ev.news Coming 1st August

3,258 episodes and 3,113 days later. Phew.
That first episode went out on 18 January 2018 and nobody heard it.
There has been one most days since — through Christmases, a pandemic, becoming a dad and a long list of difficult days when stopping would have been the sensible choice because I was doing this in my 'spare time'. Whatever that is.
Following a question I asked you recently and feedback from loads of you, publicly and privately, I've decided that EV News Daily will become ev.news on 1 August.
The short version, for anyone who reads no further: the show does not change, the feed does not break, the pledge stays as it is and there is nothing to do.
Why the change?
The name began as a description. One short podcast, just the news, daily.
In 2026 it describes less than it used to. There is now the original global news podcast, Briefly for those in a hurry, China, Specials, the written daily briefing here on Patreon and on evnewsdaily.comwhen I have time, and a YouTube channel I have restarted several times and never quite got right.
But most importantly the show these days is all about explaining what the news means, rather than just repeating headlines.
"EV News Daily" is where this came from and in some ways it's tethering me to the past because I'm doing everything the way I used to, plus many new things bolted on.
ev.news names a new thing. It is shorter, it survives being said out loud on air, it's better for search when someone looks for 'EV news' and it is easier to remember. The industry has changed beyond recognition in eight years, and this next stage feels like the moment to change with it.
For those who asked - yes I have bought the ev.news domain, so the podcast will be matched by an online presence and email addresses. I also have managed to get 'evnews' as a username on Instagram and Threads. On Facebook, X, LinkedIn and more the handle/username will have to stay evnewsdaily, as evnews was taken long ago, but that's not a problem.
It also sets an intention. The plan was never to stay a single creator with a microphone — though that remains an accurate description of most days since I quit my job, adopted two kids and started doing this full-time.
I have a vision of a team working on this one day - perhaps someone on ev.news China, someone on a newsletter, someone who loves making video.
What does it mean?
Very little immediate change, and that is deliberate.
- *The feed does not change.* Same Patreon, same RSS, same Apple, Spotify, etc. Nothing to re-subscribe to, nothing to fix. New artwork and a new name will turn up first.
- *The ad-free feed continues.* Untouched. One of the best benefits of Patreon support and it stays.
- *The pledge does not change.* Same tiers, same price, same platform. No restructuring, nothing to re-confirm.
- *The show does not change.* Same format, same presenter attempting Chinese names.
- *The website will be new.* evnewsdaily.com has never been a work of art but I enjoyed learning Wordpress. ev.news will be built to do the job properly: somewhere audio and video stop fighting each other, and somewhere a future newsletter could live natively.
How can you help?
A rebrand only makes sense when there is something worth putting a better name on.
There is something here worth rebranding because you pay for it. Patreon legends covered the hosting and the kit through the years when the whole audience would have fitted in my spare bedroom, and it turned a hobby that lost money into something that could take itself seriously. There is a rebrand on 1 August because you decided a daily EV podcast was worth a few quid a month.
So over the next few days I will share things as I make them: any new artwork, the site as it gets built, the bits that break and all the things I have not worked out yet. You have heard more of this show than anyone else, and you're in the best place to help me course-correct when I get it wrong.
Thank you.
3,258 episodes later, I don't know what comes next, but at least the first episode of ev.news won't just be me talking to myself!
— Martyn

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon

You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog

Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:
➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple
➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic
➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify
➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein
➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart

BEVS OUTSCORE PETROL CARS IN OWNER APPEAL https://evne.ws/qlgdq

BYD DRAWS LEVEL WITH TESLA IN EUROPE https://evne.ws/qudkw

FORD SETS $30,000 ELECTRIC PICKUP FOR 2027 https://evne.ws/u3yei

HONDA EUROPE CHIEF WANTS TOUGHER, BROADER CO2 RULES https://evne.ws/r57mu

HONDA INDIA TAKES A PHASED EV LINE https://evne.ws/i60uz

NEXT EQUINOX EV MAY SHIFT TO BEV-N https://evne.ws/dx2fa

SPAIN LAUNCHES AUTO+ EV GRANT SCHEME https://evne.ws/6j491

VOLKSWAGEN OPENS ID. CROSS ORDERS IN GERMANY https://evne.ws/crx4h

BMW PITS ELECTRIC M3 AGAINST PETROL https://evne.ws/a8r2k

It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 26 July 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDaily

BEVS OUTSCORE PETROL CARS IN OWNER APPEAL
Battery electric vehicle owners rated their cars higher than gas-powered vehicle owners in JD Power's 2026 US APEAL Study, with BEVs posting the biggest year-over-year gain, up 22 points. BEVs beat ICE vehicles in nearly every category, with the widest gap in powertrain satisfaction at 109 points.

BYD DRAWS LEVEL WITH TESLA IN EUROPE
BYD more than doubled its European market share to 2.4% in the first half of 2026, matching Tesla and edging ahead in absolute registrations with 174,144 vehicles versus Tesla's 170,351. Chery also surged, nearly quadrupling its share to 2.2%, helped by plug-in hybrid models across its Chery, Jaecoo, Omoda and Jetour brands.

FORD TURN TO APPLE FOR $30,000 ELECTRIC PICKUP
Ford will integrate Apple Maps into its new Universal Electric Vehicle platform, using Apple's MapKit for Automotive SDK for navigation and to enhance BlueCruise hands-free driving. The tie-up supports Ford's planned $30,000 midsize electric pickup launching in 2027 as the first UEV-platform vehicle.

HONDA EUROPE CHIEF WANTS TOUGHER, BROADER CO2 RULES
Honda's European boss Hans De Jaeger called for stricter overall CO2 targets but more flexibility in how automakers meet them, criticizing the EU's narrow focus on battery-electric vehicles. He argued this approach limits customer choice, hurts sales, and contributes to Europe's ageing car fleet, urging room for hybrids, PHEVs and alternative fuels.

HONDA INDIA TAKES A PHASED EV LINE
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said electrification won't suit every market, favoring a multi-fuel, multi-pathway approach with EVs prioritized in dense urban areas with reliable charging. Its new QC3 Family electric scooter, featuring a 3 kWh battery and 145 km range, will launch first as a pilot in select cities rather than nationwide.

NEXT EQUINOX EV MAY SHIFT TO BEV-N
General Motors is reportedly planning a second-generation Chevy Equinox EV for late 2028 or early 2029, shifting from the BEV3 platform to a new BEV-N architecture alongside a broader electronics overhaul. The current Equinox EV has topped 100,000 U.S. sales through June, and the 2027 model will add a native NACS port for Tesla Superchargers.

SPAIN LAUNCHES AUTO+ EV GRANT SCHEME
Spain approved Auto+, a new EV subsidy program running through 2030 that replaces MOVES III and covers only vehicles meeting the DGT ZERO emissions label. Grants range up to €4,500 for private buyers' passenger cars and up to €12,000 for vans under the Climate Social Fund, with extra incentives for EU-built models and batteries.

VOLKSWAGEN OPENS ID. CROSS ORDERS IN GERMANY
Volkswagen opened German orders for the ID. Cross, initially only in a 155 kW front-wheel-drive version with a 52 kWh battery, priced from €34,025 after incentives in Life trim. The cheaper €27,995 Trend base version, positioned above the ID. Polo, won't be available until orders open in mid-October.

BMW PITS ELECTRIC M3 AGAINST PETROL
BMW plans to develop its next electric M3 alongside a new petrol M3, letting the two compete for the same buyers in what M boss Frank van Meel calls an internal contest. Previewed by the M Concept Neue Klasse, the four-motor electric M3 will prioritize balance and agility over raw power figures.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon

You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog

Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:
➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple
➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic
➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify
➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein
➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart

EU EV TARGETS COULD SAVE €12 BILLION https://evne.ws/869af

FORD AND GEELY PLAN VALENCIA JOINT VENTURE https://evne.ws/afwia

SENATE BILL COULD BAR MERCEDES FROM US https://evne.ws/lvdv8

RIVIAN CUTS BATTERY COST WITH STRUCTURAL PACK https://evne.ws/9ks51

TESLA SHEDS $214.5 BILLION AFTER EARNINGS https://evne.ws/jxmin

TESLA PUSHES BACK 2026 PRODUCTION GOALS https://evne.ws/5sbtb

DENZA Z9 GT OPENS UK ORDERS https://evne.ws/fcz10

CARMAKERS PRESS UK TO REOPEN 2035 BAN https://evne.ws/84hfv

BMW IX1 AND IX2 WIN FULL UK GRANT https://evne.ws/bm0pg

NHTSA OPENS RULE ON CAR DOOR ESCAPE https://evne.ws/nuil3

It's EV News Briefly for Saturday 25 July 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDaily

EU EV TARGETS COULD SAVE €12 BILLION
Meeting the EU's 2030 EV targets covering 35 million battery EVs, 3 million electric vans and 200,000 electric trucks could cut oil imports by about 190 million barrels a year, worth roughly €12 billion, according to E-Mobility Europe and Ember. In 2025 alone, battery EVs already displaced 57 million barrels of oil and kept about €4 billion in European wealth inside the bloc, with the report urging faster electrification alongside a stronger industrial base and energy resilience.

FORD AND GEELY PLAN VALENCIA JOINT VENTURE
Ford and Geely Auto are forming a Europe-focused joint venture at Ford's Valencia plant in Spain, with Ford owning 66% and Geely 34%, aiming to start operations in early 2027 and begin production in 2028. The venture will build a new compact Bronco, a jointly developed multi-energy crossover, and two Geely-branded electric SUVs, while Kuga production continues uninterrupted during the transition.

SENATE BILL COULD BAR MERCEDES FROM US
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced bipartisan legislation barring automakers with more than 15% Chinese ownership from selling cars in the US, a threshold Mercedes-Benz would exceed due to nearly 20% Chinese investor ownership. Committee chair Ted Cruz said the bill would effectively ban Mercedes, though the company would have until 2030 to comply or seek a waiver, with the measure still needing full Senate and House approval plus a presidential signature.

RIVIAN CUTS BATTERY COST WITH STRUCTURAL PACK
Rivian slashed R2 battery-pack cost by switching to large-format 4695 cells, cutting cell count from 7,776 to 776, and making the pack structural to the vehicle floor, saving about 7mm of space used for extra protection and venting. The company made the pack non-serviceable at the cell level to simplify validation, instead consolidating serviceable electronics into a rear-seat "powerhouse" that cut high-voltage cabling by roughly 70% versus R1.

TESLA SHEDS $214.5 BILLION AFTER EARNINGS
Tesla shares fell 14.5% to $319.69 after disappointing Q2 earnings, wiping $214.5 billion off its market value in the largest one-day loss in company history. The drop followed missed expectations, a more cautious timeline for Cybercab, Semi and Megapack 3, and Tesla's first negative free cash flow in two years amid $5.8 billion in quarterly capital spending.

TESLA PUSHES BACK 2026 PRODUCTION GOALS
Tesla no longer expects volume production of the Cybercab, Semi, Megapack 3 or Optimus in 2026, blaming the need to scale 4680 battery output, even as quarterly revenue rose 26% to $28.2 billion on stronger deliveries. Despite the sales rebound, net income fell 5% to $1.1 billion, free cash flow turned negative $1 billion, and 2026 capital expenditure is now expected to reach $25 billion.

DENZA Z9 GT OPENS UK ORDERS
BYD's luxury brand Denza has opened UK orders for the Z9 GT shooting brake, starting at £105,000 for the EV and £95,000 for the plug-in hybrid, more than triple its Chinese starting price. The EV offers up to 599 km WLTP range, a 122.49 kWh Blade Battery 2.0 pack, tri-motor output of about 1,140 hp, and Flash Charging claiming 10-70% in roughly 5 minutes, as BYD tests premium pricing with a Daniel Craig/James Bond campaign.

CARMAKERS PRESS UK TO REOPEN 2035 BAN
BMW, Ford, Nissan, Toyota and Bosch privately urged UK ministers in April to keep combustion, hybrid and range-extender vehicles on sale beyond 2035, citing the EU's softened 90% target and customer demand concerns. The Department for Transport insisted the 2035 phase-out is not being renegotiated, while critics including Polestar's UK boss and thinktank ECIU warned that delay risks jobs and climate goals despite the manufacturers employing about 30,000 people in the UK.

BMW IX1 AND IX2 WIN FULL UK GRANT
BMW secured the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant for the iX1 and iX2 in the UK, tied to its Science Based Targets commitment and the Regensburg plant's renewable energy use, making the iX1 eDrive20 Sport start at £33,315, cheaper than its petrol X1 equivalent. BMW also added a new, more affordable iX2 eDrive20 Sport variant at the same £33,315 starting price, alongside other grant-eligible trims.

NHTSA OPENS RULE ON CAR DOOR ESCAPE
NHTSA has opened formal rulemaking on requiring reliable manual door-escape systems in new US cars, responding to a petition citing incidents where flush, electronic door handles—used notably by Tesla—trapped occupants after crashes or power loss. Bloomberg reported at least 15 deaths linked to such failures, and any final rule could force manufacturers to add mechanical backups and revise crash-test protocols, though the process is expected to take months to years.