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Tech News
A joint report from Foreign Policy and IEEE Spectrum examines efforts by mining firms and governments in North America, Australasia, and Europe to challenge China's roughly 90 percent control of rare-earth oxide and metal markets. The report highlights monazite, a radioactive ore, as a resource that some rare-earth experts believe could help build alternative supply chains outside China's dominance.
Tesla is holding what it calls its final unveiling event for a human-driven vehicle, finally showing the production Roadster 2 six years after its promised launch date. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026, nearly nine years after Elon Musk first announced the car in 2017.
Global sales data show gasoline-only vehicles have fallen under 50% of new car sales worldwide for the first time, according to reporting on the milestone. The shift reflects growing shares of electric and hybrid vehicles in the global new-car market.
A wave of small, slow electric vehicles resembling golf carts is being marketed as a practical option for everyday American driving. Manufacturers argue these compact EVs could replace larger cars for short trips, though the vehicles face a significant hurdle: most US roads and infrastructure were designed around full-sized automobiles.
Jaguar has unveiled the Type 01, a four-door electric GT built on its new JEA platform, marking the brand's return to showrooms after discontinuing its previous lineup. The car evolves the design shown in last year's Type 00 concept, adding production-required elements like reflectors and four doors, but keeps the rearless-window styling.
GM's VP of propulsion engineering, Mike Anderson, told CNBC this week that the automaker still intends to bring hybrid vehicles to its lineup, reiterating a pledge first made in 2024. Currently GM sells just one hybrid, the Corvette Grand Sport X, having prioritized full-electric vehicles instead.
The U.S. House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act last month, a bipartisan bill requiring automakers to include AM radio in new vehicles. The measure now goes to the Senate, where a companion bill has already drawn support, while a companion effort has gathered backing according to public records. Broadcasters like WGN-AM's Mary Sandberg Boyle back the bill, citing AM radio's role in emergency alerts, while the Alliance for Automotive Innovation opposes it.
Tesla delivered 486,532 electric vehicles in Q3 2026, down 2.1% from 497,099 a year earlier, though the figure beat analyst expectations of 456,600. Model 3 and Y deliveries slipped only 0.6% to 478,237, while sales of other models—mainly Cybertruck along with Semi and Cybercab—plunged 48% to 8,295 units, even as total vehicle production rose 3.7%. Tesla's energy storage deployments grew 9.6% year-over-year to 13.7 GWh, and full financial results are due October 21.
Rivian reported building 19,751 vehicles and delivering 19,248 in the third quarter, a roughly 45% jump from a year earlier, driven by its first full quarter selling the new R2 SUV launched in June. Full financial results are due October 29. The company expects 20,000-25,000 R2 deliveries by year-end and total 2025 sales of 65,000-70,000 vehicles across its lineup.
Ford's chief executive said Chinese automakers have effectively captured the European electric vehicle market and urged US policymakers to proceed carefully before allowing Chinese cars into the American market. He called for Washington to take time to weigh the decision rather than act quickly.
BMW's 2027 lineup includes directly comparable gas and electric sedans built with similar power and styling: the gas M350 xDrive starts at $65,900, while the electric i3 50 xDrive starts at $61,500, before destination charges. BMW says the i3 travels 468 miles on a full charge with fast charging that adds 208 miles of range in 10 minutes, while the gas model's range is roughly 450 miles per tank.
The US Department of Transportation issued its Freedom Means Affordable Cars rule, formally called SAFE Vehicles Rule III, reverting corporate average fuel economy standards to pre-Biden-era levels. Secretary Sean Duffy framed the move as ending an illegal EV mandate, while the agency claims it will lower new-vehicle prices by $1,300 and save consumers $138 billion over five years. The change comes as AAA reports regular gas averaging $4.48 a gallon and diesel $6.45, with prices up more than 50% since the Iran conflict began.