EV maker Rivian plans to roll out its second product line, the R2, on March 7. However, to whet the appetites of the company’s aficionados and others who are interested in a smaller, less expensive electric SUV, it offered a short teaser video of what’s coming. The...
Automakers
Some Owners Report Their Brand New Cybertrucks Are Rusting
When Tesla delivered its first Cybertruck during a livestreamed event last November, CEO Elon Musk made a point of talking about just how tough and “literally bulletproof” the electric pickup is, even showing a video of it being raked by gunfire. Rust, however, may be Cybertruck’s Achilles Heel. Reports by some members on Cybertruck owner forums indicate the panels on their trucks have begun showing corrosion. The extent of the problem is uncertain, as is the cause. But, if it proves to be more than a rare fluke it could cause serious problems for Tesla, as Headlight.News reports.
GM Expanding Super Cruise Network to Cover 750K Miles
The fight for hands-free driving supremacy went another round with General Motors announcing plans to expand its Super Cruise network to 750,000 miles in the U.S. and Canada. The process is underway and expected to be complete next year. Get details at Headlight.News.
Shell Shutting Down All its California Hydrogen Stations
The struggling market for fuel-cell vehicles was handed another setback as Shell announced that it was shutting down all seven of its hydrogen refueling stations open to retail customers in California. That might seem an irrelevant number were this to involve its gasoline service network. But it represents nearly one in six of the hydrogen facilities in California and about 12% of the 59 open to the public nationwide.
Q&A: Chris & Julie Ramsey Talk About Their 10-Month, Pole-to-Pole Journey in an EV
Julie Ramsay had no idea what to expect when husband Chris Ramsey bought his first Nissan Leaf a decade ago — but the two quickly fell in love with EVs and, since then, have headed out on a series of adventures to test the limits of the technology and disprove many of the myths about battery technology. They first drove entirely around England, then took a 10,000-mile adventure to Mongolia. Their latest adventure set a new record, driving 22,000 miles over 10 months from the North to South poles. In an exclusive interview, Headlight.News spoke with the Ramseys about their pole-to-pole adventure – and what might be next.
Auto Dealers Collect $135M YTD in EV Tax Credit Payments
Anyone who may have wondered about the potential success of offering EV buyers the option to get their tax credit at the time of sale, including using it as a down payment, can stop thinking about it — it’s working. The U.S. government’s paid out $135 million in electric vehicle tax credits in a little more than a month. Get details at Headlight.News.
Cruise Rehab Continues with Chief Safety Officer Hiring
General Motors’ autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, took another step in the rehabilitation of its image, making good on plans to hire a Chief Safety Officer. In the wake of last October’s incident with a pedestrian in San Francisco, the company said it would take steps to improve the safety of its vehicles. AV development veteran Steve Kenner is the new hire. Get details at Headlight.News.
New Vehicles Getting Cheaper
The amount consumers are paying for new cars, trucks and utility vehicles continues to decline, falling 2.6% in January to $47,401. Find out what’s driving prices down at Headlight News.
Chrysler Halcyon Concept Leans into “Fully Electric Tomorrow”
Chrysler — remember Chrysler? It’s a brand in desperate need of finding new product and purpose. With the debut of the Halcyon Concept the struggling automaker aims to give the world a sense of where it’s going. The all-electric show car offers an array of advanced technologies, from facial biometrics to fully driverless operation. It also turns to a potentially breakthrough battery technology that could be charged directly from the road, “allowing for unlimited range.” How much of that could wind up in production? More from Headlight.News.
Chicago Pulls Off Interesting Auto Show — Even as It Shrinks
The delicate status of auto shows is on full display lately. Now in full swing, the Chicago Auto Show is one of the now-smaller events looking — and finding — ways to remain relevant to new buyers as well as new media. Check out the story at Headlight.News.
Chevrolet Announces Range, Delivery Dates for Equinox EV – But Pricing Misses Original $30,000 Target
Chevrolet is rapidly ramping up its battery-electric vehicle lineup, with a mix of products soon to include the Chevy Equinox EV. With deliveries slated to begin “in coming months,” the bowtie brand has released range and other information about the all-electric compact crossover. But the Equinox EV won’t be as affordable as had originally been signaled. Get the details at Headlight.News.
Apple Vision Pro Goggles Could Take Distracted Driving to the Next Level
Distracted driving catches blame for about 10% of all U.S. highway fatalities, according to government data, but if driver’s texting and chatting on their smartphones hasn’t become a serious enough problem, the situation could soon get even worse. Federal regulators...