Author: Lucas Martin

Chinese automaker BYD is aiming to exceed 50,000 new vehicle registrations in Germany in 2026, more than doubling the 23,306 units recorded in 2025. The target follows a slower-than-expected rollout last year, when the company fell short of an earlier sales objective set for 2025. Speaking to Handelsblatt, BYD Germany chief executive Lars Bialkowski said the company intends to meet and surpass the previously announced target this year. The goal had originally been outlined by BYD’s Europe leadership for 2025 but was delayed as the company built out its local retail and service network. See also: BYD Disputes Stellantis CEO…

Audi is preparing to unwind one of its most ambitious branding experiments of the electric era, after acknowledging that its odd-even model numbering strategy created more confusion than clarity for buyers. The approach, introduced in recent years, was meant to neatly separate powertrains: odd numbers for combustion models and even numbers for electric vehicles. In practice, it led to long-established nameplates being reassigned, most notably turning the A4 sedan and Avant into the A5—previously a badge reserved for coupes and Sportbacks. Dealers were left explaining the logic, while customers struggled to reconcile familiar names with unfamiliar positioning. See also: Audi…

ZF Friedrichshafen AG and BMW Group have signed a long-term, multi-billion-euro supply agreement extending their partnership on ZF’s 8-speed automatic transmission through the late 2030s, reinforcing cooperation as powertrain technologies continue to evolve. The agreement centers on the continued supply and ongoing development of ZF’s 8HP automatic transmission, which will be adapted to meet the requirements of future electrified drive concepts. Both companies said the deal provides long-term planning stability amid rapid shifts toward electrification and stricter emissions standards. See also: ZF to End Select E-Mobility Projects as Slower EV Uptake Weighs on Profitability “Together with BMW, we are sending…

BMW has begun handing over the first units of its new BMW iX3 to customers in Germany, ahead of the model’s official pan-European market launch scheduled for March 7. The battery-electric mid-size SUV, which will be available at BMW dealerships across Europe from that date, has already been delivered to a small group of customers at an event held at BMW World in Munich, the company said. Among the first recipients were German actors Kostja Ullmann and Christoph Maria Herbst, as well as model and long-time BMW brand ambassador Lena Gercke. See also: BMW to Equip 2026 iX3 with New…

Ford Motor has appointed Christian Weingärtner as General Manager of Passenger Vehicles in Europe, effective Feb. 1, creating a new leadership role as the automaker accelerates its restructuring and electric vehicle strategy in the region. In the newly established position, Weingärtner will be responsible for the strategic direction and operational execution of Ford’s passenger vehicle business in Europe. His remit includes overseeing the rollout of a new generation of affordable battery-electric vehicles under Ford’s strategic partnership with Renault, which was announced in December, the company said. See also: Ford and Renault Announce Strategic Partnership for European EVs and Commercial Vans…

Peugeot has unveiled a refreshed version of its 408 fastback crossover at the Brussels Motor Show 2026, introducing a sharper exterior design and a series of incremental technology updates while retaining its existing electrified powertrain options. The most visible changes are found at the front, where the 408 adopts a revised lighting signature featuring split units. The upper section incorporates Peugeot’s three-claw motif, serving as daytime running lights and animated turn indicators, while the main headlights are positioned lower and integrated into gloss black trim to reduce their visual prominence. A redesigned grille gives the model a more pronounced appearance,…

China and the European Union have reached an agreement on price undertakings for Chinese electric vehicle exports to the bloc, a move that could pave the way for replacing additional tariffs imposed following the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation. In a statement released on Monday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said both sides agreed on the need to provide general guidance on price undertakings for Chinese exporters of passenger battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to the EU. The aim is to address the EU’s concerns in what the ministry described as a pragmatic, targeted and World Trade Organization (WTO)-compliant manner. See also: China and…

The size and shape of any future investments in Europe by Stellantis will depend heavily on upcoming decisions on European Union automotive regulation, the carmaker’s head of the region said on Friday, warning that current policy signals lack clarity and alignment with market realities. The comments come after the European Commission last month proposed easing its plan to ban the sale of new combustion-engine cars from 2035, following pressure from the auto industry. The move marked one of the EU’s most significant retreats from its green transport policies in recent years, but Stellantis has said the revised package does not…

Stellantis Chief Executive Antonio Filosa has warned that a new package of measures proposed by the European Union for the automotive sector could put manufacturers’ investments in the region at risk, the Financial Times reported on Saturday. The European Commission unveiled the proposals earlier this week, including a plan to drop the bloc’s effective ban on new combustion-engine cars from 2035. The move has divided automakers, with some welcoming greater flexibility and others expressing concern over regulatory uncertainty. “There are none of the urgent measures needed to return the European automotive sector to growth,” Filosa told the Financial Times. “Without…