Author: Michael Cartwright

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…

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has released a discussion draft of the SELF DRIVE Act, legislation that would establish a federal regulatory framework for the deployment of autonomous vehicles, as Congress revisits efforts to create nationwide safety and oversight standards for the emerging technology. The draft was introduced by Representative Bob Latta, a Republican, and Representative Debbie Dingell, a Democrat, and has received support from the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA). A legislative hearing on the proposal is scheduled for January 13, 2026, before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, according to congressional aides.…

Portugal has earmarked €17.6 million for a new incentive programme aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, extending support to passenger cars, electric two-wheelers and residential charging points, the government said. The funding, administered through the Environmental Fund (Fundo Ambiental), applies retroactively from Jan. 1, 2025, and covers both new and already purchased vehicles. Applications opened on Dec. 29 and will remain available until Feb. 12, 2026, or until the budget is fully allocated. See also: Galp Expands High-Power EV Charging Network Along Portugal’s Main Motorways Under the scheme, private individuals can receive grants of up…

California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing $200 million in new state-funded electric-vehicle tax rebates after Congress earlier this year ended a federal $7,500 tax credit for new EV purchases, state officials said on Friday. The proposal follows the expiration of the federal incentive on Sept. 30, 2024, after which U.S. electric-vehicle sales fell sharply in the final three months of the year. Legislation approved by Congress also eliminated a $4,000 federal tax credit for used EVs, removing a key incentive for lower-cost electric vehicle adoption. See also: California DMV Puts On Hold Order to Suspend Tesla Sales Over Self-Driving Claims…

The European Union has decided to revise its planned restrictions on combustion engine vehicles, easing its previously proposed 2035 target amid slowing electric vehicle (EV) adoption and renewed investment by automakers in combustion and hybrid technologies. Under the original plan, the EU aimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from new vehicles’ tailpipes by 100% compared with 2021 levels, effectively requiring all new cars sold after 2035 to be fully electric. The revised approach lowers that target to a 90% reduction, allowing certain vehicles with combustion engines to remain on the market beyond 2035. See also: EU Approves Sweden’s Climate Social…

A proposed 90% cut in car carbon dioxide emissions by 2035, put forward last week by the European Commission, could allow a significant number of vehicles with combustion engines to remain on the road beyond that date, according to an analysis by environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E). Sebastian Bock, managing director of T&E Germany, said the headline target appeared less stringent when translated into regulatory detail. “A 90% emissions reduction for cars sounds like a reasonable compromise. Until you look at the details,” Bock wrote in a LinkedIn post. He added that under certain assumptions, the proposal could mean…

The European Commission is preparing to scrap plans for an effective ban on new combustion engine cars from 2035, according to Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament. “Next Tuesday, the European Commission will be putting forward a clear proposal to abolish the ban on combustion engines,” Weber told a press conference in Heidelberg, Germany. See also: EU Weighs Extending Plug-In Hybrid and Range-Extender Registrations to 2040 Under New Automobile Package Weber said the ban would be replaced by a requirement for automakers to cut fleet-wide CO2 emissions by 90% from…

The European Commission is expected to present its new “Automobile Package” next week, with early indications suggesting the proposal could allow new registrations of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and range-extender vehicles (EREVs) for an additional five years beyond the current 2035 deadline. According to a Bloomberg report, the extension would apply only to models incorporating an internal combustion engine as part of an electrified drivetrain and would not reinstate approvals for conventional ICE vehicles or mild and full hybrids. See also: European EV Industry Urges EU to Maintain 2035 Zero-Emission Car Target Under the draft considerations, any extension would be subject…