ICCT: ‘EU carmakers catch up on CO₂ targets thanks to EV surge’

January 27, 2026

Carmakers across Europe have been granted breathing room to meet their CO2 targets. Some of the industry’s biggest names—most notably Volkswagen—were spared from facing hefty fines. The acceleration of EV sales last year, now at almost 20% of registrations, helped buy them some extra time. According to a report by the ICCT (International Council on […]

GM ditches electric Bolt early to make room for ICE models 

January 26, 2026

The geopolitical changes seem to be ending the lifecycle of the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt prematurely. With the dismissal of EV incentives, the SUV will be discontinued in 2027 and replaced by two internal combustion engine models that GM currently builds in China. The electric crossover Bolt has just begun arriving at U.S. dealerships, but its […]

Facelifted Volkswagen ID.4 will be called ID.Tiguan

January 23, 2026

According to Germany’s largest union, the ID. 4’s update will also affect its name. In the wake of the earlier announced return of the well-known family names, it will be labeled ID. Tiguan. It must help its recent electric sales surge in Europe and turn it into a more durable recovery. At a higher management […]

Smart promotes Germany’s chief Ufer to lead Europe and fix lagging sales

January 20, 2026

Smart has named Germany head Wolfgang Ufer as its next Europe chief. Ufer is a long-serving insider who has now been tasked with stabilizing a brand under pressure from tariffs, falling registrations, and an increasingly crowded electric vehicle market. Smart said Ufer will take over leadership of its European operations in March. He succeeds Dirk […]

Germany revives EV subsidy to boost private demand

January 20, 2026

Germany is bringing back purchase incentives for electric vehicles. The country seeks to reboot private demand after a sharp market slowdown, giving its domestic auto sector some breathing room. Germany’s federal government has outlined a new subsidy program that will offer buyers between 1,500 euros and 6,000 euros toward the purchase of electric and certain plug-in […]

Porsche’s China engine is misfiring, and sales are paying the price

January 19, 2026

Porsche closed 2025 with its steepest global sales decline since the financial crisis era. The main scapegoat? Another year of falling deliveries in China. The slide erased gains elsewhere and forces the sports car brand to seriously rethink how it competes in the world’s largest auto market. Porsche delivered 279,449 vehicles worldwide last year, down […]

EU Commission considers extending EV tariffs to Chinese hybrids

January 19, 2026

The European Union is weighing whether hybrid vehicles from China should face the same penalties as battery electric models made in the region. Just as Brussels and Beijing are attempting to steady their relationship with price floors, the debate has been reopened. Chinese brands are heavily mediatized for their competitive electric cars, but hybrids account […]

Nissan’s new NX8 for China bets on two horses: EV and EREV

January 16, 2026

Nissan’s newest SUV, developed and launched first in China, signals a clear break from the product playbook that has defined the brand’s global lineup for the past decade. The NX8, a car from the Dongfeng Nissan subsidiary, is a reminder that much of Nissan’s zero-emission innovation is now emerging from its Chinese joint venture rather than […]

Tesla ends one-time FSD purchases over low adoption

January 15, 2026

Tesla is closing the door on a long-standing sales tactic for its most controversial software feature, Full Self-Driving (FSD). Starting next month, buyers will no longer be able to purchase it outright, but will need to chose a monthly subscription. CEO Elon Musk, who pitched FSD as one of the company’s major income assets, confirmed […]

Renault courts premium buyers with new Filante crossover flagship

January 14, 2026

Renault has lifted the curtain on its new Filante crossover with an unmistakable message. The French carmaker is no longer satisfied with its role as a producer of sensible, mid-market vehicles. Instead, it is placing a costly bet on wealthier customers. But its ambition has no place on European roads. The Filante is Renault’s largest […]

Mercedes EV sales slide deepens as BMW widens the gap

January 13, 2026

Mercedes-Benz entered the new year under growing pressure to demonstrate that its electric strategy remains on track. Latest figures show the German premium carmaker lost more ground to BMW in battery-electric vehicle sales last year. Chased hot on the heels by the competition, demand has weakened in key regions. A spark of hope comes from […]

Price floors instead of tariffs: EU’s risky bet on Chinese EVs

January 13, 2026

The European Union has opened a narrow path for Chinese electric vehicle makers to sidestep punitive import duties. Detailed guidance shows how minimum prices could substitute for tariffs that have caused trade tensions between the two blocs since 2024. But why does Brussels want to hand over its extra income from punitive tariffs to the […]

Kia debuts its affordable EV2 electric car in Brussels

January 12, 2026

Kia kicks off the new year with the unveiling of the EV2, its affordable electric car designed to drive adoption among the broadest audience. At the Brussels Motor Show, the world premiere was a key driver of its international appeal. Unveiled to the public in Brussels during the press day last Friday, the Kia EV2 […]

810 km on a charge: Volvo’s all-new EX60 aims to crush range anxiety

January 09, 2026

Volvo Cars is raising the stakes in the crowded compact electric SUV market with its upcoming EX60. The battery-powered successor to its bestselling XC60 will travel farther and charge faster than any electric Volvo before. The EX60, set for full disclosure on January 21, is positioned as a critical model for Volvo as it tries […]

Longer range lifts Volkswagen electric Transporter’s appeal for fleets

January 09, 2026

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has refreshed its electric Transporter and Caravelle with a larger usable battery, faster charging, and an all-wheel-drive option. This should align the vans better with the needs of fleet buyers who demand electric light commercial vehicles to move beyond city-only duties. A lack of incentives and demanding use cases are hampering the […]

Norwegian car sales are now (as good as) fully electric

January 06, 2026

Norway closed out 2025 with a milestone: nearly 100% of electric car registrations. The country has officially reached its long-standing target: a new car fleet free of tailpipe emissions. Simultaneously, the share of electric cars on Norwegian roads now overshadows that of diesel cars. Norway’s new-car market shattered records in 2025, both in total sales […]

CES 2026: Lucid and Uber unveil their global robotaxi 

January 06, 2026

Lucid and Uber make a high-profile entrance into the robotaxi race with the unveiling of a six-seat version based on the Gravity SUV. Its upmarket positioning pits it against the driverless S-Class, which Mercedes launched in the Emirates. Still, the Gravity will kick-start its services in San Francisco, challenging Waymo, before its global rollout. The […]

San Francisco blackout freezes self-driving Waymo fleet

December 23, 2025

A widespread power outage in San Francisco over the weekend halted dozens of driverless Waymo vehicles at busy intersections. The utility failure was turned into a stress test for autonomous ride services, re-opening the debate about how prepared the technology is for large-scale urban disruptions. Tesla’s Elon Musk was quick to respond to how unaffected […]

Elon Musk triumphs and is granted his much-disputed pay package

December 22, 2025

Is it a victory for perseverance or high-profile influence? After two court rejections, Elon Musk has finally won his long-disputed pay-check of $56 billion (€47 billion), which was confirmed to him seven years ago by his majority shareholders. The Delaware Supreme Court has reinstated one of the highest awards for a CEO in automotive history, […]

Tesla residual values sink Dutch single-brand leasing firm MisterGreen

December 22, 2025

The Dutch leasing company MisterGreen, which built its entire business around Tesla vehicles, is winding down. Betting everything on one car manufacturer is a risk. The decline in car values has eroded the company’s financial health. MisterGreen is set to close after failing to survive a sharp drop in the value of its Tesla fleet, […]

Longtime design chief Gorden Wagener to leave Mercedes

December 22, 2025

Mercedes-Benz is preparing for a design reset after nearly three decades under one of its most influential creative leaders. Gorden Wagener, the company’s chief design officer and a key figure in shaping modern Mercedes styling, will leave the automaker early next year. Reportedly, internal friction was growing, even though Wagener decided for himself to bite […]

Solid-state batteries are moving steadily from lab to production line

December 19, 2025

The promise of solid-state batteries is not waning, even as electric-vehicle adoption faces more headwinds now that the EU has revised its 2035 ban. In both China and the US, progress is tangible, as evidenced by the latest results from companies like QuantumScape and WeLion. Hongqi, a car manufacturer, has committed to bringing the technology […]

China’s new safety rules force global rethink of flush door handles

December 18, 2025

China is moving one step closer to a full ban on automatic flush door handles, which have become a commodity on so many electric cars. Following a series of fatal incidents, in which rescuers were unable to access burning vehicles, Beijing has launched a public consultation on a new set of safety rules. These would […]

Tesla explores built-in satellite link to eliminate mobile dead zones

December 18, 2025

Elon Musk oversees Tesla and Starlink, the company that provides internet access through its satellite system. What if the two were combined to provide Tesla cars with connectivity everywhere they roam? A new patent points exactly in that direction. Tesla has filed a patent application for a vehicle roof assembly constructed from radio-frequency-permeable materials. This […]

BYD sets industry benchmark with 250,000-km EV battery warranty

December 16, 2025

Chinese carmaker BYD has announced one of the most generous battery warranties yet. The world’s best-selling EV maker promises a coverage of 250,000 kilometers, up from 200,000 kilometers previously. The increased mileage seems bold, even disruptive, but behind the figure sits a more complicated story about trust, technology, and the yearly mileage European customers cover. […]

Peugeot gets nostalgic and reboots the 103 moped

December 16, 2025

Peugeot is reaching for its two-wheeled past as it prepares to relaunch the 103, one of Europe’s most famous mopeds. But instead of pedal power, it comes with a battery pack this time. Set for launch next year, the reborn 103 blends familiar styling cues with modern tech.  For decades, the Peugeot 103 was a […]

Volvo helps Geely to build world’s largest safety center

December 15, 2025

Geely has unveiled a vast new safety complex in eastern China, a flagship project shaped by the engineering competence of its Swedish subsidiary, Volvo. The Chinese car group wants to leverage its competitive edge and plans to make safety, alongside reliability, a sales argument in an increasingly crowded market. The new facility carries a price […]

Renault scraps Mobilize car-sharing and microcars to stop financial bleeding

December 15, 2025

Renault has announced that it will dismantle its standalone mobility arm, Mobilize, drawing a line under its brief experiment with car-sharing and electric microcars. The French car maker needs to counter mounting financial pressures. The French carmaker said it would wind down Mobilize, halt production of its electric quadricycles, and exit the car-sharing market altogether. […]

Skyworth wants to prove that budget-EVs can charge fast

December 13, 2025

Best known until now for televisions and household electronics, Chinese Skyworth has set its eyes on the Belgian car market. To stand out in the plethora of Chinese newcomers, the brand promises an 11-minute charge with grace from the 800-volt network. The question remains whether its K800V SUV can earn enough trust with sharp numbers […]

Car lobby wins battle to keep combustion engines alive in the EU after 2035

December 12, 2025

Europe will no longer hold on to its long-promised ban on new registrations of gasoline and diesel cars as of 2035. The Commission has settled for a rewrite, now demanding that the average vehicle sold will be obliged to emit 90% less CO2 after that deadline. Pitched as a measure to safeguard jobs in the […]

Oslo picks Volkswagen for autonomous ride-hailing service

December 11, 2025

Oslo’s ambition to reshape its transport system around cleaner, more flexible mobility has taken a new step through a partnership with Volkswagen that will bring an autonomous ID.Buzz fleet to the city’s streets from 2026. Once again, the Norwegian capital is positioning itself as an early adopter of technologies that many European cities embrace far […]

Mercedes returns to Korean LG as European battery ambitions stall

December 11, 2025

Mercedes has inked a significant new supply deal with South Korea’s LG Energy Solutions. On paper, the agreement appears to be a routine procurement for the carmaker’s next wave of electric models. But in practice, it exposes the deepening malaise within Europe’s battery ambitions, as one of the continent’s flagship manufacturing projects continues to miss […]

Mercedes takes on rivals with Abu Dhabi luxury robotaxi fleet

December 10, 2025

German luxury carmaker Mercedes has partnered with Chinese software firm Momenta to deploy autonomous S-Class limousines, aiming to differentiate itself from Waymo and Tesla with a premium offering. Mercedes is to enter the commercial robotaxi market with a fleet of autonomous S-Class limousines in Abu Dhabi, as the German manufacturer attempts to carve out a […]

Lexus confirms LFA return as electric halo, but no solid-state pack?

December 05, 2025

Lexus is officially resurrecting its most hallowed nameplate, but it is compliant with modern times. The screaming V10 engine that defined the original icon is swapped for a battery pack. While expectations are that this model will crown Toyota as one of the first legacy manufacturers to turn to solid-state battery packs, that part of […]

Tesla Model Y records worst reliability score in a decade 

December 04, 2025

The Tesla Model Y has finished dead last in Germany’s TÜV Report 2026. The world’s best-selling EV recorded a defect rate of 17.3 percent for vehicles aged two to three years. The figure is nearly triple the segment average of 6.5 percent and represents the poorest performance among cars in this age group over the […]

Ford to replace Focus in European lineup with Bronco nameplate

December 04, 2025

To stabilize its shrinking European market share, Ford plans to leverage its most rugged American model. The carmaker is preparing to launch a Europe-exclusive version of the Bronco in 2027, but it will not feature a purely electric driveline. And don’t expect a rival for the upcoming small G-Class and baby Defender. Ford doesn’t shy […]

Norway nears 100% electric sales with a lot of help from Tesla

December 02, 2025

Where the brand is being chewed out in the rest of Europe, Tesla has seized a decisive lead in electric car walhalla, Norway. As the country witnesses one of its strongest electric-vehicle surges, the American EV maker broke a previous record held by Volkswagen. Norway’s electric-vehicle market has entered another explosive phase, and Tesla is […]

Geely drives its Galaxy M9 from Beijing to Paris and strips it down in public

December 02, 2025

Geely took to the legendary Paris-Beijing route – or rather, vice versa –  to make a point about the durability of its Galaxy M9 SUV. Tale to the story: the car not only reached its destination in good shape, but engineers also dismantled the model overtly to demonstrate its resilience.  Automakers typically prefer their vehicles to […]

New hybrid Omoda 5 aims to succeed where the EV struggles

November 28, 2025

Omoda is expanding its European range with a hybrid version of the Omoda 5. The new HEV aims for the likes of the hybrid Kia Niro and the oddball Nissan Qashqai e-Power. It comes with a facelift and the hope of gaining more traction in the Belgian marketplace through a more classic take on electrification. […]

Renault Trucks debuts E-Tech long-hauler with a 600 km range

November 26, 2025

At last week’s Solutrans trade show in Lyon, Renault Trucks finally pulled the wraps off what it had promised earlier as its spearhead for long-distance electric freight. The new E-Tech T 780 and its payload-focused sibling, the E-Tech T 585, build upon the architecture developed by Volvo Trucks. The new trucks aim at convincing logistics […]

GAC taps Magna Steyr in Austria for Aion V production

November 25, 2025

GAC has begun building its Aion V electric SUV at Magna Steyr’s plant in Graz. While giving the Austrian contract manufacturer fresh volume after a series of wind-downs, this is one of the first actual Chinese passenger cars produced in Europe. While the Aion V isn’t a common sight on Belgian roads, the midsize electric […]

China-only AUDI EV-brand previews its second model

November 24, 2025

AUDI, the China-only EV offshoot of the brand, is preparing to broaden its lineup. At the Guangzhou Auto Show, a second model was previewed. Predictably, the concept previews the addition of an SUV, joining the E5 Sportback. The new vehicle, called the AUDI E SUV Concept, is the second product from Audi’s sub-brand developed with […]

MG pushes deeper into EV family market with roomier S6 EV

November 21, 2025

Chances are high that you’ve seen this S6 EV before. In the summer, this SUV was inadvertently published on Euro NCAP’s test publication pages ahead of its official reveal. MG has finally unwrapped the full specs of its latest addition to its electric portfolio. It’s an SUV destined for families who have outgrown the S5 […]

Hyundai goes serious off-roading with Crater concept

November 21, 2025

At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai unveiled the Crater, a compact off-road SUV concept that hints at a shift toward true trail capability. But unlike its American rivals, like the Ford Bronco, the driveline is entirely electric.  Hyundai’s rugged trims have been mostly cosmetic so far. But the Crater concept indicates that the company […]

Global EV survey shows 41% won’t buy Tesla over ethical concerns

November 18, 2025

A new international survey by the Global EV Alliance suggests the electric-vehicle landscape is being shaped as much by politics and perception as by product and pricing. As for car brands, 41% of buyers are reluctant to buy Tesla due to political concerns, while one in ten opposes cars made in China. The Global EV […]

Study: ‘Electromagnetic levels in electric cars far below safety limits’

November 17, 2025

A major investigation in Germany has shed light on long-running concerns that electric cars might expose their occupants to unsafe levels of electromagnetic fields. The research team found that even at peak power demand, the readings stayed far below recognized health limits. Basically, electric cars are on par with trains, trams, and even conventional gasoline […]

Top managers for Tesla’s highest-profile models step down

November 17, 2025

The brain drain at Tesla is continuing. Two of its most visible vehicle program managers have left the company, including the chief of its best-selling car, the Model Y. The departures land at a moment when the automaker is reorienting itself around robotics and autonomous driving. Symbolically, the core automotive business shows further signs of […]

VW’s Chinese ID. Unyx 08 is first car in Xpeng partnership

November 12, 2025

Volkswagen has released the first pictures and preliminary info on the ID. Unyx 08 in China, a five-meter electric SUV that represents not only the first product of its cooperation with Xpeng but also a deeper technological co-development with local partnerships in China. The ID. Unyx 08, developed under Volkswagen Anhui, is the production realization […]

Europe’s auto sector breathes again as Nexperia chip shipments resume

November 10, 2025

After weeks of rising concerns across Europe’s car industry, shipments of Nexperia semiconductors are moving again. It’s a relief for automakers but also a stark reminder of how fragile Europe’s industrial supplier network has become. Volkswagen, Continental spinoff Aumovio, and Bosch have all confirmed receiving new deliveries from the Chinese-owned chipmaker. The disruption began when […]

Toyota Hilux enters new era as all-electric pickup

November 10, 2025

Toyota’s indestructible Hilux, long defined by diesel torque and unshakeable dependability, is stepping into uncharted territory. The ninth-generation, on order as of December, marks the most significant shift in the model’s 55-year history with the arrival of a battery-electric version. Also, a hydrogen-powered model will follow. The fully electric Hilux BEV leads the launch, hitting […]

Shareholders approve Elon Musk becoming a trillionaire

November 07, 2025

It does resound in a Trumpian style. Too big and brash to be countered, Elon Musk raked in the approval from Tesla’s shareholders for his incredible record pay package of $1 trillion (€920 billion). But will the Tesla CEO be free from the court, after it blocked his previous wages? Tesla shareholders have voted to […]

Spanish car brand Ebro launches flagship PHEV S900

November 04, 2025

The Spanish carmaker Ebro has unveiled the S900, a large, seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV designed to push it into the same league as Europe’s established players. Once known for its sturdy commercial vehicles, Ebro has re-emerged as an SUV brand, with a bit of help from China. Ebro’s name doesn’t resound widely across Europe (yet?), […]

Audi profits rebound after Brussels plant write-off

November 03, 2025

Audi’s third-quarter earnings have risen sharply, mainly because last year, the burden of shutting down its Brussels plant weighed heavily on the results. However, the positive figures mask deeper financial strain from tariffs, falling volumes in China, and rising costs associated with its transition to electric vehicles.  Audi reported an operating profit of €468 million […]

China signals ‘flexibility’ in worrying Nexperia export ban

November 03, 2025

The Nexperia crisis is entering an easing phase. China has said it will grant case-by-case exemptions from its ban on Nexperia chip exports. This could offer a lifeline to automakers scrambling to secure supplies. In the meantime, industry leaders warn that recovery from the disruption could take months. The Ministry of Commerce said eligible firms […]

Subaru hints at electric rebirth for STI

October 31, 2025

Subaru has presented a vision of how its performance arm can be made future-proof. At the Japan Mobility Show, the automaker introduced the Performance-E STI Concept, a quite attractive electric hatchback that reimagines the brand’s storied STI badge. Don’t look for turbocharged boxer engines underneath this one. It’s been three years since Subaru dropped the […]

BYD launches first non-Japanese electric kei car: the Racco

October 31, 2025

Kei cars are Japanese car culture at heart. So it’s symbolic and sensitive at the same time that Chinese automaker BYD has pulled the wraps off its first kei car, the Racco, at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Though the car is small, it is a bold step into Japan’s compact-car market.  The Racco writes […]

Can a ‘charging mandate’ keep plug-in hybrids alive after 2035?

October 28, 2025

The German car lobby is pushing an unusual idea to boost sales of plug-in hybrids as the EU seeks to measure their real-life emissions more accurately. The proposal? A legal obligation for plug-in hybrid drivers to charge their cars regularly. The punishment for not abiding by that obligation is reduced power. A creative solution, but […]

France tests live highway with induction charging near Paris

October 27, 2025

France has launched its first highway capable of charging electric vehicles while they drive. On a 1.5-kilometer stretch of the A10, near Angervilliers, southwest of Paris, VINCI Autoroutes and a consortium of partners have begun real-world tests of an inductive charging system touted as an innovation that should complement the charging infrastructure landscape. Developed in […]

Electric 1000 MBX: Skoda reimagines a forgotten classic

October 27, 2025

After the 110R, Skoda’s design studio has taken another dive into its archives, reviving one of its most obscure models — the 1000 MBX coupé — as a fully electric concept. The reinterpretation, unveiled as part of the brand’s ‘Icons Get a Makeover’ series, gives the rare 1960s two-door a futuristic twist under Skoda’s ‘Modern […]

BYD bets big on plug-in hybrids with small Atto 2 DM-i

October 24, 2025

Chinese automaker BYD is best known as an electric car brand, but all of its top sellers still rely on an electrified combustion engine. After the Seal U and the Seal 6, the compact crossover Atto 2 will soon add a plug-in hybrid variant to the pure electric model. The new addition is set to […]

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