Kia announces first Europe pricing for EV9, and it’s more than we thought
We’ve now learned initial pricing for Kia’s upcoming EV9 three-row SUV in one European market, thanks to a price list on Kia’s Belgian website.
So far we’ve had to speculate on pricing for the upcoming EV9, as Kia hasn’t announced US pricing yet. With deliveries starting in Korea last week, we know what domestic Korean pricing is for the EV9 – it starts at around $60K. But things can change when cars get exported, so European pricing gives us a little more of a hint as to what the car might cost overseas.
Now, thanks to a Belgian price list, we know that the base model “Earth launch edition” spec of the EV9 starts at €74,990 – definitely a higher price than we initially expected. “Earth” in this instance refers to trim level, as Kia is wont to use environmental terms to describe its trim levels (“wave,” “wind,” etc.). The only separately-priced options we see are for swiveling second-row seats and metallic or matte paint. Otherwise, all customization comes through the two trim levels (the higher “GT Line” trim costs an additional €8,900).
However, there are some caveats. These prices include Belgian taxes, which stand at 21%. The pre-tax base price is €61,975, which translates to ~$67.5K at current exchange rates. This, we think, is the closest idea of what US pricing might look like for the upcoming SUV.
However, this is the 99.8kWh “large battery” version. We haven’t seen pricing for the “standard” 76.1kWh version anywhere yet, but we imagine that would account for a nice chunk of a discount. For comparison, the EV6 comes in 58kWh and 77kWh versions, and that 19kWh difference will cost you $6,100 more. So the 23kWh difference between the EV9’s two models should probably cut a similar amount off of the price.
So the base price of the standard-battery model, once that comes around, could be closer to $60K again. This is still more expensive than the Korean pricing, since Korea gets the large battery for around $60K, so it looks like we’re seeing maybe a 10% or so increase for foreign models.
It also starts the EV9 near the top of pricing for the EV6. The EV6 starts at $42K but goes up to $61K for the highest-end configurations. So Kia is building a price ladder here, with the bigger car occupying the top rung of it (personally I think smaller cars are better, but I guess I’m the weird one).
Comparing to other offerings on the market, this is a big chunk more expensive than Kia’s gas-powered SUV, the Telluride, which starts at $35k, or €34k in Europe. That massive almost-100kWh battery doesn’t come cheap.
While EV price differentials can often be made up by subsidies, the EV9 won’t qualify for the US EV tax credit, due to being assembled in Korea. However, US buyers can get around this restriction by leasing, where Kia currently offers a $7,500 lease deal on its current models by passing along the commercial EV tax credit to the lessee. Kia hasn’t confirmed that this deal will apply to the EV9, but as it applies to its other EV models, we suspect it will – though maybe not immediately at launch.
But looking at pricing of some other three-row electric SUVs, this price would put the EV9 about mid-pack. If we assume an eventual ~$60K base for the standard model, that’s more than the Tesla Model Y and Mercedes EQB which both start at around $53K with their anemic rear seats, approximately in line with or a little less than what we expect from the spacious three-row ID.Buzz, and quite a chunk less than the Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90 which are in the 80K range.
We’re seeing more sightings of the EV9 in the US (we just saw a video of one in Palm Springs, see below), so launch is imminent. We’ll surely get real pricing soon, but until then, what do you think about the likely ~$60K base price in the US for the standard-battery EV9? Or $67K for the large battery? Let us know in the comments.
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Environment
Destroyed Cybertruck used in Vegas bombing is for sale, Musk said Tesla would rebuild it
The Tesla Cybertruck used in the Las Vegas bombing appears to have landed in an auction for sale as salvaged, still destroyed. CEO Elon Musk said Tesla would put it back on the road.
Good luck with that.
In January, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded at the Trump Tower in Las Vegas.
The driver is believed to have shot himself in the head right before the vehicle exploded. Evidence proved that some firework mortars and gas canisters were inside the Cybertruck’s bed.
After the explosion, Tesla CEO Elon Musk praised the Cybertruck for “containing” the explosion and reducing the damage.
He even went as far as claiming that the powertrain was still working and that Tesla would rebuild the Cybertruck and bring it back on the road:
“Once we get this Cybertruck back to Tesla, we’ll buff out the scratches and get it back on the road.”
When questioned about the seriousness of this statement, he affirmed, “No, I mean it.”
They clearly haven’t yet because the Cybertruck has now shown up as a salvaged vehicle for auction on IAA’s site:
It’s not clear if Tesla had an opportunity to get the truck until now, but they certainly could buy it now.
Electrek’s Take
Good luck rebuilding the truck. Maybe they can salvage the battery pack and motors in a new truck, but there’s no way or point to salvage the chassis.
Elon has already confirmed that Tesla engineers have looked at the car. I’m sure that they had the opportunity to get it from the insurance company.
I bet that Tesla doesn’t want the car, and it won’t be back on the road as Elon claimed. You can add it to the list of lies he told this year. Are we in the hundreds already? And we are only in March.
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What’s better than an all-electric boat? An all-electric boat with a hot tub in it. Niche boatbuilder Spacruzzi made waves (but limited wake) last year with an electric hot tub boat model showcased around the US, including Lake Tahoe and even on the Chicago River. For 2025, Spacruzzi has introduced a sleeker and more refined version of its electric boat and opened its waiting list for a limited number of builds scheduled for this year.
Spacruzzi is a marine vessel developer whose flagship product shares the same name and looks to stand out as a luxury option for both private owners and rental operators. Per the company website:
While there have been other versions of hot tub boats on the market over the years, nothing comes close to matching the experience of a Spacruzzi. From the attention to detail, luxury finishes and patent pending features to the outstanding build quality and ease of ownership – we have set out to create the most sought after experience on the water. We built Spacruzzi to provide an unforgettable experience to the end user while giving rental operators and entrepeneuers an exciting new offering to build and grow their business and it is our mission to enable this industry to thrive.
Each electric boat is designed, fabricated, and assembled by hand at Spacruzzi’s facilities in Polson, Montana. They arrive fully compliant for anyone and everyone to operate and deliver mobility technology that exceeds environmental regulations.
A previous version of the Spacruzzi electric hot tub boat appeared on the FOX game show Snake Oil, and several were put into rental operations on the Chicago River—available even during some of the colder months.
Recently, Spacruzzi introduced an updated version of its electric hot-tub boat featuring a more luxurious look and feel. Additionally, a select few can put a deposit down to secure one for themselves this year.
Spacruzzi introduces upgrades to its 2025 hot tub boat
The images above show the updated version of Spacruzzi’s electric hot tub boat. This model is 15.6 feet long and 8.2 feet wide, with a draft of only 2.75 feet, enabling it to navigate shallow waters. When on the water, the Spacruzzi electric hot tub boat offers room for 6 passengers and weighs about 4,500 pounds at max capacity, alongside 400 gallons of water in the tub itself, which can be heated to up to 104℉.
The hot tub boat is propelled by a 3.0 Torqeedo electric motor pod that delivers approximately 3-5 horsepower, translating to 4-5 mph speeds on the water. A USCG-compliant propane heater supports the vessel’s hot tub operations, and two compartments aft of the vessel offer room for up to four lithium battery packs capable of powering the motor, heater, and internal water treatment system for up to 16 hours.
Each boat includes one battery pack that can deliver between four and five hours of running time on a single charge. Each boat also has AC charging capabilities, but Spacruzzi can add fast charging for an additional fee. Speaking of fees, Spacruzzi shared that it has opened its waitlist for its 2025 hot tub boat production schedule.
Interested individuals or businesses can secure an electric hot tub boat build with a $2,500 non-refundable deposit. When Spacruzzi is ready to assemble your vessel, it requires a 50% deposit minus the $2,500 waitlist deposit. The final 50% payment is due when the order is complete; it will be shipped to your specified destination. Spacruzzi says builds take about 90-100 days after receiving the 50% production deposit. Per Spacruzzi, the base price of its updated boat is $68,500.
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Ford is investing billions in Europe as it struggles to keep pace with the wave of Chinese and other low-cost EVs hitting the market. With another 4.4 billion euros ($4.8 billion) in funding, Ford looks to turn things around, but it’s also calling on lawmakers to do more.
Ford injects billions in Europe to fight Chinese EVs
With “significant losses” over the past few years, Ford is restructuring its business in Europe as it aims to cut costs and simplify operations.
Back in November, the American automaker said it planned to cut another 4,000 jobs in Europe by 2027, blaming “lower-than-expected” demand and mounting pressure from new EVs entering the market, including Chinese brands like BYD and SAIC’s MG.
Ford announced plans to invest another 4.4 billion euros ($4.8 billion) on Monday to support its transformation. The funds will be used to reduce the growing debt at its German subsidiary, Ford-werke GmbH.
In a statement, the company said the new capital injection will help reduce debt at Ford plants in Germany and fund a multi-year business plan. Ford’s German unit has about 5.8 billion euros ($6.3 billion) of debt.
Ford Motor Company’s vice chairman, John Lawler, explained, “With the new capital for our German subsidiary, we are driving the transformation of our business in Europe and strengthening our competitiveness with a new product range.”
Lawler stressed the need to “simplify our structures, reduce costs and increase efficiency” if it wants to compete. He added that Europe needs “a clear political agenda” to promote EV adoption that aligns with consumer demand.
Over the past few years, Ford has invested heavily in Europe to better compete, including $2 billion to upgrade its Cologne manufacturing plant to produce EVs.
The plant builds two models, Ford’s electric Explorer and Capri. Although Ford revealed its fourth EV for Europe (including the Mustang Mach-E) in December, the Puma Gen-E is being built in Romania.
Electrek’s Take
Can Ford spark life back into its European business? It’s not the only one struggling to keep up with new competition, Volkswagen is also cutting jobs in its home market and is even considering closing plants.
Legacy automakers, like Ford and Volkswagen, have been caught off guard by Chinese EV leaders like BYD’s aggressive expansion overseas to drive growth.
According to Jato Dynamics, Chinese brands are quickly gaining traction in Europe. In January 2025, 37,134 Chinese vehicles were registered, a 52% increase from the previous year. During the same time, Chinese brands’ market share grew from 2.4% to 3.7%. Combined, it would now put them ahead of Ford.
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