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MERCEDES REVEALS AMG GT SUV WITH 12-MINUTE CHARGINGMercedes-AMG has unveiled its first in-house-developed full-size electric SUV, with the GT 55 and GT 63 offering 128 kWh batteries, up to 710 kW charging and a 10–80% charging time of just 12 minutes. Both target 620–700 km of WLTP range, while the flagship GT 63 produces up to 860 kW and accelerates from 0–60 mph in an estimated 2.6 seconds, with US deliveries expected in summer 2027.HYUNDAI AND KIA GROW SMALL EV SALES AS TOTAL SALES FALLHyundai and Kia sold 97,689 small electric cars in Europe during the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 14.4% despite their combined overall sales falling 2.2%, while BYD's European sales surged 163%. Hyundai's new IONIQ 3 starts at £18,495 in the UK after the government grant, with a larger-battery version offering up to 496 km of WLTP range, as both manufacturers expand European EV production.VOLKSWAGEN SETS 80% CHARGING CAP FOR RECALLED ID.4sVolkswagen plans to introduce an automatic 80% charging limit from around 27 October for 22,524 recalled US ID.4 vehicles from model years 2023–2026, unless owners decline the restriction by 21 October. The company warns certain charging patterns above 80% could trigger battery fires, but the root cause remains unknown and the restriction is only a temporary precaution until repairs are available.FORD TURNS TO RENAULT FOR SMALL EVs IN 2028Ford will launch two small electric cars in Europe from 2028, developed with Renault and manufactured in northern France using Renault's Ampere platform, as it attempts to reverse a 36% decline in European sales over the past decade. The partnership reduces development costs but won't utilise Ford's underused factories, while the company plans three new models by the end of 2029 and is exploring further cooperation with Renault on commercial vehicles.FRANCE MOVES CHEAP ELECTRICITY HOURS INTO THE AFTERNOONFrance will shift 9.3 million electricity customers onto revised off-peak schedules between December 2026 and October 2027, moving up to three of their eight daily cheaper hours into the 11am–5pm period to take advantage of increased solar generation. Customers will retain at least five consecutive overnight off-peak hours, but EV owners may need to reprogramme their charging schedules because existing vehicle and charger timers won't automatically follow the changes.HONDA PREPARES ROADS THAT CHARGE MOVING EVsHonda is developing wireless road charging that transfers electricity to vehicles while they drive, with motorway demonstrations in Japan planned from the 2027 financial year and an initial focus on commercial trucks. Its technology uses transmitters embedded beneath the road surface with momentary power peaks of 150 kW per transmitter, although sustained charging performance, durability and reliability at motorway speeds still require testing.NEW ZEALAND EV BATTERIES OUTSIZE GRID STORAGENew Zealand's electric vehicles collectively contain approximately 7 GWh of battery capacity, more than ten times the country's installed grid-scale battery storage, creating significant potential for vehicle-to-grid electricity supply during peak demand. However, bidirectional home chargers cost approximately NZ$7,000 and no retail V2G service is currently available, although trials in Queenstown and a separate project involving up to 100 chargers will examine the technology's practicality.CANADA CONSIDERS EU RULES TO WIDEN EV CHOICECanada is considering recognising additional European vehicle safety standards to make importing affordable EVs easier, potentially opening its market to 20 European models priced below C$40,000 that are currently unavailable locally. Manufacturers including Stellantis, Volkswagen and Nissan support the proposal, which could reduce certification costs and help Canada access vehicles that manufacturers might otherwise exclude because of weak US demand.DUKE OFFERS FLORIDA EV DRIVERS $90 A YEARDuke Energy Florida is offering EV owners a US$7.50 monthly credit, worth up to US$90 annually per vehicle, for charging during designated off-peak periods including weekday afternoons, overnight hours, weekends and holidays. Participants can charge during peak hours twice monthly without losing their credit, while programme data indicates 94% of participating vehicles' charging energy has been consumed off-peak.ONTARIO SETS 3.7-CENT OVERNIGHT ELECTRICITYOntario's Ultra-Low Overnight tariff will fall to 3.7 Canadian cents per kWh from 1 November, offering inexpensive EV charging between 11pm and 7am every day. However, weekday electricity prices rise to 37.7 cents per kWh between 4pm and 9pm under the same plan, meaning households must balance overnight charging savings against substantially more expensive evening electricity consumption.BYD ATTO 2 PLUG-IN HYBRID STARTS AT A$24,990BYD has priced Australia's ATTO 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid from A$24,990 before on-road costs, with the Essential offering a 7.9 kWh battery and 39 km of WLTP electric range, while the A$29,990 Premium provides an 18 kWh battery and 90 km of range. Both versions support just 3.3 kW AC charging, and Australian company-car buyers must consider that newly arranged plug-in hybrids no longer qualify for the fringe benefits tax exemption available to eligible fully electric vehicles.RENAULT CHIEF CHALLENGES UK 2030 PETROL DEADLINERenault chief executive François Provost has urged Britain to reconsider its 2030 deadline for ending sales of new purely petrol and diesel cars, while arguing that closer European industrial cooperation should involve alignment with EU tariffs on Chinese vehicles. The UK is seeking access to proposed European manufacturing incentives, but these demands are not agreed conditions and Britain's existing deadlines remain unchanged, with a consultation on EV sales targets closing on 23 October.RIVIAN SPIN-OUT E-BIKE MAKES TIME INVENTIONS LISTRivian spin-out ALSO's TM-B electric bicycle has been named among TIME's Best Inventions of 2026, with US deliveries under way and prices starting at US$3,500 for a modular design featuring generator-driven pedals rather than a conventional mechanical drivetrain. The bicycle offers claimed ranges of up to 60 or 100 miles depending on battery size, supports USB-C charging at up to 240 W and features interchangeable configurations for passengers or cargo, although European availability remains unconfirmed.

BYD DAHAN FALLS SHORT OF XIAOMI IN HIGHWAY TESTBYD’s DaHan achieved just 566.4 kilometres against its 1,008-kilometre CLTC rating in Autohome’s highway test, beaten by Xiaomi’s SU7 Pro at 678.6 kilometres despite having a larger battery, while Tesla’s Model 3 Long Range managed 527.8 kilometres. The results expose the gap between advertised and real-world motorway range, although BYD’s claimed nine-minute charging capability could change the rankings on longer journeys.BMW STARTS NEW BATTERY PACK PRODUCTION IN CHINABMW has started producing sixth-generation battery packs in Shenyang for its China-built Neue Klasse iX3 and i3, using CATL and EVE Energy cylindrical cells that promise over 20% greater energy density, up to 30% improvements in range and charging, and targeted cost reductions of 40–50%. With Chinese sales down 24.8% in the third quarter, BMW is deepening its reliance on local suppliers, manufacturing and software expertise to compete with domestic EV brands.IM LS9 SPIED WITH EXTRA DRIVING SENSORSAn updated IM LS9 extended-range luxury SUV has been spotted testing in Shanghai with additional cameras and LiDAR hardware, suggesting upgraded driver assistance for the SAIC and Alibaba-backed brand’s six-seat flagship. The prototype also features revised door handles, potentially addressing China’s incoming safety regulations requiring mechanical emergency access, although neither the new technology nor regulatory compliance has been confirmed.AVATR 06 DROPS ENTRY TRIM AND ADDS ADS 5Avatr has simplified its 06 saloon range to two rear-wheel-drive models, introducing Huawei’s ADS 5 driver assistance as standard while removing cheaper entry-level and dual-motor versions, with promotional prices starting around $30,800 for the range extender and $32,300 for the fully electric model. Despite larger batteries, claimed electric ranges remain unchanged at 230 and 650 kilometres respectively, making improved assistance technology and revised emergency door releases the main attractions.BMW i3 COVERS 1,213 KM ON ONE CHARGEBMW’s China-market i3 50L has travelled 1,213 kilometres on a single charge, exceeding its official range rating by 18% while consuming just 8.8 kWh per 100 kilometres from its 113.4 kWh battery. The long-wheelbase electric saloon, arriving in early 2027, also promises 400 kW charging capable of adding 400 kilometres in ten minutes, although its mixed-road demonstration cannot be directly compared with controlled highway tests.XPENG MONA L05 OFFERS TWO POWERTRAINS AT ONE ENTRY PRICEXpeng has opened pre-sales for its Mona L05 family SUV at approximately $25,400, offering both fully electric and range-extended powertrains at the same starting price, with electric versions delivering up to 635 kilometres and the range extender promising 310 kilometres electrically or 1,310 kilometres combined. Launching on 29 October, the five-seat SUV combines standard adaptive suspension with optional advanced driver assistance as Xpeng targets more than 60,000 monthly deliveries in the fourth quarter.XIAOMI SU7 ULTRA TEST CAR ADDS BIGGER REAR WINGA modified Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been spotted testing at the Nürburgring with a larger rear wing and revised aerodynamics, potentially signalling another attempt to challenge Porsche’s production EV lap record of six minutes 55 seconds, compared with Xiaomi’s seven minutes 4.957 seconds. With only 50 Chinese insurance registrations in September, the 1,138 kW electric super-saloon increasingly serves as an engineering showcase, although Xiaomi has not confirmed whether the revised car will enter production.CHINESE CARMAKERS FIND NO ITALIAN FACTORY TO BUYChinese manufacturers are shifting their European factory searches towards Spain and France after finding no suitable Italian plants available for acquisition, with BYD reportedly insisting on outright ownership rather than shared production facilities. While BYD plans further European manufacturing expansion, Geely is pursuing a joint venture with Ford in Valencia, highlighting different strategies for localising production as Brussels considers new European-content requirements.CHINA OPENS MAEXTRO BRAKE PEDAL FAILURE PROBEThree Chinese government agencies have launched an investigation after emergency-braking tests reportedly caused brake-pedal brackets to break in three Maextro V800 luxury people carriers, forcing testers to use an emergency stopping function. Huawei and JAC’s luxury brand disputes the relevance of the extreme testing conditions and cites successful laboratory results, but has promised upgraded components for existing and undelivered vehicles while investigators work to establish the cause.

Your electric car’s battery could do much more than drive the wheels. In Part One of this vehicle-to-grid special, Martyn Lee explores how EVs can power appliances, supply a home or send electricity back to the grid. We explain AC and DC bidirectional charging, the differences between V2L, V2H and V2G, and why the car, charger and electricity supplier need to work together.With manufacturers and energy companies bringing complete V2G packages to market, is this the turning point for wider adoption? We look at European household offers, Tesla’s Powershare home backup and grid support, and expanding shared-car fleets in the Netherlands. Projects in Australia, China and California show how cars and electric school buses are being used to support electricity networks.We also explore what makes V2G useful: absorbing solar energy, meeting evening demand and helping keep the grid stable. But a parked car is only useful to the grid when it’s connected to compatible equipment and has energy to spare. From communication standards to installation and supplier restrictions, we examine what still needs to happen before V2G becomes an everyday choice—and set up Part Two’s question: is it worth it for the owner?

It's ev.news Briefly for Sunday 18 October 2026, only today's headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.GLOBAL EV SALES FALL AS EUROPE SETS A RECORDGlobal electric vehicle sales fell 2% in September to 2.15 million, despite Europe setting a new record with almost 600,000 vehicles sold, up 39%, while North American sales dropped 44% and China's declined 18%. China exported a record 558,000 new-energy passenger cars as domestic demand weakened, but proposed EU restrictions on Chinese hybrid imports could complicate its export strategy, even as global EV sales remain 3% higher for the year.RIVIAN LIMITS NEW DRIVING SYSTEM TO INVITED OWNERSRivian will begin testing its point-to-point autonomous driving system with selected US owners of second-generation R1 vehicles and the R2 in December, initially in California and Florida, with wider availability planned for 2027. Participants must have paid Autonomy+ subscriptions, share driving data and provide feedback, while remaining responsible for monitoring the road, as Rivian targets hands-off, eyes-off driving capabilities in 2027.CHANGAN BRINGS 450 KM FAMILY EV TO EUROPEChinese manufacturer Changan will launch its Nevo Q05 electric crossover in Italy and Spain in early 2027, with a UK version called the E06 offering 450 kilometres of WLTP range, a 63.8 kWh battery and 174 kW rapid charging capable of replenishing 30–80% in approximately 15 minutes. Competing against the BYD Atto 3, Leapmotor B10 and Kia EV3, Changan plans to expand its European dealership and service network from nearly 400 locations this year to 650 in 2027, although pricing remains unannounced.FRANCE AND GERMANY AGREE CAR PLAN WITH UK CONDITIONSFrance and Germany have agreed a proposed European automotive policy that could give British manufacturers access to EU subsidies and public contracts in exchange for reciprocal market access and tighter safeguards against circumventing European trade restrictions, potentially affecting Chinese EV imports. The agreement proposes requiring 70% European-made components, excluding batteries, and 10% European battery content for qualifying vehicles, while reducing the EU's 2035 emissions target from 100% to 90%, allowing combustion-engine cars to remain on sale beyond 2035 if the proposals secure legislative approval.LEAPMOTOR STARTS SPANISH B10 PRODUCTIONLeapmotor has begun assembling its B10 electric SUV at Stellantis' Zaragoza factory in Spain, with customer deliveries expected in December or January and production of the B05 scheduled for early 2027. European assembly avoids additional EU tariffs on Chinese-built electric cars, although the B10's current local content of more than 40% may not satisfy proposed Made in Europe requirements, while British customers will continue receiving Chinese-built vehicles.VOLKSWAGEN WEIGHS CHINA-DEVELOPED CARS FOR EUROPEVolkswagen is considering importing China-developed electric vehicles into Europe, potentially including the ID Unyx 09 saloon developed with Xpeng in just 24 months, exploiting China's faster development cycles and lower manufacturing costs. However, European regulatory requirements and import tariffs could undermine those savings, making local production increasingly attractive as Volkswagen simultaneously supports Made in Europe policies favouring European manufacturing.RIMAC REVEALS NEVERA THRUSTER STUDYMate Rimac has revealed that his engineers investigated compressed-gas thrusters for the Nevera electric hypercar in 2020, exploring technology capable of delivering extraordinary acceleration, additional downforce and potentially lifting the vehicle off the ground. The concepts never reached production, with engineering resources redirected towards the Bugatti Tourbillon, whose naturally aspirated V16 engine is supplemented by three electric motors and a 24 kWh battery.US CLEAN-ENERGY RECORD FORECAST AS GAS ALSO EXPANDSBloombergNEF forecasts a record 89 gigawatts of new US clean-energy capacity this year, driven by data-centre electricity demand and expiring tax incentives, but also expects 67.8 gigawatts of additional gas-fired generation by 2030 against just 14.3 gigawatts of retirements. Grid connection bottlenecks could require 48 gigawatts of on-site gas generation by 2035, illustrating how growing electricity demand is driving investment in both renewable energy and fossil fuels, with US wholesale electricity prices forecast to rise 11% this year.

It's ev.news Briefly for Saturday 17 October 2026, only today's headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.SLATE OPENS FIRST SHOWROOM FOR $26,400 ELECTRIC PICKUPSlate has opened its first showroom in Chicago ahead of sales later this year, showcasing its $26,400 electric pickup, including destination fees, with a projected EPA range of 205 miles. Optional kits can convert the basic truck into a five-seat SUV, while servicing will use RepairPal’s independent network, including more than 100 workshops capable of working on high-voltage EV systems.FRANCE’S EV SHARE HITS 42%, LED BY MODEL YElectric cars took 42% of France’s new-car market in September, up from 22% a year earlier, led by Tesla’s Model Y ahead of the Renault 5 and electric Twingo. Social leasing capped at €200 a month helped support demand, but only the Renault 5 among those three is assembled in France, highlighting the challenge of turning growing EV sales into domestic manufacturing gains.BMW RAISES IX5 EPA RANGE ESTIMATE TO 450 MILESBMW has raised the iX5 60 xDrive’s estimated EPA range from 435 to 450 miles ahead of its planned launch in the first quarter of 2027. Its 144.0 kWh battery, BMW’s largest in a production vehicle, will support charging at up to 460 kW, with a quoted 10–80% charging time of 22 minutes.GERMANY SEEKS FREEZE ON PLUG-IN HYBRID CO₂ RULESGermany wants to freeze November’s correction to EU plug-in hybrid emissions calculations, which would reduce the assumed amount of electric driving to better reflect real-world use. Transport & Environment says plug-in hybrids registered in 2024 emitted around six times their official CO₂ figures and warns that a freeze would let carmakers meet 2030 targets while selling fewer battery electric cars.MERCEDES CHIEF WARNS EU AGAINST EXCLUDING UK CARMAKERSMercedes-Benz chief Ola Källenius warns that excluding British carmakers from the EU’s proposed Made in Europe rules would damage manufacturers and supply chains on both sides of the Channel. Brussels says British tariffs on Chinese-built electric cars would strengthen the UK’s case for inclusion, but the British government says it isn’t considering them.IONITY TO REPLACE CHARGERS THAT LEFT EVS STRANDEDIonity will replace faulty chargers at Elverum in Norway after receiving six incident reports involving high-voltage safety fuses being triggered, leaving affected EVs unable to drive until those fuses are replaced. One Volkswagen ID. Buzz owner faces a reported $12,100 repair bill, with Ionity’s insurer handling the case and responsibility for payment still unresolved.CHERY UNVEILS Q ELECTRIC HATCHBACK FOR EUROPEChery has unveiled its 4.2-metre Q electric hatchback for Europe, with a UK arrival expected in 2027 that would bring the brand’s first fully electric car to its British line-up. European specifications are still being finalised, but the South African version has a 42.7 kWh battery, a 90 kW rear motor and up to 400 km of NEDC range, with 30–80% DC charging in 16.5 minutes or less.BYD SHARK WINS FIVE-STAR EURO NCAP RATINGBYD’s Shark DMO plug-in hybrid pickup has earned Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, with UK orders open at £47,295 including VAT. The 321 kW pickup offers up to 90 km of WLTP electric range from a 32.2 kWh battery, with 55 kW DC charging taking 21 minutes from 30% to 80%, adding an electrified option to a diesel-dominated market.TESLA ROADSTER RESERVATIONS COME WITHOUT DELIVERY GUARANTEECustomers can pay up to $250,000 to reserve Tesla’s Roadster without securing a guaranteed car, delivery date, final price or fixed specification. Tesla is targeting a 2028 launch, with some reservations dating back to 2017; payments are fully refundable if customers cancel or Tesla cannot deliver, but reservations cannot be transferred.

VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS NEXT ID. BUZZ WITH COST CUTS PLANNEDVolkswagen 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 CHARGINGBMW’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 DELIVERIESRenault’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-SEATERSmart 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 CHARTTesla’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 RECORDCalifornia 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 2027Chery 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 VESSELBibby 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 TESTINGA 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 FALLUS 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 ELECTRIFICATIONICCT 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.

CHINA’S CARMAKERS BACK EU HYBRID LIMITSBYD, 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 OCTOBERLeapmotor 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 SEDANFAW-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 MODELSChery 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 PLANChangan 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 HYBRIDJetour 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 2027Changan 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 BUYERSAn 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 2029BYD 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 CHARGINGEngineer 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 COMMISSIONINGGotion 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.

TESLA HALTS MODEL 3 PREMIUM ORDERS WITH QUOTA UNUSEDTesla 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 GAINUS 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 €19,990Smart 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 SUPPORTMercedes-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 £32,450Skoda 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 €1,810Renault 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 TRAFICRenault'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 PARTNERSRenault 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 AIValeo 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 MINUTESTomTom 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 ESTIMATESLucid'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 COMPONENTSBMW 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 DELIVERIESVolvo'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.

BYD LAUNCHES DA HAN WITH 1,008 KM CLTC RANGEBYD 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 SALESTesla’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 2027BYD 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 EXPORTSChery 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 DELIVERIESXiaomi 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 RATINGSThe 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 SALESXpeng 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 DEALERSBYD’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 COSTSChina’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.

FORD OPENS $29,945 FATHOM SIGN-UPS WITHOUT RANGE FIGURESFord 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 RISESAmerica’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 MARCHTesla 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-UPSJaguar’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 BRITAINA 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 LABGeneral 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 HEATSolar 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 EXHAUSTSMercedes 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 CUTSVolkswagen’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 DECLINEBMW 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 GWhEPRI 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.

VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCHES ID.ERA 8X FROM 206,800 YUANSAIC Volkswagen has launched the five-seat ID.ERA 8X extended-range SUV in China from 206,800 yuan ($30,900), offering up to 451 km of CLTC electric range, 1,602 km combined range, 800-volt architecture and 10–80% charging in 16 minutes. With CATL batteries, LiDAR and Chinese assisted-driving software, Volkswagen is adopting the technology and pricing strategies of domestic competitors in an attempt to recover lost market share.VOLKSWAGEN CHINA DELIVERIES FALL 38.5% IN THIRD QUARTERVolkswagen Group's Chinese deliveries plunged 38.5% to 405,800 vehicles in the third quarter, contributing to a 14.3% decline in global deliveries to 1.885 million. Although electrified vehicle deliveries in China increased approximately 30%, they could not offset collapsing combustion-engine sales, intensifying pressure on Volkswagen to introduce competitively priced, locally developed electric models.CHINA SUPPLIES OVER 75% OF BATTERIES SOLD WORLDWIDEChina now produces more than 75% of batteries sold worldwide, having established its dominance through sustained subsidies, protected domestic demand and manufacturing expertise that competitors cannot easily replicate. India illustrates the challenge, importing almost 84% of its lithium-ion batteries from China while operating just 1.4 GWh of its targeted 50 GWh domestic manufacturing capacity, highlighting the difficulty of building an independent battery industry without Chinese expertise.NIO ES9 SALES REBOUND TO 7,706 IN SEPTEMBERNio's flagship ES9 SUV recorded 7,706 Chinese retail sales in September, up 19% from August, with the ES9 and cheaper ES8 together accounting for 85.8% of Nio-brand sales and both reportedly generating vehicle margins above 20%. However, shortening delivery waiting times and sales slightly below the approximately 7,900 monthly average needed to meet Deutsche Bank's 56,000-unit annual forecast leave questions about the strength of underlying demand.SMART UNVEILS £17,900 TWO-SEAT ELECTRIC #2Smart has unveiled its new two-seat electric #2 at the Paris Motor Show, targeting a £17,900 UK starting price with a 35.8 kWh battery, 180 miles of WLTP range and 65 kW DC charging ahead of sales in 2027. Developed through the Mercedes-Benz–Geely partnership, the car returns Smart to its original compact city-car concept, although its two-seat configuration faces competition from similarly priced electric hatchbacks offering greater practicality.LEAPMOTOR B03 BRINGS 242-MILE HATCHBACK TO EUROPELeapmotor has unveiled its B03 electric hatchback for European markets, with UK sales beginning in early 2027, offering a 53 kWh battery, 242 miles of WLTP range and 133 kW charging, while its differently specified Chinese counterpart starts at approximately $9,500. With British pricing and manufacturing arrangements still unconfirmed, Leapmotor's challenge is translating China's low-cost EV engineering into competitive European prices as overseas deliveries expand and local production develops.XPENG OPENS EUROPEAN ORDERS FOR G9L FROM €74,600Xpeng has opened European orders for its G9L flagship electric SUV from €74,600, offering six or seven seats, up to 591 km of WLTP range and claimed 10–80% charging in just 11.7 minutes, with deliveries starting in December. Trial production has begun in Austria, while September overseas sales reached a record 10,055 vehicles, demonstrating the growing importance of international markets as Xpeng's overall deliveries decline.BYD REVEALS ATTO 8 WITH NINE-MINUTE CHARGINGBYD has unveiled its seven-seat Atto 8 electric SUV for Europe, arriving in early 2027 with a 115 kWh second-generation Blade Battery, up to 653 km of WLTP range and claimed 10–97% charging in nine minutes using compatible high-power infrastructure. With European pricing unannounced and BYD targeting 3,000 flash-charging stations across Europe by the end of 2027, the technology's commercial success depends on whether drivers can access the charging speeds promised.

WALMART DOUBLES US FAST-CHARGING STALLS PAST 1,000Walmart has doubled its US fast-charging network in roughly four months, reaching more than 1,000 stalls across 120 locations, with CCS and NACS chargers rated at up to 400 kW. The retailer was America's second-largest installer of new fast-charging ports in the second quarter, behind Tesla, establishing itself as a significant charging operator rather than simply hosting third-party equipment.BYD ATTO 8 BRINGS NINE-MINUTE FLASH CHARGING TO EUROPEBYD has unveiled the seven-seat Atto 8 electric SUV for Europe, featuring a 115 kWh Blade battery capable of a claimed 10–97% charge in nine minutes using dedicated Flash chargers, with two powertrains offering up to 405 miles of WLTP range. Arriving in early 2027, the SUV's charging capabilities depend on BYD's ambitious infrastructure rollout, targeting 3,000 European Flash charging stations by the end of 2027, while pricing and charging performance on conventional public chargers remain unknown.LEAPMOTOR B03 SETS UP A RENAULT 5 CHALLENGE FOR 2027Leapmotor will introduce its B03 electric supermini to the UK in early 2027, targeting the Renault 5 and Volkswagen ID Polo with an expected price in the low £20,000s, a 53 kWh battery and 242 miles of WLTP range. Its 145 kW motor delivers 0–62 mph in 7.6 seconds, while 133 kW DC charging enables a claimed 10–80% recharge in 21 minutes, with a spacious 405-litre boot strengthening its practicality credentials.VOLKSWAGEN'S EV ORDERS RISE AS GLOBAL SALES FALLVolkswagen Group's global vehicle deliveries fell 9% to 6.01 million during the first nine months of 2026, with battery-electric deliveries declining 5% to 678,700, reflecting particularly severe weakness in China and the US. European EV demand tells a different story, with third-quarter electric deliveries rising 20%, EVs representing approximately 40% of the European order book and nearly 150,000 orders secured for forthcoming affordable electric models.XPENG G9L ARRIVES IN EUROPE WITH AUSTRIAN ASSEMBLYXpeng has launched its six- or seven-seat G9L electric SUV in Europe, priced from €74,990 in France, offering up to 591 km of WLTP range and a claimed 10–80% charge in just 11.7 minutes using compatible high-power chargers. Trial assembly began at Magna Steyr's Austrian factory on 7 October, potentially reducing exposure to European tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, although full production and delivery dates remain unconfirmed.OMODA 4 HEADS TO BRITAIN — BUT THE EV COSTS MOREChery-owned Omoda has unveiled its compact Omoda 4 crossover for UK introduction in 2027, with the initial petrol-hybrid version expected to cost under £25,000 and a fully electric variant following at approximately £27,000. The EV is reportedly equipped with a 61 kWh battery offering around 248 miles of range, although final specifications, charging performance and the range test cycle remain unconfirmed.FIAT REVEALS FOUR-SEAT MULTIPLINA FOR 2028Fiat has unveiled the Multiplina, a four-seat electric microcar inspired by the original 1950s Multipla, with sales planned for 2028 and a body measuring less than three metres long. Positioned above the two-seat Topolino, it will comply with Europe's L7 heavy-quadricycle regulations, although Fiat has yet to reveal battery capacity, range, performance or charging specifications.LANCIA GAMMA OPENS ORDERS WITH 740-KM ELECTRIC CLAIMLancia has opened European orders for its new Italian-built Gamma fastback crossover, offering hybrid and electric powertrains, including a Long Range EV claiming more than 740 km of range, although a final certified figure has not been established. Built on Stellantis' STLA Medium platform, the range also includes a 375 hp all-wheel-drive HF Integrale capable of 0–100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, while battery specifications, charging speeds and market-specific prices remain undisclosed.LI AUTO PUSHES EUROPEAN I6 LAUNCH INTO 2027Chinese manufacturer Li Auto has postponed its European debut until the first quarter of 2027, when its i6 electric SUV, renamed Li 6, will launch initially in Norway and the Netherlands rather than arriving in late 2026 as previously indicated. The company has also revised its European strategy to include extended-range electric vehicles alongside battery-electric models, although pricing, specifications and additional model launches remain unconfirmed.ELECTRIC BUSES OUTNUMBER HYDROGEN ORDERS 200 TO ONEA new international procurement register covering 388 records across 81 countries reveals 13,165 firm orders for battery-electric buses compared with just 65 hydrogen fuel-cell buses, representing a purchasing ratio exceeding 200 to one. Although the dataset is not a comprehensive global census, the findings demonstrate operators' overwhelming preference for battery-electric technology on urban routes, with hydrogen increasingly needing to justify its higher infrastructure complexity and operational costs.

Welcome to ev.news China — the podcast dedicated to the world’s largest electric vehicle market. Each day, I bring you the latest headlines, insights, and analysis from the heart of China’s booming EV industry — and decode how fast-moving developments in the east are shaping the global EV landscape.CHINA EV SHARE HITS 67% AS PETROL SALES SLUMPElectric and plug-in hybrid vehicles captured a record 67% of China's passenger car market in September, despite NEV sales falling 16.7% to 1.084 million, as overall car sales declined 28% and petrol sales plunged 43%. With domestic NEV sales down 10.6% across the first nine months but September exports surging 160% to 571,000 vehicles, Chinese manufacturers are increasingly dependent on overseas markets to sustain growth.AVATR REVEALS T09 HYBRID WITH OVER 400KM EV RANGEAvatr has unveiled its T09 luxury SUV concept in Paris, combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine, three electric motors and a 71.2 kWh CATL battery delivering more than 400 km of claimed electric range under China's CLTC cycle. Targeting China's 500,000 yuan luxury SUV segment, the concept showcases Avatr's premium ambitions as the company targets expansion from 70 to more than 110 international markets by 2030.AITO PLANS 2027 EUROPE ENTRY AS SALES DECLINEHuawei-backed AITO plans to launch four premium SUVs in Europe in 2027, with EU vehicle certification and Euro NCAP safety assessments underway as manufacturing partner Seres seeks growth beyond China. The expansion comes as Seres reported September NEV sales falling 34.48%, nine-month deliveries declining 15.79% and a first-half net loss of 1.72 billion yuan ($257 million), highlighting the urgency of establishing a successful international business.XPENG PREVIEWS MONA L05 SUV WITH 660KM CLTC RANGEXPeng has previewed the MONA L05 affordable SUV ahead of its planned late-2026 Chinese launch, offering a battery-electric version with a 71.1 kWh LFP battery and up to 660 km CLTC range, alongside a range-extender version with a 37.2 kWh battery delivering up to 253 km of electric driving. With estimated but unconfirmed pricing of $20,900–$26,900, the larger SUV expands the MONA range as XPeng targets monthly deliveries exceeding 60,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter, compared with 41,256 in September.XPENG PLANS EV TECHNOLOGY DEALS BEYOND VOLKSWAGENXPeng has introduced its AI Engineering initiative in Paris, seeking to supply vehicle development, manufacturing, software and AI technology to additional carmakers beyond its existing Volkswagen partnership. Alongside European road testing of its advanced driver-assistance technology, more than 12,000 reported European MONA L03 orders and initial production trials in Austria, the strategy positions XPeng as an international technology supplier rather than simply a Chinese vehicle exporter.CHINA PROPOSES BAN ON FOLDING CAR SCREENSChina has proposed stricter vehicle approval regulations banning folding cabin displays, requiring physical controls for essential functions and introducing tougher reliability, safety and software testing, including at least 30,000 km of vehicle testing. The draft measures, under consultation until 10 November and potentially taking effect from January 2027, aim to prevent manufacturers prioritising technological novelty and rapid product launches over proven safety, potentially increasing development costs and slowing approvals.EU-CHINA DEAL LIMITS HYBRID IMPORTS TO 350,000The EU and China have reportedly agreed to cap Chinese hybrid and plug-in hybrid imports at 350,000 vehicles annually under a four-year safeguard arrangement potentially beginning in December, with the ceiling increasing 6% each year. While Beijing argues the limit permits growth from 302,000 imports in 2025, Brussels expects shipments could otherwise reach 800,000 in 2026, meaning the agreement could substantially restrict Chinese manufacturers' European expansion and encourage more local production.