Red means stop, green means go – and turquoise now means automated driving: Mercedes-Benz is the first automaker permitted to use exterior marker lights, which means automated driving is activated, in California and Nevada.
Turquoise is the color
In California, Mercedes can now test turquoise marker lights for automated driving – its DRIVE PILOT system – on freeways. The unique marker lights are integrated into the EQS’s front and rear lights and the two outside mirrors in testing cars.
In Nevada, the permit allows production cars to be equipped with marker lights, beginning with the 2026 Mercedes-Benz EQS, until legislative changes occur.
Mercedes says the exterior turquoise lights (pictured above) let the public and police know that the EQS’s automated driving system is switched on. (That way, drivers don’t get in trouble with the law for doing other things besides steering the car.)
Mercedes chose the color turquoise for two main reasons – its visibility, and the fact that the color isn’t used by existing vehicle lighting, traffic lights, or emergency lighting. (Mercedes notes that the marker lights are designed in accordance with SAE J3134 Recommended Practice.)
Markus Schäfer, Mercedes-Benz’s chief technology officer, development & purchasing, said:
With the development of automated driving marker lights, Mercedes-Benz is once again setting new industry standards. We are the first automaker in the world to receive such approvals in the US, specifically in California and Nevada.
The more automated driving vehicles populate the road, the more important communication and interaction between the vehicle and the environment become.
As my colleague Jameson Dow explained when he test drove the EQS’s DRIVE PILOT system in September, it’s the first hands-free Level 3 autonomous drive system certified to operate in the US:
Autonomous drive systems are ranked from level 0-5, describing how much capability the system has. In general, levels 0-2 are primarily human-driven, and levels 3-5 are primarily autonomously driven.
What [Level 3] means is this is the first system in the US that is actually validated to take full control of the vehicle, under certain circumstances, freeing you to do other tasks than driving.
This is a fledgling technology – it was first made available for order in Germany last year – so while DRIVE PILOT is a trailblazer, it still has limitations. Level 3 is conditional automation, meaning it only works within Mercedes’ “Operational Design Domain.” That means heavy traffic conditions under 40 mph with a lead car available, good weather, good road conditions, and in well-mapped areas. The driver also needs to be able to take the wheel when the car tells you to.
Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Electrek’s Take
When you drive near student drivers, the car is marked in some way to let you know that an inexperienced driver has the wheel. It’s a heads-up.
So, it makes sense that, eventually, all Level 3 automated driving EVs have their own heads-up: standardized lighting that comes on when it’s piloting itself. In fact, it should be required.
So, perhaps turquoise will become the standard color for automated driving, as Mercedes has proposed. A lot of different players will have to buy in.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tesla allowing texting and driving on FSD v14, Trump killing CAFE’s MPG standard, an Aptera update, and more.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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Kia’s most affordable electric SUV will be here in just over a month. Ahead of its debut, the EV2 was spotted with light camo, offering our best look yet.
Kia EV2 looks more like an SUV with less camo
Just days after Kia confirmed the EV2 will debut at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026, the small electric SUV was spotted in Europe with barely any camo.
The EV2 is a fully electric B-segment SUV set to be Kia’s new entry-level EV. It will sit below the EV3, which is already the UK’s most popular retail electric vehicle and among the top-sellers in Europe.
“With the EV2, we reaffirm our commitment to make electric mobility truly accessible to a broader audience,” Kia Europe president and CEO, Marc Hedrich, said earlier this month.
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Despite its compact size, the EV2 looks and feels much bigger in person. It has a similar high-riding, blocky design as Kia’s latest electric SUVs, such as the EV5 and three-row EV9.
Kia EV2 teaser (Source: Kia)
In the teaser images Kia posted a few days ago, the EV2 was shown under a drape with a design that looked nearly identical to the EV2 Concept from earlier this year.
Now, we can finally confirm it. The Kia EV2 was recently spotted in Europe in light camo, rocking a tall, SUV-like stance. The latest image from KindelAuto gives us a solid look at its profile, which still resembles a mini EV5 or EV9.
Kia will begin EV2 production alongside the EV4 hatch at its Zilina, Slovakia, plant shortly after its debut at the Brussels Motor Show next month, ramping up output throughout 2026.
Although Kia has yet to reveal specifics, the EV2 is expected to be about 4,000 mm (157″) long, or slightly smaller than the EV3 at 4,300 mm (169.3″). It will be closer in size to the Hyundai Inster EV.
The Kia Concept EV2 at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich (Source: Kia)
Prices are expected to start at around €30,000 ($35,000) in Europe, given that the EV3 starts at about €36,000 ($42,000).
The compact electric SUV is expected to ride on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, with similar battery pack options as the EV3. The EV3 is available with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh battery options, delivering a WLTP range of 410 km (255 miles) and 560 km (348 miles), respectively.
The EV2 will debut at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026. Kia will hold a press conference at 10:40 am CET to introduce the new entry-level EV. Check back for updates leading up to the event.
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Cross Segway e-scooters and e-bikes off gift lists with hundreds of savings for Christmas Holiday Sale – models start from $150
It didn’t take much time at all for Segway to change lanes from its Black Friday event into the now live Christmas Holiday Sale that saves you hundreds on the brand’s EVs, including the returning pricing on the ZT3 Pro All-Terrain Electric Scooter at $849.99 shipped, which matches the pricing over at Amazon. While it may carry a $1,300 MSRP from Segway, you’ll more often find it down around $1,000 instead, especially at other marketplaces like Amazon, with this same low rate having previously appeared during July and October’s Prime Day events, as well as the most recent Black Friday sale. Now, you’re getting a longer period of getting it at this all-time low price, complete with $150 off the going rate (and $450 off the MSRP). Head below to learn more about it and the other models included in the Segway’s Christmas Holiday Sale.
Segway’s ZT3 Pro electric scooter is a solid all-terrain option that can certainly go the distance, as many riders are learning while riding around on them through the streets of NYC, with the full suspension and additional 6 inches of deck clearance from the ground serving urban riders well on more pothole-lined streets. What’s more, in a city so massive and populated, having the included Apple Find My and auto-proximity locking/unlocking functionality definitely adds peace of mind should you ever be leaving it unattended for a set amount of time.
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The whole system – which includes a 1,600W brushless motor as its heart – comes powered by a 597Wh battery, providing up to 43.5 miles of commuting assistance at speeds as high as 24.9 MPH. Another nice feature is the regaining of 6.2 miles for just 30 minutes of charging, allowing you to get moving faster to tackle last-minute plans. Along with everything already mentioned, there’s also 11-inch tubeless tires, a Segride stability enhancement system, a traction control system, six inches of extra clearance from the ground, and more.
Segway’s Christmas Holiday Sale gifts ‘made to wow’
Segway’s commuting Christmas Holiday Sale gifts under $750
EcoFlow Cyber Week flash sale cuts up to 63% off expanded DELTA 2 Max bundle + batteries at new lows from $329 (ends tonight)
As part of EcoFlow’s ongoing Cyber Week Sale, the first of this new extended event’s flash sales has officially launched with up to 63% savings on three expansion battery bundles and alongside the DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station bundled with a smart extra (expansion) battery for $1,369 shipped. This flash deal lasting through tomorrow night (Friday, December 5) beats out its Amazon pricing by $130 and its direct Cyber Week pricing by $230 (which does offer a $99 waterproof bag for FREE). While this bundle carries a $3,298 MSRP direct from the brand, you’re more likely to find it down around $2,149 at full price elsewhere, with it having kept between $1,699 and $1,499 since late September, with all the sales. Discounts have previously gone as low as $1,424, but these flash savings are cutting a larger than ever $780 off the going rate (and $1,929 off the MSRP) and landing it at a new all-time low price.
Extended Ride1Up Cyber Monday sale continues up to $600 savings on e-bikes and extra batteries from $195
Ride1Up has an ongoing Cyber Monday Sale with up to $600 savings on e-bikes and extra batteries, which doesn’t provide any end dates, but is likely following the trend we’ve seen from several other brands and continuing through the weekend. Among the bunch, one model that is getting more and more attention from riders is the Revv1 DRT Off-Road e-bike that is down at $2,295 shipped. Normally running at $2,595 without discounts, we mostly saw sales bring the cost down to $2,495 or $2,395 over 2025, with more recent events seeing returns to the $2,295 low. That low price circled back around the track for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with it holding strong for an unknown time longer at the best price tracked, courtesy of the $300 markdown.
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.
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