Slate Auto: Everything you need to know about the Bezos-backed EV startup

Slate auto burst onto the scene in April 2025. Here is a timeline that covers its origins, backers, product, and other new details.

Volkswagen drops all-electric ID.4 in the US in pivot back to gas SUVs

All resources at its U.S. factory are aimed at the upcoming Atlas SUV.

China’s latest EV showstopper costs $13,000, tops 300 miles, and offers a 99-second battery swap 

Forget debating charging speeds: the $13,000 Aion RT Super swaps its entire CATL battery pack in 99 seconds, covers 314 miles on a charge, and could signal a turning point in how affordable EVs tackle range anxiety globally.

Tesla’s Texas factory workforce reportedly shrunk 22% in 2025

Tesla’s headcount fell from 21,191 workers to 16,506 workers in 2025, according to a report, as it grappled with its second straight year of declining sales.

Tesla’s cheaper vehicles aren’t helping its declining sales

The company’s deliveries in the first quarter were just 6% higher than last year, and Tesla now faces a third straight year of falling sales.

Lucid Motors recalls over 4,000 Gravity SUVs citing improperly welded seat belts

The company struggled with quality issues when Gravity production started last year, and the new recall shows it’s not out of the woods yet.

Land Rover brings Freelander back as EV brand with six models planned

Land Rover is reviving Freelander as a standalone EV brand with six models planned. The first launch lands this year in China, signaling a fast, tech-heavy push into the premium electric market.

Rivian gets another $1B from Volkswagen

The two companies have been collaborating on a joint venture that would see Rivian tech go in VW’s EVs.

Sony and Honda give up on their joint EV project

The Sony-Honda joint venture has killed plans for its Afeela sedan and SUV electric vehicles. The news comes shortly after Honda reversed its plans to launch more electric vehicles in the U.S.

Harbinger’s next product will be hybrid emergency vehicles

The young California startup is already building RVs, FedEx vans, and box trucks. Now its hybrid powertrain will underpin ambulances and mobile healthcare units.