News
Ford cuts Mustang Mach-E prices, increases range as it re-opens orders
Ford has re-opened order banks on the Mustang Mach-E while simultaneously rolling back prices and increasing range.
The ability to order the Mustang Mach-E once again was opened because of plant upgrades that Ford completed, which will help ramp production volume in the second half of 2023.
Ford has boosted the range of the Standard Range battery models to a range of 250 miles for the Rear-Wheel-Drive powertrain, according to EPA estimates, while the e-All-Wheel-Drive (eAWD) will have 226 miles.
Standard Range models are now powered by lithium iron phosphate, or LFP battery cells, which allows the eAWD configuration to utilize 45 additional horsepower while adding the additional mileage to each trim level’s range.
LFP batteries are widely available and have helped automakers avoid supply chain issues and battery cell shortages, as other chemistries are not always in heavy supply. Additionally, LFP cells have the ability to operate more efficiently and like to be at a 100 percent state of charge, and can also charge faster.
Tesla used the same strategy with its Standard Range+ Model 3.
Elon Musk explains Tesla’s LFP Battery strategy for US Model 3 SR+
On top of the upgrades in terms of the range and new battery cell chemistries, Ford also rolled back the prices of Mustang Mach-E trims:
- Select RWD Standard Range – $42,995 (down $3,000)
- Select AWD Standard Range – $45,995 (down $3,000)
- California Route 1 AWD Extended Range – $56,995 (down $1,000)
- Premium RWD Standard Range – $46,995 (down $4,000)
- Premium AWD Standard Range – $49,995 (down $4,000)
- GT AWD Extended Range – $59,995 (down $4,000)
The price cuts come as EV brands continue to battle and refine costs to remain competitive. Tesla has routinely adjusted prices on its vehicles, and Ford has been one of the few to directly respond to the automaker with price cuts of its own on several occasions.
Chief Customer Officer of Ford’s EV unit, Model e, Marin Gjaja, commented on the automaker’s upgrades of the Mustang Mach-E:
“Upgraded BlueCruise rolling out for new and existing Mustang Mach-E owners, increased range, and faster DC charging times on standard range models show how we are relentlessly improving our products for our customers.”We continue to find ways to improve the value of the Mustang Mach-E.”
The Mustang Mach-E also qualifies for federal tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act, but not the full $7,500. Instead, it qualifies for $3,750 in potential credits.
New Mustang Mach-E purchases will have 90 days of BlueCruise included, which will allow owners to experience hands-free driving on highways. The free trial is included as Ford said the new Mustang Mach-E vehicles will be fitted with all necessary hardware for the BlueCruise capabilities.
“This provides customers the opportunity to try it during the initial months of vehicle ownership and subsequently activate it through a subscription at the time of their choosing. Customers can still include a 3-year subscription as part of the vehicle purchase, if they prefer,” Ford said.
BlueCruise is equipped on 199,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles in North America, which have accumulated over 70 million miles driven hands-free.
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Elon Musk
Starlink V2 to bring satellite-to-phone service to Deutsche Telekom in Europe
Starlink stated that the system is designed to deliver 5G speeds directly to compatible smartphones in remote areas.
Starlink is partnering with Deutsche Telekom to roll out satellite-to-mobile connectivity across Europe, extending coverage to more than 140 million subscribers across 10 countries.
The service, planned for launch in 2028 in several Telekom markets, including Germany, will use Starlink’s next-generation V2 satellites and Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum to enable direct-to-device connectivity.
In a post on X, the official Starlink account stated that the agreement will be the first in Europe to deploy its V2 next-generation satellite-to-mobile technology using new MSS spectrum. The company added that the system is designed to deliver 5G speeds directly to compatible smartphones in remote areas.
Abdu Mudesir, Board Member for Product and Technology at Deutsche Telekom, shared his excitement for the partnership in a press release. “We provide our customers with the best mobile network. And we continue to invest heavily in expanding our infrastructure. At the same time, there are regions where expansion is especially complex due to topographical conditions or official constraints,” he said.
“We want to ensure reliable connectivity for our customers in those areas as well. That is why we are strategically complementing our network with satellite-to-mobile connectivity. For us, it is clear: connectivity creates security and trust. And we deliver. Everywhere.”
Under the partnership, compatible smartphones will automatically switch to Starlink’s satellite network when terrestrial coverage is unavailable, enabling access to data, voice, video, and messaging services.
Telekom reports 5G geographic coverage approaching 90% in Germany, with LTE exceeding 92% and voice coverage reaching up to 99%. Starlink’s satellite layer is intended to extend connectivity beyond those terrestrial limits, particularly in topographically challenging or infrastructure-constrained areas.
Stephanie Bednarek, VP of Starlink Sales, also shared her thoughts on the partnership. “We’re so pleased to bring reliable satellite-to-mobile connectivity to millions of people across 10 countries in partnership with Deutsche Telekom. This agreement will be the first-of-its-kind in Europe to launch Starlink’s V2 next-generation technology that will expand on data, voice and messaging by providing broadband directly to mobile phones,” she said.
Starlink’s V2 constellation is designed to expand bandwidth and capacity compared to its predecessor. If implemented as outlined, the 2028 launch would mark one of the first large-scale European deployments of integrated satellite-to-phone connectivity by a major telecom operator.
News
Tesla back on top as Norway’s EV market surges to 98% share in February
Tesla became Norway’s top-selling brand with 1,210 registrations, representing a 16.6% share.
Tesla reclaimed the top spot in Norway’s auto market in February as electric vehicles captured more than 98% of all new car registrations.
The rebound follows a sharp January slump triggered by VAT rule changes, which prompted numerous car buyers to advance their purchases into late 2025.
As per data from the Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council (OFV), 7,127 new electric vehicles were registered in February, representing a 98.01% market share. Fossil-fuel vehicles and hybrids accounted for just 2% of total new registrations.
Total new car registrations reached 7,272 units in February, hinting at a rapid recovery after January sales fell nearly 75% year-over-year following VAT adjustments.
OFV Director Geir Inge Stokke noted that similar patterns were observed after previous VAT changes in 2022, with demand temporarily weakening before normalizing, as noted in an Allt Om Elbil report.
“We are now seeing signs that the market is returning to a more normal level of activity, which we also experienced after the VAT change in 2022. At that time, changes in demand led to a weak start to 2023. We have seen the same pattern this year,” he said.
Amidst this trend, the Tesla Model Y made a strong comeback in the domestic market. After an unusually weak January that saw the Tesla Model Y drop to seventh place, the model returned to the top of Norway’s sales chart in February.
The Model Y recorded 1,073 registrations, giving it a 14.8% market share for the month. Tesla also became Norway’s top-selling brand with 1,210 registrations, representing a 16.6% share. Toyota followed with 941 registrations, while Volkswagen, Volvo, and Skoda rounded out the top five brands.
The February data suggests that Tesla’s January dip was tied more to timing effects around VAT adjustments than to structural demand shifts. It would then be interesting to see how the rest of the year unfolds for Tesla, particularly as the company pushes for the release of its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system to Europe this year.
News
Tesla arson suspect pleads guilty, faces up to 70 years in prison
The update was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
A Las Vegas man has pleaded guilty to federal arson charges tied to a March 2025 attack on a Tesla Collision Center in Nevada.
The update was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, Paul Hyon Kim spray-painted the word “RESIST” on the front entrance of the Tesla Collision Center before damaging the facility and multiple vehicles.
Federal prosecutors stated that Kim used a PA-15 multi-caliber firearm equipped with a .300 BLACKOUT upper receiver and a 7.62mm silencer to shoot out surveillance cameras. He then fired multiple rounds into Tesla vehicles on the property.
Authorities stated that Kim later threw three Molotov cocktails into three separate Tesla vehicles. Two of the devices exploded and ignited the vehicles, while a third did not detonate. In total, five Tesla vehicles were damaged in the incident.
Kim pleaded guilty to two counts of arson of property used in interstate commerce, one count of attempted arson of property used in interstate commerce, and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm classified as a destructive device.
The mandatory minimum sentence for the charges is five years in federal prison, though the total maximum statutory penalty is 70 years, as per a release from the United States Attorney’s Office of the District of Nevada.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 27, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. A federal judge will determine the final sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Clark County Fire Department.
Starlink V2 to bring satellite-to-phone service to Deutsche Telekom in Europe
Tesla back on top as Norway’s EV market surges to 98% share in February
