Author: Shaun Williams

Design considerations are playing a larger role than technical specifications in shaping consumer interest in battery-electric vehicles, according to new research from Escalent, challenging long-held assumptions about what motivates EV adoption. Escalent’s EVForward 2025 Product DeepDive study found that 71% of new-vehicle shoppers consider interior and exterior design equally important when selecting their next car. Design-related factors ranked ahead of traditional EV priorities such as driving range, charging performance and brand recognition, suggesting visual appeal and cabin experience are increasingly decisive for buyers. See also: EV Buyers Prioritise Cost and Usability Over Emissions, GreenCars Survey Shows Interior design was cited…

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said he expects China to emerge as the company’s biggest competitor in humanoid robots, mirroring the competitive dynamics that have shaped the global electric vehicle market. Speaking during Tesla’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, Musk said China’s ability to rapidly scale manufacturing and advance artificial intelligence positions it as a formidable rival in the development of humanoid robots. See also: Tesla Beats Q4 Earnings Expectations as Margins Improve and Energy Business Sets Records “Well, I do think that by far, the biggest competition for humanoid robots will be from China. China is incredibly good at…

A growing number of countries are committing to expand electric mobility as part of their national climate pledges, with 66 nations now setting concrete targets for electrification, the highest number recorded to date, according to analysis by the think tank Agora Verkehrswende. In total, 104 countries have included plans to expand electric mobility in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the United Nations, which underpin the Paris Agreement. Of those, 66 countries – including all 27 EU member states – have defined specific expansion targets for electric mobility, accounting for more than 60% of global automobile sales, Agora Verkehrswende…

Electric vehicle adoption in the United States is increasingly being driven by practical considerations such as cost, reliability and day-to-day usability, rather than environmental concerns, according to new research from GreenCars. The study, based on a survey of more than 6,000 attendees at Electrify Expo events across eight U.S. cities, found that just 1.6% of respondents cited reducing pollution as their primary reason for choosing an electric vehicle. Instead, most consumers said affordability, charging access, performance and suitability for daily routines were the dominant factors shaping their decisions. See also: Ellen MacArthur Foundation Flags Circular EV Batteries as Shield Against…

UK-based electric motor developer Advanced Electric Machines said it has secured new development contracts with a global Tier 1 automotive supplier and a major Asian vehicle manufacturer, as carmakers seek to reduce reliance on rare earth materials and concentrated supply chains. The company did not disclose the identities of the partners but said one of the agreements is a seven-figure development contract with a globally operating Tier 1 supplier, while the second involves an Asian original equipment manufacturer. Both projects focus on developing distinct electric motor technologies for passenger cars, the company said, adding that it plans to expand its…

Mini has upgraded the drivetrain technology of its electric Countryman SUV, pushing the model’s driving range beyond 500 kilometres for the first time under the WLTP standard, as the brand builds on rapidly rising global electric vehicle sales. The Mini Countryman Electric, first unveiled at the IAA motor show in 2023 and in series production since March 2024, will receive a technical update from March 2026, Mini said. The changes focus on efficiency improvements rather than visual redesigns, two years after production began at BMW Leipzig Plant. See also: Electric Mini Cooper Named Euro NCAP’s Safest City and Supermini Car…

Irish energy management specialist Eaton plans to spin off its Mobility Group into a standalone publicly listed company, separating its vehicle and e-mobility operations from the rest of the group, Eaton said. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027. Eaton, which has been publicly listed for more than a century, said the planned spin-off is intended to be tax-free for shareholders under U.S. federal income tax rules, with the new Mobility Group expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. This structure suggests existing Eaton shareholders are likely to receive shares in…

Rad Power Bikes has agreed to sell its business to Life Electric Vehicles Holdings for about $13.2 million, according to bankruptcy filings, just over a month after entering Chapter 11 proceedings. Court documents show that five parties participated in an auction for Rad Power’s assets on Jan. 22. The opening bid was $8 million, with subsequent bids increasing until Life Electric Vehicles was selected as the highest bidder. Including assumed liabilities, the total value of the transaction is about $14.9 million, the filing said. Another e-bike manufacturer, Retrospec, submitted the second-highest bid at $13 million and has been designated as…

Nio has opened its first distributor-operated showroom in Hungary, the company said, as part of its ongoing European operations. The Nio AutoWallis showroom in Budapest began operations on Jan. 22 local time. With the opening, AutoWallis started sales and service activities for Nio and Firefly vehicles in the country. See also: Nio Says It Will Press Ahead in Europe as EU Signals Shift From Tariffs to Pricing Plan Customers in Hungary can currently view and purchase four Nio models: the ET5, ET5 Touring, EL6 and EL8. The EL6 and EL8 correspond to the ES6 and ES8 models sold in China.…

Nissan’s NissanConnect services enable electric vehicle owners to remotely manage cabin climate settings and monitor key vehicle data, expanding connected features across the company’s electric lineup that includes the Ariya, Leaf, Micra and Townstar van. The smartphone-based NissanConnect system allows drivers to preheat or cool the cabin before entering the vehicle, addressing comfort and visibility issues during extreme weather. The service also provides access to vehicle location, battery state of charge and charging history, supporting day-to-day EV use and trip planning, Nissan said. See also: 2026 Nissan LEAF Named WWCOTY Best Compact Car Beyond remote access, NissanConnect integrates in-vehicle connectivity…

Ford Motor plans to integrate a new artificial intelligence assistant across Ford and Lincoln vehicles by 2027, expanding the role of AI in infotainment and vehicle-related tasks as automakers increasingly compete on software-driven features. The system, referred to by the company as Ford AI, is designed to function as an “intelligent thread” rather than a standalone voice assistant, according to Ford. The company said the technology will be capable of understanding the specific vehicle it is embedded in and adapting to individual owner preferences, enabling a more personalized driving and ownership experience. See also: Ford Motor Targets 2028 Launch for…

China’s BYD is targeting overseas vehicle sales of about 1.3 million units in 2026, its branding and public relations chief said, underscoring the automaker’s push to expand its global footprint after a sharp rise in exports last year. Li Yunfei, general manager of branding and public relations at BYD, disclosed the target during a media briefing in Shanghai on Saturday, describing it as representing roughly 24% growth from 2025 levels. See also: China NEV Rankings 2025: BYD Holds 27.2% Share as Tesla Slips to 4.9%, CPCA Data Show BYD exported 1,046,083 new energy vehicles in 2025, including passenger cars and…

Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most bike-friendly cities, is planning to ban oversized electric “fatbikes” from its main city park following a rise in high-speed crashes and injuries that authorities say are linked to reckless riding. The proposed ban would apply to Vondelpark, a busy green space used daily by cyclists, pedestrians and tourists. City officials say some electric fatbikes are capable of travelling at speeds of up to 50–60 kilometres per hour on narrow paths, far exceeding the legal assisted cycling limit of 25 kph. The move was welcomed by road safety advocates but has drawn criticism from some riders…

A German court has ordered bike-sharing operator Nextbike to withdraw its rental bicycles from public streets in Berlin, siding with city authorities in a dispute over the commercial use of public space, Der Spiegel reported. The Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg ruled in expedited proceedings that Nextbike may not continue operating its service in the German capital for the time being. The decision upholds a lower court ruling requiring the immediate removal of around 6,500 rental bicycles from public streets. The case stems from a conflict with the Berlin Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment, which…

BMW will unveil the iX3 Long Wheelbase at the Beijing Auto Show in 2026, introducing the first long-wheelbase all-electric sports activity vehicle built on the company’s new Neue Klasse architecture. Developed primarily for China, the model will enter production in the second half of 2026 before expanding to other Asian markets including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. The iX3 Long Wheelbase marks BMW’s first application of the Neue Klasse platform in an extended-wheelbase format, with the distance between the axles stretched by 108 millimetres compared with the standard model to improve rear-seat comfort. The vehicle adopts an 800-volt electrical architecture,…

Turkish electric vehicle maker Togg plans to raise production to at least 60,000 vehicles in 2026, building on output of about 40,000 units last year, as the company advances its first phase of international expansion following its market entry in Germany. The production targets and delivery milestones were disclosed by Fuat Tosyalı, chairman of the board, in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Tosyalı said the manufacturer has delivered more than 100,000 vehicles since launching its first model, the T10X electric SUV, in spring 2023. “Our goal for 2026 is to produce 60,000 units or more,”…

Volvo on Wednesday revealed full design and technical details of its upcoming EX60 electric sport utility vehicle, positioning the model in the upper-middle segment of its EV lineup with what the company says are class-leading range, charging performance and a lower carbon footprint enabled by new manufacturing technology. The EX60 will be Volvo’s longest-range and fastest-charging electric vehicle to date. The automaker said the SUV can add up to 173 miles of range in about 10 minutes when connected to a 400-kilowatt, 800-volt fast charger. In the United States, the EX60 will be the first Volvo vehicle to come standard…

Mobileye Global forecast annual revenue below Wall Street expectations on Thursday, signalling uncertain demand for its assisted-driving chips as automakers grapple with trade tensions and a softer outlook for vehicle production. The outlook comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts disrupt the global automotive industry, prompting carmakers to withdraw forecasts and reconfigure supply chains. The uncertainty is compounded by North American manufacturers scaling back previously aggressive electric vehicle plans amid intense competition from China, the loss of some tax incentives and a renewed focus on lower-cost models and hybrids. https://twitter.com/Mobileye/status/2014309808417997295 Mobileye said it expects…

Honda is preparing to launch its latest electric two-wheeler, the UC3, in Vietnam and Thailand this spring, marking a strategic shift in the automaker’s approach to battery technology as it responds to accelerating electrification across Southeast Asia. The UC3, developed by Honda’s motorcycle division, is positioned as the electric equivalent of a 110cc gasoline scooter, a segment that dominates daily transport in much of Asia. While Honda has been a leading advocate of swappable batteries for light electric motorcycles, the UC3 instead uses an integrated, fixed battery—departing from the company’s in-house removable battery standard. The model is powered by Honda’s…

MG Motor recorded strong growth in 2025, delivering its 100,000th electric vehicle in the UK and surpassing 300,000 total vehicle sales across Europe for the first time, the company said, underscoring the growing role of EVs and hybrids in its regional strategy. The carmaker, owned by SAIC Motor, said European sales rose by nearly 30% year-on-year, supported by solid demand in its home UK market and key countries including Spain and Italy. In the UK, MG Motor ranked as the 10th best-selling brand for the second consecutive year, registering 85,155 vehicles in 2025, up 4.4% from a year earlier, in…