/daily ·05 SEPT 2026 ·SATURDAY ·2 MIN READ ·7 STORIES

Electric Vehicles — Saturday, Sep 5

Tesla gets a federal audit the same day its robotaxi goes commercial; Stellantis slips two EV platforms further into the future; and Rivian ships a software overhaul that finally puts all its vehicles on the same page.

01 / The Day

SATURDAY 05 SEPT 2026, ranked

Tesla Cybercab Under Federal Investigation at Launch

NHTSA opened audit AQ26002 the same day Tesla began commercial Cybercab rides in Austin, examining how the company self-certified a vehicle with no steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors against federal safety standards. The probe covers roughly 1,000 vehicles and joins existing FSD investigations.

NHTSA audit AQ26002 targets Cybercab FMVSS self-certification covering ~1,000 vehicles
No steering wheel or pedals; Tesla declared certain federal safety standards inapplicable
Probe joins FSD investigations already covering 3.2 million Tesla vehicles

Why it mattersFederal regulators scrutinizing how a manufacturer self-certifies away safety standards on day one of commercial service sets the template for every autonomous vehicle that follows.

01 electrek.co↗

Tesla FSD Can Now Steer to Avoid Crashes While You Drive

FSD v14.3.9 introduces active collision-avoidance intervention: the system can apply steering even when the driver is in manual control, triggering when braking alone will not prevent impact. Tesla has not disclosed whether owners can turn the feature off.

Activates when imminent collision is detected and emergency braking alone is insufficient
Also triggers on detected driver distraction or accidental FSD disengagement
Liability when the intervention itself causes harm remains unaddressed by Tesla

Why it mattersA car that can override the driver mid-maneuver raises unresolved liability questions, especially following FSD's documented fatal-crash history.

02 electrek.co↗

Stellantis Slips Jeep Wagoneer EV to Nov 2027, Ram to April

Stellantis has pushed the Grand Wagoneer extended-range EV six months to November 2027 and the Ram 1500 REV four months to April 2027, citing no specific reasons. The delays extend the brand's absence from electric full-size trucks and luxury SUVs as rivals advance.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer EREV production moves from early 2026 to November 2027
Ram 1500 REV Extended-Range shifts from end-2026 to April 2027
Hyundai Santa Fe EREV remains on track for H1 2027, tightening the competitive window

Why it mattersTwo more quarters of delay in marquee segments leave Stellantis with nothing to offer buyers who want an American-brand electric truck or luxury SUV.

03 electrek.co↗

RivianOS 2 Puts All R1 and R2 Models on One Platform

Rivian's largest software overhaul since launch began rolling out September 4, placing first-gen R1s, second-gen R1s, and the R2 on a unified OS for the first time. The update brings Unreal Engine 5 graphics, AI voice features, and real-time police and speed-camera alerts via Google Maps.

Version 2026.31 unifies three vehicle generations onto one codebase for consistent updates
Real-Time Route Alerts add police presence and speed cameras via Google Maps integration
Mobile Live Trips feature requires Connect+ subscription at $14.99/month

Why it mattersA single software base lets Rivian ship features to its entire fleet simultaneously, closing the OTA coherence gap it has had since R1 launch.

04 electrek.co↗

Hyundai Opens Orders for 9-Seat Electric Staria Van at €57,450

Hyundai's electric Staria minivan goes on order in Europe starting at €57,450, offering 430 km WLTP range and a roughly 20-minute 10-80% charge on its 800V architecture. The US is not in scope.

84 kWh battery, 160 kW motor, 430 km WLTP range; lease from €489 per month
800V system charges 10-80% in about 20 minutes at 350 kW DC fast chargers
5.25-meter body seats 7 or 9 with 1,303 liters of luggage space plus a 24-liter frunk

Why it mattersA nine-seat electric van with rapid charging addresses a market gap in Europe that conventional minivans and smaller MPVs have not filled.

05 electrek.co↗

BYD Great Seagull: A Bigger, More Powerful Budget Hatchback

BYD is preparing the Great Seagull, an electric hatchback positioned between the entry Seagull and the Dolphin Surf, with a significantly larger body and nearly double the motor output. Launch is expected before year-end with LiDAR standard and Blade Battery 2.0.

4,205 mm length and 95 kW motor vs. current Seagull's 3,780 mm and 55 kW
LiDAR on roof standard; Flash Charging and Blade Battery 2.0 anticipated in pack
European pricing expected under €30,000; China launch before end of 2026

Why it mattersFilling the gap between its sub-€15K city car and the €23K Dolphin Surf gives BYD a credible sub-€30K export option with premium safety tech included.

06 electrek.co↗

BYD Cuts Up to £2,500 on UK EVs and PHEVs From Sept 10

BYD's largest-ever UK promotional event runs September 10-21, trimming up to £2,500 from six plug-in models and offering select PHEVs at 0% APR. The timing targets the biannual plate-change registration spike.

Up to £2,500 off Dolphin, Dolphin Surf, Sealion 07, and three PHEV variants
Seal U DM-i PHEV at 0% APR; Dolphin G PHEV from £250 per month at 1.9% APR
Event runs Sept 10-21, timed to the biannual UK plate-change registration surge

Why it mattersBYD treating each UK registration plate-change as a targeted discount event reflects a maturing competitive strategy, not a one-off clearance.

07 electrek.co↗

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Past days

The Daily Archive

/TUE 15 SEPTIAA and the Cybercab detour /MON 14 SEPTThe Drag Coefficient Race /SUN 13 SEPTWeekend Shift /FRI 11 SEPTDiverging Markets /THU 10 SEPTTrump's China EV Gambit /WED 09 SEPTBYD Breaks Records, PHEVs Fail Tests /TUE 08 SEPTSafety First (and Then Not)/MON 07 SEPTBYD goes global, Cybercab goes 24/7, Chinese brands ace NCAP /SUN 06 SEPTVW signs, Ford bets /SAT 05 SEPTElectric Vehicles — Saturday, Sep 5 /FRI 04 SEPTLive Wires /THU 03 SEPTElectric September /WED 02 SEPTAffordable and Accountable /TUE 01 SEPTSafety, speed, and a deleted mandate /MON 31 AUGChina-First, Fleet-Forward /SUN 30 AUGThe 27 Percent Week /SAT 29 AUGThe Most Powerful Porsche Is Electric, BYD Prints Money Exporting, Underground Miners Go Electric /FRI 28 AUGKia Hits Price Parity, Ports Go Electric, Waymo Calls Out Tesla /THU 27 AUGThursday: Two Million BMWs and Nine-Minute BYDs /WED 26 AUGEurope's Quarter, Waymo's German Ambitions, and a Defender Delay /TUE 25 AUGCybercab Week Starts