As 2025 draws to a close, the global automotive industry is experiencing a whirlwind of change, with electric vehicles (EVs) taking center stage. From Pakistan to Japan, the United States to Europe, carmakers are racing to adapt to shifting consumer demands, new technologies, and evolving government policies—sometimes at breakneck speed, sometimes with a screeching halt.
In Pakistan, Alektra has made headlines by extending its Rs. 50,000 discount on the Metro 4-Door electric vehicle until December 15, 2025, after what the company described as an "overwhelming customer response." According to Alektra’s announcement on Thursday, the discount—originally a short-term offer—now aims to make the Metro 4-Door even more attractive to families and first-time EV buyers. The promotion applies exclusively to the 4-door variant, leaving the 2-door models at their regular prices. Alektra’s move comes as rising fuel prices, growing eco-consciousness, and the need for affordable urban transport converge to drive up demand for electric mobility in Pakistan.
The Metro lineup, introduced earlier this year, offers a range of battery capacities to suit different needs. The 2-door Metro EV is available with a 7.2 kWh battery (80–100 km range) for Rs. 1,095,000, a 10.8 kWh battery (130–140 km range) for Rs. 1,145,000, and a 12.96 kWh battery (170–180 km range) for Rs. 1,195,000. Meanwhile, the 4-door variant—now discounted—starts at Rs. 1,245,000 for the 7.2 kWh model, Rs. 1,295,000 for the 10.8 kWh, and Rs. 1,345,000 for the 12.96 kWh, each Rs. 50,000 less than their original prices. Alektra has also reaffirmed its 90-day delivery timeline for all new bookings, providing some much-needed certainty in a time of global supply chain jitters.
But Pakistan isn’t the only country making waves in electric mobility. In Japan, BYD has unveiled the Racco, a right-hand-drive, all-electric kei car designed exclusively for the Japanese market. As reported by Drive, the Racco boasts super height, sliding doors on both sides, and a battery-electric powertrain—features tailored to Japan’s competitive kei car segment, which accounts for about a third of the country’s 1.2 million annual new-car sales. Kei cars, by law, are tiny: up to 3.4 meters long, 1.48 meters wide, and 2 meters tall, with engines capped at 660cc and 47kW. BYD’s Director of Corporate Communications in Japan, Hiroshi Ikehata, explained, "[Racco is] only in Japan. You can imagine export to other countries from China, but nothing."
Ikehata went on to say, "This is kind of a challenge model for creating presence for BYD in the Japanese market. We have only less than 50 per cent name [recognition], so we have to increase our reputation, and we can [do that] so much more by using this kind of [car in this] market." Despite its right-hand-drive setup, BYD currently has no plans to sell the Racco outside Japan, including Australia—though grey imports may eventually bring it Down Under. So far, BYD Japan has sold only 7,000 units in three years, highlighting just how tough it is for foreign brands to crack Japan’s insular car market. Still, if the Racco succeeds, BYD hints it could spin off the platform for other kei varieties, like sports cars or trucks.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the electric vehicle story is a tale of both progress and political whiplash. October 2025 saw a record 37% of new cars sold in King County, Washington, classified as battery-powered electrics (including plug-in hybrids), with hybrids making up another 20%. That left traditional gas-only cars at just 43% of new sales—a dramatic shift from 2017, when EVs were a mere 2% and hybrids 5% of the market, according to data from the Washington state Department of Licensing. Statewide, the numbers were slightly lower but still remarkable: 26% EVs, 20% hybrids, and 54% gas-only.
This surge, however, was partly fueled by buyers racing to claim expiring federal tax credits for EVs. As reported by The Seattle Times, those credits have now been axed by Republicans, and President Trump recently rolled back fuel-efficiency standards, calling electric cars "a green new scam." Trump declared, "Today, we’re taking one more step to kill the green new scam, as part of the greatest scam, probably." The rollback has cast doubt on Washington’s ambitious goal of reaching 100% EV new car sales by 2035, with experts now predicting a more modest 50% by that date. Matthew Metz, founder of the advocacy group Coltura, lamented, "Unless they want to turn us into Cuba, with only the old model gas cars and trucks driving around, then it’s inevitable that the market is going to keep moving ahead in some way with EVs. But it is back to the drawing board."
Political polarization is playing an outsized role in the EV debate. Republican consultant Mike Murphy observed, "In our modern politics any friend of my enemy must be my enemy too. If Joe Biden is for EVs, we must be against them." Metz added, "I think Republicans are just pro-oil. They want to keep the oil economy going for as long as they can, and that’s pretty much it." Meanwhile, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, defending the fuel standards rollback, quipped, "This rule will actually allow you to bring back the 1970s station wagon. Maybe a little wood paneling on the side. We can bring back choice to consumers."
Elsewhere in the industry, major automakers are recalibrating their strategies amid global uncertainties. Volkswagen, for instance, has announced a $186 billion five-year investment plan, reflecting both the need for belt-tightening in the face of U.S. tariffs and a slowdown in China, two of its largest markets. GM, for its part, is doubling down on advances in driver-assistance technology, artificial intelligence, computing, and software—all aimed at making driving easier and more personalized, according to recent statements by the company.
And then there’s Lexus, which this week revealed the LFA, a battery electric concept sports car developed alongside Toyota’s GR GT and GR GT3 models as part of the "Toyota’s Shikinen Sengu" program. The LFA concept features a driver seat positioned close to a switch layout enabling blind touch operation—a nod to both cutting-edge design and user experience. The original Lexus LFA, sold in the early 2010s, was lauded for its striking looks and performance, famously outshining even the Ferrari 599 HGTE in some reviews. If the new electric LFA makes it to production, it’ll have a lot to live up to.
Across continents, the EV revolution is unfolding in fits and starts, shaped by market forces, government policy, and the ever-present tug-of-war between tradition and innovation. Whether it’s Alektra’s family-friendly Metro in Pakistan, BYD’s quirky Racco in Japan, or the political drama playing out in the U.S., one thing is clear: the road to an electric future is anything but predictable.
