ev.news by Martyn Lee | Biz and Tech Podcasts

October 16, 202625 min

ev.news Daily: VW ID. Buzz Will Get Second Edition, BMW iX5 Drives 500 Miles and Two Powerhouse Electric Superminis | 16 Oct 2026

VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS NEXT ID. BUZZ WITH COST CUTS PLANNED Volkswagen has confirmed a second-generation ID. Buzz using its SSP platform to reduce production costs, although a lower showroom price and launch date remain unconfirmed. Deliveries rose 102% to 60,700 in 2025, with Cargo versions accounting for around 46%, making commercial buyers central to the successor’s prospects alongside families attracted by its design. BMW IX5 DRIVES 500 MILES WITHOUT CHARGING BMW’s battery-electric iX5 completed an 805-kilometre California journey without charging, with an estimated further 50 miles remaining, although undisclosed driving conditions limit what the demonstration proves. The US specification combines a 144.0 kWh usable battery with up to 460 kW DC charging and a claimed 22-minute 10–80% charge, while BMW’s separate 435-mile EPA-procedure estimate remains uncertified. RENAULT 5 TURBO 3E NEARS COMPLETION FOR 2028 DELIVERIES Renault’s 5 Turbo 3E is nearing completion ahead of 2028 deliveries, with 1,980 cars planned at prices from €160,000 and full personalisation expected to open in mid-2027. Its bespoke Alpine-developed platform and 410 kW twin rear in-wheel motors target electric-car collectors, supported by a 70.0 kWh usable battery, provisional WLTP range exceeding 248 miles and claimed 15-minute 15–80% charging. SMART CONFIRMS BRABUS VERSION OF ELECTRIC TWO-SEATER Smart has confirmed a Brabus version of its electric #2 two-seater, returning the performance badge to a compact urban car, although power, price and launch timing remain unannounced. Standard-model pre-orders open in spring 2027 with a starting price below £20,000, a 60 kW rear motor, 35.8 kWh LFP battery and provisional 180-mile WLTP range, but these are not confirmed Brabus specifications. MODEL Y TOPS GERMANY’S SEPTEMBER CAR CHART Tesla’s Model Y led Germany’s September car registrations with 8,038 vehicles, while battery-electric registrations rose about 95% to 88,599, taking 34.5% of the market and outselling non-hybrid petrol and diesel cars combined. Battery-electric cars also reached 48.7% of private registrations, although Tesla’s quarter-end delivery pattern tempers the monthly result and the Skoda Elroq remained ahead among EVs over the first nine months. CALIFORNIA HOME BATTERIES SET 745 MW DISPATCH RECORD California home batteries supplied a reported record 745 MW at peak on 6 October, including over 600 MW from more than 85,000 Powerwall owners, exceeding the output of most individual gas peaker plants in the state. The record beat the previous peak by 28%, but Tesla and Sunrun’s figures overlap, and published data do not establish total energy delivered or whether peak output was sustained. CHERY CONFIRMS ICAUR UK LAUNCH FOR EARLY 2027 Chery plans to launch iCaur as its fifth UK brand in early 2027, led by the Defender-sized V27 through a separate dealer network, with British pricing and powertrain details unconfirmed. The V27 sold elsewhere uses a petrol range-extender, while the smaller battery-electric V23 has not been confirmed for Britain, meaning the brand’s arrival does not yet guarantee another fully electric option. BIBBY LAUNCHES BATTERY-FIRST OFFSHORE WIND VESSEL Bibby Marine has launched Staffordshire, a battery-first offshore wind service vessel due for delivery in 2027, although battery installation remains ahead and its planned 22.4 MWh capacity differs from the supplier’s near-25 MWh figure. Bibby expects up to 24 hours of battery operation, initially recharged by methanol-capable generators, and forecasts operating-cost savings above 40%, rising to as much as 70% with future offshore charging. AUDI ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE WAGON SPOTTED TESTING A camouflaged Audi electric performance estate has appeared at the Nürburgring despite earlier reports that the RS6 Avant e-tron had been cancelled, suggesting development continues without confirming the RS programme’s return. Reports suggest a Performance badge instead, but Audi has confirmed neither branding nor output, and photographs cannot establish improvements in sustained power, cooling or braking. US USED-EV VALUES RISE AS NON-EV VALUES FALL US used-EV retail sales reached a record roughly 124,000 in the third quarter, up 11.4% year on year, while September’s adjusted EV wholesale values rose 4.3% against a 1.6% decline for non-EVs. More than 100,000 off-lease electric cars are expected in the final quarter of 2026, expanding access to relatively recent models, although stronger demand means additional supply will not necessarily make them cheaper. ICCT MODELS LARGE OIL SAVINGS FROM FASTER ELECTRIFICATION ICCT modelling suggests faster electrification could avoid cumulative road-transport oil use equivalent to the lifetime consumption of 863 million petrol cars through 2050, but this ambitious scenario depends on implementing international zero-emission vehicle commitments. Electric drivetrains’ greater efficiency lowers overall energy demand, while separate California modelling suggests managed charging and off-peak tariffs could reduce projected distribution-grid upgrade costs through 2035 from $50 billion to $15 billion.

October 16, 20264 min

ev.news Briefly: ID. Buzz, BMW iX5, Renault 5 Turbo & more | 16 Oct 2026

VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS NEXT ID. BUZZ WITH COST CUTS PLANNED Volkswagen has confirmed a second-generation ID. Buzz using its SSP platform to reduce production costs, although a lower showroom price and launch date remain unconfirmed. Deliveries rose 102% to 60,700 in 2025, with Cargo versions accounting for around 46%, making commercial buyers central to the successor’s prospects alongside families attracted by its design. BMW IX5 DRIVES 500 MILES WITHOUT CHARGING BMW’s battery-electric iX5 completed an 805-kilometre California journey without charging, with an estimated further 50 miles remaining, although undisclosed driving conditions limit what the demonstration proves. The US specification combines a 144.0 kWh usable battery with up to 460 kW DC charging and a claimed 22-minute 10–80% charge, while BMW’s separate 435-mile EPA-procedure estimate remains uncertified. RENAULT 5 TURBO 3E NEARS COMPLETION FOR 2028 DELIVERIES Renault’s 5 Turbo 3E is nearing completion ahead of 2028 deliveries, with 1,980 cars planned at prices from €160,000 and full personalisation expected to open in mid-2027. Its bespoke Alpine-developed platform and 410 kW twin rear in-wheel motors target electric-car collectors, supported by a 70.0 kWh usable battery, provisional WLTP range exceeding 248 miles and claimed 15-minute 15–80% charging. SMART CONFIRMS BRABUS VERSION OF ELECTRIC TWO-SEATER Smart has confirmed a Brabus version of its electric #2 two-seater, returning the performance badge to a compact urban car, although power, price and launch timing remain unannounced. Standard-model pre-orders open in spring 2027 with a starting price below £20,000, a 60 kW rear motor, 35.8 kWh LFP battery and provisional 180-mile WLTP range, but these are not confirmed Brabus specifications. MODEL Y TOPS GERMANY’S SEPTEMBER CAR CHART Tesla’s Model Y led Germany’s September car registrations with 8,038 vehicles, while battery-electric registrations rose about 95% to 88,599, taking 34.5% of the market and outselling non-hybrid petrol and diesel cars combined. Battery-electric cars also reached 48.7% of private registrations, although Tesla’s quarter-end delivery pattern tempers the monthly result and the Skoda Elroq remained ahead among EVs over the first nine months. CALIFORNIA HOME BATTERIES SET 745 MW DISPATCH RECORD California home batteries supplied a reported record 745 MW at peak on 6 October, including over 600 MW from more than 85,000 Powerwall owners, exceeding the output of most individual gas peaker plants in the state. The record beat the previous peak by 28%, but Tesla and Sunrun’s figures overlap, and published data do not establish total energy delivered or whether peak output was sustained. CHERY CONFIRMS ICAUR UK LAUNCH FOR EARLY 2027 Chery plans to launch iCaur as its fifth UK brand in early 2027, led by the Defender-sized V27 through a separate dealer network, with British pricing and powertrain details unconfirmed. The V27 sold elsewhere uses a petrol range-extender, while the smaller battery-electric V23 has not been confirmed for Britain, meaning the brand’s arrival does not yet guarantee another fully electric option. BIBBY LAUNCHES BATTERY-FIRST OFFSHORE WIND VESSEL Bibby Marine has launched Staffordshire, a battery-first offshore wind service vessel due for delivery in 2027, although battery installation remains ahead and its planned 22.4 MWh capacity differs from the supplier’s near-25 MWh figure. Bibby expects up to 24 hours of battery operation, initially recharged by methanol-capable generators, and forecasts operating-cost savings above 40%, rising to as much as 70% with future offshore charging. AUDI ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE WAGON SPOTTED TESTING A camouflaged Audi electric performance estate has appeared at the Nürburgring despite earlier reports that the RS6 Avant e-tron had been cancelled, suggesting development continues without confirming the RS programme’s return. Reports suggest a Performance badge instead, but Audi has confirmed neither branding nor output, and photographs cannot establish improvements in sustained power, cooling or braking. US USED-EV VALUES RISE AS NON-EV VALUES FALL US used-EV retail sales reached a record roughly 124,000 in the third quarter, up 11.4% year on year, while September’s adjusted EV wholesale values rose 4.3% against a 1.6% decline for non-EVs. More than 100,000 off-lease electric cars are expected in the final quarter of 2026, expanding access to relatively recent models, although stronger demand means additional supply will not necessarily make them cheaper. ICCT MODELS LARGE OIL SAVINGS FROM FASTER ELECTRIFICATION ICCT modelling suggests faster electrification could avoid cumulative road-transport oil use equivalent to the lifetime consumption of 863 million petrol cars through 2050, but this ambitious scenario depends on implementing international zero-emission vehicle commitments. Electric drivetrains’ greater efficiency lowers overall energy demand, while separate California modelling suggests managed charging and off-peak tariffs could reduce projected distribution-grid upgrade costs through 2035 from $50 billion to $15 billion.

October 16, 202622 min

ev.news China: Domestic Automakers Support Export Deal, Leapmotor's sporty A10s and ID. Aura Sedan Teased | 16 Oct 2026

CHINA’S CARMAKERS BACK EU HYBRID LIMITS BYD, Geely Holding and Chery have backed a China–EU hybrid-trade framework that the EU says would halve exports against its four-year no-deal forecast, not today’s shipments. Beijing says the quota would exceed the 2025 baseline of 302,000 vehicles, offering exporters more predictable but constrained access while leaving separate duties on Chinese battery-electric cars unchanged. LEAPMOTOR SETS A10S LAUNCH FOR 18 OCTOBER Leapmotor will launch the sportier A10s small SUV in China on 18 October, with its undisclosed price crucial to retaining the existing A10’s budget appeal. Reported specifications include an 800-volt platform, 39.8 kWh and 53.0 kWh batteries, 403–505 km of CLTC range and a fastest 30–80% charge of 16 minutes, although final trim specifications remain unconfirmed. FAW-VW TEASES POSSIBLE ID. AURA SEDAN FAW-Volkswagen has teased a possible electric sedan, which local reporting expects to be named ID. AURA L5 and use electronic architecture developed with Xpeng. Its name, powertrain and launch date remain unconfirmed, but Volkswagen Group’s 42.5% fall in Chinese battery-electric deliveries over the first nine months underscores the pressure for locally developed models that compete on software, cost and launch speed. CHERY PICKS BOSCH FOR SIX EUROPEAN MODELS Chery and Bosch have agreed to develop camera-based driving and parking assistance for six European models, with production scheduled for 2028 and more than 800,000 systems anticipated over five years. Bosch’s European testing experience could accelerate localisation as Chery expands, although individual vehicles will still need their own approvals and the systems require driver supervision. CHANGAN AND CATL REAFFIRM 75 GWH BATTERY PLAN Changan and CATL have reaffirmed plans for 75 GWh of joint battery-cell capacity, including a 25 GWh expansion scheduled to start production in the second half of 2027. The projects could strengthen supply for Avatr, Deepal and Nevo alongside sodium-ion and solid-state development, but the capacity announcement does not establish a solid-state breakthrough or confirm that all production lines are operating. JETOUR LAUNCHES TRAVELLER 7 PLUG-IN HYBRID Jetour has launched the Traveller 7 plug-in hybrid in China at approximately $22,800–$25,800 before conditional offers, with 26.6 kWh or 45.1 kWh batteries delivering a claimed 140–251 km of CLTC electric range. The launch hybrids are two-wheel drive despite their off-road styling, while Jetour’s claim of more than 10,000 firm orders in 30 minutes signals early interest rather than completed deliveries. CHANGAN SEEKS EUROPEAN PRODUCTION IN EARLY 2027 Changan hopes to build its first European-made vehicle in early 2027 and reach annual production of 180,000 cars by 2028, with supply and joint-production discussions under way. The EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act would, under its standard route, tie covered public purchases and support to EU assembly, at least 70% EU-origin non-battery component value and separate battery conditions, making local supply chains increasingly important. CHINESE EV ARRIVALS COULD DELAY CANADIAN BUYERS An Abacus Data survey found that 42% of respondents inclined to choose an EV said Chinese brands’ expected arrival next year could influence them to postpone buying, rather than reporting purchases already delayed. China-built cars are excluded from federal EV rebates, worth up to C$4,000 for eligible battery-electric rivals in 2027, while the first-year 49,000-vehicle import quota is shared with foreign-owned brands manufacturing in China. BYD REPORTEDLY PLANS 18 CAR CARRIERS BY 2029 BYD reportedly plans to expand its dedicated car-carrier fleet from eight ships to 18 by 2029, with capacity for about 9,200 cars per new vessel, although it did not confirm the proposal to Rest of World. More ships could ease export bottlenecks caused by longer routes, but a dedicated fleet does not necessarily mean vessel ownership, and greater shipping capacity does not guarantee overseas retail demand. CHINA EXPECTS 50 MILLION KW OF FLEXIBLE EV CHARGING Engineer Ouyang Minggao has outlined an expectation of 50 million kW of adjustable EV charging capacity in China by 2030, using the growing vehicle fleet to help manage electricity demand. This includes shifting charging away from peak periods, not simply feeding electricity back into the grid, while bidirectional services must make financial sense for owners and account for compatible equipment, battery wear and travel needs. GOTION PLANS MOROCCO BATTERY PLANT COMMISSIONING Gotion Power Morocco says equipment commissioning at its Kenitra battery factory will begin during the week of 20 October, after recruiting more than 400 Moroccan employees, most trained in China. The milestone advances China’s overseas battery expansion alongside a proposed PowerCo–Gotion cathode-materials venture, but commissioning is not full commercial production and trade advantages depend on genuine local manufacturing and applicable origin rules.

October 16, 202626 min

ev.news Fleet: Europe’s EV Fightback At Paris Motor Show - A to Z Of The Best Cars

Europe’s carmakers came to the Paris Motor Show 2026 ready to fight for the electric-car buyer. From the Renault Twingo’s character to the Peugeot E-208 GTi’s performance appeal, there was renewed confidence in making EVs people genuinely want. In this episode of ev.news , Martyn Lee explores a European fightback built on desirable design, practical choices and a rediscovery of what made these brands worth caring about. But the Chinese manufacturers didn’t arrive ready to surrender. They brought their strongest technology, with BYD’s Flash Charging ambitions illustrating how hard they are pushing the charging benchmark. Their growing manufacturing presence in Europe also makes this more complicated than a contest between imports and home-grown cars. Europe brought a convincing response, but has it closed the competitiveness gap—or simply made the competition more interesting? That contest made Paris a brilliant motor show. Beyond the individual launches, the bigger story is what buyers stand to gain: more affordable options, more personality, more practical body styles and better reasons to choose electric. Not every promise is a production car yet, but the choice is already expanding. Ultimately, the consumer wins when manufacturers compete to build cars that fit people’s lives, rather than expecting people to fit around the cars available.

October 15, 202623 min

ev.news Daily: Canada Restricts Tesla Model 3, US EV Sales Rebound & Smart Opens Pre-Orders For Reinvented ForTwo | 15 Oct 2026

TESLA HALTS MODEL 3 PREMIUM ORDERS WITH QUOTA UNUSED Tesla has stopped taking Canadian orders for both versions of the Model 3 Premium, claiming its allocation is exhausted despite government figures showing 33,069 of 33,397 Chinese EV import quota places remain available. Canadian rules permit officials to reserve allocations, but no Tesla-specific limit has been disclosed, raising questions about how manufacturers are being granted access to the country's import quota. US EV SALES REBOUND AS TOYOTA AND RIVIAN GAIN US electric vehicle sales rose 7.7% quarter-on-quarter to 266,630 in Q3 2026, lifting market share to 6.5%, although volumes remained 38.6% below last year's incentive-driven peak. Rivian gained 45.7% and Subaru grew 31.5%, while Tesla retained approximately 54% market share despite a 19.7% decline in deliveries. SMART OPENS #2 PRE-ORDERS FROM €19,990 Smart has opened European pre-orders for its new #2 two-seat electric city car, priced from €19,990 in Germany, with a 35.8 kWh LFP battery, 60 kW rear motor and provisional 290 km WLTP range ahead of wider availability in 2027. All four trims share the same battery and motor, with higher specifications adding equipment and faster AC charging rather than additional range, while every version supports 65 kW DC charging and vehicle-to-load functionality. MERCEDES OFFERS GERMAN EV OWNERS PAID GRID SUPPORT Mercedes-Benz is introducing bidirectional home charging in Germany, initially for the electric GLC and C-Class, allowing owners to earn an estimated €500 annually by making their batteries available for grid services. The system requires an 11 kW DC wallbox and compatible electricity tariff, with introductory wallbox pricing of €1,990 potentially allowing customers to recover their investment within four years, according to Mercedes' estimates. SKODA PRICES EPIQ SPORTLINE AT £32,450 Skoda has priced its Epiq SportLine compact electric SUV at £32,450 in the UK, offering a 55 kWh battery, 155 kW motor, approximately 270 miles of provisional range and 10–80% charging in as little as 24 minutes. The sportier specification adds Matrix LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, electrically adjustable sports seats and vehicle-to-load capability, with first customer deliveries expected in early 2027. RENAULT CUTS 4 E-TECH PRICE BY €1,810 Renault has reduced the German starting price of its 4 E-Tech electric SUV by €1,810 to €27,690, while improving aerodynamic efficiency and increasing WLTP range to 310 km for the 40 kWh version and 415 km for the 52 kWh model. Drivers also gain manually activated battery preconditioning for more convenient fast charging, making the lower purchase price the most significant improvement in the car's competitiveness against combustion alternatives. RENAULT SETS €47,000 LAUNCH PRICE FOR NEW ELECTRIC TRAFIC Renault's new electric Trafic van will initially launch in France at €47,000 before VAT with an 81 kWh battery, up to 470 km of provisional WLTP range and 800-volt charging capable of adding 280 km in 20 minutes, while a cheaper €41,500 version with a 60 kWh battery follows in early 2027. Built alongside diesel Trafics at Sandouville, the electric van offers up to 1.3 tonnes of payload, with Renault estimating total ownership costs up to 10% lower than a comparable diesel. RENAULT DEMANDS MORE DISTINCT CARS FROM PARTNERS Renault CEO François Provost wants future vehicles manufactured for Nissan, Ford and Mitsubishi to look and feel more distinctive, acknowledging that the Nissan Micra shares too much of its interior and exterior design with the Renault 5. The strategy aims to preserve the manufacturing savings of shared electric platforms while ensuring partner brands retain their own identities, although greater differentiation will increase production costs. VALEO PLANS OPEN-SOURCE DRIVING AI Valeo and research laboratory KE:SAI plan to release an open-source AI driving system, including its code, trained models and datasets, allowing manufacturers to develop and customise autonomous driving technology without relying entirely on proprietary software suppliers. The compact system is intended to work across different vehicles and sensor configurations, but remains a development project requiring extensive validation before any production deployment. TOMTOM SAYS EV NAVIGATION SETUP NOW TAKES MINUTES TomTom has launched a self-service platform that it claims reduces the time manufacturers need to configure EV-specific navigation services from months to minutes, using vehicle specifications and real-world driving data to calculate energy consumption and charging requirements. Its routing system incorporates more than 2.3 million charging connectors across 117 countries, potentially allowing manufacturers to introduce tailored EV navigation more quickly without establishing that range predictions are necessarily more accurate. LUCID AIR US SALES FALL 80.0%, COX ESTIMATES Lucid's Air electric saloon suffered an estimated 80% year-on-year collapse in US sales to just 506 vehicles during Q3 2026, according to Cox Automotive, while the Gravity SUV recorded 2,202 sales but could not prevent the company's combined US volume declining 14.9%. Alternative estimates differ on the model breakdown, although both suggest Gravity is becoming Lucid's main retail product, while official global deliveries fell 6.7% to 3,806 vehicles. BMW PLANS OVER €100M FOR ELECTRIC DRIVE COMPONENTS BMW will invest more than €100 million at its Steyr factory in Austria to manufacture inverter power modules for its next-generation electric drivetrains, with production scheduled to begin in summer 2029. Although the facility continues producing more than one million petrol and diesel engines annually, the investment strengthens BMW's internal control of critical EV technology and demonstrates how established combustion-engine factories are increasingly developing electric manufacturing capabilities. VOLVO EX60 PRODUCTION PROBLEMS DELAY US DELIVERIES Volvo's EX60 electric SUV is reportedly suffering battery installation and electric motor manufacturing bottlenecks at its Swedish factory, restricting production to approximately one-tenth of the planned 2,000 vehicles weekly and delaying substantial US deliveries until the first half of 2027. Volvo is prioritising European demand, leaving American customers with limited availability of the EX60 following the discontinuation of the EX30 and EX40 in the US, making manufacturing capacity rather than demand the immediate constraint on growth.

October 15, 20264 min

ev.news Briefly: Tesla, US EV Share, Smart & more | 15 Oct 2026

TESLA HALTS MODEL 3 PREMIUM ORDERS WITH QUOTA UNUSED Tesla has stopped taking Canadian orders for both versions of the Model 3 Premium, claiming its allocation is exhausted despite government figures showing 33,069 of 33,397 Chinese EV import quota places remain available. Canadian rules permit officials to reserve allocations, but no Tesla-specific limit has been disclosed, raising questions about how manufacturers are being granted access to the country's import quota. US EV SALES REBOUND AS TOYOTA AND RIVIAN GAIN US electric vehicle sales rose 7.7% quarter-on-quarter to 266,630 in Q3 2026, lifting market share to 6.5%, although volumes remained 38.6% below last year's incentive-driven peak. Rivian gained 45.7% and Subaru grew 31.5%, while Tesla retained approximately 54% market share despite a 19.7% decline in deliveries. SMART OPENS #2 PRE-ORDERS FROM €19,990 Smart has opened European pre-orders for its new #2 two-seat electric city car, priced from €19,990 in Germany, with a 35.8 kWh LFP battery, 60 kW rear motor and provisional 290 km WLTP range ahead of wider availability in 2027. All four trims share the same battery and motor, with higher specifications adding equipment and faster AC charging rather than additional range, while every version supports 65 kW DC charging and vehicle-to-load functionality. MERCEDES OFFERS GERMAN EV OWNERS PAID GRID SUPPORT Mercedes-Benz is introducing bidirectional home charging in Germany, initially for the electric GLC and C-Class, allowing owners to earn an estimated €500 annually by making their batteries available for grid services. The system requires an 11 kW DC wallbox and compatible electricity tariff, with introductory wallbox pricing of €1,990 potentially allowing customers to recover their investment within four years, according to Mercedes' estimates. SKODA PRICES EPIQ SPORTLINE AT £32,450 Skoda has priced its Epiq SportLine compact electric SUV at £32,450 in the UK, offering a 55 kWh battery, 155 kW motor, approximately 270 miles of provisional range and 10–80% charging in as little as 24 minutes. The sportier specification adds Matrix LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, electrically adjustable sports seats and vehicle-to-load capability, with first customer deliveries expected in early 2027. RENAULT CUTS 4 E-TECH PRICE BY €1,810 Renault has reduced the German starting price of its 4 E-Tech electric SUV by €1,810 to €27,690, while improving aerodynamic efficiency and increasing WLTP range to 310 km for the 40 kWh version and 415 km for the 52 kWh model. Drivers also gain manually activated battery preconditioning for more convenient fast charging, making the lower purchase price the most significant improvement in the car's competitiveness against combustion alternatives. RENAULT SETS €47,000 LAUNCH PRICE FOR NEW ELECTRIC TRAFIC Renault's new electric Trafic van will initially launch in France at €47,000 before VAT with an 81 kWh battery, up to 470 km of provisional WLTP range and 800-volt charging capable of adding 280 km in 20 minutes, while a cheaper €41,500 version with a 60 kWh battery follows in early 2027. Built alongside diesel Trafics at Sandouville, the electric van offers up to 1.3 tonnes of payload, with Renault estimating total ownership costs up to 10% lower than a comparable diesel. RENAULT DEMANDS MORE DISTINCT CARS FROM PARTNERS Renault CEO François Provost wants future vehicles manufactured for Nissan, Ford and Mitsubishi to look and feel more distinctive, acknowledging that the Nissan Micra shares too much of its interior and exterior design with the Renault 5. The strategy aims to preserve the manufacturing savings of shared electric platforms while ensuring partner brands retain their own identities, although greater differentiation will increase production costs. VALEO PLANS OPEN-SOURCE DRIVING AI Valeo and research laboratory KE:SAI plan to release an open-source AI driving system, including its code, trained models and datasets, allowing manufacturers to develop and customise autonomous driving technology without relying entirely on proprietary software suppliers. The compact system is intended to work across different vehicles and sensor configurations, but remains a development project requiring extensive validation before any production deployment. TOMTOM SAYS EV NAVIGATION SETUP NOW TAKES MINUTES TomTom has launched a self-service platform that it claims reduces the time manufacturers need to configure EV-specific navigation services from months to minutes, using vehicle specifications and real-world driving data to calculate energy consumption and charging requirements. Its routing system incorporates more than 2.3 million charging connectors across 117 countries, potentially allowing manufacturers to introduce tailored EV navigation more quickly without establishing that range predictions are necessarily more accurate. LUCID AIR US SALES FALL 80.0%, COX ESTIMATES Lucid's Air electric saloon suffered an estimated 80% year-on-year collapse in US sales to just 506 vehicles during Q3 2026, according to Cox Automotive, while the Gravity SUV recorded 2,202 sales but could not prevent the company's combined US volume declining 14.9%. Alternative estimates differ on the model breakdown, although both suggest Gravity is becoming Lucid's main retail product, while official global deliveries fell 6.7% to 3,806 vehicles. BMW PLANS OVER €100M FOR ELECTRIC DRIVE COMPONENTS BMW will invest more than €100 million at its Steyr factory in Austria to manufacture inverter power modules for its next-generation electric drivetrains, with production scheduled to begin in summer 2029. Although the facility continues producing more than one million petrol and diesel engines annually, the investment strengthens BMW's internal control of critical EV technology and demonstrates how established combustion-engine factories are increasingly developing electric manufacturing capabilities. VOLVO EX60 PRODUCTION PROBLEMS DELAY US DELIVERIES Volvo's EX60 electric SUV is reportedly suffering battery installation and electric motor manufacturing bottlenecks at its Swedish factory, restricting production to approximately one-tenth of the planned 2,000 vehicles weekly and delaying substantial US deliveries until the first half of 2027. Volvo is prioritising European demand, leaving American customers with limited availability of the EX60 following the discontinuation of the EX30 and EX40 in the US, making manufacturing capacity rather than demand the immediate constraint on growth.

October 15, 202619 min

ev.news China: BYD Launches Da Han With 1,008km Range, Tesla Model Y On Top & Chery Becomes China's Second Largest Exporter | 15 Oct 2026

BYD LAUNCHES DA HAN WITH 1,008 KM CLTC RANGE BYD has launched its flagship Da Han electric saloon from 235,900 yuan ($35,200), offering a 102.3 kWh Blade Battery, up to 1,008 km CLTC range (816 km WLTP), and claimed 10–97% charging in nine minutes using dedicated flash chargers. The 5.26-metre luxury EV features standard air suspension, rear-wheel steering and lidar-based driver assistance, with a 570 kW all-wheel-drive version accelerating to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, as BYD seeks to reverse a 71% decline in existing Han sales. TESLA MODEL Y TOPS CHINA’S SEPTEMBER SALES Tesla’s Model Y became China’s best-selling passenger vehicle across all powertrains in September with 50,359 sales, ahead of the Geely Xingyuan’s 44,275, despite being the most expensive vehicle in the top ten. New-energy vehicles reached a record 67% of passenger-car retail sales even as the overall market contracted 28% year on year, although Tesla remained fourth among NEV manufacturers behind BYD, Geely and Leapmotor. BYD PLANS GOD’S EYE FOR EUROPE IN 2027 BYD will introduce its lidar-based God’s Eye B urban driving assistance to Europe in 2027, beginning with the Denza Z9 GT through an over-the-air update, enabling supervised navigation through junctions, roundabouts and city traffic. The Level 2 system uses lidar, 11 cameras and radar sensors with continuous driver monitoring, while rival Xpeng is also preparing European urban-navigation assistance for early 2027. CHERY OVERTAKES GEELY IN CHINA’S NEV EXPORTS Chery has overtaken Geely to become China’s second-largest new-energy passenger vehicle exporter, shipping 85,990 vehicles in September, up 25.7% from August, compared with Geely’s 72,893. BYD remains the dominant exporter with 174,277 September shipments and a 31.1% market share, having exported more than 1.3 million NEVs during the first nine months of the year. XIAOMI’S RANGE-EXTENDERS LIFT SEPTEMBER DELIVERIES Xiaomi delivered 40,015 vehicles in September, up 32.7% month on month, as its newly launched Sky Nomad N70 and N90 range-extended SUVs contributed 12,444 sales while deliveries of its battery-electric SU7 and YU7 both declined. Despite securing more than 70,000 locked-in orders for the new SUVs, Xiaomi has delivered just 286,490 vehicles against its 550,000 annual target, requiring monthly deliveries to more than double during the final quarter. XPENG X9 AND AION UT EARN FIVE-STAR RATINGS The Xpeng X9 and GAC Aion UT have achieved five-star ANCAP safety ratings under tougher 2026 testing requirements, scoring 91% and 90% respectively for crash protection, although their Safe Driving scores were substantially lower at 56% and 68%. The smaller Aion UT combines its safety credentials with a 60 kWh battery and 430 km WLTP range, while ANCAP has urged manufacturers to restore physical controls for essential functions including wipers and demisting. XPENG SEEKS 500,000 ANNUAL EUROPEAN SALES Xpeng aims to sell 500,000 vehicles annually in Europe by 2030, representing half its planned global sales, and is exploring expanded European manufacturing capacity with Magna in Austria and other potential partners. Magna already builds several Xpeng models in Graz, but the manufacturer's European deliveries have totalled just over 60,000 since 2020, highlighting the scale of production expansion required to achieve its ambition. BYD’S LARGER SEAGULL ARRIVES AT DEALERS BYD’s second-generation Seagull has arrived at Chinese dealerships ahead of launch, growing 425 mm to 4.21 metres and offering 30 kWh or 39.2 kWh batteries with up to 420 km CLTC range (344 km WLTP). Expected to cost below 100,000 yuan ($14,900), the electric hatchback promises 10–97% flash charging in nine minutes, bringing ultra-fast charging technology into the affordable EV segment as BYD attempts to reverse a 66.5% decline in Seagull deliveries. CHINESE EXPERT WARNS OF BATTERY-RECYCLING COSTS China’s battery-recycling industry faces rising compliance costs, volatile raw-material prices and immature commercial models as increasing numbers of EV batteries reach retirement, according to Pan Wang of the China Automotive Technology & Research Center. Although revised recycling regulations took effect in April and recovered lithium, nickel and cobalt offer growing environmental benefits, the industry must overcome economic uncertainty to establish a sustainable supply of recycled battery materials.

October 14, 202623 min

ev.news Daily: Ford Opens Fathom Pre-Pre Orders, US Fast Charging Increases & Tesla Pauses Canadian Imports For 6 Months | 14 Oct 2026

FORD OPENS $29,945 FATHOM SIGN-UPS WITHOUT RANGE FIGURES Ford has opened an invitation list for its $29,945 Fathom electric pickup, with official pre-orders expected in early 2027 and deliveries later that year, but no range, charging or payload figures yet. The four-door truck will debut Ford’s Universal EV platform with a 400-volt system and lithium-iron-phosphate battery, leaving buyers unable to assess its practicality ahead of a full reveal expected before year-end. US FAST CHARGING PASSES 80,000 PORTS AS USAGE RISES America’s public fast-charging network has passed 80,000 ports after adding 4,106 in the third quarter, while charging sessions rose 26% year on year to 50.4 million. Some 73% of new ports were rated at least 250 kW, but average charging prices rose to $0.540 per kWh and about 90% of new stations opened in urban markets, leaving rural coverage uneven. TESLA PAUSES CANADIAN MODEL 3 ORDERS UNTIL MARCH Tesla has suspended Canadian orders for its lower-cost, Shanghai-built Model 3 until March 2027 after exhausting its import allocation, although around 33,000 permits remained within Canada’s national quota. Its expected return follows the quota reset, but China’s export VAT rebate cut from 13% to 9% on 1 April 2027 could subsequently pressure pricing; Tesla has announced no related increase. JAGUAR'S ELECTRIC RELAUNCH DRAWS OVER 50,000 SIGN-UPS Jaguar’s electric relaunch has attracted more than 50,000 registrations of interest, around 80% from newcomers, as its Type 01 four-door GT targets a more exclusive luxury market with Bentley as its reference point. The electric-only strategy depends on converting that interest into purchases at higher prices, with Jaguar’s managing director previously estimating that up to 85% of existing buyers could leave. ICAUR V25 SPOTTED CHARGING IN BRITAIN A camouflaged iCaur V25 range-extender has been photographed charging in Britain, suggesting Chery’s off-road brand may be preparing a UK launch, although none is confirmed. It combines a petrol generator, two electric motors and a 33.7 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, with a reported 130-mile electric range on an unspecified test cycle; a battery-only version is expected, but its market availability remains unclear. GM WEIGHS STARTUP ACCESS TO $145M BATTERY LAB General Motors is considering opening its $145 million battery laboratory in Warren, Michigan, to help startups develop cell-manufacturing skills, but no programme has been approved and access is not imminent. Construction is expected to finish in December, with development work covering lithium manganese-rich and sodium-ion batteries, although GM’s existing sodium-ion partnership with Peak Energy concerns grid storage rather than an announced EV battery. SOLAR AND BATTERIES HELP TEXAS THROUGH SUMMER HEAT Solar and batteries helped Texas’s grid through a relatively uneventful summer despite hotter weather and rising demand, with 3,440 MW of solar added in the first half of 2026 and utility-scale storage reaching 33.1 GWh. Storage can shift low-cost electricity into peak periods, while solar and storage projects can be built faster than gas plants, but transmission bottlenecks still constrain delivery to areas needing the power. MERCEDES TESTS E-CLASS-SHAPED CAR WITHOUT VISIBLE EXHAUSTS Mercedes has been photographed testing an E-Class-shaped vehicle without visible exhaust outlets at the Nürburgring, prompting speculation about a more conventionally styled electric successor to the EQE. Such a model could attract buyers seeking familiar saloon styling with electric propulsion, but the sighting does not confirm a launch. VOLKSWAGEN'S US EV SALES FALL 90% AFTER SUPPLY CUTS Volkswagen’s US EV sales fell 90% to 1,421 in the third quarter after it ended US-specification ID.4 production to make room for petrol SUVs and halted ID. Buzz imports. Supply cuts make this a poor standalone measure of EV demand, although discounts up to $12,500 indicate stock-clearing difficulties; an electric ID. Tiguan is expected next year, while the ID. Buzz is not due back until the 2028 model. BMW GROUP EV DELIVERIES RISE 7.2% DESPITE OVERALL DECLINE BMW Group’s fully electric deliveries rose 7.2% to 110,257 in the third quarter, representing 20% of the total, while overall deliveries fell 6.3% and combustion-engined vehicles, including hybrids, collectively declined. Europe led electric growth with a 37.5% increase and more than 100,000 orders for the Neue Klasse iX3 within a year, while a China-specific version is planned for November as the group faces a 24.8% overall delivery decline there. GRID BATTERY FAILURE RATE FALLS 98% PER GWh EPRI reports a 98% fall in the global failure rate of lithium-ion grid-storage batteries per gigawatt-hour between 2018 and 2025, a capacity-adjusted measure concerning stationary storage rather than electric-car batteries. Newer installations generally performed better and 93% of reviewed incidents caused no injuries or fatalities, but indoor facilities had higher failure rates and damage, with some older plants potentially needing safety upgrades or early retirement.

October 14, 20264 min

ev.news Briefly: Ford Fathom, US Charging, Tesla & more | 14 Oct 2026

FORD OPENS $29,945 FATHOM SIGN-UPS WITHOUT RANGE FIGURES Ford has opened an invitation list for its $29,945 Fathom electric pickup, with official pre-orders expected in early 2027 and deliveries later that year, but no range, charging or payload figures yet. The four-door truck will debut Ford’s Universal EV platform with a 400-volt system and lithium-iron-phosphate battery, leaving buyers unable to assess its practicality ahead of a full reveal expected before year-end. US FAST CHARGING PASSES 80,000 PORTS AS USAGE RISES America’s public fast-charging network has passed 80,000 ports after adding 4,106 in the third quarter, while charging sessions rose 26% year on year to 50.4 million. Some 73% of new ports were rated at least 250 kW, but average charging prices rose to $0.540 per kWh and about 90% of new stations opened in urban markets, leaving rural coverage uneven. TESLA PAUSES CANADIAN MODEL 3 ORDERS UNTIL MARCH Tesla has suspended Canadian orders for its lower-cost, Shanghai-built Model 3 until March 2027 after exhausting its import allocation, although around 33,000 permits remained within Canada’s national quota. Its expected return follows the quota reset, but China’s export VAT rebate cut from 13% to 9% on 1 April 2027 could subsequently pressure pricing; Tesla has announced no related increase. JAGUAR'S ELECTRIC RELAUNCH DRAWS OVER 50,000 SIGN-UPS Jaguar’s electric relaunch has attracted more than 50,000 registrations of interest, around 80% from newcomers, as its Type 01 four-door GT targets a more exclusive luxury market with Bentley as its reference point. The electric-only strategy depends on converting that interest into purchases at higher prices, with Jaguar’s managing director previously estimating that up to 85% of existing buyers could leave. ICAUR V25 SPOTTED CHARGING IN BRITAIN A camouflaged iCaur V25 range-extender has been photographed charging in Britain, suggesting Chery’s off-road brand may be preparing a UK launch, although none is confirmed. It combines a petrol generator, two electric motors and a 33.7 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, with a reported 130-mile electric range on an unspecified test cycle; a battery-only version is expected, but its market availability remains unclear. GM WEIGHS STARTUP ACCESS TO $145M BATTERY LAB General Motors is considering opening its $145 million battery laboratory in Warren, Michigan, to help startups develop cell-manufacturing skills, but no programme has been approved and access is not imminent. Construction is expected to finish in December, with development work covering lithium manganese-rich and sodium-ion batteries, although GM’s existing sodium-ion partnership with Peak Energy concerns grid storage rather than an announced EV battery. SOLAR AND BATTERIES HELP TEXAS THROUGH SUMMER HEAT Solar and batteries helped Texas’s grid through a relatively uneventful summer despite hotter weather and rising demand, with 3,440 MW of solar added in the first half of 2026 and utility-scale storage reaching 33.1 GWh. Storage can shift low-cost electricity into peak periods, while solar and storage projects can be built faster than gas plants, but transmission bottlenecks still constrain delivery to areas needing the power. MERCEDES TESTS E-CLASS-SHAPED CAR WITHOUT VISIBLE EXHAUSTS Mercedes has been photographed testing an E-Class-shaped vehicle without visible exhaust outlets at the Nürburgring, prompting speculation about a more conventionally styled electric successor to the EQE. Such a model could attract buyers seeking familiar saloon styling with electric propulsion, but the sighting does not confirm a launch. VOLKSWAGEN'S US EV SALES FALL 90% AFTER SUPPLY CUTS Volkswagen’s US EV sales fell 90% to 1,421 in the third quarter after it ended US-specification ID.4 production to make room for petrol SUVs and halted ID. Buzz imports. Supply cuts make this a poor standalone measure of EV demand, although discounts up to $12,500 indicate stock-clearing difficulties; an electric ID. Tiguan is expected next year, while the ID. Buzz is not due back until the 2028 model. BMW GROUP EV DELIVERIES RISE 7.2% DESPITE OVERALL DECLINE BMW Group’s fully electric deliveries rose 7.2% to 110,257 in the third quarter, representing 20% of the total, while overall deliveries fell 6.3% and combustion-engined vehicles, including hybrids, collectively declined. Europe led electric growth with a 37.5% increase and more than 100,000 orders for the Neue Klasse iX3 within a year, while a China-specific version is planned for November as the group faces a 24.8% overall delivery decline there. GRID BATTERY FAILURE RATE FALLS 98% PER GWh EPRI reports a 98% fall in the global failure rate of lithium-ion grid-storage batteries per gigawatt-hour between 2018 and 2025, a capacity-adjusted measure concerning stationary storage rather than electric-car batteries. Newer installations generally performed better and 93% of reviewed incidents caused no injuries or fatalities, but indoor facilities had higher failure rates and damage, with some older plants potentially needing safety upgrades or early retirement.

October 14, 202626 min

ev.news Policy: Did China Just Outsmart Europe In Hybrids Deal?

Europe’s hybrid-trade understanding with China looks like a victory for Brussels: an attempt to slow imports that escaped the additional duties on China-built battery-electric cars. But restricting Chinese imports and restricting Chinese brands are not the same thing. The central question is whether Europe has weakened its competitors—or encouraged them to become more deeply established inside its own car industry. China did not simply surrender. The proposed safeguard would cover other supplying countries, rather than single out China, while preserving Beijing’s rights to challenge the eventual rules. Both sides can also claim success by choosing different comparisons: Brussels measures the restriction against projected future exports, while Beijing points to potential growth over 2025 levels. The restrictions could reshape competition rather than reduce it. Scarce import places may encourage Chinese manufacturers to prioritise more expensive models, putting pressure on the premium vehicles that generate substantial profits for European brands. They could also strengthen the incentive to manufacture inside Europe. Larger Chinese companies would be better positioned to fund that investment, potentially leaving Europe facing fewer Chinese competitors—but stronger ones. That exposes the real policy choice: protecting European-owned brands is not the same as protecting European factories, suppliers and jobs. Genuine local manufacturing by Chinese companies could support the latter while challenging the former; merely assembling imported parts does not automatically establish European origin. Ultimately, Europe is buying time, not securing a technological victory. Success depends on whether its carmakers become more competitive—and how much value Chinese investment actually leaves in Europe.

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ev.news Daily: VW ID. Buzz Will Get Second Edition, BMW iX5 Drives 500 Miles and Two Powerhouse Electric Superminis | 16 Oct 2026

ev.news Briefly: ID. Buzz, BMW iX5, Renault 5 Turbo & more | 16 Oct 2026

ev.news China: Domestic Automakers Support Export Deal, Leapmotor's sporty A10s and ID. Aura Sedan Teased | 16 Oct 2026

ev.news Fleet: Europe’s EV Fightback At Paris Motor Show - A to Z Of The Best Cars

ev.news Daily: Canada Restricts Tesla Model 3, US EV Sales Rebound & Smart Opens Pre-Orders For Reinvented ForTwo | 15 Oct 2026

ev.news Briefly: Tesla, US EV Share, Smart & more | 15 Oct 2026

ev.news China: BYD Launches Da Han With 1,008km Range, Tesla Model Y On Top & Chery Becomes China's Second Largest Exporter | 15 Oct 2026

ev.news Daily: Ford Opens Fathom Pre-Pre Orders, US Fast Charging Increases & Tesla Pauses Canadian Imports For 6 Months | 14 Oct 2026

ev.news Briefly: Ford Fathom, US Charging, Tesla & more | 14 Oct 2026

ev.news Policy: Did China Just Outsmart Europe In Hybrids Deal?

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