Drive Notes
Observations from the driveway: family logic, status signals, ownership rituals, and the small car opinions people take surprisingly personally.
Rivian’s 2027 R1S Finally Gets Second-Row Captain’s Chairs
The 2027 R1S adds optional second-row captain’s chairs with a center pass-through, Rivian’s most-requested interior feature since launch. The R1 lineup also moves to Premium, Performance, and Quad trims, with starting prices of $83,990 for the R1S and $79,990 for the R1T.
Read the full note →Latest
The World Already Chose Electric Cars. America Is Still Arguing
Elsewhere, electric cars already feel normal. In the U.S., they still feel like an argument. The International Energy Agency’s latest outlook shows why that gap is about policy and price, and why the destination is still electric.
National
How VinFast Got Huge
In under a decade, Vietnam’s VinFast flipped a Toyota-and-Hyundai market into an electric one it dominates. The playbook was conglomerate money, a charging blanket, cheap mini-EVs, and a tax code that made battery cars the easy buy.
International
Nevada Cleared 7,000 Robotaxis for Las Vegas. Only One Company Is Charging Fares.
The Nevada Transportation Authority unanimously approved fleet ceilings of 5,000 Tesla robotaxis and 1,000 each for Waymo and Uber subsidiary Aviari in Clark County. Amazon-owned Zoox is still the only operator charging fares on the Strip, and nobody works the airport curb until Clark County aviation officials sign off.
Nevada
An American Won the Freedom 250. The National Mall Was Already a Set.
Kyle Kirkwood led 128 of 147 laps and gave the Freedom 250 the American winner its pageantry demanded. Before the green flag there was a presidential parade lap, six branches of military flyovers, and a National Gallery that had boarded up its skylights just in case.
National
Car Week Began as a Forest Race. It Still Has Some Evolving to Do.
Forest racing created Monterey Car Week, then ended for good when Ernie McAfee hit a pine in 1956. The peninsula it left behind is about 3 percent Asian in Carmel, two hours from a San Francisco that is roughly one-third Asian. That gap has a paper trail.
California
China’s Record Recall Is About Finding the Door When the Power Dies
Tesla, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng and others filed China’s largest recall round over emergency mechanical door releases that blend into the trim. Labels and post-crash window OTAs are the fix for now. A 2027 rule bans hidden exterior handles.
National
Car Week Starts at Concours Village, Long Before Concours Sunday
For many early arrivals, Monterey Car Week begins on a gravel field at Forest Lake and Stevenson. Concours Village is free, several brand booths stay open through the week, and this year’s memorabilia tent offered a short course in California car culture.
California
Coach Doors Are Back. Are They Actually Usable?
Genesis put independently opening coach doors on the GV90 Neolun, with dual-motion hinges and a hidden B-pillar. The photos look like a lounge. The questions that decide ownership are crash structure, curb space, child locks, and whether the third row still asks you to climb.
National
Why Hyundai Still Needs Shell in the EV Era
Hyundai and Shell Lubricants renewed their global agreement through 2031. Engine oil remains part of the deal, but EV fluids, coolants, dealer aftersales, and race-team development explain why the relationship still matters.
National
The 2027 Mercedes C-Class Wants Its AI to Be More Than a Voice Command
The refreshed C-Class keeps its mild-hybrid four-cylinder and adds an MB.OS assistant drawing on ChatGPT, Bing, and Gemini. U.S. deliveries start in the first half of 2027, with pricing, privacy terms, and subscription details still unannounced.
National
Mass-Market Cars Are Catching Luxury Brands in the Seat
J.D. Power’s 2026 seat study says mass-market brands now beat premium brands on seat satisfaction, with ventilation, memory, and massage migrating down from luxury cars. The Kia Sorento is one of five segment winners. Buy the adjustments you will actually use.
National
Pebble Beach Still Crowns the Past. Asian Automakers Are Competing for the Future.
A Clark Gable Duesenberg took Best of Show at the 75th Concours. Down the fairway, Japanese race cars finally got a judged class of their own, while Acura unveiled its next design language at The Quail.
California
Acura’s NEXERA Vision Is the First Real Look at Its Post-RSX Design Language
Acura’s Monterey coupe is a design sketchbook for the brand’s next decade. The lighting graphic and stance are the pieces most likely to reach the next RDX Hybrid.
California
Marcus Ericsson Ends a 63-Race Drought in Markham’s First IndyCar Race
Ericsson used fresh tires to pass Romain Grosjean with five laps left and win the inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham. The finish rescued a debut weekend that also exposed work for year two.
Ontario
At 75, Pebble Beach Returns to the Road Races That Created It
The Concours began as a side attraction to a forest road race in 1950. Its 75th edition brought 22 of those early racers back, including both MG specials that helped launch Ken Miles.
California
Vision BMW Alpina Previews Life After Alpina Became a BMW Brand
At The Quail, BMW’s one-off Vision BMW ALPINA argues for speed with composure after Alpina joined the Group. The useful question is what Buchloe eccentricity survives corporate stewardship.
California
Lamborghini’s Revuelto SV Arrives With a Controversial “Production-Car Record”
A camouflaged Revuelto SV lapped Hockenheim in 1:41.6 before its Quail debut. The useful part is not the stopwatch alone. It is how Lamborghini defined “production car.”
International
The Electric BMW M Concept Neue Klasse Makes Its North American Debut
Four motors and BMW’s Heart of Joy control stack preview electric M for Monterey. The real argument is whether software-managed handling can still feel like an M car.
California
Genesis Climbs to Number Two in J.D. Power’s 2026 Initial Quality Study
A seven-place jump to 151 problems per 100 vehicles puts Genesis behind only Porsche. The climb was powered less by panel gaps than by screens, controls, and usability.
National
Monterey Car Week 2026: A Practical Week Guide Without Buying Every Ticket
Car Week on the Monterey Peninsula runs through Sunday’s 75th Concours. Here is how to spend the days that matter: Laguna, Quail Friday, auction hours, and Concours Sunday, without treating every paid lawn as mandatory.
California
Bugatti’s Destrier Is a Bolide Without the Visual Chaos
Programme Solitaire’s third one-off keeps the Bolide’s 1,578-hp W16 and carbon tub, then swaps wings and vents for Sapphire Celeste coachwork aimed at Concours lawns.
International
Toyota Is Recalling More Than Half a Million Camry Hybrids Over Blank Instrument Displays
About 508,000 U.S. 2025–2026 Camry Hybrids with the seven-inch cluster can wake up blank, taking turn signals and hazard lamps with them. Dealers will flash free software; owner letters start mid-September.
National
Monterey Car Week’s Automobilia Auction Tests a Collector Market Beyond the Cars
While later-week auctions chase seven-figure metal, ACE’s Tuesday sale in Seaside puts posters, signs, books, and concours paper under the hammer beside a dealer expo. Car Week’s collectible economy is trying the wall, not just the driveway.
California
Pebble Beach’s 75th Poster Set Finally Puts the Road Races on the Wall
Tim Layzell’s three official posters for the 75th Concours go on sale Wednesday for $50 each or $95 as a set. For the first time, one of them commemorates the Del Monte Forest road races that created the show.
California
Last Year’s Tulipwood Best of Show Is Still the Clearest Concours Lesson
Five days before the 75th Concours, last year’s Best of Show is still the useful yardstick: André Dubonnet’s mahogany Hispano-Suiza Torpedo, restored back to its original skiff shape after a later owner hid it under pontoon fenders.
California
Alex Albon Becomes the First Driver to Start 100 Races for Williams
At the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Anglo-Thai driver passed Nigel Mansell’s Williams start record and hit a round 100. The milestone lands in a tough 2026, with the team’s B-spec car still weeks away.
National
Markham Gets Canada’s IndyCar Weekend as the Series Leaves Exhibition Place
Festival week opened Monday for the first Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham. Race weekend is August 14–16 on a new downtown street circuit, with the 90-lap IndyCar race Sunday just after noon ET.
OntarioArchive
Older notes, still available to read.
Acura’s Monterey Concept Will Preview the Face of Its Next Generation
Acura will debut an unnamed concept at The Quail on August 14, teasing a new design language that first reaches production on the fourth-generation RDX Hybrid. The teaser is almost all lighting, and that is the point.
California
The Modern Concours Is No Longer Just a Car Show
Pebble Beach still crowns a Best of Show on the 18th fairway. Around it, Monterey Car Week now runs on hospitality chalets, auction paddles, Rolex watches, fashion on the field, and private-client access that treat the lawn as one room in a larger luxury house.
California
Forty Lamborghini Miuras Are Coming to Pebble Beach for the Supercar’s 60th Anniversary
Pebble Beach will open the 3rd fairway for about 40 Miuras, roughly 5% of total production, while Lamborghini stretches the anniversary across The Quail and a 99-car Revuelto homage. Heritage week is also selling electrified desire.
California
India’s Electric Two-Wheelers Are Turning Dhoot Transmission Into More Than a Wiring Company
Bain Capital-backed Dhoot Transmission heads into a $322 million IPO as battery packs, chargers, and converters push non-harness products to 23% of revenue. India’s EV buildout is scooters and three-wheelers first, and suppliers that sell the electrical architecture.
India
What Actually Makes a Car Concours-Worthy?
Monterey Car Week is days away. An expensive collector car, a beautiful restoration, and a top-concours competitor are three different animals. Here is how the lawn actually sorts them.
California
Tesla’s European Recovery Is Becoming a Country-by-Country Puzzle
July registrations jumped 86% in France and 52% in Denmark while plunging in Norway, Sweden, Italy, Spain, and Portugal—even as Europe’s broader EV market kept expanding. One continent total cannot explain that map.
National
Which Automakers Are Winning America’s Hybrid Reset
Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai Motor Group now control 86% of U.S. hybrid sales as buyers treat hybrids as a destination, not a bridge: better MPG without charging, range planning, or a condo board fight.
National
Magarigawa Is Where Japan’s Supercars Finally Get to Stretch
Cornes carved a members-only Tilke road course into the hills of Minamiboso so Japan’s Ferrari and Lamborghini owners have somewhere legal to use the cars they already bought.
National
Formula 1 Is Going Back to Malaysia, With Bahrain’s Name on the Door
Sepang returns to the calendar October 2–4 as host of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, slotting between Baku and Singapore for Formula 1’s first Malaysian race weekend since 2017.
National
Monterey Car Week Starts Friday. Tonight Is for the Map, Not the Lawn.
Car Week opens Friday. Before you chase the 75th Pebble Beach Concours lawn, sort free street shows from ticketed race days and decide where the car sleeps.
NorCal
Ford Recalls 565,691 Broncos Over Engine-Bay Fire Risk
Model-year 2021–2026 Bronco and Bronco Raptor trucks can chafe an underhood wiring harness until it shorts. Ford cites 15 fire incidents, no crashes or injuries, and a free sheathing fix as owner letters start late August.
National
Hybrids Take 15.9% of July Retail Sales as EV Share Slips to 7%
J.D. Power and GlobalData put July hybrid retail share at 15.9%, more than double battery EVs at 7.0%, while manufacturers shift incentive dollars toward gas and hybrid inventory.
National
Rivian’s Second Half Is a Near-Double Delivery Test Built Around R2
After raising full-year deliveries to 65,000–70,000, Rivian needs roughly 42,400–47,400 handovers in the second half. R2 is the volume bet; Q4 is where the ramp has to show up.
National
GM Wants an AI That Knows the Car, Not Just the Playlist
General Motors says a native in-vehicle AI assistant arrives later this year, layered under Google Gemini and wired into OnStar, vehicle telemetry, and proprietary car knowledge.
National
Honda Will Enter 2027 Without a U.S. Battery EV
After the 2026 Prologue, Honda has no battery-electric passenger model lined up for U.S. showrooms. Remaining inventory can sell into early 2027 while hybrids take the product budget.
National
A Korean Designer Put the Stripes on Scout’s Spirit of ’26
Scout Motors designer Dongwon Kim drew the Traveler Spirit of ’26 livery, a red-white-and-blue reinterpretation of International Harvester’s 1976 Spirit of ’76 package for America’s 250th birthday.
National
California Hybrids Just Outpaced ZEVs, and Households Are Voting With Payments
Standard hybrids took 22.1% of California new registrations in the first half of 2026, ahead of ZEVs at 15.9%, a record hybrid share after the federal credit cliff reshaped driveway math.
California
NHTSA Opens a Probe Into 1.2 Million Teslas Over Suspension Failures
A preliminary evaluation covers certain 2018–2020 Model 3 and 2021–2023 Model Y cars after 156 complaints of front lower lateral link detachment that can kill steering control.
National
Kumamoto Earthquake Halts Lexus Production, Expect Longer Waits for ES, RX, and NX
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake in southwestern Japan forced Toyota to shut Lexus production through July 31. Three key models built there—the ES, RX, and NX—could face supply tightness and longer dealer waitlists.
National
Ford Raised Guidance Because Trucks and Hybrids Still Print Money
Adjusted EBIT guidance climbs to $10–11 billion after a quarter where truck and hybrid pricing power carried the P&L — even as a $1.3 billion net loss and aluminum tariffs grabbed the headline.
National
Audi’s New Flagship Is a Three-Row Built for America
The 2027 Q9 starts at $89,095 and the SQ9 at $119,395 — Audi’s biggest SUV ever, U.S.-first, and aimed at GLS and X7 shoppers while the brand’s American sales keep sliding.
National
Ram Puts Real Prices on the Rumble Bee Ladder
Base Rumble Bee lands at $59,995 before destination ($62,790 out the gate); the 777-hp SRT starts under $95,000 before fees — a street-truck ladder with late-2026 arrival for the entry bee.
National
Used Car Prices Flat in July as Off-Lease Inventory Floods the Market
Used car prices barely budged in July with just $50 in monthly growth, median hitting $25,800. A flood of off-lease inventory—up 25.7% in 2026—is cracking prices in vans, minivans, and other segments, creating better conditions for buyers.
National
The Rivian R3 Look Has a Name: Julliana Cho
Oregon childhood, Royal College of Art, Porsche and Mercedes desks, then Rivian: the Korean American senior design manager who led exterior design on the R3 — the compact EV that still stops scroll feeds years before deliveries.
National
Mercedes Still Makes Money. China Softness Is Why It Cut the Sales Outlook
Second-quarter profit rose while Mercedes-Benz Cars cut its full-year unit-sales and revenue outlook to slightly below last year, citing China. U.S. car sales still grew — here’s what that split means if you’re shopping GLC, GLE, or CPO.
National
ChargePoint Is Live Inside GM Energy Pass. One Less App on the Road Trip
Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac EV apps can now find, start, and pay at ChargePoint — unlocking roughly 60% of U.S. public Level 2 chargers in Energy Pass, with Plug & Charge at many stalls and a path toward about 70% of DC fast chargers.
National
July’s New-Car Pace Is the Strongest of 2026. Affluent Buyers Are Why
Cox Automotive forecasts a 16.7 million SAAR for July — the year’s strongest sales pace — even as high gas prices and weak confidence fail to scare off showroom traffic.
National
Yuki Tsunoda Is Hungry to Get Back. The Hard Part Is Watching
After five seasons and a short Red Bull race seat in 2025, Japan's Yuki Tsunoda is Red Bull and Racing Bulls reserve for 2026 — still in the paddock, still training, and telling F1.com he is not giving up on a full-time return.
National
Ford Wants Nike-Style Bronco Drops. Desert Rising Is the First
Ford Custom Garage opened orders Monday on the limited Desert Rising Bronco package — a $13,695 Horizon Series look that lifts a built truck to about $57,350 — as the brand pushes factory-backed "sneaker drop" customization into the $53 billion U.S. aftermarket.
National
An Old NACS Adapter Melted on a Rivian R2. Check Yours Before CCS Fast Charging
State of Charge's Tom Moloughney melted a pin on an older Tesla CCS-to-NACS adapter while DC fast-charging a Rivian R2 — a 400-volt, high-amperage reality check for anyone carrying early adapters to Electrify America and ChargePoint.
National
Car Week's Asian Story Is Laguna Seca's Japanese Motorsport Reunion
Monterey Car Week runs August 7–16. The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion puts Japanese racing history on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca August 12–15, with a first-time JDM Legends display and two Le Mans winners sharing one paddock.
NorCal
Mercedes Puts a Calendar Date on the Next GLA: July 29
Mercedes-Benz will unveil the third-generation GLA compact crossover on July 29 at 1:30 p.m. ET via a livestream, with mild-hybrid and electric versions expected to share the new MMA compact architecture.
National
Canada's First Chinese EV Arrival Is a $119,900 Lotus, Not the BYD Dinner Argument
Geely-owned Lotus Eletre SUVs built in Wuhan are the first Chinese-owned, Chinese-built EVs on Canadian lots under the 49,000-unit tariff quota - starting near C$119,900 while households still wait for affordable BYD volume.
GTA
The Average New-Car Payment Hit $777. The Trap Is the 84-Month Term
Edmunds' Q2 2026 finance data put the average financed new-vehicle payment at a record $777, while 23.9% of buyers signed 84-month or longer loans and down payments fell to $5,815.
National
Kia's U.S. Hybrid Mix Hits Nearly 30% as Telluride HEV Carries Q2
Kia posted record quarterly revenue while U.S. hybrid sales jumped 151.6% to 66,000 units — nearly 30% of American volume — as Telluride Hybrid, Seltos Hybrid, and Carnival hybrids did the driveway work.
National
Zhou Guanyu's Next Cadillac Job Is Selling CT5s
China's only full-time Formula 1 race starter is Cadillac's 2026 F1 reserve and now a China brand ambassador, with PROJECT 24 aimed at the rear-drive CT5 sedan shoppers can still order.
National
Honda's July Statement Told Prologue Owners to Consider a Hybrid
A “Consider What’s Next” blurb on July Honda financing statements pitched hybrids to customers — including Prologue EV owners and lessees — as Honda exits battery-electric showroom inventory.
National
Mobileye's Road Map Now Has Five of the World's Biggest Carmakers Feeding It
Stellantis is the newest contributor to Mobileye's REM crowdsourced road intelligence, which already covers more than 95 percent of U.S. and European public roads from 8 million vehicles and 34 billion miles last year.
National
Cadillac Puts Gas CT5, XT5, and XT6 Back on the Calendar
Mary Barra told investors next-generation gas Cadillacs arrive starting next spring through 2028, rebuilding a dual-powertrain luxury lineup as GM raises its profit outlook on trucks and SUVs.
National
Stellantis Puts New Bosses on Jeep and Ram as North America Ramps
Matt VanDyke takes Ram immediately and Branden Coté steps into Jeep on August 3, reporting to Tim Kuniskis as Stellantis leans harder on the two brands that have to carry FaSTLAne 2030 in North America.
National
U.S. Gas Crosses $4 Again in the Middle of Road-Trip Season
AAA's national average hit $4.003 on July 20, the first time above $4 in more than a month, while diesel reached about $5.11 as summer driving and oil-market risk collided.
National
Dodge Brings Back Power Dollars: $10 per Horsepower on Charger SIXPACK
Retail buyers of 2026 gasoline Charger R/T and Scat Pack models get $4,200 or $5,500 off through August 3, a horsepower-tied cash allowance that leases and Daytona EVs do not share.
National
Telluride Fire Recall Is Now Searchable by VIN
Owners of certain 2020–2024 Kia Tellurides can now check campaign SC374 by VIN. Affected vehicles should remain parked outside until dealers install the new electronic-fuse remedy.
National
Volvo's Cost Cuts Land Early, but China and EX60 Inventory Keep Q2 Thin
Comparable operating profit fell 72%, China sales dropped 35%, and Volvo must convert its EX60 inventory into second-half deliveries to restore cash flow.
Global
David Malukas Returns From Hospital to Lead Nashville Practice
Hours after a roughly 200-mph corner entry ended in a rear-first SAFER Barrier impact, Malukas passed INDYCAR's medical checks, climbed into a backup Chevrolet, and set the evening's fastest lap.
National
Hoyeon Learned to Drift a Hyundai Stellar for Hope
For her feature-film debut in Na Hong-jin's Hope, Hoyeon earned a manual licence and trained with a racing instructor before sliding a rear-drive Hyundai Stellar through the movie's road chases.
Global
The Electric Lexus LFA Finally Moves at Goodwood
Lexus quietly moved its battery-electric LFA Concept from the Supercar Paddock to Goodwood's hill, giving the project its first public dynamic runs while leaving the production details under camouflage.
Global
Honda Ends the Prologue After 2026, Leaving Its U.S. EV Lineup Empty
Honda will conclude Prologue sales after the 2026 model year while continuing dealer service, parts, and warranty support. The exit closes Honda's short GM-platform bridge and leaves the brand without a battery-electric vehicle in U.S. showrooms.
National
ChargePoint and Onvo Plan 12 Northeast Highway Charging Sites
ChargePoint and Onvo plan ultra-fast charging at 12 travel plazas in Pennsylvania and New York. The partnership has useful highway real estate, but no public site list, port count, pricing, or opening schedule yet.
Northeast
Canada's Fast-Charging Buildout Is Outrunning Drivers, for Now
Canada added 390 DC fast-charging ports across 99 stations in Q2 2026 while national utilization fell to 9.5% from 11.3%. More plugs opened than demand could fill immediately, especially outside the busiest metro cores.
National (Canada)
California Offers Instant $3,500 First-Time EV Rebates
California's MyFirstEV program will knock $3,500 off qualifying new EVs and $1,750 off used ones at the dealership later this summer, backed by a $270 million state-and-automaker pool for first-time zero-emission buyers.
California
Africa's Richest Man Spotted With a Chinese BYD Leopard 8
Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest person on Forbes Africa's 2026 list at about $28.5 billion, was photographed with a Fangchengbao Bao 8, BYD's body-on-frame plug-in hybrid SUV sold in China from roughly 379,800 yuan.
International
AAA: July 4 Gas Relief Hits, Then Prices Turn Up Again
AAA put the national average near $3.83 ahead of Independence Day, about 50 cents below early June, then reported a turn back to $3.84 on July 9 as oil markets priced in Middle East risk. The holiday dip was real. Cheap summer driving is not.
National
NHTSA Tells Robotaxi Makers to Stop Blocking First Responders
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison told autonomous-vehicle developers that driverless cars blocking emergency scenes, ambulances, and firefighters is a functional failure, and ordered solution briefings by the end of July.
National
Toyota's June Was Majority Electrified, With a Catch on RAV4
Toyota Motor North America sold 212,793 vehicles in June, and electrified models were 57.4% of the mix. RAV4 Hybrid hit an all-time monthly high while the broader RAV4 nameplate stayed soft year to date.
National
Honda and Acura's June Was a Hybrid Family Default Story
American Honda sold 133,781 vehicles in June, up about 17% and its best June in five years. CR-V led U.S. SUVs in the first half, hybrid CR-Vs hit a record, and Acura's gateway models carried the brand.
National
Canada's EV Affordability Program Passes $122 Million in Claims
More than $122 million in Electric Vehicle Affordability Program claims have been filed since February 16, with about $2.13 billion still available under the five-year, $2.275 billion replacement for iZEV.
National (Canada)
Chrysler Recalls 17,277 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrids Over Fire Risk
NHTSA recall covers 2020–2022 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid models after reports that the high-voltage battery pack may catch fire even when the vehicle is parked and off.
National
AAA Projects Record 72.2 Million July 4 Travelers Despite Higher Gas
AAA forecasts 72.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for Independence Day 2026, with 61.4 million going by car as pump prices run higher than last year's holiday average.
National
U.S. Public EV Charging Crosses 250,000 Ports
Federal station data now lists more than 250,000 public charging ports at roughly 80,500 locations nationwide, including about 73,000 DC fast chargers and 180,000 Level 2 plugs.
National
Michigan Restarts NEVI Charger Build-Out After Frozen Funds Release
Michigan will install 60 additional NEVI-funded corridor charging stations after a federal judge forced release of $51 million in withheld National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula money.
Midwest
EPA Filings Reveal Tesla Cybercab Specs for the First Time
Tesla Cybercab EPA certification documents confirm a 48 kWh battery, 219-hp front motor, 3,113-pound curb weight, and a May 29 introduction-into-commerce date as Giga Texas production ramps.
National
BYD Hiring Signals Megawatt Flash Charging Push in Canada
BYD posted a Toronto-based Flash Charging business development role as it prepares to deploy megawatt charging in Canada alongside its planned dealer network under Ottawa's reduced Chinese EV tariff quota.
GTA
2027 Nissan Ariya Adds NACS Fast Charging in Canada
The refreshed 2027 Nissan Ariya for Canada adds a native NACS DC fast-charging port alongside the existing J1772 AC inlet, aligning with Tesla Supercharger access trends.
GTA
Federal 30C EV Charger Tax Credit Expires June 30
The 30C Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit covers up to 30 percent of home EV charger installation, capped at $1,000, but only for eligible census tracts and only if equipment is installed by June 30, 2026.
National
DOT Proposes 100 Percent Domestic Content Rule for NEVI Chargers
The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed raising Buy America domestic content requirements for federally funded EV chargers from 55 percent to 100 percent, a standard industry groups say no commercial charger currently meets.
National
U.S. Fast-Charging Network Nears 74,000 Ports as IONNA Closes In on Ford Charge
EV Charging Stations tracking shows U.S. public DC fast-charging ports approaching 74,000 after May added more than 1,400 stalls, with IONNA at 1,132 ports and gaining on Ford Charge.
National
Permits Filed for 96-Stall V4 Supercharger Hub in Willows, California
Permit filings point to a 96-stall Tesla Supercharger site in Willows, California, on I-5 with phased construction, V4 hardware, solar canopies, and a Megapack battery storage system.
NorCal
Optimus Energy Acquires Duke Energy's South Carolina Fast-Charging Network
Optimus Energy Solutions acquired Duke Energy's South Carolina DC fast-charging network of 52 stations across 26 locations, migrating the former pilot sites to ChargePoint as the utility program ended.
South
GM Opens Vehicle-to-Grid Charging to Utility Partners
GM Energy now supports vehicle-to-grid in addition to vehicle-to-home, with PG&E and DTE Energy as launch partners and a target of 52,000 GM EVs supporting Northern California's grid by 2030.
NorCal
BUILD America 250 Act Proposes Federal EV Registration Fees
The House BUILD America 250 Act would add a $130 annual federal registration fee for covered electric vehicles and $35 for plug-in hybrids, with gradual increases capped at $150 and $50 before the fees sunset in 2036.
National
Stellantis Starts Road Testing Solid-State Dodge Charger Daytona
Stellantis and Factorial integrated FEST solid-state cells into a Dodge Charger Daytona development vehicle and began road testing on June 11, calling it the first automotive solid-state integration in North America.
National
GM Energy Pass Unifies Public Charging in One App
GM announced Energy Pass on June 9, building find-charge-pay access to Tesla Superchargers, IONNA, and Electrify America into the MyChevrolet, MyCadillac, and MyGMC apps, covering nearly 70 percent of U.S. DC fast chargers.
National
Walmart Fast-Charging Network Tops 500 Stalls
State of Charge tracking shows Walmart's company-operated DC fast-charging network reached more than 61 sites and 500 stalls by late May 2026, with 400-kW dual-port units offering both NACS and CCS1.
National
BMW iX3 Tops Norway Real-World EV Range Test
In the Norwegian Automobile Federation's summer 2026 El Prix test, the BMW iX3 traveled 781 km (485 miles) on one charge, beating its WLTP rating by 1.5 percent among 25 EVs on an identical route.
National
The Group Chat Always Says Toyota
You can research for weeks. Then someone posts a Camry photo in the family chat and the debate ends.
National
The First Luxury Car Is Never Just a Car
The first luxury car is a milestone purchase. That is exactly why it makes people nervous.
National
Road Rituals: Snacks, Playlists, Rest Stops, Parent Commentary
Every family road trip has unwritten rules about who controls the aux cord, when you stop, and whether the gas-station sushi is a joke or a tradition.
National
Dodge Charger Export to Europe
Dodge announced on June 8 that it will export the full Charger lineup to Europe, including Sixpack gas and Daytona EV models, after weak U.S. sales and with KW Automotive handling import and Iron Parts supplying spares.
National
Peugeot E-208 GTi at Le Mans
Peugeot revealed the production E-208 GTi at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking its first all-electric GTi after a 2025 concept debut and a century of the brand at the French endurance race.
National
Rivian R2 Customer Deliveries Begin
Rivian began first public R2 customer deliveries this week after an employee phase since April, opening with the $57,990 Performance Launch Package and rolling invitations ahead of lower trims through 2027.
National
The Driveway Has Subtext
The car in the driveway is never just transportation. It is a press release your relatives read before anyone says hello.
National
Why Reliability Became a Family Value
In a lot of households, "reliable" is not a spec sheet word. It is a moral one.
National
The Airport Pickup Test
Every family SUV claims to be spacious. The airport pickup is where that claim gets cross-examined under luggage, jet lag, and relatives who did not pack light.
National
The Costco Test
If a family car cannot survive a Saturday Costco run with a flat of water, a hot rotisserie chicken, and a cart full of judgment from the parking lot, it is not really a family car.
National
The Pacific Northwest Has Some of the Most Special Car Culture in the Country
Road & Track argues Oregon and Washington offer rally roots, grassroots tracks, and forest roads that rival California hype—and is hosting its first Northwest Shift Rally there in June.
PNW
Wheelsboy Is Showing Americans the Chinese EVs They Cannot Buy Yet
At Auto China in Beijing, American YouTuber Ethan Robertson toured foreign visitors through EV halls that U.S. shoppers mostly see only on screens—while tariffs keep the cars out of reach.
National
In China, Western Car Brands Are Becoming a "Brand for the Parents"
Younger Chinese buyers now see legacy American and European nameplates as outdated, while BYD, Geely, and Xiaomi win on tech and value.
National
Rivian Softens R2 Delivery Promise to "Soon After" June 9
Rivian told customers on X that R2 deliveries will begin soon after June 9, walking back launch-day language in its May 27 blog post while order invites and demo drives still start on schedule.
National
Why SUVs and Crossovers Own California Roads
A San Gabriel Valley dealer blog sums up what freeways already show: California buyers choose crossovers for space, AWD, safety tech, and resale—even as hybrids and EVs join the mix.
SoCal
Chinese EVs May Reach U.S. Showrooms Within a Few Years, CNBC Reports
Despite tariffs and political opposition, analysts and industry sources tell CNBC Chinese electric vehicles could enter the U.S. market through joint ventures, North American assembly, or cross-border pressure from Canada and Mexico.
National
LA Panel and Exhibit Explore Japanese Americans in the Import Car Scene
A JANM panel and the Cruising J-Town exhibit trace how Nikkei drivers, builders, and racers helped make Southern California's import scene what it is today.
SoCal
Toyota Expands Classic Car Restoration and Discontinued Parts Program
Toyota is reviving discontinued parts for eight models and restoring one classic annually, starting with a 1973-era Celica Liftback rebuilt by factory workers.
National
Inside South Korea's Underground Car Scene, Where Enthusiasm Meets Strict Rules
Road & Track's reporting on late-night meets, dawn Cars & Coffee gatherings, and track days shows how Korean enthusiasts keep car culture alive under tight laws and dash-cam scrutiny.
National
Polestar 2 Returns to Canada After a Tariff Timeout
The China-built Polestar 2 is back for the 2027 model year at $69,900, one trim, fully loaded, after sitting out 2026 because of import tariffs.
GVA
Fast EV Bargains That Undercut the Ferrari Hype
Ferrari's electric Luce may grab headlines at half a million pounds, but the used market is full of quick EVs at a fraction of the price.
National
Hyundai Slashes Kona and Ioniq 5 Prices in Australia, With Tradeoffs
Hyundai cut Australian pricing on the Kona Electric and Ioniq 5 to stay competitive, but removed the heat pump, portable charger, and in-car V2L outlet on some models.
National
Mitsubishi and Nissan Plan EV-to-Grid Power Trading by 2030
Two Japanese automakers want EV owners to charge cheap and sell power back to the grid when rates spike, with services targeted around 2030.
National
Audi Unveils the Nuvolari, a 1,001-HP Hybrid Supercar
Audi's limited-run Nuvolari pairs a high-revving V8 with three electric motors, targeting more than 350 km/h and deliveries in the first half of 2027.
National
2027 Cadillac Lyriq Adds NACS and a Modest Price Bump
The 2027 Lyriq rises just $200 but gains a native NACS port, opening Tesla Supercharger access across North America.
National
Long Island Gas Prices Jump 47% Ahead of Summer Travel
Drivers on Long Island are paying about $4.27 per gallon on average, up sharply from a year ago as summer road trip season collides with higher oil prices.
Northeast
Kia Prices the All-New 2027 Seltos From $24,990
The second-generation 2027 Kia Seltos starts at $24,990 for the LX FWD before destination, with a wider body, Telluride-inspired design, and turbo or naturally aspirated engine choices.
NationalBMW Adds M xDrive All-Wheel Drive to the M2 for the First Time
The BMW M2 gains optional M xDrive for late-summer 2026 deliveries, with a 480-hp inline-six, 0–100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, and production at BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí in Mexico.
National
Honda and Acura Sales Climb as Hybrids Outpace the Prologue EV
Honda Group sales rose nearly 10% in May on hybrid strength, while the Prelude hit its monthly cap and the Prologue EV continued to slide.
National
Utah's Mirror Lake Scenic Byway Named America's Most Beautiful Road
A 42-mile alpine route east of Salt Lake City topped a new ranking based on traveler reviews, beating iconic drives in Colorado and California.
NationalLexus Crossovers Carry the Brand as GX and LX Sales Slip
The RX, NX, and TX posted solid May numbers while body-on-frame GX and LX models declined, even as the RZ EV more than doubled its year-to-date volume.
National
World Cup Summer Is Shaping Road Trip Plans
A GSTV survey finds most Americans still plan to drive this summer, with the World Cup pushing longer trips to matches and watch parties.
National
Toyota Expands Hybrid Lineup Across North American Markets
Toyota is broadening its hybrid portfolio with new trims aimed at suburban families and urban commuters across the U.S. and Canada.
National
Luxury EV Makers Target West Coast Metro Dealership Networks
Premium electric vehicle brands are increasing showroom presence in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Bay Area markets.
SoCal
Used EV Prices Continue Adjusting in Canadian Metro Markets
Secondary EV markets in Toronto and Vancouver are seeing price corrections as inventory grows and buyer preferences shift.
GTA
Chinese EV Imports Set to Reach Canadian Showrooms
Canada will allow 49,000 Chinese-built EVs per year at a 6.1% tariff, and dealers across the country are lining up to sell them.
GTA
Pacific Northwest Charging Corridor Gets Infrastructure Investment
New funding aims to improve fast-charging access along I-5 and key routes between Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver.
PNW
Chinese Automakers Are Racing to Fill Canada's EV Quota
BYD, Geely, and Chery are hiring dealers and scouting storefronts as Canada opens a 49,000-unit window for Chinese-built EVs.
GTA
Mercedes-Benz Picks Seoul as First Asian Stop on Its 140th Anniversary Tour
The new S-Class led Mercedes-Benz's anniversary tour into Gangnam before Beijing and Tokyo, highlighting Korea as a top global market for the brand.
National
Stellantis Explored Building Chinese EVs at an Idled Canadian Plant
Bloomberg reported Stellantis held talks about assembling Chinese-brand EVs at underused Canadian factory capacity amid its broader EV reset.
GTA
California Rewrites Car-Buying Rules With Used Returns and Pricing Reforms
New state laws add a three-day return window for used cars under $50,000, require honest advertised pricing, and let automakers opt out of recent lemon law changes.
NorCal
What Your Family Car Says at Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is when the driveway becomes a family review panel. Nobody writes notes. Everyone has them.
National
Luxury Travel Companies Are Building Custom U.S. Road Trips
AFAR highlights operators from Black Tomato to All Roads North selling curated domestic road trips with five-star hotels, private guides, and fly-and-drive logistics starting in the five figures.
National