1. XPeng puts a name on its robotaxi: YOYO opens to riders in China
XPeng named its robotaxi service YOYO on 8 October and opened invite-only rider registration in China. The vehicle is based on XPeng's flagship GX SUV and runs four in-house Turing AI chips delivering 3,000 TOPS, with the second-generation VLA 2.0 model handling the driving — a vision-based system with no lidar and no HD maps, aimed at Level 4 autonomy. Bookings go through a WeChat mini-program using invitation codes, and the cabins are more first-class lounge than taxi: zero-gravity seats, massage functions, a rear entertainment screen, and pre-set cabin temperature and fragrance before pickup. More than 2,200 employee trial rides are already logged in Guangzhou. XPeng hasn't disclosed fleet size or a public-launch date yet, but the boss reckons individual vehicles could break even as early as the second half of 2027.
Source: CarNewsChina
2. 2027 BMW X5 revealed — and the first electric iX5 is the headline act
BMW has revealed the fifth-generation X5, including the first all-electric iX5, with full pricing and specs confirmed. The iX5 60 xDrive packs dual motors for 578PS, a 141kWh battery, up to 525 miles of range and 460kW DC fast charging — big numbers by any measure. The rest of the range keeps the faithful happy: petrol plug-in hybrids (50e with 489PS, M60e with 612PS), a diesel mild hybrid, and — globally — petrol and hydrogen variants. UK prices start at £85,375 for the iX5, with showroom arrivals in spring 2027. New gear includes the illuminated narrow kidney grille, 'double-X' daytime running lights, and a panoramic iDrive strip running below the windscreen. No Australian pricing yet, but expect it to land here shortly after the UK.
Source: Fleet News
3. Nissan's plug-in hybrid Navara ute is confirmed for Australia in 2027
This one's for the ute faithful. Nissan has confirmed the Navara Pro Plug-in Hybrid will hit Australian and New Zealand showrooms in 2027 — the first right-hand-drive markets in the world to get it. It's a double first for Nissan: its first electrified ute globally and its first plug-in hybrid sold in Australia. The drivetrain pairs a 2.0-litre turbo petrol with an electric motor integrated into an eight-speed auto, with preliminary outputs of 300kW and 800Nm. It's still a proper ute: mechanical 4×4 with diff locks, seven terrain modes, around 1,000kg payload and 3,500kg braked towing, plus vehicle-to-load so you can run tools and camp gear off the ute. Nissan tested five prototypes over 20,000km in Australian conditions to tune it for our market. Pricing and electric-only range are still to come.
Source: Tassie Living
That's the drop. More car news every morning — catch every Daily Drop, or browse the car gadgets while you're at it.