autoevolution
 

Cristian Agatie

Contributor
editor photo
As a child, he grew up among tractors and heavy machinery and was covered in grease from tip to toe most of the time. It was a tractor that he drove for the first time and when asked what he’d become, he candidly replied: “tractor operator”. Later on, he drove all kinds of vehicles, from heavy trucks to off-roaders, all outside of public roads until he got his driving license.

He did not become a tractor operator, as you can tell already. Instead, he got interested in journalism and pursued a career finding stories for local newspapers and radio stations. But the first love is never forgotten, so when presented with the chance, he seized it and became a motor journalist in 1995.

Having found the perfect job to mix his passion for cars and journalism, he couldn’t help exploring other areas, like science, computers, and mobile devices. He took stints working for a computer magazine for a couple of years, and it was then that he had his first contact with new media. But cars always remained his passion, so he returned to motor journalism when Auto Bild started its local branch. Later, he became an internet junkie, and moving online felt only natural.

In the meantime, he also became obsessed with technology, electric vehicles, batteries, and whatnot, so he writes a lot about those. He found autoevolution a fertile ground for exploration and so he discovered his passion for RVs and campers, but also solar panels and new energy solutions.
Chinese Authorities Warm Up to the Idea of Allowing Tesla To Start FSD Beta Testing
Chinese Authorities Warm Up to the Idea of Allowing Tesla To Start FSD Beta Testing

12 Jun 2023, 14:33 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla fans rejoiced at the news that Chinese authorities greenlighted Tesla to start FSD Beta tests in Shanghai, although that was not technically true. Tesla China promptly dismissed the reports, even though similar denials proved to be true in th...

 
Nissan Claims Its LiDAR-Based Safety Assist Tech Could Eliminate T-Bone Crashes
Nissan Claims Its LiDAR-Based Safety Assist Tech Could Eliminate T-Bone Crashes

12 Jun 2023, 11:00 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Nissan is working on a new generation of its ProPilot driver assist system that leverages LiDAR, camera, and radar to eliminate T-bone crashes and other collisions. Nissan's intersection collision avoidance system is part of a new safety packa...

 
Tesla Debuts Impressive 'Giga Lab' Store Concept in China, Might Expand It Overseas
Tesla Debuts Impressive 'Giga Lab' Store Concept in China, Might Expand It Overseas

12 Jun 2023, 09:17 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla unveiled a new retail concept in China showcasing its manufacturing prowess. The first Giga Lab concept store that opened in Chengdu aims to offer customers a behind-the-scenes view of how Tesla vehicles are built. Tesla is an unconvention...

 
The CCS Charging Standard Is on Life Support, Only Federal Subsidies Are Keeping It Alive
The CCS Charging Standard Is on Life Support, Only Federal Subsidies Are Keeping It Alive

11 Jun 2023, 10:32 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Last year, Tesla smugly named its charging plug "North American Charging Standard" as it opened it to rival EV makers without asking for anything in return. Since then, not only Ford and GM announced adopting Tesla's charging standar...

 
HW4 Tesla Model S and Model X Finally Get Vision Park Assist, FSD Still Not Available
HW4 Tesla Model S and Model X Finally Get Vision Park Assist, FSD Still Not Available

10 Jun 2023, 14:20 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla launched the Hardware 4 Autopilot computer on the refreshed Model S and Model X in March but with limited functionality. More than three months later, Tesla finally brought support for Vision Park Assist, but there's still no word about ...

 
Ford Cuts F-150 Lightning Wait Time to Three Months, and We All Know What This Means
Ford Cuts F-150 Lightning Wait Time to Three Months, and We All Know What This Means

9 Jun 2023, 18:57 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Ford announced that it's reducing the wait time for the most popular trim of the F-150 Lightning as the production catches up with demand. Ford is on track for an annual production capacity of 150,000 units by the end of this year, and the XLT...

 
Rivian Trying To Move R1T Quad-Motor From Inventory Through 'Same-Day' Sales Event
Rivian Trying To Move R1T Quad-Motor From Inventory Through 'Same-Day' Sales Event

9 Jun 2023, 16:17 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rivian will soon start to deliver the Dual-Motor variants of its trucks and SUVs, and naturally, people are less interested in buying the overpriced Quad-Motor specification. Rivian announced last month that more people would gain access to the R1 ...

 
North-East Wildfire Smoke Is Unbearable, yet Tesla's Bioweapon Defense Mode Offers Relief
North-East Wildfire Smoke Is Unbearable, yet Tesla's Bioweapon Defense Mode Offers Relief

9 Jun 2023, 13:48 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / As the Canadian wildfires rage on, the North-Eastern part of the US is covered in thick smoke that makes the air unbreathable. Tesla owners used their cars' efficient air filtration systems with hospital-grade HEPA filters and Bioweapon Defens...

 
Weird Tesla Prototype Spotted While Heavily Disguised Could Be a Gen-3 Test Mule
Weird Tesla Prototype Spotted While Heavily Disguised Could Be a Gen-3 Test Mule

9 Jun 2023, 10:25 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla is nearing the production of the refreshed Model 3, known internally as "Project Highland." Prototypes of the new models have been buzzing around for some time, but none was as intriguing as this weirdly-looking fellow. The shape an...

 
Tesla Confirms Cybertruck Production Plans With Suppliers, Deliveries Start in September
Tesla Confirms Cybertruck Production Plans With Suppliers, Deliveries Start in September

9 Jun 2023, 08:24 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla took all the time in the world to develop the Cybertruck, but it's now on the short final with a touchdown planned merely months away. Communication between Tesla and its suppliers revealed that the first Cybertruck release candidates wo...

 
Lucid Motors Seeks Success in China After US Plans Have Stalled
Lucid Motors Seeks Success in China After US Plans Have Stalled

8 Jun 2023, 18:50 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Lucid Motors, the fledgling US luxury EV maker with Saudi Arabia ties, announced entering the Chinese market. Lucid hired ex-NIO and Ford executive Zhu Jiang to lead China operations, which might include a local production facility. Lucid is str...

 
Tesla Wants To Duplicate Giga Shanghai in Mexico, Urges Chinese Suppliers To Step In
Tesla Wants To Duplicate Giga Shanghai in Mexico, Urges Chinese Suppliers To Step In

8 Jun 2023, 17:07 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla is looking to replicate Giga Shanghai in Mexico, including its supply chain. For this, the EV maker urged Chinese companies to establish production facilities in Mexico or risk being left behind. Sources say suppliers fear losing big orders f...

 
Tesla Earmarks $5 Billion for Its Second European Gigafactory in Spain
Tesla Earmarks $5 Billion for Its Second European Gigafactory in Spain

8 Jun 2023, 14:54 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rumor has it that Tesla plans another gigafactory in Europe, with investments that could surpass 4.5 billion euros ($4.83 billion). The EV maker is in talks with the regional government of Valencia, although no official announcement was made. Ma...

 
A 2014 Model S Owner Claims Tesla Offered Him No More Than $5,000 To Trade in His Car
A 2014 Model S Owner Claims Tesla Offered Him No More Than $5,000 To Trade in His Car

8 Jun 2023, 12:15 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Although early Tesla Model S EVs have been plagued by battery problems which ultimately rendered them inoperable, they still sell used for $20,0000-$30,000. However, one 2014 Tesla Model S owner was shocked to get a trade-in offer from Tesla for on...

 
Chinese Startup Claims Its Batteries Solve the Biggest Problems Electric Vehicles Have
Chinese Startup Claims Its Batteries Solve the Biggest Problems Electric Vehicles Have

8 Jun 2023, 09:25 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / One of the most annoying issues plaguing Li-Ion cells in electric vehicles is their low performance in the cold. A Chinese battery startup claims it has solved this problem thanks to a new tech involving superconducting materials and innovative the...

 
Hyundai and Kia Sued by New York City Because Their Cars Are Too Easy To Steal
Hyundai and Kia Sued by New York City Because Their Cars Are Too Easy To Steal

7 Jun 2023, 18:08 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / After Seattle, New York City is also suing Hyundai and Kia for their stupid mistake of not fitting their vehicles with electronic immobilizers. In the complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, New York City is accusing the two carmakers of creati...

 
Rivian R1T Burnt While Charging at an Electrify America Station, Is This Becoming a Habit?
Rivian R1T Burnt While Charging at an Electrify America Station, Is This Becoming a Habit?

7 Jun 2023, 16:02 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / After a Rivian R1T was fried while charging at an Electrify America station in January, another Rivian burst into flames in similar circumstances. Rivian is conducting a full investigation but said the high-voltage battery was not to blame. Not...

 
2024 Volvo EX30 Launched With Supercar Performance and Affordable Price
2024 Volvo EX30 Launched With Supercar Performance and Affordable Price

7 Jun 2023, 12:47 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Volvo has a new electric crossover in its lineup, and it might be more important for the brand than the flagship EX90 launched six months ago. The EX30 is a compact crossover built in China on Geely's SEA platform and tailored for Gen-Z custom...

 
EPA Documents Reveal Rivian R1S Dual Motor Exceeds Power and Range Estimates
EPA Documents Reveal Rivian R1S Dual Motor Exceeds Power and Range Estimates

7 Jun 2023, 11:08 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rivian will start deliveries of the Dual-Motor variants this month, and official EPA documents show they might be better than initially thought. The R1S Dual Motor Large Pack is more powerful and has more range than Rivian's estimates, pointin...

 
Tesla Model 3 'Project Highland' Prototype Spotted With Production Lights and HW4 Cameras
Tesla Model 3 'Project Highland' Prototype Spotted With Production Lights and HW4 Cameras

7 Jun 2023, 09:10 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla is expected to announce the start of the refreshed Model 3 production any time now. The prototypes disappearing from public roads seemed to support this theory. Still, a new Project Highland prototype was spotted recently, and it sported many...

 

Stories by Cristian Agatie