Author: Lukas Schneider

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…