Author: Ryan Hayes

The United Kingdom’s commercial vehicle market showed diverging trends in 2025, with strong growth in zero-emission buses contrasting with a contraction in heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations, according to new data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The bus, coach and minibus sector delivered its strongest annual performance since 2008, with 9,259 new vehicles registered—an increase of 10.4% compared with the previous year. Zero-emission models, primarily battery-electric, surged 62.2% to 2,523 units, accounting for 27.3% of all new registrations. This means more than one in four new buses entering service in 2025 produced no tailpipe emissions, reinforcing…

Cardiff-based charge point operator Plug Charging has acquired the UK and Ireland charging network of Wattif EV UK, adding around 350 electric vehicle charge points across both markets, the companies said. The portfolio includes installations at transport hubs, healthcare facilities, holiday parks, retail and hospitality venues, strengthening Plug Charging’s presence in destination and public-sector charging. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Plug Charging said all sites will be integrated into its operational platform, transitioning to its management and support systems. These include round-the-clock driver assistance, remote diagnostics, proactive fault monitoring and access to the company’s mobile app, with…

The first of 71 planned electric vehicle charging points from Believ is now operational in Leeds, marking the start of a broader deployment in partnership with Leeds City Council. The initial site, located at the Woodhouse Lane multi-storey car park in the city centre, offers rapid charging at up to 150 kW. Pricing at the location has been set at 79 pence per kilowatt-hour, according to local reports. The charger is designed for quick top-ups, complementing a wider network that will include slower units for overnight and long-duration parking. See also: UK’s Believ to Install Hundreds of EV Chargers in…

Volvo Cars has launched a Black Edition version of its all-electric Volvo EX30 compact SUV in the United Kingdom, featuring distinctive black exterior detailing and an exclusive interior theme. The model is now available to order with prices starting at £40,060 for the Single Motor Plus variant. The styling package applies high-gloss black finishes to several exterior components, including the 19-inch alloy wheels, front grille strikethrough, badges, rear lettering, roof spoiler, and mirror caps. The vehicle is offered in a single Onyx Black metallic paint option, complemented by tinted rear windows. Inside, the Black Edition features an Indigo colour scheme…

Geely Auto’s UK division has appointed Cord Power Technologies to supply and install home electric vehicle chargers for its customers, the companies said. The partnership includes the provision of Cord’s 7.4 kW Cord Zero unit along with a managed installation service typically completed within two weeks. The Cord Zero charger is available in both tethered and untethered (socketed) versions and supports features such as mobile app control, compatibility with smart energy tariffs, solar charging readiness, and dynamic load balancing. The company said each unit carries a five-year warranty. See also: Geely Launches Galaxy E5 Electric SUV in UK Market, Priced…

Tesla has introduced a new Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive version of the Model Y in the United Kingdom, expanding its lineup with a lower-priced configuration that trades equipment for affordability. The new variant starts at £44,990, making it £4,000 cheaper than the model it replaces and £3,000 more expensive than the entry-level rear-wheel-drive version. Tesla had already rolled out the configuration in other European markets earlier this year before bringing it to the UK. Despite the lower price, the vehicle retains the same battery pack as the previous Long Range RWD model, understood to have a capacity of about 82…

UK public transport operator Stagecoach Group has started construction of a new depot in Hull city centre that will support the introduction of electric buses across the region, marking a major step in the city’s public transport decarbonisation plans. The Foster Street Depot, being developed by Stagecoach East Midlands, will initially accommodate 42 battery-electric buses scheduled to enter service in spring 2026. The first tranche includes 32 Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV double-deck buses, each capable of carrying 73 seated and 26 standing passengers, and 10 Yutong E10 minibuses with capacity for 31 seated and 39 standing passengers. The depot is part…

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced UK pricing and specifications for the all-electric Mazda6e, which will arrive in showrooms this summer with a starting price below £40,000. The model will be offered in two trim levels, Takumi and Takumi Plus, with the higher specification variant priced at £39,995. For the UK market, Mazda has streamlined the European powertrain line-up to a single 78 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. On the continent, the Mazda6e debuted with 68.8 kWh LFP and 80 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery options. According to Mazda, the 78 kWh LFP battery delivers a combined WLTP range…

The London Borough of Harrow said it will expand its on-street electric vehicle charging network with 500 new lamp-column charge points, as part of efforts to support residents who do not have access to off-street parking. The rollout is being delivered in partnership with char.gy and will focus on residential streets, using lamp-column-mounted charge points designed for low-powered AC charging. The council said 225 units have already been installed, with the remaining 275 scheduled to be deployed by Oct. 2, 2028. The charge points are intended for overnight and long-dwell charging while vehicles are parked near homes. Harrow said all…

McMurtry Automotive has opened a new production facility in southwest England and launched a separate technology division as the electric hypercar maker prepares to begin customer deliveries of its Spéirling PURE model in 2026. The company said the 2,700-square-metre site in Wotton-under-Edge will support manufacturing of the Spéirling PURE and provide capacity for future models, complementing its existing headquarters. McMurtry expects to deliver the £995,000 ($1.26 million) electric fan car to customers worldwide from the summer of 2026, excluding taxes, shipping and options. “Everything we are doing today follows the same principle my father set out from the start —…

Arriva UK Bus has secured a new seven-year contract to operate the 102/N102 bus route in North London from 2026, retaining the service after a competitive tender process run by Transport for London. Under the agreement, Arriva UK Bus will introduce 26 new battery-electric buses to replace the existing diesel fleet on the route. The vehicles will enter service once electrification works at the Palmers Green garage are completed, the company said. See also: Arriva to Deploy 167 Electric Buses in East Brabant From 2026 The 102/N102 route forms part of London’s outer orbital bus network and has been operated…

Renault has presented its new Twingo E-Tech electric in the UK for the first time, positioning the compact city car as a lower-priced entry into its expanding electric vehicle lineup as automakers seek to broaden EV adoption. The all-electric A-segment hatchback was shown from February 7 to 15 at Renault’s rnlt London Battersea concept store, located at Battersea Power Station. Orders are expected to open later this year. Renault has said the Twingo E-Tech electric is targeting a starting price below £20,000, placing it among the most affordable new electric cars planned for the UK market. See also: Renault Sets…

Hyundai’s Kona Electric has become the first model from the South Korean carmaker to qualify for the UK’s Electric Car Grant, unlocking a £1,500 discount and lowering its starting price to £33,500, according to industry reports. The grant applies to all variants of the Kona Electric and places the compact SUV among the more competitively priced electric vehicles in its segment. Under the revised pricing, the Kona Electric Advance starts at £33,500, while the N Line version begins at £37,000. The higher-spec N Line S and Ultimate trims are now priced from £39,400. See also: Hyundai Scales Back Kona Electric…

Chery Group is preparing to enter Europe’s commercial vehicle market, building on recent momentum from its passenger car brands Jaecoo and Omoda, as it plans to establish a European headquarters for its commercial vehicle arm in the UK city of Liverpool. The new base will be set up by Chery Commercial Vehicle (CCV) and is expected to create high-skilled jobs across engineering, software development, research and development, and operational functions, the company said. The move marks Chery’s next phase of expansion in Europe after entering Spain in March 2024 and subsequently rolling out Jaecoo and Omoda in the UK, Italy…

MG Motor UK has expanded its electric hatchback offering with the launch of the MG4 EV Urban and a refreshed 2026 MG4 EV range, broadening its line-up to six trim levels as it targets a wider spectrum of buyers in the UK market. The new MG4 EV Urban starts at £23,495, positioning it among the most affordable battery-electric hatchbacks on sale in the UK. Alongside the new entry-level variant, MG has introduced updates across the 2026 MG4 EV range, including interior technology improvements, revised pricing and an extended-range option offering up to 338 miles on the WLTP combined cycle. See…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has outlined its product and retail strategy for the UK in 2026, confirming the launch of an updated G6 SUV early in the year and the arrival of its X9 seven-seat flagship model by mid-year. The company said the refreshed G6 will go on sale in the first quarter of 2026, incorporating more than 20,000 engineering refinements aimed at European driving conditions while retaining current UK pricing. Xpeng, which entered the UK market in February 2025, also plans to expand its retail footprint to several major cities as part of its growth strategy. See also:…

Engineering firm Actemium has completed the United Kingdom’s first publicly accessible charging hub designed specifically for battery-electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs), marking a milestone in efforts to decarbonise long-haul freight transport. The new facility is located at the Moto Exeter service area on the M5 motorway in Devon and forms part of GRIDSERVE’s Electric Freightway programme, a nationwide initiative to build charging infrastructure for electric trucks. The hub features four dedicated eHGV charging bays equipped with nine high-power ABB Terra chargers, delivering between 175 kilowatts and 350 kilowatts. The site has been designed with capacity for future expansion as demand…

Hyundai Motor UK has opened order books for the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N in the UK, pricing the high-performance electric sedan at £65,800 in a single, fully loaded specification. Built on Hyundai’s E-GMP electric platform, the all-wheel-drive Ioniq 6 N produces up to 650 PS and 770 Nm of torque when N Grin Boost is engaged. With N Launch Control activated, the model accelerates from 0–62 mph in 3.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 160 mph. Powertrain and Performance The Ioniq 6 N uses a dual-motor setup, with a high-output rear motor acting as the primary drive unit…

UK bus operator Go North East has unveiled 29 new electric double-decker buses for deployment on three of the North East’s busiest routes, supported by a £17 million joint investment involving regional and national authorities. The funding package includes contributions from Go North East, the North East Combined Authority, and the Department for Transport, with more than £7 million provided by the UK government. See also: UK EV Charging Industry Warns of £100 Million Tax Burden as Business Rates Loom All 29 vehicles are UK-built electric double-deckers supplied by Wrightbus. Charging infrastructure has been installed at Go North East’s Riverside…

The Scottish government has earmarked £85 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and new EV incentives in its 2026/27 draft Budget, as part of a broader £4.3 billion investment in public and low-carbon transport. Details of the EV-related measures remain limited. Budget documents state that the funding will be directed toward “low carbon programmes including expanding public EV charging infrastructure and supporting zero-emission vehicles,” without specifying how much will be allocated to individual initiatives or whether the government will directly invest in large-scale charging hubs. One concrete measure outlined in the draft Budget is a tax incentive for charging operators.…