EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BYD PLANS 20,000 MEGAWATT CHARGERS BY 2026 https://evne.ws/4rhiMmh BYD OPENS SONG ULTRA EV PRESALES FROM 155,000 YUAN https://evne.ws/4b8blYx ZEEKR 009 REFRESH SWITCHES TO 900V FOR 2026 https://evne.ws/3OVazqo ZEEKR DELIVERS 7X IN GERMANY, ADDS SOUTHERN EUROPE https://evne.ws/4b9gqRH CHINESE EV EXPORTS STALL AS HORMUZ SHUTS https://evne.ws/4leDH7S MIDEAST CONFLICT JOLTS CHINA’S CAR EXPORT ROUTES https://evne.ws/46GPnuj NIO HITS TWO MILLION ELECTRIC DRIVE UNITS https://evne.ws/4rib5w5 NIO PLANS SHANGHAI BATTERY R&D BASE https://evne.ws/47l2D81 GEELY GALAXY SETS XINGYAO 7 FOR Q2 2026 https://evne.ws/3OXW6Ke POWER BANK SPARKED BYD SEAL FIRE IN HONG KONG https://evne.ws/40nt6y1

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart HYUNDAI AND KIA PULL BACK US EV PLANS https://evne.ws/4uhDIfl MG TEASES MG 2 SMALL EV FOR 2027 https://evne.ws/4sEwyR4 AMG SHOWS GT 4-DOOR PRODUCTION INTERIOR https://evne.ws/4lej2AQ FERRARI TEASES LUCE EV AHEAD OF DEBUT https://evne.ws/3OZzaKz IRELAND EXPANDS ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK AND BUS GRANTS https://evne.ws/4b9NKqd UK HITS 1,000 ELECTRIC HGV MILESTONE https://evne.ws/4s1BYWn MAN PUTS LION'S COACH 14 E THROUGH -30°C TEST https://evne.ws/4cCzXLg STELLANTIS WARNS UK SALES RETREAT OVER ZEV RULES https://evne.ws/46QnQ9J VW STARTS ID. BUZZ AD PRE-SERIES BUILD https://evne.ws/4bgRI0q UK EMISSIONS HIT LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1872 https://evne.ws/3NdSlQn

It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 08 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyHYUNDAI AND KIA PULL BACK US EV PLANSHyundai and Kia are scaling back their US EV ambitions due to slowing sales, affordability pressures, and tariff uncertainty, with Hyundai cutting the Ioniq 6 to only the high-performance N variant and Kia indefinitely delaying the EV6 GT and EV9 GT. South Korean-built vehicles face a 15% US tariff that could rise to 25%, while US-built models from Kia's Georgia plant continue unaffected.MG TEASES MG 2 SMALL EV FOR 2027MG will reveal a concept car at Goodwood Festival of Speed in July previewing the MG 2, a small EV expected to measure around four metres long and sit below the MG 4 Urban in price and size. Due at the end of 2027, the MG 2 will target rivals like the Renault 5 and BYD Dolphin Surf, using the E3 platform and potentially a semi-solid-state battery.AMG SHOWS GT 4-DOOR PRODUCTION INTERIORMercedes-AMG has revealed the production interior of the GT 4-Door electric car ahead of its full unveil, featuring a 10.2-inch driver display, a 14-inch central touchscreen, and a 14-inch passenger screen targeting Chinese market tastes. The car is built on AMG's new AMG.EA electric platform and delivers 1,360 hp, proven during an eight-day 300 km/h endurance run at Nardo.FERRARI TEASES LUCE EV AHEAD OF DEBUTFerrari has released a brief nighttime teaser video of its upcoming Luce EV, which is set to debut next month and is expected to be a crossover slightly smaller than the Purosangue with a Jony Ive-designed interior. The Luce uses a bespoke in-house platform with a structural battery pack, four electric motors producing around 1,000 hp, and an anticipated range of over 310 miles.IRELAND EXPANDS ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK AND BUS GRANTSIreland has expanded its ZEHDV grant scheme to include a second funding stream, offering companies up to €500,000 per year for zero-emission truck and bus purchases and up to €300,000 for depot and hub charging infrastructure. The expanded programme aims to close the price gap with diesel alternatives while building out the charging network needed to support fleet electrification.UK HITS 1,000 ELECTRIC HGV MILESTONEThe UK reached 1,000 registered electric heavy goods vehicles in 2025, with eHGV registrations rising 171% year-on-year, though zero-emission trucks still represent just 1.4% of the total HGV market. GRIDSERVE's Electric Freightway programme supplied over a quarter of all new electric truck registrations and has opened the first publicly accessible eHGV charging hubs, with more sites planned through 2026.MAN PUTS LION'S COACH 14 E THROUGH -30°C TESTMAN Truck & Bus has completed winter testing of its first battery-electric coach, the Lion's Coach 14 E, in conditions as low as -30°C in northern Sweden and Turkey, focusing on battery performance, thermal management, and interior heating. The coach offers 320–480 kWh of usable energy and a range of up to 650 km under optimal conditions, seating up to 63 passengers with luggage capacity matching its diesel equivalent.STELLANTIS WARNS UK SALES RETREAT OVER ZEV RULESStellantis has warned it may reduce its UK sales operations unless the government reforms the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, arguing the rules force manufacturers to lose money while giving Chinese importers a competitive advantage. Chinese brands now hold 14% of the total UK market and 17% of the UK EV segment, while Stellantis faces potential fines of £12,000 per car for missing its compliance targets.VW STARTS ID. BUZZ AD PRE-SERIES BUILDVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles has begun pre-series production of the autonomous ID. Buzz AD at its Hanover plant, with around 500 vehicles planned before the end of 2026 for deployment in European and US projects. Developed with subsidiary Moia and Israeli partner Mobileye, each vehicle receives a roof module with cameras, radar, and lidar after the main production line, with full series production set for 2027.UK EMISSIONS HIT LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1872UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 2.4% in 2025 to 364 MtCO2e, the lowest since 1872, driven largely by the closure of the last coal-fired power plant and a 56% drop in coal demand. The UK's nearly three million electrified vehicles now save over seven million tonnes of CO2 annually, with transport remaining the country's largest emitting sector and the primary focus for future cuts.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart VW SHOWS WORKERS NINTH-GEN GOLF PLAN https://evne.ws/4regyUx STELLANTIS CUTS ELECTRIC VAN PRICES TO DIESEL LEVEL https://evne.ws/4rZj5TZ TESLA EYES 400-STALL SUPERCHARGER SITE IN YERMO https://evne.ws/4cAm6Fg UBER BACKS POD HOME CHARGING SUBSCRIPTION FOR DRIVERS https://evne.ws/3NiYMlb BYD SURGES IN GERMANY AND UK https://evne.ws/4svuMl1 NIO SHIFTS EUROPE TO DISTRIBUTORS https://evne.ws/4u6Z5Ah MILENCE OPENS 400 KW TRUCK CHARGING HUB IN GHENT https://evne.ws/4lgutrT UK ADDED TO EU PLANS FOR EV PRODUCTION LIMITS https://evne.ws/3NkZkqI ETHIOPIA’S EV IMPORT SHARE JUMPS AFTER ICE BAN https://evne.ws/4aY18iz ORBÁN’S BATTERY BET HITS A DOWNTURN https://evne.ws/46LMmsA QUEENSLAND PUSHES UNDER-16 BAN FOR E-MOBILITY https://evne.ws/4aU2ZF1

It's EV News Briefly for Saturday 07 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyVW SHOWS WORKERS NINTH-GEN GOLF PLANVolkswagen has given Wolfsburg workers a first look at the ninth-generation Golf, expected to carry the ID Golf name and built on VW Group's new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). From summer 2027, current combustion-engine Golf production shifts to Mexico, freeing Wolfsburg to retool for the ID Golf and an electric VW T-Roc successor.STELLANTIS CUTS ELECTRIC VAN PRICES TO DIESEL LEVELStellantis Pro One is running a European campaign until end of June that matches the purchase price of eight battery-electric vans to their diesel equivalents across compact and mid-size segments. The offer directly closes gaps such as the €7,150 difference between the Opel Combo Cargo Electric and its diesel counterpart, testing whether price parity alone will push fleets to commit.TESLA EYES 400-STALL SUPERCHARGER SITE IN YERMOTesla is planning a 400-stall V4 Supercharger station in Yermo, California on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, which would more than double the current record of 164 stalls. The site would be built in six phases as part of a wider retail hub called Eddie World 2, with Phase 1 delivering 72 stalls breaking ground in 2026.UBER BACKS POD HOME CHARGING SUBSCRIPTION FOR DRIVERSUber has partnered with Pod in the UK to offer drivers a home EV charger subscription for £25 per month over three years, with no upfront cost, a lifetime warranty, and potential cash rewards of up to £170 a year through smart charging. The offer arrives as Uber expands its Uber Electric category to eight new UK cities including Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds.BYD SURGES IN GERMANY AND UKBYD registrations surged 1,550% year-on-year in Germany in February to 3,053 vehicles, while also rising 83% in the UK to 2,154 units and tripling in Spain to 3,003 registrations. The gains come as BYD ramps up its first European plant in Hungary, built partly to sidestep EU tariffs on Chinese-imported EVs imposed in October 2024.NIO SHIFTS EUROPE TO DISTRIBUTORSNio is overhauling its European operations by switching from direct sales to a distributor-led model in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, while retaining direct sales only in Norway. The restructure, moving from a country-led to a function-led organisation, has already seen Nio Germany general manager David Sultzer step down.MILENCE OPENS 400 KW TRUCK CHARGING HUB IN GHENTMilence, backed by Volvo Group, Daimler Truck, and Traton, has opened a 400 kW HGV charging hub at the Volvo Trucks plant in Ghent, its fourth Belgian site, positioned on the TEN-T North Sea–Mediterranean freight corridor. A second phase will add Megawatt Charging System infrastructure, targeting charge times of 30 to 45 minutes for large HGV batteries.UK ADDED TO EU PLANS FOR EV PRODUCTION LIMITSThe European Commission's Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) will open EU manufacturing subsidies to up to 40 "trusted partner" nations including the UK and Japan, following lobbying by UK business secretary Peter Kyle after fears that Nissan's Sunderland plant could close under earlier exclusionary proposals. The IAA also targets lifting manufacturing's share of EU GDP from 14.3% to 20% by 2035, though US firms are expected to be excluded due to American public procurement restrictions.ETHIOPIA'S EV IMPORT SHARE JUMPS AFTER ICE BANAfter Ethiopia banned ICE vehicle imports in 2024 and cut EV import duties, EVs rose from under 1% to around 6% of all vehicle imports, surpassing the reported global average of roughly 4%. The government is driving electrification as energy sovereignty, aided by low electricity costs of around $0.10 per kWh and a tiered tariff structure that exempts domestically assembled EV kits from import tax entirely.ORBÁN'S BATTERY BET HITS A DOWNTURNHungary has attracted approximately €26 billion in foreign EV battery investment, mainly from South Korean and Chinese manufacturers, but battery output has fallen during a prolonged sector downturn weeks before the April 12 national election. The strategy faces additional political pressure after a news investigation into health and safety violations at Samsung SDI's factory undermined the narrative around foreign-capital-led industrialisation.QUEENSLAND PUSHES UNDER-16 BAN FOR E-MOBILITYA Queensland parliamentary inquiry has tabled 28 recommendations including a ban on under-16s riding e-bikes and personal mobility devices, prompted by 12 e-mobility deaths and over 6,300 emergency department presentations in the state last year. Key proposals also include requiring at least a learner car licence to ride, cutting footpath speed limits to 10 km/h, and reclassifying any device capable of exceeding 25 km/h as a motorcycle.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BMW TO UNVEIL ELECTRIC I3 SALOON ON 18 MARCH https://evne.ws/4aWdOGE TESLA UK DROPS 37% AS UK EV SALES RISE  https://evne.ws/4br1a2q EVGO ENDS 2025 WITH 5,100 FAST-CHARGING STALLS https://evne.ws/4b0qkn2 LUCID FEBRUARY US SALES JUMP ON GRAVITY RAMP https://evne.ws/4b8hlAn VW DEALERS SUE OVER SCOUT DIRECT SALES https://evne.ws/4rfDdzK VOLKSWAGEN GROUP HITS FOUR MILLION BEV DELIVERIES https://evne.ws/4uxreAL EGBATT LAUNCHES NOVA 60 DUAL BUFFERED CHARGER https://evne.ws/3PmUx8H LOTUS ADDS RANGE-EXTENDER ELETRE X FOR CHINA https://evne.ws/4rVPDhl

It's EV News Briefly for Friday 06 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyBMW TO UNVEIL ELECTRIC I3 SALOON ON 18 MARCH  BMW will reveal the new i3 saloon on 18 March as the first fully electric 3 Series, using the Neue Klasse Gen6 platform with 800V architecture, 400kW charging, and an expected 50 xDrive dual-motor, 108kWh setup targeting around 500 miles of range and potentially more thanks to its saloon aerodynamics. It will be the second Neue Klasse model after the iX3, aimed squarely at the Tesla Model 3 and future premium rivals from Mercedes, Audi, Xpeng and BYD’s Denza, with a full line-up planned including an electric M3.  TESLA UK DROPS 37% AS UK EV SALES RISE  Tesla’s UK registrations fell 37% year-on-year in February to 2,422 units, even as the overall market hit its strongest February since 2004 and BEVs grew to 24.2% of new registrations, with Chinese brands like BYD surging 83%. Tesla has argued that monthly registration data is misleading versus orders and quarterly shipments, but critics note all brands face similar timing issues, and for now the headline picture is a growing UK EV market in which Tesla’s share is shrinking.  EVGO ENDS 2025 WITH 5,100 FAST-CHARGING STALLS  EVgo closed 2025 with 5,100 DC fast-charging stalls in operation, up 25% year-on-year after a record Q4 net gain of about 510 stalls, including 320 company-owned units and 190 eXtend-branded stalls at partner sites. The network is getting both denser and faster, with nearly a third of stations now offering six or more stalls and 62% of all stalls equipped with 350kW hardware, up sharply from 50% in late 2024.  LUCID FEBRUARY US SALES JUMP ON GRAVITY RAMP  Lucid’s US sales jumped to 1,500 vehicles in February, almost double January, driven by a sharp ramp in Gravity SUV deliveries alongside 900 Air sedans. With Gravity now starting at $79,900 (via the Touring trim) and supported by a $7,500 lease credit plus targeted trade-in offers for Tesla, Rivian and Polestar owners, Lucid is boosting US momentum even as European registrations remain minimal. VW DEALERS SUE OVER SCOUT DIRECT SALES  Two Volkswagen dealerships in Connecticut and New York have launched a class-action lawsuit against Scout Motors and Volkswagen, arguing that Scout’s Tesla-style direct-to-consumer sales model violates existing VW franchise agreements and deprives dealers of a lucrative new brand. Scout and CEO Scott Keogh counter that Scout is a separate entity from Volkswagen Group of America and therefore not bound to use VW’s franchised dealer network.  VOLKSWAGEN GROUP HITS FOUR MILLION BEV DELIVERIES  Volkswagen Group has delivered its four-millionth battery-electric vehicle, accelerating from nearly a decade to reach the first million to adding the fourth million in just one year, powered largely by its MEB platform and around 30 all-electric passenger models. Most BEVs are built and sold in Europe, where compact SUVs and crossovers such as the VW ID.4/ID.5 dominate, while China and the US account for smaller but growing shares of volume and production. EGBATT LAUNCHES NOVA 60 DUAL BUFFERED CHARGER  EGbatt’s new Nova 60 Dual combines a 60kW DC fast charger with a 60kWh LiFePO₄ battery in a single outdoor unit, allowing sites to deliver full fast-charging power without expensive grid upgrades by relying on buffered energy. Optional 20kW DC solar input lets operators integrate rooftop PV directly, helping cut operating costs and increase the share of renewable energy used for charging. LOTUS ADDS RANGE-EXTENDER ELETRE X FOR CHINA  Lotus has responded to softer demand for high-end pure EVs by launching the Eletre X plug-in range-extender SUV in China, pairing a 70kWh battery and 900V fast-charging system with a 2.0-litre turbo engine that mostly drives a generator but can also clutch to the front wheels for motorway efficiency. Delivering 952bhp, 0–62mph in 3.3 seconds and around 150 miles of electric-only range in a 2.6-tonne package, the Eletre X shares its new Geely-platform underpinnings with the Zeekr 9X and is slated to reach the UK no earlier than 2027.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BYD UNVEILS NEXT GENERATION TECH https://evne.ws/46Ktryt XIAOMI PUTS NEXT-GEN SU7 IN 492 SHOWROOMS https://evne.ws/4suSeyX XPENG ADDS G6 EREV WITH 1,704 KM CLAIM https://evne.ws/4d69YvV ZEEKR 009 TEASES 900-VOLT UPGRADE FOR 2026 https://evne.ws/3P3XsTE GAC AION TARGETS 99-SECOND BATTERY SWAP IN 2026 https://evne.ws/46Ktryt HUAWEI-GAC QIJING TEASES L3 SHOOTING BRAKE https://evne.ws/4rYa9OD GWM UNVEILS TANK 700 HI4-Z PHEV SUV https://evne.ws/4stKq03 MERCEDES DENIES GEELY-BASED COMPACT EV PLATFORM REPORT https://evne.ws/40f7vry ROBOSENSE UNVEILS 2,160-BEAM EM4 LIDAR https://evne.ws/4s1A7Ro

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT LIFTS UK FUEL AND ENERGY COSTS https://evne.ws/40f83xE EUROPEAN FLEETS COULD SAVE €246BN BY 2030 https://evne.ws/4sxj8WX CUPRA BORN FACELIFT BRINGS SHARP NOSE, SMALL TWEAKS https://evne.ws/474KXxB FORD EV SALES SINK 71% AFTER LIGHTNING EXIT https://evne.ws/4b8DL4m LUCID PATCHES GRAVITY SOFTWARE AGAIN https://evne.ws/46K3miY MITSUBISHI READIES LEAF-BASED EV FOR CANADA https://evne.ws/4udwrND ALPITRONIC UNVEILS HYC400 SERIES 2 CHARGER https://evne.ws/4u4s9bo APTERA SHOWS FIRST VALIDATION-LINE VEHICLE PHOTO https://evne.ws/4aT8QdE GEELY TARGETS DEFENDER WITH GALAXY BATTLESHIP https://evne.ws/4cxtRvQ EU UNVEILS LOCAL-CONTENT RULES FOR CLEAN TECH https://evne.ws/4ucuIYT

It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 05 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyMIDDLE EAST CONFLICT LIFTS UK FUEL AND ENERGY COSTSBrent crude surged past $84 per barrel and UK gas prices spiked to a three-year high of £1.44 per therm after Qatar halted LNG exports following Iran's threat to attack tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, with the RAC warning UK forecourt prices will feel the full impact within a week. Home EV charging costs are shielded for now by the energy price cap — fixed at 24.67p per kWh for electricity until end of June — but wholesale price rises could push the cap higher from July, making both home wallbox and public charging more expensive.​EUROPEAN FLEETS COULD SAVE €246BN BY 2030A new EY and Eurelectric report finds that fully electrifying Europe's corporate fleets could deliver up to €246 billion in cumulative savings and cut one billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. However, the authors warn that cheaper running costs alone will not drive mass uptake, calling for coordinated action from manufacturers, policymakers, grid operators and finance providers to tackle high upfront costs, uncertain residual values, and charging infrastructure delays.CUPRA BORN FACELIFT BRINGS SHARP NOSE, SMALL TWEAKSCupra has facelifted the Born with a "shark nose" front end, triangular matrix LED headlights, a continuous rear light strip, and new 235 mm tyres across all five wheel options, while the aerodynamically improved 79 kWh variants now claim around 600 km (373 miles) of WLTP range. A new entry "Born Plus" trim pairs a 58 kWh battery with a 140 kW motor — figures that match Ford's Capri LFP option and strongly suggest a switch to LFP cells from the updated MEB+ platform — though Cupra has not confirmed drivetrain details and appears to be saving that announcement for a related reveal, likely the VW ID.3 facelift later in 2026.FORD EV SALES SINK 71% AFTER LIGHTNING EXITFord's US EV sales collapsed 71% in February 2026 to just 2,122 units, the steepest monthly drop in its EV history, driven by the discontinuation of the F-150 Lightning and the expiry of the federal EV tax credit. Ford's Model e division lost $4.8 billion in 2025 and is forecast to lose another $4–5 billion in 2026, with profitability not expected until 2029; the company has already booked a $19.5 billion writedown and is pivoting to a new ~$30,000 midsize electric pickup it hopes will revive the business by 2027.LUCID PATCHES GRAVITY SOFTWARE AGAINLucid Motors has pushed software update 3.4.4 to the Gravity SUV, targeting AC charging improvements and Drive Assist availability, following a January update that resolved around 95% of earlier software issues — with the car averaging a new update every 24 days since launch. Lucid has closed its online configurator for both the Air and Gravity while it prepares its 2027 model year announcement, and Air owners face a $950 hardware upgrade bill to access the newer UX 3.0 platform already running in the Gravity, due to arrive by autumn 2026.MITSUBISHI READIES LEAF-BASED EV FOR CANADAMitsubishi is preparing its first all-new model since the Eclipse Cross for Canadian dealerships in 2026, built on Nissan's CMF-EV platform and LEAF architecture, with spy shots showing a heavily camouflaged prototype that shares the LEAF's roofline, proportions, and rear hatch panel. Both models will be built side by side at Nissan's Kaminokawa plant in Japan, and Mitsubishi may receive the smaller battery pack to undercut the LEAF on entry price — a strategy that would see Nissan supply the foundations while a cheaper sibling competes for the same buyers.ALPITRONIC UNVEILS HYC400 SERIES 2 CHARGERAlpitronic has launched the HYC400 Series 2, retaining the 400 kW maximum output of its predecessor while upgrading to a 22-inch touchscreen (up from 15.6 inches), second-generation silicon carbide power stacks, and a higher continuous output current of 600 A (up from 500 A). The unit maintains 97.5% charging efficiency but standby power consumption rises significantly from 43 W to under 100 W, and cable options narrow to a single 5-metre length; Alpitronic will sell both generations simultaneously to suit different site requirements.​APTERA SHOWS FIRST VALIDATION-LINE VEHICLE PHOTOAptera Motors has published the first photo of a vehicle off its validation assembly line, marking a milestone for its three-wheeled, solar-assisted EV that claims 400 miles of range from a 44 kWh battery and up to 40 miles of daily solar charging, classified as a motorcycle to bypass certain safety regulations. The launch edition price has risen to $40,000 — a $9,300 increase from prior estimates — though a $28,000 model is planned for the future, and with nearly 50,000 pre-orders and a stated daily capacity of 80–100 vehicles, Aptera claims it could fulfil all orders within 500 days of full production, though the end-of-year delivery timeline remains uncertain.​GEELY TARGETS DEFENDER WITH GALAXY BATTLESHIPGeely plans to launch the Galaxy Battleship in the UK in 2028, a blocky hybrid 4x4 aimed squarely at the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser, with a production design expected to stay 90–95% true to the Galaxy Cruiser concept shown at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show. Built on the GEA Evo platform with steer- and brake-by-wire, it may use an AI-driven plug-in hybrid system with a stated output of around 858 bhp, and Geely is promising an interior that surpasses the Defender's for luxury — a bold claim for the Chinese brand's first foray into the 4x4 segment.​EU UNVEILS LOCAL-CONTENT RULES FOR CLEAN TECHThe European Commission has unveiled the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), tying over €2 trillion in public procurement and subsidies to low-carbon and "Made-in-EU" conditions across sectors including EVs, steel, cement, and wind turbines, with the goal of raising manufacturing's share of EU economic output from 14% to 20% by 2035. China is excluded from the initial trusted-partner list — which includes the UK, Canada, and the US — and foreign investments above €100 million from countries controlling 40%+ of global production would face strict conditions including capped 49% foreign ownership and mandatory technology transfer; BMW and Mercedes oppose the Act over fears of higher costs, while Renault backs it and the text must still clear the European Parliament before becoming law.​

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BYD SHOWS NEW TANG CABIN BEFORE SHENZHEN DEBUT https://evne.ws/4b83avd HUAWEI AND SAIC UNVEIL Z7 AND Z7T https://evne.ws/4rVPdrx SAIC VOLKSWAGEN STARTS EA211 RANGE EXTENDER PRODUCTION https://evne.ws/4l7XpSO LI AUTO TROLLS VW AS RANGE EXTENDER LAUNCHES https://evne.ws/3MYLx9c GAC HYPTEC A800 LAUNCHES WITH 598 HP FLAGSHIP https://evne.ws/3MNUKkF HIMA UPGRADES MAEXTRO S800 AND AITO M9 https://evne.ws/4uacHut CHINA’S EV CHARGING BOOM SHIFTS HOME https://evne.ws/3ONUW3X CANADA OPENS SMALL QUOTA FOR CHINESE EVS https://evne.ws/40MOYTw HONDA TO EXPORT CHINA-BUILT E:NS2 TO JAPAN https://evne.ws/47cTqyy LOTUS REVEALS FOR ME CABIN, SETS 2026 LAUNCH https://evne.ws/4sbrTWZ

In November 2021, the Belgian parliament passed a tax reform that most Europeans never heard about. It phased out depreciation write-offs for petrol and diesel company cars. By 2026, the deduction disappeared entirely — combustion-engine company cars became zero per cent tax-deductible. Battery-electric vehicles stayed at 100 per cent.The market responded without hesitation.Corporate electric vehicle uptake surged — climbing 13 to 15 percentage points per year. By 2025, Belgium's fleet zero-emission vehicle share hit 54.2 per cent. In 2021, it was 8.8 per cent. Over the same period, Germany — Europe's industrial heavyweight — crept to 19.1 per cent.Belgium proved something simple: change the tax, change the market. Fast.Those precedent matters because in December 2025, the European Commission unveiled a regulation that could remake how Europeans buy, drive and eventually inherit their cars.The Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation (CCVR) — part of the wider Automotive Package — sets out to electrify corporate fleets, the single largest slice of Europe's new car market. The strategy is elegant: turn company cars into a conveyor belt that pushes affordable electric vehicles into the hands of ordinary drivers within a few years.If Europe wants to change what people drive, it should start with the cars that businesses buy in bulk, run hard and swap out quickly so the rest of us can buy them second hand.​The Commission agrees with that much. Its proposal for a Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation, tucked into the EU’s automotive package, aims to push corporate fleets towards zero and low emission vehicles from 2030.Transport & Environment, the clean transport group that spends its days reading the small print, has now read it. It likes the premise. But it does not like the numbers.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart VOLVO ADDS CAPACITY TO BUILD EX60 https://evne.ws/4bm6X9s VOLVO PUSHES NEW UX TO 2.5 MILLION CARS https://evne.ws/4711jr1 CUPRA RAVAL SPIED UNCOVERED AHEAD OF MARCH 2026 REVEAL https://evne.ws/4baSYlP DENMARK HITS 81.6% BEV SHARE IN FEBRUARY https://evne.ws/408faIb 2026 WORLD CAR AWARDS SHORTLISTS TILT ELECTRIC https://evne.ws/4aRjthc 2027 BMW IX4 SET FOR X4 REPLACEMENT https://evne.ws/4bpmZiM BARCELONA TO PAY €600 FOR ELECTRIC MOPED SWAPS https://evne.ws/4ba0mhe ENBW SIGNS MULTI-YEAR XCHARGE DEAL FOR HYPERNET https://evne.ws/4cXlCJu STELLANTIS SETS 2026 SPAIN BUILD FOR LEAPMOTOR B10 https://evne.ws/3OYSK9K THATCHAM TARGETS EV WRITE-OFFS WITH REPAIR BLUEPRINT https://evne.ws/40LvazS

It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 04 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyVOLVO ADDS CAPACITY TO BUILD EX60  Volvo will extend production at its Torslanda plant to meet surging demand for the all-electric EX60 SUV, which has seen strong early orders across Europe. German wait times now stretch up to 17 months, prompting Volvo to negotiate shorter summer breaks with unions, mirroring BMW’s own ramp-up for the iX3. VOLVO PUSHES NEW UX TO 2.5 MILLION CARS  Volvo is rolling out a major over‑the‑air update to around 2.5 million vehicles, bringing its latest infotainment system from the EX30, EX90 and EX60 models to cars as old as 2020. The update ushers in a unified user interface and, later this spring, a switch from Google Assistant to the more conversational Google Gemini AI. CUPRA RAVAL SPIED UNCOVERED AHEAD OF MARCH 2026 REVEAL  Cupra’s upcoming Raval — its most affordable EV yet — has been spotted fully uncovered during Scandinavian winter testing. Riding on the new MEB+ platform with two battery options, it launches mid‑2026 from around £23,000 to rival the Renault 5 and Peugeot e‑208 in the urban EV segment.  DENMARK HITS 81.6% BEV SHARE IN FEBRUARY  Battery‑electric vehicles made up 81.6% of Denmark’s new car sales in February, surging to 94.4% among private buyers. The shift reflects strong government incentives and rapid public adoption as EVs become the mainstream choice in the Danish market.  2026 WORLD CAR AWARDS SHORTLISTS TILT ELECTRIC  Electric models dominate the 2026 World Car Awards shortlist, with the BMW iX3, Nissan Leaf and Mercedes‑Benz CLA leading major categories. Luxury and performance finalists like the Lucid Gravity and Hyundai Ioniq 6 N further show how EVs now span every segment from affordable urban cars to high‑end models.  2027 BMW IX4 SET FOR X4 REPLACEMENT  BMW’s 2027 iX4 coupe SUV is testing in Sweden, set to replace the X4 with two all‑wheel‑drive variants and a 108 kWh battery offering up to 800 km WLTP range. It adopts BMW’s latest design language and a minimalist cabin similar to the iX3, with a large central screen and refreshed controls.  BARCELONA TO PAY €600 FOR ELECTRIC MOPED SWAPS  Barcelona will grant residents €600 to trade in petrol mopeds for new electric ones starting March 2026, covering up to 40% of the purchase price. With €15 million in funding through 2030, the scheme could replace around 24,000 mopeds and is open on a first‑come, first‑served basis.  ENBW SIGNS MULTI-YEAR XCHARGE DEAL FOR HYPERNET  German utility EnBW has sealed a multi‑year deal with XCharge to supply 400 kW DC fast chargers for its HyperNet network after successful trials. The high‑power C7 units, supporting dual CCS connectors and liquid‑cooled cables, will serve high‑throughput highway and hub charging locations.  STELLANTIS SETS 2026 SPAIN BUILD FOR LEAPMOTOR B10  Stellantis will start producing the Leapmotor B10 electric SUV in Spain in late 2026, marking the brand’s European manufacturing debut. The €29,990 model anchors Leapmotor’s expansion through Stellantis’s joint venture, which now runs over 800 European sales points and continues rapid growth.  THATCHAM TARGETS EV WRITE-OFFS WITH REPAIR BLUEPRINT  Thatcham Research has launched an EV Blueprint to stop repairable electric cars being written off after minor crashes by improving safety, diagnostics and battery repair standards. The plan calls for modular, serviceable battery designs, open diagnostic tools, and replaceable safety components to cut repair costs and extend EV lifespan.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart RENAULT CHIEF ATTACKS “FAKE” PHEVS, EYES RANGE EXTENDERS https://evne.ws/47mn04F NORWAY’S EV SHARE RECOVERS AND HITS 98% https://evne.ws/4bhtPqF NORWAY PASSES ONE MILLION BATTERY-ELECTRIC VEHICLES https://evne.ws/4rcnKQV EV UPTAKE SPREADS BEYOND WEALTHIER EARLY ADOPTERS https://evne.ws/4b7EfrP QUANTUMSCAPE UNVEILS PRODUCTION LINE IN CALIFORNIA https://evne.ws/4clEcuA KIA UK SETS EV2 FIRST DRIVE WEEKENDS https://evne.ws/3OL6JQE BMW TEASES FOUR-MOTOR ELECTRIC M3 AT NÜRBURGRING https://evne.ws/4rbwFlM ROYAL ENFIELD SETS 2026–2027 EV AND ICE PUSH https://evne.ws/4sm0ocC NEXT POLESTAR WILL BE SPORTIER AND ON CHINESE PLATFORM https://evne.ws/4aWi213 ITALY LAUNCHES FIRST OFFICIAL ELECTRIC PORSCHE CLUB https://evne.ws/4s6OEvb

It's EV News Briefly for Tuesday 03 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyRENAULT CHIEF ATTACKS "FAKE" PHEVS, EYES RANGE EXTENDERSRenault CEO François Provost has condemned short-range plug-in hybrids from German and Chinese manufacturers as "fake PHEVs" that discourage regular charging and undermine consumer and regulatory confidence in electrified vehicles. Renault is exploring range-extender EV (EREV) technology for its next-generation electric platform — underpinning models like the Scenic successor — where a combustion engine acts only as a generator for trips up to 1,000km, and Provost is pushing for EREVs to be explicitly permitted for sale in the EU and UK beyond the 2035 all-BEV mandate.NORWAY'S EV SHARE RECOVERS AND HITS 98%Norway registered 7,272 new passenger cars in February 2026, with BEVs accounting for 7,127 of them — a 98.01% market share — as the market began to stabilise after a turbulent end to 2025 driven by expiring VAT exemptions. OFV Director Geir Inge Stokke compared the post-surge normalisation to the period following the 2022 VAT reform, with diesel, petrol PHEVs, hybrids, and pure petrol cars dividing up the remaining 2% between them. NORWAY PASSES ONE MILLION BATTERY-ELECTRIC VEHICLESNorway's battery-electric passenger car fleet has crossed one million, with 951,300 BEV passenger cars and 50,300 BEV light commercial vehicles (LCVs) on the road, representing 32.4% of all passenger cars in the country's 2.94 million-strong fleet. Oslo leads with a 48.9% BEV share in its passenger car fleet and is expected to crack 50% before summer, while rural Finnmark trails at 12.2%, and the Norwegian EV Association's Christina Bu says the LCV transition — currently at just 9.7% — urgently needs to accelerate.UPTAKE SPREADS BEYOND WEALTHIER EARLY ADOPTERSResearch from charging firm char.gy and think tank New Automotive shows that EV adoption in England, once closely tied to wealth as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation, has spread significantly into poorer areas by Q3 2024–2025, with growth rates converging across most neighbourhoods. Used BEV transactions surged 45.7% in 2025 to a record 274,815 units, lifting used BEV market share to 3.5%, and with more than two million plug-in vehicles now on UK roads, the main remaining challenge is delivering reliable, affordable on-street charging in the most disadvantaged communities. QUANTUMSCAPE UNVEILS PRODUCTION LINE IN CALIFORNIAQuantumScape officially inaugurated its Eagle Line — a highly automated solid-state battery pilot production facility in San Jose, California — on February 4, 2026, designed not for mass production by QuantumScape itself but as a scalable blueprint that licensing partners, including Volkswagen (which has invested over $300 million), can replicate at gigawatt-hour scale in their own plants. With roughly $850 million in liquidity but a history of burning over $100 million annually and Volkswagen having scaled back its involvement in 2023 after missed timelines, QuantumScape's strategy pivot toward licensing means the next 18–24 months are critical for securing a major customer agreement.KIA UK SETS EV2 FIRST DRIVE WEEKENDSKia UK will run First Drive Weekend events for the EV2 across nearly all 190 UK dealers from April 16 to June 27, 2026, offering structured 30-minute accompanied drives ahead of first deliveries expected later in the year. The EV2 is a compact SUV just over four metres long built on the 400V E-GMP platform, supporting 10%–80% DC rapid charging in around 30 minutes, with two battery options (42.2kWh and 61.0kWh) and an expected starting price of around £25,000 — potentially undercutting rivals like the Renault 5 and Ford Puma Gen-E after the UK's £3,750 plug-in vehicle grant.BMW TEASES FOUR-MOTOR ELECTRIC M3 AT NÜRBURGRINGBMW M has released camouflaged footage of the electric M3 prototype — codenamed ZA0 — lapping the Nürburgring, featuring a unique four-motor all-wheel-drive setup with a front-motor decoupling mode for rear-wheel-drive capability that doesn't appear on any other Neue Klasse model. The ZA0 uses a bespoke battery pack with more than 100 kWh of net energy capacity not shared with regular i3 variants, with production targeted for March 2027 — well after the standard i3 sedan, which entered pre-series production at BMW's Munich plant in February 2026.ROYAL ENFIELD SETS 2026–2027 EV AND ICE PUSHRoyal Enfield is launching its first electric motorcycles under a new sub-brand called Flying Flea, starting with the minimalist urban C6 in 2026 and followed by the scrambler-inspired S6 in 2027, both sharing a common battery architecture that signals a modular platform approach. The brand is also developing an electrified Himalayan adventure bike, pushing its EV ambitions beyond city commuting into a segment that demands tougher performance credentials around weight, range, and durability. NEXT POLESTAR WILL BE SPORTIER AND ON CHINESE PLATFORMPolestar will replace the Polestar 2 in 2027 with a lower, sportier saloon that will be meaningfully longer than today's 4.6-metre car — potentially rivalling the BMW 3 Series — with UK pricing expected to start just below £50,000. The new model shifts to a Geely Holdings group-wide platform shared with Volvo, Lotus, Lynk&Co, and Zeekr, developed at "China speed" in a 30-month cycle versus the typical five-to-seven-year European timeline, with software-defined vehicle capability and advanced central computing at its core.ITALY LAUNCHES FIRST OFFICIAL ELECTRIC PORSCHE CLUBRegistro Italiano E-motion has become the world's first Porsche club built exclusively around battery-electric vehicles, earning official recognition from Porsche after beginning life as a pandemic-era chat group for Italian Taycan owners in 2021. The club's inaugural tour brought together 131 participants and 73 vehicles — a mix of 42 Taycans and 31 Macan Electrics, including two Taycan Turbo GT Weissach models — on a multi-day Alpine drive from Porsche Experience Center Franciacorta in northern Italy to the Hans Peter Porsche Traumwerk museum near Salzburg, Austria.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart XPENG CUTS X9 PRICE AS VLA 2.0 NEARS https://evne.ws/4b0ZUBP XPENG CUTS X9 PRICE 14% AFTER DELIVERY SLUMP https://evne.ws/4b0ZUBP GOTION FINISHES DESIGN FOR 2 GWH SOLID-STATE LINE https://evne.ws/47519yE NIO EXTENDS SEVEN-YEAR FINANCE DEAL TO END-MARCH https://evne.ws/3OYPo6F GLOBAL NEV SALES SLIP AS SUBSIDIES FADE https://evne.ws/3OLgqhV MERZ TAKES GERMAN CAR BOSSES TO BEIJING https://evne.ws/4cXY9I6 BYD SETS 5 MARCH “DISRUPTIVE” TECH LAUNCH https://evne.ws/403o49M ROX MOTOR FEBRUARY DELIVERIES HIT 1,298 https://evne.ws/4sq3BYU SAIC-GM UNVEILS BUICK ELECTRA ENCACA BEV FOR CHINA https://evne.ws/4rSeqD6 SHENZHEN LAUNCHES BONUSES FOR EV SCRAPPAGE AND TRADE-INS https://evne.ws/4razYtE

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BMW USA SHOP LEAK POINTS TO 2027 LINEUP https://evne.ws/4081MUf TESLA BERLIN RUNS HALF FULL AS UNION ROW SIMMERS https://evne.ws/4d4gL9g T&E: LOCAL BATTERIES COULD CUT COST GAP https://evne.ws/3Na5t94 TRIBUNAL BACKS 5% VAT ON SOME PUBLIC CHARGING https://evne.ws/4bl4PPi SKODA OPENS €205M CTP BATTERY PLANT IN CZECHIA https://evne.ws/3N2pBK9 MG CLOSES IN ON EUROPEAN FACTORY PLAN https://evne.ws/4slQRCu CITROËN UPDATES C5 AIRCROSS PHEV FOR EURO 7 https://evne.ws/4u7vBC3 CANADIAN TRIAL PEGS ELECTRIC SEMI SAVINGS AT $157,126 https://evne.ws/4rMIKiv DENZA D9 ELECTRIC MPV ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA https://evne.ws/46yDNRY CHINESE CAR BRANDS SPLIT US BUYERS https://evne.ws/4aMajm3

It's EV News Briefly for Monday 02 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyBMW USA SHOP LEAK POINTS TO 2027 LINEUPA leak on BMW USA's online shop revealed two fully electric i3 sedan variants — the i3 40 xDrive and i3 50 xDrive — confirmed for the US in 2027, sharing the Neue Klasse platform with the iX3 and featuring Gen6 batteries, 800-volt hardware, and an iDrive X interior. The 2027 lineup also adds a first-ever iX4 coupe-SUV in two variants, an iX3 in three configurations launching in North America this summer, an electric iX5, and an i3 M60 alongside a full electric M3 positioned as the spiritual successor to today's M3 Competition.TESLA BERLIN RUNS HALF FULL AS UNION ROW SIMMERSTesla's Gigafactory Berlin produced 211,235 vehicles in 2024 against a stated annual capacity of 375,000 — a 56% utilisation rate — and output has since declined further, with the factory now reportedly running at around 40% capacity and BYD outselling Tesla in Europe in January 2026. Labour tensions are deepening ahead of works council elections, with IG Metall pursuing collective wage agreements similar to those at Volkswagen and BMW, while Tesla filed a criminal complaint against a union member and Elon Musk warned that "outside organisations" could hinder the site's ambition to become Europe's largest factory complex.T&E: LOCAL BATTERIES COULD CUT COST GAPA Transport & Environment report argues the EU can shrink the cost gap between domestically made and Chinese batteries from 90% to around 30% through scaled-up local production, with higher automation and lower scrap rates potentially cutting the gap to $14 per kWh by 2030 — equivalent to roughly €500 on an average EV. The findings align with the EU's forthcoming Industrial Accelerator Act, which targets ~70% local content thresholds for publicly supported EVs, though some carmakers warn this risks making batteries prohibitively expensive while T&E's Julia Poliscanova calls it "a sovereignty premium worth paying," particularly given China's export restrictions on critical minerals.TRIBUNAL BACKS 5% VAT ON SOME PUBLIC CHARGINGA UK tax tribunal has ruled against HMRC in a case brought by community charging operator Charge My Street, finding that a de-minimis clause in the VAT Act 1994 — capping "domestic" supplies at 1,000 kWh per month per customer — can qualify most neighbourhood charge points for the 5% reduced VAT rate rather than the 20% rate currently applied to public charging. The ruling is significant for drivers without off-street parking, though it also raises commercial complications, as many charge point operators have multi-year contracts priced on 20% VAT, and it opens the door to networks gaming the threshold by splitting sites or charger banks into separate "premises".ŠKODA OPENS €205M CTP BATTERY PLANT IN CZECHIAŠkoda has opened a €205 million (~$216M), 55,000 m² battery production facility at Mladá Boleslav, making it the Volkswagen Group's largest BEV battery system site and the first VW Group plant in Europe to manufacture cell-to-pack (CTP) systems at scale. The line produces over 1,100 battery systems per day — targeting up to 335,000 annually — and Škoda's switch to LFP cells has cut battery production costs by 30% compared to its previous MEB systems.MG CLOSES IN ON EUROPEAN FACTORY PLANMG has narrowed its European factory search to five countries, aiming to begin production by 2027 to circumvent the EU's 45% tariff on Chinese-built BEVs — a levy that caused MG's European BEV sales to fall 33% to 48,479 units last year, even as overall European sales rose 26% to 307,282 units in 2025. MG Europe head William Wang declared "it's time to build local," positioning the brand as a European marque rather than a Chinese import, as rivals BYD, Chery, and Leapmotor also race to establish European manufacturing footholds.CITROËN UPDATES C5 AIRCROSS PHEV FOR EURO 7Citroën has refreshed the C5 Aircross plug-in hybrid with a new 21.5 kWh battery (17.8 kWh usable), delivering up to 96 km (60 miles) of WLTP combined electric range — a 33% improvement over the outgoing model and ahead of rivals like the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 (69 km) and Ford Kuga PHEV (64 km). Priced in the €40–50k range, Citroën positions the updated C5 Aircross as one of the most tax-efficient family SUVs in the mainstream segment across EU markets while still targeting Euro 7 compliance.CANADIAN TRIAL PEGS ELECTRIC SEMI SAVINGS AT $157,126A real-world Canadian trial by FPInnovations' PIT Group and Transport Canada tracked two commercial fleets over 12 months and more than 200,000 km of Montreal-area operations, projecting savings of $157,126 per truck over six years — described as the most comprehensive dataset of its kind outside controlled demonstrations. The study compared the Freightliner eCascadia (BEV) directly against the diesel Cascadia and found that despite the electric truck's higher purchase price, higher-than-expected maintenance costs, and lower residual value, a six-year saving still emerged and may prove conservative.DENZA D9 ELECTRIC MPV ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIADenza has launched the D9 electric MPV in Australia from A$85,990, powered by a 103.3 kWh Blade Battery with 200 kW DC fast charging, 11 kW AC charging, and V2L capability across both variants, all built on BYD's e-Platform 3.0 with a cell-to-body battery structure. The seven-seat, three-row cabin targets the premium end of the people-mover segment with nappa leather, open-pore white ash wood trim, a 14-speaker Dynaudio sound system, adaptive suspension, and second-row captain's chairs offering over 900 mm of legroom, massage, and individual screens.CHINESE CAR BRANDS SPLIT US BUYERSA Cox Automotive survey of 802 prospective US car buyers found the country almost evenly divided — 38% would consider Chinese brands if available, 39% would not — with Gen Z showing notably higher openness at 69%. Chinese brands remain locked out of the US market by high tariffs and software regulations, but cost pressure is a key driver of interest, with 68% of open buyers expecting lower prices against an average new car price of $50,000, while BYD has already surpassed Tesla in European EV sales.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart CHINA EV REPORT MIXED RESULTS FOR FEBRUARY https://evne.ws/4014B9I BYD TESTS 1,500 KW FLASH CHARGE NETWORK https://evne.ws/4rGzkF3 BYD SHOWS SEAL 07 EV AHEAD OF MARCH LAUNCH https://evne.ws/4cUBZ9x DENZA Z9 GT SET FOR 1,036 KM CLAIM https://evne.ws/4b0rP4P LEAPMOTOR’S STELLANTIS DEAL DRIVES EUROPEAN GROWTH https://evne.ws/3Pb93QP SAIC-VW SHOWS ID. ERA 9X CABIN AHEAD OF 2026 https://evne.ws/4u41KdR XIAOMI SPY SHOTS POINT TO TWO NEW SUVS https://evne.ws/4rO4RoO CHINESE EVS FACE UK INSURANCE SURGE https://evne.ws/4b4l029