One week after sharing that its EV order book had grown to over $25 million in binding purchases, many of which coming in since August, REE Automotive is touting another purchase commitment, sending its ledger over $40 million in value.
REE Automotive ($REE) should be fresh on everyone’s minds, considering the EV startup shared a progress update just last week, detailing a 30% increase in binding orders since August 2023. It continues to expand its authorized dealership network in North America, which most recently added sales partners in Wisconsin, Illinois, and California.
With customers and dealer partners lining up, REE continues to make progress in reaching scaled EV production, which stems from its proprietary P7 chassis – the current platform powering the startup’s P7-B box truck, which made its public debut in August of 2022.
REE has also introduced a stripped chassis version of its platform called the P7-S, supporting Class 3-5 markets, as well as the P7-C chassis cab (seen below) which debuted this past May. Today, REE is back with another large EV order announcement, doubling its book’s value since the summer.
The P7-C EV / Credit: REE Automotive
REE’s EV order book grows to $40M in binding purchases
Last week’s report instilled optimism, as REE Automotive was touting approximately $25 million in EV orders. Not to be outdone, the startup has secured another large, binding order from Midwest Transit Equipment (MTE), the largest bus dealer in the US, who is now looking to enter the commercial electric truck segment.
MTE currently operates nine locations across Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wisconsin – and will offer its customers “Powered By REE” EVs once the startup begins deliveries on said order. MTE CEO and president John McKinney spoke to the company’s decision to commit to REE vehicles:
Midwest Transit Equipment, a leading provider of school and commercial buses, is excited to enter the truck space with a strong partner like REE. The management team has vast experience in the truck market and is positioned well for strategic growth. MTE is always looking for growth opportunities within expanding markets. The medium duty truck space and electrification make all the sense in the world.
As we reported last week, REE Automotive has yet to deliver an EV, but says it is continuing to make progress with the P7 platform, following EPA certification and confirmed FMVSS certification-feasibility of its x-by-wire system. The startup says it remains on track to begin official deliveries before year’s end.
With MTE now onboard, REE’s $40 million order book offers some some lucrative potential and proof that plenty of commercial operators are chomping at the bit to try out its modular EV technology. REE chief business officer, Tali Miller, shared a similar sentiment:
As we are close to delivering our first vehicles in the US market, REE continues to see strong demand for our P7 electric trucks from dealers around North America, resulting in our order book value doubling in just under two months. We are excited to be chosen by Midwest Transit Equipment, a leading bus dealer in the US, as they enter the medium duty truck segment.
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Trump’s Interior Department halted construction on 704 megawatt (MW) Revolution Wind, the US’s first multi-state offshore wind project that’s already 80% complete. Grid operator ISO New England says the decision is a threat to the grid.
ISO New England released a statement responding to the stop-work order, warning that “delaying the project will increase risks to reliability.”:
As demand for electricity grows, New England must maintain and add to its energy infrastructure. Unpredictable risks and threats to resources – regardless of technology – that have made significant capital investments, secured necessary permits, and are close to completion will stifle future investments, increase costs to consumers, and undermine the power grid’s reliability and the region’s economy now and in the future.
Revolution Wind, a joint development between Ørsted and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, is a 65-turbine project capable of powering around 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut once it’s complete. It was expected to come online next year. The project has created more than 1,200 jobs.
On August 22, the director of Bureau of Ocean Energy Management sent a vague letter to Ørsted commanding it to halt all activities on the fully permitted Revolution Wind, citing “national security interests,” yet providing no details.
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BOEM’s Record of Decision for Revolution Wind, reported in 2023 in Section 4.6, page 185, states that the national security effects of the project would be “negligible and avoidable.”
This latest move echoes Trump’s cancellation in April of New York’s $5 billion Empire Wind 1 project, which was already under construction off New York’s coast. No viable reasons were given for that stop-work order either, and the cancellation was reversed in May.
Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), released the following statement in response to the Revolution Wind order:
The Trump administration’s war on the electricity needed to power the grid continues on all fronts. Halting Revolution Wind is a devastating attack on workers, on electricity customers, and on the investment climate in the US.
New England homeowners will feel this when they tear open their electricity bills and look at the surging costs of keeping the lights on.
This administration has it exactly backwards. It’s trying to prop up clunky, polluting coal plants while doing all it can to halt the fastest growing energy sources of the future – solar and wind power.
It makes no sense to say we have an energy emergency and then make decisions like this. Unfortunately, every American is paying the price for these misguided actions.
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Tesla is teasing a new product release on Friday, August 29th, coming to Europe and the Middle East. It’s likely going to be the Model Y Performance.
On X today, Tesla has teased an upcoming product release coming this friday.
The post is cryptic. It only mentions ‘spoiler alert’ and the date August 29 with what looks like a close up of a vehicle with what appears to be a spoil – hence the “spoiler alert” reference:
There are main suspect is the Model Y Performance due to the spoiler reference.
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Since the Model Y refresh in January, Tesla stopped selling the Model Y Performance. It is due to launch the top performance version under the new design.
When Tesla released the Model 3 refresh in 2024, it took about 4 months for Tesla to launch the new performance version.
Electrek’s Take
The only thing that I find strange with this likely being the Model Y Performance is the fact that they tweeted this from the Europe and Middle East account.
It would be strange for the Model Y Performance to launch there first, but who knows. Maybe Tesla started production at Gigafactory Berlin first.
I don’t think this will have a major impact on Tesla’s business. The Model Y Performance is the least popular version of the best-selling Model Y.
We don’t have the full mix of sales, but I wouldn’t be suprised if it represents less than 10% of Tesla’s Model Y deliveries.
The Model 3 Performance is probably a more popular option within the Model 3 lineup as it is a lot more fun to drive.
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The GV60 Magma will have a distinct look and feel compared to other Genesis vehicles. As the first EV from its new performance sub-brand, the Genesis GV60 Magma will debut with enhanced power, advanced suspension, a sporty new design, and more. For the first time, it was caught on video racing around the Nürburgring, giving us our closest look yet.
Genesis GV60 Magma EV flexes new style at Nürburgring
Magma is “the brand’s expansion into the realm of high-performance vehicles,” Genesis boasted. Among the first vehicles to earn a Magma upgrade is the GV60.
Genesis fine-tuned the electric crossover SUV, giving it a wider and lower stance for improved control. The larger lower air intake contributes to the aggressive new look, while also serving to cool the batteries and motor, both of which have been upgraded for enhanced performance.
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Earlier this year, we got a good look at the GV60 Magma during winter testing in Europe. Although you could see a few new design features, it was mostly covered in camo.
Genesis GV60 Magma testing with other Magma vehicles (Source: Genesis)
After it was recently spotted with less camo at the Nürburgring race track in Germany, we are getting an even better idea of what to expect when it arrives.
The video from CarSpyMedia shows the Genesis GV60 Magma EV with a production body and minimal camouflage.
You can see the high-performance vehicle flexing its power and handling as it rips around the track. Like other Hyundai Motor performance EVs, including the new IONIQ 6 N, you can expect the Genesis GV60 Magma to deliver over 600 horsepower, if not closer to 700.
The current Genesis GV60 Performance delivers up to 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, good for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds.
Horsepower
0 to 60 mph (seconds)
Starting Price
Genesis GV60 Performance
429
3.7
$69,900
Genesis GV60 Magma
?
?
?
Porsche Taycan
402
4.5
$99,400
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (with Weissach Package)
1,092
2.1
$230,000
Tesla Model S Plaid
1,020
1.99
$89,990
Genesis GV60 Magma vs Porsche Taycan vs Tesla Model S Plaid
Genesis will launch the GV60 Magma EV later this year in Korea, followed by the US, Europe, and other global markets. We will learn prices and final specs closer to launch, but given the Performance models start at $69,900, you can expect a higher starting price tag, likely closer to $75,000.
At that it would be significantly less than the Porsche Taycan Turbo and Tesla Model S Plaid. Will it match the performance?
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