Volvo Buses has announced the delivery of 38 BZR Low Entry electric buses in Cape Town, marking the introduction of the first electric buses with locally manufactured bodies in South Africa. The bodies are produced on-site by the Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre in Johannesburg. Read more…

Munich Electrification presents an innovative battery disconnect device for high-voltage systems in commercial vehicles at the IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany. Unlike the currently used mechanical or pyrotechnic fuses, the Munich-based company’s solution is based on a chip circuit. Read more…

Chinese manufacturer Skyworth Auto will showcase five next-generation electric commercial vehicles at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover. The highlight of the presentation will be the world premiere of the heavy-duty electric truck Skyworth Z9, which can operate autonomously at Level 4. Read more…

Volkswagen’s planned electric small car for 2027, with a base price of around €20,000, will be called ID. Up and not ID.1 – according to a Spanish media report. The publication writes that VW has already finalised the model’s name as ID. Up. Read more…

The occupational safety authority in CATL’s battery plant in Debrecen, Hungary, has temporarily suspended work in three areas when nine employees were found to have experienced elevated nickel exposure. The incident affects CATL amid the already delayed ramp-up of its cell production. Read more…

Lepas has confirmed full UK specifications for the new L6 EV, the Chery brand’s first all-electric SUV. The L6 EV offers up to 279 miles of range. Order books are due to open early in the fourth quarter of 2026. UK customers can choose between two trim levels. Read more…

Recycling EV batteries is currently not economically viable in Europe even thought it is technically well advanced. A study conducted as part of the EU project called Safeloop estimates the current loss at around 1.90 euros per kilogram of battery pack. Researchers estimate this could be rectified with different approaches – particularly in business models and more efficient processes. Read more…

The roaming specialist Hubject is advancing Plug&Charge initiative with a cooperation in Japan. There, the Berlin-based company is joining forces with Plugo, a charging infrastructure company that wants to implement Plug&Charge in the Japanese market. Read more…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is presenting the ID. California Cruise at the Caravan Salon 2026 – the first representative of a new all-electric California family. The recreational vehicle is based on the ID. Buzz Pro. Prices for the electric camper in the Bulli format start at 60,761 euros. Read more…

Mahle has opened a production facility for electric compressors in Coimbatore, India. At full capacity, more than 300,000 units are expected to be produced there annually. The components play a particularly important role in the thermal management of electric vehicles. Read more…

In spring, BYD unveiled the second generation of its Flash Charger and announced the goal of installing 20,000 of these stations by the end of this year. The T-shaped charging stations each feature two charging cables and 1,500 kW of charging power. BYD now reports having reached half of this target. Read more…

Terra Charge plans to widely introduce the NACS charging standard in Japan starting in 2028. By 2033, a total of 2,500 charging points are expected nationwide. In addition to fast chargers, the operator will also focus on NACS solutions for AC charging for the first time. Read more…

Ubitricity and Deftpower are expanding their collaboration on smart charging in the Netherlands. At 1,500 public charging points, charging processes are to be deliberately shifted to times of lower grid load using the open OCPI 2.2.1 standard. Read more…

Tesla is subject to the largest recall campaign in China’s history: Due to potential issues with the mechanical emergency door unlocking system, Tesla and other manufacturers must rectify several million vehicles. European authorities remain hesitant so far. Read more…

An electric SUV, a small caravan, and a journey to the Polish Baltic coast: The Kia EV5 had to prove itself to us not just as a tow vehicle. Thanks to ‘vehicle-to-load’, its 81.4-kWh battery also became a mobile power source at the campsite. And, surprisingly, the consumption with a trailer turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Read more…

The VW ID.4 is expected to be renamed the ID. Tiguan after its facelift. The new name is considered confirmed. And the exterior design has also been leaked ahead of the world premiere – even in moving images: A well-known auto YouTuber has sneaked a peek of VW’s hope-bearer in a short video – partially wrapped, but with clearly visible features. Read more…

The Hyundai Motor Group has tasked energy platform Kaluza with natively integrating smart charging controls into the Kia app and Hyundai’s digital platforms. This will allow EV drivers to charge when power is cheapest and eventually participate in grid stabilising and storage with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities. The partnership will initially launch in the UK and subsequently expand to Australia and other countries. Read more…

Chennai, the capital of the southern Indian state Tamil Nadu, has welcomed 130 new electric buses for public transport services. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off the new fleet of zero-emission buses. Read more…

General Motors is reconsidering its plan to relaunch Cadillac in the UK, citing uncertainty in a “rapidly evolving” marketplace. Competition from European and Chinese brands poses potential headwinds for the US company. Read more…

British automaker JLR is reportedly delaying the launch of an all-electric version its ‘Defender’ SUV. British media reports that although the off-road-capable vehicle had originally been slated for a new generation in 2028/29, this has now been put off until the early 2030s—and only this new generation will support electric drivetrains. Read more…