This Week in the Auto Industry (Oct. 20-24)
- Avery Zimmerman
- 51 minutes ago
- 2 min read
At an event in New York City this week, GM announced its next major step beyond Super Cruise: a hands-off, eyes-off automation system scheduled to launch in 2028 on the Cadillac Escalade IQ.
Toyota bZ and Subaru Solterra Get Supercharger Access
Owners of 2023-2025 Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra models will soon gain access to Tesla's Supercharger network via adapters. Toyota will provide them for free, while Subaru will charge. Both 2026 models include NACS ports as standard.
Alfa Romeo Delays EV Pivot
The Giula and Stelvio will live on through 2026. Alfa Romeo is holding off on replacing the models with EVs as originally planned, keeping the current lineup alive for a few more years.
GM Pulls Plug on Chevy BrightDrop Vans
GM is ending production of its BrightDrop electric vans, citing slower-than-expected growth in the commercial EV market. CEO Mary Barra announced the move during the company's Q3 earnings call, confirming the end of production at the CAMI plant in Ontario.
Toyota Sienna Gets More Standard Features for 2026
Toyota is adding more equipment to the Sienna's LE, XLE, and XSE trims, including eight instead of six speakers, standard rear window shades, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a universal garage door opener in the base trim.
In an interview with The Verge's Nilay Patel, Barra said GM will phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto entirely, not just for EVs. While no firm timeline was given, the transition coincides with a new centralized computing platform set to launch in 2028. Until then, expect more Google Gemini integration.
Kia Teases the 2027 Telluride
Kia dropped teaser images of the redesigned Telluride ahead of its November 20 debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, showing off sharp angles and new Star Map LED lighting.