Just before arrival of electric trucks, diesel sales are surging

2020 Ram 1500 EcoDieselAs automakers work to launch electric pickup trucks, sales of diesel vehicles are surging. Sales of diesel pickups and SUVs increased 28% in 2020, even as overall new-car sales declined 14%, according to the Diesel Technology Forum, which represents manufacturers of diesel engines and related components, as well as fuel producers. In addition...

Tesla’s own battery production will enable Semi deliveries by year-end

Tesla SemiTesla plans to deliver its first Semi by the end of 2021, it announced in its quarterly update Wednesday. What will allow the company to resume the Semi project is something the company hasn’t discussed much since its Battery Day last September: its new-format 4680 cell. And battery supply, the longtime production choke Tesla has had to...

Xpeng P7 upgrade cribs Navigate on Autopilot functions, adds lidar

Xpeng P7 OTA updateChinese automaker Xpeng has launched an over-the-air (OTA) software update for its P7 electric car, adding features similar to Tesla's Navigate on Autopilot. Xpeng used the OTA update to deliver the latest version of its operating system—Xmart OS 2.5.0—to Chinese customers. The update adds over 40 new functions and 200 "optimized"...

2022 Mini Cooper SE preview: 110-mile “fun” EV gets a subtle update

2022 Mini Cooper SEThe 2022 Mini Cooper SE gets a slight mid-cycle refresh that updates the car’s styling and adds new standard features, but leaves the rest of its fundamentally playful nature and scant range intact. The carryover powertrain features a 181-hp electric motor powering the front-wheels, and the through a single-speed transmission. The Cooper SE...