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In what could either be a sign of the times or perhaps the start of a terrible decision-making chain, that famous $2,000 electric mini-truck I bought from China several years ago has somehow gotten even cheaper.

If you aren’t already familiar with the story, here’s a quick summary. Back in 2021, I ordered an electric mini-truck from China. I paid the factory $2,000 for it, held my breath for months, and then against all odds, it showed up one day in my family’s driveway in the US.

I made a few videos about my Chinese mini-truck that got tens of millions of views, famous YouTubers like Whistlin’ Diesel and Supercar Blondie reached out to me to try to get me to help them rip off my video on their own channels, and the story seemed to circle the world several times over. I even wound up on the state-sponsored news in China – a profoundly strange accomplishment that I probably won’t be adding to my CV anytime soon.

For those wondering, yes, my electric mini-truck is still going strong over three years later. Nothing has broken and my modifications have only made it better.

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mini truck solar panel

But the strangest part of all might be that, despite the current trends of rapid inflation and a climate of rising costs mixed with antagonistic tariffs, this electric mini-truck has only become more affordable.

When I bought mine, I paid around US $2,000 to the factory. I’m known to occassionaly peruse Chinese vehicle sites in search of good deals I would be ill-advised to take, and recently I’ve seen prices walking downwards on these little trucks. Now you can buy one for barely over $1,000!

A BIG CAVEAT BEFORE CONTINUING: Dear reader, please note that I am not advising anyone to actually buy one of these. It is a really bad idea. First of all, the Chinese factory price is only the first part of the story. As I described previously, I had to pay around $6,000 in additional costs at various stages before a working truck landed in the US, covering everything from customs to tariffs to US-side transport to a big lithium battery and more. The 400% price increase compared to the Alibaba price that I experienced here is a common real-world landed price estimator, but even that can vary wildly depending on the product. Then there’s the next big issue, that these things are questionably legal. I always advise people against doing what I did, and unfortunately, I’ve still heard from a few readers who reached out to tell me that US Customs seized their mini-truck when they tried to import one like mine. These are 100% not street-legal according to federal motor vehicle laws, and if CBP makes the arbitrary decision that it is “intended” for street use (which is a fair argument to make considering they usually come with turn signals, street tires, and other road-ready features), they can simply seize it at the port. Lastly (as if this bad idea needed more support), you have no guarantee that it will even ever ship to you since many of these vendors are unknown entities that offer almost zero legal recourse from half a world away. So please, please, please don’t read this article and leave with the impression of “Wow, I’m going to buy a cheap $1,000 truck,” because you’re not. You’re either going to get scammed, robbed by customs, or end up with a very expensive “$1,000 truck.” Treat the words in this poor excuse for journalism as educational only, because that’s what it is, if you can even call it that.

electric mini-truck
I got my mini-truck, but I’m one of the lucky ones. Please don’t try this at home

Ok, so warnings and disclaimers aside, let’s take a look at what these $1,000 trucks offer.

There are many different vendors for these things in China, and most aren’t even the real factory. It’s hard to determine who is really behind the ads selling these things, but most are trading companies that act as middlemen between the Chinese-speaking factories that don’t have a way to serve foreign customers and the rest of the world. Keep in mind, these mini-trucks aren’t meant for export. They’re primarily designed for use in rural parts of China as an upgrade over the tuk-tuk style electric three-wheelers that have been popular for decades.

Most of these electric mini-trucks feature styling ripped off from Western truck companies. Mine seems to have a Silverado-like front end and an F-150ish rear, based purely on styling. A lot of folks like to call mine an F-50. I think that’s being generous.

These are also often fairly barebones affairs. Several of the features you see in the pictures of my truck are things I upgraded myself. I added that tow hitch, the roof-mounted solar panel, the mud tires, and several other features. The truck did come with factory-standard air conditioning and a dump bed, which I had to pay extra for, but those were basically the only extra features I could find.

These are also fairly low performance. The top speed is barely 25 mph (40 km/h) from its 3,000W rear axle-mounted motor. I don’t know what the true range is (because lord help me if it ever dies too far from a plug). With a massive 60V 100Ah battery in it that I paid extra for, it should theoretically have around 60 miles (100 km) of range, but I doubt it would go that far. And anyway, we just use it around my parents’ homestead as a work truck. Since it’s not street-legal, it doesn’t spend a lot of time on the road.

So despite being around a half to two-thirds scale compared to a full-size electric pickup truck, its performance is significantly lower. That’s fine for the type of general “around the property” use we get out of it, but this is far from a highway vehicle.

I’ve been pleased as punch with my Chinese electric mini-truck, and it has served my family well for over three years. But that isn’t always the case for everyone who gets one of these.

As you can imagine, a truck that costs barely US $1,000 isn’t going to be the most advanced vehicle. Quality isn’t going to match what you’d expect of nicer machines, and there are basically zero options for service and support. I’ve gotten lucky that nothing has gone wrong on mine, but I also went into this knowing that I’ve got a decade or more of light electric vehicle experience and a mechanical engineering degree to fall back on, in case something ever does go wrong with mine.

Others aren’t so lucky. Case in point: a set of four of these Chinese electric mini trucks imported by Hinds Community College for their campus police to use recently went up for auction in non-functioning status. Based on the description, it looks like the college bought four of these, then they all broke and would no longer turn on. The college couldn’t fix them and so they ended up selling the four of them “as-is” for just over $6,000 total. Maybe the 72V batteries were dead. Maybe the motors had burned out. Maybe they had fried their motor controllers. Or perhaps some wiring connection had merely shaken loose and needed to be reconnected. Who knows? Perhaps the guy who wound up with four non-functional mini-trucks. But the point is, there are not a lot of options for fixing these things yourself without some electrical know-how and a healthy disregard for high-voltage electrical safety.

Hinds Community College recently auctioned off their four non-working Chinese mini-trucks

The spread of these interesting and useful electric mini-trucks is evidence of demand for these types of low-cost, low-impact, yet highly useful tools. However, the incredibly low prices seen advertised on Chinese shopping sites don’t tell the entire story.

So while it’s cool to see prices dropping as low as $1,000 to roll one out of the factory, keep in mind that the true cost is likely to approach five figures, and that doesn’t include the potential for issues down the road. Or I should say, down the trail. Remember, these aren’t street legal… unless you happen to be a community college police department, I guess.

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Robinhood is up 160% this year, but several obstacles are ahead

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Robinhood is up 160% this year, but several obstacles are ahead

Florida AG opens probe into Robinhood. Here's the latest

Robinhood stock hit an all-time high Friday as the financial services platform continued to rip higher this year, along with bitcoin and other crypto stocks.

Robinhood, up more than 160% in 2025, hit an intraday high above $101 before pulling back and closing slightly lower.

The reversal came after a Bloomberg report that JPMorgan plans to start charging fintechs for access to customer bank data, a move that could raise costs across the industry.

For fintech firms that rely on thin margins to offer free or low-cost services to customers, even slight disruptions to their cost structure can have major ripple effects. PayPal and Affirm both ended the day nearly 6% lower following the report.

Despite its stellar year, the online broker is facing several headwinds, with a regulatory probe in Florida, pushback over new staking fees and growing friction with one of the world’s most high-profile artificial intelligence companies.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier opened a formal investigation into Robinhood Crypto on Thursday, alleging the platform misled users by claiming to offer the lowest-cost crypto trading.

“Robinhood has long claimed to be the best bargain, but we believe those representations were deceptive,” Uthmeier said in a statement.

The probe centers on Robinhood’s use of payment for order flow — a common practice where market makers pay to execute trades — which the AG said can result in worse pricing for customers.

Robinhood Crypto General Counsel Lucas Moskowitz told CNBC its disclosures are “best-in-class” and that it delivers the lowest average cost.

“We disclose pricing information to customers during the lifecycle of a trade that clearly outlines the spread or the fees associated with the transaction, and the revenue Robinhood receives,” added Moskowitz.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev explains 'dual purpose' behind trading platform's new crypto offerings

Robinhood is also facing opposition to a new 25% cut of staking rewards for U.S. users, set to begin October 1. In Europe, the platform will take a smaller 15% cut.

Staking allows crypto holders to earn yield by locking up their tokens to help secure blockchain networks like ethereum, but platforms often take a percentage of those rewards as commission.

Robinhood’s 25% cut puts it in line with Coinbase, which charges between 25.25% and 35% depending on the token. The cut is notably higher than Gemini’s flat 15% fee.

It marks a shift for the company, which had previously steered clear of staking amid regulatory uncertainty.

Under President Joe Biden‘s administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission cracked down on U.S. platforms offering staking services, arguing they constituted unregistered securities.

With President Donald Trump in the White House, the agency has reversed course on several crypto enforcement actions, dropping cases against major players like Coinbase and Binance and signaling a more permissive stance.

Even as enforcement actions ease, Robinhood is under fresh scrutiny for its tokenized stock push, which is a growing part of its international strategy.

The company now offers blockchain-based assets in Europe that give users synthetic exposure to private firms like OpenAI and SpaceX through special purpose vehicles, or SPVs.

An SPV is a separate entity that acquires shares in a company. Users then buy tokens of the SPV and don’t have shareholder privileges or voting rights directly in the company.

OpenAI has publicly objected, warning the tokens do not represent real equity and were issued without its approval. In an interview with CNBC International, CEO Vlad Tenev acknowledged the tokens aren’t technically equity shares, but said that misses the broader point.

JPMorgan announces plans to charge for access to customer bank data

“What’s important is that retail customers have an opportunity to get exposure to this asset,” he said, pointing to the disruptive nature of AI and the historically limited access to pre-IPO companies.

“It is true that these are not technically equity,” Tenev added, noting that institutional investors often gain similar exposure through structured financial instruments.

The Bank of Lithuania — Robinhood’s lead regulator in the EU — told CNBC on Monday that it is “awaiting clarifications” following OpenAI’s statement.

“Only after receiving and evaluating this information will we be able to assess the legality and compliance of these specific instruments,” a spokesperson said, adding that information for investors must be “clear, fair, and non-misleading.”

Tenev responded that Robinhood is “happy to continue to answer questions from our regulators,” and said the company built its tokenized stock program to withstand scrutiny.

“Since this is a new thing, regulators are going to want to look at it,” he said. “And we expect to be scrutinized as a large, innovative player in this space.”

SEC Chair Paul Atkins recently called the model “an innovation” on CNBC’s Squawk Box, offering some validation as Robinhood leans further into its synthetic equity strategy — even as legal clarity remains in flux across jurisdictions.

Despite the regulatory noise, many investors remain focused on Robinhood’s upside, and particularly the political tailwinds.

The company is positioning itself as a key beneficiary of Trump’s newly signed megabill, which includes $1,000 government-seeded investment accounts for newborns. Robinhood said it’s already prototyping an app for the ‘Trump Accounts‘ initiative.

WATCH: Watch CNBC’s full interview with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev

Watch CNBC's full interview with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev

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Hyundai and Kia are betting on lower-priced EVs to ride out tariffs

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Hyundai and Kia are betting on lower-priced EVs to ride out tariffs

Korean auto giants Hyundai and Kia think lower-priced EVs will help minimize the blow from the new US auto tariffs. Hyundai is set to unveil a new entry-level electric car soon, which will be sold alongside the Kia EV2. Will it be the IONIQ 2?

Hyundai and Kia shift to lower-priced EVs

Hyundai and Kia already offer some of the most affordable and efficient electric vehicles on the market, with models like the IONIQ 5 and EV6.

In Europe, Korea, Japan, and other overseas markets, Hyundai sells the Inster EV (sold as the Casper Electric in Korea), an electric city car. The Inster EV starts at about $27,000 (€23,900), but Hyundai will soon offer another lower-priced EV, similar to the upcoming Kia EV2.

The Inster EV is seeing strong initial demand in Europe and Japan. According to a local report (via Newsis), demand for the Casper Electric is so high that buyers are waiting over a year for delivery.

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Hyundai is doubling down with plans to introduce an even more affordable EV, rumored to be the IONIQ 2. Xavier Martinet, CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe, said during a recent interview that “The new electric vehicle will be unveiled in the next few months.”

Hyundai-Kia-lower-priced-EVs
Hyundai Casper Electric/ Inster EV models (Source: Hyundai)

The new EV is expected to be a compact SUV, which will likely resemble the upcoming Kia EV2. Kia will launch the EV2 in Europe and other global regions in 2026.

Hyundai is keeping most details under wraps, but the expected IONIQ 2 is likely to sit below the Kona Electric as a smaller city EV.

Hyundai-Kia-lower-priced-EVs
Kia Concept EV2 (Source: Kia)

More affordable electric cars are on the way

Although nothing is confirmed, it’s expected to be priced at around €30,000 ($35,000), or slightly less than the Kia EV3.

The Kia EV3 starts at €35,990 in Europe and £33,005 in the UK, or about $42,000. Through the first half of the year, Kia’s compact electric SUV is the UK’s most popular EV.

Hyundai-Kia-lower-priced-EVs
Kia EV3 (Source: Kia)

Like the Hyundai IONIQ models and Kia’s other electric vehicles, the EV3 is based on the E-GMP platform. It’s available with two battery packs: 58.3 kWh or 81.48 kWh, providing a WLTP range of up to 430 km (270 miles) and 599 km (375 miles), respectively.

Hyundai is expected to reveal the new EV at the IAA Mobility show in Munich in September. Meanwhile, Kia is working on a smaller electric car to sit below the EV2 that could start at under €25,000 ($30,000).

Hyundai-Kia-lower-priced-EVs
Kia unveils EV4 sedan and hatchback, PV5 electric van, and EV2 Concept at 2025 Kia EV Day (Source: Kia)

According to the report, Hyundai and Kia are doubling down on lower-priced EVs to balance potential losses from the new US auto tariffs.

Despite opening its new EV manufacturing plant in Georgia to boost local production, Hyundai is still expected to expand sales in other regions. An industry insider explained, “Considering the risk of US tariffs, Hyundai’s move to target the European market with small electric vehicles is a natural strategy.”

Hyundai-Kia-lower-priced-EVs
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Source: Hyundai)

Although Hyundai is expanding in other markets, it remains a leading EV brand in the US. The IONIQ 5 remains a top-selling EV with over 19,000 units sold through June.

After delivering the first IONIQ 9 models in May, Hyundai reported that over 1,000 models had been sold through the end of June, its three-row electric SUV.

While the $7,500 EV tax credit is still here, Hyundai is offering generous savings with leases for the 2025 IONIQ 5 starting as low as $179 per month. The three-row IONIQ 9 starts at just $419 per month. And Hyundai is even throwing in a free ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 charger if you buy or lease either model.

Unfortunately, we likely won’t see the entry-level EV2 or IONIQ 2 in the US. However, Kia is set to launch its first electric sedan, the EV4, in early 2026.

Ready to take advantage of the savings while they are still here? You can use our links below to find deals on Hyundai and Kia EV models in your area.

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Blink Charging just threw a lifeline to EVBox Everon customers

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Blink Charging just threw a lifeline to EVBox Everon customers

As EVBox shuts down its Everon business across Europe and North America, EV charging provider Blink Charging is stepping up to offer support to customers caught in the transition.

EVBox’s software arm Everon recently announced it’s winding down operations alongside EVBox’s AC charger business. That’s left a lot of charging station hosts and drivers wondering what comes next. Now, EVBox Everon is pointing its customers toward Blink as a recommended alternative.

Blink says it’s ready to help, whether that means keeping existing chargers up and running or replacing aging gear with new Blink chargers.

“EVBox has played a significant role in the growth of EV charging infrastructure across the UK and Mainland Europe, and we recognize the trust hosts have placed in its solutions,” said Alex Calnan, Blink Charging’s managing director of Europe. “With the recent announcement of Everon’s withdrawal from the EV charging market, it’s natural to have questions about what this means for operations. At Blink, we want to assure Everon customers that we are here to help them navigate this transition.”

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Blink says it’s able to offer advice, replacements, and ongoing network management to make the changeover as smooth as possible.

Everon users who switch to Blink will get access to the Blink Network portal via the Blink Charging app. That opens up real-time insight into charger usage and lets hosts set pricing, manage users, and download performance reports.

“At Blink, our charging technology is future-ready,” added Calnan. “With advancements like vehicle-to-grid technology on the horizon, our chargers are built to support the future of electric vehicles and charging habits.”

The company says its chargers are in stock and ready to ship now for any Everon customers looking to make the jump.

In October 2024, France’s Engie announced it would liquidate the entire EVBox group, which it said posted total losses of €800 million since Engie took over in 2017. EVBox is closing its operations in the Netherlands, Germany, and the US.


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