Author: Theo Dupont

Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 25.3% of all new car registrations in France in January, as government-backed leasing incentives spurred demand despite an overall decline in the broader auto market, industry association Avere France said. A total of 33,302 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered during the month, marking a 50% increase compared with a year earlier. Passenger cars made up the bulk of the figure at 30,594 units, alongside 2,708 light commercial vehicles. The surge lifted the EV share of new registrations to roughly one in four vehicles. See also: Genesis Launches in France With All-Electric Lineup “The year 2026 began…

Hyundai Motor’s luxury division Genesis has entered the French market, marking its fifth European presence after Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Italy, as the brand accelerates its regional expansion with an all-electric portfolio. At launch, Genesis is introducing three battery-electric models in France: the GV60 compact crossover, the Electrified GV70 mid-size SUV, and the Electrified G80 luxury sedan. Unlike in Germany, where combustion-engine variants are still available, the brand will not offer internal combustion vehicles in France or Italy for now, signaling a stronger commitment to electrification in those markets. Genesis is coordinating its European growth from its regional…

The Greater Paris transport authority Île-de-France Mobilités has launched the fully electric Tzen 4 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, introducing high-capacity vehicles operating largely on dedicated lanes in the southern suburbs of the French capital. The 14-kilometre route connects Viry-Châtillon and Corbeil-Essonnes and will gradually replace Line 402, one of the busiest bus routes in the region. Officials expect the new service to carry more than 47,000 passengers daily. Tzen 4 is operated with 30 battery-electric double-articulated buses measuring 24 metres in length and capable of transporting about 140 passengers—significantly more than the 100-passenger capacity of the previous fleet. The…

BYD has introduced the ATTO 3 EVO for European markets, bringing an 800-volt electrical architecture, higher charging performance and an available all-wheel-drive configuration to its compact electric SUV lineup. The updated model transitions to BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 and is expected to begin deliveries in spring 2026. The ATTO 3 EVO is available in two trims: rear-wheel-drive Design and all-wheel-drive Excellence. Both variants use a 74.8 kWh Blade Battery with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and Cell-to-Body (CTB) integration, which forms part of the vehicle’s structural platform. The 800V system enables DC fast charging at up to 220 kW, allowing the…

Renault is planning to buy out stakes held by Volvo Group and shipping firm CMA CGM in their electric van joint venture Flexis, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Monday, citing a strategic review of the business as market growth has fallen short of expectations. According to the report, Renault would take full control of Flexis, a venture set up in 2023 to develop electric vans, although the price negotiated for the partners’ exit was not disclosed. Le Monde added that an asset impairment related to the transaction could appear in Renault’s financial results due on Feb. 19. See also:…

Renault plans to assemble a new small electric vehicle motor in France using components supplied by Chinese manufacturer Shanghai e-drive, the carmaker confirmed, as it seeks to reduce costs and defend margins in a subdued European market. A Renault spokesperson said the motor would be assembled domestically despite relying on Chinese-sourced parts, underscoring the growing role of Chinese suppliers in Europe’s electric vehicle supply chains. The plan was first reported by L’Argus and follows earlier reporting by Reuters on Renault’s efforts to rein in EV production costs. See also: Renault Plans to Reintegrate EV Unit Ampere After Abandoned IPO Renault…

Croatia has approved funding for seven additional electric bus projects, enabling the deployment of 68 new battery-electric buses and bringing the total supported fleet under a national subsidy programme to 206 vehicles across 17 municipalities, according to the government. The Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure said it had issued the final funding decisions under its Programme for the Procurement of Vehicles with Alternative Drivetrains for Public Local and Regional Transport, as reported by Balkan Green Energy News. The programme has a total budget of €163 million and is co-financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan using European…

The French municipal association of Saint-Nazaire has placed 25 battery-electric articulated buses from Iveco Bus into service, with a further 15 vehicles due to be delivered between 2027 and 2030 as part of a broader public transport modernisation effort. The newly deployed vehicles are E-Way Linium articulated buses operating on the electric bus rapid transit (BRT) lines of the Stran network. The BRT corridors feature elements such as dedicated lanes and priority at traffic lights to improve reliability and journey times. A central feature of the buses is their roof-mounted pantograph systems, which allow opportunity charging at terminal stops during…

European vehicle registration data for 2025 show sharply different performances by China’s BYD and U.S. electric car manufacturer Tesla, against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding but still minority electric car market, according to figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). BYD registered 187,657 new vehicles across Europe in 2025, covering the European Union as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. That marked a 268.6% increase from 50,912 units in 2024, ACEA data showed. See also: BYD Targets 1.3 Million Overseas Vehicle Sales In 2026, Executive Says Tesla, by contrast, recorded higher absolute volumes…

The Mercedes-Benz CLA has been named Euro NCAP’s Best Performer of 2025 after achieving the highest overall safety score among 49 vehicles tested this year, highlighting the growing influence of advanced driver assistance and artificial intelligence in vehicle safety assessments. Euro NCAP said the CLA led the field across its weighted evaluation categories, which include adult occupant protection, child safety, vulnerable road user protection and safety assist systems. Only vehicles that achieve a five-star rating with standard equipment are eligible for Best Performer recognition. See also: Mercedes-Benz Begins Series Production of Electric GLB in Hungary The result reflects the integration…

Renault Group plans to fold its electric vehicle and software unit Ampere back into the wider company, reversing a 2023 spin-off as the automaker reassesses its strategy following the collapse of plans to list the business, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Ampere was created in November 2023 as a standalone unit focused on electric cars and software-defined vehicles, employing about 11,000 people, around a third of them engineers. The move transferred Renault’s ElectriCity e-mobility hub in northern France — including vehicle plants in Douai and Maubeuge and a component site in Ruitz — as well as the…

Skoda Auto posted its strongest global sales performance in six years, delivering 1,043,900 vehicles worldwide, a 12.7% increase from a year earlier, as demand for battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models accelerated, the Czech automaker said. In Europe, Skoda delivered 836,200 vehicles across the EU27+4 markets, securing third place among all car brands in the region for the first time. Electrified vehicles accounted for 25.7% of European deliveries, meaning roughly one in four Skoda cars sold in the region was either fully electric or a plug-in hybrid, underscoring the growing importance of electrification to the brand’s strategy. See also: Skoda Confirms…