Range Rover’s first EV has finally launched in the U.S., combining 542 horsepower, a 118.5-kWh battery, and serious off-road capability.

Range Rover has officially entered the electric era.

The 2027 Range Rover Electric arrives in the U.S. with the EV550 First Edition, carrying a starting price of $179,150 including destination.

The launch comes about a year later than originally expected.

542 HP From Two Electric Motors

The Range Rover Electric uses two JLR-developed 260-kW electric motors, delivering up to 542 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque.

The 2027 Range Rover Electric delivers up to 542 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque.

The SUV is powered by a 118.5-kWh battery operating on an 800-volt electrical architecture.

European WLTP testing gives the Range Rover Electric a maximum range of 372 miles.

Fast Charging and Tesla Supercharger Access

Range Rover says the battery can charge from 10% to 80% in about 22 minutes using a suitable DC fast charger.

The system can also potentially add around 137 miles of range in 10 minutes.

The Range Rover Electric uses an 800-volt battery system and will be compatible with Tesla Superchargers in North America.

U.S. models feature the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector, allowing owners to use the Tesla Supercharger network.

The model will initially be sold in the U.K., Europe, and the United States.

Serious Off-Road Capability

Going electric has not changed the Range Rover’s focus on off-road performance.

JLR says its traction-management system can react in as little as 50 milliseconds, allowing the electric powertrain to respond rapidly to wheel slip.

The SUV can also wade through 35.4 inches of water.

The Range Rover Electric can wade through 35.4 inches of water while retaining its off-road focus.

Single-pedal driving can help the SUV climb slopes of up to 45 degrees, while its lower center of gravity and twin-chamber air suspension are designed to improve stability and ride quality.

JLR says the electric Range Rover underwent more than 250,000 hours of virtual testing and accumulated the equivalent of 38 trips around the world during development.

The 2027 Range Rover Electric is being built at Solihull, the historic home of the Range Rover, where JLR has also trained thousands of employees for the company’s move toward electrification.

Tesla has started paid Cybercab robotaxi rides in Texas, but the steering-wheel-free EV is already facing scrutiny from federal safety regulators.

The launch is also putting the company in uncharted regulatory territory.

The two-seat Cybercab has no steering wheel, pedals, or conventional mirrors, raising questions about whether it complies with existing U.S. vehicle safety standards.

NHTSA Opens an Audit

Just hours after Tesla’s Austin rollout event, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an audit covering around 1,000 Cybercab vehicles.

The agency wants to examine how Tesla determined that the vehicles comply with federal safety requirements.

Tesla’s Cybercab has entered paid service in Austin without conventional driving controls.

Current U.S. safety standards were largely written for vehicles operated by human drivers and include requirements for traditional manual controls.

That creates a significant challenge for a vehicle designed from the beginning to operate without them.

Tesla Is Betting on Self-Driving

The Cybercab is central to Elon Musk’s broader strategy of making autonomous driving and robotics major parts of Tesla’s business.

Tesla began producing the Cybercab in April and has said production could increase rapidly.

The Cybercab represents Tesla’s push toward fully autonomous transportation and purpose-built robotaxis.

Tesla previously said the Cybercab could eventually cost less than $30,000, although the company has not provided a confirmed mass-market price.

The company already operates a limited robotaxi service using Model Y SUVs in Texas and Florida. Those vehicles retain conventional controls and, in some cases, have human backup drivers.

How Can a Control-Free Vehicle Reach U.S. Roads?

U.S. manufacturers generally rely on self-certification rather than receiving regulatory approval before introducing new vehicles.

There is also an NHTSA exemption pathway for vehicles that do not meet certain safety standards, but that process limits deployment to 2,500 vehicles per year.

Tesla’s Cybercab faces questions over how a vehicle without conventional controls can be deployed at scale under current U.S. regulations.

Tesla’s engineering chief has said the Cybercab would not be subject to that annual limit, although the company has not publicly explained the regulatory pathway in detail.

There is a precedent for the uncertainty.

Zoox previously attempted to use self-certification for its own control-free robotaxi, but later withdrew the claim after an NHTSA investigation. The company eventually received a federal exemption for limited commercial deployment.

That leaves the Tesla Cybercab facing a potentially important regulatory battle. Tesla could continue expanding the service while regulators evaluate its compliance, but any disagreement with NHTSA could ultimately end up in court.

The Vietnamese electric taxi operator is targeting the U.S., Sweden, and the Netherlands ahead of a planned 2028 Hong Kong IPO.

Green and Smart Mobility, better known as GSM, is preparing for a major international expansion.

The Vietnamese electric taxi company, which is closely linked to VinFast, plans to enter the United States, Sweden, and the Netherlands by the end of 2026, with additional European markets targeted for 2027.

The expansion is part of GSM’s preparations for a planned Hong Kong IPO in 2028.

GSM Targets the U.S. and Europe

GSM launched in Vietnam in 2023 and quickly gained market share using fleets made up exclusively of VinFast electric vehicles.

The company recently expanded into Denmark and now wants to establish a larger presence overseas.

GSM plans to deploy company-owned electric taxi fleets in the U.S., Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Initially, GSM expects to operate its own vehicles with employed drivers in the U.S. and European Union.

The company eventually plans to move toward a platform model that could incorporate independent drivers and partners.

A Capital-Heavy Business Model

GSM’s approach differs from companies such as Uber and Grab, which largely rely on drivers who provide their own vehicles.

GSM instead purchases VinFast vehicles at discounted prices and operates fleets with company-employed drivers.

GSM operates company-owned electric vehicles, creating a more capital-intensive model than traditional ride-hailing platforms.

The company has said it plans to purchase 1 million VinFast vehicles between 2026 and 2030.

However, analysts have warned that maintaining company-owned fleets across multiple international markets could require substantial external financing unless vehicle utilization and operating cash flow improve.

GSM is also shifting toward a hybrid operating model in Vietnam, where around 40% of vehicles on its platform are currently company-owned.

Expansion Comes Ahead of the IPO

GSM has not disclosed its targeted valuation or fundraising amount for the planned Hong Kong listing.

Its advisers have previously suggested a valuation of around $20 billion.

GSM is targeting a 2028 Hong Kong IPO as it expands its electric taxi operations internationally.

The company remains closely connected to VinFast, whose CEO Pham Nhat Vuong and his family own GSM.

VinFast sold nearly 200,000 vehicles in 2025, with around 11% sold overseas.

GSM’s share of VinFast’s vehicle sales has declined from much higher levels in previous years but is expected to remain above 20% in the coming years.

The challenge for GSM electric taxi expansion will be proving that its company-owned fleet model can achieve enough utilization in new markets to support the costs of international growth.