Speeding fines are rising and automated enforcement is everywhere. According to DVLA data, the number of UK drivers receiving penalty points for breaking speed limits increased by 32% between 2022 and 2025, while road safety charity IAM RoadSmart says fines and penalty points are now at a four-year high.

It is a similar story in US, where automated speed cameras are gaining momentum thanks to a growing number of states permitting the use of cutting-edge camera tech.

Modern cars increasingly feature built-in speed camera alerts, but plenty of older vehicles don't. That's where a growing number of dedicated speed camera detection devices step in, using smartphone connectivity, community reporting and extensive camera databases to keep drivers informed.

Questions of legality vary wildly in the US and you'll struggle to find the devices listed below on sale anywhere, but all of those tested are available to purchase and are perfectly fine to use in the UK and much of Europe.

I've spent the past month putting the most popular options through their paces to find out which deserves a place on your dashboard.

1. Ooono Co-Driver NO2

• £69.99 / $95 / AU$143

The Ooono Co-Driver NO2 is arguably the benchmark here. Its compact design, simple setup and clever mounting options make it the most discreet device I have tested.

This latest generation pairs quickly with a smartphone, works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and can play alerts through the car's speakers. Plus, it automatically kicks into life when it detects a phone and the ignition is switched on.

Once installed, it quietly gets on with warning about fixed and mobile speed cameras, traffic jams and road hazards using a combination of LED alerts and audio notifications. Reporting incidents is equally straightforward, and the series of button combinations takes only minutes to learn.

The community-driven database continues to improve, although hazard reporting still isn't quite as comprehensive as Waze or Google Maps in some UK regions.

The biggest advantage is simplicity. There's no screen demanding attention and no subscription fees. It just works.

• Verdict: Still the easiest and most polished speed camera companion available. Looks good, too.

2. Tom by TomTom

• £69.99 / $95 / AU$143

TomTom has clearly taken inspiration from Ooono's playbook — and that's no bad thing.

Setup is quick, requiring little more than a Bluetooth connection to a smartphone and a free account. The rechargeable battery lasts around a month, meaning there are no cables to worry about.

Alerts are clear, with bright LEDs and audible warnings for cameras, congestion and speed limit breaches. Incident reporting is similarly simple and the camera database proved consistently accurate during testing.

Where it falls short is its design. The mounting solution isn't quite as elegant and the plastics don't feel as premium as Ooono's. The button layout also takes a little longer to learn by touch.

Still, it delivers almost everything the Ooono does and does it very well.

• Verdict: An excellent Ooono alternative that runs the class leader surprisingly close.

3. Road Angel Pure Sync

• £99.99 / $135 / AU$205

The Road Angel Pure Sync takes a different approach, adding a display screen and GPS speed readout to the mix.

Unfortunately, it also suffers from the most frustrating setup process. Registration requires payment details despite the included subscription, while Bluetooth pairing proved temperamental during testing.

The magnetic mount is neat, but unlike its rivals, the device requires constant power, meaning cables need to be routed around the dashboard.

Once operational, camera alerts are timely and effective. Speed limit warnings are impossible to miss, with bright visual cues and extremely loud voice prompts — perhaps too loud until adjusted in the settings.

The GPS speed display is useful in older cars but feels less necessary in modern vehicles that already feature accurate digital readouts.

Build quality is also disappointing for the price, with a plasticky feel and a display that can be difficult to read in direct sunlight.

• Verdict: Effective once running, but harder to recommend given the higher price, subscription requirement and less polished experience.

4. Ooono Co-Driver NO1

• £19.99 / $27 / AU$41

It's only when you place the Co-Driver NO1 and NO2 side by side that you realize just how much Ooono has improved its innovative speed camera alert device.

While cheaper to buy, the first-generation Co-Driver doesn't feature a built-in rechargeable battery, instead opting for a replaceable coin-cell battery that lasts around a year. It also doesn't communicate with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, nor does it feature a dedicated false-alert cancellation button.

It is considerably smaller, though, so if you want something discreet, this is the one to buy. That said, it uses a fixed 3M adhesive mount, so once in place, it is more difficult to relocate.

In short, the Co-Driver NO1 still handles the basics well, delivering reliable speed camera alerts and connecting to Ooono's community of users for free. It's also one of the cheapest ways to dip a toe into the world of GPS speed camera detectors.

• Verdict: A more basic version of Ooono's current speed camera offering — it's smaller and much cheaper, so perfect for those on a budget.

5. Snooper My-Speed Plus

• £199.99 / $270 / AU$410

After testing all of the other smartphone-connected devices here, the Snooper My-Speed Plus feels like a bit of a throwback to an era of bulky sat-nav units suction-mounted to a dashboard.

Unlike its rivals, it is a completely self-contained unit that mounts to the windshield and plugs into a 12V lighter socket, using its own GPS receiver and Snooper's AURA speed camera database to keep drivers informed.

The first thing you notice is its size. Where most of the competition is content being discreet little pucks that blend into the dashboard, the Snooper displays everything on a large 5-inch color screen. It constantly shows your GPS speed alongside the current speed limit, with red and green graphics that make it very difficult to ignore when you've drifted over the limit.

Speed camera coverage is extensive, but updating requires first registering the device and then plugging it into a Windows PC or Mac via the provided USB cable. Seeing how quickly speed cameras are appearing, frequent travelers will want to update the database monthly.

It's decidedly old-school and expensive, but the display is sharp and the overall hardware feels more premium than the Road Angel.

• Verdict: It feels like a device from a bygone era and it's expensive.

The final verdict: which to buy?

Having used all of the devices, the Ooono Co-Driver NO2 stood out above the rest and would get my money.

It's simple, easy to use and doesn't require monthly memberships. While it's possible to get a similar experience with the Co-Driver NO1, I preferred the larger button and the look of the second generation... not to mention the fact that you can recharge it via USB-C and mount it to the sun visor, rather than sticking it to a dash.

TomTom's offering is near identical, but the app isn't as slick and the button layout isn't as user-friendly.

I don't think drivers need a GPS speed camera unit with a screen these days, as it defeats the point of mounting something small and discreet to the car.

Finally, it's worth addressing the fact that you can get a similar experience by using free smartphone apps, such as Waze, Google Maps, Apple Maps and more.

But the Ooono and TomTom devices earn their money during those times where a smartphone is left in the pocket and you aren't navigating using either the vehicle or your phone's software.

Personally, I find it is exactly these moments when it easy to forget that a 20mph speed limit has been introduced in the local area and a gentle nudge from the Ooono saves my bacon.

I've covered Amazon Prime Day for a few years now, and each year it seems to get bigger as the retailer's inventory expands. I've just spotted a promotion that's admittedly new to me, however.

Right now, you can get a $1,500 Amazon gift card if you buy a car via the retailer's Amazon Autos service. I didn't even know that buying a car from Amazon was a thing until I spotted this Prime Day special.

Should you buy a car via Amazon? Well, that's a good question. From what I can see on the listings, Amazon Autos is essentially just a new marketplace for dealers, rather than a first-party retailer. It's a little strange seeing cars listed as for sale on the Amazon Store page, but the more I look at it, the more it seems to make sense. It doesn't seem that much different from most online car marketplaces.

Interestingly, it looks like the available stock is mostly from American, Korean, and Japanese brands, with a few German cars sprinkled here and there. There aren't any new Chinese brands, which isn't surprising considering the various tariffs!

How do I get my $1,500 gift card?

According to the T&Cs, to be eligible for your gift card you'll need to either buy or lease a brand new car. Annoyingly, this promo doesn't extend to used cars, even though those are also listed on Amazon Autos.

Even worse, this promotion is a Prime Day special, so there's only today and tomorrow to actually buy a car. That's a hell of a commitment to make at such short notice, but you can test drive the car before you buy it, according to Amazon Autos.

Once you've picked out a car, you've got until June 29th to actually go and get it from the dealership. The gift card is being sent out via email within two weeks of pick-up.

Aside from those caveats, it appears that this promotion doesn't have any other stipulations in terms of brands or vehicle type. There are EVs, hybrids, pickups, SUVs, and pretty much all types of vehicles under the sun.

More of today's best Amazon Prime Day sales

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Back-to-school tech: 48% off laptops, headphones & tablets
• Cheap TVs: Samsung, Sony & LG from $89.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Smartwatches: up to $250 off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

• New technology canned real-time offenses to enforcement agencies
• Cameras are good enough to spot drivers holding smartphones
• DPS commissioner says the tech won’t be used to write tickets

The Mississippi Department of Information Technology Service’s board has recently signed a contract with Australian AI-focused technology company Acusensus worth $2 million that will introduce special, multi-violation traffic cameras to the state.

The technology, which is powerful enough to capture high-res and blur-free imagery of vehicles and drivers at speeds of up to 186mph, is able to send imagery and data to traffic officers in real-time, with the captured content available to use in a court of law.

Understandably, there has been a fierce backlash from residents, who became concerned that the Mississippi Highway Patrol was going to start using AI-powered cameras to allow troopers to write tickets for offenses caught on film, according to Mississippi’s Supertalk.fm.

In response, Sean Tindell, the state’s public safety commissioner, announced on a video posted to Facebook that his department entered the agreement to help it identify areas of the state that have “a higher probability of fatal crashes and accidents”, which would allow his team to “better allocate resources to those areas”.

While Tindell said that no tickets would be issued based on data received from the devices, some have been outspoken on the introduction of such “intrusive” AI-powered cameras in public.

“Cameras armed with AI, peering into your car and processing your actions, invading your privacy, and then signaling a live officer down the road to pull you over and issue citations and/or make arrests in real time. It’s a very slippery slope with frightening ramifications,” House Rep. Dan Eubanks said, according to Carscoops.

Analysis: Safer roads or an Orwellian future?

As Dan Eubanks pointed out, “every American citizen has a Constitutional right to face his or her accuser,” and one of the greatest concerns with AI-powered traffic cameras is that, alongside a suggested ‘invasion of privacy’, it potentially removes the officer from the equation.

In much of Europe, we have long lived with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and speed trap devices that will automatically send penalty charges through the post, so this doesn’t feel too alien.

That said, cameras that look into a vehicles cabin and can detect the misuse of technology or abuse of seat belt laws takes things up a level.

It joins mounting concern from certain privacy advocates surrounding the use of technology to track citizen’s every moves, as we recently reported on the steps being taken by some motorists to avoid the growing number of Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras.

While it's often stated that cameras have the potential to act as a deterrent to dangerous driving and catch offenders, there is mounting concern that it also feels a lot like mass surveillance.

• ALPR (Automated License Plate Recognition) camera tech is getting smarter
• A new company is bridging the gap between cameras and connected tech
• Tools to avoid ALPR cameras are rapidly gaining popularity

More than 5,000 law enforcement departments across the US use Flock Safety cameras to track billions of license plates every month, according to a report from NBC news, helping them build an enormous database of the movements of everyday people.

But Flock is just one company working on such tech, with hundreds of new automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras and devices springing up daily.

More recently, 404Media has highlighted a new tech firm that aims to add phone, AirPod and Smartwatch location data to license plate readers in order to build a clearer picture about who was driving what… and when. Understandably, rebellious drivers are now fighting back thanks to a new website called DeFlock.

Leonardo's SignalTrace system is designed to scan the airwaves for signals left by myriad Bluetooth and wireless connected devices in order to link these to a license plate as it passes, potentially placing an individual in a vehicle at a specific time and place.

Leonardo says its technology uses "non-intrusive intelligence gathering" to detect publicly broadcasted device identifiers, feeding this data into an advanced algorithm so that multiple devices traveling together could link an individual to a vehicle and vice versa.

The police and other law enforcement agencies are then able to access this data, but concerns have been raised about the potential for hacking or misuse by the authorities to track personal relations.

Analysis: Privacy advocates are pushing back

In a move that aims to hand back some control to the individual, a website called DeFlock has surfaced that allows anyone to plan routes that actively avoid Flock’s ALPR cameras altogether and generally provide a more privacy-focussed alternative.

Just like most digital route-planners, users plug in a start and end point for their journey, changing how aggressively they want the software to avoid cameras, according to Carscoops.

The site will then compare a normal route to the more private alternative, suggesting how many miles and minutes a detour would take.

Website user numbers are on the increase, as organizations, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have warned that Flock’s surveillance camera systems are designed to enable “mass surveillance” and are susceptible to “grave abuses”, according to its own investigations.

Last year, the EFF reported on how more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies ran hundreds of searches through Flock's national network of surveillance data in connection with protest activity over a ten-month period, for example.

With news that ALPR cameras could soon be linked to connected devices, some sectors of the general public are understandably concerned, with one Reddit user commenting: “the only hope for anything is a Digital Civil Rights movement”.

Honda’s history with electrification has been up-and-down, to say the very least. The Japanese brand has been developing EVs since the early 1990s and has been a pioneering force behind hybrid technology, but it has been rapidly overtaken by myriad rivals in the interim.

Its 2020 Honda e was met with huge critical acclaim and was actually one of my favorite cars of the era, but it was too expensive and the electric range was poor. You could argue it was ahead of its time.

But then, in a very un-Honda move, it introduced the distinctly middling e:Ny1 that, while slightly more palatable in terms of pricing and range, failed to make waves with its vanilla styling, forgettable drive and aging in-car tech.

The promise of a cutting-edge 0 Series was subsequently postponed due to mounting global pressures and supposedly declining EV demand. Even its long-winded collaboration with Sony on the Afeela project was unceremoniously brought to an abrupt end earlier this year. Honda is yet to realize its electric dreams.

However, you could argue that one tiny car has been carrying the weight of expectation on its diminutive shoulders, and that’s the Honda Super-N.

For the first time in the Japanese marque’s history, it has decided to introduce the enormously popular Kei car category to markets outside its home turf.

The Kei category, which roughly translates to ‘light’ from Japanese, accounts for around 30% of new vehicle sales in its home market. Its popularity is due to the fact that the strict size and weight regulations governing the sector allow those in densely populated areas to own a car.

In much of Japan, if you can’t prove that you have a dedicated parking space for your car, you're simply not allowed to own one. Enter the Kei car.

While the Super-N is marginally too large to be legally classified as a true Kei, it borrows much of its underpinnings from a car that is, with the small but perfectly formed Super-N aiming to prove that “small electric cars can be genuinely fun”, as project leader Hidetomo Horita puts it.

Limited release

To keep costs down, the Super-N will be limited to right-hand-drive markets (as it is in Japan), meaning the UK is one of those fortunate spots in Europe that will be able to enjoy the deliberately pumped-up styling and rascal handling.

Gone is the small petrol engine that sits in the rest of Honda’s Kei-car N range and, in its place, is a 29.6kWh battery pack and a 94bhp electric motor that drives the positively tiny 15-inch front wheels.

On paper, the Honda N isn’t particularly impressive. It takes a good 10 seconds to reach 62mph from a standstill and the top speed is pegged at a measly 83mph.

It’s also not exactly a road-trip tool, as its all-electric range is around 128 miles if you’re careful and maximum charging rates are 50kW, meaning it takes around 30 minutes to complete a 10-80% charging session.

There are concerning echoes of the Honda e here but this is a vehicle that will cost less than £19,000 (around $25,000 / AU$36,000) in the UK... not nearly £30,000 (around $40,000/AU$56,500) like its forebear.

It's also missing the point, because Honda has engineered the Super-N to be an unadulterated joy to drive and a tool for traversing towns.

“We took inspiration from the City Turbo II model of the 1980s,” Horita explains.

The car, which was a muscular, wide-bodied city slicker of the electro-pop era, featured a turbocharged 1.2-liter petrol engine and used a special processor to reduce turbo lag.

Performance figures are largely similar and the Super-N shares the same characteristics as the so-called 'Bulldog', with a surprisingly firm ride that has clearly been engineered for handling prowess rather than comfort.

Press a big purple button on the steering wheel labelled 'Boost' and the full 70kW — or 94bhp — is unleashed, often proving enough to spin up the front wheels and generally allow the Super-N to attack country roads with old-school, hot-hatch gusto.

Honda engineering

There is a special place in my heart for Honda, simply because it is a company that serially over-engineers its products. Google the Honda FC50's V-TACS system for a good example.

The Super-N is no different and, despite costing a mere £18,995 in the UK (or around £199 a month on finance), it almost over-delivers on the tech front.

In Boost mode, there’s a synthesized engine note pumped through the excellent eight-speaker Bose sound system.

But, in true Honda style, the engineers have ensured the engine noise is predominantly played through the front speakers, while an exhaust note (modeled on an Integra Type R, no less) is played through the rear speakers for a more realistic finish.

There are several levels of regenerative braking, including a one-pedal driving function, which are accessed via paddle shifters on the steering wheel. In sportier driving modes, these become gear shifters, allowing the driver to cycle through virtual cogs.

Hold the left paddle down for three seconds and the car enters a fully manual mode, with the technology even hitting a virtual rev limiter, much like the system in the far more expensive Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

Arguably, the Super-N doesn’t need all of this additional gimmickry because the drive is engaging enough as it is, but it's neat to have it.

It’s not particularly fast or powerful, but the 1,097kg weight, well-judged steering and firm suspension are perfect for delivering big grins on the right roads.

I'd hazard a guess that most owners will leave it in Boost mode all the time and put up with the front tire bills.

Small but mightily practical

All four doors on the Super-N open at a 45-degree angle to the bodywork, resulting in a massive aperture through which to load yourself, friends or children into the interior.

Front passengers, naturally, almost rub shoulders due to the tiny proportions, but it’s perfectly capable of carrying four adults — or even five at a push.

Better still, Honda’s Magic Seats are included, which either fold completely flat or fold upright with the pull of a lever to create all manner of space-saving configurations for transporting bulkier loads.

Granted, the interior is built to a price and most of the plastics feel particularly cheap and scratchy, but the infotainment system is easy to use and offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

One of my biggest gripes is the lack of space for a smartphone, as all of the cubbyholes Honda provides are too small. Buy a Super-N and you’ll probably need to buy a smartphone cradle as well.

However, in a pleasing twist, the Super-N has been homologated for the UK and therefore doesn’t have to adhere to a number of annoying European safety standards.

It means the speed-limit alert comes in the form of a subtle flashing logo rather than an incessant bonging noise, while the lane-keep assist is one of the least intrusive systems I have ever tried.

It all works exactly as it should, without interrupting the drive or forcing the driver to rummage through digital menus to turn everything off — something premium players like Volvo, BMW and Mercedes-Benz could easily learn from.

According to Honda UK’s Andrew Winfield, there has been a significant uplift in sales of compact A-segment EVs, with the likes of Dacia's Spring, the Fiat 500e, the BYD Dolphin Surf and the larger Renault 5 contributing to a 300% year-on-year increase in sales volume from 2025 to 2026.

The Japanese brand is hopeful the Super-N can introduce another affordable, practical and fun electric city car to the segment, which will soon also host the Renault Twingo, but one that offers genuine driving thrills and a small reminder that Honda is still capable of automotive magic.

• Lego celebrates the Koenigsegg Sadair's Spear with life-size model
• It is made from 327,906 Lego elements
• A slightly less challenging 4,104-brick version is available to buy

Lego’s Technic sets might push the boundaries of what’s possible with a bunch of plastic bricks, but the company isn’t content with simply offering lifelike models of high performance cars for adults to painstakingly build on a damp weekend.

This week, the Danish toymaker decided to unleash a life-size version of its own 4,104- piece, 1:8 scale Technic Koenigsegg Sadair's Spear model — itself based on the real Koenigsegg that set a record at Goodwood’s famous hillclimb during last year’s Festival of Speed event.

It’s all very meta, but the 1:1 version managed to drive down arguably one of the world’s most famous residential driveways at a speed of 69mph with, you guessed it, the very same Koenigsegg test driver who set the record last year at the wheel.

While it is impossible to build a fully drivable car entirely from Lego (if only), the teams behind the huge model said that the project took 9,400 hours to develop and construct, with some 327,906 Lego elements required to fashion the bodywork. This alone weighs in at 880 pounds (400kg).

The overall build tips the scales at a hefty 3,900 pounds (1,800kg) but features genuine Koenigsegg wheels, an FIA-spec roll cage and a small electric motor that drives the rear wheels. The 1,603bhp 5.0-liter twin turbo V8 from the Sadair's Spear likely didn’t fit.

Speaking to Top Gear, Lego’s design lead Lubor Zelinka said the brief called for a Lego Technic vehicle that could "go very fast" and, as a result, it was the "most complex build in the least amount of time of all the Lego Technic cars".

Zelinka also revealed that there are a number of excellent easter eggs dotted around the build, including the fact that part of the headlamp canopies are from Lego Star Wars ships, while sections of the Koenigsegg’s famously intricate Triplex suspension system are taken from a Ninjago set.

Where can you buy one?

Lego says that the Technic Koenigsegg Sadair’s Spear Megacar set (model number 42232, for brick fans) will be available in July priced at $449.99 / £399.99 / €449.99, but the 1:1 replica is, unfortunately, for internal use only.

Clocking up 69mph along Goodwood’s famous hillclimb route makes it the fastest Lego Technic Big Build car ever, knocking the McLaren P1, piloted by F1 driver Lando Norris, off the top spot. That managed a measly 40mph.

While not confirmed, it’s highly likely ticket holders to this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed event in the UK will be able to get up close and personal with the audacious build that, when Ghost Mode is activated, will see the doors, bonnet and engine cover slide open so you can have a good look at the suspension system. Nice touch.

• Tesla-styled vacuum cleaner arrives in Germany
• The company is aiming to make the charging experience feel premium
• Air pumps and free Wi-Fi are expanding across the network

A Tesla owner has spotted what is believed to be the first branded vacuum cleaner at one of the company’s Supercharger stalls in Germany.

The site, which is located in Pforzheim, Germany, also features a small indoor lounge and now, the ability to clean out grubby interiors while owners wait the 15 to 20 minutes for batteries to brim.

Much like the rollout of many Tesla features over the years, the vacuum cleaner's appearance seems relatively random, with no other sites reporting the technology cropping up just yet.

According to Not a Tesla App, the vacuum cleaner is free to use for Tesla owners, although a closer look at the imagery posted on X appears to show an RFID card reader at the front of the boxy, white unit, which could just be a payment for rival EV owners using the Supercharger network after it opened up to the wider electric vehicle audience.

We reached out to Tesla’s UK press department to ask whether this amenity is slated to be rolled out to other sites in the future, how much it costs for non-Tesla owners, and what other Supercharger accessories Tesla might be working on next. However, we have not yet received a response.

Analysis: more amenities in the pipeline?

Since Tesla fired around 500 employees from its Supercharger division in 2024, network deployment has slowed down.

In 2024 alone, reports suggest there was roughly a 19% reduction year-on-year, causing stress among owners that there wouldn't be enough facilities to go around.

But more recent statistics suggest that the number is back on the rise, with the total number of supercharger connectors reaching 73,817 at the end of 2025, marking an 18% year-on-year increase — this includes the addition of new V4 charging stalls that promise much higher charging speeds.

With an increase in overall charging sessions, Tesla has started sporadically adding extra amenities at certain locations, such as air compressors in Goulburn, Australia, which help keep tires at a healthy pressure level.

But in true Tesla fashion, there’s no clear road map on what amenities will appear where, so it’s simply a case of turning up and hoping your local Supercharger is next in line for a glow-up.

• The R2 model will receive radio through the iHeartRadio app
• Customers have pointed out potential issues with the cell signal
• More automakers are phasing out radio tuners in their vehicles

A number of automotive manufacturers have begun phasing out AM and FM radio tuners from their vehicles, instead relying on connected apps to tune into both digital radio and FM channels.

Tesla famously ditched FM and AM tuners in some of its new cars this year, while BMW, Volkswagen, and Mazda began removing AM radio tuners in the early 2020s, citing interference from electric powertrains.

It turns out Rivian, the maker of hardy, off-road electric vehicles, will join that growing list of manufacturers that don’t ship models with an AM or FM tuner, as eagle-eyed internet sleuths discovered that the latest R2 uses an iHeartRadio app for its radio-based music, news, and entertainment.

The news surfaced after an image of an owner’s manual started circling on Reddit forums, appearing to show a list of media sources offered by the R2, but FM radio was not among them.

Some off-road enthusiasts have aired their grievances over the decisions, stating that cell signal is often patchy or sometimes non-existent in remote areas, while emergency broadcasts and road-specific information are still broadcast on AM carrier waves.

“I listen to sports talk radio, and while I am able to get it via bluetooth on my phone via an app, sometimes I just wanna listen to it live in the car while I'm out on a quick jaunt,” one Reddit user commented.

While another said, “they do realize large swaths of this country still don't have data coverage, right?”

Analysis: Rivian could alienate buyers

Back in 2023, a group of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation to ban automakers from removing AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles, citing that the act undermines a federal system for delivering key public safety information to the public, according to Reuters.

The bill still hasn't been passed, but numbers suggest that traditional radio listeners are declining, with Edison Research finding AM/FM radio’s share of in-car ad-supported audio dropped from 90% in 2019 to 83% in 2025.

The picture is even gloomier for AM radio in the UK and Europe, with the BBC reporting that fewer than 100 stations across Europe still broadcast services on AM. The BBC is even shutting down its Radio 4 Long Wave service after almost 100 years of broadcasting.

That said, Europe has made the switch to digital radio — or DAB — much faster than the US, where AM radio is still popular. According to Nielsen data, around 82.3 million Americans still listen to AM radio every month, which equates to roughly one in three US radio listeners.

The decision to remove traditional radio tuners from the Rivian R2 might not exactly impact the younger demographic Rivian is aiming for, but it could still limit its appeal to a wider audience — one that is perhaps considering switching an older gas 4x4 or pick-up for something modern and electric.

• Automatic plugging in, unplugging, and remote control
• Xiaomi Auto is reportedly the first to bring the technology to market
• It will only be compatible with Xiaomi’s electric vehicles

Back in 2014, Elon Musk took to Twitter to state that the company was working on a robotic EV charging solution that “automatically moves out from the wall & connects like a solid metal snake.”

Fast-forward a year, and Tesla actually showcased a functional prototype (the video is still on YouTube), but the project failed to materialize.

Despite not officially being dead, there’s a high chance Tesla’s slithering metal snake charger is too complicated, too expensive, and perhaps too “out there” to bring to market.

The company also scrapped its plans to unveil a wireless charging solution for Tesla charging at home.

However, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is pursuing an automated robotic charging system for (presumably) wealthy SU7 and YU7 owners in China, as it has just unveiled a unit that’s compact enough to reside in a residential garage and literally takes the heavy lifting out of charging.

According to its maker, the robotic charging arm automatically initiates charging. Owners can simply park and walk away without needing to issue any commands or perform manual operations, Car News China reports.

Once the charging session is complete, the robot will then automatically unplug the charging connector and house it neatly away in its own storage unit.

There’s also the option for users to initiate a charge via a smartphone, so long as the vehicle is parked within reach of the telescopic arm. This eliminates the need for owners to physically be near a vehicle

There is currently no word on price, although the short promotional video released by Xiaomi appeared to show a ‘production-ready’ product in a real-world setting, meaning the technology will likely go on sale in China in a matter of months.

Analysis: are unwieldy cables on the way out?

Only recently, Porsche announced its wireless charging pad for the Cayenne electric, which allows owners to drive over it and seamlessly charge the vehicle without the need to touch often dirty, heavy EV cables that spend their lives outdoors.

In China, it appears that a number of companies are already working on solutions that mean customers won’t have to get their hands dirty, as Aito showcased its Aito M8 pure-electric version using a robotic arm to charge last year.

Fellow Chinese automotive manufacturer Li Auto also stated last year that it was working on robotic charging arms, although its solution is designed to make its public charging network more convenient to use.

Given that modern electric vehicles are already equipped with the sensors and technology needed to communicate with a robotic charging arm, it seems logical that this could be the next step toward futuristic, seamless charging.

The ability to simply pull up at a charging stall and walk away from the car while cutting-edge tech takes care of the rest would be another — admittedly very expensive and complex — unique selling point for electric propulsion in general.

• BYD’s ultra-fast charging is not just for China
• Company demonstrates a five-minute charge at its UK HQ
• Only one European model will be compatible, but more will follow

BYD showcased its five-minute EV Flash Charging technology at its West London headquarters this week, inviting guests and journalists to witness a Denza Z9 GT — the Porsche Taycan rival from BYD’s premium brand — charge its batteries from 10 to just shy of 100% in nine minutes.

The Flash chargers, which can deliver a peak power of 1,500kW (1.5 megawatts), far exceed the performance of today's ultra-rapid chargers, which in most places peak at around 350-400kW.

This next-generation technology has, in the words of BYD’s UK boss Bono Ge, the potential to “change people’s perceptions of electric cars”.

During the demonstration, BYD invited a member of the audience to take hold of the charging gun, which is a standard CCS 2 connector (therefore can be used by most EVs), and plug it into a Denza GT 9 with a pre-depleted battery that showed 10% on its infotainment display.

In order to assist with the heavy, actively cooled cabling required for such speeds, BYD has designed its Flash Charge system to look a bit like regular fuel pumps, with a pulley system that keeps the cables overhead and away from the floor, as well as making them easier to move.

Once plugged in, the charging session automatically began, and a BYD representative started the stopwatch. In a matter of minutes, the Flash Charge technology had added 200 miles of range, with the 10-70% charge taking just five minutes. Four minutes later, the battery was at 97%.

“Ready in five, full in nine and if it’s cold, add three minutes,” BYD’s EV charging boss, Diego Pareschi, explained during the launch, claiming that even in the harshest climates, it will still only take 12-minutes to fully top-up a battery, not the hours it can take some rivals.

A massive European rollout

According to Bono Ge, BYD plans to introduce some 6,000 Flash Charging stalls outside of China by the end of 2027, with 3,000 operating in Europe and around 300 earmarked for the UK.

“We are already working with BYD dealers, established Charge Point Operators (CPO) and special partners, like supermarkets, fast food restaurants and other high traffic areas to set up Flash Charging locations,” Bono Ge told us.

When pressed on the logistical and planning-permission challenges that such high-power charging outlets face, Ge said that BYD’s on-site battery storage solution makes it easier to navigate the red tape.

A Flash charging stall uses a huge, 400kW battery stack to assist in delivering such high charging speeds, meaning BYD doesn’t have to place such a big demand on the local grid.

It also means that the on-site batteries can be charged overnight, when electricity is cheaper, with the savings potentially passed on to customers.

“I think in the ideal situation we want is to be sub-50 pence per kilowatt hour,” Ge said during our discussions.

That’s between 30-40p (30¢-40¢) cheaper than most ultra-rapid public chargers that are currently situated at high traffic areas in the UK.

Ge did add that the company was looking to “prioritize” its customers at first and had to find ways to appease CPOs so it didn't undercut them. But he went on to stress that Flash chargers are universal and are therefore available for any EV to use, although at much slower charging speeds.

The trickle-down effect

BYD’s EV charging boss, Diego Pareschi, stated that all BYD cars with the second generation of its Blade Battery technology will be capable of Flash Charging, but the company stopped short of revealing exactly what models will be coming to the UK and Europe.

Right now, the Chinese company is gearing up to launch its premium brand Denza outside of China, with the Z9 GT poised to offer Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT levels of sophistication and performance at a lower price.

Pareschi said that Denza customers will benefit from 18 months of free Flash Charging when they purchase a Z9 GT, in a move that echoes Tesla’s previous incentives.

BYD continues to post record-breaking sales figures in the UK and Europe but says that it is reinvesting back into those markets, with €2 billion set aside for the Flash Charge rollout alone.

According to Ge, each charging stall costs around £500,000-£1 million (around $670,000/AU$955,000) to install, depending on the complexity of the build.

• Electrogenic has teamed up with a Hollywood star for another EV project
• Two Land Rovers and three classic Harley-Davidsons go electric
• Partnership is for the new series of On the Roam

A UK-based conversion company that specializes in developing electric powertrains for classic vehicles has revealed that it has re-engineered five of Hollywood star Jason Momoa’s cherished machines for a new series of HBO's On The Roam.

The list of vehicles includes two very rare Land Rovers and three vintage Harley-Davidsons that were all first produced in the 1920s.

Electrogenic and Momoa have history in so much that the company converted his 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II to electric power back in 2024, but the most recent project was even more ambitious.

“The technical challenge with the Land Rovers was to introduce electric power while retaining the original four-wheel-drive transmission, which is what gives these iconic vehicles their unrivaled off-road capabilities,” explains Steve Drummond, CEO at Electrogenic.

The Harley-Davidsons were perhaps even more complicated, as they have been converted to run on either electricity alone, petrol power or a hybrid mix of the both. Better still, they now offer electric start, so no more broken tibias trying to kick-start the old petrol engine.

Momoa’s 1949 Land Rover Series I 80 conversion centers around a compact 48kWh battery pack that has been neatly packaged into the original engine bay, replacing the old 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine.

Batteries are housed in a bespoke enclosure designed to match the vehicle’s aged patina, helping preserve the classic looks while introducing modern EV technology beneath the skin.

Power comes from a 150kW electric motor, although torque has deliberately been dialed back to suit the lightweight nature of the original vehicle and retain its driving characteristics, rather than creating a souped-up monster.

The all-wheel-drive transmission remains, along with all of the original low-range functionality, complete with mechanical levers.

The conversion also adds CCS rapid charging capability and delivers a real-world range of more than 150 miles, all without cutting, drilling or permanently altering the original vehicle.

I drove Electrogenic's amazing DeLorean back in 2024 and can fully vouch for the work it does — it's nothing short of fantastic.

Analysis: Conserving history, one electric motor at a time

Momoa claims that his electrified Harley-Davidsons, which use rear hub motors from Maeving motorcycles and batteries tucked in discreet, purpose-built panniers, are “the best thing we’ve ever made”.

“I’ve ridden on an e-bike before, I’ve ridden on e-bicycles, I’ve ridden on e-motorcycles, but the idea of riding on an old (electrified) bike, it was just unlike anything I’ve experienced,” he said, stating that the ability to switch to the petrol engine just increases the versatility.

Electrogenic says that, like with many of the other previous projects, ‘plug and play’ kits have been produced that now allow owners of other vintage cars and motorcycles to have their vehicles discreetly converted to electric power, without the massive overheads of the initial R&D phases.

Conversion kits for a Classic Mini, for example, start at around $20,000 / £15,000 / AU$28,000, while older Land Rover Defenders can benefit from emissions-free, near-silent propulsion from around $32,000 / £24,000 / AU$45,000. The FD / JD Harley Davidson kit is also available from Electrogenic for $19,500 / £14,500 (around AU$28,000).

It’s certainly not cheap, but it could be one of the simplest and most reliable ways to keep aging classics on the road.

• EV adoption in China has prevented as many as 262,000 premature deaths associated with air pollution since 2010
• The move to EVs, which also aligns with China's goal of becoming a carbon-neutral nation by 2060, has reduced PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides considerably
• With Chinese power generation still heavily coal-dependent, critics point out that EVs might just be clean at the destination until a fundamental shift in how the grid is supplied is implemented

A recent study by researchers in China points to reduced air pollution linked to EVs, saving as many as 262,000 lives by lowering local populations' exposure to pollutants.

The study indicates that reduced exposure to microscopic (fine) particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides, thanks to increased EV adoption by consumers, has resulted in thousands of lives saved annually in the region.

It pointed out that reduced emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other pollutants from ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) and hybrid vehicles have directly contributed to lower mortality rates, especially in urban centers.

An urban-centric 'miracle?'

The study, which used satellite data to examine changes in both rural and urban settings, found that carbon monoxide and PM2.5 levels were down 30% and 23%, respectively, compared to a hypothetical scenario in which EVs were not in play.

The research indicates that this directly prevented the deaths of as many as 262,000 people by reducing deaths related to lung cancer, respiratory illnesses, strokes, and heart diseases.

This is not an event in isolation; however, China has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in incentives, including subsidies for EVs and efforts to encourage a local EV market, resulting in EV giants that are massive global brands such as BYD and Geely.

The effect is not unique to China; an earlier study based in California also reported similar findings, indicating lower air pollutant levels in areas with higher EV adoption, with some areas indicating a near 4% drop in nitrogen dioxide pollution.

The findings, in tandem with a study in 2025, indicate that the overwhelming beneficiaries of such moves are urban centers, while rural or "economically small" cities in China exhibit a much smaller decline in nitrogen oxide emissions.

This can be linked to an unequal distribution of EV adoption, with limited infrastructure and spending power, essentially capping the benefits of 'clean' tech and benefiting smaller communities.

While EV usage in China continues to save lives, the results are called both "encouraging and sobering" by a co-author of the study. It does point out that the onus for much of this falls on its larger, wealthier (and more urbanized) cities, which can afford newer vehicles, even as smaller cities continue to lag behind in a country where more than half of all cars sold last year were electric.

Concerns about how said EVs are 'charged' persist, suggesting that the emissions might essentially only be rerouted rather than actually eliminated from the ecosystem. China continues to meet nearly 55% of its energy demand, including EV power needs, using coal as of April 2026, even as the country aims to increase the share of solar, hydropower, and wind-based generation to meet its carbon neutrality goals.

• 110 or 137-inch self-folding TV
• Bugatti design cues, materials and color finishes
• Pricing available on request; expect six figures

Back in 2024, we got to see a "brain-bending" TV in person: a 137-inch self-folding micro-LED TV. It was called the C SEED N1, and now it's back with in a new Bugatti-inspired form.

The C SEED BUGATTI N1 takes styling cues from the rather beautiful Bugatti Tourbillon supercar, with a side profile mimicking the C-line design that makes Bugattis so visually distinctive. And as before it contains a self-folding 4K micro-LED TV in a choice of 110 inches or 137 inches.

Made in Austria, the BUGATTI N1 features materials and finishes — including carbon fiber and aluminum — inspired by Bugatti’s Tourbillon hypercar as well as taking on some of its shape.

There’s also a fully integrated Wisdom Audio sound system hidden inside the structure, with speakers that extend outwards when activated and disappear again once the Netflix doom scroll is over.

Pricing is very much in the "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" bracket. But the 2024 N1 was expected to cost $283,000 / £285,000 (about AU$394,925), and reports have stated that a previous Porsche Design folding TV cost around $400,000, so clearly you're looking at supercar money.

C SEED BUGATTI N1 self-folding TV: key features and availability

Seeing the TV unfold is still brain-bending. The "sculptural sideboard" unfolds and rotates to become vertical, its five micro-LED panels becoming a single enormous 4K screen. There's an embedded video of it here.

The big challenge with foldable displays has traditionally been visible seams and panel inconsistencies, but C SEED says its patented Adaptive Gap Calibration system effectively eliminates the joins between the moving panels.

Refreshingly C SEED has published the specs of the system rather than opting for discretion. The contrast ratio is 30,000:1, peak brightness is 1,000 nits, and the sound system has a frequency range (including the subwoofer) of 60Hz to 20kHz.

Unfortunately if you're a gamer this might not be the TV for you: its three HDMI ports are HDMI 2.0, not 2.1. Seems a little cheap…

Like most people I couldn't afford one of these TVs in a million years but I love the fact that it exists: like the weirdest luxury hi-fi speakers it's both spectacular and a bit silly at the same time.

But if you happen to have six figures to spare and your garage already contains a Bugatti Tourbillon, a folding television probably feels perfectly reasonable. The TV is being "presented to discerning customers" through CDEED's partner network worldwide, and you can see more of this very unusual TV on the C SEED website here. There's even a book you can download.

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

• Rivian’s boss believes we will have eyes-off driving within 18 months
• It will be the “most disruptive feature we’ve seen”, according to RJ Scaringe
• But a new report suggests Tesla engineers and staff don’t trust the technology

Rivian’s boss and CEO, RJ Scaringe, believes that we will see increasing levels of autonomous driving arriving in the coming months.

Speaking to Top Gear during a test drive of the upcoming R2, which the company hopes will be its first electric SUV with true mass appeal, Scaringe revealed that he thinks we will move from level two to three, which includes hands-off and eyes-off autonomous driving, within “the next 18 months”.

He also went on to state that he believes we will reach true Level 4 autonomous driving by the end of the decade. At that point, vehicles will be able to handle all driving tasks within geofenced zones.

Human passengers are relieved of duties because Level 4 autonomous vehicles should be capable of reaching a safe state in the event of a system failure. It is the level that most fully autonomous robotaxis currently operate in, but it is not something that has been made commercially viable to date.

Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has regularly stated that the company’s autonomous driving technology is capable of allowing those behind the wheel to “text and drive", as well as engage in other distracting side tasks.

But a recent Reuters report seemingly counters this, claiming that even those who work closely with the systems don’t trust them.

Speaking with nine former Tesla data labelers, a former self-driving engineer, and 11 traffic-safety researchers, the Reuters report found that seven of the former data labelers said they wouldn’t trust FSD to drive them.

“We have all seen it fail,” one said. Another said he wouldn’t ride in a Tesla robotaxi “if you f****g paid me.”

One veteran self-driving engineer, who reviewed Tesla crash data for years, called its safety claims “bullsh*t.”

The report goes on to state that Tesla's FSD crash reporting is confusing and misleading, refuting its claims that the technology is "10 x safer than a human".

Analysis: hype isn’t helping

The data labelers that Reuters spoke to have the unenviable job of reviewing footage from eight exterior cameras on Tesla vehicles using Full Self-Driving (FSD).

You could argue that they only see the bad sides of FSD, but most of those interviewed confessed to regularly seeing the technology fail at basic tasks, such as pulling over for emergency vehicles, leaving enough room for motorcyclists and cyclists, and even avoiding construction zones.

What’s more, a specialized group, known internally and informally as the “trauma team”, said it focused on near-misses and other dangerous situations.

One person said they saw clips showing drivers manually taking over at the last second when FSD failed to recognize pedestrians in crosswalks.

Two other former employees recalled seeing videos last year of FSD-piloted Teslas nearly hitting children.

Both Rivian and Tesla’s CEOs feel that improvements in Large Language Models and the microchips that power modern vehicles will speed up the introduction of greater levels of automation in passenger vehicles, but it’s way more complicated than that, involving driver education, legislation, and more.

Many feel that to allow motorists to engage in side tasks and effectively hand over driving duties to the vehicle means the technology has to be perfect, not just “safer than a human” driver.

Overinflating the technology's capabilities has previously led to confusion and complacency among users, which, in Tesla’s case at least, has already resulted in myriad court cases and ongoing regulatory scrutiny.

• Sir Jony Ive's LoveFrom company helped design the Luce
• But Ferrari's EV has caused plenty of controversy
• Venuum thinks a widebody kit could make Luce more desirable

The phrase “broke the internet” is terribly overused these days, but the reveal of Ferrari’s debut EV had pretty much every corner of the web locked in ferocious debate.

The car, which features both an interior and exterior penned by iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive’s LoveFrom outfit, was met with a maelstrom of abuse online, with the Ferrari faithful panning its bulbous looks, laughing off the $640,000 price tag, and poking holes in the relatively measly 329-mile range.

Nissan’s North American social media accounts even pointed out that it looked a lot like the new Leaf (before hastily taking the posts down), while, more concerningly, Ferrari's stock price took a major hit.

Now that the dust has settled, one aftermarket tuner based in the United Arab Emirates has taken the time to painstakingly render what it feels the Luce could look like after being fitted with an aggressive carbon splitter, a fixed rear wing, and an enormous diffuser.

All of these elements are often found on Ferrari’s high-performance track cars, and Venuum claims that “within just a few hours we created a much bolder and more radical vision for this Ferrari”.

The results certainly look more purposeful, but Venuum has also somehow made it look like a Nissan GT-R that has been tweaked in Need for Speed.

There’s no word on whether the tuning firm plans to eventually create a body kit for the Luce. At the same time, Ferrari has a fearsome reputation for coming down hard on customers who dare mod, tune, or mess with the Italian firm’s coveted designs, so maybe it's best left as a bit of fun.

Analysis: the design is off

Venuum isn’t the only outfit to start tweaking Ferrari’s divisive designs, as many visual artists have taken to social media to show off their interpretations, often resulting in a much lower, longer, and more aggressive Luce.

But therein lies the problem with Ferrari’s first foray into pure EV, as the Luce’s dimensions are simply too dumpy, too aerodynamically informed and, dare we say it, too homogenous ever to be held in the same regard as something like the 458, the F50 and even the Purosangue, which at least wears its SUV styling with pride.

Ferrari’s current boss, Benedetto Vigna, has defended the decision to opt for something wildly different, telling Reuters that there is "strong interest, including from new clients.”

"We’ve already received bank transfers, clients who were there want it," he added.

However, the Italian marque’s outgoing CEO said that the EV risked “destroying a legend” during one particularly fiery outburst, adding that the company could “at least remove the prancing horse”. Ouch.

There is much uncertainty surrounding the future of Porsche’s electrified program, as the company has already delayed the release of its EV-only Boxster and Cayman sports cars, while also scaling back its in-house battery development team and even axing its eBike project.

The bottom line is, this world famous manufacturer of almost unbeatable sports cars is struggling to sell its line-up of high-performance EVs in the sort of numbers that are expected by those at the very top of the business.

It feels unjust, especially given that its ground-breaking Taycan remains one of the best electric sports cars money can buy, while the latest Macan Electric arguably sits at the top of the performance SUV leaderboard.

That’s because Porsche has managed to take what makes its combustion cars great (unrivaled handling, fantastic suspension, crazy performance, cutting-edge technology) and package it for the electric era.

The third and most recent vehicle in its EV line-up just so happens to be its second global bestseller, just after the Macan, so now comes with a dizzying array of powertrain options, from pure petrol to hybrids and all-electric.

But after piloting the Cayenne Coupe Electric for a few days, Porsche continues to make a very convincing case for ditching the combustion engine.

A performance offensive

Offering monstrous performance figures is one way to make customers sit up and listen, and the latest Cayenne Turbo Electric certainly does that.

With some 1,156hp offered when Launch Control is activated, this monster of an SUV is capable of rocketing from 0-62mph in just 2.5 seconds. It’s the most powerful production Porsche ever and can reach a top speed of 162mph.

Of course, there are more sedate versions available, although even the standard Cayenne Electric delivers 442hp with overboost power and the S Electric offers 666hp. Opt for the V6 petrol-engined Cayenne Coupe and you get a measly 353hp.

All Electric variants ride on Porsche’s excellent adaptive air suspension. The S and Turbo versions, meanwhile, can also be specified with the Porsche Active Ride active suspension system, which automatically adjusts the dampers to eliminate body roll, effectively transforming the vehicle from a sedate and comfortable highway cruiser into something altogether more focussed.

The Cayenne Turbo Coupe Electric model I drove is designed to offer even more sportiness over the standard SUV version, in so much that it shares a broadly similar roofline to that seen on the iconic 911. The highest point of the car is also some 24mm lower than the standard model.

You can argue all day long about which version looks better (I actually prefer the SUV) but it is difficult to deny that it cuts an imposing figure on the road.

Add to this the fact that the swooping roofline is more aerodynamic, aided by very cool jet fighter-style flaps that emerge from the rear at high speed, and the result is an increased range (by up to 11 miles) of 415 miles in total. The Coupe starts to make a solid argument for itself.

The performance, particularly in the Turbo, is otherworldly. In fact, the launch control featured here is among some of the most abusive I have ever experienced.

Granted, many modern EVs deliver aggressive, impress-your-friends acceleration but the Cayenne Turbo seemingly propels its occupants into another dimension when the accelerator is floored.

Devastating dynamism

A 113kWh (108kWh usable) battery pack and two permanent magnet synchronous motors aren’t exactly the last word in lightness and, as a result, the Cayenne Electric Turbo weighs in at around two and a half tonnes.

That’s a huge amount of weight to control when the driver decides to tackle a favored backroad like a race track, but Porsche has somehow managed the otherwise impossible. This immediately feels like a true Porsche product when behind the wheel.

The steering is perfectly weighted, even at slower speeds, but rotate a dial on the steering wheel and the Cayenne Turbo scrolls through one of its many sporting modes. Sports Plus allows access to the full 857hp, while a push-to-pass button unlocks the headline 1,156hp figures.

Naturally, it’s ridiculously capable of rapid overtake maneuvers, with the myriad systems keeping all four wheels in check to ensure they don’t merely spin up at each dab of the throttle.

Body control is excellent through tighter corners and the addition of an optional rear-axle-steering system, which turns the rear up to five-degrees, effectively shrinks the massive Cayenne and makes it much easier to not only thread through tighter corners, but also pilot around busy city streets.

The weather was absolutely abysmal during my test drive, making the Bavarian mountain passes feel even more intimidating than usual, but the Cayenne Electric did a fantastic job of taking the sweaty-palmed work out of driving fast.

It doesn’t feel quite as lithe and nimble as the smaller Macan model, but it’s still wildly impressive how such a large car can carve through curves and attack apexes like something half of its size.

Plus, it is worth noting that this is a car that offers up to 1,347 liters of stowage space (plus extra in the ‘frunk’) and the ability to tow up to 3.5 tonnes.

If customers want to take their madcap coupe/crossover off-road, Porsche will also sell a dedicated off-road package that toughens up the exterior for tackling rough terrain.

Life at the cutting edge

While Porsche might be best known for its dominating performance on track, it’s also emerged as a recent leader in both infotainment and EV technology.

The Cayenne Electric (including the Coupe version) charges fast, compatible with up to 390kW DC outlets, enabling 10-80 per cent top-ups in as little as 16 minutes.

It also happens to be the first model to introduce wireless induction charging as a proper optional extra, allowing customers to drive over a charging pad and enjoy speeds of up to 11kW — something that hasn’t been done by any other manufacturer yet.

I tried this technology at a prototype workshop and was impressed, but it makes even more sense when placed in a more realistic setting.

Placed on a gravel driveway, with all of the cables buried beneath the surface, Porsche’s wireless charging pad looks compact, neat and proves ridiculously easy to use. Simply drive up, align some graphics on the infotainment system and charging begins. No more cable mess on your jeans during the depths of winter.

Cayenne is also the first to bring Porsche’s central Flow Display to market, which sees a beautifully curved piece of glass take pride of place in the center of the dash, This is flanked by a further two screens (if the passenger screen is optioned), resulting in a staggering 40-inches of touchable display.

It is a lot and feels like a massive departure for Porsche, but its operating system is undoubtedly one of the fastest currently on sale. The navigation can process enormous, complicated road trips in seconds, including all of the best places to stop and charge, while its voice assistant is quick and clever.

The slightly curved display is a lovely thing to behold, but it can make it slightly fiddly to reach menus that are located in that area. Although I largely found the remainder of the system very easy to navigate and intuitive to use.

Perhaps one of the biggest bugbears (and very un-Porsche things) is the inability to adjust the direction of the air vents with tactile manual levers. This now has to be done via the infotainment system… like a Tesla.

But at least Porsche offers surface heating, which essentially warms up pretty much every piece of the interior you can touch, including the central arm rests and door cards, so you can sink into a cosy palace when the cold bites.

All of this, deposited inside a vehicle that is capable of hypercar levels of performance is mind-bendingly satisfying. This is made even more impressive when you think it isn’t emitting anything from the tailpipes.

Sure, it may have lost some drama of a snarling V8, but the Cayenne Electric more than makes up for it with face-altering acceleration and the ability to round corners as if its suspension system is engineered by witchcraft.

So what’s the crux? Well, it’s always going to be price, as even the most basic versions of the Coupe Electric cost £86,200 in the UK (around $115,790 / AU$162,010). This is before you add Porsche’s ability to empty bank accounts with an entire catalogue of enticing optional extras.

What’s more, Porsche is battling with poor EV residual values like so many of its rivals, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and more.

That’s a shame, because the Cayenne Electric (in whichever body style you choose) feels like a serious amount of car for the money.

• Ferrari has unveiled the Luce, its first electric car
• It's partly designed by ex-Apple design guru Jony Ive
• The design has received mixed reactions online

We got our first look at the cockpit of the Ferrari Luce back in February, and now the entirety of Ferrari's much anticipated, first electric vehicle has been revealed — accompanied by rather a mixed reaction from drivers.

As Motor1 reports, the car was partly designed by LoveFrom, the luxury design company headed up by Jony Ive of iPhone and iPad fame. It packs in four electric motors and up to 1,050 horsepower, and retails for €550,000 and up (about $640,000 / £475,000 / AU$895,000) — but it's the design that's attracted the most attention.

One commenter on Reddit has described the car as "giving Waymo" vibes, while another says the design is "somehow worse than I could ever have imagined". Another comment sums up the general reaction that we've seen online: "Ferrari have absolutely and completely lost their minds."

The reaction from the rest of the industry hasn't been all that positive either. It comes across as a "mix between a Honda Accord EV and Tesla 3" according to analyst Pierre-Olivier Essig from AIR Capital, Bloomberg reports. "We are lost in translation with Ferrari’s new strategy."

It's fair to say the aesthetics of the Luce haven't met with universal approval, but Ferrari knows it doesn't necessarily have to appeal to the masses on Reddit. The manufacturer sells less than 14,000 cars per year, and as long as there are enough people taken with the charms of this new model, it will do just fine.

'Multi-touch shouldn't be in a car'

In an interview with Cleo Abram, Jony Ive and Ferrari Chief Designer Flavio Manzoni have gone into more detail about the thinking behind the design of the Luce. In particular, Ive talks about moving away from the multi-touch design of the Apple products he designed, which can be seen on large car dashboards from the likes of Tesla.

"Multi-touch shouldn't be in a car, I believe," says Ive, while also saying it's a "fabulous technology" that suits the user interfaces of phones and tablets. "If you're having to do basic things, it requires of course by definition that you're not looking where you're going, and you're looking at a display."

There is a central touchscreen in the Luce, but it's reasonably compact in terms of its size, and only requires single taps — guided by a handrail along the bottom. There are also plenty of dials and switches throughout the cockpit for more direct, tactile control of the car, with some clever lighting effects attached.

This is a vehicle that can get up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour in 2.5 seconds, with a top speed of more than 310 kilometers (193 miles) per hour. The range on a single charge is quoted as being 530 kilometers (329 miles). For those drivers who are taken with the looks and specs, initial orders are now open.

"The obvious thing or certainly the easy, lazy thing to do would be to mimic what people are familiar with," Ive adds. It's certainly a divisive, bold design — which has had plenty of jibes aimed at it — but let us know what you think in the comments below.

Kia teased its tiny EV2 in Seoul years ago, back when the company was keen to announce that it was soon to sell an entire line-up of cutting-edge electric vehicles.

Depending on where you live in the world, a production version of the sporty crossover EV6 came first, swiftly followed by the gargantuan EV9 and its smaller sibling in the EV5, with the compact and decidedly Transformer-esque EV3 quickly scampering after them.

We’ve had to wait the longest for the smallest (well, until an EV1 potentially arrives), but it has been worth it, as the diminutive urban runaround also happens to be the most affordable entry into this ever-expanding world of electrically-powered vehicles.

Measuring just over 4 meters long (that’s around 13ft 3in for our North American readers), it measures up against cars like the excellent Renault 5, the VW ID Polo, the Cupra Raval and the upcoming Skoda Epiq in Europe.

As you can see, it’s a hotly-contested market, compounded by fact that the EV2 range starts at £26,995 in the UK for the First Edition with the smaller 42.2kWh battery.

This is around $36,000/AUS$51,000 and makes it marginally more expensive than the rival Renault 5 in the UK and Europe.

However, Kia UK believes that most buyers will opt for the marginally more expensive entry-level Air model with the 61kWh battery. It does without some of the technological bells and whistles, but sees the WLTP range tickle the 280-mile mark, which isn’t bad for a car in this category.

Let’s talk tech

First things first, it is worth noting the amount of technology that comes crammed into the Kia EV2. Forget B-segment compact cars, this thing offers the sort of infotainment and driving assistance systems found in much larger, more expensive machines.

The latest triple-screen connected car Navigation Cockpit (or ccNC if you like abbreviations) sees a 12.3-inch driver cluster joined by a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and 5.3-inch climate control screen.

It’s all very slick and shiny, and it’s super responsive to touch, if a little slow to start up. It also isn’t quite as intuitive as Android Automotive-based platforms, purely because on those, Google Maps takes the heavy lifting out of navigation and delivers live EV charging information that’s becoming more reliable by the day.

To keep costs down, Kia will also offer a ccNC Lite version of its infotainment array, which does away with built-in navigation and some of the flashier apps in favor of saving some cash. You can always just plug in a smartphone and use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay instead, of course.

On top of this, there are a bunch of genuinely useful advanced driver assistance systems that are typically found in the segment above.

These include Kia’s Highway Driver Assist 2, which includes things like lane keep assist, as well as Front Collision Avoidance Assist 2, Smart Cruise Control 2, Remote Smart Parking Assist Entry, Blind-spot View Monitor and Surround View Monitor for a 360-degree view when parking.

Of course, there's lots of binging and bonging safety tech, but you can easily map a shortcut key on the steering wheel to jump to a simple screen to turn these all off.

In general, the EV2's interior ambience looks, feels and entertains a lot like the larger Kia EV5 inside, as well as the palatial EV9… if you squint a little.

It just gets on with it

There’s very little in the way of dynamism here. Even with 144bhp available in the ‘First Edition’ model I drove, it still took almost nine seconds to get to 62mph from rest. It’s slightly longer if you opt for the larger battery pack.

That said, the EV2 is still perfectly good at squirting from a standstill to 20 or 30mph quickly enough, which is really all you need when navigating busy urban environments.

There’s also not much in the way of steering feedback and the handling is perfectly fine... but not exactly playful like the current Renault 5 or the more expensive Cupra Raval, not to mention the way many small, petrol-powered B-segment cars of yore used to be.

Kia throws in a Sport mode that, aside from making the accelerator pedal a little more sensitive, doesn’t really do very much else. Perhaps the Korean marque is readying a hot GT version with simulated gear changes and a focus on driving dynamics. Here's to hoping.

Despite a lack of sportiness, the ride is rather excellent, wafting over bumps and soaking up potholes with aplomb, It’s all just, well, nice and easy to live with.

Both the ride and cabin ambience are fantastic at highway speeds, which is difficult to say of many compact cars, and the Long Range version will happily go the distance between charges, meaning this suddenly becomes a compact car proposition that can break away from the urban environment.

There’s a 400V electrical architecture, which rules out the fastest charging outlets, but it’s still good for a 10-80% charge in just under 30 minutes when plugged into a 150kW charger.

This puts it on a par with not just cars in its same diminutive category but even larger SUVs and saloons.

Big car energy

Admittedly, the styling is divisive and Kia's current design launguage feels very sharp and angular in an attempt to feel fresh and modern.

The concept EV2 felt cuter and also packed a number of very cool interior features that haven't made it over to the production model, including a removable Bluetooth speaker and a more lounge-like rear bench, complete with luxurious fabrics.

In their place are a couple of emojis stamped into the door sills and a greeting of "Have a Nice Day" embossed behind the door levers.

But where the boxy Kia EV2 excels is in its ability to offer bags of interior roominess and an impressive amount of stowage space in such a small car.

Unfortunately, the rear bench doesn't slide back and forth like that in the tiny Renault Twingo or Hyundai's diminutive Inster, but it does fold to increase versatility, should you want to post longer items through the trunk.

In addition to this very sensible practicality, it feels like a properly grown up proposition when longer journeys are required. There's an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system in the flashiest EV2s and enough onboard apps to keep occupants entertained for hours.

As previously mentioned, the compact B-segment is becoming increasingly competitive when it comes to excellent EVs, but Kia’s smallest car to date proves itself to be a true frontrunner.

It’s marginally more expensive than similarly-sized electric cars from Renault, Volkswagen and even sister company Hyundai (check out the Inster), but it offers a little more premium practicality than all of those models.

As a result, its makes a very strong case for compactness. Almost to the point that the Kia EV3 feels unnecessarily large by comparison.

• A Texas man has been accused of intentionally driving his Tesla into a lake
• Partially submerged vehicle was removed by a rescue team
• Cybertruck has a max wade depth of just 81.5cm (32in)

A Tesla driver has been arrested in Texas after “intentionally” piloting his Cybertruck into a lake in order to test the Wade Mode feature, police say.

The divisive, angular electric vehicle, which was launched in 2019 alongside claims of it being partially bulletproof and able to tackle the toughest terrain, features an official maximum wading depth of 81.5cm (32in), according to Tesla's online manual.

But one hapless owner quickly found the limits of Tesla’s technology after deliberately entering Grapevine Lake in north Texas this week, according to police. Rescue services said they found the vehicle abandoned by the driver and passengers after it took on water and became stuck.

Subsequently, the driver was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle in a closed section of the lake and for other water safety equipment violations, police said according to the BBC.

Both the police and the Grapevine Fire Department Water Rescue Team were called to remove the Cybertruck from the shoreline.

Police said in a statement that "although a vehicle may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so can create legal and safety concerns under Texas law".

Analysis: A questionable off-roader?

Ever since its launch, numerous websites and social media channels have been testing the claimed robustness of Tesla’s Cybertruck, with mixed results.

WhistlinDiesel’s brutal YouTube video caused a stir when it went live a year ago, showing important parts of the Cybertruck seemingly physically coming away from the frame when subjected to numerous abusive tests.

Similarly, MotorTrend’s detailed off-road analysis concluded that Cybertruck has the makings of greatness but doesn’t really deliver the important stuff.

Its reporters claimed that visibility was poor, the range was zapped during off-road driving and the lack of a spare tire was ‘amateur hour’.

Customers are also finding myriad reliability issues with their trucks, including but not limited to alleged rusting panels, flyaway wheel covers, tonneau cover leaks and, perhaps more worrying still, wheels that could fall off.

With regards to Wade Mode, Tesla states on its website that it is the driver's responsibility "to gauge the depth of any body of water before entering", adding that "damage or water ingress to Cybertruck as a result of driving in water is not covered by the warranty".

But with all of the bold claims before, during and after the Cybertruck's launch, it is no wonder customers place faith in the EV's abilities.

• Huawei demonstrated the technology at the recent Beijing Auto Show
• XPixel platform is said to be the first car headlight system to project full color
• Open-air cinema and mobile gaming could soon be a reality

Huawei is set to release the world’s first automotive headlight system that is capable of full-color projection.

Although the Chinese tech company has been shipping its monochrome XPixel high-resolution, pixel-controlled LED headlight platform for many years, it has now developed the technology to add full RGB output that’s capable of throwing a 100-inch image onto any nearby wall or surface.

During demonstrations at the recent Beijing Auto show, New Atlas reports that Huawei showcased the ability to beam ‘open-air’ movies onto a wall, interactive gaming graphics onto the floor and even turn-by-turn navigation cues thrown onto the road surface ahead.

While it might seem like a gimmick, Huawei is keen to point out that the headlights can also shift color temperature in rain or fog to improve light penetration and visibility, as well as intelligently adapting to both the curvature of the road and to avoid blinding oncoming motorists.

There hasn’t been any word on price, but Huawei says that a production version of the XPixel lighting system will debut on a refreshed version of the Aito M9 SUV, which has been co-developed with the tech company and is predominantly sold through Huawei's HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) throughout China.

Analysis: lighting the way to legal issues

Huawei’s XPixel demonstration is deeply impressive, but it’s also likely to present a difficult case for local legislation.

Intelligent laser headlights and matrix LEDs have faced fierce restrictions in the US, while regulators in the Europe and the UK are currently scrutinizing advanced headlight technology, assessing whether or not it could cause distraction and ‘blinding’ LED glare.

China typically has a much more fluid approach to legislating this sort of thing and, as a result, will likely be the first to witness headlights that can also double-up as a mobile movie theatre.

But there are also big questions over price and how much a headlamp unit would cost to repair if it gets damaged or to replace if it were to be targeted and stolen by thieves — an issue that has been causing distress to luxury vehicle owners in London and other major cities.

• Chinese EV makers are looking for manufacturing facilities in Europe
• Plans involve buying up or hiring idle plants
• Experts warn of the long-term consequences

A number of China’s largest carmakers are on the hunt for manufacturing capacity, as they plan to make use of idle plants and team up with legacy automakers in order to bring cars to market faster.

This week, Leapmotor has announced that it will start manufacturing its vehicles in Europe thanks to a partnership it formed with the Stellantis Group.

The automotive giant that owns Jeep, Fiat, and many more took a 21% stake in Leapmotor in 2023, but now the Chinese company will help co-develop new models under the Opel brand and produce multiple Leapmotor models at the Stellantis plant in Villaverde, Madrid.

BYD, which was the fastest-growing major automaker and the biggest EV seller in Europe last year, is also tipped to be in talks with Stellantis and other carmakers about taking over their EU plants as part of its international expansion drive, Bloomberg News reported.

Despite building its own plant in Hungary's Szeged, which is due to open in 2027, BYD is also reportedly looking to snap up manufacturing capability from struggling legacy brands in Europe, with Stella Li, BYD's vice president in charge of international operations, citing the fact that Stellantis' Maserati luxury brand was “very interesting”.

In addition, Xpeng is reported to be in talks with German carmaker Volkswagen and other carmakers about purchasing a factory in Europe, which would help it bring its line-up of Tesla-rivaling EVs to European customers more quickly.

According to Business Day, Ellis Cheng, Xpeng’s managing director for northeastern Europe, told the Financial Times’ Future of the Car summit that not all Europeans factories can “satisfy the requirements of its latest or future product requirements”, adding that Volkswagen’s plants were a “bit old”.

Analysis: short term gain for long term pain

Many legacy automakers are keen to forge partnerships with Chinese EV brands, seeing as they clearly have the lead on battery technology and software, and can produce vehicles at extremely low cost using the latest manufacturing advances.

What’s more, the slow-burning demand for many Western electric vehicles has left manufacturers exposed, with some plants, of which many have been re-tooled and refreshed at great expense, currently operating at a fraction of their capacity.

“In the short-term, European carmakers need to optimize their factories and Chinese automakers want to enter the market, so it makes sense. But I do worry about what that actually means long-term,” Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and e-mobility supply chains at the campaign group Transport and Environment, told CNBC.

“Once they help the Chinese brands get that brand awareness and once people get the car and see that it’s not such a bad car, I think it can be a point of no return,” Poliscanova added.

While a partnership presents an opportunity to co-develop cars and share technologies, there is also a real risk that European automakers lose their identity and lag even further behind if the burgeoning Chinese brands gain a greater foothold in their domestic markets.

• Cox Automotive warns that long-term future of EVs is under threat
• A culture of 'replace rather than repair' could be damaging residual values
• As a result, older EVs will struggle to stay on the road

The notion of a vehicle clocking up the mystical 500,000-mile figure could potentially die with the internal combustion engine, as experts warn that the current manufacturer focus on recyclability rather than repairability in modern EVs is threatening the long-term future of the technology itself.

Speaking at the FT Future of the Car Summit in London, Cox Automotive’s European director of operations for EV battery solutions, Antonia Stephenson, said that it is important that manufacturers design batteries "with repair in mind", adding that it was important to "keep them in the vehicle and then into the energy storage industry beyond that," according to Auto Express.

Stephenson pointed out that the EV industry is currently focused on range, as manufacturers attempt to convince buyers to move away from petrol and diesel by offering models that offer similar mileage to their fossil-fuel-burning counterparts between stops.

As a result, Stephenson claims that "design has moved in the way of less repairable batteries" and that current legislation is built around recycling, rather than incentivizing manufacturers to make battery packs easy to repair.

The result of relying on replacing damaged or worn-out battery packs, rather than opting for cheaper repairs, could be very challenging for the residual values of used vehicles.

"Brand reputation is very important, and with so much choice now, people are going to be thinking about repairability in the future," she added.

Analysis: a lack of repairability plagues the tech industry

As we have seen with laptops, tablets, and smartphones, much of the consumer tech world is racing headlong into an era of irreparability, with most products now making it almost impossible to repair or replace individual parts.

Now, more than ever, EVs are being compared to the same pieces of consumer tech — essentially oversized computers on wheels.

While they may host AI-powered voice assistants and could one day be able to drive themselves, they also suffer from similar consumer confidence issues, with many buyers worried what their vehicles will be worth in, say, ten years' time… or if any of the onboard tech will still work.

But buying a new vehicle is often cited as the second-largest purchase an individual will make, after buying a house or flat, which means secondhand or residual value is extremely important.

As Antonia Stephenson points out: "If we keep throwing things away and not repairing them once they’re out of warranty, there's a big problem being stored up.

"If a second-hand vehicle doesn't have a warranty, if the battery's only option is to be recycled and a new one purchased, it’s not as cost-effective as people would expect from a second-hand vehicle."

This very issue is creating a large swathe of EV skeptics, keen to hold on to their internal combustion engines because they know parts can easily be sourced and replaced when they wear out.

Battery packs are one of the most expensive parts of a modern electric vehicle, and it feels completely backward and ridiculously energy-intensive to recycle and replace, rather than be able to easily replace damaged cells.

• Nio says it has performed more than 100 million battery swaps since 2018
• The technology is hailed for its ease and speed
• Slower on-site charging also reduces the strain on the grid

The history of EV battery swap technology is as long and as complicated as the electric vehicle itself, with numerous manufacturers attempting to create networks that would allow owners to drive in and have a fresh battery inserted in minutes.

Renault worked alongside the Better Place network with its early Fluence Z.E. model back in 2011 to push battery swap technology, and even Tesla had a stab at it, finally scrapping the idea due to a lack of interest.

But Chinese manufacturer Nio has continued to push forward with battery swapping technology, stating that during China's recent May Day travel rush, its Power Swap business completed over 1 million battery swaps in a single week, according to Inside EVs.

Nio’s all-electric sub-brand Onvo currently operates 2,491 stations across China but is targeting more than 3,300 by the end of the year. This is in addition to Nio’s own 3,843 Power Swap stations.

Nio said that on its busiest day, May 1, the company swapped out 170,585 batteries across its entire network. On average, each site swaps out around 40 batteries a day, slowly recharging the spent cells and replacing them in a different vehicle once fully charged.

From May 1 until May 5, Nio says it provided 15.4 gigawatt-hours of energy, which it claims was around 16.3% of all energy delivered to EVs in China over the same period, according to Inside EVs.

Analysis: a standardized system is needed

There are so many benefits of battery swapping technology, with the most obvious being speed. It takes around three minutes to swap a battery pack, while even the fastest chargers on the planet still take around ten minutes.

For most, the public EV charging experience takes at least 20 minutes, if not 45 or more.

Another plus point is that the spent battery cells are charged at a much slower rate on-site, meaning there is far less demand on local grids than an entire bank of ultra-fast-charging outlets delivering 1.5MW of power to multiple cars.

That said, battery swap technology is also very expensive, with a huge investment required from a manufacturer or provider to not only build the sites, but also ensure there are enough battery packs available to service an entire fleet.

This is why Nio's Power Swap technology is limited outside of China, with a handful of stations operating in Europe. Although the number is steadily increasing.

On top of this, there is a distinct lack of standardization in the automotive battery industry, meaning Nio’s battery swap tech only works with Nio or its Onvo models.

However, the Chinese marque has been working with the country’s leading battery supplier, CATL, to both standardize and deploy battery-swapping technology that could see it open to rival manufacturers, such as Chery and Geely.

This is likely to make Chinese car design even more homogeneous, as vehicles will have to be built around the battery-swapping hardware, but it is a great way to make EV charging more convenient and lower the cost of EV ownership.

In most cases, customers simply lease the battery pack (one of the most expensive parts of an EV) on a monthly basis, which means manufacturers can lower the sticker price and encourage budget-savvy consumers to make the switch.

• Google is giving Android Auto its biggest redesign yet
• Widgets, immersive 3D Google Maps navigation, and video are all coming
• Gemini AI is becoming deeply integrated into Android Auto and Google built-in cars

Google has announced major upgrades to its Android Auto product, with the company stating that the next generation of the software features a “stunning new experience, premium entertainment, and a more helpful Gemini”.

On top of this, Google has been working alongside most of the major automotive manufacturers to improve the proposition on the more than 100 models from 16 brands that feature an infotainment system that runs the Android Automotive operating system.

The most obvious upgrade is the redesign itself. Android Auto is adopting Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language, bringing slicker animations, bolder typography, and more personalization options to the dashboard.

Widgets are also arriving, allowing drivers to pin key information directly onto the home screen. Think weather updates, most-used contacts, and even smart-home shortcuts like garage door controls.

But the biggest visual leap is Google Maps’ new “Immersive Navigation” mode. Google describes it as the biggest Maps upgrade in over a decade, adding slick and detailed 3D visuals for roads, buildings, and terrain, alongside enhanced lane guidance, traffic light indicators, and stop sign overlays.

For drivers using increasingly massive infotainment displays — especially in modern EVs — this could make navigation dramatically clearer and more intuitive.

Dolby Atmos comes to the dashboard

After a long wait, video playback is finally coming to Android Auto, which allows parked motorists to stream apps like YouTube in full HD at 60fps directly on compatible car screens.

Supported brands at launch include BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Skoda, and Volvo.

Crucially, Google says playback won’t simply cut off once you start driving. Instead, supported apps, such as Spotify and other Pod-catchers, can transition from video into audio-only mode, ideal for podcasts and long-form YouTube content.

Audio is also getting an upgrade, with Dolby Atmos spatial sound support arriving in compatible vehicles and apps.

Combined with the increasingly impressive speaker systems in premium EVs and luxury vehicles, this could turn charging stops into genuine cinema-style experiences.

Gemini gets a big boost

Gemini is already rolling out more widely across Android Auto, but later this year, users with Gemini Intelligence-enabled phones will get deeper contextual features.

The idea is to make your car assistant proactive rather than reactive.

Google’s example includes Gemini automatically understanding a friend’s text asking for an address, finding the relevant information in your emails, messages, or calendar, then suggesting a one-tap reply.

The system will even handle food orders while driving. Google demonstrated users asking Gemini to reorder meals through DoorDash, with pickup ready by arrival.

What’s more, those vehicles with Google built in will enjoy deeper integration between Gemini and the vehicle itself, with the AI assistant able to access vehicle information.

Ultimately, it means you can ask Gemini questions about the car, such as what a warning light might mean or, as Google demonstrated, whether something will fit in the trunk.

Google Maps will also be able to tap into the vehicle’s front-facing cameras (if it has them), so it has a better understanding of lane position and can then give the appropriate guidance in real-time.

The software giant hasn't given a specific date for these upgrades to arrive, simply stating that they will be coming to your car "throughout the year".

At the launch of the Euro-focused Xpeng G6 in a storm-battered Portugal, representatives of the brand were on hand and keen to press journalists and influencers for their thoughts on the car that the company hoped would steal the Tesla Model Y’s thunder in Europe.

In a situation like this, it’s common to default to short but sweet answers, keeping them relatively generic so as not to offend anyone and saving the really juicy stuff for the resulting article. But that’s not what Xpeng wanted to hear.

Its crew of engineers wanted real talk on the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), the ride comfort, the quality of the interior and the capabilities of its myriad advanced safety systems —they wanted the good, the bad and the ugly.

Fast-forward less than a year and it becomes clear as to why our small group was quizzed for such answers, as a revised model landed in the UK sporting no fewer than 20,000 incremental developments, fresh battery chemistry, faster charging times and improved performance.

Not wanting to be left behind by Tesla’s recent “Highland” refresh, even the interior underwent some relatively seismic changes to improve the overall ambience, making it feel like a more premium proposition… a bit like Tesla did.

Where legacy automakers typically adhere to a seven-year lifecycle, where models might receive an update or facelift three or four years after the vehicle first enters mass production, Chinese manufacturers seemingly play by a different set of rules.

The updated Xpeng G6 is real proof of China's speed and real proof that the company wants to be more than a ‘Temu Tesla’. It wants to usurp it.

Fresh styling

The model that Xpeng is pushing in the UK and the one I recently drove is the All-Wheel-Drive Performance Black Edition that, quite predictably, mixes potent dual motors with sporty touches that help it keep up with those performance-orientated models from another well-known EV brand.

In fact, the 480bhp produced by the system is capable of propelling the shapely SUV from 0-62mph in a shade over four seconds, which would see it just about hold its own against a Model Y Performance.

You also get striking 20-inch alloy wheels, a smoked black exterior trim and a more subdued grey-tone interior that is upholstered in a soft touch suede for a more premium and performance-orientated ambience.

For an outfit that wants to be known as “a tech company that also makes cars,” it comes as no surprise that this updated version also comes with a full-width light-bar… although this time it’s at the front, as opposed to Tesla’s rear.

The refresh makes the vehicle look more futuristic and tech-focused, but it also feels very generic.

It’s not offensive in any way, but it's a shame Xpeng didn’t carve out its own distinct design direction when it entered Europe.

With European brands such as Renault, Mini and Peugeot all pushing for unique styling that often nod to the past, the Xpeng feels very much like an appliance.

Changes under the skin

As previously mentioned, Xpeng says it has employed some 20,000 ‘intelligent refinements’ over its predecessor, with things like chassis and suspension tuning tweaked to better handle the UK’s rutted roads, improved sound deadening and more predictable powertrain behavior.

In essence, much of the feedback from the initial European car launch likely surrounded the way it drove and handled, with Xpeng subsequently tweaking things to address this.

As a result, the accelerator now pedal feels more predictable and allows for better modulation, while the suspension set-up feels a little firmer for improved body control through corners.

There’s still a distinct lack of feeling through the steering wheel and firming it up through the central touchscreen still makes it feel overly heavy, but the overall ambience in the cockpit is improved thanks to the work on noise, vibration and harshness, particularly at highway speeds.

The cabin has undergone some of the most sizable changes, with the dashboard and pillars now trimmed in more premium feeling leather-effect material, an ‘optimized’ steering wheel design (although I couldn’t tell the difference) and ambient lighting throughout the cabin.

Occupants in the rear still get masses of head and leg room, while the huge amount of glass makes the cabin feel airy and spacious... like a Tesla.

Those sitting in the front are also treated to swanky new seats that feature heating, ventilation and massaging functionality. Apologies if the parallels with a certain Californian EV company are getting boring, but yes, this is exactly what happened with the recent Model 3 and Model Y.

Smoother technology

The previous generation G6 impressed me with its battery technology, offering 354-miles of range from the larger battery pack and an 800V architecture that facilitates the sort of ultra-rapid charging that Tesla is yet to roll out.

That said, Xpeng has gone with a new 80.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery in the update, eliminating the need for precious metals such as cobalt, nickel and manganese, it claims.

As a result, range is down to 316-miles in the AWD Performance model on the official WLTP cycle, while RWD Long Range variants get a max range of 326-miles, which generally feel like more realistic numbers anyway.

This new chemistry does allow for a peak charging power of 451kW, seeing off 10-80% top-ups in as little as 12 minutes from the appropriate outlets.

That’s up there with some of the fastest charging cars currently on sale in Europe, marking it out as a clear leader in its segment.

The Xmart operating system has also received an upgrade, with a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset improving the speed and responsiveness of the infotainment system.

New features, same problems

While the improvements in cabin quality and a reduction in charging times are both welcome, many of the other updates have had very little impact on the way the G6 drives or feels like to live with everyday.

It remains massively roomy, nicely airy inside and very easy to hop in and drive, but it does very little else beyond that.

There’s absolutely no emotion here, very little driver engagement and the added performance of the, erm, Performance edition is a waste of money, unless you really enjoy going very fast in a straight line.

Sure, the infotainment might be slicker to operate, but it also remains deeply frustrating to use at times, with simple functionality buried within submenus. Despite driving the original, I still couldn’t fathom how to change the angle of the door mirrors.

Asking the “Hey Xpeng”voice assistant didn’t help much either, as it didn’t understand the term ‘wing mirror’, so I had to use several variations of this phrase until it took me to the correct menu.

It is a similar story with the numerous autonomous driving and parking features that, on the whole, work fine but certainly not seamlessly. The Xpilot Driving aggressively tries to keep the car in a lane when activated, leading to a ‘jerky’ feeling when traveling along the highway at speed.

Similarly, the autonomous parking typically picks out a space quickly, but then lacks the speed or finesse to execute the maneuver with confidence. So I stopped using it.

This latest iteration is tangibly better than its short-lived predecessor, but it also possesses a lot of the same problems. With no real character of its own, it just looks like a cut-price Tesla, without the added bonus of that marque’s extensive Supercharger network.

Again, it’s perfectly fine if you want to boycott Elon, or simply save some cash, but this is yet another Chinese EV that feels remarkably generic.

• Californian start-up wants to slash the cost of haulage
• The Humble Hauler promises Level 4 autonomous driving
• Motorized trailer set-up can be configured in multiple ways

If you need visual proof that we are hurtling headlong into a Philip K Dick future, just take a quick look at the Humble Hauler from Californian start-up Humble Robotics.

This prototype is a highly autonomous concept that hopes to replace drivers with a blunt, cab-less design and serious computing power — all so the company can slash costs and improve efficiencies in the freight industry.

According to Humble, this is a first of its kind in so much as it is a “hauler that reasons like a human”, while the streamlined “load execution” means it can act as a tractor, trailer, and driver… all in one.

Essentially a motorized electric trailer on wheels, the futuristic robot can fit both international and domestic containers in its load area.

It is also capable of DC fast-charging for efficient operation and can manage a maximum 200-mile range on a single charge.

A quick scan of the very flashy website reveals that the concept can be configured to handle a variety of cargo, with a six-wheeled concrete mixer sitting side-by-side with an eight-wheeled freight hauler.

Analysis: no humans required

According to Inside EVs, the first prototype is predominantly designed to work in and around warehouses, railways, and seaports, but its 55-mph top speed and Level 4 autonomous capabilities could see it hit the highway one day.

Using the popular vision-language-action (VLA) models, a clever use of AI that is also being harnessed by Hyundai’s Motional robotaxi service and more, the Humble Hauler is better equipped to reason in real-world scenarios and make difficult decisions without human intervention.

Humble Robotics’ CEO, Eyal Cohen, has previously held titles at Apple, Uber, and Waabi, helping this start-up raise some $24 million in funding.

“We are making freight sustainable, safe, and efficient in a way no one thought was possible,” Cohen explains, according to Inside EVs.

Although it is still a pilot program for now, the company says it is already working with major logistics and supply chain players, which is likely bad news for anyone hoping for a career in freight and haulage.

• Budget Cybertruck was quickly discontinued due to poor sales
• The NHTSA has detailed a manufacturing defect that could lead to issues
• Tesla is now recalling all 173 Cybertruck RWD models to fix it

Tesla made much fanfare of the Cybertruck RWD trim level, which made its debut around a year ago and was tipped to be a more affordable entry into the marque’s divisive electric pick-up.

Unfortunately, it sold in very limited numbers, perhaps due to the fact that Tesla stripped away most of the best parts of Cybertruck to keep the cost down.

Now, a recent recall highlights just how few the company sold, cementing the fact that many critics feel the model is one of the biggest flops in automotive history.

Thanks to holes in the brake rotors that are prone to cracking due to “road perturbations”, the NHTSA has highlighted that the cracking could eventually lead to the steel 18-inch wheels becoming separated from the rotor itself.

It's not something you want to hear, particularly when the vehicle is advertised as a sturdy and capable off-roader. As a result, Tesla has recalled all 173 Cybertruck RWD models for a fix.

That fix involves new hubs, redesigned rotors, and a higher friction coating on the lug nuts to improve torque retention under heavy loads, according to Motor Trend.

Tesla will make the necessary changes free of charge, and owners have already been notified about the recall.

Analysis: recall reveals shocking low sales

Tesla is rarely one to divulge exact numbers of certain models, with the likes of Cybertruck and the now-defunct Model S and Model X grouped and relegated to the “Other Models” category when reporting sales figures in recent years. That sum also includes early, low-volume versions of the Semi truck.

It means the public never really got a handle on why Tesla revealed the Cybertruck RWD and then promptly dropped it.

But with just 173 sold, it very quickly becomes clear why that decision was made.

• Volvo, Polestar, and GM all recently announced Gemini in cars
• Reddit users have piled in to express their distrust
• Early feedback suggests the system can be slow and clunky

Volvo, Polestar, and General Motors have recently announced that they have begun rolling out Google Gemini to infotainment systems across their collective automotive portfolios, bringing free-flowing conversations and vehicle-specific information into vehicles with Google built in.

Gemini, which is the company’s much-hyped AI assistant, is pitched to go far beyond the typical clunky manufacturer voice assistants that a vast swathe of the driving population has come to despise.

Despite attempts to reduce driver distraction by enabling select voice commands to activate things like the air conditioning or change a radio station, they have often proven frustrating, as multiple commands need to be used, or the software simply gives up and admits it can’t help.

Gemini, on the other hand, is touted to allow for “natural conversation”, according to the tech giant, with the ability to search for the perfect pit stop with free-flowing conversation.

"I need to grab lunch, find some highly rated sit-down restaurants along the way. I'm not in a rush, oh, and I’d like to eat outside,” Google offers as an example, stating that it will pull in reams of data, including reviews, from Google Maps to help make a decision.

Drivers and passengers can then follow up with further simple prompts, or ask Gemini to summarize text messages, flip the radio to something “jazzier,” or reveal EV-specific data, like battery level upon arrival or how long it will take to charge to reach a destination.

However, not all customers are happy with the system, and a quick scan through the Reddit forums unearths a host of issues.

While it’s not a completely accurate source, a number of users have complained of in-car Gemini's ponderous nature, the fact that it doesn’t understand voice prompts, its struggles with third-party app integration, and that it is overly chatty, burying useful information (such as opening and closing times) in reams of useless fluff.

But it is the concerns surrounding driver data that seem to be at the heart of most arguments against Gemini inside the car.

Analysis: GM customers seem particularly skeptical

General Motors has been in the headlines numerous times over its ‘questionable’ infotainment decisions, removing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from all of its cars, choosing instead to lean into its native software so it could build out a system that can access vehicle data, rather than being siloed from it, as are those ‘plug and play’ solutions.

However, several skeptics believe that GM, as well as many other manufacturers, are doing so to take control of driver data, a market that is predicted to be worth between $300 and $800 billion by 2030.

One Reddit user posted: “The real story (and headline) should be: Google is Paying GM Billions for Driver Data”.

Other users state that they don’t trust a company with their “conversations”, seeing as GM and its OnStar service have already been banned from sharing certain consumer data with consumer reporting agencies.

With Stellantis also coming under fire for serving pop-up ads inside vehicles, it is easy to see why distrust is growing over the increasing number of connected technologies appearing in cars.

It's still, though, early days in the in-car LLM-integration space. Like most AI, they'll likely improve rapidly, and the experience people describe above now may be very different in six months. Have you tried Gemini in your car? Tell us about your experience below in the comments.

• BYD and CATL are embroiled in a race to cut charging times
• Fast-charging dominated this year’s Beijing Auto Show
• Charge times as little as 6.5 minutes are currently being touted

This year’s Beijing Auto Show proved the perfect opportunity for China to flex its automotive muscle, with 17 exhibition halls housing more than 1,500 vehicles and advances in the technology that powers them.

In fact, in the two years since the Beijing Auto Show was last held (it alternates with Shanghai), a brand new convention center was built next to the existing exhibition hall — a fitting visual metaphor to China’s rapidily expanding auto industry.

With new cars comes new technology and the event also served as the perfect place to showcase the latest battery and charging technology, with a number of companies vying to drastically reduce EV charge times to under 10 minutes.

Right now, in the Western world, you’re lucky if you can complete a 10-80% charge in 30 minutes or less, but CATL recently showcased its Shenxing 3 EB battery pack that it said can hit 10 to 98 percent in 6.5 minutes.

BYD also has battery technology that can charge from 10 to 97% in just nine minutes, while even second-tier Chinese battery suppliers, including CALB Group, EVE Energy and Sunwoda, all unveiled products capable of boosting power from 10 to 70 per cent in under 10 minutes, according to the South China Morning Post.

Analysis: Everything electric to get a boost

It wasn't just four-wheeled EVs that were given a charging boost at the Beijing Auto Show. Sunwoda also wants to apply its know-how to eBikes, showcasing a battery that charges from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 20 minutes and lasts for at least 2,000 cycles, according to its maker.

This would effectively allow eBike owners to complete even long commutes and then charge up at coffee stops, rather waiting the several hours it typically takes today.

“The time needed to replenish energy is perhaps the final frontier where electric vehicles have yet to fully surpass petrol cars in China,” Li Xianyang (a battery specialist at Sunwoda) told the South China Morning Post. “So everyone has to compete on time.”

Whichever way you cut it, China appears to be light-years ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to offering innovative and rapid EV charging solutions.

Alongside its game-changing megawatt charging outlets, it is also a purveyor of battery swap tech, with domestic carmaker Nio proving that a full swap takes three minute with a live demo at the Beijing Auto Show.

• First unveiled in 2017, the Semi project has faced numerous hurdles
• Now, the Semi truck moves to a high-volume production line
• Electric hauler offers up to 500-miles on a single charge

The official Tesla Semi X account announced that the first electric big rig has rolled off the 1.7-million-square-foot high-volume production line in Nevada this week, as Elon Musk switches up the game plan to focus on the Cybercab, Optimus robot, and battery production.

Despite being first unveiled in 2017, the long-distance electric hauler has faced numerous roadblocks and delays in production, with the company so far producing only a handful of models on a low-volume line, predominantly for testing on US roads.

Tesla will now offer the Semi in two guises: a Standard Range model that manages 325 miles at a fully loaded weight of 82,000 pounds and a Long Range version that is slated for 500 miles of electric motoring.

With an estimated battery size of around 900 kWh in the Long Range versions, the Semi is the first vehicle in the Tesla line-up to be capable of megawatt charging, with the company already installing outlets along key haulage corridors in the US that can deliver up to 1.2mW of power through an MCS 3.2 connector — resulting in charging stops of around 30 minutes.

Tesla is quoting $290,000 for the 500-mile Long Range version and roughly $260,000 for the Standard Range — making it the lowest-priced Class 8 battery-electric tractor on the market, according to Electrek.

It is also particularly efficient, with Tesla estimating it can return 1.7 miles/kilowatt-hour, even when fully laden. What’s more, the Semi program director, Dan Priestley, said in an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage that the batteries are designed to last a million miles.

With mass production already underway, Tesla says it will begin delivering the Semi to its first customers later this year.

Analysis: late to the party but an important player

The Tesla Semi has been in and out of the headlines over the years, partly because it looks so cool and partly because Elon Musk has talked up its ‘sports car’ handling and rapid acceleration.

But in the time it has taken Tesla to reach high-volume production, Volvo has created an entire range of seven electrified heavy-duty trucks, spanning long-distance haulage machines to low-entry models designed for construction work and waste collection in cities.

However, Electrek claims that Tesla’s Semi can travel further than Volvo’s electric trucks, as well as its closest rival in the Freightliner eCascadia, while significantly undercutting both on price.

What’s more, Tesla is doing what it does best and is already investing in the charging infrastructure and ecosystem around the vehicles that are so essential to their success.

Unlike most airplanes or helicopters, I saw the all-electric Joby Air Taxi long before I heard it. It was cruising silently around Governor's Island and past the Brooklyn Bridge in New York as it made its approach to the NYC Downtown Skyport in Lower Manhattan. When it touched down moments later, it made history, completing the first point-to-point EV air taxi demonstration in New York City history.

As someone who's been following the growing eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) industry for almost a decade, this was a watershed moment for me, too. Never, in all that time, had I seen one in flight. Yes, I missed the smaller New York City Joby prototype demonstration in 2023. Still, the truth is, these EV vehicles, which can perform vertical takeoffs before converting into basically airplane mode, have yet to receive the necessary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clearance. And with how slowly bureaucracy moves, I assumed it might be another decade before I'd see one in flight outside of a highly controlled test, airfield.

Yet here I stood under partly cloudy skies with minimal wind, watching the Joby drop down from the sky, its 6 propellers guiding it to a perfect three-point landing.

Easy EV to fly

Pilot Buddy Denham hopped out wearing a snappy, blue Joby's jump suit and greeted me warmly. I asked about how hard it is to fly what looks like a cross between a giant drone and a classic airplane.

The EV, which will fly four passengers and a pilot once certified by the FAA, is "highly augmented fly by wire," explained Denham. This means that while he controls speed and altitude with physical controllers, much of what happens is when he tells the flight control system what he wants, and it carries it out.

Denham should know. Before joining Joby seven years ago, he was with the Navy, where he helped develop a unified control concept for the F-35 fighter jet's hover system, essentially the same system the Joby aircraft uses today.

While Denham described the Joby Air Taxi as "easy to fly," it is a complex air vehicle that does the neat trick of converting back and forth from hovercraft to, basically, aircraft. Denham gestured toward the two most forward of the six propellers and explained how they start facing up to support vertical liftoff and then automatically tip down to face forward to support airplane-like flight.

A turning point for the eVTOL industry

"We're excited that this is going to transform how people move around New York and the world." Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt told me shortly after the flight demonstration.

That transformation is about noise and air pollution. As an all-electric vehicle capable of traveling up to 200mph, the Joby Air Taxi produces zero emissions and, unlike the majority of helicopters flying over and around New York, it is whisper-quiet when in the air. While the noise level rises appreciably as the eVTOL is lifting off or landing, it's by no means ear-piercing. One company representative told me its in-flight "acoustic profile is 100 times lower than a helicopter."

Perhaps nothing drove that point home more forcefully than when Bevirt was speaking to the assembled crowd as a large helicopter inexplicably (or purposely) pulled up to the skyport and hovered in space for a minute, essentially drowning out Bevirt's speech.

Bevirt later told me that this is a pivotal moment for Joby and the industry and believes the day's flight is "a good indication of where we are going."

It's notable, though, that the pilot flew alone and only over water. Without FAA approval, the Joby Air Taxi, which could just as easily land in your backyard as this skyport, cannot fly over land. Joby's efforts, though, were fast-tracked by a recent FAA eIPP (eVTOL Integration Pilot Program).

Triggered by an order from US President Donald Trump, the eIPP helps foster public-private partnerships and made the day's flight, a joint operation between Joby and the New York and New Jersey Port Authority, possibly. Full FAA clearance will still be necessary before you catch a Joby from JFK.

Is it safe?

In the meantime, Joby's latest production prototype is jam-packed with safety features, including multiple redundancies that make it possible to continue flying if one of the six propellers fails. Even inside each propeller is a dual system to prevent failure.

Joby representatives believe they may get FAA clearance to fly as early as next year. If so, customers will use the Joby app to book flights, much like they would an Uber. In fact, Joby and Uber are partners, and the idea is that you could book one trip that includes a Joby flight out of JFK and an Uber to pick you up at the skyport.

There's an undeniable cool factor to vertical liftoff from JFK and touching down at your destination, but from a practical perspective, you have to ask why. What's the benefit of living this George Jetson existence? Why not just take an Uber from JFK to Midtown Manhattan? Joby CEO Bevirt has the obvious answer: "5 minutes instead of an hour," he grinned.

While this day's flight took 10 minutes from point to point, a Joby that's allowed to fly over land will get the job done in as little as five minutes.

That sounds amazing, but one can only imagine the costs will be sky (ahem) high. A Joby spokesperson admitted to me that "initially the price might be a bit higher," but they "want to make this accessible to all." Ultimately, it should cost no more than a comparable Uber Black ride. So figure, if and when this operation gets off the ground, $150 per ride.

With a spacious cabin, four leather seats, and big windows, the Joby EV air Taxi could someday be the perfect New York City sightseeing vehicle, but first, the company has to build its EVs. This production prototype is close to the final EV, but Joby still has to build more — a lot more.

Even here, though, the company is bullish. As a vertically aligned company, it builds the components it needs in Ohio and assembles the EV Air Taxis in California. A Joby spokesperson told me that by 2027, they hope to eventually build four aircraft a month.

When Joby has enough Air Taxis and is certified to fly, its first passenger will be CEO Joben Bevirt. When I asked if the vehicles were safe, he said, "Absolutely," and when I followed with if he would be the first passenger, he quickly added, "I am."

• Tesla launches a Virtual Queue for its Supercharger network
• Tesla App determines eligibility to join a queue
• Currently, the app doesn’t punish queue-jumpers

Tesla has started to roll out a new Virtual Queue system to its onboard charging software, in a bid to ensure the flow of traffic through its increasingly popular Supercharger network is efficient and seamless.

A quick Youtube search throws up a number of videos the appear to show Tesla owners getting into altercations around who has priority on the Supercharger network. Right now, it is up to drivers to self-police.

Having tested a virtual queuing system over the past year, Tesla has started to roll out updates to the Tesla App that attempts to manage some of this traffic. According to Teslarati, a message will pop up on the infotainment system when a driver approaches a Supercharger that is occupied.

“While the app is closed, Tesla uses your location to notify you of accurate wait times at Superchargers when you arrive,” a message within the app now reads.

A further prompt then pop-ups and states: “There is a waitlist to charge. Are you sure you want to start a charging session now?”

This suggests that the driver has to refrain from queue-jumping and then only plug in when the app suggests it is their time to do so.

The app will notify the driver of their position in the queue, as well as how many vehicles are ahead of them, Teslarati reports.

Analysis: Things are only going to get busier

There have been a number of reported incidents at Superchargers, where tensions have boiled over when things get busy.

That said, I’ve only ever experienced very polite Tesla owners that seem to self-regulate when the queues form.

However, this is likely because I have interacted with a large percentage of early adopters, most of which are willing to have a brief chat about their Tesla and part with any insider knowledge they may have.

It feels like Tesla has already sold to most of the early adopters and now the general public is getting in on the action. On top of this, Tesla also opened up its Supercharger network to rival manufacturers, meaning the floodgate of eager EV owners effectively opened.

One Reddit user described their experience as a "complete s*** show" and how they witnessed "multiple screaming arguments after someone jumped the line" after their local Supercharger was opened up to other EV owners.

While Tesla is attempting to get a hold on any potential pain points with its Virtual Queue system, it is still only designed for Tesla owners right now (rival EV makers are locked out of Tesla's closed system), and the app feels like it still requires drivers to self-regulate.

After all, what’s stopping an impatient driver from ignoring the messages that appear on the infotainment display and cutting the line? As EV ownership increases, charging stations are only going to get busier, and this will undoubtedly cause friction for all EV charging network providers.

• Musk makes big admission during latest earnings call
• CEO hints that we might see Roadster in a “month or so”
• Tesla also announces an upgraded AI4 chip

During the company's Q1 earnings call, Tesla’s CEO stated that most of the company’s production “long term” will be the two-seater Cybercab and that anyone thinking of physically taking control of driving duties will have to look towards the long-awaited Roadster model.

“Over time, it’s going to make sense for our whole lineup to be autonomous vehicles of different sizes,” Elon Musk stated. “In fact, long term, the only manually driven car will be the new Tesla Roadster,” he added.

The vehicle in question has been touted for release since 2017, when the company started taking deposits for an all-new two-seat electric sports car.

During that time, Tesla’s CEO has claimed that it will be able to tackle the 0-60mph sprint time in 1.9 seconds and hinted that it would use technology derived from SpaceX to “fly” for short periods of time.

But during this year’s earnings call, Musk pushed back the launch of the Roadster once again, claiming that the company will be able to debut the car in “a month or so”.

“I think it might be one of the most spectacular demos ever,” he said, despite not giving any further details on when we will see it or when it is slated to go into production.

Analysis: The goal posts continue to move

Musk’s vision of a fully-autonomous future is currently causing the company headaches, as a number of Tesla owners have started taking legal action against the company's historic Full Self-Driving claims.

During the recent earnings call, Musk finally admitted that “Hardware 3 simply does not have the capability to achieve unsupervised FSD,” despite previous promises to customers that it would.

He went on to state that the company is exploring the possibility of building “micro factories or small factories” in major metropolitan areas to upgrade older HW3 cars to HW4. Although there were no further details on how this would work.

Yet during the same call, Musk also stated that the AI4 chips are also going to rapidly be replaced by more competent technology.

Seeing as the company’s recently unveiled next-gen AI5 chips won’t be going into vehicles any time soon, instead being funneled into Optimus robots, Tesla is now planning an AI4 Plus upgrade to its self-driving computer that doubles the RAM from 16 gigabytes to 32 gigabytes per chip, taking the total to 64GB, which is in line with the latest automotive processors from Nvidia.

But read between the lines and it appears that while HW4 with the AI4 Plus chip is likely more than enough to continue running Supervised Full Self-Driving, it isn’t powerful enough to take the leap to Unsupervised — a goal that Tesla has been working towards for years and the promise that attracted millions of customers in the first place.

• EVs now cost less than petrol cars, according to new data
• Purchase price has been a major barrier to EV adoption
• Most in-demand EV brand and models revealed — MG and Renault top charts

For anyone considering making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV), there's good news as data shows the new battery-powered cars are now, on average, cheaper than their petrol-powered equivalents.

That's according to AutoTrader, which has found the average new electric car costs £42,620, versus £43,405 for a new petrol vehicle. While the £785 difference might not be huge in terms of a car costing £40k+, it signals the positive shift in EV pricing.

The report notes "discounting on electric cars remains historically high", with the average discount on new EVs at 11.7%, versus 10% for petrol cars.

This news comes after EVs just had their best-ever month in the UK, and reports that used EV prices have hit parity with used petrol models.

Is now the time to buy an EV?

EVs have been more expensive than their petrol-powered counterparts for years, but the prices have slowly been coming down, while manufacturers have launched more affordable battery models in recent years.

The Government's Electric Car Grant is also playing a part in bringing down the price of new EVs (priced at £37,000 and under), with a 'Band 1' discount of £3,750 available to the most sustainably-produced models.

There's also a 'Band 2' grant of £1,500, which more EVs currently fall into, with eligibility criteria taking into account vehicle assembly emissions and battery pack production sustainability.

All of this means EVs are following the pricing trend of new technology, where initially the cost is high, but as supply chains and manufacturing processes mature, the cost to produce goods reduces.

It feels like this shift has taken longer with EVs – we tend to see flagship smartphone and TV features filter down to affordable models more quickly – but it is now happening.

Couple the reduction in price with improvements in EV range, new rules for EV charging at home, and continued uncertainty around the current fuel crisis, and buying an electric car is something I'd recommend if you're in the position to do so.

Which EVs are proving popular?

According to AutoTrader's April 2026 data, MG is the most in-demand EV brand, followed by Renault and Kia.

It's Renault which has the most popular model though, with the Renault 5 topping the charts as the most enquired about vehicle, beating out the Jaecoo 5 and MG S5.

And affordable models continue to be announced, with Hyundai's new compact, aerodynamic Ioniq 3 arriving with a 300-mile range and attractive price tag, while we recently fell in love with the affordable Renault Twingo.

The competition to be the best EV is as fierce as ever, and that's great news for anyone looking to make the switch to electric.

Via EV Powered

• A new fast-charging EV battery has been announced
• It charges from 10%-98% in as little as 6 minutes, 27 seconds
• It offers high-speed charging in temperatures as low as -30°C (-22°F)

Electric vehicle (EV) battery technology has taken another leap forward with a new charging benchmark that's just been set by a Chinese battery giant.

CATL – the market-leading EV battery maker – has announced its Shenxing 3rd Generation Battery, which it claims can charge even quicker than BYD's recently announced, and already impressive, Blade 2.0 offering.

CATL says its new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery can charge from 10%-35% in one minute, 10%-80% in three minutes 44 seconds, and 10%-98% in six minutes and 27 seconds.

By comparison, BYD's latest battery takes four minutes and 54 seconds to go from 10%-70%, and nine minutes to charge from 10% to 97%.

CATL's new battery can also apparently perform remarkably well in low temperatures (as low as -30°C / -22°F) thanks to its 'self-heating technology'.

Information on this tech is a little thin on the ground for now, but according to CarNewsChina, it "uses pulse rapid heating to solve low-temperature ultra-fast charging challenges".

Low temperatures can significantly reduce the charge speeds of EV batteries, which is why we've seen a number of manufacturers offer heat-pumps (usually as an optional extra, or limited to top-spec models) to aid charging in cold weather.

The suggestion here with CATL's self-heating tech is that there won't be a need for a traditional heat pump, which could save on overall vehicle weight and cost.

Analysis: The future of EV ownership is bright

CATL didn't mention the type of range we can expect from its new battery, although if we take BYD's Blade 2.0 offering as a baseline, 400+ miles looks set to be an achievable marker for these new power packs thanks to increased density.

With greater range, even faster charging, and more affordable models entering the market, the main roadblocks to EV ownership are melting away. CATL did also announce that an update to its Qilin battery is capable of driving 1500km on a single charge.

"The boundaries of electrochemistry are still far from being reached," noted CATL's founder Robin Zeng. "And the possibilities of materials science are still far from being exhausted."

Being able to top-up your EV pretty much as quickly as a gas-powered car is great, but you'll need access to a high-powered charger to get those speeds — and there lies the final major hurdle for the electric market to overcome.

EV charging networks in countries around the world are rapidly expanding – BYD has rolled out its first 1,500kW chargers in China – but it will take some time before there's a readily available network of high-speed chargers across other nations.

The future is certainly bright for EVs though — give this battery technology a year or so to make its way into vehicles, and for charging infrastructure to continue to grow, and electric car ownership is primed for pole position on driveways around the world.

• The Meta Turismo concept was on display at Milan Design week
• Designers revealed more details about its sporty intentions
• Virtual gear shifts are “just the start” as Kia looks to make EVs more fun

The creatives behind Kia's latest Meta Turismo concept say they want to “bring back a sense of joy and a sense of theater” to the EV market, as the company looks towards the next stage of its design language.

Briefly unveiled at an 80th anniversary celebration in Yongin, Korea last year, the Vision Meta Turismo provides an insight into what we can expect from future Kia models, particularly the four-door saloon, of which there has been a gaping hole in the Kia line-up since the Kia Stinger departed.

“The Vision Meta Turismo is really a car designed for a generation that hasn’t grown up with posters on their wall. Instead, they’ve probably experienced their dream car in virtual realms,” explains Oliver Samson, Kia Europe's design chief.

As a result, the long, sleek Vision Meta Turismo borrows elements from the gaming world and racing simulators on the inside.

The front passenger, for example, enjoys a lounge-like experience that is “free from any distractions” and can rotate through 180-degrees when the vehicle is stationary.

In stark contrast, the driver adopts a much more focused, cockpit-like position, with an Augmented Reality display that tracks the driver’s eyes so it is always in the correct field of view.

There’s also a new steering wheel shape that Kia says serves as the “central interface through which users engage with three distinct digital experience modes”. These comprise of Speeder, Dreamer and Gamer.

The former places the car in a focused driving mode, where it’s possible for the driver to enjoy the marque’s virtual gearshifts and any future driving technology that may arise, while Dreamer sees virtual layers added to the vehicle’s cockpit so occupants can interact with their infotainment system via an Augmented Reality Head-Up Display or AR glasses for the passengers.

Finally, Gamer is a mode reserved for when the vehicle is parked and transforms the AR display and steering wheel into a place to 'Sim race', while an exterior projector creates a “group gaming hub”, according to its designers.

Analysis: Bringing fun back to EVs

“Everyone knows that EVs can be fast as hell, but we have to bring back a sense of joy, something exciting and something different in the way we interact with them,” explains John Buckingham, head of future exterior at Kia.

Highlighting the joystick-like gears shifter inside the Vision Meta Turismo concept, Buckingham claims that technology, such as the Hyundai Motor Group’s virtual gear shifting, is “just the beginning” of a long list of innovative and engaging driving features we can expect to see on its future EVs.

“Vision Meta Turismo explores the character differences between the sportiness of a Kia and Hyundai’s N models. That has to be separated and we can’t do what they are doing. Rather than racing, we are about the personal enjoyment of driving,” he adds, suggesting that Kia could offer the electric Grand Tourers to Hyundai's hot hatches.

As a result, the concept vehicle features a launch control button, as well as a GT Boost functionality, which unleashes full power to deliver an “instant surge of acceleration”. Yet it remains a quiet, comfortable and lounge-like experience to while away long highway miles.

While this is a just a concept for now, Kia has recently been updating its EV range with GT-badged variants that offer virtual gear shifting borrowed from Hyundai and a more focused driving experience. It’s not quite the all-out raciness of a Hyundai N product but it serves to ramp up driver engagement.

The Vision Meta Turismo offers a glimpse at ways in which Kia can crank this sensation up further in the future and gives us our best idea yet of what form a fully electric sporting saloon from the Korean brand could take.

• The world's biggest Lidar maker just unveiled its next-gen technology
• The system can detect color, velocity and reflectivity
• The tech is expected to hit the market later this year

The world's biggest Lidar sensor manufacturer has just announced a next-gen version of its technology that is tipped to give self-driving cars a huge reliability boost.

Hesai Group announced this week that its new color-capable Lidar, called its '6D ETX full-color platform', is able to detect the X, Y and Z coordinates of an object, plus its reflectivity, velocity and color, according to the South China Morning Post.

Compared to the black-and-white imaging that is currently returned by most systems on the market, Hesai Group’s ability to detect color, as well as any reflectivity and velocity, is expected to vastly improve the speed at which autonomous driving systems can determine and categorize objects, such as road sigs, traffic lights and emergency service vehicles.

Hesai CEO David Li Yifan claims that the first iterations of the technology will hit the market later this year, stating that they will be the first of their kind. However, the CEO stopped short of revealing which brands would be receiving the Lidar system first.

“This is not some kind of market hype,” he said in a media briefing on Friday. “It is a fundamental innovation, something that no one I know of has ever done before,” the South China Morning Post reported.

Deutsche Bank conducted its own research paper into the technology, where it concluded that it eliminates the need for “complex stitching or inference”, meaning the autonomous driving system no longer needs to ‘guess’ when identifying critical colored objects like traffic lights, lane lines or construction signs.

It reported that Hesai’s innovation would “significantly enhance” the spacial intelligence of artificial intelligence world models, which will likely shine a spotlight on the already profitable company that counts all of the top 10 Chinese carmakers as its clients.

Analysis: Hands-off autonomy is coming

Most of the major automotive players in China are racing to develop a 'hands-off' Level 3 autonomous driving system, which will safely and legally allow drivers to engage in 'side-tasks' when behind the wheel.

Right now, pilot Level 3 operations have started on designated urban roads in southwest China’s Chongqing and on highways in Beijing, with more approvals expected to follow.

Tesla is also actively testing and rolling out its Supervised Full Self-Driving system in China, but it famously eschews Lidar and other sensors in favor of pursuing its camera-only approach, which it says will drastically reduce the overall cost.

But many Tesla owners are angry that the company promises self-driving capability on older vehicles, when it continues to roll out greater levels of processing power in new product.

China’s push into more advanced Lidar system could help to improve accuracy, as well as the speed at which a reliable self-driving system can be signed off by the authorities.

What’s more, it’s highly likely that China will continue to support cutting-edge technology that hails from its domestic market, rather than letting a company like Tesla become the first to market with a true 'hands-off' autonomous driving system.

• Hyundai has revealed the Ioniq 3, a compact EV with an 'Aero Hatch' design
• You can expect upwards of 300 miles from a single charge
• It's the first car to run Hyundai’s new Android-based infotainment system

Hyundai chose the glamorous surrounds of Milan’s annual Design Week event to launch the fourth European car in its expanding Ioniq range.

The Ioniq 3, which joins the larger hatchback Ioniq 5, the streamliner-inspired Ioniq 6 and the seven-seat SUV Ioniq 9, boasts an interior that is inspired by 1970s Italian furniture design, while the exterior styling sticks surprisingly close to the Concept 3 that was revealed last year.

It's all rooted in the "Art of Steel" philosophy, which we first saw in the bold Initium hydrogen concept, with clean surfaces that take inspiration from steel manufacturing processes... apparently.

“Ioniq 3 will offer best-in class aerodynamics, which helps it achieve best-in-class range. It also offers class-leading trunk space and a premium interior that really is from the segment above,” says Hyundai’s chief designer Eduardo Ramirez.

The compact electric Aero Hatch design, as Hyundai dubs it, is aimed at the European market, but is aiming to inject some premium appeal into the segment.

As a result, it will be available in two guises. A Standard Range variant features a 42.2kWh battery that is capable of 344km (214 miles) on a single charge, while a 61kWh Long Range version delivers 496km (308 miles).

Both models use a single motor that powers the front wheels, resulting in a 0-62mph sprint time of nine seconds in the standard car and 9.6 seconds in the heavier, larger battery Long Range edition.

Hyundai’s European CEO, Xavier Martinet, says that this vehicle was designed to combine “segment-leading driving range and aerodynamics with extraordinary levels of space”.

The roominess is impressive, as despite the relatively compact exterior dimensions, Hyundai’s designers have managed to deliver a generous amount of head and legroom inside, while a plethora of cubby holes and storage areas increase the overall sense of practicality.

Analysis: Android Automotive opens new doors

Perhaps the biggest news is that the Ioniq 3 will also be the first to usher in the new Pleos Connect infotainment system from Hyundai, which uses the Android Automotive operating system for the first time.

This has allowed the company to create an intuitive journey planner that factors in live public charging data, as well as the ability for owners to lock and unlock the car with a digital key, be it by smartphone or smartwatch.

It also opens up the possibility of an app store, with the ability to download popular streaming, news and other entertainment apps directly to the unit for the first time.

Unlike some of the other models built on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, the Ioniq 3 features a 400V electrical architecture, as opposed to the ultra-rapid charging 800V system found elsewhere in the Ioniq range.

However, the company claims that fast DC charging from 10 to 80 per cent takes 29 minutes under optimal conditions.

Despite all of the grown-up talk, Hyundai insisted that the Ioniq 3 still has a sense of fun, with the four dots in the pixel rear lights marking out the Morse Code for the letter 'H'.

There are plenty of other 'Easter Eggs' to explore inside too that, while not quite Renault 5 levels of funkiness, is at least something to show friends when ferrying them around.

During the launch in Milan, Hyundai executives suggested that the vehicle is due to go on sale in Europe during September this year, priced at around €30,000, which is around £26,000 in the UK or roughly $35,000 (AU$50,000). Although there are no plans to sell it Stateside just yet.

• Full Self-Driving was recently legalized in the Netherlands
• Furious Dutch Model 3 owner feels many are being left behind
• Thousands of participants have joined a growing petition against Tesla

There is mounting pressure on Tesla to compensate buyers after a dutch Model 3 owner took to X to vent his anger at the company for failing to recognize those customers that had already paid for Full Self-Driving (FSD), but can’t use it due to owning older hardware.

Mischa Sigtermans, a self-confessed owner of one of the first Model 3 vehicles in the Netherlands, says he paid for Full Self-Driving back in 2019, when Tesla was prepared to take €6,800 (around $7,500) of his money on the promise that highly autonomous driving technology would be available at some point in the near future.

“I waited 7 years. SEVEN years!” the angry owner wrote on X, followed by a link to a petition he has started that is attempting to file a collective claim against Tesla.

Back in 2019, when Sigtermans purchased the Model 3, Tesla publicly advertised that “every Tesla is equipped with the hardware needed in the future to make the vehicle fully self-driving in almost all circumstances”.

Seven years later and, despite the technology finally being approved by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW, only those vehicles running the latest AI4 chip will be capable of Full Self-Driving.

What's more, Elon Musk just announced an AI5 chip that is said to be far more powerful than existing technology and will eventually go on to underpin future iterations of FSD.

The collective claim already has some 2,939 verified participants, with many owners in other European countries eager to join, as they know that their vehicles likely won’t be compatible if and when FSD rolls out to wider European markets.

“The more people sign up, the more weight this carries when we sit down with Tesla. Or stand up in court,” the collective claim states.

Analysis: Legal pressure is mounting on Tesla

The alleged false advertising claims with regards to Full Self-Driving aren’t just limited to Europe, as Electrek reports that there is an estimated $100m-$500m in class action lawsuits currently ongoing surrounding the technology.

This is a drop in the ocean compared to the $14.5 billion in lawsuits that Electrek cites if you consider the phantom braking, Autopilot/FSD crashes, wages and hours violations, odometer manipulation, range claims inflation and many more cases that have been widely reported in recent years.

However, a staggering four million vehicles have been sold on the promise that they have “all hardware needed” for Full Self-Driving, which is rapidly turning out not to be true.

Now, with a growing number of Europeans feeling let down, Tesla might have a new front to be fighting on. Not great timing, as it plans to roll FSD out to the wider European markets.

• Project Nightingale will be limited to just 100 cars worldwide
• The coach-built exclusive will be based on the Spectre EV
• Model draws inspiration from high-speed experimental ‘EX’ Rolls-Royces of the 1920s

Rolls-Royce has lifted the silk sheet from its latest, highly limited Coachbuild Collection that, for the first time, will ride on the ultra-exclusive marque’s electric Spectre platform.

The model, which has been dubbed Project Nightingale — a title derived from Le Rossignol (The Nightingale), the name of the designers’ and engineers’ house at Henry Royce’s French Riviera estate — will be limited to just 100 cars… all of which have already been earmarked by loyal customers.

Before you ask, there’s no word on price, with Rolls-Royce CEO Chris Brownridge telling Top Gear “the pricing reflects the effort that goes into making it”. So expect that to be multiples of millions of dollars or pounds.

But Brownridge has a point, as the effort invested into this essentially hand-built project is as enormous as the vehicle’s 5.76m overall length.

That’s the same measurements as the company’s flagship Phantom saloon, but here, the bodywork has been styled around a two-seat convertible layout, with an enormous amount of attention lavished on the long, tapered rear end.

The exterior paint finish draws inspiration from the experimental Rolls-Royce 17EX of 1928, infused with subtle red flakes that reveal themselves in changing light, a discreet reference to the red badges fitted to its ‘EX’ motor cars.

Despite the addition of an electronically-folding roof, Rolls-Royce says its fully electric powertrain generates virtually no mechanical noise, allowing the marque’s acoustic engineers to create an “exceptionally serene” experience, both when the soft top roof is raised and lowered.

Inside, owners will be greeted by the Starlight Breeze suite — a flowing constellation of ambient illumination comprising 10,500 individual ‘stars’ in three subtly varied sizes. The central armrest also automatically glides rearward when the doors are opened, revealing the Spirit of Ecstasy rotary controller — or drive selector to you and me.

Analysis: A show of strength for Spectre

The decision to base Project Nightingale on the marque’s only electric vehicle is a clever one, as the extremely limited model will likely act as a halo model for its Spectre.

The EV experienced huge demand from early adopters when it first went on sale, but Detroit News reported that sales slumped 45% in the first three quarters of 2025, with the company eventually scrapping its plans to go all-electric by the year 2030.

Instead, the marque will continue to offer its V12 internal combustion engine, with CEO Chris Brownridge telling the Guardian "the V12 is part of our history”.

Basing the latest entry into its Coachbuild Collection on the Spectre proves that, despite still offering combustion engines, Rolls-Royce stands behind its electric platform.

Plus, the fact all 100 cars are all already catered for suggests that electric is a solid investment, despite what luxury EV residual values might suggest.

• Elon Musk took to X to announce the latest Tesla chip
• The AI5 chip is destined for “Optimus and supercomputer clusters”
• Musk says a single AI5 unit has five-time compute power of two AI4 chips

Elon Musk took to X to announce the arrival of Tesla’s next-generation chip, which will boast a claimed 40x performance boost over the predecessor.

According to Musk on X (below), the Tesla AI5 chip has been “taped out”, which refers to the point at which a chip’s design is lock-in before being sent to semiconductor facility for mass production. The CEO then added that “AI6, Dojo3 & other exciting chips in work (sic)”.

Tesla's CEO also confirmed that a single AI5 unit has five times the useful compute power of two existing AI4 chips, according to Not a Tesla App, while Tom’s Hardware reports that the processor module is about half the reticle size of the AI4.

But when quizzed by an X user on when customers can expect these latest chips to arrive in customer vehicles, Musk responded with a statement that confirmed they would be used in Optimus and “supercomputer clusters” first.

“AI4 is enough to achieve much better than human safety for FSD,” he added.

This tallies with the fact that Tesla plans to stick with the AI4 chip to power its upcoming batch of purpose built Cybercabs.

Electrek reports that Tesla needs “several hundred thousand completed AI5 boards line side” before it can switch production lines, and that volume isn’t expected until mid-2027, meaning those expecting a huge leap forward in Full Self-Driving performance are going to have to wait a bit longer.

Analysis: More Tesla tech will become obsolete

Right now, autonomous driving engineers are somewhat hampered by compute power, as advancing models require an enormous amount of memory to perform.

Volvo faced a similar issue with some of its recent releases, including the EX90, which launched without the compute power to effectively run its Lidar-based safety systems.

The Swedish company then parked Lidar and physically updated a whole host of models when new system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology became available from partners Nvidia and Qualcomm.

Tesla engineers face the same constraints and last year, the company had to admit that its previous generation Hardware 3 (HW3) set-up wasn’t powerful enough to run future iterations of Full Self-Driving.

Despite this, Musk has doubled-down on the fact that he thinks the current AI4, which powers HW4, is enough to achieve much “better than human safety”, but it is highly likely customers will have to wait until the AI5 chip is properly introduced before they see giant leaps in capabilities.

Plus, Tesla’s planned nine-month development cycle, which Not a Tesla App says could see AI6 chips introduced as early as 2028, effectively makes ‘nearly-new’ vehicles obsolete in terms of their ability to offer fully ‘unsupervised’ self-driving — a dream Musk has been selling for years.

• Tesla’s Spring update brings with it lots of changes
• A new self-driving app is inarguably the biggest
• However, the app will only work on cars with the latest hardware

Tesla has revealed details of a massive Spring 2026 update that will bring a host of new software features to vehicles across the globe.

Alongside smaller things, such as a voice prompt to wake Grok and an innovative use of interior lighting to act as a blind spot warning system, Tesla has ushered in a new, dedicated Self-Driving app that will act as a hub for any information surrounding its highly autonomous Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system.

Appearing somewhat like a homepage of a smart TV, the new app allows owners that didn’t specify FSD at the time of purchase to subscribe to the feature with the press of a button.

There are also tutorial videos and the ability to adjust numerous FSD settings from within the app.

Eagle-eyed Tesla fans have noted that the UX looks as if it is preparing for the potential introduction to a pay-per-mile or short term Full Self-Driving subscription package.

This could, potentially, allow customers to 'rent' the technology for a road trip, or even a day in the future — although Tesla hasn't yet confirmed this.

Inside the new FSD app, there’s also a screen that crunches the numbers and shows how much time the vehicle has spent in ‘Self-Driving’ mode, as well as track multi-day usage streaks.

Not a Tesla App notes that this shows owners “exactly how much value they are getting from the software”. However, it also looks like a ploy to 'gamify' its autonomous driving functionality in order to keep customers engaged and drum up new business.

Analysis: Not everyone is happy

A number of disgruntled owners have taken to the various comments sections, social media sites and subreddits to air their grievances around Tesla’s decision to make this new app only available to cars with Hardware 4 (HW4) — the latest models, in other words.

Some customers have claimed that, despite their vehicles only being two years old, they are not able to make the most of the new Full Self-Driving app or the future improvements to the technology, while the clever use of interior accent lights is only available on the refreshed “Highland” Model 3 and Model Y, as well as the Cybertruck.

“And now HW3 owners have been delegated to the crap pile, just like all the previous car owners,” one Reddit user commented.

Others soon piled in to criticize the fact that most of Tesla’s “major” updates haven’t added many genuinely useful features. “In the four years of owning my Model S, the only update that I found useful was when they enabled the blind spot cameras in the driver display,” a Reddit user added.

Skeptics could easily claim that this update follows a similar pattern, with minor additions thrown in to grab headlines. These include the ability for customers to choose an animal when the car is in ‘Pet Mode’, including a dog, a cat and a new character dubbed Cyberhog (it’s a hedgehog, of course).

Apparently, many cars will also receive improved graphics on the in-car visualizations, as well as minor improvements to the weather maps and the Sketchpad app.

However, the biggest change, which comes in the form of the new Self-Driving app, is designed to drum up more business for Tesla’s automated technology, much of which won’t apply to anything that isn’t running the latest hardware.

This is a far cry from Elon Musk's initial promise that any Tesla produced since 2016 will be able to run Full Self-Driving — a fact that it back-tracked on last year.

• After years of regulatory red tape, FSD goes live in Europe
• It is only legal in the Netherlands, but more regions could follow
• Some safety campaigners say the decision is “deeply troubling”

Over the past 18 months, Tesla has been working with the Dutch vehicle approval organization, RDW, to get approval for its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) semi-autonomous driving system.

After a long consultation period, which included covering almost one million miles with FSD (Supervised) active and offering ride-along trials with 13,000 people in numerous European countries, the RDW deemed the technology safe to be given the green light.

Tesla’s controversial CEO, Elon Musk, has long-promised to introduce the partially autonomous cruise control system to other markets outside of the US, where it has been on sale for years. But the company has regularly butted up against regulatory red tape.

According to a press statement put out by Tesla to promote its European debut, the company says that when FSD (Supervised) is engaged, collisions are up to "seven-times less likely per kilometer driven compared to manual driving alone".

However, safety campaigners, such as Dan O’Dowd of The Dawn Project, reiterates that “59 people have been killed in over 3,000 crashes involving Tesla’s self-driving software in the U.S. since 2021 alone”.

"The RDW's decision is deeply troubling given Tesla FSD's myriad of well-documented safety defects," O’Dowd adds.

What's more, the company’s Robotaxis, which use a similar hardware suite that relies on the vehicle’s external cameras and artificial intelligence to navigate the world, as opposed to a plethora of radar and Lidar sensors like rivals, have made the headlines because data suggests they crash four times more often than the average human driver, according to Fortune.

In a bid to bolster its safety credentials, Tesla has made a number of changes to its software for the version that will go on sale in the Netherlands.

Not a Tesla App reported that those customers that had first-hand ride-along experience with Euro-spec FSD (Supervised) noticed that it differed to the technology found in the US.

Dutch owners will have to pass a mandatory safety quiz before FSD activates, for example, while the 'Sloth' to 'Mad Max' speed profiles in the US version have been ditched in favor of more straightforward 'Max Speed' setting in the Netherlands.

Analysis: Europe will be watching closely

While it is easy to think that the recent ruling in the Netherlands will automatically open the door for FSD (Supervised) to be used in the rest of Europe, it is highly likely that many other markets will continue to exercise caution.

Even RDW, the organization that gave the green-light to FSD (Supervised|) in the Netherlands, says that the system is not "self-driving," adding that the "driver remains responsible and must always remain in control."

This confusion with messaging used to promote the technology’s capabilities has caused plenty of problems in the US, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launching an investigation into the safety of the technology.

Recently, it escalated its probe to "Engineering Analysis", which it says will evaluate the system’s ability to operate in reduced roadway visibility.

All the while, Elon Musk continues to promote the fact that every iteration of the FSD software will “far exceed human levels of safety" and that users will soon be able to text and drive, when realistically, it’s simply a Level 2 semi-autonomous cruise control system that is also offered by the likes of Ford and BMW.

• BMW believes there is life left in hydrogen powertrains
• The iX5 Hydrogen will go into production in 2028
• Engineers say it is a true BMW X5 with no compromises

BMW is forging ahead with its Neue Klasse range of electric vehicles, which already includes the i3 that will serve as a next-generation electric version of the popular 3 Series, as well as the more conventional SUV shape of the iX3.

Building on this line up, BMW is also readying the next iteration of its 5 Series, beginning with an all-new X5.

The sleek bodywork of the iX5 has already been snapped by a number of spy photographers, but the German marque has now officially revealed that it plans to produce a variety of powertrains on the same production line, including pure electric, plug-in hybrid and... hydrogen.

Despite extremely low levels of uptake for fuel cell vehicles, which promises the same filling times as conventional combustion engines with nothing but water emitted from the tailpipes, BMW feels there is still life left in the technology.

So much so that its engineers have come up with a novel way of packaging the system so that seven, 700 bar high-pressure hydrogen tanks lay flat side-by-side and form part of the powertrain.

According to its designers, the unique set-up combines the fuel cell system and the marque’s latest high-voltage battery design, as well as boasting the Heart of Joy drivetrain and chassis control software, as well as BMW Dynamic Performance Control that have had plaudits raving about the iX3.

“Think of it as installation Tetris: every customer gets the drive system best suited to their needs and a true BMW X5 with no compromises,” explains Dr Joachim Post, member of the board of management of BMW AG responsible for development.

Furthermore, the clever packaging of the hybrid system means it doesn’t impede on interior roominess, while the 7kg of stored hydrogen can be filled in less than five minutes and go on to provide up to 385 miles of emissions-free motoring when fully brimmed.

BMW says it will introduce the Hydrogen model into its iX5 line-up by 2028.

Analysis: Hydrogen remains seriously flawed

Read to the very end of BMW’s hydrogen announcement and it is revealed that the project has been co-funded by the state of Bavaria to the tune of €82 million, while Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport is adding a further €191 million into hydrogen research projects.

Often lauded as the perfect middle-ground between battery electric vehicles and combustion engines, thanks to its rapid refuel times, hydrogen has largely failed to find an audience, with only select markets, such as South Korea, continuing to pursue the technology.

In fact, research by the UK Energy Research Centre found that battery electric vehicles outsold hydrogen fuel-cell models by 1,000-to-1 at time of writing in 2025, and that more Ferraris were sold each year than all makes and models of fuel-cell vehicle combined.

This is further compounded by a distinct lack of infrastructure, with press releases celebrating the fact there were more than 1,000 fueling stations globally at the end of 2024, although more than 50% of those are located in Asia.

Europe has around 200 stations, while there were just 89 stations in the USA at the last count. It’s clearly not a popular option and, despite a huge amount of developmental work by the likes of Toyota and Hyundai, it remains a slow burner.

Despite industry experts and Germany's policy makers clearly believing that hydrogen should still play a part in tomorrow’s energy mix, battery EV technology is accelerating at the sort of pace that can't be ignored.

With several Chinese brands now proving that EV charging times can take as little as five minutes, it seems counterintuitive to invest in the infrastructure required to create a reliable hydrogen refueling network.

What’s more, research has shown that producing hydrogen comes with serious carbon emissions unless done so using green energy sources, such as wind or solar.

The UK Energy Research Center concludes in its analysis that even if green hydrogen could be produced with zero emissions, every megawatt-hour of clean electricity used to make hydrogen is one less that could replace coal or gas on the power grid, or go into powering electric vehicles.

• The UK’s new car market grew by 6.6% in March
• Battery Electric Vehicles were a big contributing factor
• The Jaecoo 7 becomes the UK's best-selling car

March has historically been a busy month for new car registrations, as the arrival of a new registration plate encourages customers to splash out on a fresh set of wheels.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the UK’s new car market grew by 6.6% in March — the best month for registrations overall since 2019.

But while the sale of both diesel and petrol-engined cars was down by 6.1% and 11.4% respectively, pure battery electric vehicles experienced a record-breaking increase of 24.2% for the month compared to the same period last year.

While many industry experts acknowledge the fact that March is always busy for new car purchases, a number believe that EVs have proven particularly popular due to both shifting attitudes towards the technology and the rising cost of fuel.

“That’s likely driving more interest in electric vehicles, as buyers look to protect themselves from fluctuating fuel prices,” explains James Hosking, Managing Director of AA Cars.

Hosking also says that cost of ownership is now “front of mind for buyers across both new and used markets”, with motorists weighing running costs just as carefully as headline price.

“We’re already seeing that reflected in our latest Used Car Index, with EV searches up by more than a quarter in early March. The question now is whether that shift continues if fuel prices remain unpredictable,” he added.

The list of best-selling models in March looks familiar, with the likes of the ever-popular Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai still appearing in the top three, but the number one spot has now been snared by the Jaecoo 7 — a relatively unknown entity last year.

That model shifted some 10,064 units in March and currently sits in second place (just behind the Ford Puma) in the top models of 2026 leaderboard.

According to the marque, the range-topping, plug-in hybrid variant accounted for 85% of all Jaecoo 7 sales last month.

Analysis: Chinese brands on a hot streak

Alongside Omoda and Jaecoo, which claim to have delivered a record-breaking start to the ‘76’ number plate change, registering 17,951 vehicles in March, Chinese rivals BYD also said that it too achieved record sales in the first quarter of 2026, registering 21,337 units.

BYD says the period represented a “record-breaking” month for the brand in the UK, with a rise of 134% compared to the previous year and UK market share of over 3.98%.

While pure battery electric vehicles aren’t the sole reason for both Jaecoo and BYD’s sales success, the pair have stated that unpredictable prices at the pumps are pushing buyers towards the more efficient hybrids and electrified powertrains that they provide.

Hybrids certainly help ease the transition towards electrification for the buyer, but they still don’t meet the strict mandates that the UK government has put in place to encourage a switch to pure electric vehicles.

Mike Hawes, the chief executive of the SMMT, warns that despite record-breaking levels of battery electric vehicle sales, the EV market is “falling further away from mandated levels despite record levels of incentives”.

Currently, BEV volumes rose 24.2% to reach a record high in March, but market share remains at just 22.6% — when the mandated target for the year is 33%.

Adam Wood, Renault’s UK managing director, refers to the “Trojan horse” effect of the Renault 5 and Renault 4: two cars that have won over the elusive private buyer in much of Europe, out-selling Tesla and simultaneously introducing EVs to an entirely new audience.

“It looks right, it appeals to the heart and the head, and it is priced right, which is part of the success story,” Wood explained at the launch of the third car in the French marque’s electrified reimagining of iconic models.

The smaller, cuter and altogether more affordable Renault Twingo E-Tech is largely based on the same platform as the Renault 5 and 4, although the overall length has been shortened and the multi-link rear axle has been replaced by a flexible unit borrowed from the Renault Captur.

And apologies if Twingo isn’t ringing any bells — while it was never sold in the US, the original model of the 1990s sold a staggering 4.1 million units in 25 countries, including much of Europe, where it has garnered something of an iconic status. So indulge us a little.

The modern version's onboard batteries now feature a more affordable Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry and, rather than weighing down the package with an endless row of cells, the useable capacity is a mere 27.5kWh. As a result, the Twingo tips the scales at just 1,200kg, allowing the compact city car to eke out 163 miles from a single charge.

Sensible stuff aside, the 3.79m-long Twingo aims to build on its reputation by offering bags of practicality and character, wrapped up in the latest in-car technology and an electric powertrain that is both capable and comfortable.

All of this should cost a fortune, right? Wrong. Both the Renault 5 and Renault 4 arrived boasting impressively affordable price tags and the Twingo will takes things even further, with Renault execs claiming that it will cost “comfortably” less than €20,000 (around £17,500 / $23,000 / AU$33,500) when it arrives on European roads later this year.

That places it among some of the most affordable electric vehicles on the market, which includes the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03 — otherwise known as 'compromise on wheels'.

Cheap without the cheapness

Let’s not pretend that the Renault Twingo is something that it isn’t. Max range from the small battery packs is 163 miles, charging speeds are capped at 50kW and, in a surprising move in today’s EV segment, Renault has limited the power output of its electric motor to a relatively measly 82hp.

In the era of massively overpowered electric vehicles, the 0-62mph ‘sprint’ time of 12.1 seconds and the top speed of 81mph feel refreshingly old school. If the French marque wanted to ape the performance of its tiny 1.2 liter, four-cylinder petrol original, it has succeeded.

But where the aforementioned affordable rivals deliver vaguely similar performance credentials, they do so with a heavy compromise on ride quality, cabin quietness and overall refinement. The modern Twingo manages to shirk these unfavorable characteristics.

Sure, there are pop-out windows in the rear, much of the cabin is covered in cheap plastics and the headrests feel like they are filled with air, rather than cushioning foam, but it is all executed with a laser-like focus on design.

The roof is embossed with Twingo ‘alphabet’ lettering, the LED headlamps and taillight design has barely changed from the concept car and the dash features numerous nods to the original Twingo, including the oversized ‘candy-like’ hazard light button.

Renault didn’t have to introduce all of this stuff but it did. The company wanted to cut costs where it could without ridding the vehicle of character and it's all the better for it.

What’s more, the Android Automotive-based infotainment system (a 7-inch driver display and 10-inch touchscreen) is lifted from the Renault 5 and offers a digital experience that simply isn’t found in the city car segment.

Renault is also the first to offer safety assistance packages and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities at this sort of price.

A big kid at heart

Renault knows that simply packing a vehicle with funky design touches isn’t enough to win over buyers — today’s cars need to fit in with busy lifestyles and prove competent beyond short strolls to the supermarket.

In this respect, the Twingo offers a number of ingenious solutions to make up for its lack of stature. Inside, all of the seats easily slide and fold on individual rails, meaning stowage space can be freed up wherever it's required.

The boot or trunk has a false floor with a double opening, which frees up an additional 50 liters of stowage space for charging cables and more beneath it, while remaining accessible on one side when larger items are in place.

Inside, the cabin borrows the YouClip accessory system from sister company Dacia, with mounting points dotted around the interior for attaching bag hooks, LED lamps, smartphone cradles and cable organizers.

In essence, owners can customize their cabins using these little gizmos to suit their lifestyle, but there's plenty of handy stowage space for tossing a smartphone or stashing a bottle of water.

It might be small on the outside, but there's big car energy on the inside.

Renault also offers an extensive list of its own clever in-car accessories, which range from small storage boxes to fit between the driver and passenger to a cushioned arm rest that doubles-up as a zippered bag for stashing bottles of water and more.

Bizarrely, the rear of the cabin feels slightly less claustrophobic than the one found in the Renault 5 and rear passengers get a relatively generous amount of leg room when the rear seats are slid all the way rearwards. This does mean you have to compromise on trunk space, though.

And, unlike the original Twingo, this modern interpretation is a proper five-door affair, making it much more comfortable and practical for daily use.

The more mature personality is also reflected in the way the new Twingo drives and rides. Admittedly, the suspension, like that of the Renault 5 E-Tech, feels firm, and the larger 18-inch alloy wheels can crash over speed bumps and larger potholes.

But it’s impressively comfortable over longer distances and can even handle highway speeds without too much in the way of wind roar and road noise drowning out a Spotify soundtrack.

On that subject, the clever interior packaging of the dash and windscreen mean Renault engineers have been able to fit the little Twingo with an Arkamys auditorium audio system with its six speakers. Sound quality is impressive for a vehicle of this size.

Not too serious

Thanks to the fact that Renault has managed to keep weight down to the bare minimum (for an EV, that is), the company has been able to install what it deems as “the most appropriate” battery and motor configuration.

Power isn’t too much, while the battery packs provide enough range for most city-car use cases, as well as the ability to venture further when required. Granted, 50kW isn’t the fastest but Renault says it takes 30 minutes for a 15-80% charge.

On top of this, the aerodynamic and powertrain efficiencies are impressive, with the company claiming 12.2 kWh / 100 km, which is around 5.1 miles per kWh on the WLTP cycle.

During testing, I managed to return around 4.5kWh per mile on a mix of twisting mountain roads and some slower highway driving, according to the onboard efficiency data readouts. Not bad at all, considering the ultra-efficient Mercedes-Benz CLA returns similar figures.

But with all this sensible chat of refinement, charging speeds and range, it would be easy to think the Twingo E-Tech is a bit boring. Thankfully, it’s not.

The powertrain is fantastically well judged, to the point where you can spend an unfathomable amount of time with the right foot buried to the carpet.

Occasionally, the front wheels scramble for grip and the Twingo scampers around tight bends, but it’s joyous in a way that only lightweight, low-powered cars can be. This is the sort of model you'd happily receive when playing the holiday car rental lottery.

There’s an overarching sense of fun here, and if the Renault 5 and 4 E-Tech were modern, design-led takes on beloved French classics, the Twingo is an altogether more faithful representation of the original.

Super low-cost, fuss-free motoring for the electric generation, but one that doesn’t feel like its maker has cut every conceivable corner.

A sensational smaller sibling. The Trojan pony to the 5 E-Tech’s Trojan horse.

• Collisions, delays and traffic chaos reported due to robotaxi outage
• Police said system malfunction caused multiple vehicles to stop
• Baidu has a fleet of more than 500 driverless cars in Wuhan

A mass robotaxi outage in the Chinese city of Wuhan has reportedly caused traffic chaos, after several fully autonomous cabs suddenly came to a standstill.

Some distressed riders claimed they were left stranded for hours, as multiple driverless rides ground to a halt.

“Multiple Apollo Go cars stopped in the middle of the road, unable to move,” police said in a statement posted on Chinese social media site Weibo on Wednesday, according to The Guardian.

According to preliminary findings, the police claim that a "system outage" had caused the issue, but there has so far been no official comment from Baidu about the incident.

One Baidu customer told Wired that she was stuck in a robotaxi with two friends for about 90 minutes on Tuesday.

According to the robotaxi rider, the cab stopped four of five times during the trip, before it parked up in front of an intersection with the screens telling all riders to remain onboard for a company representative to come online.

Apparently, it took the customers 30 minutes to reach a customer services representative. After even more waiting, the passengers decided to get out of the cab and find an alternative route.

Further videos that have appeared on social media, including X, appear to show dash cam footage of a driver crashing into the back of a stranded Baidu car, which had come to rest in the middle of a busy, multi-lane highway.

On the Chinese social media platform RedNote, one rider said: “I called robotaxi’s customer service, but couldn’t get through at first. After calling repeatedly, everyone I called said they had dispatched a specialist. After 10.30pm, my order was cancelled, and I was stuck on the overpass with dump trucks all around me.”

Police said no injuries had been reported and passengers exited their vehicles safely, according to the BBC.

Analysis: Not a great look for robotaxis

With the likes of Waymo, Zoox and Uber all forging ahead with autonomous taxi services, the system outage (and ensuing chaos) experienced by Baidu doesn't paint a particularly reassuring picture.

Robotaxi skeptics have long warned about software and technical glitches of this nature, as well as the real threat of cyber attacks that could theoretically take control of entire fleets of driverless vehicles.

The BBC reports that ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft announced agreements with Baidu to test its Apollo Go cars on UK roads, aiming to start trials in 2026. But the latest incident could lead to significant setbacks.

Jack Stilgoe, professor of science and technology policy at University College London told the BBC that while driverless tech "may be safer on average" than human drivers, this incident showed it could "still go wrong in completely new ways".

"If we're going to make good choices about this technology, we need to understand entirely new types of risk," he added.

After all, this isn't the first time we have seen negative headlines around autonomous driving technology.

According to Futurism, Tesla's Robotaxi service has been crashing more than equivalent cabs with a human driver, despite having a safety monitor sat behind the wheel.

In addition to this, Waymo experienced a similar issue in San Francisco last year, where a massive power outage caused a number of Waymo cars to come to a halt in the middle of busy streets and intersections due to the fact that they didn't know how to safely navigate without functioning road signs and traffic lights.

• Tesla reveals that Model S and Model X are no more
• Musk shifts focus to autonomy, rather than passenger cars
• Only the Model 3 and Model Y are left to make up the bulk of sales

Tesla has officially called time on its groundbreaking Model S and Model X electric vehicles, with Elon Musk sharing a photo that dates back to 2012 and the original production launch of the Model S at its Fremont factory on X.

Elon Musk said that custom orders of the Tesla Model S and X have “come to an end”, claiming that a small amount of global inventory is left for the vehicles. He signed off with: “We will have an official ceremony to mark the ending of an era. I love those cars.”

Musk announced that the company would stop producing both Model X and Model S during an earnings call at the beginning of the year, stating that the company was “moving into a future that is based on autonomy.”

However, the decision was also based on dwindling sales figures, as the two pioneering models – one a performance-orientated electric sedan and another a wild take on the mid-size SUV – had both experienced a lack of customer interest after the Model 3 and Model Y were introduced.

In fact, Tesla stopped reporting Model S and Model X numbers around 2020 when the Model Y arrived, instead lumping them into an “Other Models”, which also included the slow-selling Cybertruck.

As an illustration of those sales figures, Tesla delivered 1.6 million Model 3 and Model Y cars worldwide last year, while the “Other Models” category, which includes the Model S, Model X, Cybertruck, and Semi, totaled just 50,850 units, according to Inside EVs.

Analysis: Is Tesla giving up on EVs?

If you want to get hold of a Model S and Model X, you better get in quick, as Electrek reports that Tesla currently has approximately 295 new Model S units and 301 new Model X units left in global inventory — nearly all of them in the United States.

But perhaps more telling is the fact that Tesla doesn’t appear to be replacing these once-pioneering models, instead opting to dedicate the freed-up factory floor space for the assembly of Optimus robots.

Elon Musk has been vocal about the fact that his company is moving more towards autonomy and providing autonomous services, such as Robotaxis and humanoid robots, rather than focussing its attention on electric vehicles.

Unfortunately, this apparent lack of interest could well filter down to the Model 3 and Model Y that, despite making a resurgence at the beginning of 2026, have both fallen short of anticipated sales figures this year.

If Tesla wants to keep up with the increasing amount of EV competition, it needs exciting new cars that feature the ground-breaking spirit of the now-defunct originals.

But despite Musk's promise of "something cooler than a minivan", it is being left to China to make headlines with rapid charging speeds, monster EV battery ranges and innovative driving tech.

• ChatGPT arrives on Apple CarPlay update for iOS 26.4
• Update adds support for “voice-based conversational apps”
• Interaction is limited to voice prompts only

We reported on a big Apple update in February of this year with the release of the new iOS 26.4 public beta.

The headline news was the inclusion of third-party, voice-controlled AI chatbots on CarPlay for the first time, allowing drivers to make the most of AI assistants outside of those that come part and parcel of many modern cars.

Where Mercedes-Benz has its “Hey Mercedes!” prompts, and Renault’s more recent offerings have Reno, these are not only limited to only the newest models, but are also relatively limited in what they can deliver.

On the other hand, the likes of ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Claude open up the opportunity for more powerful AI assistants, even in older vehicles.

Last week, Apple released iOS 26.4 to the public, and a few days later, OpenAI responded with an update for ChatGPT that made it compatible with the iPhone mirroring software.

Those running the latest version of iOS will see a dedicated ChatGPT app pop up on screen (so long as it exists on the device itself), and, when opened, it allows for “voice-based” conversations with the AI-powered app.

Users will be able to see a list of previous chats, but due to safety legislation put in place by Apple, they will only be able to converse with the chatbot, rather than type or read the resulting reams of text that it produces.

Essentially, it’s the same as interacting with the smartphone app in voice mode, and the CarPlay app is about as simple as they come. There’s merely an ask icon to show that the app is listening and a button to mute and end the conversation.

Analysis: simple but effective

ChatGPT’s voice mode is pretty good, and for most drivers, the ability to ask questions and receive detailed answers will be a boon. It’s a great tool for settling in-car arguments.

That said, there’s no wake word, so you have to open the app manually to use it (a distraction in itself), nor can the app be used to interact with the iPhone or make adjustments to the car’s settings like Siri and manufacturer-designed chatbots can.

It’s a cautious first step into the world of AI apps and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration, but it’s likely to be just the beginning.

• An increase in energy prices could be felt on the public EV charging network
• Charging companies are warning of price rises
• Network charges have dramatically increased over the past three years

A number of public EV charging network providers have warned that soaring energy costs could be passed on to EV owners, as the price per kilowatt hour to charge on the public network could spike, as companies look to stem losses.

According to a report by Sky News, there are warnings that charging companies may have no choice but to pass on costs to drivers, with ChargeUK noting that companies are being faced with massive network charges that have increased by an average of 462% over the past three years.

Speaking to the news outlet, one Osprey Charging site in Wolverhampton said it had reported a 38,570% increase in its annual fixed charges since 2021, from £87 to £33,651 this year.

"Our ultra-rapid charging hubs require very large grid connections to build for the peak demand we will see in the future, but we're having to pay in full for those large grid connections today," Ian Johnston, chief executive of Osprey Charging told Sky News.

According to ChargeUK’s 2025 white paper, the public charging network has seen a sharp 38% average increase in prices since 2021.

The surge in costs is primarily attributed to energy expenses, which now account for two-thirds of chargepoint operator (CPO) costs, according to EV Infrastructure News.

In addition to this, the public network is made even more expensive by the UK government’s policy levies, which add around 6 pence per kWh in a bid to balance the declining income from fuel duty.

Public charging also currently attracts 20% VAT, while home charging is taxed at 5%.

Analysis: A Catch-22 situation

Many of the major public charging network operators have invested millions of pounds into infrastructure "at scale years ahead of demand”, according to Osprey’s Ian Johnston.

This means that most are reliant on the fact that the number of electric vehicles on the road will continue to increase at pace over the next decade, when a return on investment can start to happen.

But it appears many are already getting nervous, as the UK government continues to move the goalposts on EV sales quotas, pushing its 100% zero emission goal back to 2035. Just 5% of all cars currently on the road are EVs.

This, coupled with the fact that standing charges and energy prices are increasing, means costs are now, predictably, being passed on to the consumer.

Tom Hurst, UK country director of Fastned, which owns a site in Palace Grounds retail park in South Lanarkshire, said that the company now faces standing charges of £41,000 a year — nearly four times the rent of the site, according to Sky News.

"Even though the station is powered by 100% renewable energy, these fixed costs, combined with higher VAT on public charging and rising wholesale energy prices, ultimately feed through to drivers.

"We absorb as much of these costs as possible to keep prices down for drivers, but policy action is needed,” he explained to Sky News.

The entire situation is a painful Catch-22, with more EV owners required to allow these large companies to turn a profit and promote competition – and hopefully bring the cost of public charging down – yet potential buyers are put off by a lack of fast and affordable charging infrastructure.

After all, the eye-watering price of rapid public charging disproportionately affects the one-third of UK households without off-street parking.

Despite the domestic and local-level EV charging initiatives that the UK government has announced for April of this year, it has to get a handle on the public charging network, reducing VAT, addressing the policy levies and reducing standing charges, if it stands a chance of convincing more buyers to go electric.