Author: Theo Dupont

Infineon Technologies has unveiled a new 1300 V silicon carbide (SiC) power module for electric vehicle inverters, introducing the first HybridPACK Drive module capable of continuous operation at temperatures of up to 205°C. According to the company, the new module raises the maximum operating temperature by 30°C compared with the 175°C industry standard while delivering up to 15% higher output current than existing SiC designs. Higher Temperature Capability Expands Design Flexibility The new power module is designed to improve the performance and efficiency of electric vehicle drivetrains by allowing operation at significantly higher temperatures. Infineon said the increased thermal tolerance…

BMW has opened the configurator for the new iX3 40, the rear-wheel-drive entry-level version of its first Neue Klasse electric vehicle, with prices starting at €63,400 in Germany. The launch broadens the appeal of BMW’s next-generation electric SUV range by introducing a more affordable variant alongside the iX3 50 xDrive, which has already entered customer deliveries. Priced €7,500 below the all-wheel-drive model, the iX3 40 is intended to showcase the efficiency and performance of BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology in a single-motor configuration. The electric drive unit, integrated into the rear axle, delivers 235 kW of power and 500 Nm of…

France unveiled a national electrification strategy aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels and strengthening domestic industry, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing that Stellantis plans to invest more than €1 billion in a new generation of electric vehicle production at its Mulhouse plant beginning in 2029. Macron presented the roadmap during the “Réunion de l’équipe de France de l’électrification” at the Élysée Palace, where government officials and industry representatives gathered to discuss the country’s energy transition and industrial development plans. One of the strategy’s main goals is to reduce the share of fossil fuels in France’s energy mix from 60%…

Registrations of battery-electric passenger cars in the European Union rose 37.7% year-on-year in April to 200,117 units, industry body ACEA said, as electric vehicles continued to outperform other powertrain categories in the region. Since the start of the year, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations reached 746,899 units, giving them a 19.7% share of the EU passenger car market, according to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). The April figures extended the strong momentum seen in March, although the pace of growth slowed slightly. In March, BEV registrations had surged 48.9% year-on-year to 234,532 units. Overall EU passenger car…

Irizar has delivered the first unit of its electric integral intercity bus, the Irizar i3 Electric, to the Polish city of Bełchatów, marking the debut of the model in the country. The vehicle was officially presented in the presence of local and regional authorities, representatives of Wanicki, Irizar’s official distributor in Poland, and members of the Irizar team. According to Irizar, the bus is expected to begin operating in early June across Bełchatów and the wider Łódź region as part of a transport initiative designed to provide free public transport connections between surrounding municipalities and the city centre. The Irizar…

Stellantis has unveiled FaSTLAne 2030, a five-year strategic plan involving €60 billion ($69.6 billion) in investment aimed at expanding its vehicle portfolio, increasing operational efficiency and strengthening partnerships across global markets. The company said the plan includes more than 60 new vehicle launches and 50 model refreshes by 2030. Stellantis said approximately €24 billion of planned investment will be directed toward vehicle platforms, powertrains and technologies, while around €36 billion will be allocated to brands and product development. “FaSTLAne 2030 is the result of months of disciplined work across the Company and is designed to drive long-term profitable growth,” said…

Stellantis said it will begin production of a new generation of compact electric vehicles in Italy from 2028 as the automaker seeks to strengthen its position in Europe’s affordable EV market. The company said the project, known internally as “E-Car,” will be based at its Pomigliano plant near Naples and will support multiple Stellantis brands. The future vehicles are intended to target the growing European market for small battery-electric cars, a segment that is also attracting increased competition from automakers including Volkswagen, which is preparing its own compact EV family centered around the upcoming ID. Polo. Stellantis has not yet…

Renault is set to present its new Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on May 18, introducing another design study derived from the fully electric Renault 4 E-Tech platform. The concept vehicle combines styling cues associated with beach buggies and pickup trucks while paying tribute to historic Renault 4 variants from previous decades. Renault said the model takes inspiration from the Plein Air introduced in 1969 and the JP4 launched in 1981. See also: Renault Rebrands Charging Business as Plug Inn in Strategic Integration Move According to the automaker, the “JP” designation references both…

Polestar reported nearly unchanged revenue for the first quarter of 2026 despite record first-quarter deliveries, while its net loss more than doubled compared with the same period a year earlier. The electric vehicle manufacturer, backed by Geely, delivered 13,126 vehicles between January and March, marking a 7% increase from the first quarter of 2025 and the strongest opening quarter in the company’s history. Revenue for the quarter reached $633 million, compared with $632 million a year earlier. However, Polestar’s net loss widened sharply to $383 million from $166 million in the first quarter of 2025. On a per-vehicle basis, the…

Mercedes-Benz said demand for the new battery-electric Mercedes-Benz GLC has exceeded expectations as the company ramps up production at its Bremen manufacturing plant in Germany. The automaker said the electric GLC generated more orders during its first three months on the market than any previous electric vehicle in the company’s history. See also: Mercedes-Benz Opens Orders for Electric C-Class Starting at €67,711 in Germany Mercedes-Benz currently produces the electric GLC at its Bremen facility, where the internal combustion engine version of the GLC has long been manufactured. The now-discontinued Mercedes-Benz EQC was also assembled at the site. Unlike the EQC,…

Struggling Dutch electric bus manufacturer Ebusco is in discussions to sell a controlling stake in its core bus operations as the company seeks to stabilize its finances and accelerate its transition away from in-house manufacturing. In its latest annual report, Ebusco said “strategic partners” had shown “serious, but at this stage non-binding, interest to purchase a controlling stake in Ebusco’s bus operations.” See also: Berlin’s BVG Withdraws 70 Ebusco Electric Buses for Warranty Repairs The company said a dedicated transaction committee within its supervisory board is overseeing the process while management continues implementing a strategic transition toward a development-focused operating…

Audi has introduced a comprehensively updated version of its Q4 e-tron electric SUV, incorporating technical upgrades, design refinements and new features as part of its transition to the enhanced MEB+ platform, the company said. Deliveries are expected to begin this summer. The updated Q4 e-tron, including its Sportback variant, continues to be produced at the Volkswagen Sachsen plant in Zwickau and follows a broader wave of upgrades across Volkswagen Group’s MEB-based electric models. Audi said the Q4 e-tron now adopts the upgraded MEB+ architecture, aligning it with models such as the Cupra Born, Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.3, which have…