Mercedes-Benz has begun production of its new all-electric compact SUV, badged GLC with EQ Technology, at its plant in Kecskemet, Hungary, as the automaker ramps up EV output in Europe ahead of several new electric launches. Despite sharing a name with an existing gasoline model, the EQ version is a ground-up electric vehicle rather than a converted variant.

The SUV serves as a technology showcase for Mercedes, introducing a new energy-dense battery chemistry, an 800-volt electrical architecture for faster charging, and an AI-powered voice assistant designed to understand natural, conversational English rather than fixed commands.

Launch models will pair dual electric motors producing 483 horsepower with a 94-kWh battery pack and standard all-wheel drive. Buyers will be able to option a full-width dashboard touchscreen, four-wheel steering and air suspension. Pricing is expected to land between roughly $60,000 and $75,000 when the SUV goes on sale later this year.

The Chevrolet Bolt is coming back. After disappearing from Chevy’s lineup in 2023, an updated version of the affordable hatchback-crossover is set to return for a limited production run as a 2027 model, built on General Motors’ newer Ultium battery and motor platform.

Visually, the new Bolt looks nearly identical to the outgoing Bolt EUV, but the underlying technology brings a meaningful upgrade: DC fast-charging speeds roughly two-and-a-half times quicker than the previous generation. Estimated driving range comes in at 255 miles, only a modest step up from before, but the efficient interior packaging still delivers generous cargo space for the vehicle’s size.

As with other current GM electric vehicles, the new Bolt uses a Google-powered infotainment system that does not support Apple CarPlay, a trade-off some shoppers have flagged as a downside relative to rivals. Even so, the Bolt’s return targets a price-conscious segment of the EV market that has seen relatively few new entrants recently.

Rivian’s more affordable R2 SUV continues to move toward showrooms, with the automaker sticking to a staggered rollout across trims. The Performance version is expected first, followed by the Premium trim later in the year and a base Standard model arriving in 2027, at a price starting under $50,000.

Inside, the R2 carries over the design language of Rivian’s larger R1 models, with a large center touchscreen paired with a smaller instrument display. Practical touches include front and rear seats that fold flat for camping and a rear window that drops into the tailgate, useful for hauling long cargo or improving airflow.

A smaller R3 hatchback variant is set to follow the R2 into production. Both models represent Rivian’s bid to move beyond its current lineup of premium trucks and SUVs into a more accessible price bracket, a segment that has become increasingly crowded and price-competitive.

BMW has locked in details for the production version of its next electric X5, badged the iX5. The SUV will be built at BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant starting in early 2027, with U.S. ordering opening this October at a starting price just under $80,000 before destination charges.

The iX5 replaces the standalone iX as BMW’s flagship electric SUV and rides on the automaker’s mixed-energy platform shared with combustion and plug-in hybrid X5 variants, rather than a dedicated EV-only architecture. It debuts BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology, which the company says brings meaningful gains in both charging speed and range.

At launch in the U.S., the iX5 will come only in a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration producing 570 horsepower and 593 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 144-kWh battery pack. BMW estimates a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and a driving range of up to 435 miles, figures that would put it near the top of the electric SUV segment.