1. Tesla's $200,000 Roadster: reveal pushed to October 15
Musk first teased it in 2017, with production originally slated for 2020. Nine years late, the new Tesla Roadster was supposed to be unveiled on October 1 at an outdoor demo in Waco, Texas — but Tesla has pushed it back to October 15, blaming severe weather forecast for central Texas. Reservation terms are not for the faint of wallet: $5,000 on your credit card to hold a spot, then a further $45,000 by wire transfer within 10 days before the reservation is even final — a $50,000 total deposit for a car whose final price and specs still aren't confirmed. The original 2006 Roadster sold for around $100,000, roughly $166,000 in today's money. The aero sounds serious though. A Tesla patent application published by the US patent office on September 24 (US 2026/0285418 A1) describes a two-piece active rear wing that hides flush in the bodywork and can generate up to 700 kg of downforce when deployed.
Source: Electrek / Electrek (patent) / AutoGuide
2. Volkswagen announces the ID. Tiguan electric SUV, arriving early 2027
Volkswagen has revealed the ID. Tiguan, a new electric SUV announced on September 28 and expected to launch in early 2027. It's the third model to get the familiar-nameplate treatment in VW's EV range, and it will replace both the ID.4 and ID.5 in the lineup. The Tiguan badge itself isn't going anywhere. The electric version gets sold alongside the combustion-engine and hybrid Tiguan, giving buyers an electric option inside a nameplate they already know. For Aussies and Americans alike, this is VW betting that familiar badges sell EVs better than alphanumeric codes.
Source: CompleteCar.ie
3. BYD's Atto 2 DM-i becomes Australia's cheapest plug-in hybrid at $24,990
BYD says its new Atto 2 DM-i small SUV “literally doesn't have a competitor” in Australia — and on paper, they're right. It's the country's only plug-in hybrid small SUV and Australia's cheapest PHEV full stop: $24,990 before on-road costs for the base Essential, rising to $29,990 for the top-spec Premium. BYD Australia chief product officer Sajid Hasan says the sub-$25,000 starting price was deliberately set to undercut every small hybrid SUV on sale, including the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid ($29,990 drive-away) and GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid ($32,990 drive-away), both of which are ‘plugless’ hybrids with limited electric-only driving. BYD confirmed it's sticking with an EV/PHEV-only strategy and won't chase the plugless hybrid crowd.
Source: CarExpert
4. Waymo now runs more than 500,000 driverless rides a week
The robotaxi war keeps escalating. Waymo has launched paid driverless rides in Denver, San Diego, Tampa and Las Vegas, taking its US footprint to 15 markets with a fleet of more than 4,000 vehicles. The company says it's now delivering more than 500,000 paid rides every week. That's an operating business, not a demo. And its co-CEO has said the company is targeting one million weekly rides by the end of 2026. The money people are paying attention: Goldman Sachs Research now projects the US robotaxi market will hit $19 billion by 2030 and $48 billion by 2035 — sharply up from its earlier $7 billion estimate for 2030. Driverless transport is growing up fast.
Source: TechCrunch / WebProNews / Automotive World / Goldman Sachs Research (via Marcus)
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