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ev.news Briefly: Audi vs AUDI, BMW iX4, Hyundai CEO & more | 19 Sep 26
Sep 19, 2026
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AUDI TAKES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST AUTO CHINA Audi has taken legal action against Auto China over its parallel imports of the China-only AUDI E5 Sportback and E7X to Germany, saying they are not officially exported or supported by Audi’s European dealer network. Although the cars briefly disappeared from Auto China’s website, both were listed again on 23 September, leaving prospective owners facing uncertainty over servicing, parts and software support. BMW CONFIRMS AUTUMN PRODUCTION START FOR THIRD NEUE KLASSE MODEL BMW says a third Neue Klasse model will enter production at Debrecen this autumn, after the iX3 and i3, but has not named it; reports identify it as the iX4, though that remains unconfirmed. The announcement comes as Debrecen scales up iX3 production amid strong orders, while BMW Group’s first-half battery-electric deliveries fell 7.4%. HYUNDAI CEO WARNS US ON CHINESE IMPORTS Hyundai CEO José Muñoz urged the United States to maintain safeguards against Chinese vehicle imports, pointing to Chinese brands’ roughly 15% share of UK registrations and prices reportedly 30% to 40% below competitors in some European markets. The US already applies a 100% tariff to Chinese EVs, while President Trump has said he would welcome Chinese automakers that build vehicles in America and the EU is considering how to address rising Chinese hybrid imports. AMPRIUS ANNOUNCES 500 WH/KG SICORE®500 AVIATION CELL Amprius announced a 500 Wh/kg SiCore®500 battery cell for long-endurance aviation, which it says can be made using conventional lithium-ion production equipment and will be available from the fourth quarter of 2026. The cell is designed for applications such as high-altitude platforms and fixed-wing drones, with initial production planned in California and later scaling through manufacturing partners. PROLOGIUM STARTS GEN 3.5 LITHIUM CERAMIC BATTERY MASS PRODUCTION ProLogium says it has started mass production of its Gen 3.5 Lithium Ceramic Battery in Taiwan, with a third-party TÜV report recording 381 Wh/kg and 903 Wh/L for its 185.4 Ah cell. The company has not disclosed production volumes or a customer programme, while its next-generation Gen 4 remains a plan that is expected to improve performance and reduce costs with modifications to about 10% of existing line equipment. UK HAS NO PLAN TO RAISE CHINESE VEHICLE TARIFFS The UK government has no current plan to raise the standard 10% import duty on Chinese-built passenger cars, despite Chinese brands accounting for more than 15% of registrations in the first eight months of 2026. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds cited the risk of retaliation against Britain’s export-led car industry and said Chinese investment could bring innovation under UK standards; Nissan and Chery are studying possible contract manufacturing at Sunderland from 2027. US AUTO GROUPS URGE TRUMP TO RETAIN CHINESE VEHICLE CURBS Six US automotive organisations have urged President Trump to keep policies that restrict Chinese automakers’ access to the US passenger-car market, arguing that local assembly would not resolve connected-vehicle security concerns or create additional manufacturing jobs. Their letter arrived ahead of President Xi Jinping’s scheduled US visit, as Trump has said he would welcome Chinese companies building cars in America and reports of a possible BYD and CATL delegation remain unconfirmed.
ev.news Briefly: Audi, Mercedes, Chinese Hybrids & more | 18 Sep 2026
Sep 18, 2026
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AUDI A4 E-TRON PRODUCTION NOT EXPECTED BEFORE MARCH 2029 Audi’s A4 e-tron is reportedly not expected to enter production before March 2029, and potentially not until late April or early May, despite Audi previously targeting a 2028 market launch. The delay is blamed on technical problems, internal coordination and cost pressures surrounding Volkswagen Group’s SSP architecture, potentially making the A4 e-tron its first full-production model around three years later than Volkswagen originally planned. MERCEDES-BENZ STARTS ELECTRIC GLA PRODUCTION AT RASTATT Mercedes-Benz has begun series production of the all-electric GLA at Rastatt, with first customer deliveries expected in November following the replacement of the EQA name with GLA for the new battery-electric model. Built on the MMA platform, the range starts at €48,599.60 in Germany, offers up to 657 km WLTP range in GLA 250+ form and supports DC charging at up to 320 kW on the 250+ and 350 4MATIC variants. EU ASKS CHINA FOR VOLUNTARY HYBRID EXPORT CURBS The EU has reportedly asked China to voluntarily limit China-made PHEV exports to around 15% of the relevant EU market, down from more than a third, as Brussels seeks to prevent a broader trade conflict ahead of October talks in Beijing. China-made hybrids generally face only the EU’s standard 10% tariff, unlike BEVs subject to additional countervailing duties, and monthly hybrid imports have risen from 3,800 vehicles in October 2024 to 50,000 in July 2026. UL SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES V2G CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME UL Solutions has launched a certification programme for bidirectional EV supply equipment, testing products against UL 1741 Supplement SC to help ensure V2G equipment meets utility interconnection requirements. The move comes as V2X and V2G activity expands through programmes including PG&E’s California initiative, a Massachusetts pilot and Kaluza and Hyundai Motor Group’s UK and Australian smart-charging partnership targeting groundwork for V2G services from 2027. MAN ETGX 6×2 REACHES 616 KWH NET WITH SEVEN PACKS MAN has unveiled a seven-battery eTGX 6×2-4 with 616 kWh of usable capacity, claiming up to 720 km of range and more than 600 km as realistically achievable in everyday long-haul operation. The revised truck has a 120 mm longer and more aerodynamic front end, up to 20% greater recuperation power and an optional series-production MCS port supporting charging at up to 750 kW, compared with 375 kW through CCS. PORSCHE, CYLIB MAKE 100 PER CENT RECYCLED CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIALS Porsche and battery recycler cylib have produced trial battery cells using cathode active material made entirely from recycled lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese recovered from Porsche high-voltage batteries. The project has progressed from shredding batteries into black mass through refining the recovered materials to producing test cells, although these remain under evaluation rather than being ready for series production. MG U9 EV COSTS AUD$78,990 PLUS ON-ROAD COSTS MG has priced its U9 EV dual-cab ute in Australia at AUD$78,990 plus on-road costs, offering a 102.2 kWh LFP battery, 430 km WLTP range, 325 kW dual-motor all-wheel drive and 3,500 kg braked towing capacity. The lifestyle-focused electric ute also includes air suspension, a 236-litre front boot, 685 kg payload, a pallet-sized rear tub and up to 6.6 kW vehicle-to-load capability, contrasting with Toyota’s more fleet-focused HiLux BEV. FLYING FLEA C6 BOOKINGS OPEN IN EUROPE AND UK Royal Enfield’s Flying Flea C6 electric motorcycle has opened for bookings at €5,990 in Europe and £5,300 in the UK, with deliveries due to begin by October 2026 in cities including Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Berlin and London. The 124 kg motorcycle combines a 3.91 kWh battery, 15.4 kW maximum motor output, 115 km/h top speed and 104 km WMTC range with premium hardware including a forged aluminium frame, magnesium battery case, girder-linkage suspension, lean-sensitive ABS and traction control. WINDROSE RELEASES E700 PART CAD FILES Windrose has released 1,023 native CAD files covering what founder Wen Han says is 98.4% of its E700 Class 8 electric truck, allowing owners and independent workshops to inspect, repair, reproduce parts for and modify vehicles without fees or permission. The initiative is intended to reduce long-term parts-supply risk for fleets, although building complete trucks still requires an agreement with Windrose and unauthorised repairs, parts or modifications can affect warranty coverage.
ev.news Briefly: VW, Volvo, Porsche & more | 17 Sep 2026
Sep 17, 2026
Show notes
It's ev.news Briefly for Thursday 17 September 2026, only todays headlines and nothing else, in just 4 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 Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/evnews
VOLKSWAGEN REVEALS 322BHP REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE ID.3 GTI Volkswagen has revealed the 322bhp ID.3 GTI, the first rear-wheel-drive GTI and the most powerful series-production GTI yet, with 0–62mph in 5.6 seconds, GTI-specific chassis tuning and a dedicated driving mode with simulated engine sound. Its 79 kWh usable battery delivers up to 601 km WLTP range and 183 kW charging, with pre-sales beginning in early 2027 as the GTI replaces the GTX at the top of the facelifted ID.3 range. VOLVO PLANS 13 NEW CARS BY 2030 Volvo plans 13 new electric and hybrid cars by the end of 2030, comprising seven SPA2/SPA3-based models for Western markets and six China-exclusive vehicles developed with Geely on shared platforms and a dedicated Chinese technology stack. The company wants to double its share of the BEV market while also developing a third-generation hybrid system, with regionalisation driven by tariffs, technology restrictions and differing customer preferences. PORSCHE CAYENNE WIRELESS CHARGING COSTS £7285 Porsche has launched an 11 kW wireless charging system for the Cayenne Electric costing £7,285 in the UK, comprising a £1,930 vehicle-mounted receiver and £5,355, 50kg ground pad that cannot be embedded into a driveway. The approximately 90%-efficient system automatically guides and lowers the Cayenne into position, includes foreign-object detection and app connectivity, and removes the need for a wallbox but still requires substantial dedicated hardware on the ground. MERCEDES-BENZ VANS SHOWS VLE WITH 800V CHARGING Mercedes-Benz Vans has shown the VLE Grand Limousine at IAA Transportation, offering more than 700 km WLTP range from a 115 kWh usable battery and more than 300 kW charging capable of adding up to 355 km in 15 minutes. The VLE is the first production vehicle on Mercedes’ new Van Architecture, while the company also previewed future Sprinter and mid-size vans that will use the same architecture and MB.OS software platform. BMW IX5 60 XDRIVE JOINS CONFIGURATORS 8 OCTOBER BMW will add the iX5 60 xDrive to European configurators on 8 October as the only fully electric iX5 at launch, with a provisional 645–845 km WLTP range from a 141 kWh usable battery. Its 800-volt architecture supports charging at up to 460 kW and a quoted 10–80% time of 23 minutes, while US deliveries begin in the first quarter of 2027 with a 144 kWh battery and prices from $81,250 including destination. 57% OF US DRIVERS SAY GAS PRICES ARE RAISING EV INTEREST The HERE-SBD EV Index found 53% of surveyed US drivers are more open to considering an EV than a year ago, while 57% said gasoline prices had increased their interest as the national average reached $4.43 a gallon on 17 September. The shift comes as federal emissions and potentially fuel-economy requirements are being weakened, creating a divergence between reduced regulatory pressure on automakers and apparently increasing consumer interest in EVs. GERMAN STUDY FINDS HALF OF COMBUSTION DRIVERS CANNOT YET SWITCH TO EVS A USCALE survey of 1,066 German combustion-car drivers found fewer than 10% rule out EV ownership, while around half belong to a “Constrained Majority” prevented from switching by affordability, parking, charging access and the limited supply of suitable used EVs. The findings suggest future EV growth depends less on persuading outright sceptics and more on addressing practical barriers such as purchase cost, residential charging and affordable second-hand vehicles. EU CARMAKERS SEEK DELAY TO 2027 EU-UK BATTERY RULES ACEA wants the current EU-UK battery rules of origin extended through 2029, warning that 82% of the 520,000 electric cars and vans it expects the EU to export to the UK in 2027 could otherwise face a 10% tariff costing manufacturers an estimated €1.47 billion. Carmakers say they can meet the separate vehicle-level localisation requirement but argue that tougher rules covering battery cells and cathode materials are arriving before sufficient European and UK supply chains exist. NYC SELECTS IT’S ELECTRIC FOR 600 NEW KERBSIDE CHARGING POINTS New York City has selected Brooklyn-based it’s electric to install 600 kerbside EV charging points over three years, expanding the citywide network from 88 chargers to nearly 700 and focusing on dense neighbourhoods where drivers lack private parking. The rollout also supports the city’s electrification requirements for Uber and Lyft, which rise from 25% zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible trips at the end of 2026 to 100% by 2030.
ev.news Briefly: Volvo, BYD, Hyundai & more | 16 Sep 2026
Sep 16, 2026
Show notes
It's ev.news Briefly for Wednesday 16 September 2026, only todays headlines and nothing else, in just 4 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 Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/evnews
VOLVO XC60 PHEV CLAIMS 124-MILE ELECTRIC RANGE Volvo's restyled XC60 T6 plug-in hybrid claims 124 miles of electric range, still unconfirmed as an official WLTP figure, which is 2.5 times the previous 49 miles and makes it the UK's longest-range PHEV. The gain comes from a battery that grows from 19 kWh to 41.2 kWh and a stronger motor. The T8 manages 117 miles, easily beating the BMW X3 30e (56 miles) and Mercedes GLC PHEV (80 miles), and the XC90 PHEV rises to 100 miles, with both long-range hybrids expected in North America. BYD ATTO 1 OFFERED FOR $19,990 DRIVEAWAY BYD is offering the Atto 1 Essential for A$19,990 driveaway in Australia until 15 December unless extended, a 26% discount from A$23,990 plus on-road costs. That makes it the country's cheapest new car and undercuts the petrol Kia Picanto. It has a 65 kW motor, a 30 kWh LFP battery, 220 km WLTP range, 65 kW DC charging, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, and adaptive cruise control, while the rival Geely EX2 starts from A$26,490 plus on-road costs. HYUNDAI AND KIA EXPORT 591,000 ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES Hyundai and Kia exported 591,000 electrified vehicles in the first half of the year, up 22.3%, according to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. Hybrids drove the growth as Hyundai prioritised the US, lifting hybrid exports there by 38% in response to IRA tax-credit changes and consumer demand. Combined EV exports rose 12.7% to 162,000, but Hyundai's fell 12.4% while Kia's climbed 34.3% to almost 104,000 between January and July, helped by the EV2, EV4, EV5 and PV5 van in Europe. RENAULT UNVEILS 800 V ELECTRIC TRAFIC VAN Renault unveiled the Trafic Van E-Tech Electric at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, built on the 800 V RGEV medium-van platform with an 81 kWh battery. It claims more than 470 km of range, nearly 690 km in urban driving (not an official figure), and 280 km added in 20 minutes of charging. Renault says total cost of ownership is 10% lower than a combustion equivalent, and the van adds vehicle-to-load, new multi-link rear suspension, and a planned electric power take-off for conversions such as refrigeration and ambulances. It is part of a plan for five new LCVs by 2028, following 2.8 million Trafics sold since 1980. SCANIA SAYS BATTERY LAYOUT CAN INCREASE RANGE TO 720 KM Scania's new Battery Behind Cab layout adds two MP20 packs behind the cab to supplement chassis-mounted batteries, raising electric truck range to up to 720 km for long-haul operators. Scania claims this doesn't reduce operational flexibility, and the layout works with its aerodynamic Increased Vehicle Dimension front and vehicles longer than 16.5 m, alongside the rollout of megawatt charging (MCS). CATL UNVEILS TECHTRANS 2 TRUCK BATTERY CATL unveiled Techtrans 2, a modular battery for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses, at IAA Transportation. It claims up to 1,000 km of range, 80% charging in 25 minutes via a megawatt charger, and 70% capacity retention after 12 years or 1.5 million km. At 170 Wh/kg it still forces fleets to trade range against payload, while 300–400 Wh/kg chemistries head to test vehicles in 2027 and solid-state could double density, starting in high-end applications. ENGLAND PLANS CROSS-PAVEMENT EV CHARGING RIGHTS Following consultation, the government has confirmed plans for permitted development rights that would let eligible homes in England with on-street parking install cross-pavement charging gullies without a planning application. Highways authority approval remains a separate requirement. With four in ten UK households lacking off-street parking and relying on pricier public charging, the change aims to cut costs and red tape, though it won't stop others taking the space outside your home. GERMANY CONSIDERS PLUG-IN HYBRID AND EREV TARIFFS Germany will seek cabinet approval on 14 October for economic-security measures that could include tariffs on plug-in hybrids and EREVs. Chinese makers have used these vehicles to sidestep EU tariffs on battery-electric cars and grow European sales. Ministers are also weighing mandatory joint ventures with European majority ownership and stronger investment requirements, a tougher, more reciprocal China stance for export-reliant Germany before it seeks uncertain EU backing. JAC PLANS 2027 HUNTER PHEV CAB-CHASSIS FOR AUSTRALIA JAC plans to launch a Hunter PHEV cab-chassis in Australia in 2027 to rival the BYD Shark 6, letting tradespeople, fleets and farmers fit trays, canopies or toolboxes. It is expected, but not confirmed, to share the powertrain of the dual cab. That dual cab is now in dealerships from A$50,000 plus on-road costs for the Pro, and offers up to 100 km electric range, more than 1,000 km combined, 3.3 kW V2L, 3.5-tonne towing, 915 kg payload, and seven-year commercial warranty, servicing and roadside cover. HULL 096 REACHES SOUTH AMERICA Hull 096, the world's largest battery-electric ship, built by Incat in Tasmania, has arrived in South America after a heavy-lift vessel carried it from Hobart across the Pacific and around Cape Horn in under a month. After commissioning, it will carry more than 2,000 passengers on a 30-nautical-mile River Plate route between Buenos Aires and Colonia, Uruguay. Incat is also building three similar ferries that will be the EU's largest of their type.
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