XPENG Isn’t Just Entering ASEAN—It’s Assembling an Operating System

XPENG has aggressively overhauled its Southeast Asian strategy in early 2026, transitioning from a niche importer to a regional powerhouse with localized manufacturing and an integrated infrastructure backbone. Central to this shift is a blueprint established in Indonesia: the integration of world-class ultra-fast charging to eliminate the primary barrier to … [continued]

Illustration of bundled vs choice-based computer pricing, where the paid operating system license is optional

A Consumer Choice Gap in the Computer Market — And a Simple Fix

AI is advancing fast. Digital education is expanding. Skills training, technical work, small business digitization, and creator economies are growing across the world — especially across Global South markets. But all of these futures share one very practical dependency: affordable computing devices. Phones connect people. Computers enable them to build, … [continued]

The VinFast VF8 infront of an AI-generated. (Created using Gemini Nano Banana)

VinFast is Refocusing on Asia, Planning to Sell 300,000 Vehicles

VinFast’s Retreat From America Was Inevitable A recent Nikkei Asia report said that Vietnamese carmaker VinFast was targeting a 300,000 annual vehicle sales in the coming years, with India and Southeast Asia positioned as core growth markets. That global total still has Europe and North America in mind, and underscores … [continued]

Dodge Charger. Photo for Fast Times by Raymond Tribdino.

Why Have Automakers Written Off $55 Billion In EV Investments?

An article title caught my attention today for a couple of reasons. The title of the article is: “Major Automakers Have Written Off $55 Billion After Overestimating EV Demand.” Hmm…. First of all, the thing that jumped out to me was $55 billion. That’s a lot of freakin’ money! The … [continued]

2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-in Hybrid Pricing Starts at $45,990

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Combining all-electric convenience for daily commutes with the familiar flexibility of a gasoline engine for longer journeys, the 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-in Hybrid will reach dealerships in February with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price1 starting at $45,990 for the SL grade. The 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-in Hybrid offers an estimated … [continued]

Trump Administration’s 100% “Buy America” EV Charging Requirement Is Anti-EV Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Trump administration’s Department of Transportation announced a new proposal to repeal an existing waiver and dramatically raise the domestic content requirement for electric vehicle charging stations–from 55 to 100 percent–for federal-aid highway projects, including the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI). NEVI is a $5 billion federal … [continued]