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Ivan Drury was stunned when he found out how much his aunt was paying for a lease on the electric Honda Prologue SUV.

Drury, director of insights for Edmunds, tracks sales of electric vehicles closely. When his aunt inquired about leasing one, he replied with an emphatic “yes.”

The next day she returned home with the Prologue. Her monthly payment? $250.

“There are killer deals out there, to say the least,” Drury told ABC News. “If you’re contemplating getting an EV, just do it.”

The number of Americans who have swapped their internal combustion vehicles for a battery-electric one is growing, though at a slower rate than the industry had originally expected. Range anxiety, reports of batteries exploding and rapid battery degradation have “curbed the enthusiasm” for EVs, Drury noted, adding that consumer negativity toward electrics has boosted interest in traditional gas hybrids and plug-in vehicles.

Americans looking for bargains and the latest tech, however, can find what they need in an EV, Drury argued. Plus, the federal tax credit of up to $7,500 expires on Sept. 30, meaning prices could rise later this year, he said.

“Chevrolet Equinox EVs are a steal,” Drury pointed out. “Mercedes has been making huge price adjustments on its high-end EVs. Last year electric vehicles sat on the lot for 98 days. There are so many incentives stacked on top of each other from dealers.”

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 limits which electric models qualify for the federal tax credit, though consumers who choose to lease versus buy an EV could still walk away with the full $7,500 amount. According to Cox Automotive data, 57% of EVs were leased in May compared to 22% for the overall industry. The tax credit was rescinded as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax reform and spending package that was signed into law this summer.

Stephanie Valdez Streaty, a director at Cox Automotive, said more than 130,000 EVs were sold in July, the second highest volume ever. The upcoming credit expiration was directly responsible for the record sales, she said, adding that August and September will post similar, if not higher, numbers. Nearly every automaker benefited from the EV buying spree, she added.

“Cadillac did so well, Volkswagen was up hugely,” she said. “BMW saw sales up 24% in July versus June, Porsche was up 16.5%. This is a buyer’s market now.”

John Roth, Cadillac’s global vice president, said he was confident consumers would still seek out luxury EVs after the Sept. 30 deadline.

“We have said that the recent changes to federal incentives may lead to a short-term slowdown in overall EV sales,” Roth told ABC News. “However, 90% of luxury EV buyers today say they intend to purchase another EV, suggesting the impact could be less significant in the luxury segment. When you build the right EV, a Cadillac EV, customers will seek out your brand and make an informed purchase decision. This remains our approach no matter the propulsion system.”

Lucid, a luxury EV maker that builds its vehicles in Arizona, will continue to honor the $7,500 tax credit for owners of its new Gravity SUV until year-end.

“This was our decision,” Marc Winterhoff, interim CEO of Lucid, told ABC News. “Some Gravitys will only ship in Q4 and we don’t want to frustrate customers.”

Like Lucid’s competitors, Winterhoff said sales of the Gravity and the company’s Air sedan have risen in recent weeks.

“The majority of our customers up until now have leased the cars,” he said. “It is understandable – we were only eligible for the lease version of the incentives, not the cash version. And people definitely took advantage of it.”

According to a recent survey from AutoPacific, 79% of “EV considerers” are aware of the tax credit, and “the impact of the repeal will no doubt be consequential as it effectively raises the cost of EVs significantly, making them less affordable to many interested shoppers.”

Robby Degraff, manager of product and consumer insights at AutoPacific, said automakers are “throwing money on the hood to get rid of these vehicles,” resulting in “insane” prices for EVs.

“People are rushing out to dealerships to take advantage of these deals,” he told ABC News. “If you’re on the fence about an EV, buy one ASAP. For a lot of people, it makes sense to upgrade to an EV.”

Degraff and Valdez Streaty agree that EV purchases will continue past Sept. 30, since consumers can still take advantage of state rebates. The real driver of EV sales, however, will be models that cost less than the average transaction price of $55,689.

United States immigration authorities have arrested at least 450 people in a raid on a Hyundai manufacturing site in Georgia, federal officials confirmed Friday.

The Hyundai facility, located in Ellabell, Georgia — approximately 30 miles west of Savannah — was raided “as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes,” according to a statement from a public affairs officer with the Department of Homeland Security.

“This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians, ensuring a level playing field for businesses that comply with the law, safeguarding the integrity of our economy, and protecting workers from exploitation,” the statement continued.

Hyundai released a statement regarding the raid, saying it was aware of the incident and “closely monitoring the situation and working to understand the specific circumstances.”

“As of today, it is our understanding that none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company,” Hyundai said.

In a press briefing on Friday, the South Korea’s foreign ministry said it has conveyed its “concerns and regret” to the United States over the raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant, “urging special attention to ensure that the legitimate rights and interests of our citizens are not violated.”

“The economic activities of our companies investing in the U.S. and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated,” a spokesperson for the foreign ministry said.

Consular officials were sent to the plant and local diplomatic missions were told to set up a task force to address issues related to the raid.

“This investigation is focused on ensuring accountability for those who violate the law and upholding the rule of law,” the DHS spokesperson said.

Federal officials are planning a press briefing to release more information “regarding a recent criminal search warrant and enforcement actions to combat illegal employment practices in the state of Georgia,” according to DHS officials.

Thailand will elect a new prime minister today (the 5th). The Nation and the Bangkok Post reported yesterday that the Secretariat of the House of Representatives has notified members of the House of Representatives to select a suitable candidate for the position of Prime Minister. The election of a new prime minister is now officially on the agenda for today’s parliamentary session. Thai media outlets are stating that the parliamentary vote on the 5th will be a crucial turning point in Thailand’s political landscape, not only determining the new prime minister’s selection but also profoundly impacting the future structure of the ruling coalition and the direction of national development. The latest news this afternoon is that Anutin, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, has been selected as Thailand’s next prime minister.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated Anutin on his election, emphasizing that the bond between China and Thailand remains strong over time. The spokesperson noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Thailand. China stands ready to work with Thailand to promote traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation, and advance greater progress in building a China-Thailand community with a shared future, thereby contributing positively to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity.

Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the conservative Pheu Thai Party, the second-largest opposition party, said before the parliamentary vote that he had secured the support of 146 MPs from seven political parties. Together with the People’s Party’s 143 votes, he is expected to secure a majority in the lower house and become Thailand’s prime minister.

However, what caught the public’s attention was that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a group of five family members suddenly left Thailand on a private plane on Thursday evening to handle personal matters in Singapore. He was accompanied by his daughter, Pingthongta. He obtained a departure permit and promised to return home on Friday afternoon.

On August 29, Thailand’s Constitutional Court voted 6-3 to rule that the removal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office was unconstitutional. Constitutionally, all cabinet members were also required to resign, with Acting Prime Minister Putan leading the remaining cabinet members in a caretaker role until a new cabinet was formed. Since then, the executive position of Prime Minister has remained vacant.

The Thai National Assembly, backed by the People’s Party
, announced on Wednesday evening (3rd) that the House of Representatives will convene on the 5th to elect a new prime minister to lead the next government. All five candidates nominated for the 2023 general election are eligible as prime ministerial candidates, including Anutin.

Anutin, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, displays a cooperation agreement signed with the People’s Party.
Since Phethongthan was dismissed as prime minister, the battle for the prime ministership has intensified among Thai political parties. The People’s Party, the largest opposition party, which controls nearly a third of the seats in the lower house of parliament, has become the focal point of the struggle between the ruling party and the Bhumjaithai Party.

Agence France-Presse reported that the Thai Proud Pheu Thai Party led by Anutin has won the support of the People’s Party, the largest party in parliament but the opposition, and it seems to be a sure thing to form a government. He is expected to replace Petunthan, who was dismissed by the Constitutional Court last week.

Petunthan was removed from his post as prime minister for violating ethical standards for politicians. Reuters
previously reported that Petunthan’s party had intended to dissolve parliament and call new elections. However, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced today (September 4) that royal officials had rejected the ruling party’s request to dissolve parliament. On his Facebook page, Phumtham stated that the Privy Council Chambers, appointed by the king, had informed him that it was “not appropriate to submit a draft bill to dissolve parliament to the king” at this time due to “contentious legal issues.”

Petunthan’s father is former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. This family, which has dominated Thai politics for 20 years, is now facing unprecedented challenges.

The Thaksin family once dominated Thai politics. Reuters’
Anutin comes from a different political and business dynasty. His father, Chavarat Charnvirakul, served as acting prime minister during the 2008 political crisis and then as interior minister for three years. The family’s Sino-Thai Engineering company secured major government projects, including the capital’s main airport and the parliament building.

During the pandemic, Anutin learned to fly a plane
and became an industrial engineer in New York. He entered Thai politics in his early 30s, initially serving as an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and subsequently held positions as Minister of Health, Minister of the Interior, and Deputy Prime Minister. His nickname, Noo, means “rat” in Thai. Despite his immense wealth, he maintains a down-to-earth style and a preference for street food. He can often be seen on social media wearing a T-shirt and shorts, cooking, or playing 1980s pop songs on his saxophone or piano.

He served in Thaksin Shinawatra’s then-party, Thai Rak Thai, but was banned from politics for five years after the party was dissolved in 2007. During that time, he learned to fly and even formed a small fleet of aircraft to help patients get medical treatment and transport organs.

Anutin later returned to politics, leading his Thai Pride Party to its best-ever victory in the 2023 general election, becoming the third-largest party in Parliament. The party, a political chameleon, has participated in numerous ruling coalitions, allowing Anutin to serve as deputy to nearly three prime ministers.

He garnered global attention as health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also sparked controversy by blaming Western tourists for spreading the virus by not wearing masks, for which he was later forced to apologize. On the other hand, he fulfilled his pre-election promise to legalize marijuana, putting Thailand on the international news.

In June this year, after the content of the controversial border call between former Cambodian leader Hun Sen and then Prime Minister Prayut Thammud was leaked, he announced that he would lead the Pheu Thai Party to withdraw from the ruling coalition.

Now, Petunthan’s Pheu Thai Party is trying to block his bid for prime ministership.

A Turkish yacht worth nearly one million US dollars began to tilt about 15 minutes after it was launched for the first time, and eventually the entire yacht almost sank in the sea.

The incident occurred on the 2nd of this month. A luxury yacht Dolce Vento, worth about US$940,000 (about HK$7.3 million) and about 85 feet long, was launched for the first time in the waters of Eregli, Zonguldak. It capsized in less than 15 minutes. The owner and crew narrowly escaped by jumping into the sea.

The footage shows the yacht suddenly losing balance shortly after leaving the dock, tilting sharply to one side and gradually sinking into the sea. Four people on board, including the owner, captain, and two crew members, desperately jumped into the sea and eventually swam back to shore. Fortunately, no one was injured. The local Coast Guard and port personnel responded to the incident and established a cordon in the waters.

The yacht had just arrived from Istanbul and was undergoing its first sea trial. The shipyard said the cause of the accident is under investigation and that technical inspections will be carried out to determine the cause.

The Japanese lifestyle brand MUJI has been embroiled in a years-long legal battle in mainland China over a company’s prior trademark registration. Japanese media reports indicate that the court has ultimately ruled against MUJI, forcing the company to use only the “MUJI” trademark in China for some of its products.

The Nikkei reported that Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd. has lost its lawsuit against the Chinese authorities for invalidating the MUJI trademark, which was first registered by a local Chinese company. Ryohin Keikaku currently only uses the MUJI trademark for products in the so-called “24 categories,” such as towels and bedspreads, and will continue to do so. 

According to Ryohin Keikaku, the Supreme People’s Court rejected the company’s request for retrial in June, effectively defeating the case. In 2019, Ryohin Keikaku filed an application with the National Intellectual Property Administration of China to invalidate 24 trademarks registered by local Chinese companies, but the application was rejected. The company subsequently filed an administrative lawsuit in 2020.

The first instance trial in 2021 and the second instance trial in 2023 both rejected Ryohin Keikaku’s claims, and the company filed for a retrial in July 2024. In China, Ryohin Keikaku can only use the MUJI trademark for products outside of Class 24. Regarding Class 24 products, since the MUJI trademark is currently used, the company stated that “there will be little impact on sales.”