Rivian Electric Vans Achieve Record High Sales in the US, While Tesla Doesn't Receive Relevant Subsidies from the Federal Government for Electric Trucks | Overseas Daily
"Top 3 News"
Honda Says Tesla Supercharger Connector Will Be Compatible with Honda and Acura in Spring
Key Points:
Honda and Acura announced that their electric vehicles will be able to access Tesla's Supercharger network this spring, but they do not appear on Tesla's APP page. Tesla previously updated the page to add some brands, but it is still incomplete. Volkswagen also claimed to be connected in June but is not shown.
Honda announced for the Acura RSX EV that it will provide adapters for owners to use the Tesla charging network. Its pure electric models in the US are only the Honda Prologue. Information such as whether the adapter is free or for purchase, and the manufacturer has not been announced. It only said that more details will be available in the spring. Some other brands such as Ford and Hyundai distribute adapters for free, but brands like Mercedes-Benz charge for them. Most adapter prices are around $200.
Honda Prologuec (Source: Electrek)
Opinions:
The Tesla Supercharger network access plan was originally scheduled to be advanced at the end of last year and in 2025, but there was chaos due to Musk firing the entire Supercharger team in April last year. This team was responsible for allowing Tesla's Supercharger network to access more brands, but after the dismissal, the contractors were in chaos and the plan was blocked. Although the situation has slightly improved now and the transition to the North American charging standard is also advancing, there are still problems, such as the adapter replacement of Ford, the communication problems between Tesla and Nissan, and the delayed access of Kia. However, many brands still announced their support for access, and the vehicle brands at Tesla charging stations will be more diverse in the future.
In 2024, Rivian EDV Surpasses Ford as the Best-Selling Electric Van in the US
Key Points:
Rivian delivered more than 51,500 electric vehicles in 2024, exceeding expectations. Although it is only slightly higher than the delivery volume in 2023, the situation improved in the second half of the year. Rivian closed the factory for upgrading in April last year and suspended the production of electric vans due to a shortage of parts. However, it said at the beginning of January that the problem of the shortage of common components has been solved.
According to the data of Kelley Blue Book, Rivian's electric vans became the best-selling electric vans in the US in 2024, with 13,423 units sold in 2024, an increase of 67% year-on-year, and 4,397 units sold in the fourth quarter, an increase of 84.1% year-on-year. While Ford sold 12,610 E-Transit vans in 2024 and 3,354 units in the fourth quarter, Rivian surpassed Ford in sales data at all stages. Despite Ford launching an updated E-Transit in March 2023 and the new model of 2025 being listed at a starting price of $51,000.
Rivian Electric Van (Source: Electrek)
Opinions:
Rivian has received an order of up to 100,000 EDVs from Amazon, and its commercial van RCV also serves other companies. In the past few weeks, Rivian electric vans with different brand logos (such as DHL) have been seen in tests. And as the production scale expands, its R1S electric SUV was the tenth best-selling electric vehicle in the US last year.
Elon Musk Complains That Tesla Has Not Received Subsidies for Electric Trucks and Calls for an End to EV Subsidies in the US
Key Points:
Earlier this week, the Biden administration announced the final round of funds for electric vehicle charging stations. Tesla did not receive any subsidies related to truck chargers in any round, including the final round announced this week, while Trump is about to take office and advocates ending subsidies.
Tesla CEO Musk contributed more than $240 million to his election and supported the cancellation of subsidies, but expressed disappointment at not receiving funding. However, Tesla received more than $600 million in 49 other projects and will deploy more than 11,500 charging ports in multiple locations. Moreover, Tesla received millions of dollars in subsidies for charging stations in the previous round.
Elon Musk (Source: Electrek)
Opinions:
Foreign media such as Electrek believe that this is fair. The US lags behind in the popularization of electric vehicles. Musk actively lobbied to cancel subsidies, so he should not be funded again. However, the California government said that if the federal government cancels subsidies, the state level will make up for it, but Tesla will be excluded, especially considering that Musk wants to cancel subsidies to put pressure on competitors to cause them to go bankrupt.
"Big Events"
Test Images of Land Rover Range Rover Medium-Sized Electric SUV Leaked
The medium-sized electric SUV launched by Land Rover is about to be officially unveiled. It adopts the latest design language and is expected to be a potential challenger to the Porsche Macan Electric. Its first electric SUV will be launched this year, and as of the end of October, more than 48,000 customers are on the waiting list.
Land Rover Range Rover Medium-Sized Electric SUV (Source: Electrek)
Unlike the flagship electric model, this medium-sized electric SUV will be the first to use the new EMA platform and is expected to replace the Land Rover Velar. It will be launched in the spring of 2026. The vehicle was first seen being sent to JLR's Nürburgring test track last summer, and now the latest test images allow people to see the model more clearly. The electric version is an upgrade from the existing model, with a more sporty coupe SUV-style design. The extended roofline may suggest the option of a third-row seat, but it has not been confirmed. Jaguar Land Rover said that the new EMA platform will have autonomous driving assistance and OTA updates. This medium-sized SUV is expected to compete with the Porsche Macan Electric, which has achieved a good sales start. Porsche delivered more than 18,000 Macan EVs last year.
Ultra-Compact Electric Truck Startup TELO Partners with Aptera to Integrate Solar Technology
A young electric vehicle startup called TELO Trucks has announced a partnership with the solar electric vehicle developer Aptera to apply the latter's sustainable technology on its flagship model, the MT1 compact pickup.
TELO Trucks (Source: Electrek)
Customers who pre-order the TELO electric truck will be able to choose from three solar panel configurations from Aptera, which will help increase the vehicle's range and reduce reliance on the power grid - provided that these pure electric vehicles can be manufactured. TELO Trucks was founded by three men with different backgrounds in automotive technology and creative design, including working on autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) at National Instruments and participating in the development of the Tesla Roadster in the early days.
TELO Trucks (Source: Electrek)
The startup launched its flagship model, the MT1 compact electric pickup, in June 2023, which seems to be an exciting space optimization practice. The MT1 model has the cargo platform capacity and passenger cabin space of a standard pickup within an impressive shortened vehicle length of 152 inches.
As seen on the TELO official website, the MT1 provides the same interior space and cargo platform length as the Toyota Tacoma within the footprint of a MINI Cooper. Since its launch, TELO said it has received more than 4,550 pre-orders for the MT1. Currently, the model is available in single-motor and dual-motor configurations, and a long-range battery pack with a range of more than 350 miles (over 560 kilometers) can also be selected.
Toyota Adopts Familiar Names for Its Upcoming Electric Vehicles Instead of the Controversial "bZ".
Toyota will abandon the "bZ" naming system for its electric vehicles and plans to use names that people may be more familiar with. The bZ4X may be the only electric vehicle that Toyota sells globally under the old naming system. The bZ4X SUV was launched in 2022 and is Toyota's first global electric vehicle. It was originally the first vehicle in a new series of electric vehicles under the zero-emission vehicle bZ naming system. Toyota initially planned to launch 15 dedicated electric vehicles globally, of which 7 would use the bZ brand. bZ stands for Beyond Zero, reflecting Toyota's desire to provide customers with value beyond "zero emissions". However, after the recall due to the wheel detachment problem in 2022, the bZ4X performed poorly in the wave of electric SUVs.
Toyota Electric Concept Vehicle (Source: Electrek)
To get out of this predicament, Toyota is abandoning the naming scheme and intends to use the names of old models. The European marketing director said that the bZ4X is expected to be "relatively isolated" in the product lineup. He also mentioned that using words instead of numbers for naming is a requirement clearly put forward in Europe and that Japan has listened to and followed. This news comes after Toyota launched the new Urban Cruiser electric SUV last month (the unofficial successor to the 2014 gasoline model). This new electric SUV is also the first vehicle jointly manufactured by Toyota and Suzuki in India and will be based on the same platform as the Suzuki e-Vitara.
Porsche's Electric Vehicle Sales Were Hit Last Year, but the Electric Macan May Reignite Hope
Although Porsche's first electric vehicle, the Taycan, saw its sales decline by nearly 50% in 2024, Porsche's situation may improve this year, and its Electric Macan may trigger a sales rebound this year. Porsche delivered more than 310,700 vehicles globally in 2024, about 9,500 less than in 2023, and sales in the Chinese market dropped by 28%.
Macan EV (Source: Electrek)
Due to the entry of a large number of lower-priced domestic electric vehicles into the market, Porsche delivered 20,836 Taycan electric vehicles last year, a 49% decrease from 2023. Part of the reason is that the electrification progress is slower than planned. In the largest sales market, North America, more than 86,500 vehicles were delivered in 2024, only a 1% increase from 2023, and the sales of electric vehicles were also affected. In the US, 4,747 Taycans were sold last year, 37% less than in 2023. The 2025 model began to arrive at US dealers last summer, driving a nearly 75% increase in fourth-quarter sales to 2,358 units. At the same time, Porsche's second electric vehicle, the Electric Macan, may have a greater impact. Since the first models were delivered at the end of September, 18,278 units have been delivered by the end of 2024. A member of the sales and marketing board said that its launch is exciting and they are happy with the delivery of more than 18,000 units.
"Cool Products"
Ford Mustang GTD
The Ford Mustang GTD is a special edition model. Its appearance features a performance white body with racing stripes in racing red and lightning blue. Some parts are exposed carbon fiber. The spoiler end plates are red with eye-catching logos at the bottom. Owners can choose red or carbon fiber mirror caps. The interior is black with red and blue decorations, and red calipers are standard. It has a power of up to 804 horsepower and a top speed of more than 300 kilometers per hour. It is the first American car to complete the Nürburgring track in less than seven minutes and has the potential for further speed improvement. Its design is inspired by the racing suits of famous American racers, paying tribute to the American spirit. It combines high performance, unique design and cultural connotation to bring drivers an unforgettable experience, reflecting Ford's pursuit of innovation.
