Author: Lukas Schneider

BMW has released initial technical details of its upcoming electric M models based on the Neue Klasse platform, confirming that all fully electric BMW M Neue Klasse vehicles launched from 2027 will use a four-motor drivetrain, with one electric motor powering each wheel. At the core of the new architecture is the BMW M eDrive system, which features two electric drive units on the front axle and two on the rear axle. Each motor is mounted internally and independently drives a single wheel, allowing precise control of torque and power distribution, BMW said. See also: BMW India Plans Three New…

The Volkswagen Group delivered 983,100 battery-electric vehicles worldwide in 2025, marking an increase of nearly one-third from the previous year and signalling a return to growth after a downturn in 2024, the company said. Global battery-electric vehicle (BEV) deliveries rose 32% from 744,800 units in 2024, when Volkswagen Group sales had slipped by 3.4%. The automaker disclosed the preliminary figures in a LinkedIn post ahead of its full delivery report, scheduled for publication on Jan. 20. See also: Volkswagen U.S. EV Sales Rise in 2025 as Combustion Models Decline Europe was the main driver of the rebound, with BEV deliveries…

Mercedes-Benz will discontinue offering its certified Level 3 automated driving system, Drive Pilot, on the upcoming facelift of its flagship S-Class sedan, signalling a strategic shift in how the German automaker approaches vehicle automation. The company confirmed that the refreshed S-Class, scheduled to debut on Jan. 29, will no longer include Drive Pilot, a system that allowed drivers to take their eyes off the road under narrowly defined conditions. The same decision is expected to apply to the updated EQS later this year, effectively ending Mercedes-Benz’s rollout of Level 3 technology in its current passenger car lineup. See also: Everything…

Mercedes-Benz sold 197,300 battery-electric vehicles worldwide in 2025, down 4% from the previous year, as weaker demand for electric passenger cars outweighed growth in electric vans, the German automaker said. The latest decline follows a sharp drop in 2024, when the Mercedes-Benz Group’s battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales fell 22% from 2023 levels. With a further 9% fall year-on-year in 2025, the group delivered fewer electric vehicles last year than its Mercedes-Benz Cars division alone sold in 2024, highlighting continued pressure on its electric car business. See also: Everything You Should Know About Mercedes-Benz MB.Drive Assist Pro Mercedes-Benz Cars delivered 168,800…

Mini said global vehicle deliveries increased in 2025, supported by growth in battery electric vehicle sales as the brand continued to expand its electrified lineup across major markets. The BMW-owned automaker reported worldwide sales of 288,290 vehicles in 2025, up 17.7% from the previous year. Battery electric vehicles accounted for 105,535 units, representing a year-on-year increase of 87.9%. Electric models made up more than one-third of Mini’s total deliveries globally and exceeded 50% of sales in markets including the Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden and China. See also: BMW’s Mini Launches 2026 Electric Cooper in China With Promotional Pricing Jean-Philippe Parain, head…

Porsche has acknowledged a misstep in its electrification strategy, with its former chief executive saying the decision to make the next-generation Macan an electric-only model underestimated changes in market conditions and customer demand. Oliver Blume, who stepped down as Porsche’s CEO at the start of 2026, said the company was wrong to phase out the combustion-engine Macan in favour of a fully electric successor. Speaking to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Blume reflected on Porsche’s 2019 decision to end production of the petrol-powered Macan and transition the compact SUV to an all-electric format. See also: Porsche Unveils All-Electric Macan GTS…

BMW Group reported solid growth in electric vehicle sales in Europe in 2025, even as overall demand weakened toward the end of the year, underscoring the region’s role as a key driver of the German carmaker’s electrification strategy. The Munich-based group said battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales in Europe rose by 28.2% year-on-year, although it did not disclose the absolute number of BEVs delivered in the region. Globally, fully electric vehicles accounted for about 18% of BMW Group sales last year. See also: BMW U.S. Battery-Electric Vehicle Sales Fall 16.7% in 2025 When plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are included, more…

Premium Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr plans to expand into additional European markets in 2026, including France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, and is considering launching extended-range plug-in hybrid models in the region, a company executive said on Friday. “When we look at the European consumer demand, the plug-in hybrid segment still … has a high share,” Lothar Schupet, Zeekr’s acting head of European operations, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Brussels car show. See also: Zeekr Launches 7GT Electric Sedan in Europe With 800V Charging and €45,990 Starting Price Schupet said Zeekr, which is owned by China’s…

An alliance formed by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), major automakers and the Eclipse Foundation to develop software-defined vehicle (SDV) technology has expanded significantly, adding partners from Europe, Asia and North America as interest in shared, open-source vehicle software grows. The initiative, launched in the summer of 2025, initially brought together 11 automotive companies from Germany, including manufacturers BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, alongside suppliers Bosch, Continental and ZF. The group has since grown to 32 stakeholders, with new participants such as Qualcomm, Stellantis, LG Electronics, Michelin, Schaeffler, Cummins, ECARX and Accenture joining the effort. The alliance aims…

Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new advanced driver assistance system, MB.Drive Assist Pro, expanding its automated driving capabilities with a focus on urban environments while stopping short of full autonomy. The system has been launched first in China with the battery-electric CLA, developed in cooperation with Chinese autonomous driving specialist Momenta. In the United States — and potentially Europe at a later stage — Mercedes-Benz is instead working with U.S. technology group Nvidia, highlighting a region-specific partnership strategy for its automated driving roadmap. See also: Nvidia Unveils ‘Thinking’ Autonomous Driving AI Alpamayo, to Debut on U.S. Roads With Mercedes CLA MB.Drive…

Volkswagen has redesigned the interior of its upcoming entry-level electric vehicles, reintroducing more physical buttons and updating its infotainment system as the company responds to customer feedback on ease of use. The new interior layout will debut with the ID. Polo, the first of four planned affordable electric models, which is scheduled to go on sale later this year. Volkswagen recently offered an initial preview of the cabin, marking the first detailed look at a cockpit that will be rolled out across future vehicles in the brand’s electric ID lineup. See also: Volkswagen’s ID.Polo Launch Faces Delay for Entry-Level Version…

Volkswagen’s plan to introduce a mass-market electric vehicle priced around €25,000 ($29,400) may face an early setback, as the company is expected to initially offer only higher-priced versions of the upcoming ID.Polo when orders open in 2026, according to a report by Germany’s Handelsblatt. The ID.Polo, positioned as a key model in Volkswagen’s push to broaden access to electric mobility, is scheduled to begin taking orders in April 2026. However, dealer sources cited by Handelsblatt said the initial production run will be limited to a higher-spec version equipped with a 52 kWh battery and a more powerful 208-horsepower drivetrain. That…

Volkswagen will discontinue direct sales of electric vehicles to private customers under its agency model across Europe, moving distribution back to the traditional dealership structure, the company’s sales chief said, marking a reversal of a strategy introduced with the launch of its electric lineup. “We rely on the entrepreneurial strength of our dealers—this cannot be replaced by any model,” Martin Sander, sales director for the Volkswagen brand, told Handelsblatt. “That is why, as the Volkswagen brand, we have decided to end the agency model for the sale of electric vehicles across Europe.” See also: Volkswagen Group Begins Urban Autonomous Testing…

Mercedes-Benz said it will see a series of senior management changes over the coming months, including the departure of its head of electrified powertrain systems, as the German carmaker continues to adjust leadership roles below the group executive board. Torsten Eder, head of electrified powertrain systems, will leave the company on May 1, 2026, at his own request, Mercedes-Benz said. Eder has overseen electric drive development since mid-2023. The company did not disclose the reasons for his departure or his next career step. See also: Mercedes-Benz Unveils 2027 CLA Hybrid With New 48V Powertrain and MB.OS Platform A succession plan…

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the 2027 CLA Hybrid, introducing a new electrified drivetrain and software architecture aimed at improving efficiency while maintaining everyday usability. The model is positioned as a transitional offering between conventional combustion vehicles and fully electric models. At the core of the CLA Hybrid is a newly developed 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine using the Miller combustion cycle, paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The setup is designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, particularly during partial-load driving, while preserving performance. Mercedes-Benz said the powertrain reflects its broader strategy of combining electrification with advanced internal combustion technology. The hybrid…

Volkswagen has outlined key specifications for the upcoming ID.Polo, the first model in a new family of lower-priced electric vehicles that the German carmaker plans to introduce from spring 2026, as it seeks to expand its reach in Europe’s mass-market EV segment. The ID.Polo will be the first electric vehicle in Volkswagen’s ID range to carry the name of one of its long-established models. The Polo has been among Volkswagen’s best-selling cars globally, and the company is positioning its electric successor as a cornerstone of its next growth phase. See also: Volkswagen Keeps Cupra Born, Extends ID.3 Production At Zwickau…

Volkswagen Group has revised its production plans for its electric vehicle plant in Zwickau, keeping the Cupra Born in long-term production at the site and extending output of the VW ID.3, easing earlier concerns that the factory would be left with only a single model line. Under a collective bargaining agreement reached shortly before Christmas 2024, Zwickau was expected to lose production of both the ID.3 and Cupra Born to Wolfsburg from 2026, alongside the planned discontinuation of the VW ID.5 and the relocation of ID.4 production to Emden. That would have left the Saxony plant producing only the Audi…

Opel will unveil the facelifted Astra range, including the Astra Sports Tourer, at the Brussels Motor Show in early January. The update marks the series’ mid-cycle refresh and aligns with similar upgrades across Stellantis compact models built on the EMP2 platform. Peugeot introduced its revised 308 earlier this year, featuring an expanded battery and redesigned front end; Opel is now applying comparable, if more restrained, enhancements to the Astra. Exterior changes focus primarily on the front of the vehicle. Opel has introduced an illuminated brand emblem and added LED signature lighting elements within the black “Vizor” front panel, drawing design…

Berlin’s public transport operator BVG has reached a milestone in the construction of its new Treptow e-bus depot, celebrating a topping-out ceremony as part of its broader push to scale electric bus operations across the German capital. The Treptow site, built on a 6.6-hectare plot in Schöneweide near Köpenicker Landstraße, will accommodate around 220 battery-electric buses and will be dedicated entirely to e-bus operations. Construction at Treptow follows the launch of another new e-bus depot project in Marienfelde earlier this year. The Treptow facilities span both sides of the Minna-Todenhagen Bridge along the River Spree. The main riverside area will…

Mercedes-Benz has globally unveiled the new generation of its GLB sport utility vehicle (SUV), which launches initially as a purely battery-electric model on the brand’s new Modular Architecture (MMA) platform. The automaker stated the model combines “striking design meets everyday practicality,” aiming to maintain the GLB’s reputation as the most practical of its entry-level offerings. The new GLB, which will later be joined by 48-volt hybrid variants, features a less angular yet still upright design compared to its predecessor to preserve interior space. “The all-new GLB embodies our philosophy of Sensual Purity in a particularly powerful way. It expands our…