Today’s top stories

• Mercedes eActros Goes Around the World in 80 Charges

• BMW iX3 Hits Nearly 700 km Range at Lower Price

• XPeng Launches $20K Mona L03 Electric SUV

  Reading Time: 3 minutes

A Mercedes eActros 600 electric semi-truck is preparing to attempt a global circumnavigation of roughly 40,000 km across 38 countries over about nine months, led by a German EV-focused YouTuber aiming to prove that long-distance electric trucking is practical outside controlled conditions, using a mix of fast charging, slower public charging, and improvised charging setups while also carrying a custom living module for the journey.

XPeng has revealed the Mona L03, a compact electric SUV expected to start around $20,500 with up to 650 km CLTC range depending on configuration, continuing its aggressive push into the mass-market EV segment in China by combining low pricing, LFP battery technology, and simplified camera-based driver assistance to reduce cost while still targeting strong range and everyday usability.

Duracell is entering the UK EV charging sector through a partnership with Driivz, which will power its new ultra-fast charging network by managing billing, roaming, monitoring, and performance systems, as the company aims to build a scalable and reliable charging brand across the UK with plans for hundreds of charging points operated by The EV Network.

Tesla has removed Basic Autopilot from new vehicle orders in the Netherlands, leaving Full Self-Driving (Supervised) as the only available driver-assistance option and forcing buyers into paid subscription or purchase models, making it the first European market to eliminate the free Autopilot tier while signaling a broader shift toward subscription-based autonomy where legally permitted.

Tesla has launched a virtual queue pilot at select US Supercharger stations that allows drivers to join a digital waitlist instead of physically lining up when chargers are full, aiming to reduce congestion and conflict in busy locations, although the system currently relies on driver compliance rather than strict enforcement of queue order.

A Reuters investigation shows Tesla’s Robotaxi service is facing major scaling issues including long wait times, limited vehicle availability, and tightly restricted geofenced areas, with Tesla stating that safety validation is the key bottleneck preventing faster expansion, suggesting the system is still in early-stage deployment rather than a fully scalable autonomous network.

Tesla has postponed its Model S and Model X Signature delivery event just days before it was scheduled, sending a brief email to attendees without explanation or a new date, leaving buyers who had already booked travel and accommodations uncertain about timing and whether the limited-run farewell-style delivery event will be rescheduled at all.

As the women ages, she cannot rely on her hands to get her to her destination. Tesla Full Self Driving technology assists the elderly, as it does the driving for them.

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Until Saturday, stay charged and ready for your next drive!