The Auto World

This GLS600 shed a huge chunk of value after very few miles. Letting the first owner take the hit can save serious money. Two tone paint alone added $18,500 to the window sticker. There’s no shortage of plush SUVs on the market, but few lean into opulence quite like the Mercedes-Maybach GLS600. Still, for all its lavish appeal, the GLS600 shares a common and rather unglamorous trait with many other high-end Mercedes models: brutal depreciation. Read: Rearview Mirrors Might Fall Off These High-End Mercedes And Maybach SUVs If you’re thinking of buying one new and happen to care about resale value, you may want to think twice. Take this 2025 GLS600, for example. Only recently acquired by its current lessee for $207,300, it was listed for auction on Bring a Trailer, with 2,600 miles (about 4,180 km) on the odometer. And this isn’t some outdated model either, as it’s a 2025 model year vehicle first registered at the end of August 2025. Despite its near-new condition, ...

Toyota’s first solid-state EVs expected by 2027 or 2028. Electrolyte factory construction begins via Idemitsu Kosan. Targets up to 1,000 km range and 10-minute charging. For years, Toyota has talked up the promise of solid-state batteries for EVs. Now, that long-running effort is inching toward something tangible. Late last week, Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan, which is working with Toyota on solid-state battery development, announced it has started building a facility to manufacture advanced solid electrolytes. The electrolytes made at the factory are destined for Toyota’s solid-state battery packs. Idemitsu Kosan has already achieved success with two smaller demonstration facilities and expects to complete work on the new pilot plant by the end of 2027. Read: Everyone Said Toyota Was Late To EVs, Now It’s About To Lead Them If the project stays on track, the company could be producing several hundred tons of solid electrolyte annually, according to a report fr...

China will ban concealed EV door handles starting in 2027. New rules require mechanical releases inside and out. Gas cars with similar handles remain exempt for now. It’s official. China has banned electronic door handles on electric vehicles. First popularized by the Tesla Model S , these sleek designs have since spread far and wide across the industry. But their safety has come under scrutiny following several high-profile fatal accidents, including incidents where children were reportedly trapped inside. Starting in 2027, manufacturers will be required to install mechanical door handles both inside and outside electric vehicles sold in China. More: New Bill Finally Targets Electric Door Handles, But Only One Brand Gets Blamed The regulation takes effect on January 1, 2027, though models already approved and nearing launch will be given until January 2029 to comply. The decision follows a string of high-profile and fatal crashes in which power failures were suspecte...

The Land Aircraft Carrier van includes a working eVTOL drone. Xpeng will produce up to 10,000 units per year in Guangzhou. The van runs an 800V EV platform with a range-extender setup. If you thought Lexus’ six-wheeled minivan concept was a wild one, a radical reimagining floated as a possible LS flagship replacement, wait until you see what Xpeng has been working on. The Chinese tech company has developed a six-wheel minivan of its own, only this one takes things even further. Packed in the back is a fully functional eVTOL aircraft. And while Lexus is still firmly in the daydreaming phase, Xpeng is already preparing for customer deliveries later this year. Also: The Lexus LS Has Just Morphed Into A Bizarre Six-Wheeled Minivan The six-wheeler, originally known as the AeroHT and now branded the Land Aircraft Carrier, is coming to market via Xpeng’s newly formed Aridge division, which focuses on aerial vehicles. From a distance, it might pass for a modified cargo...