Volkswagen’s CFO Arno Antlitz said Europe’s largest automaker has “all the ingredients” for success as the US auto industry shifts to electric. Despite this, VW is seeing reluctance for its EVs in Europe and potentially in the US as well.
Volkswagen gears up for North American EV transition
In an interview with Bloomberg Television Wednesday, Antilitz explained VW has what it takes to grow in the US as the buyers transition to EVs.
Last April, Volkswagen announced its first North American EV battery cell plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. The facility will host six production blocks with up to 90 GWh volume. According to VW, that’s enough for around 1 million EVs per year.
The massive 370-acre factory is about the size of 210 football fields. VW says the entire site will cover around 850 football fields.
VW’s factory plans to begin producing sustainable unified cells in 2027. The cells will power VW Group EVs, including its new Scout brand.
Volkswagen is reviving the Scout brand into a rugged all-electric automaker. The company will build vehicles at its $2 billion facility in South Carolina.
Scout electric SUV and pickup designs (Source: VW)
Once production begins in 2026, VW expects to produce over 200,000 Scout EVs. Scout’s CEO, Scott Keogh, confirmed the company is on track to unveil its electric truck and SUV later this year.
After hiring former Jeep and RAM designer Chris Benjamin in May, Keogh claimed his “thumbprints are all over many of the most beloved off-road vehicles.”
Scout’s compact four-wheel vehicle was the first real competition to the popular Jeep brand in the 70’s and 80’s. Before the Ford Bronco and Chevy Blazer hit the market, Scout’s vehicles shaped many of the vehicles we see in the US today.
(Source: Scout Motors)
Despite the success, the brand’s parent company faced financial troubles, leading to a business overhaul.
Volkswagen bought the rights to Scout in 2021 after its trucking unit (Traton Group) merged with Navistar. The company confirmed it would resurrect the brand into an off-road EV maker to compete in the US’s biggest segments.
Can VW compete as the US shifts to EVs?
After delivering over 394,000 electric cars last year, up 21% from 2022, VW looks to regain momentum to compete with leaders like Tesla.
Although this is a record for Volkswagen, 21% YOY growth is far behind most rivals. Tesla set a new record, delivering nearly 1.81 million EVs last year. Volvo sold over 113,000 EVs last year. That’s up 70% compared to 2022 (66,749) and 16% of its total sales.
2023 VW ID.4 (Source: Volkswagen)
Volkswagen’s EVs accounted for 8.3% of its total sales last year. That’s at the lower end of its 8% to 10% guidance (already down from 11%). Antlitz said EV orders fell to 150,000 in Europe in October, 50% less than the 300,000 in 2022.
The company’s financial leader confirmed VW is seeing some reluctance in Europe and potentially in the US, too.
(Source: VW)
VW cut shifts and laid off temporary workers last year in Europe as it struggled to keep up with EV leaders like Tesla and incoming Chinese rivals like BYD.
With larger vehicles, including an electric SUV and pickup, hitting the US market, VW hopes to regain momentum.
Electrek’s Take
VW cut EV prices earlier this week in Europe, hoping to compete with the surging Tesla. The company also fell behind Tesla in US market share for the first time last year.
Tesla secured 4.2% of the US auto market share last year compared to Volkswagen’s 4.1%. Despite this, VW’s ID.4 did climb four spots for the fifth best-selling EV in the US last year, behind the Mustang Mach-E, Chevy Bolt EV, Tesla, Model 3, and Tesla Model Y.
Will a rugged electric pickup and SUV help VW regain momentum as the US market shifts to EVs? That’s what the automaker is hoping for.
With plans to continue investing around a third of investment into ICE vehicles, it could set VW further behind.
While VW’s EV sales accounted for around 8% of total volume, many automakers are already achieving double-digit, or 100%, sales share.
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Mazda’s new electric SUV, the EZ-60, set a record in China after securing over 20,000 orders. It is about the size of a Tesla Model Y and will soon launch in overseas markets like Europe.
Meet Mazda’s new EZ-60 electric SUV
Mazda calls it a “dream car” with a sleek new design, class-leading features, and advanced smart driving technology.
The EZ60 is Changan Mazda’s, the company’s joint venture in China, first electric SUV and second EV following the EZ-6 sedan.
After securing over 20,000 orders, Changan Mazda announced the EZ-60 set a new record as the fastest joint venture new energy SUV to reach the milestone.
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Mazda’s new electric SUV received 10,060 orders in 24 hours after it opened following its global debut at the Shanghai Auto Show on April 23. On May 9, Changan Mazda said EZ-60 orders exceeded 18,000, also setting a record for joint venture electric SUVs.
Like the EZ-6 sedan, Mazda’s electric SUV features its new “Soul of Motion” design, including a redesigned logo, slim LED headlights, and an LED lightbar that stretches across the front.
It comes loaded with “a number of world-first technologies,” including a 100″ naked-eye 3D head-up display (HUD) and a 26.45″ floating infotainment, which the company claims is “the largest size, thinnest body, and narrowest frame in its class.”
The unique D-pillar air duct gives it “the million-level supercar design” while improving airflow and efficiency. With nine air ducts and sixteen vents, the company said overall wind resistance is improved by 60.8 counts.
Mazda EZ-60 electric SUV interior (Source: Changan Mazda)
Launching globally
The EZ-60 is available in purely battery electric (EV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain options.
Mazda’s new electric SUV will officially launch by the end of August. Following the EZ-6, which will go by “6e” overseas, the EZ-60 will be Changan Mazda’s second EV to launch globally.
Mazda 6e (Source: Mazda)
Based on Changan’s EPA1 platform, which underpins the Deepal SO7, the electric SUV is expected to have a driving range of around 600 km. Prices and full specs will be revealed closer to launch. Check back soon for more info. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
Mazda’s electric SUV is 4,850 mm long, 1,935 mm wide, and 1,620 mm tall, or about the same size as the new Tesla Model Y (4,797 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, and 1,624 mm tall).
Deng Zhitao, Executive Vice President of Changan Mazda, in front of the EZ-60 electric SUV (Source: Changan Mazda)
The EZ-6 starts at 139,800 yuan in China, or about $20,000, and has a CLTC driving range of up to 600 km (372 miles). Changan Mazda introduced a new Sport Edition earlier this month, with black side skirts and wheels, red brake callipers, and a few other upgrades.
In Europe, the electric sedan will arrive as the Mazda 6e. It will be available with two battery packs: 68.8 kWh or 80 kWh, good for WLTP driving range of 479 km (300 miles) and 552 km (343 miles), respectively.
What do you think of Mazda’s new electric SUV? Would you buy one in the US, Europe, or other global markets? Let us know your thoughts below.
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Lexus may have just given you a reason to check out its electric SUV. The Lexus RZ is getting some notable upgrades for the 2026 model year, including up to 300 miles of driving range, an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers, and plenty more.
The 2026 Lexus RZ made its North American debut this week with more power, added range, and several new features.
For one, a new F Sport variant arrives with a sporty new style inside and out. The 2026 RZ 550e F Sport is the most powerful RZ model yet. With a 402 hp AWD powertrain, the sporty new variant can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
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It also gains a new “M Mode” that features virtual manual gear shifting to make it feel like a manual transmission.
The new F-Sport model gets exclusive elements like F Sport branding on the rear spoiler, front and rear bumpers, and front grille. It will be available in a new “Wind” color, a solid gray with “subtle metallic highlight.”
All 2026 Lexus RZ models get a redesigned interior with an improved panorama glass roof, which provides more shade and a clearer view. The F Sport interior has black Ultrasuede material with blue stitching available. Other upgrades include F Sport scuff plates, steering wheel, and pedals.
The 2026 model will be available in three different trims: RZ 350e FWD (221 hp), RZ 450e AWD (308 hp), and RZ 55e F-Sport AWD (402 hp).
Lexus also added an NACS charging port on the passenger side, enabling access to Tesla Superchargers across North America.
2026 Lexus RZ model
Output
0 to 60 mph Acceleration
Battery
Range
RZ 350e FWD
221 hp
7.2 sec
74.69 kWh
300 miles
RZ 450e AWD
308 hp
4.9 sec
74.69 kWh
260 miles (18″ tires)
RZ 550e F Sport AWD
402 hp
4.1 sec
76.96 kWh
225 miles (20″ tires)
2026 Lexus RZ specs and range by trim
The 2026 Lexus RZ 350e now features an EPA-estimated driving range of around 300 miles, a big improvement from the 266 miles for the outgoing model. Other models, including the RZ 450e and RZ 550e, deliver up to 260 miles and 225 miles of driving range, respectively.
All 2026 Lexus RZ models will be assembled in Japan. Lexus will reveal full details, including specs and pricing, closer to when it goes on sale later this year. Check back soon for the latest.
With the 2026 model year arriving, Lexus is offering generous discounts on the 2025 RZ with up to $10,000 in bonus cash and leases starting as low as $379 per month. You can use our link to find deals on 2025 Lexus RZ models at a dealer near you today.
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Veteran robotaxi developer Zoox has announced an expansion of its testing fleet to a seventh US market. This latest addition marks Zoox’s (potential) entry into the southeastern United States as its team begins to map out the area ahead of bona fide autonomous robotaxi rides.
Rather than converting existing EVs into robotaxis like its competitors, Zoox has designed and delivered an entirely purpose-built EV without pedals or a steering wheel. However, that rollout has been relatively small compared to Zoox’s entire US operation, much of which remains in the testing phase.
Those testing vehicles are retrofitted SUVs equipped with LiDAR and other sensors, plus a human driver operating inside.
In June 2023, the company began driving on public roads in Las Vegas before expanding its Las Vegas geofence to a five-mile route in 2024. Since then, Zoox has not offered public rides in its bespoke robotaxis. However, Zoox has significantly expanded its North American testing fleet into additional cities, hoping to eventually reach that milestone.
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Those cities include the San Francisco Bay Area, Las Vegas, Seattle, Miami, Austin, and most recently, Los Angeles. Today, Zoox announced testing has expanded to a seventh city – Atlanta.
A Zoox test vehicle / Source: Zoox
Zoox begins testing roadmaps around Atlanta, Georgia
Zoox issued a press release today detailing its latest market and reiterating that it is merely laying the groundwork for purpose-built robotaxi rides in the future. Per Zoox:
Known as the ‘Silicon Valley of the South,’ Atlanta is one of the largest ride-hailing markets in the United States. As one of the fastest-growing technology hubs, the city welcomes autonomous vehicle testing and innovation in many fields.
Atlanta also has a growing population, diverse road conditions, traffic patterns, and unique weather conditions, including frequent thunderstorms. The city is located in a dense, urban landscape, which creates a strong demand for efficient transportation solutions like on-demand autonomous ride-hailing.
As it has already in the six other markets mentioned above, Zoox said it will begin with a small deployment of testing vehicles, driven around manually by its employees to gather mapping data, including road geometry and traffic lights.
Once Atlanta is entirely mapped out manually, Zoox plans to begin testing its autonomous driving technology before expanding to public rides. Per Zoox:
We see promise in bringing our robotaxi service to Atlanta in the future, and we look forward to offering Atlantans this unique and private space to socialize, rock out, or relax while being transported to their destination. Give us a wave when you spot us on the road, and keep your eyes out for when we roll out the robotaxi in the not-too-distant future.
Before we see commercial operations in Atlanta, Zoox plans to begin welcoming public riders into its proprietary robotaxi vehicles in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year.
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