As you can see, some of those models are incredibly popular gas vehicles, like the Ford F-150, as the company is likely hoping to appeal to a wide range of people who may be considering switching to electric. Of course, the amount you get will depend on your vehicle and its condition, which means you could get more if you sell it yourself. In addition, the discount will only apply to specific R1T truck and R1S SUV packs at amounts that range from CAD$1,000 ($730) to CAD$7,500 ($5,470). You'll also still have to put in a $1,000 non-refundable deposit to reserve the configuration you choose, and you must be able to accept a delivery between April 22 and June 30.

As TechCrunch notes, Rivian launched the promo at a time when there's lower demand for electric vehicles, especially for more expensive premium models. Other automakers recently introduced discounts of their own — Tesla, for instance, shaved $2,000 off the starting prices of the Model Y, Model X and Model S. It's also ending its referral program on April 30 and is making its Full-Self Driving software $4,000 cheaper. If you do trade in an eligible gas vehicle to buy an R1, you'll also be able to charge your new EV at all Rivian Adventure Network sites for free for one year.

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The electric model looks pretty much like the gas-powered G-Class, with its sharp angles and its distinctive door handles, grilles and round headlights. Mercedes offers optional lighting exclusive to the EQ version of the vehicle, though, so you can change its looks and give it a design that's considerably different from a standard G-Class. The vehicle is powered by four electric motors located near each wheel and has several modes for off-road use: G-TURN, which will allow you to turn the vehicle almost on the spot, G-STEERING, which could eliminate the need for multi-point turns, and the intelligent off-road crawl function that provides cruise control for off-road drives.

Mercedes-Benz made sure the vehicle's battery is ready for off-road journeys, as well, and encased it in a torsion-resistant casing that protects it from water and dirt. Since the vehicle can be driven in up to 33.5 inches of water, the battery definitely needs that kind of protection. It can charge with both alternating current and direct current, and when plugged into a fast-charging DC system, it can go from 10 to 80 percent in just 32 minutes. The G-Class can convert kinetic energy into electrical energy when you coast or hit the brakes, as well.

EDITION ONE, the G-Class with EQ Technology coming out at launch later this year, will have an "an expanded palette of standard features." A company spokesperson told TechCrunch that a range-extended version with a battery that uses a more energy-dense silicon-anode technology from Mercedes' partner Silas will also be available in the next few years.

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The next-generation electric pickup, codenamed “T3,” is also being delayed from late 2025 to 2026. It’s being built at the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center assembly plant at the company’s BlueOval City complex, though Ford says it’s just now installing stamping equipment that will produce the sheet metal for the truck.

Alongside these announcements, the company has revealed a new push for hybrid vehicles. It has stated it plans on offering hybrid powertrains across the entire Ford Blue lineup by 2030. Despite the aforementioned delays and the pivot toward hybrid vehicles, Ford says it remains committed to EVs and that it’s continuing construction of battery plants in Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky.

However, it’s no secret that the EV market is not quite as robust as companies once hoped it would be. Maybe it’s the high price of entry, the spotty charging infrastructure or the fact that some EVs do not qualify for the federal tax break. Heck, maybe consumers are simply turned off by a certain CEO who shall not be named.

In any event, the slowdown is real, though perhaps a bit overstated. Ford experienced a decline in EV sales of 11 percent in January, but the company says it bounced back and that sales have increased by 86 percent throughout the entire first quarter when compared to last year. However, the company’s EV offerings lost $4.7 billion in 2023.

“We are committed to scaling a profitable EV business”, said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. To that end, the company announced last year that it would be delaying or canceling $12 billion in planned spending on electric vehicles. It’s unclear how today’s announcements will impact Ford’s plans to ramp up production to 600,000 EVs per year. In any event, customers can now use Tesla Superchargers in the US and Canada, which should help assuage some of those infrastructure concerns.

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Both prices are also $10,000 less than the base Model S and Model X vehicles. The new EVs, however, have shorter ranges than the other versions in their line: In the case of Model S, the new option has a range of 320 miles, while the base variant can last for over 80 miles longer with its 405-mile range. It also takes 3.7 seconds for new EV to accelerate from zero to 60 mph, whereas it takes 3.1 seconds for the base version to achieve the same speed. Meanwhile, the new Model X has a range of 269 miles, which is definitely shorter than the base variant's 348 miles. It takes the new Model X 4.4 seconds to reach 60mph, longer than the 3.8 seconds it takes the base version.

As Electrek noted when it noticed the presence of Standard Range vehicles on Tesla's website, it's not clear if the automaker is making battery packs especially for these releases or if it's merely software-locking packs for its EVs with longer ranges. If it's the latter, then Tesla might give customers the opportunity to unlock longer ranges in the future if they're willing to pay for it. The new Standard Range EVs are available for the aforementioned prices in Pearl White with an all-black interior, along with standard wheels and steering wheel. Buyers will have to pay extra for other colors, customizations, and, of course, for Tesla's Enhanced Autopilot ($6,000) and Full Self-Driving Capability ($15,000) features.

Tesla is giving current customers the option to transfer Full Self-Driving to a newly purchased vehicle for free at the moment. That said, they can only take advantage of this one-time amnesty if they take delivery of a new EV between July 20th and September 30th, 2023. Seeing as the new Standard Range vehicles could be delivered after September, buyers should be aware that they might have to pay for FSD again even if they already have it in their current Tesla EV.

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"This is a strategic investment that will further help reinforce GM’s efforts in EV batteries, accelerate our work on affordable battery chemistries like LMFP and support our efforts to build a US-focused battery supply chain,” said GM VP Gil Golan.

Mitra Chem is more of a battery development company than a manufacturer. It uses AI to "simulate, synthesize and test thousands of cathode designs monthly, ranging in size from grams to kilograms," the press release states. The aim is to shorten so-called learning cycles to get new battery formulas to market quicker. At the same time, it's focused on LMFP (lithium manganese iron phosphate) tech that reduces reliance on rare minerals like cobalt.

To do all that, the company uses an in-house cloud platform specifically designed for battery cathode development. It can simulate everything from cathode synthesis optimization to cell durability to process scale-up — in other words, most of the steps required to get new battery designs to market. "GM’s investment in Mitra Chem will not only help us develop affordable battery chemistries for use in GM vehicles, but also will fuel our mission to develop… US made, iron-based cathode materials that can power EVs, grid-scale electrified energy storage and beyond,” said Mitra Chem CEO Vivas Kumar.

GM is developing new battery tech on a number of technological fronts. Along with its Mitra Chem investment, it's working on pouch- and prismatic-style cells shaped like flattened boxes to reduce battery weight and volume. It's also using aluminum-doped anodes to reduce cobalt quantities and working with LG Chem to reduce and eventually eliminate cobalt and nickel from their batteries.

Other car manufacturers are experimenting with different approaches. Toyota recently announced it would develop EVs with more than 600 miles of range, while others like Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen are investing in solid-state battery technologies. Most current models are playing catchup with Tesla, though, which has four EVs in the top ten in terms of range, including the $47,240 Tesla Model 3 Long Range (358 miles).

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In a tweet from Tesla Europe, the company posted pictures showing the styling changes, particularly in the front end, which is sleeker and less bulbous than before. That in turn helps it travel farther on a charge.

“Go up to 629 km (390 miles) on a single charge with updated exterior styling optimized for max aerodynamics,” a caption reads. That’s based on Europe’s WLTP range, though, which equates to 10-12 percent better range compared to the previous model. Given the 272 mile/333 mile EPA range of the current base/long range Model 3, that means US range could rise to about 300 miles/365 miles.

Tesla is also promising “more refined & relaxed ride quality, thanks to a combination of a stiffer body & updated suspension tuning.” Two new colors (ultra red & stealth grey) are on offer for €2,000 over the base white color, and are designed to change subtly based on viewing angle and lighting.

The interior has been refreshed as well (with physical controls still nowhere to be seen). Tesla is promising “more sophisticated materials, ventilated seats & customizable ambient lighting,” along with a rear touchscreen that gives entertainment and climate controls to backseat riders. Meanwhile, the the main touchscreen has more usable screen space thanks to the smaller bezels, and also “brighter, higher contrast & more responsive,” Tesla wrote.

The Model 3 was already relatively quiet, but its silent electric operation also makes every exterior noise more pronounced. To that end, the new version has “360 degree acoustic glass [that] ensures silence inside the cabin no matter what’s happening around you” with significantly less road and wind noise, Tesla promised. It also comes with a better sound system that now has up to 17 speakers, dual subwoofers and dual amplifiers. “Obviously goes to 11,” Tesla said (read that in Elon Musk’s voice).

Tesla has already made significant updates to the Model 3 since it was first released in 2018 (via firmware updates and minor physical changes), but the new version appears to make it more sophisticated and efficient — likely in response to polished EVs from Kia, Mercedes and others. It may also make the Model 3 cheaper to produce, according to rumors from last year.

However, the new Model 3 could cost more when it arrives in the US. In China, the base model is now around $35,800, or 12 percent more than the previous version, according to The Wall Street Journal. At the same time, the base model is the same price in Norway, but the long range version is about $950 more. As mentioned, Tesla’s configurators are now live in Europe, with deliveries expected in October — and it should arrive in the US soon.

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As of today, you can pick up a Model S for the base price of $74,990, which is $3,500 less than the previous base price. The Model X now starts at $79,990, which is a reduction of $8,500. All colors are now included in the base price, so you don’t have to pony up for a bit of aesthetic flourish. You can choose between white, black, gray, blue or red.

This is a good news and bad news situation, however, as Tesla has suddenly discontinued the Standard Range version of both vehicles, which featured a smaller battery. This isn’t that big of a deal, however, as the new discounted prices on the Model X and S make these cars actually cheaper than the Standard Range vehicles.

There’s one final money-saving item of note. The Tesla Model X now qualifies for a tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. The threshold for qualification is $55K for cars and $80K for trucks and SUVs. In other words, the Model S is still too expensive, but the Model X squeaks in just under the cost threshold for SUVs and trucks. This means that you can actually get a base Model X for cheaper than a Model S, so long as you make less than $150K to $300K a year, depending on if you’re single or married.

As previously stated, the price cuts also apply across Europe and China, with similar discounts when considering local currencies. While lower prices are obviously a great thing for prospective consumers, some current Tesla owners have expressed dismay regarding an associated drop in resale prices. Earlier this year, protesters in China demanded compensation for price cuts but Tesla said nope.

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The EV5 SUV is the third purely electric vehicle in its lineup. Kia designed it on top of E-GMP, its dedicated EV platform, and currently plans to manufacture and sell them in China and Korea. Its specifications differ for each market, with China getting a standard, a long-range and a long-range AWD variant. China's standard model will come with a 64kWh battery pack, along with a 160kW motor, and is expected to have a range of 530 km or 329 miles.

Meanwhile, the long-range version will have a bigger battery that can reach a range of 720 km or 447 miles on a single charge. The AWD model will have a range of 650 km or 404 miles and will come with a fast-charging capability. As for the Korean models, their range will apparently be tailored to meet market demands. Kia says a GT variant with performance features will also be unveiled at a later date.

While the EV5 is very much a real product that will initially be available for sale in the Chinese market later this year, the other electric vehicles Kia unveiled during its event are still a concept at this point. The EV3 (pictured above), if it turns out exactly as the automaker has envisioned, will be a compact and accessible version of the EV9. Kia's EV4 (below), on the other hand, will be a sedan with a low nose, sharp lines and a futuristic cocoon-like interior. It remains to be seen whether Kia can achieve a $35,000 price point, which seems to be a common target among EV makers, for any of the aforementioned vehicles.

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By using NACS ports on its electric vehicles, Toyota is effectively giving its customers the power to access more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across North America. While the company won't be implementing the standard over the next year, its timeline matches its rival automakers'. To note, customers who already have Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with the Combined Charging System (CCS) will be offered access to NACS adapters starting in 2025, as well.

BMW also recently announced that it was adopting the standard for all its EVs in the United States and Canada. A few months ago, GM and Ford revealed they were making the switch starting in 2025, but owners will already be able to access Tesla Superchargers next year with an adopter. Hyundai will adopt the port for its EVs in the US in 2024, with EVs in Canada to follow in 2025. Honda, Toyota's fellow Japanese automaker, announced its transition to NACS in September and its plans to sell vehicles with the port in two years' time. It also said, however, that it's developing an adapter to allow pre-2025 Hondas to charge using Tesla's system.

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"We think our customers still deserve a $7,500 credit for choosing an EV," Zak Edson, Lucid's Vice President of Sales and Service, said back in February. Buyers can get federal tax credits of up to $7,500 for electric vehicles within certain price ranges, but Lucid's luxury sedans are too expensive and don't qualify for the incentive.

To note, customers can only avail of Lucid's discounts if they can take delivery within seven days of their order being ready. One of the company's main reasons for cutting prices seems to be to sell its current inventory, because the limited-time offers only apply to "cars for immediate delivery." Upon checking its available vehicles, Lucid has dozens of the aforementioned models available for buyers within the next two weeks.

Lucid isn't the only EV-maker to cut its prices more than once over the past year. Tesla notably lowered its prices several times since 2022, the latest of which was announced after it revealed that it fell short of market estimates for deliveries in the third quarter of 2023.

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