Author: Lukas Schneider

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…

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the all-electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé, marking the first fully electric AMG model developed from the ground up on the company’s dedicated AMG.EA platform. The new high-performance EV is positioned to compete with premium electric performance models including the Tesla Model S Plaid, Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and Lucid Air Sapphire. Mercedes-AMG said the top-spec GT 63 version uses a three-motor configuration featuring two axial-flux electric motors mounted at the rear axle and one at the front axle. The system produces up to 1,153 horsepower and 1,475 pound-feet of torque, enabling acceleration from zero to 60 miles…

Audi has unveiled a camouflaged prototype of the upcoming Audi A2 E-Tron as the company continues testing ahead of the model’s planned debut in autumn 2026. The A2 E-Tron will serve as Audi’s new entry-level electric vehicle and marks the expansion of the brand’s battery-electric portfolio into the compact segment. Audi first confirmed the model during its annual press conference in March, stating that the vehicle would be produced at the company’s Ingolstadt plant in Germany. The automaker described the A2 E-Tron as a fully electric premium compact vehicle aimed at making electric mobility more accessible within the Audi lineup.…

Volkswagen has largely completed its planned reduction of more than 700,000 units of annual vehicle production capacity in Germany, while Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng confirmed discussions with Volkswagen regarding possible manufacturing capacity in Europe. The capacity reductions stem from an agreement reached between Volkswagen and Germany’s IG Metall union at the end of 2024 following months of labour tensions over proposed plant closures and restructuring plans. Under the agreement, Volkswagen committed to cutting around 35,000 jobs by 2030 while reducing domestic production overcapacity without shutting down major factories. According to Volkswagen brand chief executive Thomas Schäfer, most of the…

FES Frankfurter Entsorgungs- und Service GmbH has ordered ten additional Mercedes-Benz eEconic vehicles for municipal operations in Frankfurt, expanding its battery-electric truck fleet to a total of 34 units. According to Daimler Truck, the newly ordered vehicles will be deployed across multiple waste management applications, including street cleaning and winter maintenance. The trucks are equipped with different body configurations but share the same electric drivetrain setup. Each eEconic uses three battery packs with a combined gross energy capacity of 336 kWh and a net usable capacity of 291 kWh. Daimler Truck said the vehicles are designed to complete FES’s typical…

Mercedes-Benz has opened orders in Germany for its new all-electric Mercedes-Benz C-Class around two weeks after unveiling the model, with pricing for the C 400 4MATIC starting at 67,711 euros including VAT. The launch price places the electric C-Class below the similarly powered Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4MATIC, which starts at 71,281 euros in Germany. See also: Mercedes-Benz Unveils China-Specific GLC L EV With Extended Wheelbase Mercedes said the electric C-Class uses the company’s new MB.EA-M platform with an 800-volt electrical architecture. The sedan shares its drivetrain technology with the electric GLC, including a 94-kWh battery pack, charging capability of up…

Porsche will stop production of the combustion-engine Porsche Macan at its Leipzig plant in the summer of 2026, although deliveries in some markets may continue into 2027 as demand for the gasoline-powered model remains strong. The timeline was confirmed by Jochen Breckner, chief financial officer of Porsche, during the company’s earnings call this week. See also: Porsche Debuts Cayenne Coupé Electric With Faster Charging and Extended Range “Production will be stopped in summer 2026 and during the last month that we have, we [will] produce as much as we can,” Breckner said. “Of course, our capacity is one factor there,…

Volkswagen has dismissed reports suggesting that BYD is in talks to acquire part of its Gläserne Manufaktur facility in Dresden, rejecting the claims as unfounded. The former showcase factory, located in Dresden, previously produced models including the VW Phaeton and later electric vehicles, but has ceased car production as part of a restructuring plan finalised in late 2024. Volkswagen is now repurposing sections of the site into an innovation centre in collaboration with the Free State of Saxony and TU Dresden, while the former production halls remain unused. See also: Volkswagen ID.3 Becomes Germany’s Top-Selling EV as Market Growth Accelerates…

The Volkswagen ID.3 has overtaken the Tesla Model Y to become the most widely registered battery-electric vehicle in Germany, reflecting stronger sales momentum for Volkswagen models during 2025, according to new data from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA). Germany’s electric vehicle fleet surpassed two million units for the first time, reaching 2,034,260 vehicles as of January 1, 2026. Within that total, the ID.3 accounted for 116,053 units, representing 5.7% of all battery-electric vehicles in the country. See also: Volkswagen to End ID.4 Production at Chattanooga Plant, Shift Focus to Atlas SUV The change in ranking follows a year of stronger growth for…