Author: Lukas Schneider

BMW will begin test drives of the new iX3 on March 7, marking the first market introduction of its Neue Klasse generation of vehicles, with chipmaker Infineon supplying key components for the model’s electrical and electronic architecture. BMW board member for development Joachim Post described the Neue Klasse as the “beginning of a new era,” as the automaker prepares for initial customer deliveries following dealership availability. The new platform is designed around software-defined vehicle principles, emphasizing centralized computing, digital services and improved energy efficiency. Infineon said it plays a central role in the vehicle’s architecture by providing technologies for computing…

Mercedes-Benz is preparing a high-voltage battery replacement programme for certain electric models in Germany after earlier software fixes proved insufficient, according to reports. The move follows global recall actions affecting the Mercedes-Benz EQA and Mercedes-Benz EQB, which have already seen battery replacements in North America and China. Information first reported by the Mercedes-focused site mb.passion indicates that workshops were notified of an upcoming replacement campaign for the EQA 250+ and EQB 250+ variants. These models use a 70.5 kWh battery pack containing cells supplied by Farasis Energy and mounted beneath the vehicle floor. See also: Mercedes-Benz to Recall Nearly 20,000…

Volkswagen Group is preparing a new cost-reduction programme targeting savings of around €60 billion—roughly 20% of its cost base—by the end of 2028, according to a report by Manager Magazin. The measures could affect staffing levels, operations, and possibly manufacturing facilities. The magazine said Chief Executive Oliver Blume and Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz presented the plan to about 120 senior executives during a retreat in mid-January. “We must lower the break-even point,” Blume reportedly told attendees, outlining a goal of reducing costs across all brands and subsidiaries. Specific measures were not detailed, but participants understood that savings would be…

Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new battery-electric variant of its entry-level Mercedes-Benz CLA in Germany, expanding the model range with a mid-capacity battery option positioned between existing versions. The new Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 fills the gap between the entry-level CLA 200 and the long-range CLA 250+. While the CLA 200 uses a 58 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, the 250+ features an 85 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) pack. The new model adopts an NMC battery with 71 kWh of usable capacity, delivering a WLTP driving range of up to 674 kilometres. For now, the variant is available only in…

A European research consortium has launched a multi-year project to develop electric vehicle powertrains operating far above today’s 800-volt architectures, with the goal of dramatically improving charging performance and efficiency. The initiative, called ODYSSEV (Optimised DYnamics of High-Voltage Powertrains: Developing Sustainable Systems for Electric Vehicles), brings together academic and industrial partners including Dortmund University of Applied Sciences, University of Bremen, and automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen. The 42-month programme is funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe framework through the 2ZERO Partnership and recently held its kickoff at the CIRCE Institute in Zaragoza, Spain. Electric vehicles traditionally used 400-volt electrical systems, but…

BorgWarner said it has secured a contract from a premium European automaker to supply an 800-volt Integrated Drive Module (iDM) for a new range-extended electric vehicle platform scheduled to enter mass production in 2029. The system combines propulsion and power-generation functions into a single electric machine, consolidating two key components typically used in range-extended vehicles. BorgWarner said the design reduces packaging complexity while maintaining performance and efficiency. The iDM integrates an inverter, dual clutches, a dual-mass flywheel and the customer’s internal combustion engine. In addition to generating electricity to extend driving range, the unit can also provide traction and support…

Tesla has filed a criminal complaint against an external representative of Germany’s IG Metall trade union following an incident at its Giga Berlin factory, escalating a long-running dispute between the automaker and labor organizers weeks before works council elections. The episode occurred during a works council meeting on Tuesday, where Tesla accused the union official of secretly recording a confidential session. Police were called to the facility, detained the individual and seized a laptop as potential evidence, authorities said. Prosecutors will determine the next steps in the investigation. Andre Thierig, managing director of Tesla’s German plant in Grünheide, described the…

Mercedes-Benz will launch a successor to the A-Class in 2028, reversing earlier plans to discontinue the model as part of a revised entry-level strategy, a senior executive said. In 2023, Chief Executive Ola Källenius outlined a compact-car roadmap built around four models based on the Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA), including the CLA, a CLA shooting brake, and two SUVs positioned as successors to the EQA and EQB. The A-Class and B-Class were not included, as the company shifted focus toward higher-margin sedans and sport utility vehicles. See also: Mercedes-Benz Taps Nvidia, Momenta and Uber to Launch S-Class Robotaxi Network However,…

Volkswagen Group said it has produced a cumulative total of five million electric drive units worldwide, marking a manufacturing milestone as the company scales up its electric powertrain operations across multiple brands and regions. Electric drive units are produced at facilities in Győr, Kassel, Tianjin and Zuffenhausen. Volkswagen said its Kassel plant plays a central role in the group’s electric drivetrain network, increasing output by about 24% year on year in 2025 to more than 850,000 units. See also: Volkswagen Brings China-Focused Electronic Architecture to Market in 18 Months The most widely deployed electric drive within the group is the…

BMW Group said it has entered into a strategic cooperation with PreZero, the recycling and waste management arm of the Schwarz Group, as the automaker steps up efforts to embed circular economy principles across its European operations. Under the partnership, BMW and PreZero aim to develop a scalable business model for recycling end-of-life vehicles, creating a closed loop for materials and components across the automotive value chain. The initiative applies to vehicles of all powertrain types, not just battery-electric models, and is intended to reduce reliance on primary raw materials while strengthening supply-chain resilience. See also: BMW Begins Pre-Series Production…

Germany produced around 1.22 million battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2025, marking a 15% increase from the previous year and underscoring the growing role of electric mobility in the country’s automotive sector, industry data showed. According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), total passenger car production in Germany reached 4.15 million units last year. Of that figure, BEVs accounted for about 29%, meaning more than one in four cars built domestically was fully electric. Production of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) stood at around 450,000 units, bringing combined electrified vehicle output to roughly 1.67 million units, or about…

BMW has begun producing the first pre-series vehicles of its upcoming all-electric i3 sedan at its Munich plant, marking a key milestone in preparations for series production scheduled to start in the second half of 2026. The move signals the start of trial operations on newly installed production lines dedicated to BMW’s Neue Klasse generation of battery-electric vehicles. While the iX3 will be the first Neue Klasse model to enter series production from BMW’s new factory in Debrecen, Hungary, the i3 will be the first electric vehicle from the Neue Klasse range to roll out of an existing, fully retrofitted…

Opel has opened orders in Germany for the updated Astra and Astra Sports Tourer, with the battery-electric Astra now offering a driving range of up to 454 kilometres under the WLTP cycle, supported by a larger 58 kWh battery and new vehicle-to-load functionality. The Opel Astra Electric is priced from €37,990 in Germany, unchanged from the previous model year despite the technical upgrades. The electric estate version, the Astra Sports Tourer Electric, starts at €39,490, while the entry-level Astra Hybrid is priced from €32,990, the company said. See also: Opel Unveils Grandland Electric AWD With Dual Motors and 502 km…

Porsche is reconsidering the future of its long-delayed all-electric 718 Boxster and Cayman models, with the projects at risk of being scrapped before reaching production, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg. The review comes shortly after Michael Leiters, former chief executive of McLaren, assumed his role as Porsche’s CEO on Jan. 1. One of his first major decisions could involve halting development of the electric 718s, sources said, citing rising costs, repeated delays and a broader rethink of Porsche’s electrification strategy. See also: Porsche Starts Cayenne Electric Production in Bratislava With In-House Battery Modules Porsche has…

BMW has increased the base price of its new iX3 electric SUV by €2,000, even though the official dealer launch is not scheduled until early March, according to the company’s online configurator. At its world premiere at IAA Mobility last autumn, BMW announced a starting price of €68,900 for the iX3 50 xDrive, the only drivetrain variant initially available. The model features a 345-kW all-wheel-drive system and a 108-kWh battery with an 800-volt architecture. At the time, expectations were that the base price could decline once additional variants, such as rear-wheel-drive or smaller-battery versions, were introduced. See also: BMW to…

Porsche has begun series production of the Cayenne Electric at its Bratislava plant in Slovakia, marking a key milestone in the automaker’s electrification strategy and bringing battery module manufacturing further in-house. The Cayenne Electric is being built on the same flexible production line as combustion-engine and hybrid Cayenne models at the Bratislava facility, allowing Porsche to adjust output based on global demand. The approach mirrors the company’s broader strategy of running multiple powertrains from a single manufacturing footprint. See also: Porsche EV Sales Fall in U.S. and Canada as North American Demand Favors SUVs, Hybrids A central element of the…

Researchers at RWTH Aachen University have successfully tested the first prototype of an electric vehicle that can operate both as an autonomous minibus and as part of an urban cable car system, marking a milestone in the federally funded upBUS research project. The upBUS concept centres on a battery-electric, self-driving minibus capable of docking onto a cable car line, allowing it to switch between road and aerial transport without passengers having to change vehicles. The project, which began in mid-2025, brings together several RWTH institutes and aims to address capacity constraints and congestion in urban public transport. See also: RWTH…

The fine print of the European Union’s relaxed targets for the shift to electric cars risks undermining the intended benefits of the policy, the chief executive of Mercedes-Benz said on Thursday, as Brussels reconsiders its approach to ending sales of new combustion-engine vehicles. The European Commission in December published proposals that would roll back an effective ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine cars from 2035, following pressure from Germany, Italy and major automakers including Mercedes-Benz. The changes would allow manufacturers greater flexibility in meeting emissions targets beyond the 2035 deadline. See also: Mercedes-Benz CLA Named Euro NCAP…

Volkswagen said it has brought its new China Electronic Architecture (CEA) to production readiness in just 18 months, enabling the market launch of the first CEA-based vehicle, the VW ID. UNYX 07, as the automaker accelerates efforts to revive its business in China. The CEA was developed jointly by Volkswagen, its software unit Cariad, and Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng. Volkswagen said the architecture is now ready for series production, marking a key milestone in its “In China, for China” strategy. See also: Volkswagen Recalls 44,551 ID.4 Vehicles in US Over Battery Fire Risk Volkswagen has been under pressure in…

German automaker BMW said it will roll out a series of updates across its electric lineup from spring 2026, including efficiency improvements for the BMW iX1 and BMW iX2, and faster alternating-current charging for the new BMW iX3. The iX1 and iX2, which are built at BMW’s plant in Regensburg, will receive new silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor components in their inverters. BMW said the change reduces energy losses in power electronics and is expected to deliver a meaningful improvement in efficiency. See also: BMW Begins Early Handovers of iX3 Electric SUV Ahead of March Europe Launch “By using SiC semiconductors…