Author: Lukas Schneider

BMW plans to expand its SAE Level 2 driver assistance capabilities to urban environments from 2027, introducing navigation-guided functions designed to support more complex manoeuvres, including turning, navigating roundabouts and responding to priority situations at intersections. The rollout will begin in Germany before gradually extending to other markets. The expanded system will complement existing assistance functions covering motorways and rural roads, bringing navigation-based support into city centres. Despite the additional automation, drivers will remain responsible for the vehicle and must stay attentive and ready to intervene at all times. Navigation-Guided Assistance for Urban Driving The expansion builds on the integration…

Porsche will appoint former Mercedes-Benz executive Jörg Bartels as its new head of Research and Development in May 2027, succeeding Michael Steiner, who is leaving the sports car manufacturer after more than 20 years with the company. The leadership transition was announced by Porsche as it prepares to reshape its development operations under a broader corporate strategy focused on cost reduction, shorter development cycles and a revised powertrain approach. Steiner, 62, has led Porsche’s development activities for more than a decade and currently serves as deputy chairman of the executive board. He will hand over his board-level responsibility to Bartels…

Volkswagen has temporarily suspended development work on its planned electric ID.Golf as the automaker tightens investment spending amid mounting cost pressures. The company says work will resume once the necessary funding can be secured. Volkswagen Passenger Cars chief Thomas Schäfer initially disclosed the decision in an internal interview with Handelsblatt, while Reuters subsequently reported his remarks: “We simply cannot afford this work right now.” In its statement covering the first nine months of 2026, Volkswagen’s Brand Group Core said development of the future ID.Golf would remain temporarily suspended “until we can securely allocate the necessary investments”. Investment Controls Tighten Amid…

Volkswagen has officially opened a vehicle dismantling and recycling facility at its Zwickau plant in Germany, establishing the site as a central competence centre for the group’s circular economy activities. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2027, with the facility initially expected to process approximately 4,100 pre-series and end-of-life vehicles annually. The opening follows a nine-month conversion and approval phase. Vehicles will be dismantled using an eight-stage production line operating across two shifts, requiring an initial workforce of around 100 employees. Volkswagen also sees potential for longer-term employment growth across the wider circular economy business unit. A collective agreement finalised…

Audi is recalling 12,734 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron electric vehicles worldwide over a potential battery cell defect that could increase the risk of fire. The campaign includes 9,048 vehicles in the United States, while the remaining affected vehicles are located in other markets. The recall covers vehicles manufactured between November 30, 2023, and June 26, 2025, according to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). No related incidents have been reported, but US safety authorities warn that a battery fire cannot be ruled out under certain conditions. Audi has advised owners of affected vehicles in the United States to…

BMW Group has completed one million automated vehicle movements using its Automated Driving In-Plant (AFW) system, which moves newly manufactured vehicles through designated production and logistics areas without a driver. The company announced the milestone on October 27, as MINI Plant Oxford became the fourth facility to adopt the technology. The system was developed with Swiss technology company Embotech and is currently operating at BMW Group plants in Dingolfing, Leipzig and Regensburg, as well as MINI Plant Oxford. BMW plans to introduce the system at Plant Spartanburg in the United States, with series operation scheduled to begin in 2027. BMW…

A coalition of three political groups in the European Parliament has agreed to replace proposed binding electric vehicle targets for corporate fleets with voluntary commitments, according to German trade publication Automobilwoche. The European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe groups have reportedly agreed on a joint position that would remove mandatory electrification quotas for company cars from the European Commission’s proposed Auto Package. Jens Gieseke, an EPP member of the European Parliament and chair of its Transport Committee, told Automobilwoche that the agreement was intended to limit the burden on fleet operators. “For corporate fleets, we…

Volkswagen Group and NXP Semiconductors have agreed to collaborate on the development of Volkswagen Group’s future software-defined vehicle (SDV) architecture. Under the agreement, NXP’s S32K5 family of microcontrollers will support zonal control systems intended for use across the Group’s brands and vehicle segments. The first vehicle featuring the architecture is planned for 2027. The companies announced the partnership ahead of the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg, Germany. The agreement forms part of Volkswagen Group’s semiconductor strategy and its efforts to standardize electronic technologies across its vehicle portfolio. Microcontrollers to Support Zonal Controls Modern vehicles use electronic control units (ECUs)…

Mercedes-Benz is facing delivery waiting times of around six months for its all-electric CLA and GLC models as demand for its latest electric vehicles exceeds expectations. To support production, the automaker’s battery assembly plant in Kamenz, Germany, has operated six days a week on a three-shift system since June. Electric CLA Records Strong European Registrations According to figures published by Handelsblatt, citing market researcher Dataforce, the all-electric CLA has recorded more than 71,000 registrations in Europe since its market launch in September 2025, averaging approximately 5,400 units per month. The figure compares with an average of around 3,500 monthly registrations…

Mercedes-Benz is preparing to introduce its MB.Drive Assist Pro system in Germany, expanding its advanced driver assistance technology beyond motorway driving to more complex urban environments. The SAE Level 2 system is already being introduced in China and the United States, making Germany the latest market to receive the technology. Unveiled at CES in Las Vegas in early 2026, MB.Drive Assist Pro is designed to assist drivers with a range of tasks during city journeys. These include merging into traffic, changing lanes, turning, braking and moving off at traffic lights. Despite these capabilities, the system remains a Level 2 driver…

Mercedes-Benz has conducted a high-speed side-impact crash test involving a hybrid CLA Shooting Brake and an all-electric CLA Sedan, bringing the two vehicles together in a 90-degree collision at 35 mph (56 km/h) to demonstrate their occupant protection and post-crash safety systems. The Stuttgart-based automaker said both vehicles maintained their passenger-compartment integrity during the test. The electric CLA’s high-voltage battery remained intact, while the hybrid model automatically shut off its fuel system following the impact. Mercedes reported that all eight crash-test dummies remained below the applicable injury assessment thresholds. The test involved four adult and four child dummies, each equipped…

Hamburger Hochbahn AG has started trial operations at its first depot in Hamburg designed exclusively for battery-electric buses. Located in Meiendorf, the facility is preparing for the introduction of an initial 30 electric buses into regular service on 13 December 2026. During the testing phase, around 20 employees are conducting route trials with up to 10 vehicles. The programme is intended to refine operating procedures, test the depot’s infrastructure under real-world conditions and train staff ahead of the full service launch. Passengers in north-eastern Hamburg, including Rahlstedt, Farmsen, Volksdorf and Berne, are expected to benefit as the electric bus operations…

Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the 2028 AMG GT SUV, an all-electric performance SUV with a claimed maximum output of 1,153 horsepower, a 0–60 mph acceleration time of 2.4 seconds and DC fast-charging capability of up to 710 kW. The model is the first full-size SUV developed entirely in-house by AMG and the second vehicle based on the brand’s AMG.EA electric performance platform, following the recently unveiled AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. Three versions are planned at launch: the GT53 SUV, GT55 SUV and range-topping GT63 SUV. The vehicles are expected to arrive at US dealerships in summer 2027. Mercedes-AMG has not announced…

Mercedes-Benz and NVIDIA announced on October 16 an expansion of their strategic partnership to develop the next generation of driver assistance and automated driving systems. The collaboration combines Mercedes-Benz’s automotive engineering and MB.OS operating system with NVIDIA’s computing architecture, driving software and safety technologies. According to the companies, the combined systems are intended to support future advanced driver assistance functions and SAE Level 4 automated driving applications, including robolimousines. The announcement did not specify a launch date or identify particular production vehicles that will use the full technology package. Integrating Vehicle Software, Computing and Safety Systems The partnership brings together…

Opel has introduced a new entry-level equipment variant for the Astra range, reducing the starting price of the Astra Electric in Germany by €1,900 to €36,490. Called Astra Start, the new trim is being introduced for the latest model year and is also available with the model’s mild-hybrid and diesel powertrains. The electric Astra in the next equipment level, Edition, starts at €38,490. The new Start variant lowers the initial purchase price but excludes several features that were previously included as standard, including a heat pump. Powertrain and Charging Specifications Unchanged The Astra Electric retains its existing powertrain specifications in…

BMW plans to invest more than €100 million in a new manufacturing facility for inverter power module components at its Steyr plant in Austria, with production scheduled to begin in summer 2029. The investment will expand the site’s role in electric drivetrain manufacturing and bring additional production processes in-house. Announced on Tuesday, the project will add manufacturing capabilities for components used in BMW’s sixth-generation electric motors, introduced in February 2025 for the Neue Klasse electric vehicle lineup. BMW is already producing Gen6 electric motors on two lines at the Steyr facility. The new production operation is intended to increase in-house…

Mercedes-Benz is introducing a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging package in Germany that will allow compatible electric vehicles to return electricity to the public grid. Developed with energy technology provider The Mobility House, the offering initially supports the electric GLC and the new C-Class. The package, called MB.CHARGE Home Pro Intelligent, combines a bidirectional DC wallbox with the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Pro Eco Tariff. Customers will be able to monitor charging, electricity fed back into the grid and resulting credits through the Mercedes-Benz Charge Home app. The launch follows Mercedes-Benz’s introduction of two unidirectional home-charging packages in September. While those offerings focus on…

The BMW Group delivered 110,257 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) worldwide in the third quarter of 2026, an increase of 7.2% year-on-year, as demand in Europe and Germany supported a recovery from declines recorded during the first half of the year. Despite the quarterly increase, the group’s cumulative BEV deliveries remained lower than in 2025. From January through September, BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce delivered 314,552 fully electric vehicles, down 2.7% from the same period last year. The group also delivered 131,650 plug-in hybrids during the first nine months. BEVs accounted for 20% of the group’s total vehicle deliveries in the third quarter,…

Volkswagen has unveiled the ID. Tiguan, an all-electric SUV set to replace the ID.4 and ID.5 in its electric vehicle lineup. Scheduled to reach the market in early 2027, the new model combines a range of up to 600 kilometres with power outputs of up to 220 kW and a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 kilograms. The launch brings Volkswagen’s established Tiguan nameplate into its electric SUV range. Built around the company’s updated MEB+ platform, the ID. Tiguan features a redesigned exterior, revised cabin controls and new digital displays. Production will take place in Emden, Germany. Volkswagen plans to open…

Mercedes-Benz Group delivered 78,100 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) worldwide in the third quarter of 2026, an increase of 52% year-over-year. Electric vehicles accounted for approximately 16% of the group’s 491,700 car and van deliveries, as demand for new models strengthened in Europe while passenger car sales in China continued to decline. Third-quarter BEV deliveries rose 24% compared with the second quarter. Passenger cars accounted for 68,400 units, up 61% year-over-year, while electric vans contributed 9,700 units, an increase of 12%. Across all powertrains, Mercedes-Benz Group sales fell 6% year-over-year. For the first nine months of 2026, the group delivered 1.503 million…