Author: Jonas Berg

Tesla has secured regulatory approval to begin testing its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in urban traffic in Sweden, marking a key step toward launching the technology in Europe. Sweden’s transport authority has authorised Tesla to test FSD (Supervised) version 14 within the municipality of Nacka, east of central Stockholm, allowing the system to operate on public city streets under supervision. The approval extends Tesla’s testing scope beyond controlled-access highways and into dense urban traffic for the first time in the country. See also: Tesla to End Model S and Model X Production as Focus Shifts to Robots and AI The…

Finnish fast-charging specialist Kempower has entered into a distribution and service partnership with fellow Finnish company Plugit, aiming to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for both passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks across the Nordic region. Under the agreement signed this month, Plugit will procure and deploy turnkey charging solutions from Kempower for its own charging parks as well as for third-party customers. The partnership covers sales, deployment and service of Kempower’s fast-charging technologies in multiple markets. The first phase of the collaboration has already resulted in 15 charging sites being commissioned in Finland. A key milestone was…

German electric vehicle charging operator Qwello has secured two contracts from the City of Copenhagen granting it the right to install and operate up to 140 public alternating current (AC) charging stations across multiple districts of the Danish capital. Under the agreements, Qwello will roll out chargers in areas including Stefansgade, Nørrebroparken, Lundtoftegade and Vesterbro Vest under one contract, while the second covers Bispebjerg, Gl. Sydhavn, Rosenvænget, and Svanemøllen Syd and Øst. Qwello said the contracts represent a milestone in its expansion across Northern Europe. See also: Qwello Secures Public Tender for 150 AC Charging Points in France’s Brittany Region…

With the debut of the Volvo EX60, Volvo Cars closes a long-standing gap in its electric portfolio. While the brand has steadily expanded its battery-electric range—from the EX30 to the EX90—the mid-size 60-series had, until now, remained exclusive to combustion and plug-in hybrid drivetrains. Set to arrive in 2026, the EX60 becomes the first fully electric successor to the best-selling XC60 and was unveiled at its global premiere in Stockholm. Despite its later-than-expected arrival, Volvo positions the EX60 as a technology-forward model capable of competing directly with premium German rivals in the same segment. At the heart of the EX60…

The pace of fast-charging expansion in Norway slowed last year even as the country reached a record number of public charging points, reflecting a maturing market in one of the world’s most advanced electric vehicle ecosystems. The number of fast-charging points rose by 1,192 to 10,670 in 2025, according to figures from the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association. While the total represents a new high, the increase was well below the 2,029 chargers added in 2023, the peak year for expansion. The association said the milestone had already delivered tangible benefits for drivers. “This is a milestone,” said Christina Bu, noting…

Volvo Cars has announced the all-electric EX60, a mid-size SUV that will become the brand’s most technologically advanced model to date, featuring Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence assistant, a new in-house computing architecture and ultra-fast charging capability. The EX60, scheduled for official unveiling on Jan. 21, 2026, will be the first Volvo vehicle to launch with Gemini integrated directly into the car’s operating system. The AI assistant enables hands-free, natural language interaction and multi-turn conversations, allowing drivers to carry out tasks such as navigation planning or information retrieval without memorising specific voice commands. See also: Volvo Says EX60 Electric SUV Can…

Sunwoda Electronic Co. Chairman Wang Wei said reports linking the company directly to battery defects behind a global recall of Volvo Cars’ EX30 electric vehicles were inaccurate, seeking to distance the battery supplier from growing safety concerns. In an interview with Jiupai News on Jan. 14, Wang said the battery packs involved in the recall were not supplied by Sunwoda. “The battery packs were actually provided by factories within Volvo’s own system,” he said, adding that Sunwoda’s involvement was limited to battery cells produced by a joint venture in which it holds a minority stake. See also: Volvo Warns of…

The Polestar 3 has been awarded Euro NCAP’s Best in Class title for Safest Executive Car of 2025, reinforcing its position as a safety benchmark in the premium electric SUV segment. The recognition follows Euro NCAP’s April 2025 assessment, in which the Polestar 3 received a five-star rating and an overall score of 87%. The vehicle recorded 90% for adult occupant protection, 93% for child occupant protection, 79% for vulnerable road users and 83% for safety assist systems. Euro NCAP said the child occupant score was the highest achieved by any passenger car tested in the past nine years. See…

Oslo has sharply increased toll charges for fossil-fuelled trucks across its metropolitan area, a move city officials say is intended to accelerate the transition to zero-emission freight transport. Under the new tariff structure, which applies from 2025 through 2026, tolls for diesel-powered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) have risen by about 75% at 83 toll stations in and around the Norwegian capital. Newer Euro 6 trucks are now charged 162 Norwegian kroner (€13.80) during peak hours, while older vehicles meeting Euro 5 standards or earlier face charges of 223 kroner (€19). See also: Norway’s Ruter Partners with Volkswagen’s Moia to Deploy…

Sweden-based electric vehicle maker Polestar reported a sharp increase in fourth-quarter vehicle sales, supported by a strategic shift toward Europe as demand weakened in the United States amid tariffs, the expiry of EV tax incentives and intensifying competition. The company said vehicle sales rose 27% year on year to 15,608 units in the fourth quarter, bringing full-year deliveries to 60,119 vehicles. Europe now accounts for about 78% of Polestar’s total sales, reflecting a growing reliance on the region as U.S. market conditions became more challenging. See also: Polestar to Adopt Google’s Gemini AI Assistant Across Global Lineup From 2026 Polestar…

Volvo Cars said on Thursday its upcoming mid-sized electric sport utility vehicle, the EX60, will offer a driving range of up to 810 km (503 miles) on a single charge, as the Swedish automaker moves to address consumer concerns over electric vehicle range and accelerate adoption. The EX60, which is due to launch later this month, will feature all-wheel drive and deliver a range that exceeds the roughly 600 km typically offered by most mid-sized electric SUVs. Volvo said the vehicle will be able to add up to 340 km of range in around 10 minutes under optimal charging conditions,…

Volvo Cars said it has appointed Thomas Ingenlath as its new Chief Design Officer, effective Feb. 1, 2026, bringing back a senior executive who played a central role in shaping the Swedish automaker’s modern design identity. Ingenlath previously served as Volvo Cars’ Senior Vice President of Design from 2012 to 2017, overseeing the development of models such as the XC40, XC90 and S90/V90. He later became chief executive of Polestar after the performance-focused electric vehicle brand was spun off from Volvo Cars. During his tenure at Polestar, Ingenlath was responsible for the Polestar 1 and Polestar 2, both of which…

Battery-electric vehicles accounted for nearly all new passenger car registrations in Norway in 2025, reinforcing the country’s position as a global leader in electric vehicle adoption, according to annual data published by the Norwegian Road Information Authority. Electric cars represented 95.9% of all new passenger car registrations last year, up from 88.9% in 2024, the authority said. A total of 179,550 passenger cars were registered during the year, surpassing the previous record set in 2021, with 172,233 of those vehicles being battery-electric. See also: Ionity Opens 500 kW Ultra-Fast EV Charging Site in Norway Using Shared-Power Technology “2025 was an…

Seyond Holdings, a Chinese LiDAR technology provider, has secured a contract worth nearly $2.6 million to supply intelligent traffic systems to Sweden, marking a further step in its expansion into overseas infrastructure markets, the company said. The Hong Kong-listed firm said it has partnered with Swedish intelligent transportation systems provider Aventi Sweden, formerly known as Blinkfyrar, to deploy its technology across multiple traffic intersections in the country. Under the agreement, Seyond’s Intelligent Transportation System Management Platform, or SIMPL, will be integrated into Aventi’s infrastructure solutions. Seyond said the deployment marks its entry into the European intelligent transportation market and expands…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng became the top-selling Chinese brand in Denmark in November, the company said, marking the first time it has led monthly sales among Chinese automakers in the Nordic country as competition in Europe’s EV market intensifies. Xpeng ranked first among Chinese brands by monthly sales in Denmark, extending several consecutive months of growth in a market with fewer than 20,000 new vehicle registrations per month and an electric vehicle penetration rate of more than 65%. The company attributed the performance to demand for its G6 and G9 sport utility vehicles, despite having entered the Danish market…

Electric drivetrain developer Donut Lab and WATT Electric Vehicle Company said they have formed a partnership to integrate in-wheel motor technology with a lightweight aluminum skateboard platform, with a functional prototype planned for debut at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The collaboration brings together Donut Lab’s direct-drive in-wheel motors and WATT’s PACES (Passenger And Commercial EV Skateboard) platform, a modular architecture designed for low-volume production and reduced vehicle weight. The companies said the initial prototype will feature two in-wheel motors mounted on the rear axle, with a four-wheel-drive configuration scheduled to follow later in 2026. See also: Donut Lab Unveils…

Sweden-based electric vehicle maker Polestar said on Tuesday it has entered into a loan agreement of up to $600 million with its majority owner, China’s Geely Holding, as the company manages liquidity challenges during a broader slowdown in global EV demand. The shareholder loan will be provided through Geely’s Swedish unit and is structured as a subordinated facility, meaning it does not count toward Polestar’s debt covenants, which are set at $5.5 billion, a company spokesperson said. Polestar added that it continues to seek additional equity financing. The final tranche of $300 million under the agreement would require Geely’s consent,…

Volvo has postponed the rollout of a major software update originally scheduled for release this year, delaying the update for approximately 2.5 million vehicles until early next year, the automaker said. The update is intended to bring older Volvo models in line with the user experience and functionality found on the company’s latest vehicles. It applies to cars built from 2020 onward that are equipped with Volvo’s Google-based Android Automotive infotainment system. Vehicles running the older Sensus infotainment platform are not eligible. See also: Volvo Cars’ EV Sales Rise in November Even as Global Deliveries Fall 10% “To ensure that…

Sweden has become the first European Union member state to receive approval for its Climate Social Plan under the EU’s new Social Climate Fund, unlocking more than €500 million to support affordable access to electric vehicles, particularly for low- and middle-income households. The European Commission said Sweden’s plan is aimed at easing the social impact of the green transition, especially for citizens facing rising transport costs and limited access to clean mobility options. The Social Climate Fund, financed mainly through revenues from the forthcoming ETS2 emissions trading system, will distribute a total of €86.7 billion across the EU between 2026…

A Volvo Cars executive said on Tuesday he hoped the European Commission would resist pressure to scrap an effective ban on sales of new combustion engine cars from 2035, arguing the Swedish automaker is already prepared for a fully electric future. Germany, Italy and their automotive industries have been lobbying Brussels to soften or delay the ban, citing intense competition from Chinese manufacturers and concerns over costs. A senior German EU lawmaker said last week the Commission could move to scrap the ban and instead propose a 90% cut in fleet CO2 emissions from 2035. See also: Automakers and Fleet…