Latest news with #EVmakers
Wall Street Journal
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Wall Street Journal
Rivian Sees Results Hurt by Scrapped EV Tax Credit; Lucid Cuts Production Forecast
Rivian RIVN -2.10%decrease; red down pointing triangle Automotive expects the elimination of the federal tax credit for electric vehicle purchases to dent its full-year results, though it logged higher revenue in the second quarter. Fellow electric vehicle maker Lucid LCID 0.41%increase; green up pointing triangle Group posted a narrower second-quarter loss as it delivered more vehicles compared with a year earlier, but the company revised its production forecast for the year.
Gizmodo
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
Tesla Is the Least Trusted EV in the U.S., Survey Finds
Tesla's reputation is in a crash it can't control, much like the people who are behind the wheel when the car's self-driving features fail to stop. In the latest Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report, Tesla saw its perception erode among consumers, leading to the company scoring the lowest trust score among all major EV makers. According to the survey, just 26% of participants have a somewhat or very positive view of Tesla—significantly outweighed by the 39% plurality who have a somewhat or very negative view of the company. That leaves Tesla underwater on perception, scoring -13 in net positive view. To give you an idea of just how quickly the company is tanking its reputation, the same report found in April that Tesla had a net positive perception of -7, so that has nearly doubled in just a couple of months. The situation actually gets worse when the report considers the 'intensity score,' which compares the number of people who feel strongly in either direction. There, Tesla sinks further to a score of -16. Basically, of the people who have strong views about Tesla, the hate greatly outweighs the love. On trust, the water keeps on rising over Tesla's head. While 40% of survey participants said they somewhat trust or trust the brand a lot, 48% fell on the opposite side of the spectrum, either somewhat distrusting or distrusting the company a lot. That gives Tesla a net trust score of -8, by far the worst of any major EV company. In fact, the only other company to finish with a negative trust score is Vinfast, a Vietnamese automaker that couldn't find its footing in the American market. Just as with perception, Tesla's trust issues get worse when zooming in on the people with the strongest opinions. Tesla's trust rating drops to -19 when comparing those who trust Tesla a lot versus those who distrust the company a lot. Tesla's problems run deep, too. The company has a knack for capturing headlines—in part thanks to the media magnet that is CEO Elon Musk—but that really works against you when your vehicles are involved in high-profile accidents or embarrassing failures, like the Tesla Robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas. To that end, Tesla now has the lowest perceived safety rating of any major EV, per the report, with 55% of people viewing the company's cars as safe. A big driver of the low safety score is Tesla's self-driving functionality, which simply does not have many fans among those who prefer not to be involved in fiery crashes. The report found that 53% of respondents believe robotaxis should be outlawed, and 55% believe Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology should be illegal. All of that seems to fall in line with the fact that Tesla sales have been dropping precipitously over the last several months, even as Musk claims he's back to focusing on the company (when forming a new political party doesn't steal away his attention). But aside from all that, everything is going great!
Gizmodo
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
Tesla Is Having a Huge Sale Before Key EV Tax Break Disappears
Tesla has fired the first major shot in a brewing electric vehicle price war, launching a series of aggressive new promotions across its lineup as the market braces for the end of a crucial federal incentive. With the $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicles set to expire on September 30, Elon Musk's company is moving preemptively to lock in buyers and pressure competitors. On a newly updated section of its website titled 'Current Offers,' the company warns of 'Limited Inventory – Take Delivery Today,' adding that 'All promotions are subject to change or end at any time.' The move is a clear strategy to counteract a cooling market and the loss of government aid that has helped fuel EV adoption. These new incentives are multifaceted, combining general offers with model-specific discounts to maximize appeal: This aggressive sales push comes as Tesla navigates a challenging period. The company reported a 13.5% decline in global vehicle sales in the second quarter of 2025. In the United States, its primary market, sales fell 12.6%, though it still commands a dominant 46.2% market share. The end of the federal tax credit threatens to complicate the landscape for all EV makers. As of early 2025, the average transaction price for a new electric vehicle was approximately $55,614, considerably higher than the $48,641 average for a new gasoline-powered car, according to data from Chase. Without the subsidy, that price gap becomes even more pronounced for consumers. Tesla appears to be getting ahead of the problem by creating its own cushion. The company's new promotions are designed to mimic the impact of the tax credit, giving buyers a reason to move quickly before prices—or eligibility—change again. Elon Musk and Tesla didn't wait too long. They are daring the competition to do the same. The question is not will they, but can they? With margins already tightening across the industry, Tesla's bold strategy could force rivals to follow suit or risk losing market share. But not every automaker has the financial room, or software-powered revenue streams that Tesla does. The EV price war has begun. The real question now is who will survive it.
CNA
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNA
Commentary: Why carmakers need to bring back buttons
SEOUL: You are driving down the highway when, without warning, traffic comes to a sudden stop as you enter a tunnel. You reach for your hazard lights, but they are not where you expect. Instead of a button, they are buried in a menu on your car's touchscreen. You tap the screen, but it freezes. Now what? Since the mid-2010s, many automakers have embraced a buttonless future, inspired by smartphones and Tesla's minimalist designs. Even safety functions such as hazard lights, windshield wipers and defrosters have moved to digital-only touchscreens. But the dream of a sleek, futuristic cockpit is increasingly colliding with human limits, especially when split-second decisions are critical. So why did companies pursue this direction in the first place? Beyond the appeal of minimalist design, the shift was largely financial. Eliminating buttons reduces parts and manufacturing complexity. It supports over-the-air software updates, which allow automakers to introduce subscription-based features such as navigation, voice commands and even heated seats without dealer visits. This model mirrors the smartphone industry: Sell the hardware, then monetise through software. A STRIKING PIVOT IN ASIA But now, a reversal is under way. Carmakers are bringing back the very buttons they once declared obsolete. The pivot is especially striking in Asia. After helping drive the adoption of touchscreen-dominated interiors, the region is now among the first to course correct. Chinese EV makers like Xiaomi, BYD and Denza are leading the charge. Xiaomi's SU7, for example, offers an optional row of physical keys that magnetically attach beneath the central touchscreen. BYD's Sealion 05 includes buttons on the centre console. Denza, a BYD sub-brand, updated its D9 model by replacing touch panels with switches. In Japan, Subaru, after briefly experimenting with touchscreen-heavy layouts, reversed course this year, reintroducing physical controls in models such as the 2026 Outback. Europe may prove to be the strongest force in accelerating the dashboard redesign. Euro NCAP, Europe's car safety authority, has announced that by 2026, essential functions like turn signals and hazard lights must be accessible through physical buttons to earn its top safety rating. A 2005 Volvo with traditional physical buttons allowed drivers to complete basic tasks in just 10 seconds, less than one-quarter of the time it took in modern touchscreen-equipped cars, where simple tasks took up to 44.6 seconds to complete, according to a Swedish road test by Vi Bilagare. A study by the Transport Research Laboratory found that using in-car touchscreens can impair driver reaction times more than being over the legal alcohol limit or under the influence of cannabis. CONSUMER TRUST OVER COST From a cost perspective, reintroducing physical controls may seem like a regression. Assuming added costs of around US$100 for components, wiring and assembly per vehicle, a global automaker producing 10 million cars annually could face up to US$1 billion in extra expenses. But on a per-unit basis, that is less than 1 per cent of the average retail price of a mid-range car and significantly less than the potential financial risks of relying solely on touchscreens. A decline in Euro NCAP ratings, for example, can dent consumer trust, raise insurance costs and lower fleet sales, particularly in Europe, where fleet purchases account for over half of all new car registrations. Meanwhile, in competitive markets like China, home to over 100 electric car brands, even a slight drop in a brand's net promoter score – the main measure of customer loyalty – can quickly erode market share. MISTAKING MINIMALISM FOR PROGRESS The return of the button is part of a recurring pattern in the history of technology. Time and again, industries have mistaken minimalist interfaces for progress. In the early 2000s, mobile phone makers rushed to eliminate physical keys, only to bring back buttons for volume, lock and emergency access. Even the iPhone's silent mode toggle remains, for the same reason drivers need a hazard button: You can find it without looking. In aviation, touchscreen interfaces were initially seen as revolutionary, but research since the late 2010s has shown that in turbulence or emergencies, nothing beats the speed of a physical switch. Factory equipment, medical devices and military hardware all continue to rely on dedicated controls.
Bloomberg
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Zeekr Debuts First Hybrid in China to Help Ease EV Range Anxiety
Premium electric vehicle brand Zeekr unveiled its first plug-in hybrid sport utility vehicle, joining the growing number of Chinese EV makers incorporating gasoline engines into new models to help ease range anxiety. Built on the new 900-volt Sustainable Experience Architecture-S platform developed by parent Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., the full-sized 9X is equipped with ultra fast charging that will see its battery power reach 80% from 10% in just 10 minutes. China's top auto and tech companies are in the race to reduce charging times even further, though the widespread roll out of technology like BYD Co.'s five-minute charge battery requires the building of thousands of stations that can support upgraded EVs.
