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We got the chance to drive the new 2024 ID.4 and found an impressive amount of changes from last model year – at least on the 82kWh version.

The 2024 ID.4 is just a new model year, but with the amount of changes that VW has made, it feels like a mid-cycle refresh. We don’t usually go to drive events for individual model year improvements, but after driving this one, it definitely had enough changes to make the drive worthwhile.

That said – all of these changes are ONLY on the bigger battery 82kWh version. The 62kWh base model ID.4 is exactly the same as last year’s model, though has received a price bump from last year, which started 2023 at a price of $37,495, then got a $1,500 price hike mid-year, and has been bumped further in 2024 up to $39,735 before destination fees.

The VW ID.4 does currently qualify for the full $7,500 US federal EV tax credit – the only car made by a foreign automaker to qualify, due to local production in Chattanooga, Tennessee – and the credit is now available upfront at the point of sale. This makes the 62kWh version quite attractive at a ~$32k base price after credit.

But since we’re talking about the 82kWh version, we should talk about that base price instead. The 2024 with the changes we saw starts at $44,875, which is still in line with the entry price of many of the other EVs out today (Ioniq 5 $42k, Model Y $44k, etc.). And again, the 82kWh ID.4 does also qualify for the full federal tax credit, bringing the price down to ~$38k.

So, what are all these big changes?

A better rear motor means more power and more efficiency

Among other things, the 82kWh ID.4 is more powerful and more efficient, due to an improved rear motor. The front motor remains the same, so RWD models will gain more improvement than AWD models.

The RWD is now 282hp with 402 lb-ft of torque, while the AWD is 335hp with 99lb-ft in the front and 402lb-ft in the rear.

This brings RWD 0-60 times to 5.9 seconds, down from 7.7, and AWD 0-60 is at 4.9 seconds, down from 5.7.

But not only does it have more power, it’s also more efficient – a rare feat. More efficiency means that the same size battery can go farther, so the 2024 RWD ID.4 now has 291 miles of EPA-estimated range, up from 275, and the AWD version has 263 miles, up from 255.

As for the drive experience of the ID.4, we drove the new RWD version on a foggy and cold day on the Angeles Crest Highway and it felt perfectly… acceptable. The ID.4 is focused on being more of an everyman’s car, not a sportscar. So it delivered a comfortable drive, with the power required for comfortable driving tasks.

It handled well on the twisty road we took it on, though the tires did seem to be working hard. Like most EVs, the ID.4 exhibited very little body roll around corners due to a low center of gravity from the battery located low in the vehicle.

Power was as much as a normal driver would need, and power delivery is smooth rather than punchy. I do tend to prefer a more punchy power delivery, and really dislike when automakers build a delay into throttle response, but the ID.4 doesn’t feel laggy (unlike the Blazer EV or Fisker Ocean that I’ve driven recently).

Like other VW Group EVs (including Audi, Porsche etc.), the ID.4 is not really capable of one-pedal driving, at least not to the degree of EVs with stronger regen like Tesla, Leaf and Bolt.

Putting the car in “B” mode does enable some amount of regenerative braking, which we were able to get to decelerate the car down to 5mph even while going down a hill. However, the regen was still quite light, and I found myself reaching for the brake pedal when entering flowing canyon corners, whereas in other EVs I would simply let off the accelerator to get the braking I wanted.

2024 VW ID.4 foggy angeles crest

I remain convinced that VW needs to increase regenerative braking strength on its EVs – and in talking to VW representatives at the event, it sounds like they’ve been hearing the same elsewhere and may finally be considering doing so.

I wouldn’t consider either of these issues particularly galling (well, maybe the regen one, because I’ve been one-pedal driving for 15 years now), but they are issues that could easily be fixed by allowing customers to select different drive modes based on their preferences.

And the ID.4 does have drive modes (ECO, comfort, sport, and “custom” where you can mix and match), but we felt very little difference between these modes. I would like to see them differentiate more between the modes – options for significantly heavier steering , punchier throttle, stronger regen, etc.

The biggest change I could find is that these different modes do change the color of the UI, so, I guess you can pick your drive mode based on whether you like red, blue, or a-slightly-different-blue as your UI accent color.

Now that we’re talking about the UI, the 2024 model has a significantly improved user interface, which we were quite impressed with.

Big UI changes vastly improve user experience

I’m a tough customer when it comes to any sort of digital user interface. I’ve said many times that most automotive UIs are terrible, with the exception of the EV startups. And most automakers seemed to have given up on making usable infotainment systems, instead ceding that work to Apple or Google with CarPlay and Android Auto. The ID.4 does come with both systems, and if you like those systems, you can go ahead and keep using them.

But VW made quite a few changes to its base user interface, and these are welcome. The screen is now 12.9 inches instead of 12 inches, though most of the new space is taken up by a persistent climate control display, giving access to fan speed controls and split temperature controls for driver and passenger. It also allows operation of the ventilated seats, which are new for the 2024 model.

Temperature and volume controls are also available with a physical touch bar below the display. This touch bar is now illuminated in the 2024 model, as in the previous model it was hard to see at night.

VW updated its EV route planner for the 2024 model, which can now include up to 10 charging stops on a route, and takes into account both Electrify America stations and others (though no NACS yet, but we expect that’s coming soon™).

To use it, you just input a destination and the car will plan your charge stops for you, telling you where to stop, for how long, will automatically precondition the battery to optimize charging times, and will update live to show you how many free chargers there are at the stop (though this is in tiny font, in dark grey on a light grey background – more visibility would be better on this UI feature).

While we didn’t get to test fast charging (which is up to 175kW on the 2024 model, up from 170kW before), the route planning function worked extremely quickly, planning out a long multi-stop route in only a couple seconds – even quicker than Tesla’s system does it.

And you can customize the settings, telling your car to ensure you don’t go under a certain percentage while driving or that you have at least a certain amount of range at your destination (e.g. if you’re traveling to a place you won’t have overnight charging at). One UI screen tells you an estimate of how fast you would charge if you charged right now, so while we don’t know the actual charge curve of the car just yet, you can get a sense of it by looking at this screen.

Another relevant charging-related change is that the ID.4 just recently (finally) got plug & charge. This was rolled out to 2023 models on Electrify America stations just last month, but the 2024 model will be able to use Plug & Charge on non-EA stations as well. Plug & Charge is the name of a feature that allows you to just plug into a DC charge station and walk away without having to open any apps or swipe any cards or anything – a similar experience to using a Tesla Supercharger.

UI controls were reasonably responsive in general, partially due to updated processing speed and memory for the infotainment system (though it’s still not buttery-smooth as you would expect from an iPad, which frankly is the bar that all automakers should aspire to), though the layout of sub-menus was sometimes confusing and hard to find things in. This would probably go away with some experience, but we did skip over a few of the sub menus we were looking for due to being named with generic-sounding headings like “basic functions.”

The software improvements on this car are notable, given that VW has had some difficulty with EV software timelines in the past. Its Cariad software unit, created in 2020 to improve EV software issues and deliver over-the-air updates to vehicles (basically, to make VW’s software more Tesla-like), has had problems getting up to speed, to the point where the unit’s difficulties reportedly were a large contributor to former CEO Herbert Diess’ departure. In October, the company tapped some EV startup veterans to try to fix these problems.

And some other small physical changes were made, like a slight relocation of the PRND level for better visibility, and moving the hazard button downward slightly, because previously it was easy to accidentally press it when reaching for the touchscreen (as pointed out by Electrek‘s very own Michelle Lewis, who owns an ID.4 herself).

A new LED strip has been added at the base of the windshield, which we’ve seen on several other vehicles lately. But rather than just being ambient lighting (which the car also has, and it’s adjustable), VW has made the windshield strip functional. It syncs with the nav system and swipes a blue streak across the strip to tell you which direction you need to turn, and it shows certain alerts, like flashing red when the car’s safety sensors want to tell you something. I really liked this feature.

A ChatGPT-enabled voice assistant in your ID.4

One feature that we found to be quite cool was the new ChatGPT-enabled voice assistant function. VW says it’s the “first volume manufacturer to make this innovative technology a standard feature in vehicles from the compact segment upwards,” though we have seen a beta of something similar from Mercedes.

This is an extension of VW’s “IDA” (get it? it looks like “ID.4”) voice assistant, who can be called up by pressing a steering wheel button or saying “hey IDA.” It allows control over an impressive set of vehicle functions, which you can see a partial list of by digging through the IDA menus. All of this is theoretically accessible through natural language search, so you don’t have to say specific catchphrases, but you can just talk to your car and she’ll figure out what you’re looking for.

In practice, though we didn’t use it extensively, it did reasonably well at understanding our meaning, though it wasn’t 100% accurate. There were definitely times that we had to restate or rephrase our questions to get a good answer out of the voice assistant, but that’s something we have all unfortunately come to expect out of these types of systems. In terms of voice recognition it was quick and reasonably accurate, and the wide range of things that it can do was better than other voice assistant systems we’ve seen in cars.

But maybe the neatest aspect of the IDA system is that you don’t have to call it IDA. You can in fact call it anything you want, by changing the “wake word” in software. Behold!

(to VW: I’m sorry, your voice assistant is actually quite nice and did not deserve the abusive name, I am just a child)

Honestly, this is a feature that I just love. It’s such a simple thing to be able to change the wake word, but it makes so much sense, especially in an automotive context.

On the one hand it enables dumb jokes like mine above, but on the other hand it’s a genuine improvement (e.g. if someone in your home is named Ciri, or if you ever talk “seriously” about anything, it can be confusing to have an Apple device around), and it dovetails quite well with the already-existing societal trend of people naming their cars. Now you can actually name your car something, and it will respond to that name!

If nothing else, it’s a great crowd pleaser, and it worked within moments the first time we tried it. Any VW dealer who wants to sell a car, just sit the customer down inside and show them a demo of this one feature and you’ll surely surprise and delight them.

Conclusion and availability

Despite the tendency of VW Group EVs to make some “safe” choices (like no one-pedal driving), in keeping with their somewhat traditional stance as far as automakers go, I found myself saying “oh, that’s cool” a lot of times during our quick couple hours with the car, mostly related to the various UI improvements made. They seem to have done a solid job here.

In fact, there’s so many changes that I even asked VW if it would be appropriate to call this a mid-cycle refresh, particularly given that the car is ~3 years old now. They said no, because usually those involve some sort of change to the exterior sheet metal of the vehicle (the only exterior changes are wheels – 20in on the AWD entry level, and 21in on the AWD/RWD S Plus trim), but that the 2024 is indeed a “strong” model year update.

And, once again, all of these changes are only on the more expensive 82kWh version, not the base model 62kWh version. This is a bit disappointing, because VW did tout the 62kWh’s attractive entry price in its presentation to us, though all of the new features are gated behind a $5,140 upgrade to a larger battery which many customers just don’t need.

But, maybe these changes will migrate down the model range when the real mid-cycle refresh comes, perhaps in another year or two. We can hope, anyway.

Regardless, big upgrades here. If you were considering getting an ID.4 already, you can be even happier at the value proposition once the 2024s hit dealerships, which happens in March.

If you’d like, you can use our links to contact your local dealers about the 2024 VW ID.4, and get yourself in line for when they’re delivered in this coming month.

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Heybike Hauler cargo e-bike at new $1,099 low, EcoFlow multi-day power station flash offers from $349, Aiper solar pool skimmer, more

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April 23, 2025

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Heybike Hauler cargo e-bike at new ,099 low, EcoFlow multi-day power station flash offers from 9, Aiper solar pool skimmer, more

Headlining today’s Green Deals is Heybike’s Mother’s Day Sale that is taking up to $500 off e-bikes on top of offering some additional free gear, with the brand’s Hauler Cargo e-bike getting brought down to a new $1,099 low, among others. We also have EcoFlow’s final flash offers that will be running for the duration of its Mega Sale through April 15, with notable returning low prices on the RIVER 2 Pro power station, a DELTA Pro 3 solar generator bundle, an EcoCredits purchase opportunity from $1, and more. You can prep for swimming season by grabbing Aiper’s latest Surfer S2 Solar Pool Skimmer while it’s back at its $320 low, as well as gear up for camping and storm cleanup needs with Greenworks’ second-generation 40V 12-inch Cordless Electric Chainsaw at $128. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s exclusive $2,000 in savings on EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro Ultra station at a new low price, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Heybike’s latest Hauler cargo e-bike with a 440-pound payload for up to 85 miles starts from new $1,099 low

Heybike is launching its Mother’s Day Sale through May 11 with up to $500 taken off initial e-bike prices while also offering free gear along with your purchase. Amongst the bunch, we spotted Heybike bringing its latest Hauler Cargo e-bike down to $1,099 shipped during this sale. Recently, it’s been carrying a full $1,499 price tag since the start of 2025, which we saw drop to $1,199 in February before staying at $1,399 in the sales since. Today’s deal, though, is coming in better than ever as a $400 markdown that takes things to a new all-time low price. You’ll also be getting the bonus of a large rear cargo basket that attaches to the rear rack. Head below for more.

A solid option for folks who are looking for an alternative for errand running over their car, the Heybike Hauler e-bike sports a 750W brushless geared hub motor that reaches a top speed of 28 MPH and can peak at 1,400W for inclines and better pick-up when hauling packages, groceries, and the like. There are two removable battery options here, depending on just how much travelling you plan to do, with a single 18Ah setup for up to 55 miles on a single charge with its PAS levels activated, or you can upgrade with an additional 12.5Ah battery at $300 more to increase its range up to 85 miles.

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Heybike’s Hauler e-bike sports a nice 440-pound payload capacity and even comes with foldable running boards if you end up hauling a passenger along too. And for the price right now, it also offers some solid stock features, like the hydraulic front suspension fork, front and rear hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-protected tires with fenders over each, a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, an LED headlight with an auto-on feature, an integrated taillight with braking functionality, a kickstand, the obvious rear cargo rack, and an LCD for your real-time data and setting controls.

Heybike’s other Mother’s Day Sale offers:

  • Mars 2.0 Folding Fat-Tire e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,499)
    • 28 MPH for up to 45 miles
    • 1,000W motor (32 MPH speed) costs $100 more
    • comes with free front basket and large basket
  • Ranger S Folding Fat-Tire e-bike: $1,099 (Reg. $1,499)
    • 28 MPH for up to 55 miles
    • 1,000W motor (32 MPH speed) costs $200 more
    • comes with free front basket and large basket
  • Cityrun Urban Commuter e-bike: $1,099 (Reg. $1,599)
    • 21 MPH for up to 55 miles
    • comes with free front basket and large basket
  • Tyson Uni-Body e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,699)
    • 28 MPH for up to 55 miles
    • comes with free large basket
  • Horizon Full-Suspension e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,999)
    • 28 MPH for up to 55 miles
    • comes with free front basket and large basket
  • Brawn Off-Road e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
    • 28 MPH for up to 65 miles
    • comes with free large basket
  • ALPHA All-Terrain e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,699)
    • 28 MPH for up to 60 miles
  • Hero Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bike: $2,499 (Reg. $2,599)
    • 35 MPH for up to 60 miles
    • comes with free large basket
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station

EcoFlow launches multi-day flash offers on DELTA and RIVER power stations + EcoCredits purchase from $1

As we approach the end of EcoFlow’s ongoing Mega Sale through April 25, the brand has launched its last and longest flash sale offers, taking up to 48% off three units while also offering a major EcoCredits purchase opportunity. Alongside the return of the DELTA Pro 3 bundle we saw on Friday, you can now grab the RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station for $349 shipped. Normally fetching $599 outside of discounts, we first saw it come down to this rate during similar flash offers in the first phase of this sale. It’s returning as a second-chance opportunity for $250 in savings, giving you a solid traveling companion at the best rate we have tracked. It’s also beating out the pricing we’re seeing from Amazon by $10.

A more ample backup solution among the brand’s RIVER series, the RIVER 2 Pro is ideal for short-term needs at campsites, on road trips, and the like, providing you with a 768Wh LiFePO4 capacity to cover your essential devices and appliances. Through its eight output ports it can deliver up to 1,600W of power, with X-boost tech allowing it to “run 80% of home appliances.” It’s a great option for those who often make last-minute plans too, as plugging it into a wall outlet regains the battery in about 70 minutes, with it also having the options for USB-C and car port recharging, as well as a max 220W solar input, which can put it back at full in 3.5 hours to 4.5 hours in sunny conditions.

EcoFlow’s other flash sale offers ending April 25:

EcoFlow’s massive lineup of Mega Sale deals will only be lasting through April 25, complete with larger EcoCredit rewards, extra savings, and plenty of low prices – don’t miss it while it’s still around!

Aiper Surfer S2 Solar Pool Skimmer

Keep floating debris out of your pool with Aiper’s Surfer S2 solar skimmer back at its $320 low

Through its official Amazon storefront, Aiper is offering its latest Surfer S2 Solar Pool Skimmer for $319.98 shipped. Only on the market for a few months now, it usually carries a $540 price tag, which we first saw drop to this same rate at the top of February, which repeated last month in Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, and has otherwise kept between $340 and $400. You can pick one up while the $220 in savings last for your pool at the lowest price we have tracked, with the price also matching direct from Aiper’s website.

Building upon the success of its predecessor, Aiper’s second-generation Surfer S2 pool skimmer has been upgraded with features like the DebrisGuard anti-leak design, an improved brushless motor, an expanded suction inlet, and a 150-micron filtration system – all to provide better performance when collecting small and large debris alike from your pool’s surface. It’s also been given a larger battery that ramps up its runtime to 35 hours, with recharging available through the onboard solar panel for sunny days or its DC adapter as a backup option.

Working alongside the brand’s algorithms, it’s been equipped with dual dToF sensors to improve its obstacle avoidance – plus, there are even four retractable anti-standing columns to keep it from getting stuck on pool steps as it works. Should the columns fail to impede any such situations, the programming here knows to use its automatic self-rescue capabilities to get it back into the water to continue on its routines. There are the usual smart controls through the companion app that you’d expect, allowing you to monitor and adjust settings with the added bonus of being able to manually steer it.

Be sure to also check out the ongoing discounts across Aiper’s robotic pool cleaners that work right alongside the above pool skimmer to keep your pool clear and swim-ready, as well as the first discount we’re seeing on the new HydroComm 24/7 Smart Pool Monitor that provides 5-in-1 testing for your pool’s pH, ORP, EC, TDS, and temperature, as well as coming solar-powered.

Greenworks 40V 12-inch Cordless Electric Chainsaw

Expand your arsenal with this 2nd-gen Greenworks 40V 12-inch cordless chainsaw at $128

Amazon is offering the 2nd generation Greenworks 40V 12-inch Cordless Compact Chainsaw for $127.99 shipped. Coming down from its usual $170 price tag, discounts have been repeating to this same rate throughout the months since July of last year, with things before then only having gone as low as $120. Today’s deal is a 25% markdown off the going rate, saving you $42 while equipping your arsenal with the latest of the brand’s 12-inch compact chainsaws.

Coming in a more compact form, this 40V Greenworks chainsaw makes a reliable companion for firewood needs at home or while camping, as well as storm cleanup with hurricane season on the horizon. Powered by the included 2.0Ah battery, it sports a 12-inch bar and chain with an auto-oiler to ensure everything remains lubricated and running smoothly, delivering up to 50 cuts on a single charge. It weighs in at just six pounds, making it easy to operate for most users, complete with a safety lock and push-button start to save you time and energy over the frustrations caused by pull-strings.

Other notable Greenworks chainsaw deals:

Best Spring EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

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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Tesla (TSLA) stock surges on Elon’s lies despite disastrous earnings

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April 23, 2025

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Tesla (TSLA) stock surges on Elon's lies despite disastrous earnings

Elon Musk at Tesla company wide meeting 2022

Tesla’s stock (TSLA) surged by as much as 8% today following the company reporting disastrous earnings results – its worst in years and way below expectations.

The stock seems to surge based on people believing Elon Musk’s lies.

Yesterday, Tesla released its Q1 2025 financial results, confirming its worst performance in years.

The automaker is now operating at just 2% margins and would have lost money last quarter if it weren’t for the sales of regulatory credits.

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The financial performance was worse than most analysts predicted, and yet, Tesla’s stock surged by as much as 8% today.

The reason for the surge appears to be shareholders overlooking Tesla’s degrading auto business in favor of Musk’s vision for the future of Tesla.

However, the problem is that Musk has been misleading people about his vision of Tesla’s future and lied several times on the earnings call that followed the release of its financial results.

I did a whole live stream to break down and fact-check Tesla’s earnings call:

Musk literally started out his comments on the Tesla call with a lie. He claimed that people protesting Tesla right now are “paid-for” and/or simply upset because they were receiving money that his DOGE team cut:

Now, the protests that you’ll see out there, they’re very organized, they’re paid for. They’re obviously not going to say, admit that the reason that they’re protesting is because they’re receiving fraudulent money or that they are the recipients of wasteful largesse, but they’re going to come up with some other reason. But that is – the real reason for the protests, the actual reason is that those receiving the waste and fraud wish to continue receiving it.

It’s not the first time Musk has claimed that despite having zero evidence. He uses the claims to distance himself from any responsibility for Tesla’s current brand damage.

Musk and the rest of Tesla’s management have tried their best during the call to attribute the 50,000 fewer deliveries last quarter to the Model Y changevoer, but they never explained the massive increase in inventory vehicles that also happened during the quarter and would point to a broader demand issue.

Instead, Musk focused on Tesla’s self-driving and humanoid robot efforts.

With the humanoid robots, Musk again claimed that he believes Tesla will make millions of robots by the end of the decade and become the world’s most valuable company because of it. The CEO said that he doesn’t see any competitor getting close to Tesla.

The problem is that it’s not clear why Tesla would dominate this market. On the robotics front, it looks like Tesla is already behind competitors like Unitree:

As for the AI that goes into humanoid robots, Tesla has also not shown any competitive advantage as all its demonstrations involved human teleoperations.

Tesla’s own AI effort has primarily focused on solving the self-driving problem, and that has also not yet been achieved. Musk has claimed that Tesla was on the verge of solving self-driving “next year” for every one of the past 6 years.

During Tesla’s earnings call, Musk again updated several self-driving timelines for Tesla, including “millions of robotaxis on the road in the second half of 2026” and “unsupervised self-driving in consumer vehicles by the end of the year.”

Again, Musk has been making similar claims for the last six years, and they have never come true. However, people are starting to give more credibility to his self-driving timeline because he reiterated that Tesla plans to launch its unsupervised self-driving pilot program in Austin as soon as June.

However, we noted that this represents a significant shift in Tesla’s self-driving efforts, as it will rely on an internal, geo-fenced fleet with human teleoperation assistance. It’s basically the same service that Waymo has been offering for years and Musk claimed isn’t scalable.

During the earnings call, Musk claimed that the fleet will initially consist of just 10-20 Model Y vehicles. Tesla’s head of self-driving admitted that Tesla is currently focused on optimizing FSD for driving in Austin to support the service. This explains why Tesla’s FSD in consumer vehicles, which buyers paid for with the promise that it will eventually become unsupervised, hasn’t been significantly updated in months.

Now, Musk will claim a win in self-driving with Tesla’s launch of its limited pilot program in Austin in June, but in fact, it is only delaying the delivery of what he promised for years: unsupervised self-driving in every consumer vehicle built by Tesla since 2016.

Electrek’s Take

Musk now claims this is going to happen by the ned of the year, but let’s see if he still says that in a few months. Virtually every year for the last 6 years, he said early in the year that it would happen by the end of the year, and when the end of the year gets closer, he pushes the timeline to next year and repeats the cycle.

I would like to give more credibility to his prediction now, but it’s hard to do when the best data available still only points to FSD in consumer vehicles achieving about 500 miles between critical disengagement when it needs to be in the tens of thousands of miles for a geo-fenced ride-hailing service in in the hundreds of thousands of miles for generalized unsupervised driving solution in consumer vehicles, which is what Tesla has been promising for years.

It’s hard for me to believe that some people still take his claims seriously, but there’s a fool born every minute and most of them become Tesla shareholders, evidently.

It’s starting to sound like Tesla earnings calls are run by a Musk AI trained on Musk’s comments made over the last 10 years – with the addition of humanoid robots over the last few years.

As for the stock price, forget about earnings, forget about fundamentals, it’s simply an index to gauge the shareholders’ confidence in Musk’s claims. Right now, they seem pretty confident. They are still drinking the Kool-Aid.

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I went inside China to the world’s largest EV maker’s summit. Here’s what I saw

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April 23, 2025

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I went inside China to the world's largest EV maker's summit. Here's what I saw

When you think about the biggest names in electric vehicles, Tesla or BYD probably come to mind first. But the largest electric vehicle producer by sheer numbers isn’t either of these car giants—it’s Yadea, the Chinese powerhouse behind an enormous array of electric two- and three-wheelers. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit China and attend Yadea’s annual retail summit, an expansive event hosting over 4,000 global dealers and showcasing what felt like an endless variety of electric rides.

It was an eye-opening that you can relive with me by watching my video from the event below. Or just keep reading for the full details!

The retail summit, held in Wuxi, China, was equal parts impressive product showcase and dealer-focused presentations. Navigating through a bustling hall filled with thousands of attendees was daunting, especially when breaks saw everyone flood the floor at once. It definitely showcased just how broad the company’s reach is, with dealerships spanning the globe. Yadea recently surpassed 100 million electric two-wheeler sales, underscoring just how massive their global reach has become.

Capturing footage and pictures of every vehicle on display was nearly impossible, but I did my best to highlight the extensive diversity in Yadea’s lineup.

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Yadea’s design ethos clearly recognizes that different riders have vastly different needs, whether it’s high-performance scooters packed with cutting-edge technology, or adorable mopeds designed around current fashion trends and popular licensing agreements. Although some of these designs lean heavily toward Chinese consumer preferences—the company’s largest market—there’s no shortage of international influences woven into their offerings, proving Yadea’s global ambitions are well underway. From automotive inspiration to more childish and fun-looking rides, there’s seriously something for everyone.

Admittedly, not every model suited me—particularly some of the more “cutesy” scooters clearly aimed at a demographic less familiar in Western moped commuting circles. But considering how universally popular two-wheel commuting is in China, Yadea clearly knows its audience. In China, commuting by scooter or moped transcends typical demographics, becoming a practical transportation option for everyone, regardless of age or gender. That’s a pretty sharp contrast with many Western markets, where motorcycles and mopeds still largely remain associated with younger demographics and male riders. Suffice it to say, you don’t see a lot of bubbly, cartoonish mopeds or child seats in the west, but they were all over the expo in various fascinating forms.

Yadea isn’t just about stylish scooters, though. They showcased a robust selection of utility and fleet vehicles, from sturdy police patrol units to versatile three-wheeled cargo haulers. I’m personally a huge fan of their electric trikes, which range from rugged utility vehicles perfect for agricultural use to enclosed commuter vehicles ideal for running errands or taking kids to school. While these trikes are incredibly popular throughout Asia, they’ve yet to fully catch on in Western markets—something I believe is overdue after spending quality saddle time in them. The versatility of these three-wheelers makes them an excellent option for urban environments with congested streets, offering enhanced stability, cargo capacity, and ease of operation compared to traditional two-wheelers or larger vehicles.

Beyond trikes and mopeds, Yadea impressed me with their comprehensive foray into practically every two-wheeled electric category imaginable. They featured trail bike-style dirt bikes, substantial full-sized electric motorcycles, and even a broad spectrum of electric bicycles designed for fitness, mountain biking, and commuting. Standouts included the popular Trooper, beloved by fans of the moped-style bikes, and the growing lineup of stand-up electric scooters, such as the affordable Starto scooter designed specifically to target budget-conscious consumers in markets like the U.S.

The diversity in Yadea’s electric bicycle lineup has continued to grow over the several years I’ve followed it closely. The sporty fitness models I saw feature lightweight frames and sleek designs aimed at urban commuters and recreational riders looking to blend exercise and convenience. Their mountain e-bikes boast robust frames, powerful mid-drive motors, and quality suspension, ready for challenging trails and off-road adventures. The commuter-style e-bikes are practical, with designs optimized for daily use, complete with integrated lights, fenders, and racks to accommodate everyday necessities. Basically, they’ve come a long way and branched out into very specific cycling niches that we hadn’t seen from Yadea only a few years ago.

Naturally, I couldn’t leave without testing as many of these rides as possible. Rainy conditions and a slippery rock slab floor outside the exhibition hall made for tricky testing conditions, but miraculously, I kept the rubber side down on everything I test-rode.

From fat-tire mopeds like the Trooper e-bike to practical scooters like the Starto, it was easy to see why these models are already gaining traction internationally. The Starto scooter, in particular, struck me as an ideal entry-level model—affordable, practical, and perfect for urban commuting. Its simplicity and affordability position it perfectly for new riders who may have previously considered electric vehicles too expensive or complicated.

I’ve tested other Yadea electric kickscooters and have been impressed, but several of them have loftier prices thanks to fancier features, full-suspension, and higher performance. The Starto’s basic design helps keep it within reach of more commuters.

Throughout the day, I was consistently impressed by the sheer number of electric vehicles on display. The vast range highlighted Yadea’s commitment to addressing nearly every possible niche in the electric mobility market. But perhaps even more striking was the scale and detail of Yadea’s dealer support system. Dealers benefit from extensive training programs, robust diagnostic tools, and a comprehensive range of accessories and upgrades. Conversations I had with dealers from all over the world highlighted the unique challenges and successes of bringing these electric vehicles to their respective markets. Many shared stories about the ease of working with Yadea as well as the brand’s name recognition helping to win over new riders.

Last year, I toured one of Yadea’s eight global factories, gaining insight into the meticulous manufacturing processes behind these vehicles. Witnessing the production process highlighted the precision, technology, and quality control standards that underpin every product Yadea manufactures. This year’s summit completed the picture, demonstrating Yadea’s equal commitment to customer-facing operations. From their expansive product lineup to their global dealer network, Yadea is making two-wheeled electric transportation accessible and appealing worldwide.

Yadea’s global impact is truly impressive. They operate on nearly every continent, with robust sales networks spread around the world. This international presence isn’t just about market share, it’s also about driving the global adoption of electric mobility solutions. Yadea’s products help reduce emissions and traffic congestion while providing affordable and accessible transportation options to millions worldwide.

When discussing true global impact, few can rival Yadea’s sheer reach and scale. Even the major electric automakers like BYD and Tesla are playing for a distance second place when it comes to annual units sold. After spending time immersed in Yadea’s latest offerings and engaging with their global dealer community, it’s clear that Yadea isn’t just leading in volume—they’re also at the forefront of innovation, design, and customer support, truly defining the future of electric mobility.

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