InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast

The EV market isn't dead—but the landscape is changing faster than anyone expected. 
In this week's episode of the Plugged-In Podcast, InsideEVs journalists Tim Levin and Mack Hogan break down the wild Q2 and H1 sales numbers. While some legacy automakers are suffering brutal 90%+ declines and pulling models, others are surging. We look at Toyota’s shocking rise up the leaderboard, Hyundai's continued success, and how Tesla managed a massive global comeback despite U.S. headwinds. 
Plus, Toyota's CEO is proposing an unprecedented "alliance" among Japanese automakers. Will sharing basic components be enough to stop China's EV speed?
Finally, we look at a quirky $15,000 EV called "Chip" that you can drive remotely, and discuss the costly impact of US clean energy rollbacks. 
If you enjoyed this episode, please drop a LIKE, SUBSCRIBE for weekly EV news, and tell us in the comments: Do you think Japanese automakers collaborating on parts can actually stop China's momentum? 
Tesla Pulled Off A Shocker Second Quarter. Can It Keep Sales Up?
https://insideevs.com/news/801344/tesla-q2-sales-explained-2026/ 
U.S. EV Sales Rebound To Their Highest Level Since The Tax Credit Ended
https://insideevs.com/news/801289/us-q2-ev-sales-post-tax-credit/ 
EV Startup Reveals $15,000 25-MPH Car That You'll Never Have To Park
https://insideevs.com/news/801772/chip-motors-ev-remote-driving-2026/ 
'Completely False': Lucid Denies Report That It's Weighing Bankruptcy After Shares Crash
https://insideevs.com/news/801645/lucid-stock-crash-bankruptcy-rumor/ 
'We Will Not Survive': Toyota Boss Wants Japanese Automakers To Team Up To Beat Chinese EVs
https://insideevs.com/news/801643/toyota-koji-sato-japan-rival-chinese-ev/
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Are fake engine sounds good for electric cars? Or just lame? On this week's show, we answer your EV questions. As always, drop a question in the comments and maybe we'll answer it on the show!
We also discuss what's next for Tesla—just note, we recorded this before its latest sales release and the Model Y L announcement, which is why we don't talk about it! And we discuss the best EVs we've ever tested—and what we'd buy if money was no object. Porsche Taycan, anyone?

The Slate EV truck FINALLY has an official price tag: $24,950 before destination fees, making it America’s cheapest EV and its most affordable pickup. But can this newcomer actually survive and compete in the brutal electric truck market? 
In this episode of the Plugged-In Podcast, Tim and Suvrat break down all the massive news surrounding Slate this week. They discuss whether its range, 205 miles, is enough for 2026. And they explain Slate’s new battery strategy (hello, LFP!) Plus, Tim actually got to see the truck in person and take a ride in it! He shares his first impressions on the interior, and whether the driving experience matches the hype. 
What do you think? Is the Slate truck priced to win? Let us know in the comments!
Slate's $24,950 EV Truck Will Test What America Really Wants
https://insideevs.com/news/799661/slate-truck-pricing-official-2026/ 
Why The Slate Truck Will Use LFP Batteries After All
https://insideevs.com/news/799667/slate-truck-lfp-battery-range/ 
Slate Truck Vs. Chevy Bolt Vs. Nissan Leaf: Which Affordable EV Actually Wins?
https://insideevs.com/reviews/799688/slate-truck-nissan-leaf-chevy-bolt-ev-comparison/ 
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The robotaxi wars just got real. On this week's Plugged-In Podcast, hosts Mack and Tim break down everything you need to know about the race to own autonomous ride-hailing—and there's a LOT happening all at once.
Tesla's Cybercab specs are finally public thanks to EPA filings: a 48 kWh battery, 219 hp front-wheel-drive motor, and an astonishing 165 Wh/mi efficiency rating that makes it the most efficient EV ever certified. But EPA certification and commercial robotaxi deployment are very different things—and Tesla's fleet is still tiny.
Meanwhile, Uber is building a web of partnerships—Lucid, Nuro, Wayve, and Stellantis—that looks less like a ride-hail company and more like a platform play for the autonomous age. And Mobileye is making a stunning pivot: no longer just a sensor supplier, it's entering the robotaxi arena with its own fleet. And 
Who actually wins this race? The company with the best hardware? The best software? The best network? Mack and Tim dig in.
#Robotaxi #TeslaCybercab #Waymo #Mobileye #ElectricVehicles #FSD #AutonomousDriving #InsideEVs
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Mobileye, Supplier Of Robotaxi Tech, Is Launching Its Own Robotaxi Fleet In The U.S.
https://insideevs.com/news/798968/mobileye-robotaxi-us-launch-2027/ 
Lucid And Uber Will Bring Robotaxis To Houston Next
https://insideevs.com/news/798932/lucid-gravity-robotaxi-houston-expansion-uber-nuro/ 
Full Tesla Cybercab Specs: EPA Documents Confirm Battery Size, Weight, Power, And Preliminary Range
https://insideevs.com/news/798790/tesla-cybercab-specs/

Can the highly anticipated Rivian R2 turn Rivian into a profitable EV powerhouse? This week on the Plugged-In Podcast, Mack and Tim sit down with a very special guest: Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained!
Both Mack and Jason recently got behind the wheel of the Rivian R2, and they are breaking down exactly why they loved it—and what it means for the future of the company.
But it’s not all good news for EV startups. Jason opens up about his tumultuous experience owning a Lucid Air. We dive deep into the challenges facing both Rivian and Lucid as they fight to become mainstream automakers.
Jason’s channel:
https://www.youtube.com/engineeringexplained
Jason's Lucid Air Experience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrz1LXNm9cI
Mack’s Rivian R2 review:
https://insideevs.com/reviews/798129/rivian-r2-first-drive-review/
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