Volkswagen is bringing the GTI into the electric era while drawing heavily on the badge’s heritage. A red stripe, tartan trim and GTI mode meet 166 kW, an adaptive chassis and a front-axle differential lock. Whether the iconic name lives up to expectations on the road remains to be seen. What is certain is that Volkswagen will open pre-sales for the ID. Polo GTI in autumn at prices starting just below €39,000. Read more…

Plugsurfing launched in Berlin in 2012 with the ambition of giving EV drivers access to charging stations across Europe through a single app. The startup went on to shape the roaming market and inspire many later providers. Since then, the company has changed ownership twice, while its B2B business with white-label apps and APIs has grown into a far more significant part of the business. We spoke with Wilhelm Henriksson, Head of Networks, Strategy and BI at Plugsurfing, about how the company and the charging ecosystem have evolved. Read more…

Rompetrol plans to build a new fast-charging network for electric cars and heavy-duty commercial vehicles in Romania. The project comprises 30 charging stations across 26 locations, which the company aims to put into operation by the end of 2027. EU funds support the project. Read more…

German intralogistics equipment manufacturer Jungheinrich has begun practical trials of sodium-ion batteries in industrial trucks with selected customers. The aim is to validate the performance and reliability of this new battery technology under a wide range of operating conditions. Read more…

Renault will unveil the new Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept on 18 May at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris. The vehicle combines the playful and cheerful elements of a beach buggy and a pick-up truck and recalls historic R4 derivatives from past decades. Read more…

Dutch fast-charging provider Fastned is issuing another bond for investors in Belgium and the Netherlands. The company aims to use the targeted sum to help finance its expansion across Europe. Read more…

Kia has begun exporting the PV5 to Japan, marking the final stage of preparations for the model’s sales launch in the country. The South Korean automaker is set to enter the Japanese market with its first purpose-built vehicle (PBV) later this spring. Read more…

Chinese automaker BYD has started formulating plans for the overseas launch of the second-generation Yuan Plus, which it unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show in April. The company plans to market the model as the ‘Atto 5’ overseas. Read more…

The UK government will remove a range of regulatory barriers for larger electric vans from June 2026, bringing vehicles weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes broadly into line with their diesel and petrol counterparts. The reforms remove HGV testing and tachograph requirements, reducing costs and administrative burdens for fleet operators switching to zero-emission vans. Read more…

Scania and its partners Unicon and Liebherr, have developed a battery-electric truck with a fully integrated electric concrete mixer system. The Swedish company does not want the project to be seen as a mere pilot but rather a model for scalable deployment. Read more…

The TGM is MAN’s all-rounder in medium-duty distribution transport. Starting next year, the truck will also be available with an electric drive. The Traton subsidiary just unveiled the eTGM in Milan. We were able to examine the electric 16-tonne truck up close in advance. Read more…

Blink Charging is teaming with Emobi to connect its portfolio of fleet and public charging infrastructure into Emobi’s unified roaming and JustPlug ecosystem. The partnership is intended to provide seamless roaming and an automated charging experience to one of the largest electric car charging networks in North America. Read more…

Chinese automotive conglomerate BYD has commissioned six electric buses in Japan. With this deployment, the company now has 500 electric buses operating on Japanese roads. Read more…

Tesla aims to hire more than 1,500 employees for battery cell production in Grünheide. According to plant manager André Thierig, nearly 250 million US dollars will also be invested to create the conditions for an annual production of 18 GWh of 4680-format battery cells on-site. Read more…

The Chinese battery market leader has started assembling battery modules in a newly constructed facility in Debrecen, Hungary. The company also plans to begin test production of battery cells in the new factory shortly. Read more…

A new research project, called RoB@t2Cell, aims to develop a novel method for the safe disassembly and targeted discharge of battery cells for recycling and reuse. The project partners are led by Belgian multinational materials technology company Umicore and German research institute Fraunhofer IPA. RoB@t2Cell should make it possible to fully discharge only those cells that are unsuitable for second-life applications. Read more…

India’s government has approved 4,874 public EV chargers under the PM E-Drive scheme with funding of ₹503.86 crore (about €44 million). The rollout also includes plans for the Unified Bharat eCharge platform, designed to integrate charging access and payments across networks nationwide. Read more…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks is testing the extent to which recycled materials can be used in the production of an eEconic model. The concept vehicle will be put to the test in the second half of 2026 and aims to provide insights for increasing the use of secondary raw materials in series production—not just for the eEconic, but across all trucks from the manufacturer in the future, regardless of drivetrain. Read more…

The fully electric Jeep Avenger now qualifies for the UK government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG), reducing prices by £1,500. The compact electric SUV is now available from £28,499. Read more…

Toyota and Nikola fueling station spinoff Hyroad are joining forces to scale hydrogen-powered transportation with integrated fueling, vehicles, and logistics support in Southern California. Toyota Motor North America and Hyroad Energy will collaboratively deploy 40 new hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 trucks in the region. Read more…