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Stay informed, even when you don’t have time to listen. Get Briefly’s ad-free audio headlines and a written news summary in your inbox with a free ev.news membership on Patreon. No card details or commitment. Want to go deeper into the world of EVs? Get every show ad-free, full show notes and my written research, plus more benefits —so you can listen, read and understand what the news means. It's starts from only $9 a month with your annual membership discount.

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Whether you’ve been here since the early days or found the podcast last week, I’m grateful that you make time for it. There’s an enormous amount you could be listening to, and you’ve chosen to spend some of that time here. And if you listen to this feed with the adverts, you’re already helping pay the bills. Advertising helps fund the time it takes to research, write, record and edit these programmes. It’s an important part of what makes the show possible. I wanted to say that before talking about Patreon, because listening to this version of the podcast is a valuable way to support the work. Thank you. I’ve been making this podcast since 2018, and the job has grown along with the industry. There are more manufacturers to follow, more battery claims to examine, more charging announcements and more policy changes that affect what people can buy. The reason for doing it is still straightforward: you should be able to understand what’s happening without spending your day following every source yourself. That means doing the reading, checking what a company has actually said and working out which details deserve your attention. Sometimes the most useful part of a story is the condition attached to the headline. I’m updating Patreon to make the ways of supporting that work clearer, and to explain what you get in return. The place to start is free. You can join ev.news on Patreon without paying anything. Follow the page, read the public posts and take part in Question Of The Week polls when I publish them. The public podcasts remain available with advertising, just as they are now. If you tend to listen while you’re driving or walking, having somewhere to return to afterwards can be useful. You might hear a story and want to look at the discussion later, or have a view on the question we’re asking that week. Joining for free gives you another way to stay connected with ev.news. You can have a look around and decide whether any of the paid options would be useful to you. The new paid memberships start with Supporter, at five US dollars a month. That’s for people who mainly want to help fund the work. If you get something useful from the podcast and would like to contribute directly, this is the straightforward way to do it. Your support goes towards the research and production behind the programmes, including keeping the public shows available for everyone. Ad-free listening starts at the next level. That’s Producer, at ten US dollars a month. It’s the membership I recommend if you want the full listening and reading package. The idea is: listen ad-free, understand more. You get the podcasts without the adverts, through a personal podcast feed that you can add to a compatible podcast app. Once it’s set up, you can carry on listening as part of your normal routine. You also get the full show notes and analysis. That’s useful when something deserves more attention than you can give it while listening. Perhaps you want to find the original source, check a detail or return to an explanation before talking about it with someone else. The written material gives you somewhere to do that. Producer also includes Kilowatt Confidential, the bonus content that gives me room to go further into a story, and the member archive, so you can explore previous episodes and analysis. Then there are the discussions beneath the member posts. That’s somewhere we can talk about what we’ve covered. You can raise a question, share your experience or point out something that deserves another look. I want that conversation to be a useful part of being there. And when I offer early access to selected videos, Producer members get that too. All of that comes at ten dollars a month. There are two higher levels for people who’d like to make a larger contribution: Executive Producer at twenty US dollars a month, and Patron at fifty. Both include the complete Producer package. Executive Producers can choose to have their name included in the supporters post, with Patrons recognised prominently at the top. That’s entirely optional. The full content package is already there at ten dollars. The higher levels are a way to contribute more towards the time and work that go into making it. There’s also an annual option with a ten per cent discount if you prefer to pay for the year. And if you’re already a paid member, thank you. These new prices don’t mean you have to change your membership. Your existing price and benefits stay with you while you remain subscribed to your current tier. If you’d like to explore any of this, the address is patreon dot com slash evnews. Start with the free membership if that suits you. And if you’re happy listening here with the adverts, please keep doing that. I’m glad you’re here. Your listening helps make the programme possible, and I’m grateful for it. Thank you for giving ev.news your time, for recommending it to other people and, however you choose to do it, for supporting the work. — Martyn

Stay informed, even when you don’t have time to listen. Get Briefly’s ad-free audio headlines and a written news summary in your inbox with a free ev.news membership on Patreon. No card details or commitment. Want to go deeper into the world of EVs? Get every show ad-free, full show notes and my written research, plus more benefits —so you can listen, read and understand what the news means. It's starts from only $9 a month with your annual membership discount.

GEELY XINGYUAN PRODUCTION HITS 1 MILLION Geely has produced its millionth Xingyuan just over two years after launch, although Chinese retail sales fell 9.6% to 310,391 in the first nine months of 2026. The affordable electric hatchback, priced from 61,800 yuan ($9,300) with up to 480 kilometres of CLTC range, is now sold in more than 30 countries as the E2 or EX2, with Brazilian production scheduled to begin in December. FIREFLY PLANS 60 KWH BATTERY WITH OWNER UPGRADES Nio's Firefly brand plans to introduce a 60 kWh CATL battery on 23 October, increasing CLTC range from 420 to 560 kilometres while allowing existing owners to upgrade through compatible fifth-generation Nio battery-swapping stations. The upgrade could benefit owners of the 90,000 Firefly vehicles already delivered, although battery pricing, rental terms and the limited availability of compatible swapping stations will determine its appeal. BYD BRINGS FLASH CHARGING TO THE SEAGULL BYD has launched its second-generation Seagull electric hatchback from 65,900 yuan ($9,900), with Flash Charging versions starting at 75,900 yuan ($11,400) capable of charging from 10% to 70% in five minutes at dedicated stations. The redesigned car introduces rear-wheel drive, independent rear suspension, five seats and up to 420 kilometres of CLTC range, as BYD attempts to reverse a 33% sales decline in the first nine months of 2026. NIO GROUP CLAIMS QUARTERLY LEAD OVER GERMAN RIVALS Nio claims its three brands collectively outsold BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi individually in China during the third quarter, citing 111,638 insurance registrations across Nio, Onvo and Firefly compared with 107,210 for BMW and Mini. BMW separately reported 114,355 deliveries using a different measurement, but Nio's expanding portfolio illustrates the growing competitive pressure on German premium manufacturers as China's luxury-car retail market contracted 29% in September. XIAOMI REGISTERS SU9 LUX NAME Xiaomi has registered the SU9 LUX trademark, fuelling speculation about a larger luxury saloon with additional rear-passenger space, potentially related to camouflaged vehicles previously identified as the SU7L. However, Xiaomi also registered SU7 LUX and has not confirmed either production name or its connection to the test vehicles, leaving the proposed model's identity and specifications uncertain. FANGCHENGBAO SALES PASS 600,000 BYD's Fangchengbao brand has surpassed 600,000 cumulative vehicle sales, with September deliveries reaching 43,181, up 79% year-on-year, largely driven by the Titanium 7 family SUV. The brand is expanding beyond its off-road origins with the Formula S electric saloon and Formula S GT estate, priced from 189,900 and 219,900 yuan respectively, although their combined first-month deliveries of 663 show the challenge of entering the premium passenger-car market. BYD AND LI AUTO EXPAND GULF SALES BYD is expanding its Saudi Arabian dealership network towards 10 locations, while Li Auto has introduced its L9 in the UAE with adaptations for extreme heat, local charging systems and Arabic-language functionality. Limited charging infrastructure remains a constraint, with Saudi operator EVIQ reporting 134 chargers across 56 locations against its ambition of more than 5,000 by 2030, favouring plug-in hybrids and range-extenders during the market's development. CHERY TAKES EXLANTIX TO AUSTRALIA IN 2027 Chery plans to introduce its premium Exlantix brand in Australia around mid-2027 with the ES GT electric shooting brake and ET large SUV, both already demonstrated in right-hand-drive form. The ES GT is expected to feature an 800-volt architecture, while the ET is available overseas in electric and range-extended forms, with expansion into New Zealand and the UK also planned as Chery targets higher-priced international markets. CHINESE EV FIRMS EXPAND EUROPEAN PRODUCTION Chinese EV and battery manufacturers reportedly have 26 factories operating or under construction across Europe, including BYD's Hungarian vehicle plant, CATL's planned 100 GWh Hungarian battery complex and its 50 GWh joint venture with Stellantis in Spain. Local manufacturing could help Chinese carmakers avoid tariffs on China-origin vehicles and establish European supply chains, while the EU is investing €1.5 billion in loans to support competing domestic battery-cell production. HUAWEI CAR UNIT JOINS CATL BATTERY SWAP NETWORK Huawei's automotive technology business Newcool has joined CATL's Choco battery-swapping ecosystem, with plans to combine battery-condition monitoring, journey predictions and assisted-driving technology to automate swaps that CATL claims take 99 seconds. CATL reported 2,520 swapping stations across 200 Chinese cities by late September and is expanding into highway locations and 800-volt batteries, although compatible Huawei-equipped vehicles and a service launch date remain unannounced. CHERY GETS APPROVAL FOR ELECTRIC MOPED Chery has received Chinese regulatory approval for an electric step-through moped, extending its ambitions beyond passenger vehicles alongside a range-extended motorcycle and an electric adventure scooter claiming 150–200 kilometres of range. China's electric motorcycle sales increased 13.1% in the first eight months of 2026, but with the 10 largest suppliers controlling nearly 94% of covered sales, Chery faces substantial competition from established two-wheeler manufacturers.

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France and Germany want to loosen Europe’s 2035 car emissions rules while linking public support more closely to European production. In this ev.news Policy special, Martyn Lee explains the competing proposals, what they could mean for combustion engines and plug-in hybrids, and why a 90% emissions cut does not mean 90% electric car sales. EU law has not changed. Electric car demand is growing, but Europe’s manufacturers and suppliers face pressure on earnings, jobs and their business in China. We examine BMW’s progress on EV margins, Volkswagen’s efforts to reduce development costs and the limits of tariffs. Leapmotor’s production in Spain illustrates how Chinese technology can support European factory jobs while raising questions about ownership, expertise and how much manufacturing value stays locally. We also look at the gap between plug-in hybrids’ official and on-road emissions, the consequences for national climate commitments and what European production requirements could mean for buyers. Keeping combustion cars on sale may help finance the transition. The test is whether manufacturers use that time to build competitive electric cars profitably and retain skilled work. 10 key points The proposed bargain: France and Germany want weaker emissions requirements from 2035, alongside stronger support for European manufacturing. The law remains unchanged: Competing proposals still need agreement. An emissions reduction target does not translate directly into an electric car sales quota. Keeping manufacturing value locally: Public support could depend on European assembly and component sourcing, extending the benefits beyond factory assembly jobs. EV demand is growing: More affordable models and stricter emissions standards have helped encourage sales, despite manufacturers seeking less regulatory pressure. Industry faces real financial pressure: Supplier job losses and falling business in China threaten earnings, skills and production capacity. Manufacturers are improving EV economics: BMW reports progress on contribution margins, while Volkswagen expects shared development to reduce costs. Protection has limits: Tariffs cannot reduce European manufacturing costs or restore the Chinese customers European brands have lost. Chinese competition is becoming local: Leapmotor’s Spanish production shows that European employment, European ownership and European technology are different things. Hybrid accounting matters: Favourable official emissions calculations can disguise higher fuel use. Weaker manufacturer rules would leave governments’ separate climate obligations intact. Extra time needs a purpose: Continued combustion sales can help fund change, but Europe’s future depends on building compelling, competitive electric cars profitably.

VW OPENS ORDERS FOR €27,995 ID. CROSS Volkswagen has opened German orders for the entry-level ID. Cross, priced at €27,995 with a 37 kWh battery, up to 324 km WLTP range and 10–80% DC charging in approximately 23 minutes, compared with €36,525 for the 52 kWh version offering up to 427 km. The compact SUV shares over 80% of its components with Volkswagen's new small-EV family, including the cheaper ID. Polo, which starts at €24,995. SUBARU UNVEILS 380 kW EV PROTOTYPE Subaru has demonstrated a 380 kW all-wheel-drive electric prototype capable of reaching 100 km/h in under four seconds, using a proprietary platform developed in roughly half the usual time through digital simulation and integrated engineering. Despite postponing its original 2028 production plans, Subaru aims to introduce some technologies around 2029, retaining independent control over driving dynamics, safety systems and software while continuing its partnership with Toyota. T&E FINDS PLUG-IN HYBRID EMISSIONS SIX TIMES OFFICIAL RATINGS Analysis of European Environment Agency data by Transport & Environment found that plug-in hybrids registered in 2024 produced six times their official CO₂ emissions in real-world driving, operating exclusively on electricity for just 27% of their mileage and achieving only a 14% emissions reduction against the officially projected 83%. The group wants stricter requirements for electric range, charging and engine use, while supporting EU emissions calculations changing from 29 November to better reflect real-world petrol consumption. CALIFORNIA EV REBATE REACHES NEARLY 12,000 DRIVERS California's $271 million MyFirstEV programme has helped nearly 12,000 first-time zero-emission vehicle buyers and lessees, offering $3,500 towards eligible new vehicles or $1,750 towards used vehicles through combined state and manufacturer funding. Eligibility depends on vehicle price and manufacturer participation, with Tesla already exhausting its allocation, while Toyota and Lexus have introduced separate $2,500 incentives for existing EV owners. UK WEIGHS CUTTING 2030 EV TARGET TO 60% The UK government is considering reducing its 2030 zero-emission car sales target from 80% to 60%, potentially lowering next year's requirement from 38% to 36%, while retaining the 2035 deadline for all new cars to be zero-emission. Manufacturers argue that costly discounts are needed to stimulate demand, although existing regulatory flexibilities already allow compliance below headline sales targets, and no decision is expected before consultation closes on 23 October. ONLY 46% OF US EV OWNERS EXPECT TO STAY WITH THEIR BRAND Escalent research finds that just 46% of American EV owners expect to purchase their next vehicle from the same brand, with Tesla and Toyota tied for consideration, although separate actual purchasing data shows Tesla retaining 63.7% household loyalty against a 51.6% market average. Prospective EV buyers are increasingly price-sensitive, but concerns over battery replacement and home charging costs suggest manufacturers must address ownership risks alongside affordability. VOLKSWAGEN CADDY EV COULD ARRIVE IN 2027 Volkswagen is considering introducing an electric Caddy van as early as 2027, potentially adapting its existing combustion-engine platform with electric components ahead of the dedicated SPACE architecture expected around 2029. Engineers must resolve battery packaging, axle strength and drivetrain configuration while preserving approximately 750–800 kg payload capacity, as Volkswagen's commercial-vehicle division works towards broader electrification, including an electric Crafter arriving in 2029. GREEN SM PUTS 500 VINFAST TAXIS INTO LOS ANGELES Vietnamese ride-hailing company Green SM has launched in Los Angeles with 500 VinFast VF8 electric SUVs, employing drivers directly and owning its vehicles rather than relying on independent contractors, although it initially lacks permission to serve Los Angeles International Airport. The expansion provides VinFast with additional vehicle sales and consumer exposure, reinforcing a relationship in which GSM and related customers already accounted for 27.3% of the manufacturer's electric-car deliveries last year. GM TO CLOSE BROWNSTOWN BATTERY PLANT General Motors is closing its Brownstown battery assembly facility in Michigan following reduced EV production, with staffing falling from approximately 300 to fewer than twelve and decommissioning expected by next summer. The closure accompanies GM's withdrawal from next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell development, leaving a separate planned $55 million Detroit hydrogen facility without its intended purpose as the company redirects investment towards batteries, charging and electric vehicles. 471,000-MILE CHEVROLET BOLT GETS A USED BATTERY A 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV has returned to service after 471,000 miles following installation of a used battery pack, replacing a 2022 recall battery that lasted more than 330,000 miles before developing cell imbalance and swelling. The replacement took approximately four and a half hours using a battery costing the workshop $1,800, demonstrating a potentially economical repair pathway for high-mileage EVs whose original electric motors remain operational.

It's ev.news Briefly for Tuesday 20 October 2026, only today's headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show. VW OPENS ORDERS FOR €27,995 ID. CROSS Volkswagen has opened German orders for the entry-level ID. Cross, priced at €27,995 with a 37 kWh battery, up to 324 km WLTP range and 10–80% DC charging in approximately 23 minutes, compared with €36,525 for the 52 kWh version offering up to 427 km. The compact SUV shares over 80% of its components with Volkswagen's new small-EV family, including the cheaper ID. Polo, which starts at €24,995. SUBARU UNVEILS 380 kW EV PROTOTYPE Subaru has demonstrated a 380 kW all-wheel-drive electric prototype capable of reaching 100 km/h in under four seconds, using a proprietary platform developed in roughly half the usual time through digital simulation and integrated engineering. Despite postponing its original 2028 production plans, Subaru aims to introduce some technologies around 2029, retaining independent control over driving dynamics, safety systems and software while continuing its partnership with Toyota. T&E FINDS PLUG-IN HYBRID EMISSIONS SIX TIMES OFFICIAL RATINGS Analysis of European Environment Agency data by Transport & Environment found that plug-in hybrids registered in 2024 produced six times their official CO₂ emissions in real-world driving, operating exclusively on electricity for just 27% of their mileage and achieving only a 14% emissions reduction against the officially projected 83%. The group wants stricter requirements for electric range, charging and engine use, while supporting EU emissions calculations changing from 29 November to better reflect real-world petrol consumption. CALIFORNIA EV REBATE REACHES NEARLY 12,000 DRIVERS California's $271 million MyFirstEV programme has helped nearly 12,000 first-time zero-emission vehicle buyers and lessees, offering $3,500 towards eligible new vehicles or $1,750 towards used vehicles through combined state and manufacturer funding. Eligibility depends on vehicle price and manufacturer participation, with Tesla already exhausting its allocation, while Toyota and Lexus have introduced separate $2,500 incentives for existing EV owners. UK WEIGHS CUTTING 2030 EV TARGET TO 60% The UK government is considering reducing its 2030 zero-emission car sales target from 80% to 60%, potentially lowering next year's requirement from 38% to 36%, while retaining the 2035 deadline for all new cars to be zero-emission. Manufacturers argue that costly discounts are needed to stimulate demand, although existing regulatory flexibilities already allow compliance below headline sales targets, and no decision is expected before consultation closes on 23 October. ONLY 46% OF US EV OWNERS EXPECT TO STAY WITH THEIR BRAND Escalent research finds that just 46% of American EV owners expect to purchase their next vehicle from the same brand, with Tesla and Toyota tied for consideration, although separate actual purchasing data shows Tesla retaining 63.7% household loyalty against a 51.6% market average. Prospective EV buyers are increasingly price-sensitive, but concerns over battery replacement and home charging costs suggest manufacturers must address ownership risks alongside affordability. VOLKSWAGEN CADDY EV COULD ARRIVE IN 2027 Volkswagen is considering introducing an electric Caddy van as early as 2027, potentially adapting its existing combustion-engine platform with electric components ahead of the dedicated SPACE architecture expected around 2029. Engineers must resolve battery packaging, axle strength and drivetrain configuration while preserving approximately 750–800 kg payload capacity, as Volkswagen's commercial-vehicle division works towards broader electrification, including an electric Crafter arriving in 2029. GREEN SM PUTS 500 VINFAST TAXIS INTO LOS ANGELES Vietnamese ride-hailing company Green SM has launched in Los Angeles with 500 VinFast VF8 electric SUVs, employing drivers directly and owning its vehicles rather than relying on independent contractors, although it initially lacks permission to serve Los Angeles International Airport. The expansion provides VinFast with additional vehicle sales and consumer exposure, reinforcing a relationship in which GSM and related customers already accounted for 27.3% of the manufacturer's electric-car deliveries last year. GM TO CLOSE BROWNSTOWN BATTERY PLANT General Motors is closing its Brownstown battery assembly facility in Michigan following reduced EV production, with staffing falling from approximately 300 to fewer than twelve and decommissioning expected by next summer. The closure accompanies GM's withdrawal from next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell development, leaving a separate planned $55 million Detroit hydrogen facility without its intended purpose as the company redirects investment towards batteries, charging and electric vehicles. 471,000-MILE CHEVROLET BOLT GETS A USED BATTERY A 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV has returned to service after 471,000 miles following installation of a used battery pack, replacing a 2022 recall battery that lasted more than 330,000 miles before developing cell imbalance and swelling. The replacement took approximately four and a half hours using a battery costing the workshop $1,800, demonstrating a potentially economical repair pathway for high-mileage EVs whose original electric motors remain operational.