EV Daily | Tesla's Robotaxi Plans and BYD's Global Expansion Lead EV Innovations

【Tesla】

Elon Musk claims Tesla's Robotaxi will be as cheap as a bus ride, although there's no clear timeline for unsupervised self-driving. Studies estimate costs at about $0.663 per mile. Tesla's autonomous service could potentially disrupt ride-hailing but not necessarily public transit. Teslas also perform well above the Arctic Circle.

【BYD】

BYD is expanding globally with its second car carrier, "BYD Hefei," capable of transporting 7,000 vehicles. The company plans to launch more vessels to maintain its market presence. BYD also broke its NEV sales record with over a million electric vehicles sold in 2024, including strong overseas sales.

【Others】

Acura has launched the ZDX, its first EV, introducing a digital buying tool to boost sales. The ZDX offers significant discounts, positioning it against Tesla's Model Y. Stellantis is seeking a new CEO amid falling sales in the US. New EVs like the Ram 1500 REV and Jeep Wagoneer S aim to reverse this trend. Polestar's new SUV, the Polestar 3, offers impressive driving dynamics and is available in two dual-motor variants. It emphasizes handling and a smooth ride, despite some minor software issues. Hyundai aims to expand its presence in Europe with new models like the updated IONIQ 5 and affordable Casper Electric. Kia's EV lineup is also growing, featuring new models like the EV3. GM is closing the gap with Ford in EV sales, driven by models like the Chevy Equinox and Blazer EVs. The company expects strong growth in the coming months. The Furukawa Unic corporation has launched the battery-powered UM325 electric spider crane, designed for zero-emission job sites. This crane features remote control, auto-leveling, and flexible outriggers for narrow spaces.