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Nissan’s EV push accelerates as ARIYA crossover opens reservations

(Credit: Nissan)

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Nissan USA opened reservations for its all-electric crossover, the 2023 Nissan ARIYA. The reservation fee for the ARIYA is $500. 

A few eligible customers who meet specific requirements can get two years of free EVgo membership plus $500 in charging credits with EVgo with their reservation. The Japanese automaker is expected to start ARIYA deliveries in the United States and Canada by Fall 2022. 

Nissan ARIYA Price

Nissan is offering four versions of the electric ARIYA. The base ARIYA Venture+ has a listed MSRP of $45,950 before federal credits. The base ARIYA’s price is competitive in the market and might interest some car buyers, especially considering that after federal credits, it would cost around $38,450.  

For comparison, the base Volkswagen ID.4’s MSRP is $39,995 before federal tax credits, after which, the German vehicle would cost about $32,495. Meanwhile, the Tesla Model Y Long Range has a starting price of $58,990 before options. 

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The other variants of the ARIYA are the Evolve+, which is priced at $48,950, the Premiere, which sells for $53,450. The ARIYA Platinum+ costs $58,950.

(Credit: Nissan)

Nissan ARIYA Specs and Driver Assist System

Nissan claims the ARIYA Venture+ gets up 300 miles of range from an 87kWh battery and a 238 hp (178 kW) AC Synchronous Motor. The base ARIYA has Four Wheel Drive, Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist, and a CCS quick-change port. 

The Platinum+ variant boasts a range of up to 265 miles while running on a 389 (178 KW) AC synchronous motor and reportedly the same 87KWh battery pack. Nissan’s e-4ORCE All-Wheel Drive drivetrain is only available with the ARIYA Platinum+. The top-tier ARIYA variant also has a motion-activated hands-free liftgate, and Nappa leather appointed seating. 

Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist 2.0 includes guided freeway driving and lane change assistance. The ProPILOT Assist 2.0 has a hands-off driving feature that helps drivers navigate a single-lane highway with their hands off the wheel and their feet off the pedals. In addition, Nissan offers ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link, which links with mapping data to recognize off-ramps and gentle curves, helping drivers navigate around them when necessary.

Nissan pushed back the release of its flagship ARIYA electric vehicle earlier this year, citing the semiconductor shortage as the main reason for the delay. 

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“One year ago, we made our announcement we were targeting the middle of this year, but after that, Covid-19 has lingered longer than we expected, and there is the issue of semiconductor shortages,” Nissan Executive Vice President Asako Hoshino said during a briefing.

Nissan opening the ARIYA up for reservations suggests some stabilization in the semiconductor supply chain, but not its definitive end. Tesla has been open about the supply chain challenges it faced this year. The leading EV automaker doesn’t seem to think supply chain challenges will end soon, although it remains hopeful for a positive outlook in the coming quarters.

The Teslarati team would appreciate hearing from you. If you have any tips, reach out to me at maria@teslarati.com or via Twitter @Writer_01001101.

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Maria--aka "M"-- is an experienced writer and book editor. She's written about several topics including health, tech, and politics. As a book editor, she's worked with authors who write Sci-Fi, Romance, and Dark Fantasy. M loves hearing from TESLARATI readers. If you have any tips or article ideas, contact her at maria@teslarati.com or via X, @Writer_01001101.

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NTSB findings on fatal Tesla crash tell a very different story

The NTSB confirmed the driver, not Tesla’s FSD, caused the fatal Texas house crash.

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The National Transportation Safety Board released preliminary findings Wednesday confirming that a Tesla driver, not the vehicle’s software, caused a fatal crash in Katy, Texas in June. The driver, 44-year-old Michael Butler, had engaged Full Self-Driving Supervised mode on Rose Hollow Lane, a residential street with a 30 mph speed limit, before manually overriding the system by pressing the accelerator pedal all the way to 100%. Data recovered from the 2025 Tesla Model 3 showed the vehicle was traveling over 70 miles per hour when it struck a home and killed 76-year-old Martha Avila, who was inside. Weather was clear, the road was dry, and it was daylight.

Texas man charged in fatal Tesla crash where he blamed Autopilot

Butler told authorities he had passed out at the wheel. But security camera footage obtained by the NTSB told a different story, and showed the car accelerating through an intersection before leaving the road entirely. Police also found that Butler’s phone had Google searches including the terms “Tesla FSD not aggressive enough 2026” and “Tesla FSD too timid,” raising serious questions about how he was using the system before the crash. Butler has since been charged with manslaughter. The victim’s family has filed a lawsuit against both Butler and Tesla, alleging negligence.

The NTSB findings aligned directly with what Tesla VP of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy had already stated publicly on X in the weeks after the crash, writing that “the driver manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100%.” The data confirmed his account.

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Investor's Corner

Lucid CEO dispels any rumors of bankruptcy: ‘So far from the facts’

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Credit: Lucid

Lucid CEO Silvio Napoli responded to rumors of an imminent bankruptcy that was reportedly being mulled after a report stated the automaker was working with the firm AlixPartners to iron out its next steps.

The company felt a massive loss on Wall Street yesterday, as the report essentially pushed the stock down as much as 55 percent on Tuesday.

The report, published initially by Eletric-Vehicles.com, claimed Lucid was essentially in dire straits and was told by AlixPartners, a commonly used restructuring advisor, to either take shares private or file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Lucid denies rumors of bankruptcy after over 40% stock drop

Lucid’s head of Communications, Nick Twork, immediately challenged the report and stated the company “has sufficient liquidity to carry its operations well into next year.”

Now, the company’s CEO is chiming in as well, stating that the report is “so far from the facts that they require a direct response.”

Napoli said:

“Lucid is not considering bankruptcy or a transaction to take the company private. Those reports are false. The Board did not explore either scenario. Period.

As disclosed in our most recent quarterly filing, Lucid has sufficient liquidity to fund its operations well into next year.

We work with outside advisors to improve operational performance and execution. They are not advising Lucid on a take-private transaction or bankruptcy, and any suggestion that they have recommended either course of action to management or the Board is false.

My priority is clear: turn this company around. That is where the leadership team and I are focused.

I look forward to providing a full update during our quarterly earnings call on August 4th.”

It seems pretty clear that Lucid is confident things will be okay, and, to be honest, they should not have much to worry about, especially considering the company has been backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) for years. It has solid financial backing, and its sales, while weak, are pretty much right on par with a company of this age.

Lucid also sent a Cease & Desist letter to the publication for their report.

Lucid shares have rebounded nicely and are up nearly 21 percent at the time of publication. As soon as the company dispelled the rumors of bankruptcy yesterday, the stock began to climb back toward more reasonable levels.

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Tesla responds to strange Supercharging pricing error with classy move

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla has once again demonstrated strong customer focus by swiftly addressing and fully refunding a bizarre Supercharger pricing glitch that affected drivers in Atlantic Canada.

The issue surfaced earlier this month when the Tesla app began displaying dramatically inflated per-minute charging rates at stations in Prince Edward Island and parts of New Brunswick.

One widely shared screenshot from a Charlottetown, PEI Supercharger showed rates reaching ridiculous levels: $6.00 per minute for the 180-250 kW tier, along with $3.57/min for 100-180 kW and $2.29/min for 60-100 kW.

These figures were several times higher than normal Supercharger pricing in the region.

To put the error in perspective, charging at the highest incorrect rate would have been shockingly expensive.

At 250 kW, a common charging speed at Superchargers, a vehicle pulls roughly 4.17 kWh per minute. Under the glitch, a driver spending just 10 minutes at peak power would face a $60 bill. A typical 20- to 30-minute session to add meaningful range could have cost $120 to $180 or more, before any congestion fees.

Tesla gets another layer of gamification with Free Supercharging on the line

By comparison, standard Canadian Supercharger rates usually fall between $0.25 and $0.60 per kWh, making a similar session cost roughly $15–$40. The erroneous per-minute structure, combined with the inflated numbers, turned what should be a convenient stop into a potential financial shock.

The glitch appears to have started sometime around early July, and quickly drew attention on social media as owners questioned whether Tesla had implemented steep hidden increases. Some drivers even reported seeing $0 charges in their history, indicating broader billing confusion.

Tesla’s official Charging account on X stated that correct pricing would roll out at midnight on July 13, so the fix is already in effect. More importantly, the company announced it would waive all fees for every Supercharger session since July 2. This blanket waiver covers the entire affected period without requiring users to file individual claims, with automated refunds expected soon. The decision affects stations in PEI and nearby areas in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

It’s a classy move, and rather than issuing partial credits or forcing owners to submit support tickets, Tesla simply absorbed the cost of the system error and made drivers whole. In an industry where hidden fees and bill disputes are common, Tesla’s proactive, no-questions-asked approach reinforces owner trust and highlights the company’s commitment to service excellence.

The incident, while disruptive for a short time, ultimately showcases Tesla’s ability to own mistakes and prioritize customer satisfaction. Atlantic Canada Tesla owners can now charge with confidence again, knowing the company has their back when technology glitches occur.

In an era of complex EV billing, such transparency and generosity are refreshing and set a positive example for the industry.

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