News
Mercedes-Benz EQC shows off its cornering prowess in Nurburgring track tests
German automaker Mercedes-Benz seems to be ensuring that its first all-electric vehicle, the EQC, will be an SUV that can deliver some serious performance. The vehicle might have raised some eyebrows immediately following its launch due to questions about its range and efficiency, but if a video of the SUV taking on the Nürburgring Nordschleife is any indication, it appears that Mercedes-Benz’s luxury EV can be a pretty fun car to drive.
A video of the SUV doing continuous testing was captured by YouTube auto enthusiast Automotive Mike. In the clip, the EQC could be seen hugging the track pretty well. The vehicle’s quick acceleration thanks to the instant torque of its two electric motors was quite evident too. For an SUV that’s large and almost bulky compared to competitors like the Jaguar I-PACE and the Tesla Model X, the Mercedes-Benz EQC seems to be surprisingly nimble.
If there was anything that could be noticed from the video of its Nürburgring runs, though, the EQC appears to exhibit a notable amount of body roll, particularly when cornering at high speeds. While this might allude to the EQC having softly-tuned suspension, such a setup nevertheless points to the all-electric SUV offering its passengers a comfortable ride.
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the EQC early in September, with Daimler AG Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche boldly declaring in front of an audience at Stockholm, Sweden, that the EQC symbolizes the company’s commitment to the electrification of the transport industry. The Daimler CEO even noted that there simply is “no alternative to betting on electric cars.”
The Mercedes-Benz EQC looks and feels like a traditional vehicle from the veteran luxury carmaker, being plush with luxurious accents and designed with understated lines and an aggressive stance. The specs of the car are quite decent, with two electric motors that produce 402 hp and 564 lb-ft of torque. Despite its size and bulk, the EQC is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and reaching a top speed of 112 mph. The EQC also has a towing capability of 3,968 lbs.
Inasmuch as the performance specs of the vehicle are impressive, though, the EQC’s battery and range were met with some raised eyebrows from the auto community, after initial press materials quoted the vehicle’s range from its 80 kWh battery pack at just ~200 miles. Mercedes-Benz later corrected the information, stating that the EQC actually has a range of 279 miles per charge.
When the vehicle was announced, Mercedes-Benz announced that it is expecting to start the production of the EQC sometime in 2020. In a later report, though, the legacy carmaker stepped back from its estimates, stating that it was adopting a gradual rollout for the vehicle instead. Speaking to Europe Auto News, Mercedes-Benz head of production and supply chain management Markus Schaefer noted that the vehicle’s more deliberate rollout was due to the company’s concerns about the new technologies in the EQC, particularly in its battery.
“We want to be sure we deliver Mercedes quality from day one in all aspects, and we have to watch the warranty side for customers as well. We don’t want customers ending up at the mechanic later. Slowing down the ramp-up is a tool to make sure we do it right, to address all the unknowns that an electric car brings,” he said.
While electric car enthusiasts who wish to acquire the Mercedes-Benz EQC might end up waiting a little longer for the vehicle, Schaefer nonetheless stated that the company is confident it can ramp the production of the all-electric SUV quickly. The veteran carmaker plans to manufacture the EQC at its facilities in Bremen, Germany, and Beijing, China, on the same line as the company’s gas-powered SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Watch the Mercedes-Benz EQC take on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in the video below.
Lifestyle
Tesla makes the cut on California’s newest EV Rebate program
California just signed a $270 million EV rebate into law and it starts this summer.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 168 into law on Monday, July 13, 2026, creating a $270 million EV rebate program that delivers money directly at the dealership rather than as a tax credit applied months later. The program, called MyFirstEV, is funded equally by California’s state budget and participating automakers, with each contributing $135.5 million to make the math work.
The timing is directly tied to the loss of federal support when the $7,500 federal EV tax credit ended, removing the most significant consumer incentive that had driven EV adoption in the U.S. California, which accounts for roughly one-third of all EVs sold nationally, moved to fill that gap with a state-level replacement.
The rebate structure is straightforward. First-time EV buyers can receive $3,500 off any new battery-electric vehicle with an MSRP up to $50,000. Used EVs priced at $25,000 or below qualify for a $1,750 rebate. The credit is applied at the point of sale, which removes the friction of the old federal system where buyers had to wait for tax season to see the benefit. The program goes live later this summer, with the California Air Resources Board expected to release full participation details next month.
California hits Tesla Cybercab and Robotaxi driverless cars with new law
For Tesla buyers, the implications are mixed. The Tesla Model 3 RWD at $42,490 and the Model 3 Long Range at $47,490 both fall under the $50,000 cap and would qualify for the full $3,500 rebate for first-time buyers. The Model Y, which starts at $44,990 after Tesla’s recent price adjustment, also qualifies. The Model X, Model S, and Cybertruck all exceed the cap and receive no benefit. As Teslarati has reported, the program also includes a carve-out exempting California-based automakers like Rivian and Lucid from the price cap entirely, a provision that puts Tesla at a disadvantage since it relocated its headquarters to Texas in 2021.
Other qualifying vehicles include the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Volkswagen ID.4.
The Tesla Semi is entering a new Pilot Program with Paper Transport, LLC (PTI), a Wisconsin-based transportation provider. The company will test the Semi’s Long Range configuration through “dedicated operations within the Chicago market.”
Chicago presents an interesting challenge for the Semi, as it will be a colder-weather climate that will test the Semi’s ability to operate in lower temperatures and in potentially large accumulations of snow. This is something Tesla has been testing with the Semi in Alaska and even in Northern California during the colder months, but Chicago will present a truly tough midwestern winter.
Tesla Semi spotted on journey home after winter performance testing
PTI says it is using the Semi to evaluate its strategy of reducing transportation emissions while maintaining performance, reliability, and cost efficiency. These are major arguments for the Semi being introduced into new fleets.
CEO of PTI Tyler Ellison said:
“PTI has been a leader in sustainable transportation solutions for over 15 years. We take a consultative approach to helping customers identify and implement the right transportation solution for their network. Our partnership with Tesla expands our portfolio alongside renewable natural gas and intermodal, giving customers more ways to reduce Scope 3 emissions without compromising service or economics.”
PTI is far from the first company to adopt the Semi within a fleet, as Tesla entered strategic agreements with PepsiCo. and its subsidiary Frito-Lay for a Pilot Program that extended throughout the California region.
Tesla has let companies like those utilize the Semi to determine whether it would be suitable for their operations. Additionally, Tesla gets valuable information regarding the Semi’s performance, knowing what to improve and what is ideal for companies that will utilize the all-electric truck for regional and nationwide logistics.
PTI plans to utilize the Long Range configuration, which is priced at $290,000 and features a range of approximately 500 miles, a three-motor powertrain, up to 800 kW of drive power, and consumption of just 1.7 kWh per mile.
Tesla Semi pricing revealed after company uncovers trim levels
VP of Maintenance at PTI, Bryan Ellen, added:
“We are excited to partner with Tesla, leveraging their ever-evolving technology. We are bullish in our estimation of the parallels available between our dedicated model and the efficiency of their fully electric Class 8 tractor. We anticipate a growing synergy between our businesses as we work to facilitate this sustainable solution for our customers.”
PTI has logged more than 87 million miles using sources like compressed and renewable gas, but now is looking to take it a step further with fully electric operations.
Tesla revealed on Monday that it is building a new autonomous vehicle at Gigafactory Texas, its plant just outside of the City of Austin. This particular vehicle will be geared toward those who are in need of a wheelchair-accessible car that would require no human driver for operation.
According to a new report from Wired, Tesla’s Senior Policy Advisor, India Herdman, told members of the Washington D.C. City Council on Monday:
“We are in development for a purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle. We know that paratransit can be very difficult, and people who are confined to wheelchairs permanently should still be able to move around freely, so that is an active product being built by Tesla in Texas.”
This builds upon what CEO Elon Musk said last year on X, which confirmed the company was working on accessible rides within its Robotaxi platform, which currently is confined to the Model Y.
Absolutely
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 19, 2025
Tesla is also developing the Cybercab, which started employee rides last week. However, this vehicle is not necessarily geared toward wheelchair accessibility.
That leaves a major gap in the autonomous ride-sharing program that Tesla is attempting to build; the company has been pretty clear that it does not want to complicate its manufacturing lines by bringing in a wide array of body styles.
However, it seems necessary to have something larger that could help transport people to appointments when they cannot drive. For wheelchair accessibility, the Robovan, which was unveiled at the “We, Robot” event in October 2024, seems to be the most ideal solution:
Herdman did not indicate whether she was referring to the Robovan or if Tesla is building yet another body style that is geared toward full autonomy but also caters to the handicapped.
Tesla might need to develop something specifically for the handicapped in order to align with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prevents discrimination against people with disabilities in transportation services. Uber was hit with a lawsuit late last year for “refusing to reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures where necessary to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities.”
Tesla would obviously like to avoid this.
It will be interesting to see what Tesla will do with this project, and whether it will introduce something new to the market or just continue with the Robovan.
Tesla makes the cut on California’s newest EV Rebate program
Tesla Semi enters new Pilot Program with interesting challenge
