Cars

A company has filled a neighborhood with sidewalk outlets to charge electric cars. Their results are contradictory

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In 2022, a German company called Rheinmetall proposed a new charging solution: put outlets on the sidewalks. Trying to find solutions for those who wanted to jump to an electric or plug-in hybrid car but did not have a garage, the company proposed a system to charge on the same street, without having to go to an electric station. Three years later: we have the results. A pilot test. After receiving approval from the authorities, the company began a pilot in 2024 in central Cologne and Lindenthala residential neighborhood of the city characterized by its low and individual houses. Neighborhood where, by the way, you will find the status of the local soccer team. The idea is simple, you park on the sidewalk and on the ground, on the curb, you find a plug hidden in a cover. You scan a code printed on it and connect the car with your own charging cable for AC use. As if it were any other charging point, both ends are joined and when the payment is completed, it is passed through the use of a mobile application. The results. In general terms, the results have been good. According to the company, a total of 2,800 charging cycles were carried out in the pilot test in one year. On average, the cars recharged 18 kWh, which in the city means more than 100 kilometers of autonomy for an electric car and between 80 and 100 kilometers on the highway (depending on its efficiency). They point out that each day the plug has been used an average of twice a day and that its availability has been 99%, so there have hardly been any breakdowns. The figure is good if we compare it with the European and Spanish average. In our country, public outlets They are only used 1.5 times a day and, on average, each charger is only busy between 30 and 120 minutes a day in Europe. Customer opinion. The company has conducted a survey of users who have offered their point of view to the system. It included the score given by the drivers (five points maximum) and some notes, complaints or recommendations made by customers. In total, the system has obtained 4.38 points out of five. But, above all, they have received very positive evaluations among customers over 60 years old, who value the simplicity of the system. In addition, they highlight that the plugs have not been damaged by water and that vandalism or uncivil acts (such as not picking up pet excrement) have not been found to have been a problem when recharging. A curious solution is that the cover that hides the plug has been designed to open with a small push of the charging cable, allowing the customer to lift said cover without having to touch it with their hand. Good idea, with some cracks. They point out in forumelectriccars that one of the main problems with this type of charging points is the cost of the plug. Each one of them, which has refrigeration and air conditioning to improve charging, costs 5,000 euros, so it is a bad idea compared to a traditional home charger. Furthermore, if you want to get the most out of the system, it would be necessary to reserve space for these charging points on the street, so there is no difference with any other public charging point unless the street is filled with plugs. That is, as happens with public outlets that are not located at a gas station, the parking space is reduced to reserve spaces that are not always occupied. Other proposals. Public charging is one of the great challenges that the electric car represents. One of its advantages is to leave the house with a charged car or, at least, take advantage of its parking lot to fill its batteries since alternating current is slow and most of the time a car is stopped. The most obvious proposal is the electric stations, with a huge number of high-power plugs available. another is fill shopping and leisure centers with chargerssince a visit to fully recharge the battery can take days or weeks (depending on daily trips) without plugging in our car. With an average of 50 kilometers per day, a car that drives 500 kilometers of autonomy in the city has 10 days to go without plugging the car back in, just three days a month. But if we want to bring public charging to the city streets, Portugal, United Kingdom either Netherlands have been experimenting with public outlets on streetlights. The system is as simple as including sockets on the curbs but with the difference that the socket comes from a street lamp and does not require installation on the ground. The paradox of slow recharging. The problem with this type of recharge is that slow charging takes hours and hours with the car plugged in. If a socket charges our car at 7.4 kW of power, it will be necessary to spend about 10 hours to completely fill the battery of a 60 kWh vehicle, a small size that is on the border between those who want the car for an urban environment and those who want to dare to travel with him. Those refills They are interesting if the price is low But they require that, to get the most out of it, we have to leave the car parked there for an entire working day or an entire night. The system, therefore, is certainly inefficient in terms of servicing more than one car. To charge at this power, the data says that most electric car drivers charge at home. Outside of it, the customer usually chooses to recharge at higher powers. For example, a 50 kW plug can now fully charge a car in less than three hours, which is the time we spend watching a movie at the cinema. And on a trip, the most practical thing is usually to look for … Read more

Gemini and Siri were monopolizing modern cars. So Musk has brought Grok to European Teslas

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Tesla is starting to roll out Grok in Europe for free. The electricians of Elon Musk’s company have been betting on their own software from the beginning, leaving hardly any room for third parties. No trace of Android Auto, CarPlayor the best-known assistants, Grok arrives as that intelligent “co-pilot” aboard the Tesla. The problem is that… still very Musk. the arrival. Grok arrives as a free update on European Teslas. We can choose their voice and personality, like in the smartphone application. To start it, all you have to do is activate it from the application launcher itself or press the voice button on the steering wheel. If we have logged in to Grok, from that moment on, it will become the device’s default voice assistant. What can you do. Grok’s list of possibilities is extensive, from guiding us to a destination to locating a nearby supercharger or simply maintaining an informal dialogue with us and recommending options from our Tesla’s digital manual. In addition to this, it has quite curious functions. You can be our language teacher Has special modes for kids, like “Story Time” and trivia games It has a mode for adults (+18), controversial, “sexy”, “extravagant”. In which Teslas it will be available. Currently, this is the list of Tesla cars compatible with Grok. The requirement is that our car has an AMD processor, that the software is updated to version 2025.26 or later, and that we have a WiFi connection or the premium connectivity pack. To find out if your Tesla has an AMD processor, you must go to ‘Controls’ > ‘Software’ > ‘Additional vehicle information’. Careful. Grok, despite its potential as an AI modelis involved in recent controversies. The app has become a focus of misuse, an infinite well of content related to the naked women. Countries like France and India have already denounced itand the Government of Spain has asked the prosecutor’s office to investigate X for the possible dissemination of child pornography through the app. In this context, perhaps it is worth debating whether bringing Grok with an “adult mode” to Tesla vehicles is the most appropriate. In Xataka | Elon Musk thought that Tesla would live outside politics. Germany has shown him the hard way that he was wrong

Two centuries ago the tires on cars and motorcycles were white. It had nothing to do with the design.

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It is more than likely that, in some of the American films you have seen inspired by the last century, you have seen cars or motorcycles with a white stripe on their tires Today, some companies still implement them as a nod to the past. What you may not know is that the only reason the wheels weren’t completely black was to… save a few bucks. As explained in Motorpasion, no tire (neither motorcycle nor car) was born as black as they are now. Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the following century, tires were white, light gray or beige. If you search any car from the 19th century You can check it easily. This was because natural rubber is naturally light in color. But of course, rubber cannot become a tire as it leaves the tree; it must be heated with sulfur so that it is able to withstand the heat of the asphalt, withstand weight and friction, and behave as expected in a tire. To achieve this, the rubber was “cooked” using a technique called vulcanization, a process that bleached the material even more and ended up producing clear, non-durable tires. The big change came with the introduction of a very specific material: carbon. With its arrival, tires became more durable and resistant, since this material reinforced the rubber structure. There was only one problem: it was very expensive. For this reason, during the early 20th century, tire manufacturers opted for a mixed solution: the critical part (the tread that directly contacts the ground) was made with rubber and carbon, the rest without it. The result was this: tires with said black stripe and the rest in white. As carbon became cheaper, tires became completely black as we know them now, but some manufacturers (mainly motorcycle manufacturers) maintain white treads to give their tires a retro feel. It is the case of some Mitas tires for Harley-Davidson. Yes indeed, through the forums they comment the price to pay for this hesitated retro: you have to constantly clean the tread if you want it to remain white. Image | Harley-Davidson In Xataka | I was about to buy the best-selling Chinese motorcycle in Spain. Until I read the fine print

which cars can circulate and which rest on February 14

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This Saturday the Hoy No Circula Saturday scheme is activated again, the program with which the Mexico City Environment Secretariat seeks to limit the number of cars on the streets and, thereby, reduce pollution in the Valley of Mexico. Once again, many motorists will have to carefully check the finish of their license plate and the verification hologram before leaving home. The measure does not remain only in the capital. In addition to the 16 mayoralties of CDMX, Hoy No Circula Saturday is applied in several metropolitan municipalities of the State of Mexico. This is the case of: Atizapan of Zaragoza Coacalco de Berriozábal Cuautitlan Cuautitlán Izcalli Chalco Chicoloapan Chimalhuacan Ecatepec de Morelos Huixquilucan Ixtapaluca Peace Naucalpan de Juárez Nezahualcoyotl Nicolas Romero Tecámac Tlalnepantla de Baz Tultitlan Chalco Valley What cars and license plates does Hoy No Circula Saturday affect? The heart of the program is simple: it is about leaving a portion of the cars in the garage to alleviate traffic and emissions. However, Saturdays have their own rules that overlap with the Monday to Friday scheme. Not all motorists rest on the same weekendand that’s where the hologram, the finish of the plate and whether Saturday falls on an even or odd week of the month come into play. It is also important to be clear that the Saturday Hoy No Circula does not operate 24 hours a day. The restrictions are limited to the period between 05:00 and 22:00. Outside this range, that is, at night and early morning, vehicles can circulate without the program stopping them, as long as there are no other environmental contingencies or extraordinary provisions. For this February 14, 2026, the key is in the calendar: it is the second Saturday of the month, which is why it is considered an “even week.” In this scenario, cars with hologram 1 and plate ending in even number They are the ones that must remain out of circulation during program hours. If your vehicle fits that combination, you will have to leave it parked until after 10:00 p.m. On the other hand, cars with hologram 0 and 00 maintain their usual permission to circulate without restrictions within the Today No Circula Saturday scheme. Another important block is the exceptions. Some vehicles are left out of the play and can move freely even when others have to rest. This is the case of: Electric, natural gas or hybrid technology vehicles Units registered with plates for people with disabilities All those intended for urban public transport services (including funeral services) Those dedicated to school or passenger transportation Those assigned to public security and/or civil protection Whoever decides to ignore the rules of the program is exposed to a no small financial penalty. The fine associated with non-compliance with Hoy No Circula is calculated between 20 and 30 times the Measurement and Update Unit (UMA), which translates to approximately 1,924.40 pesos at the lower end and up to 2,886.60 pesos at the upper end. In summary, if you plan to use your car this Saturday in CDMX or in the suburban municipalities of the State of Mexico, check first what hologram your car has, what the ending of your license plate is and if the calendar shows an even or odd week. Today No Circula Saturday is designed to take the most polluting vehicles out of the equation, but also to force us to better plan our trips and consider mobility alternatives when it’s time to rest. Photo | Ryotando In Xataka | The countries that pollute the most in the world, gathered in a detailed graph

BYD sells a total of zero cars in the United States. And, despite everything, it has denounced the United States for its tariffs

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Not a year ago and it seems like a thousand lives have passed. In case you don’t remember, I’ll give you some background: the United States and China went to war about a year ago. A trade war who left us images to remember, like the photo of Donald Trump with the “reciprocal tariffs” table either the penguins who will now have to pay for putting their products there. Assuming, of course, that the penguins knew how to design, develop, produce and sell products. Beyond Pepín Tre’s own approaches, the truth is that we have been in tug-of-war between the United States and China for almost a year. In OctoberDonald Trump and Xi Jinping met to try to relieve tensions. It is one more of the chapters that has left us a most bizarre year in which, for example, China has been playing its own solitary tricks, redefining the origin of products, classifying them by their place of manufacture and not by the place of development or packaging and, thus, make the entry of chips accessible without lifting restrictions on other types of products. The last chapter of this story seems to be being written by BYD. The Chinese company is not selling cars in the United States. And what has already been approved by Joe Biden before the entry of Donald Trump, with bans on the sale of all cars with Chinese software or hardware, it does not seem to make things easy for the Asian company either. Despite this, BYD has made a tough decision: sue the United States. They believe that the tariffs they are paying are not legal. They doubt that the regulations used by Donald Trump allow tariffs to be imposed. And that is why they demand that all the money paid since April be returned to them. But what money? Much more than cars… although with cars in mind As we have told you in Xatakathe Asian company is much more than a car producer. In fact, and this is part of its secret, BYD did not start out as a regular car manufacturer. BYD, in addition to cars, produces batteries or heat pumps. Vertical integration is part of your secret to saving costs. From this evolution and opening new horizons, its automobile division was launched. But also buses and trucks. Because when BYD arrived in Europe it had already been there for many years selling their buses for our continent. And the same thing happens in the United States. It does not sell cars, but it does sell buses, trucks and batteries. In fact, according to Reuters750 BYD employees work in the United States in its North American division. Up to four BYD subsidiaries from which buses, trucks, batteries and renewable energy systems come out are those that have filed their lawsuit in the United States Court of International Trade. In it they defend that “the text of the IEEPA (the International Emergency Economic Powers Act on which the “reciprocal tariffs” policy was based) does not use the word “tariff” or any term of equivalent meaning.” Since Donald Trump announced the tariffs that he was going to impose on practically everyone, doubts about their legality or otherwise have been on the table. The United States Government dusted off the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to move them forward, a rule of the Cold war. However, doubts about whether or not this rule should go through Congress were on the table from day one. Even the Senate has voted against the tariffs to some countries but the resolution is purely aesthetic. Now, BYD claims that nowhere in the law does it specify that tariffs can be imposed on products coming from abroad. It is a theory supported by various companies that in recent months have also presented their own lawsuits in the same terms, such as Toyota, Costco or Prada, they point out in CarNewsChina. The decision of the court in charge of the lawsuit is key because if it rules in favor of the companies, the United States would have to return all the money collected since April. But it would also open the door for products to be exported without these special tariffs being applied, they would simply have to comply with the tariffs that were already active before April 2025. That is to say, At stake is not only money that BYD may have lost on the products it has sold there. At stake is also market entry which, with current tariffs, is almost impossible. Besides, Canada has opened the door to Chinese electric cars and Geely has dropped that their intention is also to sell their Chinese cars in the United States. The big question, as in the case of BYD, is how they intend to do it before the end of the decade with the restrictions that are currently imposed. It is a question that neither BYD nor Geely have answered. Photo | BYD and Joshua Hoehne In Xataka | “They are going to regret it”: Canada has generated even more tension with the US by opening the door to Chinese electric cars

make it clear that “microhybrid” cars are not hybrid cars

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There have never been so many hybrid cars sold in Europe as in 2025. At least that’s what ACEA accounts affirmwho point out that 34.5% of the cars sold in Europe were hybrids, far surpassing gasoline cars (26.6% market share). In this classification, ACEA includes microhybrids, gasoline cars with a small electric motor barely 24 or 48 volts which usually act as a starter motor and occasionally support the gasoline block to save what, in practice, is barely a few tenths of fuel. In the best case, this electric motor can move the car by itself a few meters but They are a few exceptions in the market. Should the microhybrids in this classification? It is a good debate because in theory they are hybrids but in practice they barely save fuel or emissions, so their real impact on homologation figures is minimal. The real problem comes when those same cars do get real distinction on the street, beyond the numbers. Europe has embraced environmental seals to allow or not allow cars to enter its low-emission zones. But he has done it in a very different way. Germany gives its number 4 stamp, the best, to all cars that comply with Euro 1 (all cars from 1993 onwards) if they are gasoline. Diesels must be at least Euro 4 (2006 onwards) to receive this distinction. France makes no distinctions between hybrids and gasoline cars that exceed Euro 5 (as of 2011), for them, only electric and fuel cell cars receive preferential treatment. DGT Spain environmental labeling But in Spain things are very different. As in previous cases, Euro standards have been taken into account to deliver the DGT environmental stickers. But there is a very important nuance. Thus, the environmental labeling in Spain it is the following: Label A (without badge): gasoline cars before Euro 3 (year 2000) and diesel cars before Euro 4 (year 2006) Label B: gasoline cars that comply with Euro 3 (year 2000 onwards) and diesel cars that comply with Euro 4 (year 2006 onwards) Label C: gasoline cars that comply with Euro 4 (year 2006 onwards) and diesel cars that comply with Euro 6 (year 2015 onwards) ECO label: hybrid, LPG and CNG cars and plug-in hybrids or extended range electric cars with less than 40 kilometers of completely electric autonomy. Zero emissions label: plug-in and electric hybrids with more than 40 kilometers of electric range. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are also included. This classification method has created a problem. Microhybrids, which only improve fuel consumption or performance by a few tenths emissions of a gasoline car receive a classification (ECO) that substantially improves on pure gasoline (C) since they are considered hybrids. But, in addition, they cause delicate and contradictory situations. As environmental labeling is not delivered by actual emissions volume, the microhybrid has been used as a trap to pay less rates in road tax (IVTM) in cities like Madrid where the use of hybrids is subsidized or for enter the city center and, in some cases, park at a lower price on streets with regulated parking areas. This has meant that, for example, a Seat Ibiza 80 HP and approved consumption of 5.3 liters receive a C label with 113 gr/km of CO2 and a Audi Q7 340 HP with an approved consumption of 10.6 liters and 241 gr/km of CO2. The same thing happens with a bmw x5 which can also receive the ECO label as a diesel with 282 HP because its 12 HP electric motor saves it from having the C label. Both SUVs, the Audi and the BMW, can circulate in the most restrictive areas of Madrid no restrictions and park on the street in this space for a maximum of two hours but with a 50% bonus. In addition, they receive a bonus in the IVTM. The Seat Ibiza does not have a discount on its taxes or on surface parking. Additionally, you can only enter Madrid’s most protected low-emission zones if you park in an underground car park. If you do not do so, you will have to pay a fine of 200 euros. Mexico takes measures In Mexico, where there are also serious pollution problems, the authorities have taken steps to reduce the volume of cars on the street. It is the most effective and direct measure they have found to improve air quality. The program is called Not Circulating Today and requires leaving the car at home on different days of the week and in different circumstances if it is considered to be too polluting. In short, cars in Mexico have what are known as holograms, which would be our equivalent to environmental stickers in Spain. These holograms have different categories ranging from Exempt to 00, 0, 1 and 2 from least to most polluting. Within the “Exempt” category, there is a differentiation between electric, plug-in hybrids and non-plug-in hybrids in another internal division. Regardless of the latter, vehicles with Exempt and 00 holograms do not have to face the Hoy No Circula restrictions, but there is a substantial difference. Electric vehicles in the Exempt category do not have to pass emissions tests at the “verificentro” (similar to our ITV) throughout its useful life. Hybrids, however, have to pass it every eight years to verify that they comply with the maximum permitted emissions limits. For their part, category 00 cars have to undergo these inspections every two years and then they will repeat more frequently. That is to say, the difference in whether a car is classified as Exempt or 00 lies in the time and money that must be dedicated to its maintenance since each visit to the “check center” is not free. The substantial change is that, now, Mexico classifies microhybrids as vehicles with a 00 hologram. That is, there is no difference with a newly registered gasoline car. Until this year they were part of the Exempt category but that has ended because they consider that the electrical support is … Read more

Cars will drive underground in 2026

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Madrid is about to complete one of its most ambitious works, which has been disrupting traffic and surrounding homes for some time. The burial of the A-5 This Monday it reached a key milestone by connecting two sections of the tunnel that were being excavated independently. The good news for drivers: before the end of 2026 They will be able to circulate through the tunnel. And for the residents of the southwest of Madrid, the City Council will put out to tender this month the works that will convert the surface into the promised great green promenade. What has happened? This Monday an excavator broke the earth wall that separated two underground galleries under Villamanín Street, thus joining two sections into a continuous 1.3 kilometer tunnel. The cale, which is what the operation that has been carried out to achieve this is called, will be repeated until completing the total 3.8 kilometers of the burial. So far, 2.1 kilometers have been excavated along the entire route, as confirmed by the City Council. The deadlines are maintained. The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, guaranteed that “before the end of the year it will be possible to circulate” through the tunnel, thus fulfilling the initial forecasts despite the meteorological difficulties. According to Almeida, this January “it rained twice as much as in January 2025”, which has complicated the work. The schedule seems to be going intact, with 600 workers and 400 machines working daily in the area. It should also be noted that the project has progressed mainly underground, which has protected the work from the rains. What happens to the surface. This February the contract to develop the Paseo Verde del Suroeste will go out to tender, with an approximate budget of 75 million euros. The mayor advertisement that the surface works will start in November, when traffic already circulates through the tunnel, with the intention of creating 80,000 square meters of green areas. The goal is for residents to be able to walk through at least one of their gardens in spring 2027. Union. The works aim to eliminate a physical barrier that has fragmented neighborhoods such as Lucero, Campamento, Batán and Aluche. In this way, the objective is that the tens of thousands of cars that circulate daily on the A-5 can do so underground, while residents can cross from one side to the other without the need for underpasses. The Madrid City Council considers this work “the most emblematic that is being done in the city since the burying of the M-30”, according to counted Almeida. The next step. The priority of the work now is to complete the excavation of the tunnels, scheduled for April, followed by the installation of ventilation systems, emergency exits, cameras and extractors. The Consistory has guaranteed that no further traffic detours will be necessary until the end of the works. In fact, some of the current ones are going to be eliminated, such as the curved detour of the Amusement Park that was already eliminated on January 14, and those of Yébenes, Boadilla and Batán, which will be eliminated in the summer. Technique. Just like share Since 20 Minutes, the project uses the ‘cut and cover’ method, which allows it to work in parallel both underground and on the surface. First the retaining walls were built using piles, then the slabs that cover the tunnel were installed (already 83.5% completed), now excavation is underway under these slabs and, finally, the surface will be urbanized while the tunnel is given its final finishing touch. And now what. The City Council is already working on drafting a second phase that contemplate bury another additional 700 meters to extend the tunnel to Cuatro Vientos. This expansion should go “in parallel with Operation Camp,” according to the mayor, although it is still in the preliminary project phase. In Xataka | Madrid wants to put 110,000 tons of weight on the M-30. And the challenge is not technical: it is not to collapse the road

China is telling us what a future full of electric cars looks like. And we already know which are the most reliable brands

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The conquest of China in the automobile industry global has made us increasingly pay attention to the country’s manufacturers and the models that are coming out every year. China leads in new energy vehiclesalthough the reliability of their cars has always been questioned. The latest report Quality test launched by the analysis firm LandRoads offers us a very interesting perspective, as it studies the models that have initially caused the least problems since their purchase. In this aspect, the ranking places the Xiaomi SU7 as the most reliable large sedan, while the Tesla Model 3 dominates among the midsize models. Below these lines we tell you all the details. What is the ranking about?. LandRoads has published its annual report on quality in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the Chinese market, analyzing 6,950 incidents reported by users. According to the report, 3,687 were quality problems and 3,263 were design-related. In the overall ranking by brand, AITO tops the list with a quality risk index of 123 points, followed by Mercedes-Benz (126) and Tesla (146). Image: ChinaEVHome. Source: LandRoads Why does it matter? The Chinese electric vehicle market is immersed in a frenetic race to incorporate more technology and functions. However, the study gives us clues that not all manufacturers are facing this battle completely well. The three main problems reported were noise (24.6% of complaints), exterior components (18%) and failures in intelligent systems (17.3%). Together they represent more than 60% of incidents, pointing out the critical points where the industry needs to improve. Categories. Highlights of the report indicate that: In medium-large sedans and above, the Xiaomi SU7 wins with an index of 108 points, well ahead of the Stelato S9 (218) and the IM L6 (237), according to LandRoads data. In midsize and compact sedans, the Tesla Model 3 leads with 104 points, followed by the Nio Firefly, BMW i3, Geely Galaxy Xingyuan and BYD Seal 06 GT. Among large SUVs, the top three spots go to AITO models: the M9 (88 points), M8 (98) and M7 (135), with the Li Auto L8 and Voyah FREE completing the top five. In medium and compact SUVs, the Avatr 07 stands out (92 points), ahead of the BYD Sealion 05 EV, Yuan UP, Tesla Model Y and Yuan Plus. In MPVs, the Voyah Dreamer records the best result with 192 points. Balance. The report also points out a phenomenon he calls a “high-equipment, high-risk concentration zone.” And according to LandRoads, as some manufacturers rapidly accumulate new features, the maturity and stability of the systems does not advance at the same pace, amplifying the risk of vehicle quality. According to the study, AITO, Xiaomi, NIO, Zeekr, Li Auto and Voyah have managed to maintain low risk rates despite offering high levels of equipment. More mature electronic architectures, better coordination with suppliers and exhaustive validation systems in all types of scenarios come into play here. Looking long term. LandRoads concludes in its study that the electric vehicle industry is moving from simply adding features and functions to the integration capacity and long-term stability of all these novel systems. Furthermore, seeing Aito above manufacturers like Mercedes or Tesla gives us clues about the transition we are experiencing and the ability of Chinese manufacturers to produce a product that lives up to it. Cover image | aboodi vesakaran and Aito In Xataka | Aid for electric cars is complicated: the Auto+ Plan comes with less money, more demands and a key question to resolve

For the first time, electrified cars are outselling gasoline cars. It is the beginning of the inevitable

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We already have the data on car registrations in 2025. And the inevitable has become reality: the electrified car has prevailed. Driven by countries like Germany or the United Kingdom, the alternatives to the combustion car make it clear that the future of the industry depends, yes or yes, on a plug. A discreet recovery. EU registration data for 2025 shows a clear trend: a significant increase in the registration of both electric and hybrid vehicles. Overall registrations rise by a discreet 1.8% but the change is not in the total volume, it is in the type of car that is sold. The data. The pure combustion vehicle is beginning to reduce its share in the European market. HEV (hybrids and microhybrids): 34.5% Gasoline: 26.6% BEV (pure electric): 17.4% PHEV (plug-in hybrids): 17.4% Diesel: 8.9% Others: 3.3% He electric car It already occupies third place in the ranking, doubling sales of diesel cars but below hybrids. Adding figures, the year-on-year variation (YOY) in December 2025 was an increase of 51% for pure electric cars and 36.7% for plug-in hybrids. The key countries. Figures from January to December 2025 show a substantial increase in electric car registrations in countries such as Germany (+43.2%), the Netherlands (+12.6%) and France (+12.5%). The data in countries like Spain is striking, which lead the growth in hybrids (+23.1%) and plug-in hybrids (+111.7%) in the latter case. The decline of combustion. At the end of 2025, gasoline car registrations fell by around 20%, and 24.2% in the case of diesel car registrations. If these figures are sustained in the short term, it will not take long for purely electric vehicles to surpass gasoline vehicles at the European level, placing them in second place in the ranking below HEVs. A bit of a trick. The photograph is clear: the electrified vehicle is growing at a rapid pace, but in cases like Spain there is some fine print. We are the country that has grown the most in adoption of HEVs (hybrid vehicles), but this category also includes MHEV. These are vehicles that combine a combustion engine with a small electrical system (generally 48V) and a low-capacity battery. They never circulate in 100% electric mode, but the small electrical system helps reduce emissions and consumption. Yes, but. It is also worth remembering that the total number of registrations does not only tell us about the preferences of individual users: the data reflects the registrations intended for companies and renters. Specifically, passenger car registrations in 2025 were quite distributed, with 50,213 in the case of channels for individuals and 43,362 for companies. The Transportation electrification is moving companies to buy electrified vehicles in volume, to comply with future European restrictionswho have recently lowered their forecast of reducing carbon emissions by 100% to now talk about 90%. Image | Xataka In Xataka | The Prosecutor’s Office believes that Moeve has saved 7.7 million euros in taxes. And the punishment is clear: dissolution of the company

Tesla is pivoting to turn its cars into a side business. The reason: their income falls by 61%

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The Tesla Model S and Model X are incredible cars. Get them while they’re still available! With these phrases, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has accompanied the company’s announcement in X in which they point out that during the next quarter they will reduce their production of the Tesla Model S and Model To its credit, the company will produce Optimus robots. by surprise. It was known that Elon Musk has been pushing for some time for Tesla to increase its investments in artificial intelligence and robots, either in humanoid form like Optimus or through its robotaxis for autonomous driving. But what we did not expect is that this bet would displace two of its most iconic models. And the company will stop producing its Tesla Model S, its first sedan, and the Model X, its first SUV, in Freemont (California) to make way for the production of Optimus robots. The company closes a chapter by recognizing that “Tesla would not be what it is today” without these cars. In Xataka Tesla wanted to make 20 million cars in 2030. The reality in 2025 is that Tesla has crashed and BYD is already leading A paradigm shift. The decision to invest in this factory to increase robot production is more than just a redistribution of its efforts, it is confirmation of a change in strategy in the company. Musk seeks invest $2 billion in xAIthe company dedicated exclusively to artificial intelligence. Intertwining your companies is one of the obsessions from the CEO of Tesla so that some feed each other. xAI is key to power and improve Grok which, in turn, is already included in Tesla vehicles as an artificial intelligence assistant. At the same time, xAI is also decisive for the functioning of its robotaxisthe cabin without wheels or steering wheel that Tesla wants to put on the street to offer a completely autonomous taxi service. In Xataka Tesla can’t wait for us to take our hands off the wheel. We have tried it and we have opinions More than complicated numbers. Optimus has left many doubts and Musk himself has confirmed that he expects a slow deployment. However, dedicating a plant that only manufactured a handful of cars is not only confirmation that the company does not care in the least about killing a product if it understands that it is not profitable or that its future is much less interesting than a new bet. Changing the use of the factory is also a necessity. And the numbers presented by Tesla are something much more than complicated: Net profit has gone from 7.1 billion to 3.8 billion dollars, 45% less. In the last quarter, turnover has fallen from $2.1 billion last year to $840 million. It is a drop of 61%. The company has delivered 1.64 million cars in 2025 in what is its second year reducing its sales. In the United States the drop in sales is 7%, according to Cox Automotive, reported in The New York Times.  In the same period, it is estimated that BYD has sold 2.25 million cars Purely electric. In Xataka The Tesla Cybertruck is such a sales failure that Elon Musk has only found one solution: buy them from himself Loss of identity. The Tesla Model S and Model X have become residual cars for the company since the Model 3 and Model Y occupied the bulk of sales. Both are very expensive cars that cost around or exceed 100,000 euros. Both the saloon and the SUV served the brand to boost your image and personality as unique cars. Over the years, that has been lost. And the huge screens that previously surprised now do not stand out in a market that has turned to trying turn the cabin into a multimedia centerespecially in China. Your own assembly line has been forced to keep its design unchangedwhich has made them lose freshness. The popularization of its Tesla Model 3 and Model Y has popularized access to the company, making them lose part of that desirable car aura. {“videoId”:”x9tnvi4″,”autoplay”:false,”title”:”Why YOUR NEXT CAR WILL SURELY BE CHINESE”, “tag”:”Webedia-prod”, “duration”:”614″} A cut production. The decline in sales has led to declining production of both models. To give us an idea, nothing is better than the data provided by the company itself: 2022: 71,777 units produced and 66,705 deliveries 2023: 70,826 units produced and 68,874 deliveries 2024: 94,105 units produced and 85,133 deliveries* 2025: 53,900 units produced and 50,850 deliveries* Starting in 2024, Tesla accounts for the production and deliveries of the Tesla Model S, Model X and Cybertruck in the same item. That’s whyCybertruck sales are estimates outside of Tesla The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Standard confirms a story. The story of what I want and I can’t of Tesla’s 25,000 euro car In Xataka The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Standard confirms a story. The story of what I want and I can’t of Tesla’s 25,000 euro carThe limits . Tesla is in a stagnant situation with its electric cars. The company stepped on the accelerator in 2024 to remain the best-selling electric car brand in the world and improve the previous year’s data. But it did not succeed, going from 1.85 million cars produced and 1.81 million cars delivered in 2023 to 1.77 million units produced and 1.79 million cars deliveredin 2024 . Year in which, in addition, They increased their range with the Cybertruck which started at a very good pace. The company, therefore, needs to kill some very expensive cars that are barely generating a positive impact on its accounts no matter how high the profit margin obtained with each unit. To begin with, because the company needs a boost from its investors, who seem to support these decisions. And, second, because we have to see if the company has not already peaked in its vehicle sales. At leastwith its particular way of producing cars with huge presses that are only profitable by manufacturing millions and … Read more

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