EV News Today: November 3, 2026 – Hyundai Hybrid Record, Tesla Warning, Polestar 2 Ends

Four stories matter for EV drivers on November 3, 2026: October US sales show buyers leaning toward hybrids while new affordable EVs gain ground, Tesla owners are finding out what a new emergency feature really costs, Mercedes-Benz is leaving the European charging business, and one of the best-known EVs of the last six years has gone out of production.

Hybrids hit a record share at Hyundai as Kia's EV3 gets going

Hyundai Motor America sold 73,452 vehicles in October 2026, up 5% on a year earlier, and hybrids made up a record 29% of that total, the company reported on November 3. Hybrid sales rose 20%. On the electric side, the Ioniq 5 sold 1,981 units (up 21%), but the three-row Ioniq 9 fell 47% to 169.

Sister brand Kia set an all-time monthly record of 80,008 sales, up 16%, with electrified sales up 112% and hybrids up 114%. The EV9 more than doubled to 1,406 units, the EV6 rose to 803, and the new EV3, which starts just under $30,000 before destination, added 976 sales in its second full month (The EV Report; InsideEVs).

Keep the comparison in mind: October 2025 was a weak month for EVs because the federal EV tax credit had just ended on September 30, 2025, so the percentage gains start from a low base.

Why it matters: With gas around $4.15 a gallon, buyers are moving away from gas-only cars, but many are choosing hybrids rather than going fully electric. Cheaper EVs like the EV3 are what could change that. If you are weighing the two, our guide on how much it costs to charge an electric car shows the fuel savings an EV can offer.

Tesla: Emergency Drive Away is not something to test

Tesla recently added an Emergency Drive Away option in a software update. It lets a driver leave a Supercharger in a real emergency without unplugging first: after confirming a warning, the charge port releases and the charging handle breaks away as the car moves. Short camera clips are sent to Tesla to confirm the emergency.

Once it has been activated, the car shows a "service required" alert, and Tesla wants the charge port inspected before the alert is cleared. One owner reported being billed $539 for that inspection even though the car never moved, Not a Tesla App reported. Tesla has told owners to use the feature only when truly necessary, and says repairing a damaged Supercharger stall can cost up to $25,000 (InsideEVs). Tesla's charging director reportedly said the feature will be improved based on feedback.

Why it matters: If you drive a Tesla, treat the "Activate" button as a real emergency tool only. Simply tapping it out of curiosity can lead to a service visit and a bill.

Mercedes-Benz sells its European fast chargers to Electra

Mercedes-Benz has handed its 47 European high-power charging hubs, with 374 charging points, to French operator Electra, the companies announced on November 3. Thirty-one of the hubs are in Germany and six in Austria. With the deal, Electra runs more than 800 sites with about 5,000 charging points in ten European countries (electrive; Electric Cars Report).

The stations keep working, but they are being rebranded and their card payment terminals replaced. Mercedes drivers can still find and use them through the car and the Mercedes app, and MB.CHARGE Public customers get discounted rates and charger reservations across all Electra sites. Mercedes' own charging networks in the US and China are not part of the deal.

Why it matters: Carmakers are stepping back from running their own chargers and leaving it to specialist networks. For European Mercedes drivers little changes day to day, and the number of sites they can use at preferred rates grows from 47 to more than 800.

Polestar 2 production ends after six years

The Polestar 2, the fastback that helped launch Polestar as an EV brand, has gone out of production at its Luqiao plant in China, where it was built since March 2020. "Polestar 2 very recently ended production," a Polestar UK spokesperson told EV Powered. It was Polestar's best-selling model by far (electrive).

An all-new successor is due in 2027, and Polestar says it will be a completely new car, not a facelift. In the UK, the current Polestar 2 remains on sale from stock into 2027, and some European markets are now steering buyers to stock cars instead of new orders.

Why it matters: Run-out stock often comes with discounts, which can make a new Polestar 2 good value. If you are buying one, check the remaining stock, warranty start date and software support, as you would with any outgoing model. Our checklist on what to know before buying an electric car covers the basics.