Renault is rolling out Google Gemini to vehicles equipped with the OpenR Link infotainment system. The AI assistant replaces Google Assistant via a free over-the-air update and is designed to enable more natural voice interactions. According to Renault, the update also expands the range of vehicle functions that can be controlled by voice. Read more…
Nio says suspects face criminal measures over fake promotion scams
Several online accounts posted fake promotional information and illegally harvested consumers’ personal information. Read more…
Xpeng Mona L03 enters pre-sale in China
The first SUV from Xpeng’s sub-brand Mona, the L03, is now available for pre-order in China. Xpeng will celebrate the model’s launch on July 16 – not in China, but in Munich. The message: the Mona L03 is an EV for global markets. Read more…
WattEV opens seventh electric truck charging depot
Fleet electrification firm WattEV has just opened its seventh heavy-duty truck charging depot, this time in Fresno, California. It’s the first of four sites planned in Northern California. Read more…
China to end tax exemptions for plug-in hybrids from 2027
From January 1, 2027, China will abolish the annual vehicle tax exemption for plug-in hybrids, range-extender vehicles, and several classes of electrified commercial vehicles. BEV passenger cars, however, will remain tax-exempt as they are not subject to China’s displacement-based vehicle tax under Chinese law. Read more…
Infineon opens new Smart Power Fab in Dresden
Infineon has opened its new Smart Power Fab in Dresden. With an investment volume of five billion euros, the plant is the largest single investment in the company’s history. In the future, it will produce power semiconductors and analog/mixed-signal chips for applications including electromobility, energy supply, and AI infrastructure. Read more…
CPCA preliminary data shows China’s NEV retail sales fell 7% in June
Retail sales of passenger NEVs in China were 1,037,000 units in June, with the retail penetration rate at 62.8 percent. Read more…
Tesla Model Y L six-seater officially launches in the US
The longer version of the Premium Model Y is finally launching in the US. The Model Y L was first introduced for the Chinese market and is now ready to roll on the streets of the US as well. This version has a slightly longer wheelbase, more interior space and, of course, three rows of seats that can host up… Read more…
The coolest e-bikes (and things) we saw at Eurobike 2026
Eurobike, the annual bicycle tradeshow that takes over Germany for several days each summer, always brings with it a fun array of new bikes and bike-related goodies. While the show wasn’t as big as it had been in previous years, there were still plenty of fun treats for the eyes and for the riding. Read more…
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 Is Now America’s Best-Selling EV That Isn’t A Tesla
While other vehicles have decreased in sales, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has increased in sales compared to last year. Read More…
How America’s Policy Whiplash Derailed The EV Transition
A new report says only 17% of U.S. car sales will have a plug by 2030, far below previous estimates. Read More…
Xpeng delivers 1,300 EVs to Car Inc, deepening mobility push
Car Inc has bought over 5,000 Xpeng vehicles to date and plans to purchase at least 5,000 more within the next year. Read more…
Gotion to build battery facilities in Spain next year
Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion High-Tech, together with Spain’s Ministry of Industry, has now officially unveiled its major project for Valladolid. Gotion will invest around €950 million euros there to build a production facility for battery cathodes as well as a battery recycling plant. Read more…
Nissan UK launches 52kWh version of the Leaf
A new 52kWh battery variant of the Nissan Leaf is now available to order in the UK, following the introduction of the 75kWh version. Nissan has confirmed that the new option qualifies for the UK’s full £3,750 Electric Car Grant. Read more…
EU Parliament aims to streamline approvals for charging stations
A European Parliament proposal to exempt the construction of fast-charging stations at highway rest areas from permit requirements is being backed by a majority of MEPs. If passed, it would mean that no permits would be required in future for the construction of charging stations with up to one megawatt on ‘artificial structures’. However, whether this will actually happen depends on further negotiations. Read more…
BREAKING: China scraps annual vehicle tax exemption for some NEVs, spares battery electric passenger cars
Plug-in hybrids and battery electric commercial vehicles will no longer be exempt from the vehicle and vessel tax from January 1, 2027. Read more…
Tesla launches long-wheelbase Model Y L in the USA
Tesla introduced a new six-seater version of the Model Y in the US on Thursday. The nearly five-meter-long Model Y L – first launched in China last year – is now available in the United States as a ‘Launch Edition’ with all-wheel drive for $61,990. Read more…
Lucid restructures leadership team after delivering nearly 4,000 EVs in Q2
Lucid delivered a total of 3,953 EVs in the second quarter of 2026 and produced 4,774 vehicles. Under its new CEO Silvio Napoli, the US manufacturer is restructuring its leadership team to shorten decision-making processes and become operationally faster. Read more…
Xpeng to lift GX output 10% this month, eyes top-three segment spot
Xpeng GX delivered 6,739 units in June, with the 10,000th vehicle rolling off the line on July 1. Read more…
The 1,000hp McMurtry Speirling PURE track car enters production
The automotive market has its fair share of new startup companies promising incredible performance. Many of these brands show digital drawings of extreme vehicles that never reach real roads or racetracks. Driving enthusiasts hear grand promises about raw vehicle dynamics, but these projects usually vanish before assembly ever begins. McMurtry is breaking this pattern. The small British automaker has officially… Read more…
