Alex Garin

Key news for October 15
Tesla Roadster: revealed at SpaceX’s McGregor test site in three trims: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. Tesla quotes 300+ miles of range and 230+ mph, with production in 2028 and no price yet. Sources disagree on the quickest 0–60 time. Your draft uses Tesla’s “under 0.59 s” for the Rocket, while Electric Cars Report’s headline says 0.81 s, so check before publishing.
BYD Great Han EV: launched in China from about $35,200. It offers up to 1,008 km (626 mi) CLTC range and 764 hp, and charges from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. This needs a new database entry.
Volvo EX30 Cargo: qualifies for the UK’s £2,500 electric van grant, bringing it to £33,529, with up to 1,000 litres of cargo space.
BYD Shark: the plug-in hybrid pickup earned five stars from Euro NCAP, with 82% for adult occupants and 87% for Safety Assist. It’s BYD’s ninth five-star model in Europe.
iCAUR V27: this SUV is confirmed for the UK in 2027.

Market data
China: new energy vehicles reached a record 67% of retail sales in September, while combustion-car sales collapsed.
US: battery-electric sales fell 39.5% in Q3, against a year-ago quarter boosted by the tax credit. Tesla’s share rose to 54.9%.
Japan: the ¥110 billion EV subsidy budget is almost used up.
Europe jobs: Chinese carmakers such as BYD plan to employ more than 40,000 people in Europe by 2030. The European Commission’s coming local-content rules will decide whether those jobs build cells and components or just assemble kits from China.

Batteries and charging
BMW: Gen6 battery production has started in Shenyang for China-built Neue Klasse models. This is the follow-on to the Irlbach-Straßkirchen plant opening.
Rivian and Redwood Materials: the two companies are expanding their partnership to battery recycling and mineral recovery, plus second-life battery storage at Rivian’s Illinois factory.
Renault and EDF: they’ll launch smart and bidirectional home charging in France, aiming to cut drivers’ electricity bills by summer 2027.
Battery startups and awards: Holyvolt raised $45M for AI-driven battery materials discovery, and Honda’s swappable battery won a Battery Show award.

Robotaxis and autonomy
Tesla: NHTSA has opened a file on claims that Tesla robotaxis speed through school zones.
Uber: it’s reorganising its robotaxi unit around operations after losing its key dealmakers.
Waymo: it’s moving towards competing with Uber through its own app.
XPeng: public sign-ups are open for its Yoyo robotaxi, with partners running the fleets.
Green SM: it has launched an electric taxi service in Los Angeles.