Car News Daily: BMW's Electric i3 Debut, Rivian R2 Outselling Its Big Brothers, and GM Pays $220 Million for Data Misuse

Today's automotive headlines are dominated by one car — the all-new electric BMW i3 — but there's plenty more happening across the EV and legacy-auto landscape. Here's a quick market watch for October 31, 2026.

1. The 2027 BMW i3 goes electric — and reviewers are impressed

BMW's iconic nameplate returns as a full EV sedan built on the Neue Klasse platform. Car and Driver drove the all-electric 2027 BMW i3, calling it "an uncompromising fraternal twin" of the 3-Series that differs from its combustion siblings in key ways. Road & Track tested the i3 50 xDrive and found it "in a Neue Klasse of its own," with strong performance and class-leading range — the open question is whether traditional BMW buyers will care. Full exterior and interior galleries are live, and Car and Driver also spec'd out the 2027 3-Series for comparison.

2. Rivian R2 is a smash hit

Rivian's R2 is outselling both R1 models combined — and that's despite Rivian currently only offering the top-spec $59,485 R2 Performance. The smaller, cheaper Rivian is exactly what the market wanted, and Electrek's latest podcast episode digs into Rivian's earnings, Waymo's new partnership with Toyota, and Ford betting on vehicle-to-home power for its Fathom EV.

3. GM must pay $220 million over driving-data sales

Motor1 reports that GM allegedly sold driver data and must now pay $220 million in a settlement with 36 states. The company must implement new privacy assessments and dealership training requirements — a costly reminder that connected-car data is a liability, not just a revenue stream.

4. BYD moves upmarket with a flagship EV

Electrek covers BYD's flashy new luxury EV feature reveal: suicide doors, a gemstone grille, and possibly solid-state batteries. Chinese automakers are no longer competing on price alone — they're coming for the luxury segment.

Takeaway

The story of the week is consolidation around the electric sedan: BMW is betting its most famous nameplate on EVs, Rivian is proving that smaller and cheaper beats bigger and pricier, and the regulatory cost of mishandling driver data just got very real. For buyers, the 2027 model year is shaping up to be the year the electric sedan finally goes mainstream.

Sources: Car and Driver, Road & Track, Electrek, Motor1.