Xpeng is pushing ahead with its European expansion and is now entering five additional countries – Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. The Chinese carmaker relies on different sales models, from partnerships with established players to building its own dealer network. Read more…

Volkswagen will not build any cars at its MEB plant in Zwickau in the week after next, according to a media report. Talks are also underway about a break at its second German electric car plant in Emden, but no decision has been made there yet. Read more…

The trade agreement between the United States and the European Union is sealed. The US is cutting tariffs on cars (including electric cars) from the EU from 27.5 to 15 per cent – retroactive to 1 August. It marks an improvement on the status quo, but for many it still means tough business. Read more…

During an initial short test drive through Munich city traffic, the Deepal S05 impressed with its well-balanced chassis set-up and effective insulation. The minimalist, cleanly finished cockpit evokes a Tesla feel. Combined with its good value for money and seven-year warranty, this compact SUV has what it takes to be a success in this country, too.

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Australia’s two largest electricity providers, AGL and Origin Energy, have each announced new vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trials. These will give EV owners the chance to trial bi-directional charging and feed energy back into the grid. Read more…

The UK power firm Ovo Energy has just unveiled its new ‘Charge Anytime’ scheme – a subscription that bundles both home and public EV charging under a single monthly fee. It works through a voucher offering for public chargers plus a home charging allowance. Read more…

Bosch, the world’s largest automotive supplier, is stepping up its cost-cutting measures and plans to cut another 13,000 jobs. These are in addition to the 9,000 job cuts that Bosch had already announced. Labour director Stefan Grosch had previously announced that the group would have to save 2.5 billion euros. Read more…

Mercedes-Benz is now preparing to launch the electric CLA in China. The Chinese version, with a wheelbase extended by 40 millimetres, will be available in two variants at prices of 259,000 and 299,000 yuan respectively, which is equivalent to around 30,900 and 35,700 euros. Read more…

Mercedes has removed the EQB from its configurator and will only produce vehicles that have already been ordered until the model change. From the beginning of 2026, it will be replaced by its successor, the ‘GLB with EQ technology’, based on the MMA platform, which is expected to bring major advances in terms of range and charging times. Read more…

Voltpost has just unveiled its new lamppost-mounted EV charger – Voltpost Air. Rather than being installed at street level, it’s fitted 3+ metres above ground to prevent vandalism. Read more…

As part of the EV Fleet Accelerator Programme, Uber Freight and Tesla want to support American carriers in switching to electric trucks. The aim is to enable fleets to benefit from cost advantages earlier thanks to subsidised semi-truck purchases, while at the same time creating planning security through constant utilisation. Read more…

Neptune Energy, a major oil and gas company, has just confirmed resources of 43 million tons of lithum carbonate (LCE) in the Altmark region in Germany. With huge potential for commercial extraction, it could become one of the key production nodes for battery technology in Europe. Read more…

The so-called ‘Task 53’ from a programme run by the International Energy Agency aims to improve interoperability in the V2G ecosystem – in other words, the interaction between electric cars, charging infrastructure and power grids. Task 53 has now found its first automotive partner: the VW Group. Read more…

The Swedish autonomous freight company Einride has successfully completed a border crossing using a cabless autonomous EV. The vehicle successfully went through border control and customs – without a human driver onboard. Read more…

Mercedes-Benz is collaborating with Momenta, a Chinese specialist in AI-supported autonomous driving technologies, to develop a driver assistance system tailored specifically to China. The system is to enable assisted driving on highways, city streets and parking lots. Read more…

Volvo has presented a new coach chassis based on its BZR electric bus platform. The architecture supports a battery capacity of up to 720 kWh and is designed to enable ranges of up to 700 kilometres. The first units have already been reserved for customers in Nordic countries and the Benelux region. Read more…

Pre-series production of the VLE, the first vehicle based on the new VAN.EA architecture, has begun at the Mercedes plant in Vitoria, Spain. The all-electric van is set to make its world debut in the first half of 2026. Mercedes-Benz had already given a preview of the vehicle in April with the Vision V. Read more…

According to the European industry association ACEA, 120,797 electric cars were newly registered in the EU in August, 30.2 per cent more than in the same month last year. Registrations of electric cars so far this year remain significantly above the 2024 level. One manufacturer, however, has not been able to benefit from the growth: Tesla. Read more…

Due to weak demand, carmaker Stellantis is pausing production at six European sites for several days, in some cases even for several weeks. The measure also affects the output of electric cars – including at the Eisenach plant in Germany. Read more…

US battery developer Lyten has been given the green light to acquire Swedish battery cell manufacturer Northvolt. The final outstanding approval was granted by the Swedish authority ISP, which oversees strategic products. The acquisition is now expected to be completed by the end of October. Read more…