Author: Lukas Schneider

Mercedes-Benz has completed the expansion of its manufacturing plant in Kecskemét, Hungary, and has begun production of the new all-electric C-Class at the site. The automaker also confirmed that the upcoming compact G-Class will be produced exclusively at the Hungarian facility. Following the expansion, the Kecskemét plant has become Mercedes-Benz’s largest manufacturing site in Europe within its global production network. The facility’s footprint has increased from 200 hectares to 440 hectares through an investment of approximately €1 billion. The expansion includes new body and assembly halls, a second press shop, a paint facility and a battery assembly plant designed to…

Volkswagen Group Chief Executive Oliver Blume is facing growing opposition to a proposed restructuring plan after the company’s Supervisory Board and Works Council reportedly raised concerns over measures aimed at reducing costs and improving long-term competitiveness. According to German media reports, Blume presented a strategic roadmap for the group through 2030 during a recent Supervisory Board meeting. The proposal reportedly outlines additional cost-cutting measures, including potential plant closures and workforce reductions. Reports indicate that the plan did not secure majority backing during an initial Supervisory Board vote, setting the stage for further discussions over the company’s restructuring strategy. Cost-Cutting Plan…

Mercedes-AMG has expanded its electric CLA lineup with the introduction of the all-electric CLA 45 4MATIC+, a high-performance model that features a three-motor drivetrain and will be offered in both saloon and Shooting Brake body styles. The new model is the first in the CLA family to use three axial-flux electric motors, with two mounted on the rear axle and one on the front axle. Mercedes-AMG said the configuration delivers a peak system output of 500 kilowatts (kW) and continuous output of 450 kW, providing a maximum torque of 1,759 Newton metres. Power is distributed through the AMG Performance 4MATIC+…

Mercedes-Benz Group reported a sharp increase in global electric vehicle deliveries during the second quarter, with battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales rising despite continued weakness in the Chinese market. The company delivered 63,000 battery-electric vehicles worldwide between April and June, representing a 25% increase from the first quarter of 2026 and a 50% rise compared with the same period last year. Of the total, 52,900 were passenger cars and 10,100 were vans. Across all vehicle categories and powertrains, Mercedes-Benz sold 511,900 passenger cars and vans during the quarter, up 2% year over year. Electric Vehicles Account for Larger Share of Sales…

Audi has reaffirmed its plan to introduce the A4 e-tron in 2028, with the all-electric midsize model expected to become one of the Volkswagen Group’s first high-volume vehicles built on the company’s next-generation Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). According to GoAuto, Audi Board Member for Technical Development Rouven Mohr said there was “no need to correct” the previously reported launch schedule, indicating the automaker remains on track despite earlier reports of development challenges. A4 e-tron to Debut Next-Generation Platform The A4 e-tron is expected to be the first Audi model to fully utilize the capabilities of the SSP platform, which is…

Mercedes-Benz is facing production challenges as it ramps up manufacturing of its new electric GLC at its Bremen plant in Germany, with supply shortages affecting output and extending delivery times for customers, according to a report by German business daily Handelsblatt. The disruptions have been linked to shortages of battery packs and wiring harnesses, limiting production of the electric SUV despite what the company has described as record early demand. Handelsblatt Details Supplier Bottlenecks Mercedes-Benz began ramping up production of the electric GLC in May, building the model on a flexible production line alongside hybrid and internal combustion engine variants.…

Volkswagen is reportedly evaluating plans to introduce vehicles developed for the Chinese market into Europe, including the possibility of manufacturing some of those models at underutilised European factories as it seeks to improve production efficiency and reduce costs. According to a report by Handelsblatt, the proposal forms part of broader transformation measures being considered by the automaker as it responds to weakening demand and excess manufacturing capacity in Europe. Volkswagen has not commented on the reported plans. Two-Pronged Strategy Under Review The report says Volkswagen is examining two possible approaches. The first would involve importing selected China-developed models directly into…

BMW has unveiled the all-electric iX5, introducing a battery-powered version of its long-running X5 SUV for the first time as the automaker continues to expand its electric vehicle lineup. Production of the iX5 is scheduled to begin in August at BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, manufacturing plant, with the vehicle serving global markets. Up to 845 km of Driving Range The iX5 is powered by a 141 kWh battery and will initially be offered as the iX5 60 xDrive. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system delivers 425 kW of combined output and 805 Nm of torque, enabling the SUV to accelerate from 0…

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…