Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…

EVs Could Charge In 10 Minutes By 2027, Cutting Costs And Journey Times

Even though modern electric vehicles can cover a much greater range than their predecessors, there’s are those who love to give their cars a quick splash and dash at the fuel pumps before getting on their merry way. Well, there’s some good news if you’re in that camp: experts say the next generation of EVs could recharge to 90 percent in as little as 10 minutes, as soon as 2027. Would you be keener to switch to an EV if it charged in 10 minutes, or are you already in an EV and happy to wait 20 minutes or more to top up?

Munro EV Is A No-Frills Off-Roader From Scotland, Coming In The US In 2023

You may not have heard of Scottish start-up Munro vehicles, but their EVs are about to hit the market next year, starting with the UK and U.S. The company has released images of its prototype undergoing testing across a range of challenging terrains. The Munro EV is designed to be a workhorse and has a range of 168 miles (270 km) in mixed-driving conditions. The estimated price is £65,000 ($75,832) before taxes and registration, with Autocar reporting a price closer to £75,000 ($87,500).

Zeekr To Use New CATL Batteries For Its Upcoming EVs With Over 621 Miles Of Range

Zeekr will use CATL’s new Qilin batteries in its future models, with the first being the 009 MPV. The second model to employ the new batteries will be an updated version of the 001 and will promise an impressive range of over 621 miles (1,000 km). On the battery front, CATL claims it can deliver 13 percent more power than Tesla’s 4680 battery using the same chemical system and the same pack size.

Toyota Reduces Delivery Times By Limiting Optional Equipment

Toyota is hoping to reduce wait times for its vehicles by introducing “recommended” trim levels for those customers who want their new purchase in a hurry. The recommended trims will be limited in their options but will reportedly enable the Japanese manufacturer to deliver a car 25 percent quicker.

Tesla Releases Updated Semi Photo Gallery, Shows A Handful Of Design Changes

Fans have noticed that Tesla has updated their image gallery of the Semi. The long-awaited EV truck that has the potential to revolutionize the industry was supposed to have been with us by 2019. Now we’re promised that the first examples really will be coming our way later this year. The most notable changes in the new batch of images show a revised greenhouse, massive mirrors, exposed wheels, and a newly revamped interior.

What Do You Think Of Buick’s New Design Language?

Ditching the soft curves for angular and aggressive lines, Buick’s new design language is proving to be somewhat controversial — especially after handsome crossovers such as the Envision and Enclave. Buick says that future models will have an “expressive” face that is “distinguished by a bold, forward-leaning front-end appearance that features a low-mounted, trapezoidal grille.” That’s in addition to lots of shape lines and streamlined styling — think more RoboCop than elegance. Is this a look that will suit the brand in the long run, or do you long for a return to the previous design aesthetic?

What Else Is Making The News

NASA Cancels Artemis 1 Launch Over Engine Trouble 

NASA has delayed the launch of Artemis 1, the rocket that will be the first to take humans back to the moon in over 50 years. The unmanned test flight was due to launch on Monday, but a problem was discovered with the four core-stage engines of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Plans are being made to reschedule the launch for Friday.

French Officials Find 20,000 Hidden Pools Using AI 

French tax authorities have uncovered over 20,000 undeclared private swimming pools, netting the government approximately €10m in revenue. The software, developed by Google and French consulting firm Capgemini, spotted the pools on aerial images of nine French regions during a trial in October 2021, reports the BBC. An average-sized pool in France is taxed at €200 per year.