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Cadillac is adding a smaller, cheaper electric SUV to its lineup. The new OPTIQ EV is slated to sit below the Cadillac LYRIQ as the brand’s new entry-level EV.

GM’s luxury brand confirmed that a fourth EV will join its growing lineup Friday. The Cadillac OPTIQ is the brand’s new entry-level EV, slated to sit below the LYRIQ SUV.

Cadillac said that the “OPTIQ’s spirited driving dynamics are designed to appeal to global luxury customers.”

Although no other details were mentioned, the new EV will have a starting price under the LYRIQ’s $58,590.

The new entry-level OPTIQ EV is expected to go on sale as early as next year. It will likely be sold in global markets, including North America, Europe, and China.

The Cadillac OPTIQ will follow the LYRIQ, the $340K Celestiq, and the recently revealed ESCALADE IQ. The ESCALADE IQ is the all-electric version of Cadillac’s full-size SUV. It will be available next year, starting at $130,000.

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Cadillac OPTIQ EV (Source: Cadillac)

Cadillac unveils new entry-level OPTIQ EV

We knew GM’s luxury brand was planning to release a cheaper electric SUV after filing for the name Cadillac OPTIQ with China’s MIIT in July.

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Cadillac OPTIQ EV (Source: China MIIT)

In August, leaked images from China’s MIIT revealed the compact electric SUV in full. The report indicated the new EV will have 143 kW front and 68 kW rear electric motors. Its battery packs will also be supplied through a CATL and SAIC joint venture. At least in China.

Cadillac-Optiq-EV
(Source: China MIIT)

At 4,822 mm (190″) long, 1,912 mm (75″) wide, and 1,643 mm (65″) tall, the Cadillac OPTIQ EV will compete directly with the Tesla Model Y ((4,750 mm long, 1,912 mm wide, 1,624 mm tall).

Cadillac is transitioning its lineup away from gas-powered vehicles by 2030. The new entry-level EV will play a key role in the luxury brand’s transition as it aims to compete with leaders like Tesla.

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2024 Cadillac Lyriq models (Source: GM)

The brand says additional details, including features and pricing, will be released next year.

Electrek’s Take

Cadillac’s new entry-level EV looks sleek from the first images. The OPTIQ EV is a smaller, cheaper sibling to the $59K LYRIQ.

Tesla’s Model Y currently starts at $43,990 with up to 260 miles range in the US. For Cadillac to compete, starting prices should be around $45K. However, GM has disappointed buyers by dropping the entry-level Blazer EV and pushing back production of the Equinox, Silverado, and GMC Sierra Denali EVs.

GM has struggled to ramp up production of its luxury brand EVs so far. Cadillac delivered 5,334 LYRIQs through September, with 3,018 in the third quarter.

The luxury brand recently expanded into Europe, Australia, and New Zealand as it looks to grow the brand.

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Uber chooses first market to deploy its Lucid Gravity robotaxis featuring Nuro Driver

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Uber chooses first market to deploy its Lucid Gravity robotaxis featuring Nuro Driver

Three months after Uber, Lucid Motors, and Nuro announced a partnership that would enable Gravity SUV robotaxis, the rideshare network has shared where the public will first be able to hail one. Spoiler alert, it’s easy to guess if you give it half a thought.

As we reported in July, Uber Technologies committed to a $300 million investment in Lucid Group (parent company of American EV automaker Lucid Motors), to deploy at least 20,000 Lucid vehicles as robotaxis over the next six years.

Those Lucid vehicles, which will consist of the automaker’s flagship Gravity SUV to begin, will hit public roads equipped with a Level 4 autonomous system called Nuro Driver. Nuro, the third partner in this equation, is a robotics company specializing in zero-occupant delivery vehicles, which garnered an existing partnership with Uber Eats as well as a “hefty” (yet undisclosed) investment from Uber Technologies.

Last month, Lucid delivered its first Gravity SUV to Nuro to begin the retrofitting process of the Nuro Driver system to support Uber’s hopes for a luxe robotaxi fleet. While the partners continue to work toward building an exciting new fleet of Lucid Gravity Robotaxis, Uber has shared the location where they will first go into service… Casper, Wyoming.

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Just kidding!

It’s the San Francisco Bay Area, of course.

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Lucid Gravity SUV fitted with Nuro’s self-driving tech (Source: Lucid)

Uber to deploy Lucid Gravity EVs in Bay Area in 2026

Today’s update from Uber expands upon the ongoing partnership with Lucid Group and Nuro. According to the companies, the San Francisco Bay Area will be the first market where riders will see this next-generation autonomous robotaxi program in operation. That milestone is expected sometime in 2026.

Uber has shared that it has been updating policymakers and regulators at every level on the progress of its exclusive Lucid Robotaxis and continues to meet the operational requirements. Notably, Uber has shared that on-road development with the Lucid Gravity robotaxi engineering fleet is already underway in the Bay Area.

Furthermore, Nuro and Lucid intend to be operating over 100 Gravity robotaxis as part of the test fleet “in the coming months.” Lucid interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, spoke about today’s announcement:

Lucid has always celebrated its California roots, and we’re thrilled to make the San Francisco Bay Area the first market for our new robotaxi on the Uber platform, powered by the Nuro Driver. Beginning next year, riders will experience a level of convenience, safety, and comfort unlike anything else on the road. We can’t wait to bring this service to life and expand it to communities across the country.

To build this fleet of Uber-exclusive robotaxis, the required hardware will be integrated into Lucid Gravity SUVS while they are still on Lucid’s assembly line in Arizona. Those builds will then be integrated with Nuro’s proprietary software when Uber officially commissions them.

All eyes on 2026 as we now know that residents around the Bay Area will be able to hail a driverless Lucid Gravity through the Uber platform. I’m very much looking forward to seeing this fleet in action.

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Quiet confidence: Bobcat announces new EA line of industrial air compressors

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Quiet confidence: Bobcat announces new EA line of industrial air compressors

With its new EA line of variable speed industrial air compressors and superior energy efficiency from their advanced electric motors, industrial equipment Bobcat is setting a new standard for job site performance.

Designed for top-tier flow rates and maximum energy efficiency, Bobcat says its new EA lineup of variable speed compressors – the EA30VS, EA50VS, EA75VS, and EA100VS – is built to meet the demanding needs of modern industrial operations. But, crucially, the new EA line is about more than efficient motors, quiet running, and precise speed variation. It’s about tech.

To that end, the EA Series is equipped with a full range of “smart” operational features controlled through a 7″, full color LED controller display for intuitive operation. This system allows connection to, and intelligent optimization of, up to three additional compressors, ensuring the entire compressed air system operates at peak performance based on demand so perators can easily customize performance with programmable scheduling by date, time and pressure bands – delivering precision control with minimal effort.

And, of course, the whole system is backed by Bobcat’s global warranties, international parts and dealer networks, and commitment to durability and service. 

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“The new EA Series represents a leap forward in industrial air compression technology for Bobcat,” said Cody Blythe, Bobcat product manager. “These machines offer exceptional flow rates paired with peak energy efficiency, providing our customers with a powerful solution that lowers their total cost of ownership through reduced electricity usage.”

Bobcat says its new EA line of variable speed compressors are available now at select Bobcat distributors, contact your local dealer for pricing.

Electrek’s Take


Bobcat is leading the charge to decarbonize job sites, delivering quiet, smooth-running machines for operators who value safety, performance, precision, and sustainability. The company is also among the few manufacturers replacing hydraulic systems with fully electric ones, further reducing oil use and eliminating idle warm‑up time.

You love to see it.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Bobcat.


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LiveWire reveals more details on its new lowerer cost S4 Honcho electric motorcycle

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LiveWire reveals more details on its new lowerer cost S4 Honcho electric motorcycle

LiveWire, the electric motorcycle brand spun out of Harley-Davidson, has just given us a closer look than ever at its upcoming lower-cost, smaller-format electric motorcycles ahead of their larger unveiling at the Milan Motorcycle Show (EICMA) next week.

While we got our first glimpse of the new machines earlier this summer, spotting a street and trail version of the smaller electric motorbikes, now we have a name for the models and a few more details.

Officially called the S4 Honcho, the new model will be a 125-cc equivalent that will be available in both a street-legal version capable of being operated by riders who possess a moped/light motorcycle license in Europe or a motorcycle license in the US, and a license-free off-road version.

“The S4 Honcho Street will qualify for A1 licenses in Europe and the UK and M-endorsement in the U.S., offering lightweight, urban-friendly electric mobility with intuitive performance and removable batteries,” explained the company.

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The bikes appear to be powered by a centrally-mounted, chain-driving electric motor and a pair of removable batteries accessed by flipping up the seat.

LiveWire has remained fairly tight-lipped regarding the major tech specs for the bikes, as well as the price, but we do get a look at the dual removable batteries thanks to a new image posted to the company’s website.

There, we can see what appears suspiciously similar to a pair of KYMCO Ionex batteries, which would make sense given LiveWire’s close partnership with the Taiwanese scooter giant.

A couple years ago at EICMA I had the chance to check out KYMCO’s new Ionex batteries and e-scooter platform firsthand, which you can see in the video below.

While excitement has been building for LiveWire’s smaller electric motorcycles, the full unveiling of the bikes’ performance figures as well as the price tag will prove critical for gauging whether or not the mini-bikes could be a major turning point for LiveWire’s elusive profitability.

But the company isn’t betting it all on one horse, or one Honcho. Also in attendance at the show will be LiveWire’s full-scale concept of an electric maxiscooter built on the same S2 architecture that powers the company’s currently best-selling models, the S2 Del Mar, S2 Mulholland, and S2 Alpinista.

That scooter, built in partnership with KYMCO, will leverage the company’s fully developed S2 platform to create a more comfortable, high-performance urban and suburban-oriented model.

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