Author: Jessica Park

Stellantis has confirmed that the Leapmotor B10 will be produced at its plant in Figueruelas near Zaragoza, with manufacturing scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. The confirmation came from Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa during the presentation of the company’s financial results. The B10 will be the first model from the Chinese brand to be manufactured at the Spanish facility. Plans for local production had previously been signalled in December when Ding Yongfei outlined the project during a visit to a supplier in Spain. The supplier, Lieder Automotive, is preparing to produce chassis components for the B10 locally…

Sales of battery-electric cars in the European Union rose 24.3% in January to 154,230 units, lifting their share of new car registrations to 19.3%, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). The increase marks a significant rise from a 14.9% market share a year earlier, even as the overall EU car market contracted by 3.9% to 799,625 registrations. The stronger performance of electric vehicles therefore reflects both higher absolute sales and weaker demand for conventional cars. Other electrified powertrains also expanded. Plug-in hybrid registrations climbed 28.7% to 78,741 units, while hybrid electric vehicles grew 6.2% to 308,364…

Chinese-owned automaker MG Motor has opened orders for the new MG4 EV Urban in Austria, marking the model’s first launch in continental Europe following its debut in the United Kingdom earlier this year. The entry-level electric hatchback starts at €19,990 under a promotional offer that includes trade-in, environmental and insurance bonuses worth €5,000. Without incentives, the base price would be about €25,000. Deliveries in Austria are expected to begin in April 2026. Three variants are currently available, all priced below €25,000 with incentives. The base model uses a 43-kWh battery, while higher-trim Comfort and Luxury versions feature a 54-kWh pack…

A consortium of German research institutions has launched a project to develop a magnet-free electric motor designed to reduce reliance on rare-earth materials while maintaining high torque density and efficiency. The initiative, known as NAFTech—short for “Sustainable Axial-Flux Machines Considering Tolerance-Affected Manufacturing Technologies”—is funded by the German government and brings together experts from RWTH Aachen University, the University of Stuttgart and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. See also: RWTH Aachen-Led Project Tests Delamination Methods for Direct Battery Recycling The project involves the Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen, the Institute for Electrical Energy Conversion (iew) at the University of Stuttgart,…

BMW Group has launched a commercial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) offering in Germany for its upcoming Neue Klasse electric vehicles, extending its long-standing partnership with E.ON into bidirectional charging services for private customers. The offering, which follows a pilot announcement at IAA Mobility in September 2025, allows customers to order a complete V2G package comprising the BMW Wallbox Professional, an E.ON electricity tariff with a V2G feed-in contract, and an intelligent metering system where required. See also: BMW Partners With PreZero to Boost Circular Economy in European Auto Industry The system enables eligible Neue Klasse vehicles equipped with BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology—starting…

BYD has begun trial production at its new passenger car plant in Szeged, Hungary, following a slight delay, with full series production expected to start in the second quarter, the city’s mayor said. Mayor László Botka said the initial trial phase started by the end of January 2026 and that output would be gradually ramped up over the coming years to a planned capacity of 200,000 vehicles annually. Employment at the site is also expected to increase progressively. See also: BYD Europe Registrations Jump 269% to 187,657 in 2025 as Tesla Falls 27% Despite Higher Volumes “At this stage, trial…

Abarth has overhauled its electric 600e range for the 2026 model year, introducing two new trim levels — Turismo and Competizione — as it sharpens the positioning of its battery-electric performance offering. The revised line-up replaces the previous standard Abarth 600e and the limited-run Scorpionissima edition. Alongside the smaller Abarth 500e, the 600e represents the brand’s attempt to inject performance character into the compact electric crossover segment, building on the Fiat 600 platform. The new range-topper, the Abarth 600e Competizione, is priced from £37,995 in the UK and is powered by a 207 kW electric motor. Abarth said the model…

Ford Europe said it has upgraded the all-electric Explorer and Capri with a new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a more powerful electric motor, improving driving range and performance in the entry-level versions of both models. The update applies to the so-called Standard Range variants of the two vehicles, which are built in Cologne on the Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) supplied by Volkswagen Group. The models were previously equipped with a 52-kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery. Ford said the revised versions retain their existing list prices, starting at €39,900 for the Explorer and €42,400 for the Capri…

The Amsterdam City Council has decided to ban advertising for meat products and goods powered by fossil energy in public spaces, a move that would remove promotions for petrol and diesel cars, cruises and flights from the city’s streets. The ban was proposed by the green party GroenLinks and the animal rights party Partij voor de Dieren and follows similar measures adopted in other Dutch cities, including Haarlem, Nijmegen and Utrecht. Amsterdam officials said the decision would make the city the first capital in the world to prohibit outdoor advertising for meat products. See also: Amsterdam Plans Ban on High-Speed…

Mercedes-Benz has begun series production of its new all-electric GLB sport utility vehicle at its manufacturing plant in Kecskemét, Hungary’s foreign minister said, according to a report by Hungary Today. The start of production was announced by Péter Szijjártó, who attended the ceremony marking the launch, rather than by the automaker itself. Speaking at the event, Szijjártó said the move was strategically important for the German carmaker. “This step represents another important cornerstone in the German company’s development strategy and serves as a solid foundation for its future product portfolio,” he said. See also: Mercedes-Benz Unveils New GLB with EQ…

BMW Group said electric vehicles accounted for around one-quarter of its total car deliveries in Europe last year, highlighting the region’s role as the company’s most advanced market for electrification. The automaker said fully electric vehicles made up 25% of European sales in 2025 when deliveries from MINI and Rolls-Royce were included. By comparison, the global share of battery-electric vehicles across the group stood at about 18%. See also: BMW Reports 3.6% Increase in Global EV Sales in 2025 When plug-in hybrid models were added, electrified vehicles represented more than 40% of BMW Group’s European deliveries. The company said this…

Hyundai  presented the Staria Camper Concept at the CMT trade fair in Stuttgart, as the South Korean automaker gauges European demand for premium, fully electric recreational vehicles. The one-off concept follows the recent world premiere of the Staria Electric and is intended to showcase how Hyundai’s multi-purpose vehicle platform could be adapted into a camper tailored for the European market. If approved for production, the camper would be based on the fully electric Staria Electric, Hyundai said. See also: Hyundai Motor Group Expands V2G and V2H Services Across Asia, Europe and the United States “This one-off model is designed to…