China has licensed 9 electric-car plants, more than U.S. has today

BYD e6 electric taxi in service in Shenzhen, ChinaQuick trivia question: how many plants are there in the United States currently building electric cars? To be generous, we'll allow both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. Any idea? The answer turns out to be four. DON'T MISS: Shanghai auto show: China plugs into electric cars in a big way Meanwhile, China—which has a long-term goal...

VW to Tesla: ‘Anything you can do, we can do better’

2017 Volkswagen Beetle 1.8T Dune Auto GrilleWith a new book imminent that gives new details on its diesel-emission cheating scandal, Volkswagen Group continues to struggle for positive corporate PR. Yet the company publicly appears to be confident that it has weathered the worst of that storm. Moreover, while its first high-volume electric cars won't hit the market until 2019 or 2020, the...

What’s the lowest acceptable gas mileage for a compact SUV? Poll results

2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Catskill Mountains, NY, Feb 2016We've driven a lot of compact crossover utility vehicles in recent months. It's a hot category in the new-car market, with all light trucks getting better fuel economy than in past years—and gasoline prices continuing below $3 per gallon in most of the U.S. So we wondered what readers felt would be acceptable fuel economy in a compact SUV...

Solar panels, EV chargers required in new homes in Fremont, CA

Tesla factory, Fremont, CaliforniaHalf a century ago, the General Motors assembly plant was the largest employer in Fremont, California, and the town was known for its dragstrip. Today, that plant makes Tesla electric cars and Fremont is a part of the San Francisco Bay Area's Silicon Valley, creating advanced technology for the world. The city has now taken another step into the...

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf: first drive of updated 125-mile electric car

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf, first drive, New York City, April 2017The 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf, the only battery-electric car sold by VW in the U.S., got a large range boost for its third year on the market. While the current model year is winding to a close, 2017 e-Golfs are just now reaching dealers in the handful of states where the compact electric car is offered for sale. But with an EPA-rated range of 125...

Acura CDX could migrate from China as luxury subcompact crossover

2016 Acura CDX (Chinese spec)Acura today has a thin lineup that has as many passenger sedans as crossover utility vehicles. With only the TLX, RDX, MDX, RLX, and NSX to work with, Honda's premium line doesn't compete in a number of important markets. The most glaring absence is in the raging hot subcompact crossover realm. DON'T MISS: 2017 Acura NSX: Sexy, Powerful Hybrid...

First TV ad for Karma Revero drops as sales to start next month

Karma Revero 'Delivery' as spotEverything old is new again, including the 2017 Karma Revero, a reborn 2012 Fisker Karma. Now its maker has released the first-ever television advertisement for the car, a spot that debuted during the 2017 U.S. Open Polo Championship, sponsored by Karma Automotive. Simply titled "Delivery," the advertisement is full of graceful, flashing scenes of...