Jeep’s first fully electric vehicle in the US will debut with a $7,500 discount as the rugged SUV brand looks to compete with Tesla. The Jeep Wagoneer S will launch this fall with a $7,500 lease discount, making it more competitive with Tesla’s top-selling Model Y. Which electric SUV are you going with?

Meet Jeep’s first global EV

Jeep took the sheets off its first global electric SUV, the Wagoneer S, late last month as it looks toward a new chapter.

The Jeep Wagoneer S features a range of over 300 miles, a luxurious, tech-oriented interior, and fast charging capabilities. Powered by a 100 kWh battery, Jeep’s electric SUV can charge from 20% to 80% in 23 minutes.

Jeep’s Wagoneer S is “Distinctively a Jeep and 100% electric in every way,” according to Jeep’s CEO Antonio Filosa.

You will notice several signature design upgrades for the electric era, including a reimagined seven-slot closed grille.

Although it’s built on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, which is expected to underpin the electric Dodge Charger, Jeep designers modified it specifically for the Wagoneer S.

On the inside, Jeep packed its latest software and connectivity tech. The Wagoneer S Launch Edition includes a massive “best-in-class” display with 45″ of space. This includes a 10.25″ interactive passenger screen.

Jeep aims Wagoneer S at Tesla with new lease deal

Jeep believes its first electric SUV in the US can steal some of the spotlight from Tesla’s best-selling Model Y.

Filosa told Automotive News earlier this month, “Something like 100% will be conquested,” referring to Jeeps Wagoneer S and Recon EVs.

“The brands we are targeting are mainly Tesla… but there are many others,” Jeep’s leader explained.

According to online auto research firm CarsDirect, the Jeep Wagoneer S will hit the market with a $7,500 lease discount.

Although Jeep has yet to reveal lease deals on the new EV, they are expected to be revealed soon. Dealers in 12 states were notified last week of the new offer through Stellantis Financial Services.

Jeep’s Wagoneer S Launch Edition will begin arriving at US dealerships this fall, starting at $71,995.

Tesla’s RWD Model Y starts at $44,900 with up to 320 miles range. With the tax credit, the Model Y starts at just $37,490. The AWD version costs $47,990 with up to 308 miles range.

Other potential competitors include the Rivian R1S ($76,700), Porsche Macan Electric ($80,450), and Audi Q8 e-tron ($75,595). It will also compete with lower-priced models like the Hyundai IONIQ 5, starting at $41,800.

Which electric SUV are you going with? The Tesla Model Y or Jeep Wagoneer S?

Elon Musk says Tesla will give some new stock options to top performers after shareholders approved his own record-breaking compensation package.

Part of the irony behind the fact that a judge rescinded Musk’s CEO compensation package at Tesla for misleading shareholders is the fact that the weeks prior to the decision, Tesla had also canceled stock compensations for employees.

However, employees didn’t have shareholders rallying to make sure they get their stock options like Musk had.

Last week, shareholders voted again for Musk to get his compensation plan worth $55 billion in shares.

Following his victory at the shareholders meeting, Musk now says that Tesla will again start giving out stock options to employees, but not to everyone.

The CEO now says that grants will go to “exceptional performance”:

Over the next few weeks, Tesla will be doing a comprehensive review to provide stock option grants for exceptional performance. There will also be an ongoing program to award spot option grants for anyone who does something outstanding for the company. Thanks for everything you’re doing to make Tesla successful.

On top of canceling stock options for employees at the end of last year, Tesla also canceled pay adjustments for many workers.

Musk has often used Tesla’s stock options, which were available to all employees, to argue that Tesla pays its workers better than most other automakers.

That was true when Tesla’s stock performed well, but the stock is down 26% year-to-date.

Electrek’s Take

I really wish shareholders would have fought for employees to keep their stock options half as much as they did for Elon.

Now, it looks like Elon felt bad that he is getting his stock options, as long as a judge agrees with Tesla’s use of ratification, but Tesla employees weren’t.

Not bad enough to give them back to all workers, but only to do those with “exceptional performance”. I guess that’s a start.

Swiss-based VMAX has been a key player in the European electric scooter market since 2015, and last year expanded into the US market. Now we’re getting our first look at two new models released into the US market, the VMAX VX2 Extreme and the VX5 Pro.

The company is leveraging its Swiss heritage and the quality reputation that goes along with it, even if the scooters aren’t actually made in Switzerland like your favorite timekeeper or chocolate. Still, that penchant for quality seems to live on in the brand’s industry-leading two-year warranty, focus on UL certification testing, IPX6 waterproof rating, and fully-stocked replacement parts warehouse in the US, just in case anyone needs to test out that warranty.

Now, the company is showing off a pair of new scooters in the US market, targeting both the higher-performance market and the entry-level segment. The $999 VX2 Extreme is designed for that type of higher-performance riding, while the $449 VX5 Pro is built with budget shoppers in mind.

Both models include several important features, such as relatively large tubeless pneumatic tires (10″ and 9″ on VX2 Extreme and VX5 Pro, respectively), LED lighting with included blinkers, UL 2722 certification from SGS, IPX6 water resistance to protect the scooters in a rain shower, and a combination of electronic regenerative braking and sealed drum brakes.

To dive into the details, let’s start with what looks to be the more adrenaline-laced model. The new VMAX VX2 Extreme is the company’s latest update to the VX2 Pro, which is still available as one of the company’s best sellers. In fact, one of my colleagues got a chance to test out the VX2 Pro last year. With any luck, I’ll try out the even higher-performance VX2 Extreme.

Upping the ante, the VX2 Extreme comes with a higher power motor featuring 1,600 peak watts, a steeper max climbing grade of 33%, a longer range per charge of up to 43 miles (69 km), a wider deck for added comfort, an upgraded 4-inch TFT LCD display, a new companion app, a higher weight limit of 330 lb (150 kg), and a new top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h).

The base model offers a 500Wh battery with 28 miles (45 km) of range. There are also two larger battery options available. Riders can opt for 624 Wh or 792 Wh battery packs offering ranges of 34 and 43 miles (54 and 69 km), respectively.

At $999 (or an extra $100/$200 for the larger battery options), that’s a lot of performance. We’ve seen other companies targeting this high-performance/low-price segment lately, but rarely with the bang-for-buck that VMAX is offering with the VX2 Extreme.

On the more relaxed ride end of the spectrum, the new VMAX VX5 Pro offers several upgrades over the company’s VX5 budget e-scooter.

The 18 mph (30 km/h) scooter now comes with new LED blinkers for indicating turns, and the pneumatic tires have been increased to a 9″ size while also going tubeless.

The scooter also maintains the same VMAX Connect App, IPX6 water resistance rating, UL 2722 certification by SGS, and a combination of regenerative braking and sealed drum brakes.

The $449 entry-level price includes a smaller 11-mile (18 km) battery, but there are two longer-range options with larger batteries that offer 17 miles or 22 miles (27 or 35 km), with each adding just $50 to the price.

Electrek’s Take

I’m pretty impressed by the value here. The performance of both models exceeds the price, especially when you consider some of the nice added features like turn signals and wider decks. It used to be that getting a $400 scooter meant shopping from one of the shady off-brand brands. But now you can get a solid scooter for the cost of a car payment and still have enough left over for a solid lock and helmet.

The only hesitation I have is the suspension, or lack thereof. I’m a bit split here. On the one hand, it’s great to have suspension when riding on surfaces like pavers, bricks, and cobblestones. On the other hand, scooters are more rugged and generally last longer without it (not to mention are less expensive and several pounds lighter). So as long as you don’t have crazy rough streets, this is probably sufficient, and the added bonus is the scooter will likely last for more years.

Those 9″ and 10″ pneumatic tires will also help with the occasional pothole, even if they aren’t the same as true suspension. But for anyone cruising Boston’s cobblestone streets, for example, that true suspension on competitors’ models does start to look mighty interesting.