The 2025 Summer EV Gold Rush

Welcome to the latest issue of autoevolution weekly!

First, we talk about a less obvious (but admittedly short-lived) side-effect of the EV tax credits being phased out at the end of September.

Then, we take the Fiido D11 2025 folding e-bike for a ride. Turns out it’s great around town.

Next, with all the talk about Robotaxis and Waymos, it wouldn’t hurt to discuss car autonomy, from the 6 levels standardized by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to all the nuances involved.

We move into 2-wheels territory and share our list of the best smartphone apps for bikers, straight from our resident motorcycle rider (tip: there’s one for each type of motorcyclist).

If you’re looking forward to the 2026 Kia Telluride, good news, we have the latest spy photos and it’s boxier than ever!

By the way, did you know that AAWireless is moving into new territory with their first Carplay wireless adapter? Our review is still in progress, but so far it looks promising.

Lastly, if this newsletter was forwarded to you, here’s a handy link if you’d like to subscribe.

Table of Contents

• Editorial: Instead of Killing EVs, the OBBB Will T …

• Ridden: Fiido D11 2025 // the iconic folding e-bik …

• The 6 levels of vehicle autonomy and what they act …

• The 7 best apps every motorcycle rider should know

• 2026 KIA Telluride gets boxier (& other spy photos …

• The AAWireless Carplay adapter is here!

• The finish line

Editorial: Instead of Killing EVs, the OBBB Will Turn Buying One Into a Gold Rush This Summer

By: Cristian Agatie

Make no mistake, losing incentives is a big blow to EV adoption. Tesla and other carmakers that invested big in electric vehicles and Li-ion batteries will be affected. EV sales have dwindled for the past few years, and the federal credits were a huge help in making them accessible to a wider customer base.

Rivian is also in trouble, barely making ends meet. Even though Rivian EVs are too expensive to qualify for the EV tax credit, they benefitted from the similar commercial clean vehicle credit. As this will also be canceled on September 30, Rivian will lose an important incentive for its vehicles. Both Rivian and Tesla will lose another important revenue stream: ZEV credits.

The deadline for removing the EV incentives is set for September 30, leaving people a whole quarter to buy an EV and deduct the $7,500 credit. This will likely cause a buying frenzy as people rush to secure an electric car while the credit is still available. Even if customers have not shown much interest in electric vehicles lately, the fear of missing out is a powerful incentive. The bill could turn out to be the best promotional material for Tesla and other carmakers who sell electric vehicles.

Undoubtedly, the massive demand in the third quarter will cause some bottlenecks, which might cause price increases or at least remove sales incentives from the table. It happens every time when a lot of people try to buy a car in a short period. This is a boon for EV makers, although it will be a short-lived consolation.

What follows after October 1 is more important, and fewer people are optimistic. Many hope that POTUS will reverse the decision to halt EV credits, as he’s done in the past with tariffs.

Others are not so optimistic, considering that President Trump despises EVs and is now annoyed by Elon Musk's criticism. However, if GM, Ford, and Stellantis see their EV investments in jeopardy, they might apply pressure to change his mind. Far from guaranteed, but worth a shot, nonetheless.

Ridden: Fiido D11 2025 // the iconic folding e-bike, reinvented

By: Elena Gorgan

Adulting is realizing that all those phrases we heard as kids, such as "dream big" and "you can have it all" and "be whatever you want to be," come with caveats. Our mothers and teachers didn't lie to us, but they did occasionally hide that you have to make certain compromises to get the expected result.

The same goes for everything in life, not just what you set out to accomplish as an adult. As long as you tailor expectations and adjust your standards without completely losing sight of them, you can have a "perfect" something, whether that's a perfect family life, a perfect job, a perfect RV, or a perfect city e-bike.

The Fiido D11 2025 wants to be that bike. It's one of the latest models to join the extended Fiido catalog and the most recent upgrade in an already long series of reboots of established models. The D11 is actually the e-bike that started it all with Fiido, debuting on crowdfunding and then turning into a rare success story and, dare we say, a global icon.

The D11 2025 is the same D11 of 2019, but upgraded, refined, and improved after years of feedback from the riders. It's the closest thing you're going to get to a perfect city e-bike, down to the very appealing price point.

The D11 2025 still houses the battery inside the seatpost, and it still comes with a rear hub 250W brushless geared motor electronically capped at a maximum assistance speed of 25 kph (15.5 mph) in compliance with EU laws and regulations, offering 3 or 5 PAS (pedal assist) levels. But Fiido is no longer offering a torque-only option that allows you to ride in moped mode, and you can't unlock the motor for higher speeds.

Instead, you get a torque sensor for instant assistance, a 7-speed Shimano gear system that will ensure even the steepest climb will feel effortless, and hydraulic braking for instant stopping power. You also get connectivity with the Fiido app and the Fiido Mate smartwatch for further customizing your ride, monitoring stats, and remote unlock.

Power comes from a 417.6Wh removable battery that achieves a full charge in seven hours and delivers an estimated range of 86 km (53.5 miles) in the lowest, Eco mode, which makes this the perfect city commuter you can use for at least a few days before needing to recharge. The bike weighs 19.6 kg (43 lbs) and has a max payload of 120 kg (264.6 lbs). It's not the lightest on the market, but it's light enough to carry around.

Note: this is an abridged version of the review. If you want to learn more, check out the full article on our site.

The 6 levels of vehicle autonomy and what they actually mean

By: Cristian Agatie

Only a decade ago, autonomous vehicles were just a wild promise that Elon Musk made every few months. Today, Tesla is already hauling people in Austin using autonomous Model Y vehicles, which Musk claims are no different from the ones regular people buy as personal vehicles. So far it’s not an amazing breakthrough but also not the disaster some people predicted, either.

This might be puzzling for some people who looked at Tesla's website and noticed a significant gap between Elon Musk's claims and what Tesla offers on its customer vehicles. Specifically, the Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system is only certified as a Level-2 driver assistance system. On the other hand, a similar Model Y is now showcasing Level-4 autonomous driving capabilities in Austin. Can it be both? And, after all, what are these "levels" everyone is talking about?

The answer is "yes" and "it's complicated." Autonomous driving capabilities were first classified by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) in 2014. Since then, they have been modified three times, the latest changes being adopted in 2021. There are six tiers based not only on a vehicle's capabilities but also on what liability carmakers and operators are willing to assume.

For the bottom three tiers, the driver is always legally responsible. On the other hand, the top three tiers require carmakers to assume responsibility for whatever happens during an autonomous driving session. This can be a huge obstacle for carmakers, which prefer to label their system Level 2 like Tesla does with Full Self-Driving, rather than say it's Level 3 or Level 4 and pay for damages.

Although Tesla FSD in customer Model Y cars can, theoretically, perform similarly to the Tesla robotaxis operating in Austin, Tesla only vouches for the latter. This is why the FSD system is marked with a demeaning "Supervised" suffix to make it clear that it's the driver's responsibility to supervise the car.

Obviously, Tesla cannot do the same for its robotaxis because there's no one in the driver's seat. If something wrong happens, Tesla is the only one to blame. This explains why the same vehicle type can be Level 2 and Level 4 at the same time.

So far, most vehicles capable of automated driving are either certified as Level 2, like Teslas using FSD, or Level 4, like Tesla and Waymo robotaxis. Level 3 is a grey zone where responsibilities are shared, and it's always up to debate who is in charge if anything bad happens while driving. This explains why there are so few Level 3-certified autonomous vehicles.

Autonomous vehicles will eventually reach full autonomy, or Level 5, according to the SAE classification. This means they will be able to drive autonomously in any conditions, no matter the weather conditions, road type, and geography. So far, there's no example of a Level 5 autonomous vehicle or driving system, although all hope to get there as soon as possible.

Note: this is an abridged version, check out the full article and photo gallery on our site.

The 7 best apps every motorcycle rider should know

By: Mircea Mazuru

Technology has made its way to almost every part of our lives; consequently, there's an app for nearly anything. From scenic routes, planned itineraries and offline maps, to making the boring parts fun, there is an app for every rider. Today, I'm sharing my list of best apps for motorcycle riders.

Note: this article is the third in my series on "the best apps." Here are my guides for van lifers or bicycle riders.

1. Calimoto: best for riders who want to enjoy scenic, twisty routes

2. GasBuddy: best for rders looking to save money on fuel

3. Rever: best for riders who enjoy both on- and off-road adventures

4. Detecht: best for riders who want peace of mind with safety features

5. Scenic: best for riders who want clean, minimalist UX with powerful planning tools

6. RISER: best for those who enjoy the social aspect of being a motorcycle rider

7. Kurviger: best for riders in Europe (especially Germany)

Note: with a couple exceptions, all apps are available on both iOS and Android. They are all freemium (ie. free to install/user, but some premium features are included only with a paid subscription).

For more info about the apps and our selection process, see the full article on our site.

2026 KIA Telluride gets boxier (& other spy photos)

By: Mircea Panait

Kia is getting closer to launching the boxier styling of the all-new Telluride, a family-sized crossover that will continue to be manufactured in the United States rather than South Korea for the mechanically similar Palisade. Coming later in 2025 for the 2026 model year, the redesigned Telluride boasts at least two front bumper designs. It promises a hybrid twist in the form of a 2.5-liter turbo I4 and two electric motors, while the outgoing 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 will be replaced by a new 3.5-liter V6 lump.

Although the latest M5 rolled out for the 2025 model year, BMW is already testing the mid-cycle refresh. That's because the German automaker has more to bring to the table than a cleaner rear bumper and Neue Klasse styling for the front end. Similar to the Vision Neue Klasse concepts, the cockpit of the M5 will undergo major changes in 2027.

Scheduled to drop as 2028 models, the M5 Sedan and M5 Touring are getting BMW Operating System X with Panoramic iDrive, complete with a 3D head-up display and a new steering wheel design with active haptic feedback for the buttons. All in all, the facelifted M5 twins mark a big departure both inside and out from their current iterations.

This cannot be said about the forthcoming Performante derivative of the Lamborghini Urus SE, whose styling updates are relatively minor. Beyond a maximum output rating that may exceed 789 horsepower, the hottest Volkswagen Group SUV of them all may undergo a diet. More power, less weight, and minor improvements to the suspension would make a world of difference in the corners.

Our final entry for this week's highlight spy shots is the polarizing Type 00 from Jaguar, the first Leaping Cat of Coventry to adopt JEA underpinnings. A controversial design through and through, the ludicrously proportioned electric grand tourer definitely stands out in the crowd.

Clearly inspired by coachbuilt luxobarges from bygone automotive eras, the Type 00 is a make-or-break model for the ailing British automaker, especially now that many rivals have backtracked on their overly ambitious BEV-only plans. Even Land Rover scaled back its all-electric plans to put a bigger emphasis on hybrids. If common sense prevails, Jaguar will do a mea culpa as well in the near future.

The AAWireless Carplay adapter is here!

By: Bogdan Popa

AAWireless, the device that invented the Android Auto wireless adapter product category, has started shipping the first CarPlay dongles. Our review is in progress, so keep an eye on autoevolution for a full description of the wired-to-wireless CarPlay transition powered by AAWireless.

There's no such thing as a flawless experience in the Google app world. While Android Auto is typically the app that drives people nuts, Google Maps is now suffering from widespread issues that are breaking down navigation on iPhone and CarPlay. Users discovered that the latest update botches the app's orientation system, so it can no longer follow them on the app while navigating.

It was later discovered that toggling between map view modes (satellite, terrain, and the default map layer) fixes this glitch.

There's also bad news in the navigation space. Navigation specialist TomTom has announced a major reorganization plan that'll include the removal of 300 roles. This represents nearly 10% of its workforce, and the reason is the one we've seen people debating for over a year already: artificial intelligence.

Google also released a new Android Auto update, bringing the app to version 14.7, and has seemingly prepared a major fix that'll resolve a black screen glitch after the update to Android 16. The fix will be part of the next Pixel update.

Congratulations for reaching the finish line!

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