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CHINA: Xpeng Cuts Prices, Gotion Completes Solid State Line and NIO 7 Year Financing | 03 Mar 2026 Mar 03, 2026

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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

DAILY: BMW EV Models Leak, Tesla Berlin Running at 40% and Local Batteries Lower Costs | 02 Mar 2026 Mar 02, 2026

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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

BRIEFLY: BMW, Tesla, Škoda & more | 02 Mar 2026 Mar 02, 2026

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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/EVNewsDaily

BMW USA SHOP LEAK POINTS TO 2027 LINEUP
A 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 SIMMERS
Tesla'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 GAP
A 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 CHARGING
A 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 CZECHIA
Škoda 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 PLAN
MG 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 7
Citroën 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 $157,126
A 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 AUSTRALIA
Denza 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 BUYERS
A 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.

CHINA: February Sales Report, BYD Tests Flash Charging 2.0 and Denza Z9 Range Claims | 02 Mar 2026 Mar 02, 2026

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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

DAILY: VW Hits 2 Million EVs, Skoda Adds Powerful Plug-In and Canada Opens Books For China | 01 Mar 2026 Mar 01, 2026

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VOLKSWAGEN HITS 2 MILLION EV DELIVERIES https://evne.ws/4l0YITF
SKODA GIVES SUPERB HATCH A 200 KW PHEV https://evne.ws/4bh1noS
CANADA OPENS CHINA-BUILT EV QUOTA AT 6.1% TARIFF https://evne.ws/4qYzA0Z
CUPRA SETS 5 MARCH BORN FACELIFT REVEAL https://evne.ws/47giMLV
RANGE ROVER VELAR EV SPOTTED ON WINTER TEST https://evne.ws/3NbVkst
RIVIAN LAUNCHES RAD PERFORMANCE SUB-BRAND https://evne.ws/4l1uAYd
TESLA TELLS MODEL Y OWNERS TO CHARGE GENTLY https://evne.ws/3NdjanE
VOLVO PLOTS FASTER ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK PUSH https://evne.ws/4kYSx2d
LYTEN TAKES OVER NORTHVOLT’S SWEDISH BATTERY ASSETS https://evne.ws/4sb8qF6
BRIM EXPLORER ORDERS TWO ELECTRIC TRIMARANS https://evne.ws/3NcVkbJ

BRIEFLY: VW, Škoda, Canada & more | 01 Mar 2026 Mar 01, 2026

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It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 01 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

VOLKSWAGEN HITS 2 MILLION EV DELIVERIES
Volkswagen delivered its 2 millionth battery electric vehicle — an ID.3 handed to customer Kirsten Vormbrock at the Transparent Factory in Dresden — capping a journey that began with the e-up! in 2013. The ID.4 leads the tally with roughly 901,000 units sold globally, while the brand now looks ahead to four new affordable EVs including the ID. Polo, arriving in 2026.
ŠKODA GIVES SUPERB HATCH A 200 KW PHEV
Škoda has unveiled a 200 kW plug-in hybrid for the Superb Hatch, pairing a 1.5 TSI petrol engine with an 85 kW electric motor and a 25.7 kWh battery — making it the most powerful combustion-engine model in Škoda's current lineup. The launch reflects growing demand: one in four Superb models now sells with a PHEV powertrain, and more than 68,000 Superb iV models have been delivered since 2019.
CANADA OPENS CHINA-BUILT EV QUOTA AT 6.1% TARIFF
Canada began accepting import permit applications from 1 March 2026, allowing up to 49,000 China-built EVs per year to enter at a 6.1% tariff — a sharp cut from the 106.1% rate imposed in 2024 — on a first-come, first-served basis. Tesla, Polestar, and Volvo are considered frontrunners to use the allocation, which Ottawa plans to scale to 70,000 vehicles annually by 2030, with 50% of that expanded quota reserved for EVs below a set price threshold.
CUPRA SETS 5 MARCH BORN FACELIFT REVEAL
Cupra will unveil the Born facelift on 5 March, bringing harder-edged front and rear styling that aligns the model visually with the newer Terramar and Tavascan, plus expected interior upgrades including more premium materials and a revised infotainment layout. The refresh matters commercially: the Born has sold nearly 30,000 units in the UK alone since its 2022 launch, and Cupra will also soon introduce the smaller Raval electric hatchback from approximately £23,000.
RANGE ROVER VELAR EV SPOTTED ON WINTER TEST
A Range Rover Velar EV prototype has been caught in European winter testing, revealing a dramatically reshaped body with a cab-forward stance, angular haunches, and a fastback-leaning roofline that breaks sharply from traditional boxy SUV design. Crucially, it will be the first Jaguar Land Rover model built on the new 800-volt Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) platform, which is engineered to deliver over 300 miles of range and faster charging capability.
RIVIAN LAUNCHES RAD PERFORMANCE SUB-BRAND
Rivian has launched the Rivian Adventure Department (RAD), a dedicated performance sub-brand targeting harder and faster off-road driving that puts it in direct competition with Land Rover's Octa and Ford's Raptor line. RAD formalises the engineering team already responsible for the R1S and R1T Quad Motor variants, giving Rivian's performance ambitions an official identity and a public-facing platform.
TESLA TELLS MODEL Y OWNERS TO CHARGE GENTLY
Tesla has updated the Model Y Owner's Manual to advise owners to rely on home Level 1 or Level 2 charging for daily use — keeping limits at 80% — and to reserve Superchargers for road trips, warning that frequent DC fast charging accelerates long-term battery degradation. For long-term storage, Tesla recommends parking at approximately 50% state of charge and flagging that features like Sentry Mode and Dog Mode can silently drain the battery at roughly 1% per day while the car sits idle.
VOLVO PLOTS FASTER ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK PUSH
Volvo Group is accelerating its battery-electric heavy truck strategy from a position of strength, holding a 19% share of the European heavy-truck market for the second consecutive year. Its flagship FH Aero Electric packs 780 kWh of batteries for up to 600 km of range and supports megawatt charging that takes the pack from 20% to 80% in just 45 minutes — aligning recharge stops with mandatory driver rest breaks.
LYTEN TAKES OVER NORTHVOLT'S SWEDISH BATTERY ASSETS
Lyten has completed its acquisition of Northvolt's Swedish operations — covering Northvolt Ett, Ett Expansion, and Northvolt Labs — in a deal encompassing nearly $5 billion in book value, 16 GWh of manufacturing capacity, and Europe's largest battery R&D centre. The company plans to restart lithium-ion NMC cell production at the Skellefteå site in the second half of 2026, and will use Northvolt Labs in Västerås to advance its proprietary lithium-sulfur battery technology.
BRIM EXPLORER ORDERS TWO ELECTRIC TRIMARANS
Oslo-based Brim Explorer has signed contracts for two fully electric trimarans — each 24 metres long, carrying 180 passengers — which the firm claims will be the world's most efficient battery-powered vessels upon their spring 2027 delivery. The boats will operate silent, emission-free sightseeing cruises along Norway's coast with a battery-only range of 100 nautical miles at speeds up to 20 knots, expanding Brim's existing five-vessel fleet.

DAILY: Renault 5 Car Of The Year, Waymo Adds More Cities and Changan Tempts UK Buyers | 28 Feb 2026 Feb 28, 2026

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RENAULT 5 E-TECH WINS 2026 UK CAR OF YEAR https://evne.ws/3OAv77q
POLESTAR ADDS LIVE LANE GUIDANCE TO DRIVER DISPLAY https://evne.ws/4bcjzQm
WAYMO LAUNCHES ROBOTAXIS IN FOUR NEW US CITIES https://evne.ws/4cieaIK
EU “BUY EUROPEAN” DRAFT PUTS GERMAN EV AID AT RISK https://evne.ws/4aGfqEk
CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 UK SALES START MARCH 1 https://evne.ws/4l2iv55
ACCIONA TO BUILD 4MW EV HUB INSIDE M-30 https://evne.ws/4bdCJp1
SCANIA ENGINEER TAKES ELECTRIC TRUCK THROUGH 21 COUNTRIES https://evne.ws/4aG1DO7
FACTORIAL TAPS KOREAN PARTNER TO SCALE SOLID-STATE CELLS https://evne.ws/3N2jhCx

BRIEFLY: Renault, Waymo, Deepal In UK & more | 28 Feb 2026 Feb 28, 2026

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It's EV News Briefly for Saturday 28 February 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

RENAULT 5 E-TECH WINS 2026 UK CAR OF YEAR https://evne.ws/3OAv77q
POLESTAR ADDS LIVE LANE GUIDANCE TO DRIVER DISPLAY https://evne.ws/4bcjzQm
WAYMO LAUNCHES ROBOTAXIS IN FOUR NEW US CITIES https://evne.ws/4cieaIK
EU “BUY EUROPEAN” DRAFT PUTS GERMAN EV AID AT RISK https://evne.ws/4aGfqEk
CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 UK SALES START MARCH 1 https://evne.ws/4l2iv55
ACCIONA TO BUILD 4MW EV HUB INSIDE M-30 https://evne.ws/4bdCJp1
SCANIA ENGINEER TAKES ELECTRIC TRUCK THROUGH 21 COUNTRIES https://evne.ws/4aG1DO7
FACTORIAL TAPS KOREAN PARTNER TO SCALE SOLID-STATE CELLS https://evne.ws/3N2jhCx

DAILY: Ford’s Frunked-Up Options List, Hyundai Targets Pickup and Polestar Adds Grid Rewards | 27 Feb 2026 Feb 27, 2026

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FORD MAKES MACH-E FRUNK A $495 OPTION https://evne.ws/3OCJ58H
HYUNDAI TARGETS BODY-ON-FRAME PICKUP BY 2028 https://evne.ws/4baC9IG
POLESTAR ENERGY ADDS GRID REWARDS IN GERMANY, FRANCE https://evne.ws/4kYG26P
RIVIAN JOB POSTING POINTS TO 48V PLATFORM https://evne.ws/4r1lb4r
VOLVO PLANS 2027 EX30 UPDATE WITH V2L https://evne.ws/3Oz1qnb
VOLVO ADDS CHEAPER EX30 MOTOR, UK STILL UNCONFIRMED https://evne.ws/4aQtJEV
UK EXTENDS HOME CHARGER GRANT TO 2027 https://evne.ws/47dVxCb
MERCEDES BABY G GAINS HYBRID OPTION https://evne.ws/4rwSY6o
LEAKED PRICING LIFTS 2026 GEELY EX5 RANGE https://evne.ws/4aQR1dN
MEXICO TIGHTENS AIR RULES AND PUSHES ELECTRIC TRUCKS https://evne.ws/4qTtvmr

BRIEFLY: Ford, Hyundai, Polestar & more | 27 Feb 2026 Feb 27, 2026

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It's EV News Briefly for Friday 27 February 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

FORD MAKES MACH-E FRUNK A $495 OPTION
Ford has removed the front trunk from the standard equipment list on the 2026 Mustang Mach-E, citing low usage among owners, and now charges $495 to unlock access to the under-bonnet storage space that has been part of the car's appeal since its 2021 launch. The move fits a broader industry trend of unbundling previously standard features, but risks a backlash on perceived value — particularly given the frunk already lost roughly half its original five cubic feet of space when a heat pump was added in 2024.
HYUNDAI TARGETS BODY-ON-FRAME PICKUP BY 2028
Hyundai is developing a midsize body-on-frame pickup truck targeting a ~2028 launch, with CEO José Muñoz committing to the project at last September's investor day and Australian COO Gavin Donaldson confirming it will be a distinct vehicle from Kia's unibody Tasman — designed to compete with the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Trademarked "IONIQ T7" branding hints the truck may sit under Hyundai's electric sub-brand, and the same platform could underpin a rugged SUV previewed by the Crater Concept at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show.
POLESTAR ENERGY ADDS GRID REWARDS IN GERMANY, FRANCE
Polestar is expanding its smart charging programme to Germany and France, joining Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK, with German owners on an Intelligent Octopus tariff able to cut home charging costs by up to roughly 50% per session and save around €300 annually by shifting charging to cheap, low-carbon off-peak windows. A key differentiator is that the programme now runs car-controlled charging directly through the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4 via the in-house app, removing the need for a compatible smart wallbox — and Polestar has also activated V2G and V2H capability for the Polestar 3 in California.
RIVIAN JOB POSTING POINTS TO 48V PLATFORM
A Rivian engineering job listing has surfaced that explicitly names a 48V DC architecture — a first for the company in any public-facing document — calling for someone to design vehicle topologies spanning 12V, 48V and 120/230V AC systems for an active, undisclosed vehicle programme. When read alongside recent postings for steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering and Level 4 autonomy roles, the listing points toward a next-generation platform that could combine all four technologies; a 48V system is notable because it delivers the same power as 12V at one-quarter the current, enabling lighter, cheaper wiring harnesses
VOLVO PLANS 2027 EX30 UPDATE WITH V2L
Volvo is planning a 2027 EX30 refresh that adds vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability and a new 148 hp entry-level powertrain via an over-the-air software update requiring no dealer visit, alongside a reworked touchscreen interface. The cheaper motor — pairable with either a 51 kWh or 69 kWh battery for up to 251 miles of WLTP range — could push the UK entry price toward £30,000, narrowing the gap to rivals like the Alfa Romeo Junior and Mini Aceman, though UK availability has not been confirmed.
UK EXTENDS HOME CHARGER GRANT TO 2027
The UK government has extended its Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant to March 2027 and is raising the maximum contribution from £350 to £500 from 1 April 2026, with the grant covering renters, flat owners and homeowners without driveways — groups previously locked out of cheap home charging. The extension complements a separate £600 million public charging fund, with ChargeUK noting the UK public charging network has reached 88,500 chargepoints, but underscoring that most drivers rely on a blend of home and public infrastructure.
MERCEDES BABY G GAINS HYBRID OPTION
Mercedes-Benz has reversed its EV-only plan for the smaller "Baby" G-Class, adding a hybrid variant that will use the CLA's turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit from Horse Powertrain producing 188 hp, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox with an integrated electric motor. Both the battery-electric and hybrid versions will feature four-wheel drive as standard on a bespoke platform, with BEV production pencilled in for 2027 and the hybrid expected to follow — and Mercedes insisting the smaller model will match the full-size G-Class for off-road capability.
LEAKED PRICING LIFTS 2026 GEELY EX5 RANGE
Industry guide Redbook has leaked Australian pricing for new Extended Range variants of the 2026 Geely EX5 — AU$41,990 for the Complete and AU$45,990 for the Inspire, each AU$1,000 above current equivalents — though Geely Australia has not officially confirmed figures, specs or an on-sale date. The Extended Range models swap in a larger 68.4 kWh LFP battery (up ~14% from 60.22 kWh), pushing WLTP-rated range to 475 km and 450 km respectively, gains of 45 km over standard versions.
MEXICO TIGHTENS AIR RULES AND PUSHES ELECTRIC TRUCKS
Mexico is combining tightened air quality monitoring under the Ministry of Health with a push to electrify its medium- and heavy-duty fleet, which makes up roughly 25% of the vehicle fleet but generates more than half of all transport-related emissions. Electric truck sales have surged 800% over three years with 25 brands now offering more than 60 commercial EV models in Mexico, while new import rules cap used diesel commercial vehicles at engines no older than 10 years — closing a significant back door for ageing, high-emission trucks.

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