Category: General

Scout Motors wants owners to be able to repair its electric trucks without visiting a dealership unless absolutely necessary. Now it’s providing more detail on how it plans to make that happen.

When it unveiled concept versions of the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck last October, Scout claimed that approximately 80% of repairs could be performed without a dealership visit. In an interview with The Drive at CES 2025 this week, Scout Motors Strategy Director Ryan Decker said that will be made possible by components that are easy to remove for repair or replacement.

Scout Traveler concept

“Maybe things aren’t glued, they’re screwed, right? Things should be more easy to repair yourself,” Decker said.

This approach was implemented during the design process, with Scout avoiding the “seamless and fused” look of many modern cars in favor of discrete bumpers and body panels that are more accessible, Decker explained, adding that easily removable bumpers make more sense for the Scout vehicles’ intended off-road use.

Scout Terra concept

Decker also promised “transparent” repair guides and manuals that will be easily accessible to customers, avoiding what he called the “black box” nature of other EVs. Just the willingness to let customers work on their vehicles is a big difference from Tesla’s initially negative attitude toward independent repair shops and customization.

Like Tesla, though, Scout intends to rely on a direct-sales model instead of franchised dealerships. That’s rankled franchisees of Scout’s parent company, Volkswagen, in California, who claim the move violates the state’s franchise laws because VW already relies on franchised dealerships for its other brands. For now, Scout is completing a $2 billion South Carolina factory with the aim of starting production in 2027.

Tesla is recalling a small number of 2024 and 2025 Model S and Model X electric vehicles because their driver’s-side airbags could tear during deployment—increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

The recall includes just 294 vehicles manufactured in a short window—Nov. 6 to Nov. 27, 2024. These vehicles may have received airbags that were damaged due to an assembly error by the supplier, according to the NHTSA.

2024 Tesla Model X

In combination with other factors—a deep fold in the airbag and positioning of the windshield heat diffuser—this could cause the airbag to tear when it inflates. A torn airbag may not perform properly during a crash, presenting a greater risk of injury, the NHTSA noted.

Tesla was made aware of this issue by the supplier, which discovered it during acceptance testing of airbags. The automaker told the NHTSA that it is not aware of any crashes, fatalities or injuries related to this issue, or any related warranty claims.

2024 Tesla Model S. – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

Tesla service centers will replace the airbag assembly free of charge. Tesla expects to mail owner notification letters on Feb. 21. Owners can also contact the automaker’s customer service department at 1-877-798-3752 for more information. Tesla’s reference number for this recall is SB-24-20-001.

Because it involves hardware, this recall can’t be addressed with a software update, as many Tesla recalls have been. Hardware-related recalls have become more common for the automaker thanks to the problem-plagued Cybertruck. It’s sold well in the U.S., but that couldn’t offset an overall decline in Tesla sales in 2024, on a global scale, after years of persistent double-digit gains.

Reservations for Scout Motors’ range-extended models are outpacing those for pure electric versions, Scout CEO Scott Keogh said in an interview with Bloomberg at CES 2025 in Las Vegas this week.

The new Volkswagen Group brand plans to launch its Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck in 2027 with a powertrain called Harvester that adds a gasoline engine acting as a generator to boost range. It’s estimated to provide 500 miles on a combination of gasoline and battery power, as opposed to 350 miles for battery-only versions.

Scout Traveler concept

The Harvester models are attracting more reservations because of EV disinterest in “a portion of America” and concerns over lack of public charging stations, Keogh said, adding that the range-extended powertrain “gives us a 50-state vehicle” that can be sold in regions that are less EV-friendly. That perhaps includes red states like South Carolina, where Scout’s factory is being built.

“The two challenges we see with electrification, charging infrastructure—and of course this takes that all off the table—and plus there’s convenience,” Keogh said. “I think with those two things, a range extender makes a lot of sense.” The CEO added that the mix of all-electric or range-extended vehicles being produced can be easily adjusted to cover changes in demand.

Scout Terra concept

The VW Group announced Scout in 2022, reviving a name originally used on trucks manufactured by International Harvester from 1961-1980. As a brand under the control of the parent company, VW Group, rather than VW of America, Scout is attempting to implement a direct-sales model similar to other EV-only brands like Lucid, Rivian, and Tesla. But VW’s franchised dealers are fighting that.

The Traveler and Terra pay homage to the original Scout trucks with retro styling, a body-on-frame architecture, and an emphasis on physical controls over touchscreens. But they’re still expected to boast some software-based features, like pet and camp modes, comparable to the more tech-forward EV brands. A third model is also reportedly in the works, but timing is uncertain.

Starting in February, Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles will be able to charge at 20,000 Tesla Supercharger stations in the U.S., the automaker announced Thursday.

Supercharger access will be enabled via a software update installed by dealerships—not over-the-air. Customers will be contacted by Mercedes to schedule this. The update will preserve the plug-and-charge capability offered in current Mercedes EVs, allowing drivers to charge simply by plugging in, and allow Superchargers to show up on the Mercedes app and infotainment systems.

Mercedes-Benz opens Tesla Supercharger access

Adapters cost $185 and will also be distributed through dealerships. They’ll be available in the U.S. this quarter, Mercedes said, but Canadian drivers will have to wait until Q2. Pricing for that market will be confirmed at a later date. Between the U.S. and Canada, Mercedes expects drivers to have access to about 20,000 Supercharger stations.

Mercedes plans to build Tesla NACS ports into new vehicles for North American markets starting this year. So far the refreshed 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the only non-Tesla EV on sale with a NACS port—and it charges slower with it. That’s because most Tesla Superchargers can’t currently charge at 800-volt peak rates, which doesn’t apply to 400-volt Mercedes EVs on the road today.

Mercedes-Benz opens Tesla Supercharger access

Mercedes joined the list of brands switching to NACS in July 2023, even as it was working on its own fast-charging network. The first location, featuring 400-kw DC fast chargers provided by ChargePoint, opened in Georgia in November 2023.

And it’s part of the Ionna charging network joint venture, along with seven other automakers. Ionna aims for 30,000 chargers across North America, with the first site scheduled to open later this year.

Volkswagen will rollout Tesla Supercharger access for its EV customers this summer, when adapters will be ready for current CCS-equipped vehicles.

“We get access to the network in June/July, when we have an official VW adapter,” VW spokesperson Mark Gillies told PCMag at CES 2025 this week, adding that the automaker is still lining up suppliers to manufacture it. Note that this timeline only applies to the VW brand itself; Gillies could not speak to launch timing for other brands of the larger VW Group.

2025 Volkswagen ID.4

The three brands in the VW Group currently selling EVs in the U.S.—VW, Audi, and Porsche—announced Supercharger access and the eventual adoption of the Tesla NACS port in December 2023, alongside the new Scout brand. Scout isn’t planning to deliver its first vehicles until 2027.

This made the VW Group brands among the last to confirm a switch to the NACS port, as nearly all major EV brands in the U.S. market have now confirmed. But it’s also one of the few non-Tesla brands that’s already operating a sizable public charging network in the U.S.—in the form of Electrify America.

2025 Volkswagen ID.7

Electrify America was created as part of VW’s diesel-emissions cheating settlement, committing the automaker to spend $2 billion on charging infrastructure. VW has said that Electrify America will work to add NACS connectors at its charging stations this year, while continuing to use CCS connectors.

When it first announced Supercharger access, VW said it would also begin selling vehicles with NACS ports in 2025. So far the only automaker to do that is Hyundai, with the refreshed 2025 Ioniq 5. But it charges slower at most NACS ports compared to CCS ports because such vehicles can accept higher charge voltages than what’s allowed by Superchargers.

The NHTSA on Tuesday said it is opening an investigation into 2.6 million Tesla electric vehicles in the U.S. over reports of crashes involving the automaker’s Actually Smart Summon remote-driving feature.

Launched in September, Actually Smart Summon is the current version of the Smart Summon remote valet feature Tesla introduced in 2019. It’s designed to move cars short distances in and out of parking spaces, with drivers controlling vehicles remotely via the Tesla smartphone app while keeping them within line of sight. Releasing an app button stops the car.

Reuters reports that the NHTSA is opening a preliminary evaluation into the feature after four crashes. The regulator will then decide whether to upgrade the evaluation into an engineering analysis, and then potentially compel Tesla to issue a recall.

2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance

The NHTSA said it will assess Actually Smart Summon’s maximum speed, its use on public roads, and line-of-sight requirements, as well as potential connectivity delays related to using a smartphone for remote control. The investigation includes 2016-2025 Tesla Model S and Model X, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles.

The investigation was triggered by reports that vehicles failed to detect obstacles like posts and parked cars while being remotely operated, and that drivers had too little time to react before a crash.

2024 Tesla Model Y. – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

This new investigation comes after the NHTSA in October opened an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the misleadingly-named Full-Self Driving system after reports of four crashes—including one in which a pedestrian was killed after being struck by a Model Y.

In addition to two investigations, Tesla has had to deal with the troubled launch of its Cybertruck—which has now been recalled seven times—and saw sales fall in 2024. But Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s close relationship with president-elect Donald Trump creates the possibility that the incoming administration won’t pursue these investigations further.

Mazda on Monday announced a new Japanese battery plant that will assemble cylindrical cells into modules and battery packs for use in a planned electric vehicle based on a dedicated platform.

Located in Iwakuni City, in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture, the plant targets 10 GWh of annual production, Mazda said. Cells will be supplied by Panasonic under an agreement between the two companies announced in June 2023 and approved by Japanese regulators in September 2024.

2023 Mazda MX-30 EV

Mazda previously launched the low-range MX-30 in both all-electric and range-extended form, and is partnering with China’s Changan Automobile on the EZ-6 electric sedan. But Mazda said modules and packs assembled at this new plant are destined for “Mazda’s first battery EV that uses a dedicated EV platform,” which will also be assembled in Japan. This likely refers to the electric SUV scheduled to launch in 2027 that Mazda confirmed in November 2024.

The original announcement of the cell supply deal with Panasonic also mentioned North American production of cells, likely from a new factory in De Soto, Kansas. Mazda hasn’t offered an all-electric model since the withdrawal of the MX-30 from this market, but has said that it will adopt the Tesla NACS charging connector for any future EVs it might sell here.

Mazda electrification plans for current decade

Mazda has indicated that longer-range EVs aren’t the future, but the use of cylindrical cells could yield efficiency gains. It’s the chosen cell of Lucid and Tesla—the two range-leading EV brands—with Panasonic supplying both.

Other automakers are also looking at cylindrical cells. BMW is expecting major efficiency improvements from them in its upcoming Neue Klasse EVs, and General Motors has hinted at them as part of an overall strategy of cell flexibility.

Donut Lab, a subsidiary of Finland-based Verge Motorcycles, claims to have a motor with the highest power density of any such unit in the world.

At CES 2025, Donut Lab announced it had achieved this feat with donut-shaped motors designed to be integrated with a vehicle’s wheels and tires. This adds unsprung mass, which can make tuning for ride and handling difficult, but Donut claims this is minimized by the light weight of its motors.

The company plans to offer a family of five motors for different designs, including a 21-inch-diameter automotive version that produces 844 hp and 3,171 pound-feet. However, it also weighs 88 pounds—still a lot of unsprung mass. For the same weight, Donut Lab also has a 21-inch motor designed for semi trucks that produces 268 hp and 2,212 lb-ft.

Donut Lab electric motors

Moving down in size, a 17-inch motorcycle motor that weighs 46 pounds produces a claimed 201 hp and 885 lb-ft. There’s also a 12-inch, 17-pound scooter motor rated at 20 hp and 221 lb-ft. Donut Lab even has a 4.7-inch motor designed for drones that generates 4 hp and 14 lb-ft.

By extracting more power from a smaller package, Donut Lab believes it can lower the cost of manufacturing electric vehicles by using less material. To make that easier, it’s offering these motors as part of a complete platform including battery packs, control units, and software—although it hasn’t confirmed how these motors stand with respect to efficiency.

In-wheel motors are not new. Porsche recently reminded us that it’s been working on them for a long time—over a century, in fact. Even Ferrari has considered a type of in-wheel motors.

Donut Lab electric motors

But attempts to commercialize in-wheel motors have been mixed. They’re currently used in at least one Chinese-market sedan, but startups Lightyear and Lordstown Motors stalled before getting them into U.S.-market production vehicles. That leaves Aptera, which had initially seen in-wheel motors as an efficiency play for its electric 3-wheeler.

When it comes to conventional motors, Lucid has the lightest in a production EV, at about 68 pounds each. That automaker’s core propulsion technology is set to be used in future Aston Martin EVs.

Thomas Built Buses manufacturers most of the yellow school buses that populate U.S. roads—and an increasing number of them are electric.

The company on Tuesday unveiled its second-generation electric school bus. Dubbed the Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, it features a number of changes over the first-generation model that launched in 2017.

Key among those changes is an eAxle from Accelera, a division of diesel-engine manufacturer Cummins. Where the first-generation Jouley had a driveshaft connecting an electric motor to the axle, the eAxle arrangement packages the motor, a 2-speed gearbox, disc brakes and wheel hubs, and a rear differential in one unit.

This reduces weight and complexity, lowers maintenance costs by reducing the number of parts, and improves acceleration and torque by shortening the mechanical connection between the motor and wheels, Thomas Built claims.

Accelera eAxle for Thomas Built electric school buses

The new school bus also adopts an 800-volt electrical system from Proterra, primarily known for its electric transit buses. Thomas Built also made some changes to make maintenance easier, including a floor access panel for the high-voltage junction box, a component that previously required removing the bus’ battery packs to access. The body heating loop surge tank was also moved to the left side of the bus for easier access.

Thomas Built is already assembling a 219-inch wheelbase version that can accommodate up to 60 passengers. Other wheelbase options will be available later this year, the company said, adding that ditching driveshafts for the eAxle allows for shorter minimum wheelbases, improving maneuverability.

Electric school buses have come a long way since 2014, when the first one entered service in the U.S., with Oakland, California, boasting an all-electric fleet as of August 2024. They also got a big boost under the Biden Administration, which dedicated billions of dollars in funding for school districts to purchase them, a policy that could be reversed by the anti-EV Trump Administration.

• The Afeela 1, the EV from a joint venture between Honda and Sony, will arrive in 2026
• Base Afeela 1 EVs will cost $89,900 while the Signature trim costs $102,900
• Afeela is now taking $200 deposits, but it’ll only be available in California initially

Sony and Honda confirmed pricing for the first electric vehicle from their joint Afeela brand at this week’s CES 2025 in Las Vegas.

Now officially known as the Afeela 1, the electric hatchback will cost $89,900 in base Origin spec. A $102,900 Afeela 1 Signature grade is also available, adding 21-inch wheels and a rear-seat entertainment system. The pricier model will also arrive earlier. It’s expected to start deliveries in 2026, while buyers of the Origin will have to wait until 2027.

Afeela is now accepting reservations, requiring a $200 refundable deposit, but only in California. Another caveat is that software-enabled features such as driver assistance and voice recognition are subscription-based, and only complimentary for the first three years of ownership.

Afeela 1

The near-production ready version shown at CES 2025 looks similar to the prototype shown in 2024, with some changes such as added cameras at the front corners of the roof. They’re part of an array of 40 sensors aimed at enabling Level 3 automation on the SAE autonomy scale. This allows for eyes-off driving in some situations, but Afeela expects to only offer Level 2 capability initially, and will ship cars with driver-monitoring systems.

The innocuous looking hatchback measures 193.5 inches long, making it about two inches shorter than a Honda Accord, but with a wheelbase that’s almost seven inches longer. The interior features door-to-door screens and a yoke-style steering wheel to make them easier to view. Afeela also claims that 70% of the interior’s surface area is made from plant-based or recycled materials.

A sophisticated audio system leverages Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Technologies for 3D sound. This, combined with the many screens, is aimed at making the car into a mobile lounge for watching videos or using apps that Afeela is engaging with third parties to develop. And yes, you can run PlayStation video games on the dashboard screen, as well as get game-inspired wallpapers for both the interior screen and a “media bar” that takes the place of a traditional grille.

Afeela 1

A standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain includes one 241-hp motor per axle. Afeela said it’s aiming for 300 miles of EPA range using a 91-kwh battery pack, and will offer NACS charging from the get-go. However, the peak DC fast-charge power rate is a fairly low 150 kw. The Afeela 1 can also charge at 11 kw using a Level 2 AC charger.

Sony’s interest in building an electric car goes back to the Vision S concept presented at CES 2020. It followed that up with the Vision S-02 SUV concept before announcing its partnership with Honda in 2022. The Afeela brand was announced a few months later, at CES 2023.

The Afeela 1 will be built in Ohio, where Honda is expanding two plants to accommodate production of EVs, including its own 0 Series models also due in 2026 and future EVs for the premium Acura brand.