Author: Lukas Schneider

Volkswagen Group has expanded access to factory-installed vehicle connectivity by integrating six of its automotive brands into Webfleet’s OEM.connect platform, allowing fleet operators to access vehicle data without installing aftermarket telematics hardware. The integration covers Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, SEAT, Cupra, and Audi. Vehicles can be connected through the platform using their vehicle identification number (VIN), enabling fleet operators to activate connected services within minutes. The collaboration reflects a broader trend among automotive manufacturers seeking to generate additional revenue by making factory-generated vehicle data available through fleet software providers. Factory Data Available Across Mixed Fleets Through the…

Porsche is considering relocating production of all Cayenne models from its manufacturing facility in Bratislava, Slovakia, to its plant in Leipzig, Germany, according to a report by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.) citing people familiar with the matter. The proposed move would cover the entire Cayenne lineup, including internal combustion engine, hybrid, and battery-electric variants. According to the report, the relocation would depend on employees at the Leipzig facility agreeing to lower labor costs. Porsche declined to comment on the reported plans. However, representatives of the company and its central works council confirmed that discussions are underway. Cayenne Production Could…

Porsche has published a patent describing a flexible powertrain concept that combines battery-electric, hybrid and combustion-engine technologies within a single drivetrain. The patent, filed with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) in December 2024 and published this month under application number 10 2024 135 567.0, outlines a system capable of operating in four different driving modes. Four Operating Modes According to the patent, the proposed powertrain would allow drivers to switch between four operating configurations depending on driving conditions and performance requirements. In fully electric mode, the internal combustion engine is mechanically disconnected, allowing the vehicle to operate…

Volkswagen has opened a new Automotive Software Campus in Berlin, consolidating part of the workforce from its software subsidiary Cariad into a single location as the company continues to restructure its software operations. The new facility brings together around 1,000 software and artificial intelligence specialists who were previously based across seven locations. According to Volkswagen, the campus will focus on developing AI technologies for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). AI Development Hub The Berlin campus will support the development of technologies ranging from automated driving systems to AI-powered in-vehicle assistants. Among the projects under development are the CARIAD-ADAS-Stack, an artificial intelligence-based driver…

Mercedes-Benz has released further technical details of the upcoming all-electric VLE, highlighting its new 800-volt architecture, long-range battery system, bidirectional charging capability, and efficiency-focused drivetrain technology. The VLE will be offered in multiple configurations, including a front-wheel-drive VLE 300 and an all-wheel-drive VLE 400 4MATIC, with customer deliveries expected to begin following the model’s launch. Up to 700 Kilometers of Range At launch, both versions will be equipped with a 115 kWh usable nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery pack. Mercedes-Benz estimates the VLE 300 will achieve a provisional WLTP driving range exceeding 700 kilometers, positioning the model among the longest-range electric vans…

BMW has opened order books for the First Edition of its upcoming all-electric i3 sedan ahead of the model’s official market launch later this year, while also confirming a driving range of more than 900 kilometres under the WLTP testing standard. The BMW i3 50 xDrive First Edition is now available to order in the UK starting at £57,905. The automaker also disclosed pricing for the standard i3 50 xDrive, which will enter the market at £53,005. The move follows reports earlier this week that BMW planned to accelerate the order launch in response to strong customer interest in the…

German automotive platform Autohelden is preparing to bring several Chinese electric vehicle brands to Europe, including Xiaomi, Zeekr, Avatr and Jetour, with plans to sell around 50,000 vehicles annually across the region. According to a report by Automobilwoche, the initiative is based on statements from Autohelden Managing Director Christoph Wicke, who said the company has completed the necessary import and approval processes and is entering the final phase before launch. “We are rolling this out on a broad scale and are in the final stages of preparation,” Wicke told the publication. He added that Autohelden expects to sell approximately 50,000…

Hamburg-Holstein public transport operator vhh.mobility has officially opened its expanded electric bus depot in Norderstedt, strengthening its infrastructure to support the ongoing electrification of bus services in the Hamburg metropolitan region. The upgraded facility combines newly constructed and renovated infrastructure and now features 49 charging points, significantly increasing its capacity compared with the original depot opened in 2021. Expanded Capacity for Electric Buses Located on Hans-Böckler-Ring in Norderstedt, the depot now covers approximately 11,326 square meters and has space to accommodate around 60 buses. When the facility first entered operation in 2021, it served a fleet of ten MAN Lion’s…

BMW is conducting final development testing of the next-generation X5 SUV near its manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina, ahead of the model’s expected launch in late 2026. The new X5, internally designated the G65 series, will become the first generation of BMW’s popular SUV to offer a fully electric variant, the iX5. The battery-electric model is expected to feature one of the largest battery packs ever installed in a production passenger vehicle from BMW. Large Battery Targets Long Range According to reports, the BMW iX5 60 xDrive will be equipped with a high-voltage battery offering 141 kWh of usable…

BMW M has revealed the Concept Neue Klasse at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, offering the clearest preview yet of the brand’s future all-electric high-performance vehicles and hinting at what could become the next-generation electric M3. The concept combines BMW M’s upcoming design language with the advanced electric drivetrain technology already announced for the Neue Klasse platform, which will underpin a new generation of battery-electric models beginning later this decade. Although BMW stopped short of officially identifying the vehicle as an electric M3, the concept closely aligns with the Neue Klasse-based electric sedan expected to join the lineup in…

BYD has opened its first commercial flash-charging station in Germany, marking a significant step in the Chinese automaker’s efforts to expand its ultra-fast charging infrastructure across Europe. The new facility has entered permanent operation and features BYD’s second-generation flash-charging technology, which the company says is capable of delivering charging power of up to 1,500 kilowatts. The launch follows the European debut of the technology in Paris earlier this year, where BYD also introduced its Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging 2.0 platforms. According to the company, the charging system combines high-power charging equipment with battery cells engineered to support extremely…

Mercedes-Benz has expanded its battery-electric GLC lineup in Germany by opening order books for two new variants, the GLC 250 and GLC 300 4MATIC. The additions join the previously launched GLC 400 4MATIC, broadening the range of powertrain and pricing options available for the brand’s new electric SUV built on the MB.EA-M platform. The new GLC 250 starts at €64,736, while the GLC 300 4MATIC is priced from €68,306. Customer deliveries are expected to begin toward the end of 2026. Two New Powertrain Options The GLC 250 features a rear-wheel-drive configuration with an output of 260 kW. Mercedes-Benz says the…

Racktours GmbH & Co. KG has taken delivery of three Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric buses, becoming one of the first privately operated bus companies in the German state of Hessen to place the model into scheduled passenger service. The battery-electric buses will operate in the Main-Kinzig district on behalf of KVG Main-Kinzig mbH and represent the first electric vehicles in the company’s fleet. First Step Into Battery-Electric Operations The three 12-meter Mercedes-Benz eCitaro buses are equipped with NMC 4 high-voltage battery technology in two different configurations. Two of the vehicles feature five battery packs with a combined energy capacity of 555…

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly preparing to expand its battery-electric GLC lineup with two additional variants, adding new powertrain and battery options to its latest electric sport utility vehicle. The electric GLC, which debuted at the IAA 2025 and is based on Mercedes-Benz’s new MB.EA-M platform, has so far been offered exclusively as the GLC 400 4MATIC. The model features a 360-kW all-wheel-drive system, a 94-kWh battery and a starting price of 71,281 euros in Germany. According to reports from JESMB and MBpassion, Mercedes-Benz plans to open order books for two new variants on June 9, with first customer deliveries expected before…

German utility Enercity and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have completed a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot project that successfully supplied electricity from electric vehicles back into the public grid and traded it on the electricity exchange, marking a milestone for fleet-based energy flexibility services. The trial, conducted in Hanover, is believed to be the first instance of a commercial electric vehicle fleet operating as a virtual energy storage system within a real-world business-to-business environment while actively participating in energy market trading. Using 12 bidirectionally connected Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric vans from Enercity’s company fleet, the project demonstrated how electric vehicles can be aggregated…

BMW has launched a recall of a limited number of its new iX3 electric SUVs after identifying a defect that could expose users to an electric shock while the vehicle is charging. The issue affects 145 vehicles worldwide produced between Nov. 25, 2025, and Feb. 20, 2026, according to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). Of those vehicles, 28 are registered in Germany. The recall, listed under KBA reference number 16565R and BMW internal campaign code 0061750900, concerns the first flagship model of BMW’s Neue Klasse electric vehicle platform. According to the KBA, a defect in the charging electronics system…

Former Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess has founded a new company focused on electric agricultural machinery and plans to launch a mid-range electric tractor in 2027, according to an announcement made by Diess on LinkedIn. The new company, Diess E-Agrartechnik AG, is based in Munich and aims to develop electric tractors and related infrastructure for farmers and municipal operators. A key feature of the planned vehicle will be a swappable battery system designed to enable continuous operation around the clock. Diess, who led Volkswagen until 2022, said the electric tractor is intended for both agricultural and municipal applications and will…

German automaker Mercedes-Benz plans to launch its MB.Drive Assist Pro driver assistance system in selected German cities by the end of 2026 before expanding availability nationwide in early 2027, according to company executives. The automated driving system, first unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year, is designed to provide door-to-door navigation support in urban environments. MB.Drive Assist Pro operates at SAE Level 2 automation, allowing the vehicle to steer, brake and accelerate autonomously while requiring the driver to remain attentive and prepared to intervene at all times. Mercedes-Benz said drivers may briefly remove their hands…

German sports car manufacturer Porsche has no immediate plans to develop a fully electric version of its 911 sports car, according to comments from a company executive, as the automaker continues to balance combustion, hybrid and electric vehicle technologies across its lineup. Daniel Schmollinger, chief executive officer of Porsche Cars Australia, said the company intends to preserve the 911’s existing identity while advancing electrification in other sports car models. “We will go with the 718 electric as the first two-door electric sports car,” Schmollinger told Australian automotive publication CarSales. “The 911 for the moment stays what it is. With the…

Bosch has secured a long-term contract from Mercedes-Benz to supply electric motors for the automaker’s next generation of electric powertrains through the 2030s. The agreement follows what Bosch described as a strong year for its electromobility business in 2025, during which the company said it secured more than 70 customer projects globally and expanded supply relationships with over 50 automakers. “The new order reaffirms our long-standing partnership with Mercedes-Benz and shows that we can successfully contribute our expertise to technologically demanding projects as well,” said Markus Heyn, member of the Bosch board of management and chairman of Bosch Mobility. Bosch…