Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has announced that the company will share its entire patent portfolio with competitors “in the spirit of the open source movement” and in the interest of advancing electric vehicle technology.

The move is a significant about-face for the startup, taking an opposite tack from its initial strategy and questioning the fierce enforcement of intellectual property in the broader technology industry.

“Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport,” the CEO said in a statement. “If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal.”

The entrepreneur argues that patents may have served a purpose “long ago,” however they are now too often used to “stifle progress, entrench the positions of giant corporations,” and line the pockets of law firms rather than the actual inventors.

Tesla is said to have initially felt compelled to create patents to prevent big car companies from copying the startup’s technology and using stronger manufacturing and sales resources to crush the newcomer.

“We couldn’t have been more wrong,” Musk admits. “The unfortunate reality is the opposite: electric car programs (or programs for any vehicle that doesn’t burn hydrocarbons) at the major manufacturers are small to non-existent, constituting an average of far less than 1% of their total vehicle sales.”

The CEO believes Tesla’s real competition is not EVs built by competitors, but rather the “flood of gasoline cars” that roll out of factories every day. The company argues that technology sharing will benefit the entire electric-car industry by supporting a “common, rapidly evolving” technology platform.

“Technology leadership is not defined by patents, which history has repeatedly shown to be small protection indeed against a determined competitor, but rather by the ability of a company to attract and motivate the world’s most talented engineers,” Musk concludes. “We believe that applying the open source philosophy to our patents will strengthen rather than diminish Tesla’s position in this regard.”

Tesla may also be hoping that competitors will be encouraged to build more EVs that are powered by batteries built in the company’s upcoming Gigafactory plant. Volume is viewed as a key factor for lower battery prices, which will be necessary for the company to make profit from a mass-market car that sells for around $35,000. The factory aims to produce enough capacity to supply 500,000 vehicles annually.

The company promises to not initiate any patent lawsuits against anyone who, “in good faith,” wants to use the technology. The wording suggests a rival could use Tesla’s drivetrain or battery technology for a new model, but may come under fire for making a Model S clone.

Tesla holds dozens of patents, ranging from electrical systems to structural components and door handles.

Nissan has announced that its US pilot program for the e-NV200 has been expanded to include Portland.

The automaker will supply electric services company Portland General Electric (PGE) with a small fleet of e-NV200s to be used by an underground maintenance crew. The all-electric vans will replace larger diesel-powered commercial vans for a period of six weeks.

The Portland program will run alongside similar small-scale tests with FedEx and other companies in top EV markets such as California, Georgia and Washington DC, providing the company with feedback that will be used to consider the viability of formally launching the e-NV200 in the US.

“If we determine that e-NV200 fits into the U.S. commercial vehicle market, we expect that Portland would be a leading driver for sales as well,” said Nissan’s US director of EV marketing, Toby Perry.

The electrified van is nearly identical to the standard NV200, but powered by a modified version of the Leaf’s drivetrain with an estimated range of up to 73 miles.

The e-NV200 is set to arrive in Europe this summer and later this year in Japan.

Nissan has issued another recall for a small batch of 2014 Leaf EVs.

Some of the hatchbacks may have been built with an inverter circuit board that does not meet the proper specifications. If the inverter fails during operation, the motor will lose power without warning and potentially contribute to an accident.

The company has not received any complaints of such failures, however a total of 196 vehicles will be recalled to inspect the circuit boards and replace out-of-spec inverters.

The problem is said to be limited to Leafs that were manufactured at the company’s Smyrna, Tennessee, facility during a ten-day span in April.

The same model was involved in several other recent recalls, one related to airbag problems and another due to missing welds. The latter recall requires the most drastic remedy, with the promise of an entirely new Leaf to replace a vehicle that was produced without the proper welds.

A report coming out of Germany indicates Porsche’s oft-rumored entry-level model has been given the green light for a 2016 launch.

Tentatively called 718, Porsche’s entry-level model will take the form of a small roadster loosely billed as the successor to the 550 Spyder race car built in the 1950s and the 914 that was introduced in 1969. It will ride on a modified Boxster platform but it will be much lighter than its more expensive sibling thanks to noticeably reduced dimensions with short overhangs on both ends and the widespread use of aluminum and high-strength steel in its construction.

To further shed weight, the 718 will be equipped with thinner glass all around and a fabric soft top with a plastic rear window. Sound deadening will be kept to a minimum in order to lower the car’s overall weight to 2,623 pounds, a figure that would make the roadster just a few pounds heavier than a Lotus Exige S Roadster and 264 pounds lighter than the slimmest Boxster.

The 718′s entry-level positioning won’t make it a low-cost car, and its cockpit will remain well-built and well-appointed. Bucket seats, a three-spoke steering wheel, a touch screen-based infotainment system and a comprehensive selection of analog gauges will be part of the package.

Power will come from a 2.0-liter flat-four engine that will send 286 horsepower to the rear wheels via either a manual or a dual-clutch DSG gearbox. Buyers after more grunt will be able to select a 2.5-liter version of the boxer mill rated at 260 horsepower, and additional variants will likely join the lineup over the course of the production run.

If the rumor proves true, the Porsche 718 could be unveiled at the 2016 edition of the Geneva Motor Show and go on sale in the United States and in Europe shortly after. In Germany, the roadster will reportedly carry a base price of €39,000 (approximately $53,300), €10,000 (roughly $13,700) less than the most affordable Boxster.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reopened an investigation into airbag defects that were already cited in a massive 2013 recall affecting several automakers and millions of vehicles across the globe.

Toyota appears to be the first company to act on the latest information, recalling 650,000 vehicles a second time to replace any airbag inflators that were merely inspected rather than swapped for a new unit during the initial recall.

The NHTSA investigation suggests the problems with supplier Takata’s airbag inflators may be more widespread than initially thought, increasing the risk of inflator explosion, fire and occupant injuries due to improper propellant.

The agency’s Office of Defects Investigation has tracked at least six recent incidents of bag inflator rupture, all occurring in high-humidity environments such as Florida and Puerto Rico.

In one of the incidents, the driver-side airbag inflator in a 2005 Honda Civic is said to have exploded and sent a one-inch piece of shrapnel into the driver’s eye. The August 2013 accident reportedly led to loss of sight and severe lacerations to the nose, requiring 100 stitches. The vehicle was not included in any of the previous recall campaigns focused on Takata inflators that were known to exhibit similar behavior.

In another accident, the passenger airbag inflator in a 2003 Toyota Corolla reportedly exploded and sent shrapnel into the driver’s head. The car allegedly caught on fire and the front windshield was shattered, but the airbag did not inflate.

The NHTSA is currently taking a closer look at airbag complaints related to 2002-2006 models produced by Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Chrysler and Toyota. The issue could lead to another recall for over a million vehicles.

General Motors reportedly has no plans to use its victims fund for lost-value compensation to owners of recalled vehicles.

The outside attorney tasked with managing the fund, Kenneth Feinberg, has clarified that he will only be accepting claims related to deaths and physical injuries.

“Whatever claims program I establish, will not include economic loss claims for e.g. ‘perceived diminished value,” he said, as quoted by The Detroit News.

The attorney also declined to estimate the number of deaths, injuries and crashes will be covered by the claims program, though the company has promised to provide compensation for all legitimate submissions.

“It will depend on the eligibility criteria and the number of individuals who submit claims,” Feinberg added. “I’ll know better when the claims program is announced later this month.”

The program will begin accepting claims in August, however the company plans to reject any submissions that are filed late. The eligibility window has not been publicly defined, though it aims to be “modest.”

The company may be forced to pay economic-loss claims from vehicle owners, dealerships and shareholders, as dozens of lawsuits proceed in courtrooms throughout the US.

Mitsubishi has announced a handful of improvements to its Outlander Sport for the 2015 model year.

The most notable addition is a new CVT for improved performance off the line, with gearing similar to a seven-speed automatic. It also bumps city/highway fuel economy up to 25/32 mpg for 2WD models and 24/30 mpg for 4WD configurations, an increase of a single mpg all around, though the numbers are pending official EPA certification.

Mitsubishi has worked to enhance the interior experience with thicker glass and new sound insulation for less noise intrusion. Drivers will also benefit from the company’s next-generation electric power steering system.

Updates are not limited to mechanical components, with new carbon or piano black and silver trim around the audio panel. On the outside, the 2015 model is distinguished by redesigned LED running lights.

The company has not confirmed pricing for 2015, however the 2014 edition carries a $20,320 entry MSRP (including $850 freight).

Mitsubishi has introduced its 2015 Mirage for the US market, bringing several equipment upgrades for the model’s “sophomore year.”

The interior has been improved with new chrome accents around the audio system and HVAC panels, along with improved seat fabric. The exterior of the ES trim level has also been slightly tweaked with a new rear-mounted short pole antenna and new side mirrors with turn indicators.

When outfitted with a CVT gearbox, the subcompact maintains EPA ratings of 37 mpg city, 44 mpg highway and 40 mpg combined. The numbers are claimed to represent the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid gasoline vehicle available in the US market.

The company boasts that a driver in a March hypermiling event, traveling from Las Vegas to Cypress, California, was able to complete the run with an average consumption of just under 75 mpg.

The 2015 carryover is powered by a small three-cylinder engine that produces 74 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can achieve slightly better acceleration with the five-speed manual rather than the CVT, but at the expense of a few miles per gallon.

Mitsubishi has maintained the Mirage’s $13,805 (including $810 freight) entry price for 2015.

Mazda has previewed a new diesel engine that will power the next-generation Mazda2.

The 1.5-liter mill is similar to the company’s new 2.2-liter oil burner that is available in the CX-5 and Mazda6 in certain markets. Both share Skyactiv-D label and many of the same efficiency and emissions refinements.

The Japanese company has worked to differentiate its latest engines from other low-emissions diesel powerplants by focusing on optimized combustion at low compression ratios. Other advancements focus on friction reduction, improved insulation technology and an expanded homogeneous lean-burn range.

Another notable difference is the lack of a NOx aftertreatment system, such as the expensive urea-injection technology used in many engines that meet the same emissions standards in the US market. The small engine is also said to pass Euro 6 and Japanese emissions certifications.

The 1.5-liter implementation produces 103 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, providing twice as much twist as the 1.5-liter gasoline mill in the current Mazda2. The company promises most of the torque is available throughout the rpm range for linear acceleration.

The low-displacement diesel engine is set to arrive in Japan and European markets, though a US launch has not been confirmed. The company is still working to resolve drivability issues with its 2.2-liter variant before bringing it to the US.

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has reportedly reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sharing its Supercharger network with rivals.

Speaking at the UK launch event for the right-hand-drive Model S, the executive noted that Tesla would gladly accommodate any automaker who wants to use the chargers for its own vehicles.

“It’s just that they need to be able to accept the power level of the Superchargers, which is currently 135kW and rising, so any car needs to meet the Supercharger standard,” he added, as quoted by Engadget. “And they’d also need to agree with the business model, which is we don’t charge people on a per-charge basis.”

The California-based startup’s proprietary charging network has been criticized by some competitors. A Daimler executive recently argued that the future lies in standardization, reducing infrastructure costs and improving convenience for customers.

Tesla has asked potential partners to help pay a “fair” portion of the maintenance and running costs, which are said to be minimal. It is unclear if the company has been involved in talks with rival automakers interested in using the network for other vehicles.

The company also hinted at plans to share patented technology as a contribution to the entire electric-vehicle industry, though specific details have not yet been announced.