/daily ·28 JUL 2026 ·TUESDAY ·2 MIN READ ·6 STORIES

BMW goes topless; Porsche goes sideways

BMW confirms its electric convertible; the Rivian R2 gets a highway efficiency reality check; VW discovers its tariff shield has a PHEV gap; and Porsche's finances are threatening its EV roadmap.

01 / The Day

TUESDAY 28 JUL 2026, ranked

BMW confirms electric i4 convertible arriving in 2028

BMW has confirmed plans for an open-top electric convertible based on the i4 platform, with a 2028 debut — the most anticipated EV body style the brand had yet to commit to in its electric range.

Why it mattersConvertibles have been conspicuously absent from every legacy brand's EV lineup; BMW confirming one suggests the architecture has matured enough to package a structurally reinforced open-top body without prohibitive weight or range penalties.

01 electrek.co↗

2027 BYD Seal 06 will ship with lidar as standard

BYD confirmed that the 2027 Seal 06 sedan will include lidar as standard equipment, making it one of the most affordable production vehicles to carry the sensor — alongside its refreshed exterior and a 500+ km claimed range.

Why it mattersLidar on a sub-$30,000 BYD erodes one of the remaining arguments for premium ADAS pricing and accelerates the hardware standardisation that makes advanced driver-assistance systems a commodity rather than a differentiator.

02 cleantechnica.com↗

Rivian R2 uses 26% more energy per mile than the Tesla Model Y in a real-world test

An extended real-world efficiency comparison found the Rivian R2 consuming substantially more energy per mile than the Tesla Model Y at motorway speeds, dampening the crossover's road-trip case despite its fast charging performance.

Why it mattersEnergy efficiency at highway speed is the variable that most directly determines range anxiety on long trips; a 26% gap versus the segment benchmark is a meaningful competitive disadvantage that Rivian will need to address in software or with its next platform.

03 electrek.co↗

Porsche's financial deterioration is putting its EV investment at risk

Porsche's deepening financial troubles — driven by weak demand and high development costs — are raising questions about whether the brand can sustain its planned EV programme, including the next-generation electric 911 and upcoming Cayenne EV variants.

Why it mattersPorsche has historically cross-subsidised Volkswagen Group's EV investments; if that cash engine stalls, the group's broader electric transition timeline gets tighter at a moment when Chinese competition in the premium segment is accelerating.

04 insideevs.com↗

VW demands higher EU tariffs after Chinese PHEVs outsell its own top-selling model

Volkswagen called on the European Commission to extend and raise import tariffs on Chinese plug-in hybrid vehicles after Chinese PHEV models — which current EU tariff policy does not target as aggressively as BEVs — outsold VW's best-selling European nameplate in recent months.

Why it mattersThe tariff architecture that was designed to protect European BEV makers against Chinese BEVs has a PHEV-shaped hole in it; VW flagging this publicly makes extending tariff coverage to PHEVs a live trade-policy question.

05 insideevs.com↗

Volvo EX60 clears regulatory approval with a 2,400 kg towing rating

Volvo's upcoming EX60 electric SUV received sales approval ahead of its launch, with a confirmed 2,400 kg towing capacity — one of the highest ratings for a mid-size electric SUV — positioning it squarely against the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y in tow-capable markets.

Why it mattersTowing capacity has been the practical objection keeping tow-dependent buyers in petrol or diesel SUVs; the EX60's rating closes the gap sufficiently for the majority of recreational towing use cases.

06 thedriven.io↗

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The Daily Archive

/SAT 01 AUGProbes, Fleets, and Flanking Moves /FRI 31 JULZoox wins driverless approval; Tesla eyes China exit /THU 30 JULThe Surge Edition /WED 29 JULWednesday, 29 July — Robots in London, a prince in Nevada /TUE 28 JULBMW goes topless; Porsche goes sideways /MON 27 JULUS BEVs Fell 25% in H1, BYD Revealed the Da Han with a Price, and Tesla's Robotaxi Timeline Is Under Scrutiny /SUN 26 JULSafety Numbers and an Own Goal from Honda /SAT 25 JULBYD goes long; NHTSA goes broad /FRI 24 JULToyota Blinks /WED 22 JULEurope surges, America stabilises, Honda exits /TUE 21 JULChina's ICE cliff, and other certainties /SUN 19 JULBYD's paperwork problem; America's charging comeback /SAT 18 JULGermany flips /FRI 17 JULFriday in EVs: Honda folds, Volvo flies /WED 15 JULSix in a row, and one near-miss /TUE 14 JULCalifornia draws lines, BYD draws power /MON 13 JULRecord quarter, shrinking margin /SAT 11 JULSoftware that delivers, hardware that charges /FRI 10 JULEV Friday: Sales surge abroad, deals at home /THU 09 JULWaymo lands in Vegas, CATL hits 7 minutes /WED 08 JULModel Y L, lamppost chargers, and the coming EV fee