24 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Andrew J. Hawkins

Andrew J. Hawkins

Transportation editor

Transportation editor

    More From Andrew J. Hawkins

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Connecting to a Mini’s Bluetooth includes a whole-ass cutscene.

    This is a lot, right? Like, why is this so much?

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Rivian and Volkswagen will start testing their first EVs next year.

    The joint venture, which operates under the official name Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, is prepping its first prototypes for winter testing in the first quarter of 2026, InsideEVs reports. These include VW, Audi, and Scout test mules equipped with zonal architectures, with consolidated ECUs and less wiring. The first crop of passenger vehicles will also be Audi, Scout, and VW branded models, including the VW’s ultra-low cost ID.EVERY1. Audi and Scout will feature three zonal ECUs, like the second-generation R1T and R1S vehicles, while the VW ID.EVERY1 will come with just one zonal ECU.

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Volkswagen EV owners are finally getting Tesla Supercharger access.

    It’s been almost two years since the German automaker said it was adopting Tesla’s NACS standard for its electric vehicles. And at last, long after pretty much all the other automakers have already adopted the standard, VW is following through. Starting November 18th, VW ID.4 and ID Buzz owners can buy a NACS adapter online or from their local dealer for $200, which they can then use to fast charge at any of the 25,000 Supercharger outlets in North America. That’s super!

    1/3Image: VW
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Tesla Roadster demo coming next April, Musk says.

    The long-delayed, next-gen Roadster is maybe, finally going to see the light of day, Elon Musk said during the company’s shareholder meeting Thursday.

    Production is scheduled to start 12-18 months after the demo, or sometime in mid-to-late 2027. The seemingly interminable delays have already caused MKBHD and Sam Altman to cancel their reservations. And Musk hedged on whether the April demo will actually take place. I’m sure the fact that Musk is planning the demo on April 1st isn’t a big red flag.

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    “I think we’re going to have to build a gigantic chip fab.”

    Elon Musk just floated the idea of a chip fabrication facility, or “tera-fab,” to keep up with Tesla’s own demand for semiconductors. He was speaking during the company’s annual shareholder meeting, where he just was awarded a $1 trillion pay package tied to growing Tesla’s value by orders of magnitude.