Author: Shaun Williams

Denmark registered 9,736 new battery-electric cars in February, representing an 81.6% share of the country’s total new passenger car registrations. According to data from Mobility Denmark, citing statistics from bilstatistik.dk, a total of 11,933 new passenger cars were registered in the country during the month. Of these, 2,197 vehicles were powered by other drivetrain types. Among private buyers, battery-electric vehicles dominated the market even more strongly, accounting for 94.4% of all new passenger car registrations. Mobility Denmark attributed the trend to increasing consumer demand for low-emission vehicles as well as government policies supporting the transition to electric mobility. “The popularity…

German automotive supplier Schaeffler has appointed Jochen Schröder to its Executive Board as Chief Operating Officer, where he will oversee production, supply chain management and procurement, as the company also considers a broader restructuring of its leadership structure. Schröder, 54, will assume the role on April 1, 2026, succeeding Andreas Schick, who will leave the company on March 31 at his own request. In his new position, Schröder will take responsibility for the Production, Supply Chain Management and Procurement divisions. See also: Schaeffler Expands EV Drivetrain Repair Kits for BMW, Hyundai, Nissan and Volkswagen The company also indicated that the…

Volvo Buses has received orders for 15 units of its new BZR Electric coach from several transport operators in Norway. The vehicles are scheduled for delivery starting this autumn. The orders were placed by Jenssen Mobility, Schaus Buss, Charterbuss.no AS, Stjørdal Meråker Trafikkskole and Bussring. According to Volvo Buses, the electric coaches will be deployed in various roles including airport transfers, tourist and charter services, and passenger transport linked to cruise ship operations. See also: Volvo Buses Wins First Brazilian Order for Electric Articulated and Double-Articulated Buses Volvo described the contracts as an early commercial success for its long-range electric…

The European Council has adopted amendments to the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID), introducing updated requirements for measurement systems used in sectors including electric vehicle charging. The revised directive expands the scope of the rules to cover all charging devices for electric vehicles, including those used for rail vehicles, maritime transport and aviation. According to the Council, “the revised rules also prioritise digitalisation and smart metering and support the use of emerging gases such as hydrogen to help decarbonise industrial processes.” See also: EU Drafts ‘Buy European’ Rules Linking EV Subsidies to Local Production One of the changes addresses the growing…

Lyten said it has completed the acquisition of Northvolt Ett and Ett Expansion in Skellefteå, as well as Northvolt Labs in Västerås, marking a major expansion of its footprint in Europe. The deal, valued at nearly $5 billion, was finalised several months later than initially anticipated. When Lyten announced its intention in August 2025 to acquire selected assets of Northvolt, the move drew attention given the relative size difference between the two companies and their differing technology focus. Lyten, founded in 2015 in San Jose, California, specialises in lithium-sulphur battery cells, while Northvolt has concentrated on nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion technology.…

Stellantis reported a net loss of €22.3 billion for the 2025 financial year, following substantial write-downs linked primarily to its electric vehicle strategy. The results mark a sharp reversal from 2024, when the company posted an operating profit of nearly €3.7 billion. The downturn comes amid leadership changes and a broader reassessment of the group’s electrification plans. See also: Stellantis Reintroduces Diesel Options Across Several European Models Amid Demand Shift Antonio Filosa, who took over as chief executive in June 2025 after the departure of long-time CEO Carlos Tavares, initiated impairments of approximately €22.2 billion in early February. The write-downs…

Zimbabwe has announced an immediate ban on the export of raw minerals and lithium concentrate, as the government seeks to tighten oversight of the mining sector and encourage local processing. The measure was confirmed by Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura during a press briefing in Harare. “For now, the export ban applies to all minerals currently in transit,” he said, adding that the step would allow authorities “to improve transparency in the mineral sector.” The government has also said it aims to increase domestic value addition by promoting in-country processing of raw materials. Zimbabwe’s lithium sector has drawn…

African electric mobility company Spiro has secured $50 million in credit facilities to expand its electric motorcycle operations and battery-swapping infrastructure, just months after a previous funding round. The Dubai-based startup, which operates from Nairobi, said the financing comes from Afreximbank, Nithio and the Africa Go Green Fund, led by Cyngum Capital. The funds are structured as credit rather than equity and are intended to support the company’s capital-intensive model, including vehicle production, swap stations and ecosystem development. In October 2025, Spiro announced a separate $100 million funding round, though the breakdown between debt and equity was not disclosed. See…

BMW may seek to import China-built Mini electric vehicles into the European Union under a minimum price arrangement instead of paying additional tariffs, according to a report by German business daily Handelsblatt citing people familiar with the matter. The move would affect the Mini Aceman and Mini Cooper electric models produced in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, by Spotlight Automotive, a joint venture between BMW and Great Wall Motor. Under current rules, these vehicles face a 20.7% surcharge on top of the EU’s standard 10% import duty on cars. See also: Mini Extends Electric Countryman Range Beyond 500 Km With Efficiency Upgrade…

Public transport operator Azienda Trasporti Verona (ATV) has introduced 34 battery-electric buses from Chinese manufacturer BYD into service, expanding efforts to modernize and decarbonize public transport in the northern Italian city. Most of the new vehicles are 12-metre B12 buses, supplemented by several units of the similarly sized K9UD model. The deployment marks the first time the B12 has entered regular passenger service in Italy after its unveiling at Busworld 2023. The B12 uses BYD’s Blade Battery technology, based on lithium iron phosphate chemistry, with the battery integrated directly into the chassis as a structural element. This configuration improves torsional…

Tesla has filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in an effort to overturn an administrative ruling that found the company engaged in false advertising related to its “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” driver-assistance systems. In a complaint dated Feb. 13, Tesla argued that the DMV “wrongfully and baselessly” labeled the company a “false advertiser,” contending regulators failed to prove that consumers were misled into believing the vehicles could operate without human supervision. See also: Tesla Offers 0% Financing on Model Y and 0.99% on Model 3 in U.S. Promotion The legal action follows a long-running dispute…

Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary PowerCo has reached a collective agreement with the IG Metall union guaranteeing job security for its workforce in Salzgitter, Germany, until the end of 2030, providing stability amid uncertainty in the electric-vehicle battery sector. The deal protects roughly 2,000 employees from redundancy for operational reasons and will run from March 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2030, according to IG Metall’s Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt district. The agreement forms part of a broader bargaining package covering employment terms and compensation. PowerCo was established as an independent subsidiary in 2022 to spearhead Volkswagen’s battery cell production strategy, initially with…

Audi has announced that Chief Technology Officer Geoffrey Bouquot will leave the company after just over a year, with Lamborghini CTO Rouven Mohr set to take over as Head of Technical Development beginning March 1. Bouquot joined the German automaker in mid-2024 to lead a newly created board-level division focused on innovation and software-defined vehicles. By the end of that year, the unit was merged with Technical Development, and Bouquot assumed responsibility for the combined organization, succeeding CEO Gernot Döllner, who had temporarily overseen the department. Audi did not provide specific reasons for Bouquot’s departure but said he had initiated…

Latvia’s Ministry of Climate and Energy has proposed a new subsidy programme worth €40 million to support the purchase of battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, with the scheme currently under public consultation ahead of a government decision. The consultation period runs until 24 February. If approved, the programme would operate until the end of 2029 or until the allocated funds are exhausted. Officials said the proposal builds on strong public demand and the perceived success of earlier incentive schemes launched in 2021, which initially carried a €10 million budget and were later expanded by an additional €20 million.…

Rio Tinto has taken majority control of Canadian producer Nemaska Lithium, aiming to develop a fully integrated lithium supply chain in Quebec to support electric vehicle manufacturing in North America. The mining company said it now holds a 53.9% stake in Nemaska Lithium and will assume direct management responsibility. The government of Quebec retains the remaining 46.1% through its investment arm Investissement Québec and will continue to participate in strategic decisions, though it no longer has a controlling share. Rio Tinto first entered the project by acquiring a 50% interest through its takeover of lithium producer Arcadium in a $6.7…

Polestar said on Wednesday it plans to expand its vehicle portfolio with four new electric models scheduled for release over the next three years, describing the initiative as the “largest model offensive in its history.” The Swedish electric vehicle maker is seeking to strengthen its position in key market segments as global competition intensifies. Chief Executive Michael Lohscheller said the expansion follows a strong sales performance and is aimed at driving profitability. “Following our best sales year ever, we are now launching the largest model offensive in our history, with four premium EVs coming to market within three years. We…

Indian motorcycle maker Royal Enfield expects to launch its first electric motorcycle, the Flying Flea C6, in early 2026, Chief Executive B. Govindarajan said during a recent earnings call. The executive indicated the model is “almost ready for production” and that “you will see it in the next quarter time window,” offering the clearest timeline yet for the long-anticipated project. The C6 will inaugurate Royal Enfield’s new Flying Flea electric sub-brand, reviving the name of a lightweight motorcycle the company produced during World War II. Prototype versions were showcased at EICMA 2024 and EICMA 2025 in Milan, where the bike…

Swiss microcar manufacturer Microlino is entering the Norwegian market through the creation of Microlino Norge AS, a new local entity intended to support sales and after-sales operations for its compact electric vehicle. The subsidiary will provide customer advisory services, maintenance, servicing, and warranty handling, aiming to establish a long-term presence in one of the world’s leading electric mobility markets. The company has partnered with a local business to coordinate its activities in Norway, with headquarters in Sandnes and operational support based in the Stavanger region. The arrangement appears to involve Egeland Auto, a dealership whose address matches that of Microlino…

Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer Merida has introduced the ETMO range of electric mountain bikes, positioning the lineup as its most price-focused Bosch-powered eMTB offering to date. The new models aim to attract riders seeking trail capability at lower price points than premium electric mountain bikes, with entry pricing starting at £3,650 (€4,380). The ETMO series draws design inspiration from Merida’s longer-travel eONE-EIGHTY platform but adapts it into a more versatile format. Depending on specification, suspension travel ranges from 140 mm to 160 mm, combined with mixed wheel sizes intended to balance agility and stability across varied terrain. See also: Decathlon Launches…

Unplugged Performance has introduced a stainless steel bed storage slider system for the Tesla Cybertruck priced at $4,995, targeting commercial fleets, tradespeople, and outdoor users seeking organized cargo solutions. The modular drawer setup is designed to add two-tier storage capacity without compromising the truck’s original bed functionality. The system uses a dedicated steel frame with heavy-duty sliding mechanisms and locking latches to keep drawers secure under load. A reinforced secondary platform above the drawers can support more than 1,000 pounds, enabling users to store equipment both within the drawers and on top of the structure under the tonneau cover. See…