The Auto World

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...

Lawsuit claims NYPD uses traffic stops to justify vehicle searches. Over two million stops recorded since NYC’s 2021 data law passed. Black drivers are 10 times more likely to be searched than whites. The New York City Police Department has long drawn fire from civil rights groups and legal advocates over allegations of racial profiling, discriminatory practices, and deeply rooted systemic bias. Now, a newly filed lawsuit is bringing those concerns back into focus, claiming that NYPD officers are engaging in what it calls “stop-and-frisk on wheels.” Read: NYPD Tightens Car Chase Rules After 25% Of Pursuits Ended In Crashes Or Injuries The complaint alleges that NYPD officers are disproportionately targeting Black and Hispanic drivers during traffic stops, with those motorists more likely to be searched, arrested, and have their vehicles seized. Who Is Being Stopped, And How Often? The case, brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union and Bronx Defender Services...

Carl Benz patented his three wheeled motor car in January 1886. Modern cars are faster, safer, and easier to drive than today. Autonomous tech may mark the biggest shift in car history so far. The story of the automobile is never just about a single moment, even when a neat anniversary tempts us to frame it that way. Mercedes is marking 140 years since Carl Benz first putt-putted down the road in his Patent-Motorwagen , often described by the brand as the “world’s first automobile”. Read: New S-Class Uses 50,000 LEDs To Light Nearly Six Football Fields Ahead That claim, however, has long been debated in enthusiast circles, including at The Autopian , where Jason Torchinsky recently revisited the subject in detail. Even Mercedes itself acknowledges the history is more nuanced. The Origins Are Messier Than You Think On its own website , the company concedes that the automobile did not simply appear in 1886. It recognizes that numerous forerunners existed well before...

Utah may drop little-known rule about signaling in roundabouts. Drivers and even lawmakers were confused by the requirement. Supporters say the rule is unclear and poorly aligned with use. If you’ve driven through a roundabout in Utah without signalling, you’ve broken the law. Based on local reports, plenty of locals do that every day without ever knowing that they’re making a mistake. Now, a lawmaker wants to fix the problem by getting rid of the law that requires signals in roundabouts. She points out that the practice doesn’t make any real sense. Rethinking Roundabout Etiquette Right now, when drivers go through a roundabout in Utah, they should signal going in and coming out, regardless of which exit they take. Rep. Ariel Defay (R-Kaysville) has introduced House Bill 128, a proposal that would remove that requirement. Judging by the reaction so far, she’s not alone in thinking the rule makes little sense. More: Some Utah Drivers Will Lose The Right To Buy Alcoh...

Ram CEO loves the Rampage but says US launch is unlikely. Ram must launch Dakota before risking overlap in range. US homologation costs hugely complicate Maverick rival plans. If you’ve seen pictures of Latin America’s Ram Rampage , now available in Europe too, and thought the compact truck would be a great rival to Ford’s Maverick in the US, you’re not alone. Ram’s CEO has had exactly the same daydream, but he’s also clear about why it might have to remain a daydream for now. Related: Ram’s First SUV Is Coming And So Are Two New SRT Models The Rampage is a compact unibody pickup that rides on Jeep Compass guts, and on paper, it sounds like exactly the kind of truck that could give Maverick buyers something fresh to look at. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis certainly thinks so. He flat out said he loves the Rampage and would love to have it in the United States. “ Rampage is Awesome! “ “Would I consider [the Rampage for the US]? Absolutely,” Kuniskis told Mopar Insiders in ...