ev.news

BYD LAUNCHES DA HAN WITH 1,008 KM CLTC RANGE
BYD has launched its flagship Da Han electric saloon from 235,900 yuan ($35,200), offering a 102.3 kWh Blade Battery, up to 1,008 km CLTC range (816 km WLTP), and claimed 10–97% charging in nine minutes using dedicated flash chargers. The 5.26-metre luxury EV features standard air suspension, rear-wheel steering and lidar-based driver assistance, with a 570 kW all-wheel-drive version accelerating to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, as BYD seeks to reverse a 71% decline in existing Han sales.
TESLA MODEL Y TOPS CHINA’S SEPTEMBER SALES
Tesla’s Model Y became China’s best-selling passenger vehicle across all powertrains in September with 50,359 sales, ahead of the Geely Xingyuan’s 44,275, despite being the most expensive vehicle in the top ten. New-energy vehicles reached a record 67% of passenger-car retail sales even as the overall market contracted 28% year on year, although Tesla remained fourth among NEV manufacturers behind BYD, Geely and Leapmotor.
BYD PLANS GOD’S EYE FOR EUROPE IN 2027
BYD will introduce its lidar-based God’s Eye B urban driving assistance to Europe in 2027, beginning with the Denza Z9 GT through an over-the-air update, enabling supervised navigation through junctions, roundabouts and city traffic. The Level 2 system uses lidar, 11 cameras and radar sensors with continuous driver monitoring, while rival Xpeng is also preparing European urban-navigation assistance for early 2027.
CHERY OVERTAKES GEELY IN CHINA’S NEV EXPORTS
Chery has overtaken Geely to become China’s second-largest new-energy passenger vehicle exporter, shipping 85,990 vehicles in September, up 25.7% from August, compared with Geely’s 72,893. BYD remains the dominant exporter with 174,277 September shipments and a 31.1% market share, having exported more than 1.3 million NEVs during the first nine months of the year.
XIAOMI’S RANGE-EXTENDERS LIFT SEPTEMBER DELIVERIES
Xiaomi delivered 40,015 vehicles in September, up 32.7% month on month, as its newly launched Sky Nomad N70 and N90 range-extended SUVs contributed 12,444 sales while deliveries of its battery-electric SU7 and YU7 both declined. Despite securing more than 70,000 locked-in orders for the new SUVs, Xiaomi has delivered just 286,490 vehicles against its 550,000 annual target, requiring monthly deliveries to more than double during the final quarter.
XPENG X9 AND AION UT EARN FIVE-STAR RATINGS
The Xpeng X9 and GAC Aion UT have achieved five-star ANCAP safety ratings under tougher 2026 testing requirements, scoring 91% and 90% respectively for crash protection, although their Safe Driving scores were substantially lower at 56% and 68%. The smaller Aion UT combines its safety credentials with a 60 kWh battery and 430 km WLTP range, while ANCAP has urged manufacturers to restore physical controls for essential functions including wipers and demisting.
XPENG SEEKS 500,000 ANNUAL EUROPEAN SALES
Xpeng aims to sell 500,000 vehicles annually in Europe by 2030, representing half its planned global sales, and is exploring expanded European manufacturing capacity with Magna in Austria and other potential partners. Magna already builds several Xpeng models in Graz, but the manufacturer's European deliveries have totalled just over 60,000 since 2020, highlighting the scale of production expansion required to achieve its ambition.
BYD’S LARGER SEAGULL ARRIVES AT DEALERS
BYD’s second-generation Seagull has arrived at Chinese dealerships ahead of launch, growing 425 mm to 4.21 metres and offering 30 kWh or 39.2 kWh batteries with up to 420 km CLTC range (344 km WLTP). Expected to cost below 100,000 yuan ($14,900), the electric hatchback promises 10–97% flash charging in nine minutes, bringing ultra-fast charging technology into the affordable EV segment as BYD attempts to reverse a 66.5% decline in Seagull deliveries.
CHINESE EXPERT WARNS OF BATTERY-RECYCLING COSTS
China’s battery-recycling industry faces rising compliance costs, volatile raw-material prices and immature commercial models as increasing numbers of EV batteries reach retirement, according to Pan Wang of the China Automotive Technology & Research Center. Although revised recycling regulations took effect in April and recovered lithium, nickel and cobalt offer growing environmental benefits, the industry must overcome economic uncertainty to establish a sustainable supply of recycled battery materials.

FORD OPENS $29,945 FATHOM SIGN-UPS WITHOUT RANGE FIGURES
Ford has opened an invitation list for its $29,945 Fathom electric pickup, with official pre-orders expected in early 2027 and deliveries later that year, but no range, charging or payload figures yet. The four-door truck will debut Ford’s Universal EV platform with a 400-volt system and lithium-iron-phosphate battery, leaving buyers unable to assess its practicality ahead of a full reveal expected before year-end.
US FAST CHARGING PASSES 80,000 PORTS AS USAGE RISES
America’s public fast-charging network has passed 80,000 ports after adding 4,106 in the third quarter, while charging sessions rose 26% year on year to 50.4 million. Some 73% of new ports were rated at least 250 kW, but average charging prices rose to $0.540 per kWh and about 90% of new stations opened in urban markets, leaving rural coverage uneven.
TESLA PAUSES CANADIAN MODEL 3 ORDERS UNTIL MARCH
Tesla has suspended Canadian orders for its lower-cost, Shanghai-built Model 3 until March 2027 after exhausting its import allocation, although around 33,000 permits remained within Canada’s national quota. Its expected return follows the quota reset, but China’s export VAT rebate cut from 13% to 9% on 1 April 2027 could subsequently pressure pricing; Tesla has announced no related increase.
JAGUAR'S ELECTRIC RELAUNCH DRAWS OVER 50,000 SIGN-UPS
Jaguar’s electric relaunch has attracted more than 50,000 registrations of interest, around 80% from newcomers, as its Type 01 four-door GT targets a more exclusive luxury market with Bentley as its reference point. The electric-only strategy depends on converting that interest into purchases at higher prices, with Jaguar’s managing director previously estimating that up to 85% of existing buyers could leave.
ICAUR V25 SPOTTED CHARGING IN BRITAIN
A camouflaged iCaur V25 range-extender has been photographed charging in Britain, suggesting Chery’s off-road brand may be preparing a UK launch, although none is confirmed. It combines a petrol generator, two electric motors and a 33.7 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, with a reported 130-mile electric range on an unspecified test cycle; a battery-only version is expected, but its market availability remains unclear.
GM WEIGHS STARTUP ACCESS TO $145M BATTERY LAB
General Motors is considering opening its $145 million battery laboratory in Warren, Michigan, to help startups develop cell-manufacturing skills, but no programme has been approved and access is not imminent. Construction is expected to finish in December, with development work covering lithium manganese-rich and sodium-ion batteries, although GM’s existing sodium-ion partnership with Peak Energy concerns grid storage rather than an announced EV battery.
SOLAR AND BATTERIES HELP TEXAS THROUGH SUMMER HEAT
Solar and batteries helped Texas’s grid through a relatively uneventful summer despite hotter weather and rising demand, with 3,440 MW of solar added in the first half of 2026 and utility-scale storage reaching 33.1 GWh. Storage can shift low-cost electricity into peak periods, while solar and storage projects can be built faster than gas plants, but transmission bottlenecks still constrain delivery to areas needing the power.
MERCEDES TESTS E-CLASS-SHAPED CAR WITHOUT VISIBLE EXHAUSTS
Mercedes has been photographed testing an E-Class-shaped vehicle without visible exhaust outlets at the Nürburgring, prompting speculation about a more conventionally styled electric successor to the EQE. Such a model could attract buyers seeking familiar saloon styling with electric propulsion, but the sighting does not confirm a launch.
VOLKSWAGEN'S US EV SALES FALL 90% AFTER SUPPLY CUTS
Volkswagen’s US EV sales fell 90% to 1,421 in the third quarter after it ended US-specification ID.4 production to make room for petrol SUVs and halted ID. Buzz imports. Supply cuts make this a poor standalone measure of EV demand, although discounts up to $12,500 indicate stock-clearing difficulties; an electric ID. Tiguan is expected next year, while the ID. Buzz is not due back until the 2028 model.
BMW GROUP EV DELIVERIES RISE 7.2% DESPITE OVERALL DECLINE
BMW Group’s fully electric deliveries rose 7.2% to 110,257 in the third quarter, representing 20% of the total, while overall deliveries fell 6.3% and combustion-engined vehicles, including hybrids, collectively declined. Europe led electric growth with a 37.5% increase and more than 100,000 orders for the Neue Klasse iX3 within a year, while a China-specific version is planned for November as the group faces a 24.8% overall delivery decline there.
GRID BATTERY FAILURE RATE FALLS 98% PER GWh
EPRI reports a 98% fall in the global failure rate of lithium-ion grid-storage batteries per gigawatt-hour between 2018 and 2025, a capacity-adjusted measure concerning stationary storage rather than electric-car batteries. Newer installations generally performed better and 93% of reviewed incidents caused no injuries or fatalities, but indoor facilities had higher failure rates and damage, with some older plants potentially needing safety upgrades or early retirement.

FORD OPENS $29,945 FATHOM SIGN-UPS WITHOUT RANGE FIGURES
Ford has opened an invitation list for its $29,945 Fathom electric pickup, with official pre-orders expected in early 2027 and deliveries later that year, but no range, charging or payload figures yet. The four-door truck will debut Ford’s Universal EV platform with a 400-volt system and lithium-iron-phosphate battery, leaving buyers unable to assess its practicality ahead of a full reveal expected before year-end.
US FAST CHARGING PASSES 80,000 PORTS AS USAGE RISES
America’s public fast-charging network has passed 80,000 ports after adding 4,106 in the third quarter, while charging sessions rose 26% year on year to 50.4 million. Some 73% of new ports were rated at least 250 kW, but average charging prices rose to $0.540 per kWh and about 90% of new stations opened in urban markets, leaving rural coverage uneven.
TESLA PAUSES CANADIAN MODEL 3 ORDERS UNTIL MARCH
Tesla has suspended Canadian orders for its lower-cost, Shanghai-built Model 3 until March 2027 after exhausting its import allocation, although around 33,000 permits remained within Canada’s national quota. Its expected return follows the quota reset, but China’s export VAT rebate cut from 13% to 9% on 1 April 2027 could subsequently pressure pricing; Tesla has announced no related increase.
JAGUAR'S ELECTRIC RELAUNCH DRAWS OVER 50,000 SIGN-UPS
Jaguar’s electric relaunch has attracted more than 50,000 registrations of interest, around 80% from newcomers, as its Type 01 four-door GT targets a more exclusive luxury market with Bentley as its reference point. The electric-only strategy depends on converting that interest into purchases at higher prices, with Jaguar’s managing director previously estimating that up to 85% of existing buyers could leave.
ICAUR V25 SPOTTED CHARGING IN BRITAIN
A camouflaged iCaur V25 range-extender has been photographed charging in Britain, suggesting Chery’s off-road brand may be preparing a UK launch, although none is confirmed. It combines a petrol generator, two electric motors and a 33.7 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, with a reported 130-mile electric range on an unspecified test cycle; a battery-only version is expected, but its market availability remains unclear.
GM WEIGHS STARTUP ACCESS TO $145M BATTERY LAB
General Motors is considering opening its $145 million battery laboratory in Warren, Michigan, to help startups develop cell-manufacturing skills, but no programme has been approved and access is not imminent. Construction is expected to finish in December, with development work covering lithium manganese-rich and sodium-ion batteries, although GM’s existing sodium-ion partnership with Peak Energy concerns grid storage rather than an announced EV battery.
SOLAR AND BATTERIES HELP TEXAS THROUGH SUMMER HEAT
Solar and batteries helped Texas’s grid through a relatively uneventful summer despite hotter weather and rising demand, with 3,440 MW of solar added in the first half of 2026 and utility-scale storage reaching 33.1 GWh. Storage can shift low-cost electricity into peak periods, while solar and storage projects can be built faster than gas plants, but transmission bottlenecks still constrain delivery to areas needing the power.
MERCEDES TESTS E-CLASS-SHAPED CAR WITHOUT VISIBLE EXHAUSTS
Mercedes has been photographed testing an E-Class-shaped vehicle without visible exhaust outlets at the Nürburgring, prompting speculation about a more conventionally styled electric successor to the EQE. Such a model could attract buyers seeking familiar saloon styling with electric propulsion, but the sighting does not confirm a launch.
VOLKSWAGEN'S US EV SALES FALL 90% AFTER SUPPLY CUTS
Volkswagen’s US EV sales fell 90% to 1,421 in the third quarter after it ended US-specification ID.4 production to make room for petrol SUVs and halted ID. Buzz imports. Supply cuts make this a poor standalone measure of EV demand, although discounts up to $12,500 indicate stock-clearing difficulties; an electric ID. Tiguan is expected next year, while the ID. Buzz is not due back until the 2028 model.
BMW GROUP EV DELIVERIES RISE 7.2% DESPITE OVERALL DECLINE
BMW Group’s fully electric deliveries rose 7.2% to 110,257 in the third quarter, representing 20% of the total, while overall deliveries fell 6.3% and combustion-engined vehicles, including hybrids, collectively declined. Europe led electric growth with a 37.5% increase and more than 100,000 orders for the Neue Klasse iX3 within a year, while a China-specific version is planned for November as the group faces a 24.8% overall delivery decline there.
GRID BATTERY FAILURE RATE FALLS 98% PER GWh
EPRI reports a 98% fall in the global failure rate of lithium-ion grid-storage batteries per gigawatt-hour between 2018 and 2025, a capacity-adjusted measure concerning stationary storage rather than electric-car batteries. Newer installations generally performed better and 93% of reviewed incidents caused no injuries or fatalities, but indoor facilities had higher failure rates and damage, with some older plants potentially needing safety upgrades or early retirement.

It's ev.news Briefly for Tuesday 13th October 2026, only today's headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
WALMART DOUBLES US FAST-CHARGING STALLS PAST 1,000
Walmart has doubled its US fast-charging network in roughly four months, reaching more than 1,000 stalls across 120 locations, with CCS and NACS chargers rated at up to 400 kW. The retailer was America's second-largest installer of new fast-charging ports in the second quarter, behind Tesla, establishing itself as a significant charging operator rather than simply hosting third-party equipment.
BYD ATTO 8 BRINGS NINE-MINUTE FLASH CHARGING TO EUROPE
BYD has unveiled the seven-seat Atto 8 electric SUV for Europe, featuring a 115 kWh Blade battery capable of a claimed 10–97% charge in nine minutes using dedicated Flash chargers, with two powertrains offering up to 405 miles of WLTP range. Arriving in early 2027, the SUV's charging capabilities depend on BYD's ambitious infrastructure rollout, targeting 3,000 European Flash charging stations by the end of 2027, while pricing and charging performance on conventional public chargers remain unknown.
LEAPMOTOR B03 SETS UP A RENAULT 5 CHALLENGE FOR 2027
Leapmotor will introduce its B03 electric supermini to the UK in early 2027, targeting the Renault 5 and Volkswagen ID Polo with an expected price in the low £20,000s, a 53 kWh battery and 242 miles of WLTP range. Its 145 kW motor delivers 0–62 mph in 7.6 seconds, while 133 kW DC charging enables a claimed 10–80% recharge in 21 minutes, with a spacious 405-litre boot strengthening its practicality credentials.
VOLKSWAGEN'S EV ORDERS RISE AS GLOBAL SALES FALL
Volkswagen Group's global vehicle deliveries fell 9% to 6.01 million during the first nine months of 2026, with battery-electric deliveries declining 5% to 678,700, reflecting particularly severe weakness in China and the US. European EV demand tells a different story, with third-quarter electric deliveries rising 20%, EVs representing approximately 40% of the European order book and nearly 150,000 orders secured for forthcoming affordable electric models.
XPENG G9L ARRIVES IN EUROPE WITH AUSTRIAN ASSEMBLY
Xpeng has launched its six- or seven-seat G9L electric SUV in Europe, priced from €74,990 in France, offering up to 591 km of WLTP range and a claimed 10–80% charge in just 11.7 minutes using compatible high-power chargers. Trial assembly began at Magna Steyr's Austrian factory on 7 October, potentially reducing exposure to European tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, although full production and delivery dates remain unconfirmed.
OMODA 4 HEADS TO BRITAIN — BUT THE EV COSTS MORE
Chery-owned Omoda has unveiled its compact Omoda 4 crossover for UK introduction in 2027, with the initial petrol-hybrid version expected to cost under £25,000 and a fully electric variant following at approximately £27,000. The EV is reportedly equipped with a 61 kWh battery offering around 248 miles of range, although final specifications, charging performance and the range test cycle remain unconfirmed.
FIAT REVEALS FOUR-SEAT MULTIPLINA FOR 2028
Fiat has unveiled the Multiplina, a four-seat electric microcar inspired by the original 1950s Multipla, with sales planned for 2028 and a body measuring less than three metres long. Positioned above the two-seat Topolino, it will comply with Europe's L7 heavy-quadricycle regulations, although Fiat has yet to reveal battery capacity, range, performance or charging specifications.
LANCIA GAMMA OPENS ORDERS WITH 740-KM ELECTRIC CLAIM
Lancia has opened European orders for its new Italian-built Gamma fastback crossover, offering hybrid and electric powertrains, including a Long Range EV claiming more than 740 km of range, although a final certified figure has not been established. Built on Stellantis' STLA Medium platform, the range also includes a 375 hp all-wheel-drive HF Integrale capable of 0–100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, while battery specifications, charging speeds and market-specific prices remain undisclosed.
LI AUTO PUSHES EUROPEAN I6 LAUNCH INTO 2027
Chinese manufacturer Li Auto has postponed its European debut until the first quarter of 2027, when its i6 electric SUV, renamed Li 6, will launch initially in Norway and the Netherlands rather than arriving in late 2026 as previously indicated. The company has also revised its European strategy to include extended-range electric vehicles alongside battery-electric models, although pricing, specifications and additional model launches remain unconfirmed.
ELECTRIC BUSES OUTNUMBER HYDROGEN ORDERS 200 TO ONE
A new international procurement register covering 388 records across 81 countries reveals 13,165 firm orders for battery-electric buses compared with just 65 hydrogen fuel-cell buses, representing a purchasing ratio exceeding 200 to one. Although the dataset is not a comprehensive global census, the findings demonstrate operators' overwhelming preference for battery-electric technology on urban routes, with hydrogen increasingly needing to justify its higher infrastructure complexity and operational costs.

Europe’s hybrid-trade understanding with China looks like a victory for Brussels: an attempt to slow imports that escaped the additional duties on China-built battery-electric cars. But restricting Chinese imports and restricting Chinese brands are not the same thing. The central question is whether Europe has weakened its competitors—or encouraged them to become more deeply established inside its own car industry.
China did not simply surrender. The proposed safeguard would cover other supplying countries, rather than single out China, while preserving Beijing’s rights to challenge the eventual rules. Both sides can also claim success by choosing different comparisons: Brussels measures the restriction against projected future exports, while Beijing points to potential growth over 2025 levels.
The restrictions could reshape competition rather than reduce it. Scarce import places may encourage Chinese manufacturers to prioritise more expensive models, putting pressure on the premium vehicles that generate substantial profits for European brands. They could also strengthen the incentive to manufacture inside Europe. Larger Chinese companies would be better positioned to fund that investment, potentially leaving Europe facing fewer Chinese competitors—but stronger ones.
That exposes the real policy choice: protecting European-owned brands is not the same as protecting European factories, suppliers and jobs. Genuine local manufacturing by Chinese companies could support the latter while challenging the former; merely assembling imported parts does not automatically establish European origin. Ultimately, Europe is buying time, not securing a technological victory. Success depends on whether its carmakers become more competitive—and how much value Chinese investment actually leaves in Europe.