Say goodbye to delivery delays due to traffic and weather. California-based startup Zipline is revolutionizing how we receive goods with its ultra-precise electric autonomous delivery drones called Zips.
The company’s latest P2 electric drones are designed for fast, practically silent, precise autonomous home delivery that looks like they are straight out of a Disney movie.
Zipline showcased its newest Platform 2 (P2) Wednesday, claiming it’s expected to complete deliveries seven times faster than traditional delivery via car.
The Zips can complete a 10-mile delivery in around 10 minutes carrying six to eight pounds, which would easily beat the usual over-hour delivery time from most leading delivery services (at least in my area).
CEO and co-founder of Zipline, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, couldn’t have said it better, stating:
Over the last decade, global demand for instant delivery has skyrocketed, but the technology we’re using to deliver is 100 years old. We’re still using the same 3,000-pound, gas combustion vehicles, driven by humans, to make billions of deliveries that usually weigh less than 5 pounds. It’s slow, it’s expensive, and it’s terrible for the planet.
He added Zipline’s new service is changing the game and is the “closest thing to teleportation ever created” with a smooth, ultrafast, and “truly magical” autonomous delivery system.
Zipline P2 autonomous electric delivery drone (Source: Zipline)
How Zipleline’s autonomous electric delivery drones work
The company says, unlike other drones, Zips fly over 300 feet. When arriving at its arrival point, it hovers at the altitude while its autonomous delivery droid lets down a tether, steering it to a precise planned location.
To make it possible, Zipeline uses several innovative technologies, such as:
Aerospace Sensing: Multiple sensing technologies that can monitor 360 degrees of airspace at day or night and in all weather conditions.
Fleet Deconfliction: An autonomous fleet management system to limit congestion and optimize travel.
Localization: An onboard navigation system to determine location down to a single centimeter.
Predictive Weather: A high-fidelity, low altitude first-of-its-kind weather forecasting tech so Zips can avoid severe weather.
Onboard Maps: Integrated maps help the Zips navigate complex airspace and terrain while optimizing energy efficiency.
Zipelines electric autonomous delivery drones have already attracted several businesses across the healthcare and restaurant industries, two markets that could immensely benefit from faster, efficient delivery.
For example, Sweetgreen, an American restaurant known for its healthy salads, is partnering with Zipline to connect its customers with real food in the US.
More importantly, Sweetgreen customers can get their orders by “Zip delivery” using 97% less energy than standard vehicle delivery.
Several healthcare companies will use the service to speed up prescription deliveries, in some cases even doubling it.
Zipline conducts deliveries across five countries – Rwanda, Ghana, the US, Nigeria, and Japan, with Kenya and Côte D’Ivoire coming soon.
The company has delivered over five million items globally, completing a delivery every 90 seconds.
Each flight produces around 30 times fewer CO2 emissions than the average electric vehicle and up to 98% fewer emissions than a gas-powered one.
Ziplines services are used for delivering blood, vaccines, COVID supplies, prescriptions, e-commerce goods, human and animal health products, and food.
Several studies have already highlighted the benefits of Zipline services.
The first study published in The Lancet shows the company’s drone delivery resulted in a 67% reduction in blood waste across Rwanda.
The second, published by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, found Zipline was increasing access to healthcare and equity in the healthcare system.
A third study from researchers at Wharton found a reduction of Rwanda in-hospital maternal deaths due to postpartum hemorrhage by 88% due to the company’s delivery system.
What’s next
Zipeline makes it easy for businesses to integrate the service with an end-to-end solution, including dual docking, charging hardware, software that easily integrates with inventory and ordering systems (to speed up the delivery process further), and an app that can track its drones down to the second.
The delivery service makes a perfect option for restaurants, pharmacies, and doctor’s offices, with easy docking and charging hardware.
The company has already flown 40 million commercial miles through 500,000 commercial flights and plans to conduct another 10,000 test flights this year, with customer deliveries beginning shortly after.
Zipline says it has received Part 135 certification and is authorized to complete the longest-range, on-demand commercial drone flights in the US. It has also recently received FAA approval to use its autonomous detect and avoid system.
By the end of 2023, Zipline expects to complete over one million deliveries, and by 2025, the company forecasts to operate more flights each year than most airlines.
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Acura is bringing back the RSX, but you wouldn’t recognize it. It’s now a sporty electric SUV, and a fairly impressive one at that. It’s also the first electric vehicle built on Honda’s new Zero global EV platform.
Honda’s all-electric vehicle offering is quite limited – especially in North America.
It only sells the Prologue and Accura ZDX, which are based on GM’s Equinox EV. In Asia and Europe, the Japanese automaker has more electric models, but its efforts are still very much fragmented.
Now, it is preparing to launch a series of new EVs based on its in-house global EV platform: Zero.
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Today, Acura is unveiling what should become the first vehicle on the platform: the Acura RSX concept.
This is still only a concept, but Acura says that it’s a good preview for the final vehicle that will go into production at Honda’s new EV hub in Ohio during the second half of 2026.
It will be built on the same production line as the Acura Integra, which can get a bit confusing since the name RSX was also used for the Integra in some markets during the original run in the 90s.
But the name is about the only thing that the current Integra and the RSX concept share. You won’t confuse the sporty sedan with this all-electric performance SUV.
Lance Woelfer, vice president of Auto Sales at American Honda Motor Co, commented on the new concept:
“The dramatic styling of our Acura RSX Prototype demonstrates that it’s not just a new EV, but a compelling all-new Acura model. RSX will deliver on nearly four decades of Acura Precision Crafted Performance brand DNA with appealing design and cutting-edge technology.”
Acura took advantage of the freedom given by the new EV platform it’s based on and delivered a vehicle with a sleek yet aggressive design.
Yasutake Tsuchida, Acura Creative Director and vice president of American Honda R&D, said that the design aimed at “excellent aerodynamic” performance:
“The Acura RSX has a sporty coupe style that expresses the performance that comes from excellent aerodynamics. Starting from this all-new RSX we will redefine the Acura brand around timeless beauty and a high-tech feel that is essential for a performance and unique brand.”
For now, the design is the primary information available about the Acura RSX, as the company hasn’t shared specifications yet. I am with Acura at the Monterey Car Week for the next few days, and I’ll do my best to gather more details.
In the meantime, we know that it will be equipped with a potent dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, sport-tuned double wishbone front suspension, a low center-of-gravity and Brembo brakes, and Acura is talking about all this being standard in the new RSX.
Acura is also talking about having “the brand’s top-of-class driver assistive technologies.”
With the ability to run various applications on the Acura RSX, similar to operating systems found on smartphones, ASIMO OS will offer a personalized experience that will enhance the joy of driving and the ownership experience. ASIMO OS will utilize OTA updates to bring new customizable features and services to the RSX to enhance the ownership experience.
It will also have machine learning capabilities, enabling it to learn about how you like to use your car and personalize to your specifications.
Last but not least, Acura has already confirmed that the RSX will be capable of bi-directional charging. The details are not available yet, but the automaker is talking about powering devices from the vehicle (V2X) and providing back power to your home (V2H).
The prototype is at Pebble Beach this week if you want to check it out. We certainly will, and we will report back with more.
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A new report claimed that Lucid Motors’ (LCID) new Gravity SUV had just nine registrations in its first six months. Lucid denied the rumors, telling us Gravity deliveries are “well into the 3-digit range.”
Lucid denies rumors of slow Gravity SUV sales
There’s no denying that the Gravity is an impressive electric SUV. It can drive up to 450 miles on a single charge and has more interior space than a Ford Explorer. With up to 828 hp, it’s also faster than most sports cars.
However, a new Automotive News report claimed the Gravity only managed to secure nine registrations in its first six months on the market, citing S&P Global Mobility data.
Nick Twork, Lucid’s head of communications, confirmed in an email to Electrek that the claim is “completely inaccurate.”
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Twork added that “a quick review of social media postings from our customers shows that those numbers are simply not credible.” Although Lucid doesn’t provide a breakdown, Gravity deliveries are “well into the 3-digit range,” he said.
Lucid Gravity Grand Touring (Source: Lucid)
In the second half of the year, Lucid expects the Gravity SUV to account for the majority of production and deliveries.
The EV maker anticipates a significant ramp-up in production during the second half of the year. On the company’s second-quarter earnings call, interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said that after overcoming most of the supply chain issues, including the industry-wide magnet shortage, the company was “beginning to ramp up Lucid Gravity production.”
Lucid Gravity electric SUV at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Lucid Motors)
Winterhoff added that “our daily order rate has nearly doubled” since introducing Gravity models in its studios and offering test drives.
If it weren’t for Lucid’s quick actions, the company would have had to halt production in the second quarter. Instead, Lucid produced just over 6,000 vehicles in the second quarter.
Lucid Air (left) and Gravity (right) Source: Lucid
During an interview with CNBC the following day, Lucid’s CEO stated that the company now has the raw materials, earth magnets, and licensing for the remainder of the year.
Lucid has reduced its production goal for 2025 from 20,000 to between 18,000 and 20,000 units. The company cited a changing market as the reason for the updated range.
The EV maker also scored a partnership with Uber and Nuro to launch 20,000 Gravity robotaxis over the next six years. Uber is investing $300 million into Lucid as part of the deal.
Meanwhile, Lucid’s Air remained the best-selling luxury electric sedan in the US. The Air outsold the Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan, and even most gas models in its segment in the first half of 2025.
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Ford’s next “Model T” is a midsize electric pickup that will start at around $30,000. The new model will be the first of a family of affordable electric vehicles based on the new Ford Universal EV Platform. As Ford shifts to lower-cost EVs, a few popular SUVs you may recognize are getting axed.
Ford’s new $30,000 EV pickup will replace gas SUVs
At its Louisville, Kentucky, plant on Monday (see our recap of the event), Ford revealed plans to build a new midsize EV pickup, claiming it will have a lower cost of ownership than a Tesla Model Y.
It will also have more interior space, thanks to its new “Ford Universal EV Platform,” which was also unveiled during the event.
The platform will underpin a series of new affordable electric cars that Ford promises will compete with the best. Ford is set to begin production of the new midsize EV pickup in 2027 at the Louisville Assembly plant, meaning it will need to clear room.
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Ford currently builds the Escape and Lincoln Corsair at the facility, both of which will be retired. The Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair will officially be discontinued after the 2026 model year.
CEO Jim Farley presents the Ford Universal EV Platform in Kentucky (Source: Ford)
The announcement came as a shock to some, as the Escape is Ford’s second-best-selling SUV, behind the Explorer. It even outsold the Bronco Sport in the first half of the year (82,589 vs 72,438).
The Corsair is the second-best-selling Lincoln brand model through June, behind the Nautilus, with 13,096 units sold.
Ford Universal EV Platform (Source: Ford)
Although production is slated to end later this year, Ford confirmed the SUVs will continue to be sold well into 2026.
Ford has invested around $5 billion in its Louisville Assembly Complex, creating nearly 4,000 jobs, as it prepares for its next generation of electric vehicles. It will begin with Ford’s new midsize EV pickup, which is expected to launch in 2027 with a starting price of around $30,000.