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Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV is almost here. Ahead of its official debut in November, Hyundai released a new teaser of the larger IONIQ 9, giving us a sneak peek at the highly anticipated SUV.

The moment we’ve been waiting for is now right around the corner. Next month, Hyundai will unveil its first three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9.

We got our first look at Hyundai’s larger electric SUV with the SEVEN concept three years ago, revealed at the 2021 LA Auto Show.

Since then, Hyundai confirmed the new all-electric model will be called the IONIQ 9, following the popular IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6. The name change also signals the larger electric SUV’s status as Hyundai’s new flagship model.

Ahead of its November debut, Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV has been spotted out in the wild, flaunting its impressive size and bold new look.

Now, Hyundai is giving us our first official look at the IONIQ 9 with new teaser images. The IONIQ 9 marks “the company’s inaugural venture into the realm of large SUV EV models,” Hyundai said.

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Hyundai IONIQ 9 (SEVEN) electric SUV concept (Source: Hyundai)

Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV will debut in Nov

Based on its advanced E-GMP platform, the IONIQ 9 boasts “a spacious and comfortable interior” in a press release this week.

The new teaser reveals an “Aerosthetic” design, a combination of aerodynamic performance and aesthetic design.

Hyundai’s three-row electric SUV “draws inspiration from the sleek exterior and spacious, cozy interiors of boats.” With an extended wheelbase and single-curved roofline, the IONIQ 9 will provide “ample space for all passengers, including those in the third row.”

The SUV’s character lines are influenced by traditional Korean clothing, Hanbok, with diagonal lines on the side.

The front lamps also feature Hyundai’s signature parametric pixel design, which was pulled from its other IONIQ models.

Earlier this month, we got a closer look at the IONIQ 9 after it was caught testing with less camo. We also got a look at the “spacious” interior earlier this week after the model was spotted parked on a street in Korea.

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Hyundai IONIQ 9 spotted with less camo, revealing new LED light bar (Source: NewCarScoops)

Although yet to be confirmed, Hyundai’s three-row electric SUV is expected to be similar in size to Kia’s EV9, at 197.2″ long, 77.9″ wide, 70.1″ tall, and a wheelbase of 122″—about the size of a Telluride.

Kia’s larger electric SUV also has over 42″ of rear passenger legroom, which is more than a Cadillac Escalade.

With the EV9 starting at around $55,000, Hyundai’s IONIQ 9 is expected to start at roughly the same price, if not slightly higher. More expensive trims could cost upwards of $80,000.

Hyundai said more details will be revealed at its world premiere in November. Check back as more info is expected soon. Also, keep an eye out for more teasers leading up to its debut.

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Range Rover’s first EV spotted in Sweden as launch nears

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Range Rover's first EV spotted in Sweden as launch nears

The first electric Range Rover is expected to hit showrooms in the next few months. With its official debut just around the corner, Range Rover’s first EV was spotted testing in Sweden. Here’s a sneak peek of the luxury electric SUV.

Range Rover’s first EV put through the paces in Sweden

Range Rover is finally gearing up to introduce its first EV later this year. Earlier this year, JLR confirmed that the Range Rover Electric already has 57,000 buyers on the waiting list.

The company claims the new model “redefines” the electric luxury SUV with an “unrivalled driving experience.” To prove it, Range Rover is putting its first EV through the paces in sub-zero conditions in Sweden.

Range Rover’s electric SUV has been through 45,000 miles of testing across frozen lakes and land tracks. The latest round allowed engineers to test their new thermal management system.

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The company’s new ThermAssist thermal management system reduces heat energy consumption by up to 40% and is designed to warm the propulsion system or cabin in temperatures as low as ‑10°C (14°F).

Range Rover said it also helps optimize driving range while minimizing the impact of extreme temperatures on charging performance.

Combined with an 800V battery, the first one built in-house by JLR, the company promises the best possible performance, with optimized energy density, range, and charging times. The Range Rover’s first EV will be powered by a 117 kWh battery, consisting of 344 prismatic cells.

Built for both on- and off-road performance, the electric SUV features new additions like single-pedal driving and a switchable twin-chamber air suspension system.

Range Rover tested the single-pedal capabilities on both 28-degree and 17-degree split-mu inclines at its Arctic test facility.

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Range Rover Electric prototype (Source: JLR)

Matt Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director at JLR, explained that the electric SUV maintains the brand’s signature driving experience “by marrying all the essential Range Rover elements with new and advanced technologies.”

Following its second season in Sweden, Range Rover will continue testing prototypes ahead of the official launch later this year.

After its first EV, Range Rover is already preparing another smaller electric SUV, which is expected to be the Sport model. In 2026, the company is expected to release a mid-sized electric SUV, likely the Velar.

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Here’s how Volvo plans to overcome Trump’s tariffs with new EVs arriving

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Here's how Volvo plans to overcome Trump's tariffs with new EVs arriving

Volvo is launching a nearly $2 billion (SEK 18 billion) restructuring plan to drive growth and mitigate the impact of Trump’s tariffs. With the new EX30 and ES90 EVs rolling out, Volvo is taking drastic action to drive growth.

Volvo launches restructuring plan due to Trump’s tariffs

After its operating income fell by nearly 60% to SEK 1.9 billion in the first quarter, Volvo launched a cost and cash action plan.

The restructuring is worth SEK 18 billion, with most of it being realized in 2026. Volvo’s new strategy includes SEK 3 billion in variable cost actions and SEK 5 billion in indirect spend efficiencies. The additional SEK 10 billion will be added in cash actions to reduce working capital and capital expenditures this year and in 2026.

Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson said, “The automotive industry is in the middle of a very difficult period with challenges not seen before.”

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With “turbulence in the market,” Samuelsson added that the company needs to “further improve our cash flow generation and lower our costs.”

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Volvo EX30 (source: Volvo)

To do so, Volvo is focusing on three areas: profitability, electrification, and regionalisation. Volvo is already leading the premium segment, with electrified vehicles accounting for 43% of sales in Q1. However, with new EVs launching, Volvo said more will need to be done to overcome the impact of Trump’s tariffs.

Volvo created a new region called Americas, which includes the US, Canada, and Latin America, to streamline its global operations.

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Volvo EX90 electric SUV (Source: Volvo)

In the US, the company is looking to sharpen its product line-up and plans to boost production at its Charleston, South Carolina, plant.

Earlier this month, Volvo started production of the EX30 at its Ghent plant, which will help it ramp up deliveries in the second half of 2025.

Since it will be imported into the US, Volvo is bracing to take a hit from tariffs. Even the EX90, which is made in Charleston, is heavily impacted, as most components still come from Europe.

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Volvo EX30 production at its Ghent plant (Source: Volvo)

Volvo also revealed the new ES90 last month, its new electric sedan and second EV built on the Volvo Cars Superset Tech Stack. It’s Volvo’s sixth fully electric vehicle following the EX90, EM90, EX40, EX40, and EX30.

In China, Volvo plans to adapt to the changing market with its first extended-range PHEV model, which will launch later this year.

Volvo said it remains “firm on becoming a fully electric car company.” Despite a weaker overall market, almost a fifth of the vehicles it sold in the first quarter were electric.

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Why Lennar is betting on a startup building backup batteries for Texas homes

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Why Lennar is betting on a startup building backup batteries for Texas homes

Inside this clean energy startup powering homes in Texas

In a warming world with increasingly extreme weather events, homeowners are turning to backup batteries for relief and peace of mind. But the backup only lasts only so long, and there’s a bigger problem at play: aging power grids.

Enter the virtual power plant, managed through a cloud-based system. It’s a fertile market for a number of companies as consumers look for more reliability, especially in areas prone to extreme temperatures and storms.

Base Power, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is a virtual power plant and hardware company that provides battery backup to homeowners. The startup manages the batteries, and virtually controls the power that’s going in and out.

“We install our batteries on our customers’ homes. When the grid is up and running, we use those batteries to support the power grid,” said Base CEO Zach Dell. “When the grid goes out, our customers get those batteries to back up their home. We’re also able to save our customers on the order of 10 to 20% a month on their electricity bills.”

Unlike Tesla and Enphase, Base doesn’t sell home backup batteries. Rather, it rents the batteries to homeowners, providing the hardware, software, installation, operations and electricity. Essentially, it’s a battery-based energy company.

“We own and operate it,” Dell said. “We handle all the maintenance. We take care of the system like it’s ours.”

That control allows Base to manipulate how the battery is used, specifically accessing cheaper power and passing that savings on to the consumer. Base charges the battery from the grid when demand is low, typically during overnight hours. When demand is at its peak — summer evenings and winter mornings — Base sells power, discharging the battery to support the grid.

For an upfront fee of $595 and then about $19 a month, homeowners get access to reliable power, provided by Base. That power is generated by several sources, including wind, solar, natural gas and coal. About half of Base’s customers have solar, according to the company, which lowers their costs even more and allows them to sell that power back to Base.

A company spokesperson said Base compensates customers for the power they sell back, calculated as the real-time wholesale energy price plus an additional 3 cents per kilowatt hour. Buyback rates may vary depending on market conditions and other factors.

Base is now serving one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, Lennar, which is also an investor. Base installs batteries during the construction process in roughly 20 Lennar outage-prone communities in Texas.

Stuart Miller, Chairman and co-CEO of Lennar, said it’s not just about making money.

“It’s, are we going to be able to improve the overall stature of the home building business, as it seeks to address the markets that are stressed and having problems?” he said. “Utilities and electricity is a part of that.”

Base has raised a total of $268 million from investors including Lennar, Thrive Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Andreesen Horowitz.

Base recently announced its first utility partnership near San Antonio. Dell said the company hopes to soon expand outside of Texas. However, the batteries are made in China, and Dell said he expects to see an impact from tariffs.

— CNBC producer Lisa Rizzolo contributed to this piece.

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