MALMÖ, Sweden /PRNewswire/ — Guided by the vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people, Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, is stepping up efforts to support customers with low price while ensuring long-term growth. In many IKEA markets around the world*, the price of restaurant meals will be halved Monday through Friday, and children will eat for free.

With hundreds of millions of guests visiting IKEA restaurants every year, the company aims to inspire a better everyday life through food that is healthier, more sustainable, and affordable. As part of ongoing investments in the in-store experience, Ingka Group is introducing this price drop to help people stretch their budgets, nourish their families, and find a little more joy.

For example, in France, the price of lunch for a family of four, which includes two hot-meals with meatballs for adults and two meals for kids, will cost EUR 6.96 instead of EUR 19.9. In addition, all restaurant guests will receive a EUR 5 voucher to use in-store.

“Food has always been very important for IKEA, and we wanted to enable even more people to enjoy our restaurant offer while exploring our home furnishing range,” says Tolga Öncü, Ingka Retail Manager (COO) at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group). “Securing the lowest possible price for our products is always our utmost goal, and this is even more important in today’s times of economic uncertainties and cost-of-living pressures.”

At the same time, IKEA is refreshing its food offer with new dishes inspired by Asian flavours, expanding affordable, healthy options for customers.

“We always look for ways to bring more variety to our food offer, especially with new plant-based options,” says Lorena Lourido Gomez, Global Food Manager, IKEA Retail (Ingka Group). “We will soon launch our very first falafel, adding this popular food to our restaurants and, later, to our Swedish Food Markets. Good quality, low price, and making a positive difference for the planet – those ingredients remain a guiding star for our food business.”

Heading toward the end of FY25, IKEA remains focused on helping customers make the most of their finances while delivering value through both food and home furnishing.

*Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.

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www.ingka.com/newsroom/latest-news

SOURCE IKEA

Image Credit: Slate Auto

The Affordable EV Dream, Derailed

Slate Auto made waves in early 2025 by announcing an electric pickup truck with a revolutionary promise: a starting price under $20,000. With a minimalist, modular design and direct-to-consumer sales model, the company hoped to disrupt the industry by delivering a rugged, no-frills EV that everyday drivers could actually afford.

But that promise may now be broken.

In July 2025, the newly passed “Big Beautiful Bill” from President Donald Trump eliminated the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, a cornerstone of Slate’s pricing model. And as of now, Slate has quietly removed its sub-$20K price claims, signaling a dramatic shift in its market positioning.

What Was the Original Plan?

Slate Auto’s vision was simple:

Base price of the pickup: ~$25,000 Subtract $7,500 tax credit → final cost: $17,500 Optional bolt-on accessories and upgrades for customization

This formula positioned the Slate truck as a compelling solution for tradespeople, students, rural drivers, and eco-conscious buyers seeking low-cost alternatives to gas trucks.

What Changed?

The Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed in July 2025, includes a provision that eliminates all federal EV tax credits starting September 30, 2025. That means:

No more $7,500 off at the point of sale Budget EVs like Slate’s are left to float—or sink—on their true retail pricing EV industry analysts warn of broader slowdowns in adoption

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For Slate, it means their truck is no longer “America’s first under-$20K EV pickup.” Instead, the expected price now ranges from $25,000 to $27,500, and could rise to $35K with add-ons—putting it closer to competitors like the Ford Maverick Hybrid and Chevy Equinox EV.

The Fallout

This change hits hard for Slate, which built its brand on simplicity and accessibility. Without the tax credit:

Entry-level customers are priced out Preorder holders may cancel based on unexpected price hikes Market differentiation is weakened, as affordability was Slate’s primary value proposition

Meanwhile, critics argue the rollback of tax credits slows EV adoption at a critical time in the climate fight. Environmental groups and consumer advocates are already pushing back, saying the bill disproportionately hurts low- and middle-income Americans who were just beginning to consider electric vehicles.

What’s Next for Slate?

Slate says it still plans to begin production in late 2026, but without the EV credit, it must rework its pricing strategy and value offering. Possibilities include:

Offering fewer standard features Creating stripped-down fleet or worksite models Lobbying for state-level incentives to offset federal losses

Whether these changes will be enough to keep Slate competitive remains to be seen.

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Final Thoughts

The electric vehicle space is undergoing seismic shifts, and the demise of the federal EV tax credit is likely to create ripple effects across the industry. For Slate Auto, the dream of a sub-$20K EV pickup may be over—but if they can pivot wisely, the company could still carve out a niche in the fast-evolving electric truck market.

Visit Slate Auto: https://www.slate.auto/en

Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter.  https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/

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A Cosmic Rarity: Another Visitor from the Stars

In an exciting development for astronomers and space enthusiasts alike, scientists have confirmed the discovery of a new interstellar object—officially named 3I/ATLAS—currently passing through our solar system. This marks only the third known object from another star system to visit us, following the mysterious ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and the icy 2I/Borisov in 2019.

The object was first detected on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS telescope in Chile. Initially cataloged as A11pl3Z, further analysis confirmed that its speed and orbital trajectory are hyperbolic—meaning it’s not bound by the Sun’s gravity and is merely passing through, just like its rare predecessors.

What Do We Know About 3I/ATLAS?

Origin: The object’s interstellar origin is confirmed by its high velocity—traveling at around 60 km/s (37 miles per second)—and its hyperbolic orbit. Composition: Unlike ‘Oumuamua, which sparked debate due to its lack of a visible tail, 3I/ATLAS appears to be a comet, exhibiting a faint coma and short dust tail. Size: The comet’s nucleus could be as large as 10 kilometers (6 miles) across, though dust and debris around it may be inflating those estimates. Distance from Earth: It will come no closer than 150 to 240 million miles, posing no threat to our planet. Visibility: It’s currently about 420 million miles from the Sun and will reach its closest approach (perihelion) around October 29–30, 2025. After briefly disappearing behind the Sun, it may reappear for additional observation in December.

@stmblog

🚨 A comet from another star system is flying through our solar system right now! 🌠 Meet 3I/ATLAS — only the 3rd interstellar object ever seen! 👽✨ SpaceTok 3IATLAS Oumuamua Interstellar ScienceTok AstronomyFacts DidYouKnow CosmicVisitor #STMDailyNews https://stmdailynews.com/a-new-interstell…our-solar-system/ ♬ original sound – STMDailyNews – STMDailyNews

Why Interstellar Objects Matter

Interstellar objects are not just celestial curiosities—they are time capsules carrying information about the environments where they formed, likely in entirely different star systems. Their compositions, movements, and structures give scientists rare glimpses into the diversity of planetary building blocks in our galaxy.

‘Oumuamua puzzled scientists with its unusual shape and lack of comet-like activity, while 2I/Borisov looked more like a traditional comet. Now, 3I/ATLAS gives us another chance to compare and contrast these space travelers and deepen our understanding of how solar systems form and evolve.

Eyes on the Sky

Though faint and fast-moving, 3I/ATLAS is already being tracked by observatories around the world. With modern telescopes and tools that weren’t available even a decade ago, astronomers are optimistic about gathering unprecedented data on this rare visitor.

Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a casual cosmic tourist, it’s thrilling to know that something from another solar system is soaring through our cosmic backyard—reminding us of the vastness and wonder of the universe.

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Sources:

Reuters: Newly Spotted Comet is Third Interstellar Object The Guardian: Mystery Object Likely from Beyond Our Solar System AP News: Astronomers Track Third Interstellar Visitor

Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter.  https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/

🧠 Forgotten Genius Fridays

A Short-Form Series from The Knowledge by STM Daily News

Every Friday, STM Daily News shines a light on brilliant minds history overlooked.

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Forgotten Genius Fridays is a weekly collection of short videos and articles dedicated to inventors, innovators, scientists, and creators whose impact changed the world—but whose names were often left out of the textbooks.

From life-saving inventions and cultural breakthroughs to game-changing ideas buried by bias, our series digs up the truth behind the minds that mattered.

Each episode of The Knowledge runs 30–90 seconds, designed for curious minds on the go—perfect for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Reels, and quick reads.

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Because remembering these stories isn’t just about the past—it’s about restoring credit where it’s long overdue.

🔔 New episodes every Friday

📺 Watch now at: stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge

🧠 Now you know.

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