Top 10 EV News Stories This Week – February 2026: Tesla Cybertruck Price Cuts, Nissan Leaf Delay, Toyota Highlander EV Reveal & More

Washington, D.C., February 21, 2026 — The U.S. electric vehicle market is seeing a mix of pricing adjustments, model delays, new reveals, and shifting consumer sentiment amid ongoing policy changes and economic factors. Here’s our roundup of the top 10 EV headlines dominating the news this week, based on the latest industry updates and reports.

1. Tesla Slashes Cybertruck Prices to Revive Demand Tesla launched a more affordable dual-motor all-wheel-drive Cybertruck starting at around $60,000 (including fees), while dropping the high-performance Cyberbeast trim by $15,000 to $99,990. These cuts aim to address slower sales for the futuristic pickup, with some configurations now offering lease deals as low as $699/month for limited periods.
2. Toyota Unveils All-Electric 2027 Highlander Three-Row SUV Toyota revealed the next-generation Highlander as a fully battery-electric model, built in Kentucky with U.S.-made batteries. It offers up to 320 miles of range, 338 horsepower in AWD versions, vehicle-to-load power, fast charging, and family-friendly features. Sales are slated for late 2026, positioning it as a strong competitor to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 in the popular three-row EV segment.
3. Nissan Delays Cheaper Leaf Variant Indefinitely Nissan postponed its planned affordable Leaf S trim (with a smaller battery) from 2026 to at least 2027 or beyond. Citing supply chain hurdles, rare earth material issues, and the “evolving EV landscape,” the move impacts entry-level EV accessibility, where the current Leaf remains a solid value starting under $30,000.
4. Used EV Sales Surge as New Market Cools With federal tax credits gone, used EVs under $25,000 saw a 13.5% sales increase in late 2025, turning over faster than gas vehicles. This trend highlights growing affordability options for buyers amid softer new EV demand.
5. JD Power: EV Owner Satisfaction Reaches Record High The 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study reported all-time high satisfaction, with 96% of battery EV owners willing to buy another. Tesla’s Model 3 (804/1000) and Model Y (797) topped the list, followed by BMW models, while public charging scores improved significantly year-over-year.
6. BYD Challenges U.S. Tariffs in Court Chinese EV leader BYD filed a lawsuit against new U.S. duties on battery anodes and components, escalating trade tensions that could affect global supply chains and domestic EV production costs.
7. Toyota Expands EV Push with C-HR, bZ Woodland, and Incentives Beyond the Highlander EV, Toyota rolled out deals on its compact electric C-HR (including big rebates and low financing) and spotlighted the adventure-ready bZ Woodland with towing capability, signaling a broader acceleration into pure EVs.
8. EV Registrations Decline for First Time in a Decade U.S. EV registrations slipped in late 2025—the first drop in years—with analysts forecasting a 2026 low point before potential recovery. Tesla saw notable declines, while non-Tesla brands showed varied performance amid incentive losses.
9. February Brings Heavy EV Discounts and Rebates Automakers are offering aggressive incentives to spur demand post-credit repeal, with deals like up to $10,000 off Chevrolet Equinox EV, $19,000 rebates on Polestar 3 (for returning customers), and double-digit percentage cuts on various models to make buying more appealing than leasing.
10. Upcoming EVs: BMW Neue Klasse, Ferrari Luce Interior, Acura RSX, and More Previews continue for 2026–2027 launches, including BMW’s iX3 on the Neue Klasse platform, Ferrari’s electric Luce interior reveal, Acura’s RSX coupe-like SUV, Honda’s 0-series, and Afeela 1, promising fresh options despite current market headwinds.

The EV space remains full of adaptation—pricing strategies, family-focused models, and infrastructure gains are key drivers for future growth, even as short-term challenges persist.

Compiled from sources including Reuters, InsideEVs, JD Power, Toyota press releases, MotorTrend, Electrek, Car and Driver, and others as of February 21, 2026.

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