Author: Jessica Park

The European Investment Bank will provide up to 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) to Hamburger Energienetze for the expansion and modernization of Hamburg’s electricity distribution grid, while also extending around 125 million euros in financing to Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein for battery-electric buses and depot upgrades. The financing agreements, signed on May 19, form part of Hamburg’s broader efforts to accelerate electrification and modernize infrastructure supporting the city’s energy and transport transition. Hamburger Energienetze, also known as HNE, plans to use the funding to strengthen and digitalize the city’s power distribution system as electricity demand rises from transport electrification and renewable energy…

Ford Motor plans to introduce five new passenger vehicle models in Europe by the end of 2029, including two fully electric vehicles and three models offering multiple powertrain options, as the automaker adjusts its strategy in response to changing market conditions. The company said all five vehicles will be manufactured in Europe for European customers. Among the upcoming launches are a fully electric compact car and a small electric sport utility vehicle, both aimed at expanding Ford’s battery-electric offering in the region. Ford described the planned compact EV as a small battery-electric vehicle designed to combine distinctive styling with the…

ElectroMobility Poland and Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn have announced plans to cooperate on the development of an electric vehicle production facility in Jaworzno, southern Poland. The project would also include a research and development centre, although both parties said negotiations are still ongoing and no binding agreements have yet been finalised. According to the companies, detailed agreements are expected to be negotiated during the second half of 2026. See also: Foxconn Opens EV R&D Centre in Zhengzhou to Shorten Vehicle Development Cycles ElectroMobility Poland, commonly known as EMP, was established roughly a decade ago by several Polish state-owned energy companies…

Leapmotor, in partnership with Stellantis, has launched its new electric fastback sedan, the Leapmotor B05, in Europe, with orders now open in selected markets from €26,900. The model marks an expansion of the company’s lineup beyond SUVs and compact city cars in the region. The B05 was first presented in Germany during IAA Mobility last year, with its interior details revealed at a later stage. It was subsequently introduced in China before arriving in Europe. With a length of 4.43 meters and a width of 1.88 meters, the vehicle is positioned within the C-segment and features a fastback design intended…

The European Commission’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), aimed at strengthening domestic industry and accelerating the adoption of clean technologies, has drawn sharp criticism from China, which warned the draft could lead to retaliatory measures. Unveiled in early March and still under review, the IAA is designed to boost manufacturing, support corporate growth, and create jobs within the European Union. The legislation also seeks to promote cleaner industrial processes, with potentially significant implications for sectors such as automotive, batteries, and renewable energy. Key provisions in the draft include new requirements for public procurement and subsidy programs, introducing criteria tied to…

Stellantis said its circular economy subsidiary SUSTAINera recorded 51% growth in its reuse business in 2025 and plans to open a third vehicle dismantling center in a new region as the automaker expands its end-of-life vehicle recovery operations. The company said the additional dismantling facility will complement existing sites in Turin, Italy, and São Paulo, Brazil, as part of its strategy to recover functional vehicle components for resale as original used parts. SUSTAINera said growth in its reuse business was supported by strong performance from the B-Parts e-commerce platform in Europe and North America, where total inventory has surpassed 15…

Skoda Auto has provided an early look at its upcoming flagship electric SUV, the Peaq, as part of plans to expand its battery-electric vehicle portfolio by 2026. Based on the Vision 7S concept, the Peaq will measure nearly 4.9 metres in length and be offered in both five- and seven-seat configurations. The model will sit at the top of Skoda’s EV lineup and is expected to support the company’s goal of doubling its number of electric models within the next two years. The Peaq is built on the MEB platform developed by Volkswagen Group, which underpins several electric models across…

Cupra has unveiled an updated version of its electric SUV, the Cupra Tavascan, introducing a new entry-level variant alongside interior and technology upgrades as part of the broader refresh of Volkswagen Group’s MEB-based models. The updated Tavascan follows recent revisions to models such as the Cupra Born, Skoda Enyaq and Skoda Elroq. However, design changes to the Tavascan remain minimal, reflecting the model’s relatively recent launch in 2024. The key update is the introduction of a new base drivetrain, featuring a 140 kW electric motor paired with a 58 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. This marks the first time…

The average price of electric vehicles in the European Union declined in 2025 for the first time in five years, driven by the arrival of lower-cost models as automakers respond to emissions regulations, according to an analysis by environmental think tank Transport & Environment (T&E). T&E said the average price of battery-electric cars in the EU dropped by about €1,800, or roughly 4%, to €42,700 in 2025. The decline was largely attributed to the introduction of more affordable compact electric vehicles in the B-segment, where average prices fell by 13%. Among the models contributing to the trend were the Citroën…

Austria’s Ministry of the Interior has concluded that battery-electric vehicles are only conditionally suitable for operational police use following a large-scale trial involving electric patrol cars across several regions of the country. The assessment came after a pilot program that deployed 24 electric vehicles in real-world police operations beginning in early 2024. The trial involved around 20 participating police stations across four federal states: Tyrol, Salzburg, Lower Austria and Vienna. According to the ministry, the evaluation identified several operational challenges, including limited charging infrastructure and increased vehicle weight resulting from batteries combined with tactical police equipment. As a result, the…

Cupra has unveiled a refreshed version of its Born electric hatchback, introducing a new exterior design and updated interior features while largely retaining the existing drivetrain configurations. The updated Born, produced at Volkswagen Group’s Zwickau plant in Germany, adopts the brand’s latest design language. The facelift includes a redesigned front end featuring a “shark nose,” new bumpers and triangular matrix LED headlights, a motif that also appears in the rear lighting design. The Cupra logo on the tailgate is now illuminated and integrated into the rear light strip. With the redesigned bumpers, the vehicle’s length has increased slightly by 12…

Lexus has discontinued the battery-electric UX 300e in several major markets, leaving the compact crossover available only with hybrid powertrains in many regions, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the United States. The Lexus UX 300e was the first fully electric vehicle introduced by the premium brand of Toyota. Based on the UX compact crossover platform, the model was launched in various international markets between 2020 and 2021 as Lexus’s initial entry into the battery-electric segment. See also: Lexus Unveils RZ 600e F SPORT Performance as New Flagship Electric Variant The vehicle initially featured a 54.3-kWh battery pack before…