles…
Toyota might see an EV-sales ceiling that’s below its own EV targets. Electrify America sets aside more money for reliability, but is it enough? And could we tap into old phone infrastructure to allow EV charging for street parking? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The chairman of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, has never…
Pricing has been announced for the 2024 Acura ZDX, which is set to arrive at dealerships starting in early spring 2024. Assuming the same $1,350 destination fee as the like-sized MDX, the first EV effort from Honda’s luxury brand starts at $65,850. That’s for the base A-Spec with single-motor rear-wheel drive. Dual-motor A-Spec models price…
The platform for EVs from Dodge, Jeep, and more is good for models with up to 500 miles of range, the automaker claims. The Biden administration goes broad in applying a new charging credit. And the 2024 Acura ZDX costs thousands more than the Cadillac Lyriq it’s due to be built beside. This and more,…
The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S will arrive this fall in the U.S., with other markets to follow, Jeep parent Stellantis announced Thursday. The timing essentially matches what Jeep discussed when the Wagoneer S was first shown in concept form in September 2022 as one of three production-bound EVs, alongside the European-market Avenger and the more…
The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT gets an available Bronze Appearance Package, as well as some performance upgrades, for the new model year. The appearance package includes a bronze grille, badging, and 20-inch wheels. It’s available with Shadow Black, Star White Metallic, and new-for-2024 Eruption Green paint colors. Ford said a Mach-E GT with this…
Stellantis has reaffirmed a claim of 500 miles of range for its STLA dedicated EV platform, set to underpin several future cars, crossovers, and SUVs from the automaker. STLA Large is one of four dedicated EV platforms announced by Stellantis in 2021, along with STLA Small, Medium, and Frame versions. Stellantis was making the 500-mile…
How can you claim up to $7,500 off some new Tesla models at the time of purchase? Which automaker announced plans to embrace the Tesla charge connector and reignite an offbeat kind of internal combustion engine, all in the same week? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car…
The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT gets faster and goes green (and bronze). Jeep previews the production Wagoneer S EV. And what can you expect from Honda’s own EVs on the way later in the decade? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Honda may be a late-starter with mass-production EVs, but as communicated last…
Last week at CES in Las Vegas, Honda provided a first look at future EV models planned for 2026 with the Saloon and Space-Hub concepts. Both are envisioned for its 0 Series (Zero Series) platform. At least some of these models will be U.S.-made, and they’ll arrive in the U.S. first—before Japan, China, and Europe—the…
The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid gets a higher price, ahead of the arrival of a main rival, the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid. And Mazda sees a future including rotary combustion engines and Tesla charge ports. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid has a price hike—and more of a price…
The 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid gets a price hike to go along with its refreshed exterior and interior. Hyundai released pricing information for the 2024 Elantra Hybrid earlier this month, showing a starting price of $26,250 for the base Blue grade before destination. That’s $1,700 more than the equivalent 2023 model. Including the mandatory destination…
Toyota pushes back about the viability of affordable EVs. Ram introduces a lineup of electric vans. And Tesla buyers can now get the $7,500 EV tax credit up front—if they qualify. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Tesla has started applying the EV tax credit at the time of purchase—via its own website…
Fewer Tesla EVs now qualify for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, but for those that do, Tesla is now applying the credit at the time of purchase. The automaker’s website now says that eligible buyers will have the full $7,500 credit applied when they purchase their vehicles. Customers are responsible for determining their eligibility…
Honda waits on affordable small EVs until very late in the decade. The Ioniq 6 is cheaper than the Model 3. Rivian aims to halve its EVs carbon footprint. And yes, EVs will drive electricity cost down. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Honda still has no affordable, mass-market EV—an equivalent to the…
New incentives can make the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 much cheaper than the newly updated Tesla Model 3, according to CarsDirect. A dealer bulletin shows that all versions of the 2024 Ioniq 6 are eligible for $7,500 in “retail bonus cash”—a rebate that can essentially be applied only to purchases, and not with Hyundai’s current…
Honda built its original reputation around affordable small cars like its Civic. Yet decades on, segueing into an era of EVs, it has no battery-electric equivalent to the Civic. As Honda’s global CEO alluded this past week in a Q&A with Green Car Reports and various automotive and tech media at CES, it doesn’t see…
Hertz on Thursday announced that it’s selling about 20,000 EVs, including some Teslas, from its U.S. rental fleet to buy gasoline cars. The company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the sales of these vehicles, which represent about one-third of its global EV fleet, began in Dec. 2023 and…
EVs could help drive down electricity rates by better-utilizing grid infrastructure, according to three recent studies summarized by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), an energy-policy advocacy organization. These studies describe a shift to a higher, but better-distributed electricity load that makes better use of infrastructure and thus more consistently covers the costs…
Israeli startup REE Automotive on Thursday announced that its P7-C electric chassis-cab truck is the first vehicle with entirely by-wire controls to be certified for sale in the U.S. Deliveries of the medium-duty commercial truck are now underway following following Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and EPA certification, REE said in a press release.…
How soon is the revamped Tesla Model 3 Highland arriving in the U.S.? Which company spent more of its CES presentation talking about gaming, TV, and movies than the EV it’s helping make? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending January 12, 2024. At…
Before the second effort from Vinfast, the larger three-row VF 9, has even gone on sale, the Vietnam-based automaker is already focusing on an onslaught of future vehicles and concepts. Vinfast introduced a trio of future and potential products at CES in Las Vegas this week, including an electric pickup concept, a stylish electric bike,…
Hertz is selling its EVs for more gas vehicles. Vinfast previews three EVs. And the first EV that goes completely by-wire has been U.S.-certified. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The rental-car giant Hertz has announced that it’s selling a third of its EV fleet—about 20,000 EVs, including some Teslas—to buy gasoline cars.…
The EPA on Monday announced another round of funding for all-electric and low-emission school buses under its Clean School Bus Program. Nearly $1 billion will go to 67 applicants, the EPA said in a press release. The agency has also set up an online dashboard showing where the new school buses will be going. The funds…
U.S. EV sales grew significantly in 2023 and will likely continue to do so in the coming year, Bloomberg analysts say in a new report. Analysts estimate that U.S. EV sales reached 1.6 million units in 2023, up from 1.1 million in 2022. And they predict 1.9 million EV sales for 2024, accounting for 13%…
The refreshed 2024 Tesla Model 3—codenamed “Highland” by the automaker—is now available in the U.S. Deliveries are expected to start as soon as later this month. The U.S.-spec Model 3 Highland appeared on Tesla’s website overnight, with two configurations available. The base single-motor rear-wheel drive version starts at $38,990 before destination with an EPA-estimated 272…
Sony provided an update on the 2026 Afeela electric sedan being co-developed with Honda at CES 2024, but only briefly, and only after 30 minutes or so of discussion about the company’s media and gaming efforts. That nicely summarized Sony’s priorities. Sony Honda Mobility, the business entity created to bring the Afeela brand to market,…
Against the backdrop of CES in Las Vegas, Honda provided a first look at its 0 Series (Zero Series) electric vehicles set to launch in 2026—in the form of two new head-turning EV concepts. The two concept vehicles, called Saloon and Space-Hub, are a racy-looking, kammback-profile car and a taller, more upright van or wagon—both…
Tesla and Chinese automaker BYD were the two global contenders for most EV sales in 2023. Tesla ultimately sold more EVs over the entire year, but BYD pulled ahead of the U.S. automaker in the fourth quarter. On Tuesday, Tesla said it delivered 1.8 million vehicles in 2023, including a record 484,507 in Q4, which…
Fisker on Thursday said it would add franchised dealerships alongside company-owned showrooms, pivoting away from the pure direct-sales model previously discussed. “We are evolving our business model and intend to add as many as 50 dealer partners in the U.S. and Canada and a similar number of dealer locations in Europe this year,” CEO Henrik…
Hyundai, Kia, and Samsung announced a partnership Thursday to expand connectivity between vehicles and in-home devices—with potential benefits for EV owners. The aim is to allow Hyundai and Kia owners to remotely control appliances via their cars’ infotainment systems, and also use smart speakers and televisions or smartphone apps to control certain vehicle functions from…
Prices of certain versions of the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck are going up, while others go down, Ford revealed Tuesday, in a recalibration of costs for the electric truck as the automaker prepares to cut production. The base Pro grade, aimed primarily at fleet buyers, will now start at $57,090 including the…
General Motors ended 2023 with disappointing EV delivery figures. The automaker reported Wednesday that it delivered 75,883 EVs in 2023, but 62,045 of those were Bolt EV and Bolt EUV models that GM discontinued at the end of the year. That leaves just 13,341 of the Ultium EVs that are supposed to set the tone…
Sustainability concerns are leading some automakers to switch from leather upholstery to synthetic alternatives. So a group of leather suppliers are making their case. The trade group, called One 4 Leather, claims that leather upholstery made from cow hides has a lower carbon footprint than synthetic materials. That’s in part because, the argument goes, cattle…
The 2024 Kia EV9 fits the form that many American households seek in a family vehicle, made fully electric but without a luxury price tag. That plus leadership in all aspects of charging make it Green Car Reports’ Best Car To Buy 2024. Until now, no non-luxury EV has truly fit these needs—family-sized for America,…
The list of electric vehicles qualified for the EV tax credit in calendar year 2024 has been released. And as expected, it’s very short. Noteworthy Tesla omissions include most of the Model 3 lineup (the Performance version is the only one that now qualifies), as well as the entire Model S lineup. And as anticipated…
Is demand for affordable EVs low? Look at the surge of interest over future models like the Chevy Equinox EV and its more than 200,000 “hand-raisers,” or the Fisker Pear or Volvo EX30, all of which are due to start well under $40,000, and you’d be mistaken to say that electric cars are by nature…
The cost of gasoline and the carbon footprint of EVs could both fall in the new year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects combined electricity generation from solar and wind to exceed coal for the first time in 2024. Solar alone is expected to increase 39% from 2023 thanks to continual increases in generating…
Electric vehicles remain the future of transportation at the end of 2023, as they were at the start of the year. But it was a year of tough questions to accompany vast market change, not just as the massive scales of supply and demand swung the other way, but as an industry refocused. While 2023…
What do you need to ask the dealership if buying an EV after the new year? Why might the top-selling EV in Japan make a lot of sense in U.S. big cities too? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending December 29, 2023. Have…
Vinfast shifts to dealership sales. Mercedes-Benz tweaks its EV lineups for more range—real-world especially. And want an exciting EV under $40,000? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Have you waited out the market roller-coasters of the past couple years? We rounded up all the affordable EVs that are arriving in 2024 and 2025,…
Vinfast will use franchised dealerships to sell cars in the U.S.—starting in the state where the company also plans to build a factory. While Vinfast already has a few company-operated showrooms, its first franchised dealership opened this week in Cary, North Carolina, in partnership with the Leith Automotive Group. As of Thursday, the dealership had…
EV battery recycling is already booming in China. EV shoppers will soon need to ask the dealership some tough questions about the tax credit. And a drive in a very small EV reminds us what America is missing about them. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. In scaling up EV sales, is smaller…
Look anywhere around the world, and the biggest cities have some of the same issues, no matter what the country: space is tight, and access to high-power fast-charging is limited at best. Applying that logic, the very tiny, four-passenger Nissan Sakura EV seems like the perfect formula to apply to an everyday driver for Seoul,…
Chevy Blazer EV sales have been halted. Porsche and Audi are issuing recall letters for most of their plug-in vehicles, but it’s not for the vehicles themselves. Hydrogen rules aim to reel in the dirtier side of the hydrogen economy. And we look at the Prius Prime as one of the year’s best. This and…
Lexus is adding a less-expensive, longer-range version of its RZ electric crossover for the 2024 model year. Called the RZ 300e, the new variant gets a single-motor front-wheel drive powertrain and 72.8-kwh CATL battery pack, versus the dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain and 71.4-kwh pack from Prime Planet Energy (a joint venture of Panasonic and Lexus…
Audi and Porsche are conducting a recall of 240-volt Level 2 AC charging cables for EVs and plug-in hybrids. The recall covers 93,196 Audi vehicles in the U.S. from model years 2019 to 2024, including the E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback, Q4 E-Tron and Q4 E-Tron Sportback, and E-Tron GT EVs, as well as the Q5…
The Biden administration is considering raising tariffs on Chinese EVs above 25%, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The administration has left in place Trump-era tariffs on roughly $300 billion of Chinese goods, but is now considering additional tariffs, according to the report, which cited anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Chinese EVs are already…
GM has paused sales of the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV over “software quality issues,” the company announced late Friday. “We are aware that a limited number of Blazer EV owners have experienced some software quality issues,” said the company in an official response provided to Green Car Reports. “To ensure our customers have a great…
Which EV models are losing their tax-credit eligibility in 2024? Which new Toyota plug-in hybrid is claimed to go 55 electric miles in its home-market version? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending December 22, 2023. In a first drive of the BMW i5…
EV tax credit qualification gets murky in the new year. An even higher tariff on Chinese EVs is being considered. And the Lexus RZ EV gets a lower-priced base model with more range. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The 2024 Lexus RZ 300e adds more driving range to the only EV in…
The Blazer EV is ready for home backup, but the software and home hardware aren’t here yet. Lexus gives its UX hybrid crossover a boost. And will a Toyota Crown plug-in hybrid go 55 miles all-electric? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV is ready for bidirectional charging, GM…
The Lexus UX hybrid crossover gets a boost in power and fuel economy for the 2025 model year, along with a change in badging from UX 250h to UX 300h. It’s still fundamentally the same design that was introduced for the 2019 model year and refreshed for 2022, but now with some changes to the…
The Biden administration backs NACS, and VW finally caves to the Tesla standard. Nio goes 650 miles on a charge to show off its semi-solid-state battery tech. And how good is the electric version of BMW’s 5-Series? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. In a first drive of the BMW i5 EV, we…
Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) DC fast charging connector is now living up to its name, becoming a true standard rather than just a hardware design. SAE International on Tuesday released the technical information for standardization of the NACS connector. Known as SAE J3400, the finalized standard comes just six months after the SAE…
With the commitment of Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Scout to shift to the Tesla-based North American Charging Standard (NACS)—and the Biden administration’s backing of the SAE standard behind NACS now being finalized—America is now on the path for a single fast-charging standard for electric vehicles. The VW Group had remained one of the last holdouts…
On Tuesday, Canada is set to unveil the framework for an EV mandate for 2035, local media outlets are reporting. The mandate, known as the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, will gradually step up the amount of “zero-emission vehicles” until they account for 100% of new-car sales in Canada, the Toronto Star reported Sunday. It reportedly…
The number of gasoline vehicles in the U.S. fleet is growing. Free fast charging causes more public charging congestion—probably. France rolls out revamped EV incentives. And the BYD Seal is here, almost. Will it cross the border? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. EV drivers who get free fast charging are plugging in…
U.S. EV sales are growing, but not enough to offset gasoline cars. That’s because sales of those vehicles are growing faster, according to a new report. Experian’s Automotive Market Trends report for the third quarter of 2023 showed that while electric cars now account for a larger share of the U.S. vehicle fleet than they…