Author: Shaun Williams

Kia unveiled sporty GT variants of its EV3, EV4 and EV5 electric models at the Brussels Motor Show 2026, expanding its performance-oriented lineup alongside the world premiere of the smaller EV2. The new GT versions are based on Kia’s 400-volt electric architecture and feature all-wheel drive, positioning them below the brand’s flagship 800-volt GT models such as the EV6 GT and EV9 GT. Those larger models, built on the high-voltage version of Kia’s E-GMP platform, offer significantly higher outputs of 478 kW and 374 kW respectively, with rear-biased drivetrains. See also: Kia Unveils Entry-Level EV2 Compact SUV for Europe With…

Oregon has introduced a new state-level incentive program offering rebates of up to $120,000 per vehicle to support the electrification of business and public-sector fleets, stepping in after the federal Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit under Section 45W was discontinued. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) said it has launched the Zero-Emissions Rebates for Oregon Fleets Program to help offset the higher upfront costs of battery-electric vehicles compared with conventional gasoline or diesel models. The program provides rebates across light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle categories, with total funding capped at $17 million. See also: XCharge North America Deploys Oregon’s…

Nick Cassidy delivered a strategy-driven victory at the Mexico City E-Prix, charging from 13th on the grid to claim the win and hand Citroen its first Formula E triumph in only the manufacturer’s second race in the all-electric series. The New Zealander, racing for the French marque in its debut Formula E season, capitalised on energy conservation and a carefully timed use of Attack Mode to take the chequered flag at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. See also: Dennis Claims Victory in Chaotic Formula E Season Opener in Sao Paulo The result followed Cassidy’s third-place finish in the season-opening round in…

Japanese automaker Mazda is introducing the CX-6e electric SUV to Europe, marking the regional debut of a model co-developed with its Chinese partner Changan and previously sold in China as the EZ-60. The CX-6e will arrive at German dealerships from summer 2026, with prices starting at €49,990, Mazda said. The CX-6e is the SUV counterpart to the battery-electric Mazda 6e saloon, which entered the European market last year. Both vehicles are built on Changan’s EPA platform, also used by the Deepal S07, and are produced in China for export to Europe. In China, the EZ-60 launched in September with prices…

U.S.-based startup Evotrex has unveiled its PG5 recreational vehicle trailer, introducing a design that combines onboard energy storage, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging and active propulsion to support electric vehicles during towing. The PG5 is equipped with what Evotrex calls its RangeBoost system, a bidirectional charging setup that allows the trailer to transfer energy to an electric tow vehicle while driving. The system monitors the tow vehicle’s battery state and supplies supplemental power from the trailer when needed, addressing one of the main challenges faced by EV owners — reduced driving range when towing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R-c5miGzcY The trailer integrates a 43 kilowatt-hour lithium…

LiveWire said it has implemented immediate price reductions across its S2 electric motorcycle lineup, lowering the cost of its Alpinista, Mulholland and Del Mar models in a move aimed at improving accessibility and responding to customer feedback. The Harley-Davidson spinoff said the pricing adjustment reflects input from riders who cited affordability, features and build quality as key factors influencing purchase decisions in the electric motorcycle segment. The company said the changes are intended to expand its customer base without altering vehicle specifications or performance. See also: LiveWire Unveils New Electric Motorcycle Lineup at EICMA, Including Fast-Charging S2 Alpinista Corsa and…

REE Automotive Ltd said it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Cascadia Motion, a wholly owned subsidiary of BorgWarner Inc, to jointly develop and commercialise a compact electric drive unit (EDU) aimed at global vehicle manufacturers. Under the agreement, the companies plan to integrate REE’s REEcorner technology with Cascadia Motion’s iM-125 inverter-motor module to create a cross-platform EDU that can be offered as an off-the-shelf solution. Cascadia Motion is expected to distribute the integrated unit through its existing commercial channels, subject to the finalisation of binding agreements. See also: Mitsubishi Fuso Partners With REE Automotive on Software-Defined Delivery…

Zeekr Technology Europe and software engineering company Intellias presented an artificial intelligence-based system for testing in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) software at CES 2026, outlining how the approach could streamline quality assurance processes for increasingly software-driven vehicles. The system combines computer vision with vision-language models to automate visual user interface testing across functions such as navigation, media, connectivity and comfort controls. According to the companies, test cases can be generated directly from written requirements and user experience design guidelines, reducing the need for manually scripted tests and human-led validation. See also: Zeekr Teases 8X Hybrid SUV Ahead of Expected 2026 Debut Zeekr…

Premium electric vehicle brand smart said it expanded its presence to 39 global markets in 2025 after entering 10 new countries, while growing its worldwide retail network and preparing to add two new models to its lineup in 2026. The Mercedes-Benz and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group joint venture said its global retail network increased by 25% to 688 outlets during the year, reflecting stronger distribution in regions including Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Middle East and Latin America. Smart said it plans to build on that momentum in 2026, when it expects to enter its 40th market. See also: Smart Begins…

Bosch eBike Systems said it is introducing a new digital theft-protection feature that allows owners to mark electric bicycles and batteries as stolen via an app, expanding security measures as e-bike theft remains a concern in major urban markets. The German technology supplier unveiled the update during CES 2026, saying the feature will be available from the end of January at no cost to users. Once an e-bike or battery is reported stolen, it is digitally flagged across the entire Bosch eBike Systems ecosystem, making it visible to potential buyers, dealers, workshops and authorities when they attempt to connect to…

Volvo Cars is advising owners of certain right-hand-drive versions of its EX30 electric SUV to avoid charging their vehicles beyond 70% of battery capacity, as the automaker prepares a recall to address a potential battery overheating risk. The guidance applies only to a specific battery configuration used in right-hand-drive EX30 models sold from 2024 onward. Volvo said the issue affects the 69 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery used in the Single Motor Extended Range and Twin Motor Performance variants, while the base version equipped with a 49 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery is not impacted. “Safety is Volvo Cars’ top…

MediaTek and DENSO said they have started a strategic collaboration to develop a custom automotive system-on-chip (SoC) for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and digital cockpit use, reflecting growing demand for integrated computing platforms in vehicles. The companies said the SoC will combine MediaTek’s Dimensity AX computing architecture with DENSO’s experience in vehicle integration and safety engineering. The platform is intended for use by global automakers and Tier-1 suppliers and is being designed with scalability and production readiness in mind. According to the companies, the chip is targeting compliance with ISO 26262 functional safety standards, including ASIL-B and ASIL-D levels, as…

BMW on Monday detailed a sweeping set of technology upgrades for its upcoming iX3 electric SUV, confirming that the 2026 model will be the first production vehicle to feature Amazon’s generative AI-powered Alexa+ voice assistant as part of BMW’s next-generation in-car software platform. Unveiled at the CES 2026, the iX3 serves as the debut model for BMW’s Neue Klasse electric architecture, which the automaker says will underpin its future lineup. BMW said technologies introduced with the Neue Klasse will be rolled out across about 40 new models and model updates by 2027. See also: BMW U.S. Battery-Electric Vehicle Sales Fall…

Luminar said in a weekend court filing that its founder and former chief executive, Austin Russell, has repeatedly avoided requests for information and failed to comply with a subpoena, complicating the company’s efforts to determine whether legal action against him is warranted. The U.S.-based lidar developer, which entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late December, said it has sought since May to recover company-owned devices following Russell’s resignation earlier this year. Luminar said it has retrieved six computers but is still seeking a company-issued mobile phone and a digital copy of Russell’s personal phone, which it argues are necessary for…

BMW has started trial production of its Neue Klasse electric vehicles at its manufacturing base in Shenyang, signaling progress toward the start of full series production in China in 2026, according to a report by Xinhua. The first pre-series units of the long-wheelbase BMW iX3 have been built at the Shenyang facility since shortly before Christmas 2025, Xinhua reported. BMW has not disclosed a specific start date for mass production, saying only that series output is planned to begin sometime in 2026. See also: BMW Completes Final Tests at Munich Plant Ahead of Neue Klasse EV Production BMW announced in…

XING Mobility will present a range of high-voltage immersion-cooled battery systems at CES 2026, including what it says is the world’s first immersion-cooled 800-volt backup battery unit designed for high-power applications such as artificial intelligence data centers. The Taiwanese battery technology company said the new system builds on its IMMERSIO™ immersion cooling platform, which has been developed and validated through more than a decade of automotive-grade testing. At CES, XING Mobility plans to demonstrate applications spanning electric vehicles, energy storage systems and data center power infrastructure under the theme “A Decade of Immersion Cooled Innovation.” See also: Xing Mobility and…

U.S. electric bicycle maker Rad Power Bikes has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the company said on Monday, weeks after warning employees that it could shut down operations without securing new funding. The company will continue operating while the bankruptcy process unfolds and is seeking to sell the business within the next 45 to 60 days, a spokesperson told TechCrunch. “This step allows us to keep operating in the ordinary course of business while we pursue the best possible outcome for the people who rely on Rad every day,” the spokesperson said. “Our goal is to keep the company…

General Motors has begun rolling out a native Apple Music app for select Cadillac and Chevrolet vehicles, offering owners expanded in-car music access as the automaker continues to phase out Apple CarPlay across more of its lineup. GM said the Apple Music app is becoming available starting Monday on select 2025 and newer models, with deeper integration into the vehicles’ infotainment systems rather than relying on smartphone mirroring. See also: GM Cuts Lease Prices on Cadillac Lyriq and Chevy Blazer EV as Automakers Offset Loss of Federal Tax Credit The initial rollout includes Cadillac CT5 (2025–2026) and electric models such…

Fiat has delayed customer deliveries of its Grande Panda model in the UK until March 2026, almost a year later than originally planned, citing stronger-than-expected demand for left-hand-drive versions in other markets. The delay was first reported by British automotive magazine Autocar, which quoted a Fiat spokesperson as saying: “The Grande Panda is enjoying significant demand in the left-hand-drive markets where it has been launched to date, impacting the start of production for the right-hand drive-cars for the UK.” See also: Stellantis Starts Fiat 500 Hybrid Production at Mirafiori Plant The setback affects a model that was unveiled in July…

Austrian charge point operator da emobil has integrated more than 2,600 electric vehicle charging points into the Cariqa ecosystem, as operators across Europe seek greater control over pricing and payments amid rapid expansion of charging networks. Cariqa, a payments and billing platform for EV charging, said the partnership brings one of Austria’s largest charging networks onto its system, enabling da emobil to manage tariffs directly, receive faster settlements and operate high-power charging infrastructure without relying on traditional reseller models. See also: Austria Opens Large-Scale Charging Hub in Amstetten with 40 Fast Charging Points The integration includes ultra-fast chargers delivering up…