Geely and Baidu officially launch JiYue 01 ROBOCAR with AI and voice-activated parking
Just over two months after announcing a restructuring of its business partnership to bring its AI-powered 01 ROBOCAR to market, Geely and Baidu have officially launched the futuristic autonomous EV in China. The 01 arrives as the world’s first consumer vehicle featuring Baidu’s full Apollo suite of Level 4 autonomous driving solutions.
In January of 2021, Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, better known as Geely. By March of that year, the JIDU marque was officially announced following $300 million in startup capital, which was joined by an additional $400 million in Series A funding led by Baidu in January of 2022.
The original brand of JIDU was created to popularize autonomous driving and human-machine interaction technologies, specifically its ROBO-01 concept, which debuted in early 2022 equipped with a unique internal voice interaction system allowing for communication between the “human-car-environment.”
This past August, Baidu’s partner Geely announced it would be taking on a larger role in JIDU as well as a larger financial stake. Previously, Geely owned a 45% minority stake in JIDU, while Baidu owned 55%. However, with the creation of the JiYue marque, Geely now owns a 65% stake and operates the brand under its own umbrella, while Baidu maintains a 35% minority stake.
At the time, a representative for Geely also told Electrek that JIDU will continue to operate as a separate entity and “technology facilitator” to its successor JiYue, which has inherited the previous name’s logo as well as the 01 ROBOCAR which launched today.
JiYue’s 01 ROBOCAR launches in China
It’s wild to think that today marks the official launch of the 01 ROBOCAR because we’ve been following it for over two years now from the time it was a mere concept. JiYue showcased its AI-centric EV at its ROBODAY 2023 event held in Shanghai.
Following the event, we’ve learned some exciting features Chinese consumers can expect to experience when deliveries will begin. To start, the 01 ROBOCAR sits atop Geely’s ever-popular Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), which will come in two battery variations: 71.4kWh and 100kWh, providing 550km (342 miles) and 720km (447 miles) CLTC range, respectively. The EV can also recharge from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes on a DC fast charger.
The powertrain comes in single and dual motor configurations, offering power of 200kW or 400kW and acceleration from 0-100km/hr (0-62 mph) in 3.8 seconds. JiYue explained that the 01 ROBOCAR launches as the first mass production model to utilize Qualcomm’s 8295 intelligent vehicle cockpit chip, helping power the automaker’s intelligent vehicle AI partner – SIMO. Per JiYue:
SIMO speech recognition speed is as fast as 500ms and covers complex scenarios in and out of the vehicle, four-way simultaneous conversations, and continued conversations. The AI system also integrates multi-modal interactions including voice, gestures, and visual cues to enhance personalization to the users. SIMO is backed by Baidu’s integrated AI system Ernie Bot enabling it to continue growing and develop logical reasoning and strategic planning capabilities.
The ROBOCAR JiYue 01 is the world’s first model to support voice-activated/controlled parking while outside the vehicle. Users can command ROBOCAR JiYue 01 to utilize its AVP autonomous valet parking function to park itself or pickup users in indoor or outdoor parking lots from up to 2km away
Additionally, the 01 ROBOCAR launches with NVIDIA DRIVE Orin autonomous drive chips and vision-centric intelligent drive architecture that features 11 HD cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 5-millimeter wave radars, supporting the EV’s ROBO Drive Max feature.
ROBO Drive Max is a monthly subscription model offering ROBOCAR owners access to the EV’s Point to Point (PPA) navigation assistance, capable of fully-autonomous lane changing and overtakes, highway on and off ramp maneuvering, multi-lane obstacle avoidance, identifying zebra crossing and traffic lights, giving way to pedestrians, unprotected left turns, and avoiding non-motorized vehicles.
JiYue states its flagship EV’s autonomous capabilities including autonomous valet parking, function on 90% of China’s highways and in 3 urban cities – Hangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai –with plans to expand to 200+ additional cities in China in 2024.
JiYue shared that 01 ROBOCAR deliveries will begin shortly now that the flagship EV has officially launched, although the automaker has not shared pricing yet. Looking ahead, the marque says it will continue to develop its second model, originally called the ROBO-2, teased last December.
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Ford is cutting prices on the electric pickup by up to $4,000 to offset the loss of the federal EV tax credit. The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning now offers more driving range at a lower price.
2026 Ford F-150 Lightning prices and range by trim
After the Tesla Cybertruck took the title as America’s best-selling electric pickup last year, the Ford F-150 Lightning is back on top in 2025.
Ford sold over 10,000 Lightnings in the third quarter, nearly double the roughly 5,400 Tesla Cybertrucks sold. Through September, Ford has sold over 23,000 electric pickups. According to Cox Automotive, Tesla has only sold 16,097 Cybertrucks this year, 38% fewer than it did during the same period in 2024.
After the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expired at the end of September, many automakers, including Ford, are bracing for less demand.
To keep the momentum going, Ford is reducing prices for the 2026 F-150 Lightning by up to $4,000. Company spokesperson Martin Günsberg confirmed with Electrek that Ford is cutting prices on the flash trim by $4,000 and the Lariat by $2,000.
Ford introduced a new base STX model that replaces the XLT for 2026. The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX starts at $63,345, the same as the 2025 STX, but it delivers an extra 50 miles of driving range.
A 123 kW extended range battery powers the STX, providing an EPA estimated 290 miles of range. In comparison, the XLT delivered 240 miles of range from a 98 kWh battery.
Ford also raided the F-150 parts bin to add a few off-road goodies like running boards from the Tremor, new wheels, and more.
The 2026 F-150 Lightning Flash will start at $65,995, down from $69,995. Meanwhile, the 2026 Lariat and Platinum trims will be priced from $74,995 and $84,995.
| Ford F-150 Lightning trim | 2025 Starting Price | 2026 Starting Price | Range (EPA-est miles) |
| XLT | $63,345 | N/A | 240 |
| STX | N/A | $63,345 | 290 |
| Flash | $69,995 | $65,995 | 320 |
| Lariat | $76,995 | $74,995 | 320 |
| Platinum | $84,995 | $84,995 | 300 |
Although Ford decided not to move forward with plans for a program to extend the $7,500 EV tax credit, the company is still offering significant incentives to compensate for the loss of it.
The 2025 Ford F-150 Lighting STX is eligible for up to $11,500 in savings in California and other ZEV states. Ford is offering a $9,000 lease cash bonus and an additional $2,000 Ford Power Promise cash bonus. Alternatively, Ford is offering 0% APR financing for 72 months plus an extra $2,000 Power Promise bonus nationwide.
With the 2026 Lightning arriving, Ford is offering big savings on 2025 models. The 2025 F-150 Lightning XLT is currently listed for lease as low as $279 per month in California. You can use our link to find offers on the Ford F-150 Lightning near you (trusted affiliate link).
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Global EV sales passed the 2 million mark for the first time in September 2025, according to new data from EV research house Rho Motion – here’s how it breaks down.
A record-breaking September
Rho Motion’s data shows that 2.1 million EVs were sold worldwide in September, the highest monthly total ever recorded. The US, UK, South Korea, and China all hit major milestones, with tax credit deadlines, new registration cycles, and local incentives fueling the global boom.
“Global EV sales topped 2 million units in a single month for the first time, driven by record-breaking demand across major markets,” said Rho Motion’s data manager Charles Lester. “The US surged ahead as buyers raced to claim expiring tax credits, the UK hit new highs on the back of fresh registration plates and the Electric Car Grant, and South Korea set records thanks to Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, and rising BYD imports. Year to date, EV sales have reached 14.7 million – up 26%.”
EV sales by the numbers YTD (Jan–Sept 2025)
- Global: 14.7 million (+26%)
- China: 9.0 million (+24%)
- Europe: 3.0 million (+32%)
- North America: 1.5 million (+11%)
- Rest of World: 1.2 million (+48%)
Europe surges on incentives
Europe had a record-breaking month with 427,000 EVs sold, up 36% year-over-year and 55% from August. The UK led the charge with record demand tied to the launch of new license plates and the government’s Electric Car Grant, introduced in July. BEV sales rose 30% year-over-year, while PHEVs jumped nearly 60%.
Germany’s EV market is expected to get another boost in 2026 after the government approved a new €3 billion ($3.5 billion) incentive package targeting low- and middle-income households. It replaces the subsidy scheme that expired in December 2023. Italy and Spain also continue to see strong growth, with sales up two-thirds and more than double, respectively, compared to 2024.
US buyers rushed to beat tax credit deadlines
In North America, EV sales soared 66% year-over-year in September as US consumers scrambled to take advantage of federal incentives before they expired on September 30. The tax credits supported both purchases and leases.
But Rho Motion expects Q4 2025 demand to dip sharply as those credits disappear. Some automakers are already taking defensive steps: Hyundai has cut prices, while Mercedes-Benz has paused production of four EV models. GM has suspended a production shift at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant, and Volkswagen is stopping ID.4 production in Tennessee in October. Nissan has gone further, scrapping its plans to manufacture EVs in the US altogether.
China is the world’s EV powerhouse
China still dominates the global EV market, selling 1.3 million EVs in September, a record-breaking month powered by strong BEV demand. Pure-electric sales rose 28% year-over-year to 800,000 units, while PHEVs and range-extended EVs dipped by 2% to 470,000.
China has sold nearly 9 million EVs YTD, up 24% from 2024, cementing its position as the world’s largest and most mature EV market.
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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On today’s hyped up hybrid episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the first extended range electric Jeep in North America – the 500-mile new Grand Wagoneer PLUS news that Mazda is getting into the plug-in price war, and a whole lot more.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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