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Technology

Kia’s three-row EV9 electric SUV will start at $54,900

Kia’s three-row electric EV9 with RWD is cheaper than the Tesla Model X and Rivian R1S if you’re looking for a seven-seater EV. It starts shipping later this year.

Published

37 minutes ago

Sep 29, 2023 02:00 PM

Web Desk

The 2024 Kia EV9 will start at $54,900 for the Light RWD trim before destination fees or adding options like a bigger battery or two extra motors for AWD. When announced earlier this year, the EV9 caught everyone’s attention since there are few (and costly) seven-seater fully-electric vehicles on the market, and the automaker’s entry looked like it was primed to disrupt.

The EV9 will come standard with 19-inch wheels, dual 12.3-inch screens up front, a 5-inch screen for HVAC controls, CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, advanced driver assistance features like automatic braking and cross traffic check, and support for ultra-wideband smartphone key access (though that requires a subscription). It can charge its battery from 10 to 80 percent in under 25 minutes when connected to a 350kW DC fast charger (Car and Driver’s preview found it supports up to 230kW speeds).

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Other options for three-row electric SUVs are limited and include the Tesla Model X that costs at least $83,490 with seven seats, and while the cheapest Rivian R1S starts at $78,000, ordering one with a shipping date in 2024will have you looking at a $92,000 quad-motor configuration. And while a bit cramped, Tesla’s Model Y with seven seats costs $52,990, and it qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit.

But by comparison, similar-size gas-powered three-row SUVs are still available for quite a bit less. Kia’s own 2024 Telluride starts at $36,000 (about $40,000 when said and done). The EV9 is about the same height and width and just slightly longer than the Telluride.

Kia’s EV9 will initially ship from South Korea for availability by year-end. It doesn’t yet qualify for the federal tax credits due to complex new rules that foreign automakers are pretty mad about. But the EV9 might qualify after Kia starts assembling it in the USA sometime next year at a new factory in West Point, Georgia. Other trims in the lineup, including the Light Long Range, Wind, Land, and GT-Line, will have prices announced “later.”

Sports

Pakistan wins toss, elects to bat against New Zealand

This match is being played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Published

1 hour ago

Sep 29, 2023 01:25 PM

Khadija Nadeem

Hyderabad: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in the first warm-up match of the ICC Men's World Cup 2023 on Friday.

This match is being played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in the Indian city of Hyderabad.

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.

New Zealand: Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, James Neesham, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santer, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.

Business

Caretaker govt seeks $11 bln aid from China, Saudi Arabia

The caretaker government will implement the changes that are necessary for the next installments of loans from IMF: Caretaker Finance Minister.

Published

1 hour ago

Sep 29, 2023 01:30 PM

Khadija Nadeem

Islamabad: In an effort to restore the country's economic stability, Pakistan's caretaker government has formally requested $11 billion in aid from China and Saudi Arabia.

Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar presented this policy statement during a Senate Standing Committee meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwala, took place on Thursday, focusing on financial and revenue matters.

Dr. Shamshad Akhtar explained that the government is actively working on expanding the tax base, particularly in the retail, agriculture, and real estate sectors.

During the session, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar also mentioned that the federal government is considering a partial transfer of the Benazir Income Support Program to the provinces to alleviate the financial burden on the federal government.

While acknowledging the limitations of the caretaker government, the Finance Minister emphasized its commitment to implementing essential reforms required to secure the next tranche of loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Pakistan hopes to receive $700 million from the IMF, but its financial requirements surpass this amount.

Dr. Shamshad Akhtar informed the committee that Pakistan has requested $11 billion in aid from both Saudi Arabia and China.

Additionally, the country has sought an oil facility from Saudi Arabia.

He outlined that Pakistan has initiated efforts to secure $6.3 billion from institutions like the World Bank to meet its external financing needs.

Under the current agreement with the IMF, Pakistan is required to bolster its foreign exchange reserves to $9 billion in the near term, with a target of reaching $12 billion by June 2024, as stated in Dr. Shamshad Akhtar's written statement.