Author: Michael Cartwright

China’s Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China has indicated that electric vehicle manufacturers affected by European Union tariffs may be granted greater freedom to negotiate individual arrangements with Brussels, potentially paving the way for additional company-specific deals. The shift follows a recent agreement between the European Commission and Cupra, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, covering imports of the Cupra Tavascan electric SUV produced in China. Under the terms, the automaker secured relief from punitive tariffs in exchange for minimum pricing commitments, import quotas, reporting obligations, and investment pledges related to battery-electric vehicles within the EU. Initially, Beijing had…

The U.S. government is seeking to tighten domestic sourcing requirements for federally funded electric vehicle chargers, potentially making it more difficult for states to access funding under the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a proposal to increase the required share of American-made components in publicly funded charging stations from the current 55% to as much as 100%. The program is administered by the US Department of Transportation. See also: Trump EPA Moves to Reconsider 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding The move follows a court ruling that prevented the administration of Donald Trump…

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to revisit the 2009 greenhouse gas “endangerment finding,” a regulatory determination that established the legal basis for federal limits on vehicle emissions, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The finding, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), concluded that six greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide and methane — pose a threat to public health and welfare. That determination has underpinned federal regulation of tailpipe emissions for cars and trucks for more than a decade and has withstood multiple legal challenges. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is reportedly seeking…

Canada is exploring the creation of a joint automotive assembly plant with Chinese partners to manufacture electric vehicles for global export, a move that signals a shift in Ottawa’s long-standing auto industry strategy, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Joly said Canadian automotive parts makers already operating in China — including Magna, Linamar and Martinrea — could play a role in a Sino-Canadian joint-venture assembly plant based in Canada. See also: Canada–China EV Tariff Deal Seen Benefiting Tesla, Volvo and BYD “We believe that these great Canadian champions can partner with Chinese EV companies to make…

California is evaluating a new incentive programme for electric vehicle buyers as it seeks to offset the impact of the loss of U.S. federal tax credits, with state regulators outlining proposed funding criteria tied to a planned $200 million budget allocation. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office included the funding proposal in its 2026/27 draft budget released in mid-January. The plan, which is still undergoing legislative review, would establish a new state-level EV incentive scheme following the federal government’s decision to end tax credits for electric vehicles last year. See also: California Awards $202 Million for Clean Transit Projects Using Cap-and-Trade Funds…

Drivers of electric vehicles in the U.S. state of Tennessee could face higher charging costs under a proposed law that would introduce a tax on electricity used at public fast-charging stations, aligning EV charging more closely with the state’s existing fuel tax framework. The draft legislation, introduced by Republican state senator Page Walley, would require operators of publicly accessible DC fast chargers to collect a tax of $0.03 per kilowatt-hour on behalf of the state. The measure has not yet been adopted but would apply only to DC chargers with a capacity exceeding 20 kilowatts, exempting slower DC chargers, all…

South Africa is considering raising import tariffs on vehicles from China and India to as much as 50% as global protectionist pressures intensify and policymakers seek to shield the country’s automotive manufacturing base. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is conducting an internal review to evaluate measures aimed at curbing vehicle imports that authorities say are undermining local production, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. See also: BYD to Introduce 1,000 kW ‘Flash Charging’ Network in South Africa by 2026 One option under discussion is revising South Africa’s tariff schedule to bring duties closer to World Trade Organization most-favoured-nation ceilings. “For…

Spain’s government has delayed the publication of eligibility rules for its new electric vehicle purchase incentive scheme as it considers introducing a carbon footprint assessment similar to that used in France, according to Spanish media and industry officials. The delay affects Plan Auto+, a central element of Spain’s revamped e-mobility strategy under the national España Auto 2030 plan. The programme is designed to replace the existing Moves III scheme from 2026 and channel €400 million in direct subsidies to consumers to help lower the cost of electric vehicles. Unlike its predecessor, Plan Auto+ will be administered centrally by the state…

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has urged Canadians to boycott Chinese electric vehicles after Canada and China finalized a trade agreement that sharply reduces tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, warning the move could undermine the country’s automotive manufacturing base and cost local jobs. Under the new agreement, tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles imported into Canada will fall from 100% to 6.1%, with an annual quota allowing up to 49,000 vehicles to enter the country at the lower rate. The deal was announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said several Chinese automakers had expressed interest in building affordable electric vehicles in Canada.…

A U.S. federal judge on Friday ruled that the administration of President Donald Trump unlawfully suspended funding for a nationwide electric vehicle charging program, handing a legal victory to 20 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin in Seattle said the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration acted outside their legal authority when they paused the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program earlier this year. The program was created by Congress in 2021 under former President Joe Biden as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. See also: U.S. States…

Germany will expand its electric vehicle subsidy programme to include cars equipped with range extenders, broadening eligibility under a scheme designed to help low- and middle-income households purchase new electric cars, the environment ministry said. Under the programme, subsidies of between 1,500 and 6,000 euros per vehicle will be available, as Berlin seeks to revive sluggish demand in the automotive sector, one of the country’s most important industries. Details of the plan were first reported by Bild. The scheme has been allocated a total budget of 3 billion euros and is expected to support the purchase of up to 800,000…

The European Commission is not considering imposing special tariffs on hybrid vehicles imported from China, EU trade spokesman Olof Gill said, dismissing media reports that such measures were under discussion. Gill’s comments followed a report last week by Euractiv, which cited a source in the office of EU Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné as saying the bloc was exploring whether tariffs applied to battery-electric vehicles could be expanded to cover hybrid models from China. Gill said there were no ongoing anti-dumping investigations into hybrid vehicle exports, a necessary step under World Trade Organisation rules before any tariffs can be imposed. See…

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada has reached an agreement with China that will allow a limited number of Chinese-made electric vehicles to enter the Canadian market at sharply reduced tariff rates, partially reversing restrictions imposed last year amid escalating trade tensions. Under the agreement, Canada will permit the import of up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at a tariff rate of 6.1%, compared with the 100% additional duty introduced in 2024. The quota matches the volume of Chinese EVs imported into Canada before the trade dispute and represents less than 3% of the country’s annual new vehicle market,…

The European Commission is weighing whether to extend its existing trade measures on Chinese electric vehicles to include hybrid cars, a move that would significantly broaden the scope of goods affected by the bloc’s anti-dumping policy, according to reporting by Euractiv. European Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné confirmed to Euractiv that the EU executive is debating the introduction of special tariffs on hybrid vehicles imported from China, similar to those already imposed on battery-electric cars. Since 2024, the European Union has applied additional duties ranging from 7.8% to 35.3% on Chinese-made electric vehicles, on top of the standard 10% import tariff, following…

Tesla has begun production at its lithium refinery near Corpus Christi, Texas, the company said, offering a closer look at a project it hopes will ease a key bottleneck in the electric vehicle supply chain. Tesla confirmed the start of operations in a newly released video highlighting the refinery in Robstown, near the coastal city of Corpus Christi. The facility, construction of which began in 2023, is designed to convert spodumene ore into battery-grade lithium hydroxide using a proprietary process developed by the automaker. See also: Tesla Marks 5 Million Electric Drive Systems Produced at Shanghai Factory “For years, lithium…

A bill introduced in the U.S. Congress would require electric vehicle makers to install manual emergency door releases, potentially creating the first federal safety standard governing electronic vehicle doors, amid concerns that occupants could be trapped during crashes or power failures. The proposed Securing Accessible Functional Emergency (SAFE) Exit Act was introduced on Jan. 6 by Representative Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois. If passed, the legislation would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish new performance and labeling requirements for electric vehicle doors. See also: White House Signals Push to Accelerate Autonomous Vehicle Commercialisation Under the bill,…

California is investing $202 million in 143 clean transportation projects aimed at expanding public transit, accelerating electric mobility and reducing pollution in communities most affected by poor air quality, state officials said. The funding is being awarded by Caltrans through the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), part of the state’s broader California Climate Investments initiative financed by cap-and-trade revenues. The programme focuses on cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by shifting travel away from private vehicles and supporting the transition to zero-emission public transport fleets. “Partnering with local transportation agencies, we’re building a thriving, more connected California by investing in projects that…

The Czech capital Prague plans to allow only zero-emission taxis and ride-hailing vehicles to operate in the city from 2030, under a proposal aimed at cutting air pollution and modernising an aging vehicle fleet, city officials said. Under a draft revision to taxi operating rules, vehicles used for taxi and ride-hailing services would first be required to meet at least the Euro 6d emissions standard from Aug. 1, 2027. From Jan. 1, 2030, only vehicles powered exclusively by electricity or hydrogen would be permitted to operate in the city, according to the proposal. See also: Prague Deploys SOR ENS 12…

New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said it has awarded nearly $32 million in grants to support the deployment of electric school buses and the expansion of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the state. According to the department, more than $18 million was allocated in the second round of the Electric School Bus Grant Program. The funding will support the purchase of 53 battery-electric school buses and the installation of 41 related charging units, including fast chargers. See also: Thomas Built Buses to Launch First All-Electric Type D School Bus by 2026 An additional $13.6 million was…

General Motors Chief Executive Mary Barra said the Trump administration’s move to loosen U.S. fuel-economy and emissions rules has had a greater impact on the automaker’s business than the administration’s rapidly shifting trade policies, forcing GM to rethink its product and investment strategy. Speaking at an Automotive Press Association event ahead of this week’s Detroit Auto Show, Barra said regulatory changes — including the removal of a $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles and efforts to roll back tailpipe-emissions standards — prompted the company to make swift and significant adjustments. See also: GM Warns of Additional $6 Billion Hit…