Author: William D. Kouch

In a bold move back in 2021, General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra took the automotive world by surprise when she revealed the company’s ambitious plan to achieve zero-emissions status by 2035. This landmark goal involved a significant milestone: GM aimed to possess the capacity to produce one million electric vehicles (EVs) annually in North America by the end of 2025. However, in a recent interview with CNBC, Barra admitted that GM will fall short of this target. “There’s a bit of a slowdown. We won’t reach a million because the market just isn’t developing as quickly as expected. But…

Tesla Unveils Limited-Time Subsidy Match for Model Y in the Netherlands Tesla has announced a new initiative in the Netherlands that aims to make its electric vehicles more accessible to the public. For a brief period, the company is offering a subsidy match on select pre-configured Model Y rear-wheel-drive (RWD) units, making this an attractive proposition for prospective buyers. Subsidy Match Details In a post on X, Tesla disclosed that it would match the Subsidy Scheme for Electric Passenger Cars for Private Individuals (SEPP) of €2,950 (~$3,215) for specific Model Y RWD models. This special offer is available to buyers…

Genesis Unveils Magma: Their Answer to BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, and Audi RS The landscape of luxury automotive brands has been significantly shaped by the pioneering efforts of German automakers BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. Their in-house tuning divisions—M, AMG, and RS, respectively—have not only enhanced vehicle performance but also bolstered brand prestige. The resulting business model has set a new industry standard, inspiring other manufacturers to follow suit. One such brand is Genesis, which has announced its own performance sub-brand: Magma. Genesis Targets German Rivals Genesis aims to emulate the success of its German competitors by creating Magma, a performance-focused line…

Tesla Cybertruck Spotted Featuring Advanced Rooftop Sensor Suite Tesla’s highly anticipated Cybertruck has been recently seen sporting a state-of-the-art rooftop sensor suite, catching the eyes of many onlookers. This setup appears similar to the sensor arrays seen on other Tesla models, such as the Tesla Semi, which predominantly include LiDAR sensors. The Sighting in San Jose Photos of the Cybertruck equipped with these advanced sensors have surfaced on social media platform X, showcasing a Release Candidate (RC) unit. Interestingly, although the vehicle was spotted in San Jose, California, it bore Texas license plates. Unique Sensor Placement The configuration of the…

When it comes to electric trucks, the Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck have garnered quite the reputation for their off-road capabilities. Generally perceived as lifestyle vehicles tailored more towards adventurous terrains rather than typical truck duties, these two models are often compared to more conventional trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning or Chevy Silverado EV. Both have been showcased tackling rocky landscapes and cruising through Californian deserts. But what about their performance on simpler, more commonly encountered terrains like jeep trails, rough farmlands, and back roads? The YouTube channel Mountain Pass Performance sought to answer this question in a recent…

Kia’s Global Sales Dip in June, Yet Electric Vehicles Surge Kia Motors has reported a slight decline in its global vehicle sales for June, with a nearly 4% year-over-year decrease to 267,536 units. This brings the H1 2024 total to approximately 1.55 million units, marking a 1.4% decrease compared to the previous year. However, the automaker sees a silver lining in its electric vehicle (EV) segment. Strong Performance in the EV Sector Despite the overall dip in sales, Kia’s all-electric vehicle segment is performing exceptionally well. The company recorded retail sales of 17,603 EV units in June, accounting for 7%…

Elon Musk Endorses Donald Trump for U.S. President Following Rally Incident Elon Musk, the illustrious CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has officially thrown his support behind former President Donald Trump for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The endorsement came shortly after an assassination attempt on Trump took place during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania over the weekend. A Bold Statement on Social Media Musk took to X to make his statement, declaring, "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery." This announcement was made just hours after the harrowing incident at the rally, which fortunately did not…

VinFast’s North Carolina EV Factory Delayed Until 2028 Due to Economic Challenges VinFast, the ambitious Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) startup, has announced a significant delay in the opening of its $4 billion manufacturing facility near Raleigh, North Carolina. Originally slated to open this month, the plant now won’t be operational until 2028. The company attributes the postponement to "economic headwinds" and uncertainties within the global EV market. However, the intricate story behind this delay reveals deeper layers to VinFast’s struggles. A Strategic Pivot Amid Global Economic Challenges On Friday, VinFast confirmed a strategic decision to revise the timeline for their…

Genesis EV Sales See a Jump Amid Overall Q2 Decline The U.S. market saw a slight dip in Genesis car sales during the second quarter of 2024, with the brand reporting 17,044 units sold, marking a 2.4% year-over-year decrease. Despite this overall decline, Hyundai’s luxury division, Genesis, achieved a significant milestone in increasing its all-electric vehicle (EV) sales. Record-Breaking Quarter for Genesis EVs Genesis sold a record-breaking 2,249 electric vehicles in Q2 2024, a 39% increase compared to the same period last year. This surge in EV sales pushed the electric vehicle share of the brand’s total U.S. sales to…

Upgrade Your EV Experience: Why Hankook’s iON Tires are Superior to Stock Options When you purchase a new car, it usually comes with so-called "stock" tires—those installed by the manufacturer. These stock configurations are designed to meet the minimum viable requirements, ensuring the vehicle is road-ready. However, they may not always be the best choice for an optimal driving experience. This is particularly true for electric vehicles (EVs), where more specialized solutions like Hankook’s iON tires can make a world of difference. The Limitations of Stock Tires Stock tires are typically adequate for the first few tens of thousands of…