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At a recent general meeting, Toyota’s shareholders raised concerns over Tesla and the lead it has established as the industry moves to electric vehicles.

Toyota shareholders concerned over Tesla’s EV lead

On two oppositive sides of the EV spectrum, you have Tesla, which sells 100% electric vehicles, and Toyota, which has been one of the biggest laggards (if not the biggest) regarding pure EVs.

Tesla delivered a record 466,140 electric models in the second quarter of 2023, crushing expectations again. The EV pioneer has delivered 888,000 units through the first half of the year and needs less than one million deliveries to hit its 1.8 million 2023 goal by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, of the over 4.15 million vehicles Toyota sold globally in 1H 2023, only a fraction (roughly 0.19%) were purely electric.

After shareholders raised concerns over Tesla and its dominant lead with EVs, several leaders were quick to point to Toyota’s hybrid approach, including hybrid and fuel cell vehicles (FCEV), a strategy that has already set them behind industry competitors.

Despite its resistance to going all-electric, the Japanese automaker has introduced several new ideas to accelerate its BEV strategy recently, several of them directly from Tesla’s playbook.

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Source: Toyota

In May, Toyota’s newly elected CEO, Koji Sato, revealed the automaker was developing a “completely new platform designed exculsivly for BEVs” expected to launch in 2026.

And then last month, Toyota shared a few new technologies and processes it was working on to transform the company in the electric era including incorporating a simple body structure through Giga casting, a process used by Tesla to reduce the number of pieces needed to make the car.

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Gigacast (Source: Toyota)

Toyota plans to integrate advanced areodynamics with next-gen EV batteries that the company claims will drastically improve driving range compared to its first electric model, the bZ4X electric SUV, while slashing production costs by 2027.

President of Toyota’s BEV factory, Takero Kato, explained to shareholders “I love BEVs. Through BEVs, I want to change the future of cars, monozukuri, and work.”

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2023 Toyota bZ4X (Source: Toyota)

First, he says, Toyota aims to produce EVs with the same cruising range as its hybrid vehicles. Then, the automaker will improve the vehicle structure and production process to optimize efficiency.

Longtime Toyota leader who stepped down from his position as CEO (remaining on the board) earlier this year, said:

I don’t know if love can beat Tesla. However, cars made by engineers who love them will move people’s hearts.

Toyota aims to sell 1.5 million EVs by 2026 with 10 new electric models including luxury, small cars, and commercial. The automaker plans to produce its first US-assembled EV, a three-row electric SUV, at its plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.

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Toyota three-row electric SUV concept (Source: Toyota)

Electrek’s Take

I think Toyota’s shareholders know the answer and that’s why they are raising concerns over Tesla.

Tesla is on track to hit 1.8 million deliveries by the end of the year while Toyota is aiming for 1.6 million in another three years. By that time, Tesla will have widened its lead by far.

Toyota continues wasting precious time and resources on inferior technology like fuel cell and hybrids, which will only slow the automakers transition even more.

The Japanese automaker seems to be recognizing the urgency after falling behind early. Its “multi-pathway” strategy is distracting it from what’s really important – developing and producing EVs.

While Tesla is laser focused on ramping production and optimizing efficiency along the way, Toyota seems to be taking several pages from the EV makers playbook while it continues investing in other technology. Not only will the strategy be costly in the end, but Toyota is far less likely to remain competitive with Tesla with its finger in every pie.

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BMW updates its best-selling EV with more range and power

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BMW updates its best-selling EV with more range and power

The 2026 BMW i4 is bringing a few key improvements, including a longer driving range and added power. Here’s what to expect.

The 2026 BMW i4 can drive further with added range

BMW is giving the people what they want. The German luxury brand upgraded its most popular EV lineup for the 2026 model year with new silicon carbide (SiC) inverters that unlock greater driving range while improving efficiency.

The 2026 i4 uses the same SiCs as the i5, which BMW said are not only more efficient but also more powerful and more heat-resistant than traditional semiconductors.

BMW said that regardless of what wheels and tires you choose, the 2026 i4 eDrive40 is now expected to have over 300 miles of range.

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The new 2026 BMW i4 eDrive40 with 18″ wheels is now estimated to have 333 miles of range, 15 miles more than the outgoing model. With 19″ wheels, BMW estimates the base i4 can drive 307 miles on a full charge, 12 miles more than the 2025 version.

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The 2026 BMW i4 (Source: BMW)

Thanks to the new SICs, BMW’s range-topping i4 M60 gains a notable boost in power. The 2026 BMW i4 M60 now delivers up to 510 hp, 41 hp more than the outgoing model.

When My Modes Sport is activated, the i4 packs up to 592 hp, 57 hp more than the M50. The added power is good for a 0-to-60-mph sprint in just 3.6 seconds.

Other upgrades include a new Seal & Drive Tire Kit included as standard. BMW also added Drive Recorder to its Parking Assistant Professional Package and Glass Controls as an option across all i4 trims.

 2026 BMW i4 trim Estimated Blended Range Improvement Over 2025 Model
 Wheel Size 18” 19” 20” 18” 19” 20”
i4 eDrive40 333 mi 307 mi 15 mi 12 mi
i4 M60 278 mi 232 mi 11 mi 5 mi
2026 BMW i4 driving range compared to the 2025 model (Source: BMW)

The i4 eDrive40 and xDrive40 now offer black mirror caps and M Sport brakes if you choose the Shadowline package.

The 2026 BMW i4 eDrive40 starts at $57,900, while the 2026 xDrive40 Gran Coupe is priced from $62,300. The range-topping 2026 i4 M60 starts at $70,700.

With the 2026 model year arriving at dealerships, BMW is offering clearance prices on 2025 models. The 2025 BMW i4 is available to lease for as low as $399 per month.

Are you interested in test-driving BMW’s electric sedan? You can use our link to find BMW i4 models available in your area.

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Formula E’s new car is twice as powerful and has all-wheel drive, a first in racing

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Formula E's new car is twice as powerful and has all-wheel drive, a first in racing

Formula E revealed its new “GEN4” vehicle for next season, with a huge step up in performance – the series’ biggest advancement yet.

Formula E is the FIA’s biggest top-level electric racing series, having started all the way back in 2014 and hosting open-wheel all-electric races all around the world.

It started with somewhat modest performing vehicles, with around 250hp and a top speed of 140mph. The cars also had relatively small 28kWh batteries, which meant they couldn’t complete a full race – drivers would actually get out and swap into a new car with a fully charged battery halfway through, then continue the race.

In Gen 2, things got a little less silly, and batteries got better enough to allow for a full race distance. Power went up and the cars got faster around the track.

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Gen 3 was another improvement, with a more angular look and an innovative braking system which removed the front friction brakes entirely, instead using a front motor for more regenerative braking. Later on in the car’s lifecycle, that motor was activated for drive power, not just regen, and it became the only all-wheel drive open-wheel racecar. But, it could only be used in qualifying or specific circumstances within a race.

Now, with the Gen 4 car, Formula E is throwing caution to the wind and going all-time all-wheel drive, which no other open-wheel racing series does (it’s been tried a few times, but never stuck). There are other types of vehicles that race with all-wheel drive, but no other open-wheel single-seaters.

But that’s not all, there have also been a lot of spec improvements from the new vehicle.

Max power improves from 350kW to a whopping 600kW (805hp) – a near doubling. The Gen 3 cars were limited to 300kW in race mode, but the Gen 4 will have that boosted to 450kW (603hp). Max 600kW will be available in qualifying and in “attack mode,” a temporary boost that drivers can activate during the race.

With the higher performance, Formula E will offer new downforce packages. In the beginning, Formula E cars didn’t quite travel fast enough for downforce to matter a whole lot (especially since it also harms efficiency), but now that the series is getting more powerful, there will be more options available to optimize bodywork for certain racetracks.

All that fits into a package thats just 1,012kg (2,230lbs), and accelerates from 0-60 in 1.8 seconds. That’s about 30% faster than an F1 car can make the same sprint – though, admittedly, racecars only go 0-60 one time per race. But it’s still useful to zip out of a turn real quick.

All-wheel drive will also help corner exit speed, as it allows drivers to put the power down earlier without spinning out. Another new feature on the Gen 4 cars which will enhance driveability is the addition of anti-lock brakes and traction control – features that aren’t seen on most racecars (and, to be quite honest, I’m not a fan of this – makes the car too easy to drive, and numbs the racing).

More importantly, in initial testing, a Gen 4 car was clocked at 211mph, which is, uh, fast as hell:

Regenerative braking capacity is boosted to 700kW from the previous 600kW, so more energy will be recaptured throughout the race, enhancing efficiency. That might also translate into faster mid-race charging speeds, as Formula E finally got its mid-race charging plans working this last season with a feature it calls “pit boost.”

Formula E says that the goal of this car was to build “the world’s most sustainable race car”, and says that 100% of the materials used in its construction are recyclable, and at least 20% of the materials used in it are recycled content, which is double the amount of the outgoing generation.

The car will start racing next season, in late 2026. Formula E’s 12th season, the last season of the Gen 3 cars, starts on December 6 in São Paulo.

Electrek’s Take

It’s exciting to see the advancements in electric racing, and having such a huge jump in power from one generation to another is quite impressive. Remember, the first FE cars in 2014 had just 250hp, and now we’re here at 805hp – more than three times as much as where we started. For comparison, today’s F1 cars have around 1,000 horsepower.

I’m less enthused about the addition of driver’s aids. Traction control and anti-lock braking take a lot of the skill out of driving, make races less unpredictable, and restrict performance of the vehicles as compared to a perfectly-driven car (well, traction control does at least – because it cuts motor power when it detects wheel slippage).

These aids are great for road cars and unpracticed drivers, but for professional drivers seeking to extract every tiny bit of performance, and to do so in an exciting way that is entertaining to watch, I think these are a big step down. We hope they reconsider this, or add some sort of restriction on the use of the systems.

Nevertheless, it’s always exciting to see what these new cars can do after each upgrade, and this one seems like more of a doozy than ever. We’re looking forward to seeing it all at the end of 2026.


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Nissan is finally showing signs of a recovery, but it’s not out of the woods yet

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Nissan is finally showing signs of a recovery, but it's not out of the woods yet

Nissan is selling its global headquarters and trimming production as part of its recovery efforts. Although the Japanese automaker is starting to show signs of life, it still has a long way to go. Nissan is betting on new vehicles, including the next-gen LEAF, to help it turn things around.

Nissan is ramping up its recovery efforts

After reporting first-half earnings on Thursday, Nissan gave an update on its recovery efforts. As part of its comeback plan, “Re:Nissan,” the company aims to return to operating profitability and positive free cash flow by fiscal year 2026.

Despite a challenging first half, Nissan’s CEO Ivan Espinosa claimed that the company is “firmly on the path to recovery.”

Nissan’s sales revenue fell nearly 7% to 5.6 trillion yen ($36.5 billion) due to lower global vehicle sales, particularly in Japan. Espinosa said sales are improving in the US and China, with new vehicles launching, including the 2026 LEAF and the Roox kei car.

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In the first half of the fiscal year, Nissan reported an operating loss of 27.7 billion yen ($180.7 million), a stark contrast from the 32.09 billion operating profit it generated in the first half of fiscal 2024.

Nissan-recovery
The new Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)

However, the loss was significantly lower than the 180 billion yen ($1.1 billion) loss Nissan had forecast just a few months ago.

Nissan said it has identified 200 billion yen ($1.3 billion) in potential variable cost savings. It has already reduced fixed costs by over 80 billion yen ($500 million) and is on track to hit its goal of 250 billion yen ($1.6 billion) by fiscal 2026.

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Nissan unveils the new LEAF in Japan (Source: Nissan)

As part of its recovery efforts, Nissan announced it’s selling and leasing back its global headquarters in Yokohama.

With a new 20-year leaseback agreement, Nissan said it will have no impact on employees and operations at the facility. It will use the funds to support its recovery efforts.

Nissan has now closed or consolidated six of the seven planned manufacturing plants. The company said it has significantly improved efficiency, and the engineering cost-per-hour improvement is now 12%, well on its way toward its 20% goal.

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2026 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek edition (Source: Nissan)

Espinosa added that the second half will “bring its own hurdles,” but Nissan is confident it will “deliver even stronger results.”

Nissan confirmed it’s still on track to generate an operating profit in fiscal 2025, excluding the impact of tariffs. The company expects to take a 275 billion yen ($1.8 billion) hit from US tariffs in the fiscal year.

According to reports, Nissan is also planning to cut production of its best-selling Rogue SUV in Japan due to a supply shortage from chipmaker Nexperia. Nissan plans to cut Rogue output by about 900 vehicles, starting next week, a source told Reuters.

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