ev.news

It's ev.news Briefly for Saturday 17 October 2026, only today's headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
SLATE OPENS FIRST SHOWROOM FOR $26,400 ELECTRIC PICKUP
Slate has opened its first showroom in Chicago ahead of sales later this year, showcasing its $26,400 electric pickup, including destination fees, with a projected EPA range of 205 miles. Optional kits can convert the basic truck into a five-seat SUV, while servicing will use RepairPal’s independent network, including more than 100 workshops capable of working on high-voltage EV systems.
FRANCE’S EV SHARE HITS 42%, LED BY MODEL Y
Electric cars took 42% of France’s new-car market in September, up from 22% a year earlier, led by Tesla’s Model Y ahead of the Renault 5 and electric Twingo. Social leasing capped at €200 a month helped support demand, but only the Renault 5 among those three is assembled in France, highlighting the challenge of turning growing EV sales into domestic manufacturing gains.
BMW RAISES IX5 EPA RANGE ESTIMATE TO 450 MILES
BMW has raised the iX5 60 xDrive’s estimated EPA range from 435 to 450 miles ahead of its planned launch in the first quarter of 2027. Its 144.0 kWh battery, BMW’s largest in a production vehicle, will support charging at up to 460 kW, with a quoted 10–80% charging time of 22 minutes.
GERMANY SEEKS FREEZE ON PLUG-IN HYBRID CO₂ RULES
Germany wants to freeze November’s correction to EU plug-in hybrid emissions calculations, which would reduce the assumed amount of electric driving to better reflect real-world use. Transport & Environment says plug-in hybrids registered in 2024 emitted around six times their official CO₂ figures and warns that a freeze would let carmakers meet 2030 targets while selling fewer battery electric cars.
MERCEDES CHIEF WARNS EU AGAINST EXCLUDING UK CARMAKERS
Mercedes-Benz chief Ola Källenius warns that excluding British carmakers from the EU’s proposed Made in Europe rules would damage manufacturers and supply chains on both sides of the Channel. Brussels says British tariffs on Chinese-built electric cars would strengthen the UK’s case for inclusion, but the British government says it isn’t considering them.
IONITY TO REPLACE CHARGERS THAT LEFT EVS STRANDED
Ionity will replace faulty chargers at Elverum in Norway after receiving six incident reports involving high-voltage safety fuses being triggered, leaving affected EVs unable to drive until those fuses are replaced. One Volkswagen ID. Buzz owner faces a reported $12,100 repair bill, with Ionity’s insurer handling the case and responsibility for payment still unresolved.
CHERY UNVEILS Q ELECTRIC HATCHBACK FOR EUROPE
Chery has unveiled its 4.2-metre Q electric hatchback for Europe, with a UK arrival expected in 2027 that would bring the brand’s first fully electric car to its British line-up. European specifications are still being finalised, but the South African version has a 42.7 kWh battery, a 90 kW rear motor and up to 400 km of NEDC range, with 30–80% DC charging in 16.5 minutes or less.
BYD SHARK WINS FIVE-STAR EURO NCAP RATING
BYD’s Shark DMO plug-in hybrid pickup has earned Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, with UK orders open at £47,295 including VAT. The 321 kW pickup offers up to 90 km of WLTP electric range from a 32.2 kWh battery, with 55 kW DC charging taking 21 minutes from 30% to 80%, adding an electrified option to a diesel-dominated market.
TESLA ROADSTER RESERVATIONS COME WITHOUT DELIVERY GUARANTEE
Customers can pay up to $250,000 to reserve Tesla’s Roadster without securing a guaranteed car, delivery date, final price or fixed specification. Tesla is targeting a 2028 launch, with some reservations dating back to 2017; payments are fully refundable if customers cancel or Tesla cannot deliver, but reservations cannot be transferred.

Tesla says its new Roadster can reach 60 miles per hour in 0.81 seconds with only the rear wheels driven. In this episode of ev.news Tech, I explain how fans and gas thrusters help make that possible, and why the proposed car has changed so much since its announcement in 2017.
Fans draw air from beneath the car, pressing the tyres harder against the road to improve acceleration, braking and cornering. Compressed-gas thrusters add force directly to the car, bypassing the tyres’ grip limit. We follow the engineering from the fan-equipped Performance version to the single-seat Rocket, which adds jets for lift and movement in the air, and explore what McMurtry and the student-built Mythen have already demonstrated.
Behind those bursts of speed are practical demands: keeping the battery cool, controlling airflow beneath a moving car and replenishing gas tanks after seconds of full-power use. We examine how Tesla is balancing power, weight and running time, where SpaceX and Optimus hardware fit into the design, and what comparisons with Rimac and BYD reveal about building an electric car that can keep performing.

VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS NEXT ID. BUZZ WITH COST CUTS PLANNED
Volkswagen has confirmed a second-generation ID. Buzz using its SSP platform to reduce production costs, although a lower showroom price and launch date remain unconfirmed. Deliveries rose 102% to 60,700 in 2025, with Cargo versions accounting for around 46%, making commercial buyers central to the successor’s prospects alongside families attracted by its design.
BMW IX5 DRIVES 500 MILES WITHOUT CHARGING
BMW’s battery-electric iX5 completed an 805-kilometre California journey without charging, with an estimated further 50 miles remaining, although undisclosed driving conditions limit what the demonstration proves. The US specification combines a 144.0 kWh usable battery with up to 460 kW DC charging and a claimed 22-minute 10–80% charge, while BMW’s separate 435-mile EPA-procedure estimate remains uncertified.
RENAULT 5 TURBO 3E NEARS COMPLETION FOR 2028 DELIVERIES
Renault’s 5 Turbo 3E is nearing completion ahead of 2028 deliveries, with 1,980 cars planned at prices from €160,000 and full personalisation expected to open in mid-2027. Its bespoke Alpine-developed platform and 410 kW twin rear in-wheel motors target electric-car collectors, supported by a 70.0 kWh usable battery, provisional WLTP range exceeding 248 miles and claimed 15-minute 15–80% charging.
SMART CONFIRMS BRABUS VERSION OF ELECTRIC TWO-SEATER
Smart has confirmed a Brabus version of its electric #2 two-seater, returning the performance badge to a compact urban car, although power, price and launch timing remain unannounced. Standard-model pre-orders open in spring 2027 with a starting price below £20,000, a 60 kW rear motor, 35.8 kWh LFP battery and provisional 180-mile WLTP range, but these are not confirmed Brabus specifications.
MODEL Y TOPS GERMANY’S SEPTEMBER CAR CHART
Tesla’s Model Y led Germany’s September car registrations with 8,038 vehicles, while battery-electric registrations rose about 95% to 88,599, taking 34.5% of the market and outselling non-hybrid petrol and diesel cars combined. Battery-electric cars also reached 48.7% of private registrations, although Tesla’s quarter-end delivery pattern tempers the monthly result and the Skoda Elroq remained ahead among EVs over the first nine months.
CALIFORNIA HOME BATTERIES SET 745 MW DISPATCH RECORD
California home batteries supplied a reported record 745 MW at peak on 6 October, including over 600 MW from more than 85,000 Powerwall owners, exceeding the output of most individual gas peaker plants in the state. The record beat the previous peak by 28%, but Tesla and Sunrun’s figures overlap, and published data do not establish total energy delivered or whether peak output was sustained.
CHERY CONFIRMS ICAUR UK LAUNCH FOR EARLY 2027
Chery plans to launch iCaur as its fifth UK brand in early 2027, led by the Defender-sized V27 through a separate dealer network, with British pricing and powertrain details unconfirmed. The V27 sold elsewhere uses a petrol range-extender, while the smaller battery-electric V23 has not been confirmed for Britain, meaning the brand’s arrival does not yet guarantee another fully electric option.
BIBBY LAUNCHES BATTERY-FIRST OFFSHORE WIND VESSEL
Bibby Marine has launched Staffordshire, a battery-first offshore wind service vessel due for delivery in 2027, although battery installation remains ahead and its planned 22.4 MWh capacity differs from the supplier’s near-25 MWh figure. Bibby expects up to 24 hours of battery operation, initially recharged by methanol-capable generators, and forecasts operating-cost savings above 40%, rising to as much as 70% with future offshore charging.
AUDI ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE WAGON SPOTTED TESTING
A camouflaged Audi electric performance estate has appeared at the Nürburgring despite earlier reports that the RS6 Avant e-tron had been cancelled, suggesting development continues without confirming the RS programme’s return. Reports suggest a Performance badge instead, but Audi has confirmed neither branding nor output, and photographs cannot establish improvements in sustained power, cooling or braking.
US USED-EV VALUES RISE AS NON-EV VALUES FALL
US used-EV retail sales reached a record roughly 124,000 in the third quarter, up 11.4% year on year, while September’s adjusted EV wholesale values rose 4.3% against a 1.6% decline for non-EVs. More than 100,000 off-lease electric cars are expected in the final quarter of 2026, expanding access to relatively recent models, although stronger demand means additional supply will not necessarily make them cheaper.
ICCT MODELS LARGE OIL SAVINGS FROM FASTER ELECTRIFICATION
ICCT modelling suggests faster electrification could avoid cumulative road-transport oil use equivalent to the lifetime consumption of 863 million petrol cars through 2050, but this ambitious scenario depends on implementing international zero-emission vehicle commitments. Electric drivetrains’ greater efficiency lowers overall energy demand, while separate California modelling suggests managed charging and off-peak tariffs could reduce projected distribution-grid upgrade costs through 2035 from $50 billion to $15 billion.

VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS NEXT ID. BUZZ WITH COST CUTS PLANNED
Volkswagen has confirmed a second-generation ID. Buzz using its SSP platform to reduce production costs, although a lower showroom price and launch date remain unconfirmed. Deliveries rose 102% to 60,700 in 2025, with Cargo versions accounting for around 46%, making commercial buyers central to the successor’s prospects alongside families attracted by its design.
BMW IX5 DRIVES 500 MILES WITHOUT CHARGING
BMW’s battery-electric iX5 completed an 805-kilometre California journey without charging, with an estimated further 50 miles remaining, although undisclosed driving conditions limit what the demonstration proves. The US specification combines a 144.0 kWh usable battery with up to 460 kW DC charging and a claimed 22-minute 10–80% charge, while BMW’s separate 435-mile EPA-procedure estimate remains uncertified.
RENAULT 5 TURBO 3E NEARS COMPLETION FOR 2028 DELIVERIES
Renault’s 5 Turbo 3E is nearing completion ahead of 2028 deliveries, with 1,980 cars planned at prices from €160,000 and full personalisation expected to open in mid-2027. Its bespoke Alpine-developed platform and 410 kW twin rear in-wheel motors target electric-car collectors, supported by a 70.0 kWh usable battery, provisional WLTP range exceeding 248 miles and claimed 15-minute 15–80% charging.
SMART CONFIRMS BRABUS VERSION OF ELECTRIC TWO-SEATER
Smart has confirmed a Brabus version of its electric #2 two-seater, returning the performance badge to a compact urban car, although power, price and launch timing remain unannounced. Standard-model pre-orders open in spring 2027 with a starting price below £20,000, a 60 kW rear motor, 35.8 kWh LFP battery and provisional 180-mile WLTP range, but these are not confirmed Brabus specifications.
MODEL Y TOPS GERMANY’S SEPTEMBER CAR CHART
Tesla’s Model Y led Germany’s September car registrations with 8,038 vehicles, while battery-electric registrations rose about 95% to 88,599, taking 34.5% of the market and outselling non-hybrid petrol and diesel cars combined. Battery-electric cars also reached 48.7% of private registrations, although Tesla’s quarter-end delivery pattern tempers the monthly result and the Skoda Elroq remained ahead among EVs over the first nine months.
CALIFORNIA HOME BATTERIES SET 745 MW DISPATCH RECORD
California home batteries supplied a reported record 745 MW at peak on 6 October, including over 600 MW from more than 85,000 Powerwall owners, exceeding the output of most individual gas peaker plants in the state. The record beat the previous peak by 28%, but Tesla and Sunrun’s figures overlap, and published data do not establish total energy delivered or whether peak output was sustained.
CHERY CONFIRMS ICAUR UK LAUNCH FOR EARLY 2027
Chery plans to launch iCaur as its fifth UK brand in early 2027, led by the Defender-sized V27 through a separate dealer network, with British pricing and powertrain details unconfirmed. The V27 sold elsewhere uses a petrol range-extender, while the smaller battery-electric V23 has not been confirmed for Britain, meaning the brand’s arrival does not yet guarantee another fully electric option.
BIBBY LAUNCHES BATTERY-FIRST OFFSHORE WIND VESSEL
Bibby Marine has launched Staffordshire, a battery-first offshore wind service vessel due for delivery in 2027, although battery installation remains ahead and its planned 22.4 MWh capacity differs from the supplier’s near-25 MWh figure. Bibby expects up to 24 hours of battery operation, initially recharged by methanol-capable generators, and forecasts operating-cost savings above 40%, rising to as much as 70% with future offshore charging.
AUDI ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE WAGON SPOTTED TESTING
A camouflaged Audi electric performance estate has appeared at the Nürburgring despite earlier reports that the RS6 Avant e-tron had been cancelled, suggesting development continues without confirming the RS programme’s return. Reports suggest a Performance badge instead, but Audi has confirmed neither branding nor output, and photographs cannot establish improvements in sustained power, cooling or braking.
US USED-EV VALUES RISE AS NON-EV VALUES FALL
US used-EV retail sales reached a record roughly 124,000 in the third quarter, up 11.4% year on year, while September’s adjusted EV wholesale values rose 4.3% against a 1.6% decline for non-EVs. More than 100,000 off-lease electric cars are expected in the final quarter of 2026, expanding access to relatively recent models, although stronger demand means additional supply will not necessarily make them cheaper.
ICCT MODELS LARGE OIL SAVINGS FROM FASTER ELECTRIFICATION
ICCT modelling suggests faster electrification could avoid cumulative road-transport oil use equivalent to the lifetime consumption of 863 million petrol cars through 2050, but this ambitious scenario depends on implementing international zero-emission vehicle commitments. Electric drivetrains’ greater efficiency lowers overall energy demand, while separate California modelling suggests managed charging and off-peak tariffs could reduce projected distribution-grid upgrade costs through 2035 from $50 billion to $15 billion.

CHINA’S CARMAKERS BACK EU HYBRID LIMITS
BYD, Geely Holding and Chery have backed a China–EU hybrid-trade framework that the EU says would halve exports against its four-year no-deal forecast, not today’s shipments. Beijing says the quota would exceed the 2025 baseline of 302,000 vehicles, offering exporters more predictable but constrained access while leaving separate duties on Chinese battery-electric cars unchanged.
LEAPMOTOR SETS A10S LAUNCH FOR 18 OCTOBER
Leapmotor will launch the sportier A10s small SUV in China on 18 October, with its undisclosed price crucial to retaining the existing A10’s budget appeal. Reported specifications include an 800-volt platform, 39.8 kWh and 53.0 kWh batteries, 403–505 km of CLTC range and a fastest 30–80% charge of 16 minutes, although final trim specifications remain unconfirmed.
FAW-VW TEASES POSSIBLE ID. AURA SEDAN
FAW-Volkswagen has teased a possible electric sedan, which local reporting expects to be named ID. AURA L5 and use electronic architecture developed with Xpeng. Its name, powertrain and launch date remain unconfirmed, but Volkswagen Group’s 42.5% fall in Chinese battery-electric deliveries over the first nine months underscores the pressure for locally developed models that compete on software, cost and launch speed.
CHERY PICKS BOSCH FOR SIX EUROPEAN MODELS
Chery and Bosch have agreed to develop camera-based driving and parking assistance for six European models, with production scheduled for 2028 and more than 800,000 systems anticipated over five years. Bosch’s European testing experience could accelerate localisation as Chery expands, although individual vehicles will still need their own approvals and the systems require driver supervision.
CHANGAN AND CATL REAFFIRM 75 GWH BATTERY PLAN
Changan and CATL have reaffirmed plans for 75 GWh of joint battery-cell capacity, including a 25 GWh expansion scheduled to start production in the second half of 2027. The projects could strengthen supply for Avatr, Deepal and Nevo alongside sodium-ion and solid-state development, but the capacity announcement does not establish a solid-state breakthrough or confirm that all production lines are operating.
JETOUR LAUNCHES TRAVELLER 7 PLUG-IN HYBRID
Jetour has launched the Traveller 7 plug-in hybrid in China at approximately $22,800–$25,800 before conditional offers, with 26.6 kWh or 45.1 kWh batteries delivering a claimed 140–251 km of CLTC electric range. The launch hybrids are two-wheel drive despite their off-road styling, while Jetour’s claim of more than 10,000 firm orders in 30 minutes signals early interest rather than completed deliveries.
CHANGAN SEEKS EUROPEAN PRODUCTION IN EARLY 2027
Changan hopes to build its first European-made vehicle in early 2027 and reach annual production of 180,000 cars by 2028, with supply and joint-production discussions under way. The EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act would, under its standard route, tie covered public purchases and support to EU assembly, at least 70% EU-origin non-battery component value and separate battery conditions, making local supply chains increasingly important.
CHINESE EV ARRIVALS COULD DELAY CANADIAN BUYERS
An Abacus Data survey found that 42% of respondents inclined to choose an EV said Chinese brands’ expected arrival next year could influence them to postpone buying, rather than reporting purchases already delayed. China-built cars are excluded from federal EV rebates, worth up to C$4,000 for eligible battery-electric rivals in 2027, while the first-year 49,000-vehicle import quota is shared with foreign-owned brands manufacturing in China.
BYD REPORTEDLY PLANS 18 CAR CARRIERS BY 2029
BYD reportedly plans to expand its dedicated car-carrier fleet from eight ships to 18 by 2029, with capacity for about 9,200 cars per new vessel, although it did not confirm the proposal to Rest of World. More ships could ease export bottlenecks caused by longer routes, but a dedicated fleet does not necessarily mean vessel ownership, and greater shipping capacity does not guarantee overseas retail demand.
CHINA EXPECTS 50 MILLION KW OF FLEXIBLE EV CHARGING
Engineer Ouyang Minggao has outlined an expectation of 50 million kW of adjustable EV charging capacity in China by 2030, using the growing vehicle fleet to help manage electricity demand. This includes shifting charging away from peak periods, not simply feeding electricity back into the grid, while bidirectional services must make financial sense for owners and account for compatible equipment, battery wear and travel needs.
GOTION PLANS MOROCCO BATTERY PLANT COMMISSIONING
Gotion Power Morocco says equipment commissioning at its Kenitra battery factory will begin during the week of 20 October, after recruiting more than 400 Moroccan employees, most trained in China. The milestone advances China’s overseas battery expansion alongside a proposed PowerCo–Gotion cathode-materials venture, but commissioning is not full commercial production and trade advantages depend on genuine local manufacturing and applicable origin rules.