Buick Dealers in Rural Areas Move Toward Buyout Instead of EV Adoption

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Dec. 23, 2022

Buick dealers in rural areas are moving in favor of buyouts from General Motors instead of shifting toward EV adoption, dealerships said.

In September, GM said it would offer Buick dealerships in the U.S. buyouts in an attempt to push stores toward widespread EV adoption. While GM is set on selling only zero-emission vehicles by 2035, Global VP of Buick and GMCDuncan Aldred said some franchises might not want to move toward EVs.

“Not everyone necessarily wants to make that journey, depending on where they’re located or the level of

EVs Close to Gas Cars on Cost, But There Are Other Obstacles

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published Dec. 21, 2022

Electric cars are finally at a point where they mirror their gas-powered cousins when it comes to the cost of ownership---EVs are cheaper to own, but they tend to cost more upfront.

While this is a big step forward for EV adoption, JD Power said, there are still other factors that need to be addressed.

According to Automotive News, JD Power's EV Index pointed out four of six categories holding back EV adoption. Moreover, it seems there's still a long way to go before a few of those categories are successfully addressed.

The index suggests that while

Chevrolet Bolt EV Recalled Again Due to Fire Risk, But It's Not Battery-Related

Written by Andrei Nedelea, InsideEVs
Published Dec. 21, 2022

General Motors announced it is voluntarily recalling just under 140,000 ChevroletBolt EVs for a potential fire risk.

However, this has nothing to do with the previous recall connected to faulty battery packs that could catch fire, and the new potential fire hazard is frankly a bit surprising.

These 2017 to 2023 model year Bolt EVs have seatbelt pretensioners whose exhaust gases may set fire to the vehicle’s carpets in the event of a crash. The manufacturer does note it is an extremely rare occurrence, but it will apply a fix to all affected

USPS to Deploy 66,000+ EVs by 2028

PublishedDec. 20, 2022

The United States Postal Service on Dec. 20 announced it expects to acquire at least 66,000 battery electric delivery vehicles as part of its 106,000 vehicle acquisition plan for deliveries between now and 2028. 

The vehicles purchased as part of this anticipated plan will begin to replace the Postal Service's aging delivery fleet of more than 220,000 vehicles.

The Postal Service anticipates at least 60,000 Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV), of which at least 75% (45,000) will be battery electric. As part of this plan, a total of 21,000 additional commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles are also expected to be battery electric, depending on

PepsiCo to Deploy 100 Tesla Semis in 2023

Written by Johnna Crider, Teslarati
Published Dec. 19, 2022

PepsiCo is planning to deploy 100 TeslaSemis in 2023 that it purchased in 2017, and will begin delivering products to customers such as Walmartand Kroger, PepsiCo Vice President Mike O’Connell said on Dec. 16.

In an interview with Reuters, O’Connell added the company was buying the large all-electric trucks “outright” and is upgrading its plants. He said this includes the installation of four 750-kilowatt Tesla charging stalls at its Modesto and Sacramento locations in California.

“It’s a great starting point to electrify,” he said. “Like

Tesla Cybertruck 9,000-Ton Giga Press Parts Begin Arriving in Texas

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Dec. 19, 2022

Not long after an image of a TeslaCybertruck body prototype was leaked from Gigafactory Texas, videos from the site now suggest the all-electric pickup truck’s 9,000-ton Giga Press is being delivered to the facility, suggesting Tesla is indeed on track to start the Cybertruck’s production next

California Investing $2.9 Billion to Double Number of EV Chargers

Written by Dan Mihalascu, InsideEVs
Published Dec. 16, 2022

The government of California has approved a $2.9 billion investment plant to accelerate the state's electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling targets for 2025.

According to the plan approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC) on Dec. 14, the investment will add 90,000 new EV chargers across the state, more than double the 80,000 chargers already installed. The energy commission estimates that combined with funding from utilities and other programs, these investments are expected to ensure the state achieves its goal to deploy 250,000 chargers by 2025.

California will

Tesla Gigafactory Texas Hits 3,000 Model Y Production Per Week

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published Dec. 16, 2022

TeslaGigafactory Texas production hit 3,000 Model Y units per week, the company announced Dec. 15, marking another milestone for its new electric vehicle factory.

Over the last few weeks, Tesla stock has been taking a beating. Elon Musk’s Twitterdeal has cast a shadow over Tesla lately, but the automaker doesn’t seem fazed at all, contining to ramp production in Texas, Berlin and China. The EV automaker is also still finding ways to improve the Fremont, CA, factory’s efficiency.

In Texas, Tesla is expanding its Gigafactory while ramping Model Y

Tesla, Nissan Get Top Reliability Scores Among EVs in Consumer Reports Survey

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published Dec. 16, 2022

Consumer Reports gathered data from numerous surveys to see which electric vehicles were the most reliable, and Teslaand Nissan stood out.

According to Consumers Reports data, the Tesla Model 3 and the second-generation Nissan Leaf were the second- and third-most reliable electric vehicles. The 2022 KiaEV6 was the only vehicle to beat the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf. However, the EV6 still has some aging to do before it can match the Tesla Model 3’s reliability track record.

EVs vs. ICE

GM’s Cruise Self-Driving Unit Hit with NHTSA Probe

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Dec. 16, 2022

General Motors’ self-driving unit Cruisehas been hit with a probe from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for issues with its autonomous driving system.

The agency opened the investigation Dec. 12, according to NHTSA documents, to look into its received complaints regarding “incidents in which Automated Driving System (ADS) equipped vehicles operated by Cruise LLC may engage in inappropriately hard braking or become immobilized while operating in the specified Operational Design Domain (ODD).”

The NHTSA said it has received three reports of ADS

Autonomy’s EV Subscription Service Makes Texas Debut

PublishedDec. 15, 2022

Autonomy, the nation’s largest electric vehicle subscription company, on Dec. 14 announced its service is now available in Austin, TX.

The debut in Texas comes after a successful launch in California earlier this year and a recent expansion into Florida and Washington.

Texas, ranked third in EV registrations behind California and Florida, is showing great promise for electrification, with nearly 30,000 new EVs on the road between 2020 and 2021. This growth and natural demand makes Texas a compelling state for Autonomy to expand operations into.

About 46% of Texans under age 45 say they are considering purchasing an

California’s Emissions Plunged Amidst Pandemic Restrictions, but Climate Gains May Not Hold

PublishedDec. 15, 2022

California’s greenhouse gas emissions fell a remarkable 8.7% in 2020 amidst pandemic-induced economic disruptions and travel restrictions.

But while the significant drop in emissions has helped the state make progress toward its 2030 climate targets, it masks a rise in pollution from in-state power generation, as stubbornly-slow renewable energy growth threatens California’s transition to carbon neutrality.

At the same time, a drop in emissions from the transportation sector for the third-consecutive year could signal a breakthrough in the state’s largest source of climate pollution, if

Kelley Blue Book Unveils Winners of 2023 Best Buy Awards

Published Dec. 15, 2022

After thorough head-to-head testing, in-depth data analysis and evaluation of the more than 300 new-vehicle models available in the U.S. market for 2023, Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company, on Dec. 15 announced the winners of its annual Best Buy Awards.

Now in its ninth year, the company's comprehensive awards program highlights the top model in vehicle segments most relevant to new-car shoppers, with award categories evolving over the years to align with the changing automotive landscape.

The 2023 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards encompass 19 categories covering the entire spectrum of automotive needs,

F-150 Lightning Wins MotorTrend Truck of the Year for 2023

PublishedDec. 13, 2022

The new F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck has added the prestigious 2023 MotorTrendTruck of the Year award to its trophy case.

The win sets a precedent---the F-150 Lightning is the first electric truck to win by a unanimous vote among the judges. It’s also only the second time an electric vehicle has won unanimously in the history of MotorTrend's Of The Year competitions.

“It’s really brilliant for the team that Lightning is the first EV truck to win by unanimous vote,” said Darren Palmer, vice president, electric vehicle programs. “This truck is full of firsts, and this one is really special to add

Hyundai Motor Group and SK On to Build EV Battery Facility in Georgia

PublishedDec. 8, 2022

Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) and SK On have selected a site in Bartow County in Georgia for a new electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility that will supply Hyundai Motor Group's plants in the U.S. 

Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp on Dec. 8 announced the deal, one of the largest economic development projects in state history. Stakeholders estimate it will create more than 3,500 new jobs through approximately $4 billion to $5 billion of investment in Bartow County.

Hyundai Motor Group and SK On recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the partnership for a

Honda to Begin U.S. Production of Fuel Cell EVs in 2024

Published Dec. 7, 2022

Hondaon Nov. 30 announced it will produce an all-new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) based on the recently launched, all-new Honda CR-V starting in 2024 at its Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, OH.

This new zero-emissions vehicle will contribute to Honda’s previously announced goal to make battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and FCEVs represent 100% of its global auto sales by 2040.

The new CR-V-based FCEV also will mark North America’s first production vehicle to combine a plug-in feature with FCEV technology in one model, which enables the driver to charge the onboard battery to deliver EV driving around town

Stellantis Partnering with Michigan's Future Energy to Get Dealers Ready for EVs

Written by Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press
Published Nov. 30, 2022

Jeep-parent Stellantisis partnering with Michigan-based Future Energy to help its more than 2,600 dealers prepare for the transition to electric vehicle sales and service.

The automaker, which also owns Ram, Dodge, Chryslerand Fiat, highlighted the partnership in a news release Nov. 29.

Almost 70% of Stellantis’ dealer network “have started working with Future Energy and are in various phases of deployment,” according to an email from Stellantis spokeswoman Diane

BendPak Reinvents 2-Post Car Lift for EVs and Beyond

PublishedNov. 29, 2022

BendPakintroduced its AP Series---the next generation of two-post lifts with patent-pending features designed to make lifting internal combustion and electric cars, trucks and vans safer, easier and more efficient.

“As the automotive industry evolves, BendPak continues to develop the innovative lifts and shop equipment our customers need to properly service new vehicles,” said Jeff Kritzer, BendPak president and CEO. “Lifting electric vehicles presents unique challenges because EVs tend to be heavier and have harder-to-reach lift points than traditional vehicles.

"We’ve reengineered our two-post lifts to meet

GM Says Its Dealers Have Fixed Over 11,000 Tesla EVs Since 2021

Written by Stephen Rivers, CarScoops
Published Nov. 22, 2022

General Motors has a “new business”---servicing Teslaelectric vehicles at its dealerships.

Since 2021, GM claimed, its dealers have fixed more than 11,000 Tesla EVs across the nation. The business is a growing one, GM said, at a time when Tesla is still fine-tuning its own service model.

During the Detroit carmaker’s Investor Day on Nov. 17 in New York City, General Motors revealed a new source of income: fixing Teslas.

GM President Mark Reuss dropped that bombshell while talking to investors and analysts. “That’s a growing business for

Domino’s Launches 800 Chevrolet Bolt EVs for Pizza Delivery

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Nov. 22, 2022

Domino’s Pizza is rolling out a fleet of 800 ChevroletBolt EVs for sustainable pizza deliveries.

More than 100 custom-branded Domino’s Chevy Bolt EVs will begin delivering pizzas in November throughout the U.S., the company said. In addition, 700 more units are being prepared and will be added to the fleet in the coming months. It will be the U.S.’s largest electric pizza delivery fleet.

Domino’s has been delivering pizzas for 62 years, with the first vehicle ever used being a Volkswagen Beetle. After testing autonomous vehicles for deliveries in 2015, which

I-CAR Recognized for New Hands-On Skills Training in EVs and ADAS

Published Nov. 4, 2022

A panel of international media judges awarded I-CARa prestigious SEMAGlobal Media Award in recognition of its new Electric Vehicle (EV) Hands-On Skills Development course.

Introduced earlier this summer, the five-day EV Hands-On Skills Development course serves as the capstone to eight prerequisite EV courses for collision repair professionals, and is taught by I-CAR’s growing bench of EV experts at I-CAR’s new Chicago Technical Center (CTC) in Vernon Hills, IL.

“We are thrilled to receive this extraordinary global award for an important course from I-CAR’s educational programming portfolio,” said

Ford Dealers Now Have Until Dec. 2 to Decide If They’ll Invest Up to $1.2 M on EVs

By Stephen Rivers, CarScoops
Published Oct. 31, 2022

In September, it was reported Ford planned to have dealers sign up to sell electric vehicles by Oct. 31. Evidently, numerous dealers reached out and asked for more time to make their choice.

Now, Ford is obliging and providing another month for dealers to make a decision about their future plans, pushing back the deadline to Dec. 2.

“We value our relationship with our dealers and have decided to provide additional time for our dealers who have not decided or asked for more time,” said company spokesperson Marty Gunsberg in a statement to

BMW to Invest $1.7 Billion in SC Plants to Build EVs, Produce Batteries

PublishedOct. 25, 2022

The BMW Group announced a new investment in the U.S. to expand Plant Spartanburg, SC, and the company’s manufacturing footprint in the U.S.

BMW Group Chairman of the Board of Management Oliver Zipse announced Oct. 19 a $1.7 billion investment in its U.S. operations, including $1 billion to prepare for the production of EVs at the company’s existing manufacturing facility in South Carolina, and $700 million to build a new high-voltage battery assembly facility in nearby Woodruff, SC.

By 2030, BMW Group will build at least six fully electric models in the U.S.

Zipse was joined at

What Your Auto Body Shop Needs to Know to Be Ready to Repair EVs

Written by John Yoswick, Autobody News
Published July 06, 2022

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation reported in June almost 200,000 electric vehicles were sold in the first quarter of this year---a 4.2% increase over the previous quarter---representing 5.9% of overall light-duty vehicle sales. Is your shop gearing up to repair them?

Repairers, trainers, automakers and others participated in a recent panel discussion at the Collision Industry Conference (...