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Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, the leader behind brands including Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Fiat, and several others, has a warning for other automakers. Tavares said EVs must be affordable but profitable, or they will be “in trouble very, very soon.”

To attract middle-class shoppers, lower EV prices are needed. “You can only solve this if you reduce cost,” Tavares said at the Goldman Sach conference, adding, “and this is something we are reasonably good at.”

Tavares pointed to cheaper EVs, including the upcoming Citroen e-C3, starting at around $25,000 (23,300 euros). Stellantis said the new Citroen EV is the “first European affordable electric car.”

The new EV rides on a version of Stellantis‘ “Smart Car” platform, used in India to enable low prices.

According to Automotive News, Tavares said Stellantis’ electrified vehicles are “in the black, both in the US and Europe.” The automaker’s leader said EV margins are nearing those of ICE vehicles.

In Europe, Tavares said the brand is “fighting head-on” with Tesla for EV sales in Europe. Natalie Knight, Stellantis CFO, said the automaker overtook Tesla for second in European EV sales.

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All-new Citroen electric e-C3 (Source: Stellantis)

Tavares said the recent deal with Leapmotor will help them deliver profitable EVs in Europe. He said that by working with Leapmotor, Stellantis is “starting with a sourcing point which is 30 percent more cost competitive than anything you can figure out in the Western world.”

The brand’s leader explained, “The guys who are not able to make money with EVs are going to be in trouble very, very soon.”

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Jeep Avenger, the brand’s first EV in Europe (Source: Stellantis)

Stellantis is closing the gap faster in Europe “because we started sooner,” Tavares said. The brand will kick off its EV offensive with several new electric models coming from Ram, Jeep, and Fiat.

Stellantis to launch affordable EVs (and pricier models)

Under its Dare Forward 2030 plant, the company aims for 100% of European sales to be electric by 2030. In the US, Stellantis expects about 50% EV sales share.

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Fiat’s new 2024 500e (source: Stellantis)

Fiat will kick things with the new Fiat 500e early next year. The new electric car will be one of the most affordable EVs on the market, with starting prices under $33,000. It will also be the lightest passenger EV on the market with up to 149 miles range.

The electric model is already a top-selling EV in Europe as Stellantis looks to make its mark in the US.

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All-electric 2025 RAM 1500 REV (Source: RAM)

Ram’s first electric pickup, the Ram 1500 REV, will begin rolling out in late 2024. It will compete with Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and recently launched Tesla Cybertruck. Ram is also launching its ProMaster electric commercial van.

The company has yet to reveal prices for the upcoming EV truck, but it’s expected to be well over the $61K Tesla Cybertruck starting price.

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2024 electric Jeep Recon (Source: Stellantis)

Jeep, another Stellantis brand, is launching its first EVs in the US next year. The Jeep Recon and Wagoneer are poised to lead the brand into a new era.

The Jeep Recon is inspired by the brand’s legendary Wrangler as a “rugged and fully capable electric SUV.” The Recon includes options like removable doors and windows to give the true Wrangler feel.

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Jeep Wagoneer S (Source: Stellantis)

Jeep’s next EV will be an electric version of its premium Wagoneer model. The Jeep Wagoneer S features long-range capabilities with roughly 600 hp. According to Jeep, the premium EV can travel from NYC to Toronto on a full battery (~490 mi, according to Google Maps).

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Archer Aviation is planning an air taxi network around the Miami metro area including airports

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Archer Aviation is planning an air taxi network around the Miami metro area including airports

Archer Aviation has announced partnerships in the Miami metropolitan area to establish a new air taxi network to support travelers around several key areas in Southern Florida, including local airports.

As you probably alrready know at this point. Archer Aviation ($ACHR) is a California-based developer of eVTOL and eCTOL aircraft that it continues to work toward implementing into commercial air taxi rides in the future. The plans for its network of sustainable aircraft have expanded to cities like New York and Chicago, as well as other countries like Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

In California, south of its headquarters, Archer intends to take to the skies above Los Angeles with a proposed air taxi network announced in August 2024. Building upon that network, Archer shared earlier this year that it had become the exclusive air taxi provider of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

On the other southern coast of the United States, Archer is planning another exciting air taxi network that includes the option of quiet, sustainable air travel around Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and several other key landmarks.

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Air taxi Miami
Source: Archer Aviation

Archer partners up to establish Miami air taxi network

Archer Aviation shared details of its new air taxi network plans for Miami in a press release early this morning. If and when it comes to friuition, the proposed air taxi network will be a result of several new partnerships established by Archer in the Miami metropolitan area.

Some of those partnerships include real estate company Related Ross, Apogee Golf Club, Hard Rock Stadium – where existing heliports will be configured for eVTOLs and/or new air taxi vertiports will be erected. Stephen Ross, CEO and Chairman of Related Ross and Owner of the Miami Dolphins:

Our partnership with Archer marks a pivotal step in expanding South Florida’s regional connectivity through cutting-edge technology. We are integrating Archer’s electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft into our flagship locations across South Florida, including the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Related Ross developments in West Palm Beach, and Apogee Club in Hobe Sound. We’re excited to embrace a forward-thinking vision that transforms how people and businesses move across the region.

According to Archer, the new air taxi network will connect passengers to populated areas around Miami Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, offering 10 to 20 minute flights. Plans also include easier travel to major airports around Southern Florida, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), plus several general aviation airports. Miami Mayor, Francis Suarez, also spoke:

Miami has never been afraid to bet on the future. We’re a city that attracts visionaries, embraces breakthrough technology, and turns bold ideas into real impact. For years, I’ve worked with Archer as they’ve advanced a vision for an air-taxi network that will elevate Miami’s position as a global capital for innovation and mobility. What they’re building isn’t just transformational transportation, it embodies the Miami mindset: we lead, we innovate, and we redefine what’s possible.

Archer did not share a timeline on when this air taxi network may be operational around Miami, but we’d wager it’s still at least a couple of years away given the need for additional eVTOl development and FAA certifications in order to begin commercial operations in the US.

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Germany’s largest offshore wind farm fires up its first turbine

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Germany’s largest offshore wind farm fires up its first turbine

Germany’s largest offshore wind farm hit a big milestone: The first turbine at EnBW’s He Dreiht project has produced its first kilowatt-hour of electricity and sent it into the grid.

More turbines are expected to come online over the coming weeks. European energy provider EnBW has already installed 27 of the wind farm’s 64 turbines, all of which are scheduled to be commissioned by summer 2026.

Peter Heydecker, EnBW board member for Sustainable Generation Infrastructure, described the November 25 milestone as a “significant moment for EnBW.” With 960 megawatts (MW) of total capacity, He Dreiht is now Germany’s largest offshore wind farm.

Vestas supplied the 15 MW turbines, marking their world debut. Nils de Baar, president of Vestas Northern and Central Europe, said the giant turbine’s technology sets a new standard for offshore wind. “Its efficiency and performance enable a significant increase in energy yield per turbine.”

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Just one rotation of the 15 MW turbine’s rotor can power the equivalent of four households for a day. The hub stands 142 meters (466 feet) tall, and the rotor’s 236-meter (774-foot) diameter sweeps a 43,742-square-meter (10.8-acre) area — roughly the size of six football fields. To put the scale into perspective, EnBW’s first offshore project, Baltic 1 in 2010, used 2.3 MW turbines.

EnBW wrapped up the wind farm’s internal cabling in August. Those lines connect all the turbines and feed into a converter platform operated by transmission system operator TenneT. That’s where the power is collected, converted from AC to DC, and sent to shore through two high-voltage DC cables.

Once complete, He Dreiht will generate enough electricity to power about 1.1 million households. The project is being built without state funding and sits roughly 85 kilometers (53 miles) northwest of Borkum and 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Heligoland. EnBW’s offshore office in Hamburg is coordinating the build.

A partner group made up of Allianz Capital Partners, AIP, and Norges Bank Investment Management owns 49.9% of the project. Total investment comes in at around €2.4 billion.

Read more: China’s surge pushes global wind toward fastest growth ever


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BYD tried crushing its $180K luxury SUV with a 2-ton tree and it barely left a mark [Video]

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BYD tried crushing its $180K luxury SUV with a 2-ton tree and it barely left a mark [Video]

The Yangwang U8L is among the most expensive Chinese vehicles, starting at about $180,000. To prove it’s built for just about anything, BYD dropped a 2-ton tree on it, three times, and the ultra-luxury pretty much brushed it off.

BYD drops a tree on its ultra-luxury SUV during testing

BYD launched the Yangwang U8L in September, a long-wheelbase version of the U8 off-road SUV. The U8 was first introduced in September 2023 as the first vehicle from BYD’s ultra-luxury sub-brand, Yangwang.

Yangwang is a new energy vehicle (NEV) brand that sells high-end plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and 100% battery electric (BEV) vehicles as BYD expands into new segments.

The U8L is Yangwang’s fourth vehicle, following the U8, U9, and U7. It’s available in China with a quad-motor extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system, delivering a CLTC range of 200 km (124 miles) on battery power alone.

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A 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine serves as a generator, delivering a combined CLTC range of 1,160 km (720 miles).

Measuring 5,400 mm in length, 2,049 mm in width, and 1,921 mm in height, the Yangwang U8L is even bigger than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Range Rover Long Wheelbase.

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BYD’s ultra-luxury SUV is priced from 1.28 million yuan ($180,000), making it one of the most expensive models from a Chinese brand.

It may look pretty, but the Yangwang U8L is built for far more than just good looks. Like the U8, the long-wheelbase version is equipped with advanced features such as emergency float mode, which allows it to float on water for up to 30 minutes, tank turns, crab walking, and more.

To prove its durability, BYD engineers put the luxury SUV through the paces, dropping a massive 2-ton tree on it, not once, but three times.

During the final drop, the company said the maximum impact energy reached 50.4 kJ, or about 37,200 lb-ft. After three consecutive drops, the Yangwang U8L barely even got a scratch. The body structure remained intact, the door still opened, the columns didn’t bend, and the vehicle could even drive like normal.

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