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Porsche’s electric sports received a major upgrade for the 2025 model year. The new Porsche Taycan features longer range, more performance, and fast charging capabilities.

2025 Porsche Taycan gets even more performance

Porsche has been testing the new Taycan model for several months now, and it’s finally here. The new electric sports sedan is upgraded in nearly every way.

“We are continuing this success story with the extensively updated Taycan.” Kevin Giek, head of the Taycan line, said.

The new 2025 Porsche Taycan reaches “new heights in terms of performance” with improved driving dynamics. Meanwhile, Porsche was able to improve efficiency for longer-range trips.

All new Porsche Taycan models will beat their predecessors off the line. For example, the RWD Taycan Turbo can now sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. That’s 0.6 seconds quicker than the previous version.

Porsche included a new push-to-pass function (Sport Chrono package) that provides a power boost of up to 70 kW, depending on the model.

The new function will last 10 seconds at the push of a button. The added power lifts the system output to 938 hp on the top model, making it the most powerful Porsche production vehicle yet.

Porsche-2025-Taycan
The new 2025 Porsche Taycan (Source: Porsche)

Faster Charging and more range

At 800V DC fast charging stations, the new Porsche Taycan can charge at up to 320 kW under ideal conditions. That’s 50kW more than the previous model.

Porsche also included a standard 150 kW DC/DC converter to optimize speeds on 400V networks.

Although not an official rating, Porsche tested the 2025 Taycan, resulting in ranges of up to 265 miles (587 km). That was with the large battery model.

Porsche-2025-Taycan
2025 Porsche Taycan (Source: Porsche)

Porsche says it continues working on its “fast travel” strategy, including shorter charging stops and longer range.

The new Porsche Taycan can charge from 10% to 80% in about 18 minutes with ideal conditions. Porsche said the Performance Battery Plus now has a gross capacity of 105 kWh, up from 93 kWh.

All Porsche Taycans come with adaptive air suspension standard. The new AWD model offers Active Ride suspension as an option.

Porsche added a new rear-axle motor with up to 80 kW more power than the previous version. It also included a modified pulse inverter, more powerful batteries, new thermal management, and a next-gen heat pump to improve efficiency.

New features and improved design

The 2025 Taycan comes with more standard features than ever, with Lane Change Assist, Ambient lighting, Porsche Intelligent Range Manager, a new cooling system, and more.

Porsche made the new Taycan even more attractive with new front and rear styling, including new headlights and taillights. With new front fenders and flatter headlights, the Taycan looks sportier than ever.

Porsche-2025-Taycan
2025 Porsche Taycan interior (Source: Porsche)

A Porsche logo is included in the rear light strip, featuring a 3D, glass-look design. An illuminated version is available for the first time.

Another notable feature is the Turbonite accent color, making the new Turbo and Turbo S models stand out from other versions on both the exterior and interior.

The new Taycan received several interior upgrades, including standard door sill protectors. Two new leather-free options are also available in Black and Black/ Slate Grey.

An updated instrument cluster and infotainment include added functions. Porsche added a mode switch on the steering wheel.

Porsche says Apple CarPlay is “more deeply integrated” into the Taycan’s displays and functions. The new in-car function enables video streaming on the central and passenger display.

2025 Porsche Taycan trim Starting Price
(not including $1,995 destination fee)
Taycan $99,400
Taycan 4S $118,500
Taycan Turbo $173,600
Taycan Turbo S $209,000
Taycan 4 Cross Turismo $111,100
Taycan 4S Cross Turismo $125,200
Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo $176,300
Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo $211,700
2025 Porsche Taycan prices and trims

The new 2025 Porsche Taycan sedan and Cross Turismo are available to order now. Porsche expects the new models to hit US showrooms this summer.

Porsche’s upgraded 2025 Taycan starts at $99,400 (not including $1,995 destination fee). Prices run upwards of $211,700 for the top Turbo S Cross Turismo.

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India’s Waaree to double its solar module output at its Texas factory [update]

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India's Waaree to double its solar module output at its Texas factory [update]

India’s Waaree Energies doubled Texas production in April to counter US solar tariffs – now it’s investing hundreds of millions more.

May 15, 2025: Waaree Solar Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Waaree Energies, has announced that it will invest an additional $200 million in battery energy storage. This raises Waaree’s total US solar and storage investment to $1.2 billion.

This expansion is expected to create 300 to 500 jobs over the next few years, adding to the 1,500 jobs it already announced.

Dr. Amit Paithankar, whole-time director and CEO of Waaree Energies, said that “our decision to invest was primarily driven by the significant market potential in the energy sector.”

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Despite tariff headwinds, Waaree is doubling down on its US expansion, drawn by the country’s massive energy demand and the surge in AI and data center development, both of which require steady, large-scale power. The company points out that solar is the “cheapest source of power and the fastest to commission,” making it a smart choice for scaling quickly.


April 16, 2025: It’s adding another 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of solar module manufacturing capacity at its Brookshire factory, bringing the site’s total to 3.2 GW. The company didn’t indicate a timescale for when the capacity increase would be complete. The move is part of its strategy to reinforce its “larger strategy of de-risking its global footprint.”

The company first announced it would open the Texas factory in December 2023, its first footprint in the US. Its original plan was to have an initial capacity to manufacture 3 GW of solar modules annually by the end of 2024. 

Waaree plans to invest up to $1 billion to scale its annual solar panel production to 5 GW in Texas by 2027, which would make it one of the largest solar panel factories in the US.

Previous to manufacturing in Texas, the Mumbai-headquartered company, which is India’s largest solar module manufacturer, already supplied Indian-made solar panels to the US. But the US’s new reciprocal tariff on solar modules imported from India is 26%, adding to the existing 14.5% Section 201 tariff, bringing the total to around 40%. 

“At a time when the world is redefining the rules of global trade, we’re not waiting for the dust to settle – we’re building through it. … The strength of our US order book is a testament to the trust we’ve built, and this expansion is a signal – we’re here, we’re growing, and we’re deeply invested in powering America’s energy future,” said Dr. Amit Paithankar, whole-time director and CEO of Waaree Energies.

Read more: Texas just shot its wind + solar boom in the foot on purpose


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BYD’s first mini EV was just spotted and it’s about to shake up Japan’s kei car market

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BYD's first mini EV was just spotted and it's about to shake up Japan's kei car market

BYD is about to launch another low-cost electric car, but this one’s a little different. It’s BYD’s first kei car. You know, those tiny vehicles that dominate Japan’s city streets? BYD’s mini EV was just spotted out in public, giving us our first real look at the upcoming kei car.

BYD’s first mini EV was spotted in public

Last week, rumors surfaced that BYD was developing its first kei car, which would compete with top-selling models from Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, and other Japanese brands.

Kei cars, or “K-Car,” as they are sometimes called, are a class of ultra-compact vehicles that cannot be longer than 3.4 meters (134″). To put that into perspective, BYD’s smallest EV currently, the Seagull (called the Dolphin Mini overseas), is 3,780 mm (148.8″) long.

The mini vehicles are ideal in Japan because they are so small, making it easy to get around tight city streets. They are also more affordable and efficient than larger vehicles.

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BYD’s mini EV was spotted for the first time during a road test this week by IT Home (via CarNewsChina), revealing a familiar look. You can see it has that boxy, compact look of a typical kei car with sliding side doors.

BYD's-mini-EV-spotted
BYD’s kei car, or mini EV, in camouflage (Source: Sina/ IT Home)

According to reports, BYD is developing a new platform for the model. It will reportedly include a 20 kWh battery, good for 180 km (112 miles) WLTC range. By using its in-house Blade LFP batteries, BYD is expected to have a cost advantage.

Nissan-affordable-EVs
Nissan Sakura mini EV (Source: Nissan)

BYD’s upcoming mini EV is expected to start at around 2.5 million yen, or about $18,000. That’s about the same as the Nissan Sakura (2.59 million yen), Japan’s best-selling EV last year.

Last year, around 1.55 million kei cars were sold in Japan, accounting for roughly 40% of new vehicle sales. Honda’s N-Box was the top-selling kei car (EV or gas) for the third straight year.

BYD-mini-EV
BYD Dolphin Mini (Seagull) testing in Brazil (Source: BYD)

As Nikkei reported, some are already calling BYD’s electric kei car “a huge threat.” A Suzuki dealer said, “Young people do not have a negative view of BYD. It would be a huge threat if the company launches cheap models in Japan.”

BYD already sells several electric cars in Japan, including the Atto 3 SUV, Dolphin, and Seal. Last month, the company launched the new Sealion 7 midsize electric SUV, starting at 4.95 million yen ($34,500).

Source: Sina, CarNewsChina

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The U.S. has struggled for crypto clarity. Canada may have the answer

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The U.S. has struggled for crypto clarity. Canada may have the answer

PayPal crypto chief discusses adoption of its native stablecoin

TORONTO — Canada has quietly become a global leader in digital assets.

Canada was among the first countries to enact rules for crypto, starting with anti-money laundering guidelines in 2014. The country has repeatedly evolved its regulatory guidance in recent years, while U.S. lawmakers remain stuck in gridlock — even with a pro-crypto White House and a Republican-controlled Congress.

That regulatory clarity has made Toronto a launchpad for blockchain growth, and Wall Street is taking notice.

Robinhood‘s recent acquisition of Canadian crypto firm WonderFi, owner of Bitbuy and Coinsquare, plugs it into Canada’s established user base.

“Canada is a very attractive market for us,” said Johann Kerbrat, Robinhood’s crypto chief. “It’s projected to be more than 30 million users using crypto here in Canada, with revenue projections of about $900 million in 2025.”

The company’s decision to spend just under $180 million to buy WonderFi, which has one of the longest-standing crypto licenses in the country, is a direct bet on that growth.

Galaxy Digital, the digital asset investing giant founded by Mike Novogratz, is headquartered in New York but listed in Canada because it couldn’t go public in the United States. After being among the first to launch spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S., Galaxy will finally debut on the Nasdaq on Friday.

DeFi Technologies, a Canadian player focused on being the Strategy of Solana, is also planning a U.S. listing.

“A lot of companies have started on the Toronto Stock Exchange and are trying to uplist into the Nasdaq,” said Ondo Finance CEO Nathan Allman. “I think we’re going to see more of that.”

At Consensus 2025 in Toronto, one of the world’s largest crypto conferences, JPMorgan, Ondo, and Chainlink announced a $100 billion bet on blockchain with a new platform to tokenize real-world assets.

The two firms say the new offering allows treasuries to be tokenized and settled using blockchain, combining JPMorgan’s Kinexys Digital Payments network with Ondo’s blockchain infrastructure.

“It’s really the first time that there’s been this interoperability between a bank’s permissioned blockchain environment and a public blockchain,” Allman said.

Crypto dealmaking has shown signs of life in recent months, as the United States has shifted its regulatory approach under President Donald Trump.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Federal Reserve have eased restrictions on banks handling crypto, rolling back prior guidance that required pre-approval for digital asset activities.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has also taken a significant step by rescinding its restrictive accounting bulletin, which had forced companies holding crypto assets for clients to record them as liabilities. The new approach aligns crypto custody with traditional financial instruments.

At the same time, the SEC has launched a new Crypto Task Force, inviting public input on how to better regulate digital assets.

Read more about tech and crypto from CNBC Pro

“They want large enterprises like Citi to have a seat at the table,” said Ryan Rugg, global head of digital assets for Citi’s Treasury and Trade Solutions division. “They’re asking for our opinion, where I think in the past, it was not quite the case.”

The booking of Eric Trump, the president’s son and a leader of the newly-formed American Bitcoin, as a headline speaker, highlighted the growing presence of the U.S. in the crypto arena. The firm made waves when it launched in March, and already intends to go public through a merger with Gryphon Digital Mining.

“It’s important to remember: Most countries are totally neutral on blockchain,” said Dan Morehead, CEO of Pantera Capital. “The U.S. had a fairly antagonistic stance on blockchain which made it difficult for companies to get bank accounts, made it difficult for companies to go public.”

He said he believes many companies that would have gone public a few years ago will hit U.S. markets in the next six months.

“There’s obviously tremendous appetite in the public markets,” he said.

Israel-based crypto and stock trading platform eToro went public on Wednesday after pricing above its expected range. Shares soared nearly 29% on its first trading day.

The advancements in the U.S. aren’t without setbacks. A first-of-its-kind stablecoin regulation bill failed to advance in the Senate after Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about national security, while others expressed concerns about the president’s ties to crypto.

Still, the payment giants are charging ahead.

Mastercard announced Thursday that it’s partnering with Moonpay to let customers use debit cards to transact using their stablecoin balances.

PayPal announced Wednesday that it’s partnering with artificial intelligence platform Perplexity to enable chat-powered shopping. PayPal’s senior vice president of blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies told CNBC at Consensus 2025 that he sees a future where customers could transact in AI chats with their PayPal stablecoins or other crypto holdings.

“We are trying to make sure that PayPal and Venmo are the gateway product to get more people into crypto,” said Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal’s senior vice president of blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies. “A lot of people get into crypto through us, and that leads us to continue to add tokens.”

While PayPal leans on accessibility and payments, Robinhood is doubling down on tokenization and staking to capture both retail and institutional users.

“This debate here in the U.S. is really important — it shows that we want to embrace the technology instead of just regulating it and turning it off like it was before,” Kerbrat said, describing his appearance at an SEC roundtable under new chair Paul Atkins.

The company sees blockchain technology as a way to transform everything from stocks to private equity markets and real estate into digital tokens that can be traded instantly.

“We think at Robinhood that it is actually the future, and we can bring a lot more traditional assets on-chain using tokenization,” Kerbrat added.

WATCH: Crypto and stock trading app eToro shares soar in Nasdaq debut: CNBC Crypto World

Crypto and stock trading app eToro shares soar in Nasdaq debut: CNBC Crypto World

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