
Government to phase down FBT exemption for electric vehicles
The government has announced a cap and phased reduction to the fringe benefits tax exemption for electric vehicles, has preserved full relief until 31 March 2027, and has scheduled stepped reductions through to April 2029.

China expands full-size SUV market in 2026
Chinese manufacturers have expanded the 2026 full-size SUV pipeline and have unveiled models priced from about 159,800 yuan under BaaS to over 600,000 yuan, and have introduced BEV, PHEV and hybrid variants across multiple seating and size configurations.


Australian electric vehicle sales by model and brand, 2026
Industry data has compiled monthly Australian battery‑electric vehicle sales by model and brand for 2026 from FCAI, EVC and manufacturers, and has identified gaps in manufacturer reporting that have left some model‑level figures incomplete.


ACT reports 34% EV share of April new car registrations
The ACT government has reported that zero-emission vehicles have represented 34% of April new vehicle registrations, lifting the territory's ZEV fleet to 15,596 and its ZEV share to 4.04%.


Used electric vehicle sales surge; ownership costs converge
Used electric vehicle sales have surged, with average prices approaching those of petrol cars; industry data have shown differences in ownership costs, including charging, installation, maintenance, repair, insurance and optional subscription fees.


Morrow begins LFP cell deliveries to Proventia
Morrow has begun delivering prismatic LFP cells to Proventia under a supply agreement through 2031, and the firms have established technical collaboration as Morrow has scaled production at its Arendal factory to serve industrial battery module programmes.


Walmart deploys ABB A400 EV fast chargers in Phoenix
Walmart has begun deploying ABB A400 DC fast chargers at seven metropolitan Phoenix stores and has slated nine locations totalling 38 chargers to come online. The A400 units have offered up to 400 kW and dual CCS/NACS connectors.


Volkswagen considers China-developed EVs for Europe
Volkswagen has said it has considered bringing China-developed electric vehicles to Europe, has presented several China-only models and has reported a drop in first-quarter operating profit amid intensified competition and weaker demand.


BYD in talks to use part of Volkswagen’s Dresden plant
BYD has held talks with Volkswagen to take over part of the Dresden Transparent Factory and has proposed investing to manufacture electric vehicles, while Volkswagen and regional partners have planned an innovation hub on the remaining site.


China EV makers pivot from price war to in-car AI
Chinese electric-vehicle makers have shifted competition from price cuts to deploying in-car artificial intelligence features and have integrated models such as ByteDance's Doubao and Alibaba's Qwen across millions of vehicles to differentiate offerings amid persistent sales pressure.


BYD Heyuan platform enables larger batteries in Denza D9
BYD has put the Heyuan platform into series production on the 2026 Denza D9, has relocated the exhaust to the engine bay and has enabled larger underfloor battery packaging, increasing concealed rear storage and expanding usable cargo capacity.


Rivian reduces DOE loan to $4.5bn, revises plant capacity
Rivian has renegotiated its Department of Energy loan to $4.5bn, has accelerated drawdown to 2027 and has revised Georgia plant capacity to 300,000 vehicles, and has confirmed R2 production is on track for late 2028 amid uncertain EV demand.


SmartTS-PV compliance tester for inverters and V2G
Pacific Power Source has launched SmartTS-PV, a pre-integrated platform that has automated IEEE 1547.1, UL 1741 SB and EN50549 compliance testing for solar inverters, EVSE with V2G and distributed energy resources, and has reduced test durations.


Source forms maintenance partnership with Siemens and Evolt
Source has partnered with Siemens eMobility and Evolt Charging to establish a unified maintenance model for its UK and Ireland EV charging network, combining Siemens hardware supply with Evolt's nationwide field engineering and single-point maintenance coordination.


Geely Monjaro i-HEV hybrid SUV launched in China
Geely has launched the Monjaro i‑HEV in China, featuring a 1.5‑litre turbo hybrid powertrain, WLTC fuel consumption of 4.75 L/100 km and a price range of 145,700–159,700 yuan; domestic availability and specifications have been confirmed.


BYD launches Ti7 EV Flash Charging Edition
BYD has launched the Fang Cheng Bao Ti7 EV Flash Charging Edition with two variants priced at 199,800 yuan and 209,800 yuan. It has been fitted with a second-generation Blade Battery, a 755 km range and rapid flash charging.


360-degree fleet cameras: multi-angle incident coverage
The report has outlined that 360-degree multi-camera systems have delivered synchronised, multi-angle footage, have expedited claims handling, have supported regulatory reporting and have reduced incident exposure for high-risk fleets, while operators have also incurred higher upfront costs than single-camera setups.


Chargebyte CCL MCS for ISO 15118-20 megawatt charging
Chargebyte has introduced the CCL MCS, a stand-alone controller that has implemented ISO 15118-20 over 10BASE-T1S Ethernet for megawatt charging, and has provided integrated safety, diagnostics and vehicle interfaces for heavy-duty EV applications.


Electric city buses reach majority of EU orders
European electric city-bus uptake has reached 60% of new orders in 2025 and has been projected to achieve full electrification by 2028; operators and governments have committed procurement, funding and charging infrastructure to expand fleets across multiple markets.


Full Circle Lithium sells FCL-X to US waste operator
Full Circle Lithium has made its first commercial sale of FCL‑X to a US waste operator for on-site deployment and has noted rising lithium‑ion battery fires; FCL‑X has been designed to suppress thermal runaway and to reduce reignition risk.


Hyundai unveils Ioniq V for Chinese market
Hyundai has unveiled the Ioniq V, its first Ioniq production model for China, which has been tailored for a spacious cabin, claimed range exceeding 600 kilometres (CLTC) and integrated LLM-based AI and AI-powered driver-assistance.


Planning and equipment for EV trips across the Nullarbor
Drivers have been advised to carry multiple charging cables, RFID cards and Telstra connectivity, plan contingency chargers and book accommodation daily; they have reported reduced range, frequent charger faults and slower-than-advertised charging, prompting calls for regulatory reporting and competing providers.


AEVA proposes universal mass×distance vehicle levy
The Australian Electric Vehicle Association has urged a universal 'mass × distance' vehicle levy and has opposed an EV-specific road user charge, warning it has posed a risk of entrenching inequities and has advocated retaining the fuel excise.


Geely unveils Starship 7 EV with 605 km CLTC range
Geely has unveiled the Starship 7 EV and has offered up to 605 km CLTC range, two battery options, a front 160 kW motor, and has retained the GEA platform; it has been positioned above EX5 in Galaxy SUV range.


GAC Aion N60 EV launched in China with LiDAR
GAC has launched the Aion N60 in China, offering LiDAR-enabled driver assistance, a 165 kW motor and three LFP battery options with ranges to 610 km; the model has been priced from ¥109,800.


OCSiAl expands TUBALL SWCNT portfolio; doubles capacity
OCSiAl has launched a TUBALL SWCNT dispersion portfolio, has expanded synthesis capacity and has targeted silicon‑rich anodes, Li‑CMC binders, high‑energy cathodes and solid‑state batteries; it has also scaled dispersion production across Europe and Asia.


Swiss Post commissions Kempower charging at Villmergen
Swiss Post has commissioned a Kempower DC fast‑charging system at its Villmergen logistics centre and has deployed 16 charging points to charge buses and trucks; Jebsen & Jessen has supplied the technology and Repower has undertaken planning and installation.


BYD launches Han EV Flash Charge Edition
BYD has launched the Han EV Flash Charge Edition in China, offering two variants priced from 179,800 to 187,800 yuan, and has equipped it with a second-generation Blade Battery and flash charging enabling 10–70% state of charge in five minutes.


Kaiyi launches E-QUTE 04 Max mini-EV with 310 km range
Kaiyi has launched the E-QUTE 04 Max with a 55 kW motor, a 28.08 kWh CATL LFP battery delivering a 310 km CLTC range, updated interior and revised packaging; it has been priced at 47,900–51,900 yuan.


Driver coaching: reducing fleet risk and costs
Fleets have adopted driver coaching to convert telematics data into targeted interventions, and have reported reductions in incidents, fuel consumption, insurance exposure and maintenance costs, with some deployments having delivered multi‑million‑pound savings within months.

Tachograph download rules and deadlines
European regulators have required employers to download driver‑card data every 28 days, mass‑memory every 90 days and retain records for at least one year; companies have been advised to adopt automated download solutions ahead of 1 July 2026.

Hongqi debuts Global SUV amid FAW-Leapmotor collaboration
Hongqi has unveiled its first Global SUV at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show and has signalled a joint development with Leapmotor, with FAW having acquired a 5% stake and both firms having agreed to share electrification, powertrain and supply‑chain resources.


Leapmotor to launch second premium brand in 2027
Leapmotor has planned a second brand for 2027 targeting vehicles above 300,000 yuan with an independent sales network, and has set 2026 targets of one million sales and 5 billion yuan net profit and has recorded full-year profitability.


Chery launches Lepas sub-brand with two EV models
Chery has introduced Lepas and has revealed two BEV models, the L4 and L6, for international markets. The L4 has been shown with a 67.1 kWh battery and a 160 kW motor on the LEX platform.


Validation readiness for megawatt EV charging
The EV sector has shifted to 800V–1000V platforms and has introduced megawatt charging, and test systems have lagged, which has exposed gaps in safety, durability and grid validation; next-generation platforms have been applied to address these challenges.


CATL to supply batteries and charging to Jianlong
CATL has agreed to supply Jianlong with batteries and integrated charging and swapping solutions for industrial parks, mines and plants, and has planned deployment of over 3,000 electric heavy trucks, 100 swapping stations and renewable power projects.


Volkswagen launches ID. Era 9X full-size EREV SUV in China
Volkswagen has launched the ID. Era 9X in China, has set pricing from 309,800 yuan, and has positioned the full‑size EREV SUV as flagship three‑row model with dual‑motor AWD, two battery options and a CLTC range up to 406 km.


CATL and HyperStrong sign 60 GWh sodium‑ion battery deal
CATL and HyperStrong have signed a three‑year agreement for 60 GWh of sodium‑ion batteries, have positioned the technology for commercial deployment and have cited manufacturing advances and supply‑chain compatibility to support large‑scale energy‑storage applications.


Wielton launches Swap Trailer Courier Master EVO
Wielton has introduced the Swap Trailer Courier Master EVO, a 3,270 kg swap trailer priced at €14,490, which has been standardised under the EVO concept and has been equipped with BPW high-travel suspension and Wabco brakes.


Mazda aims for JV to sell more NEVs than ICE cars
Mazda has reported that its Changan JV has achieved a 47% NEV share in Q1 and has delivered 91,061 units year to March, exceeding internal estimates, and has positioned the joint venture to potentially sell more NEVs than combustion cars.


Freelander 8 unveiled with Huawei ADS 5 and CATL 6C charging
Freelander has unveiled the Freelander 8, which has entered production validation and has been equipped with Huawei ADS 5, 896-line LiDAR, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8397 architecture and a CATL battery system with 350kW peak and up to 6C charging.


Geely submits Emgrand i-HEV 2.22 L/100 km fuel record
Geely has unveiled the fifth-generation Emgrand i-HEV, has submitted a 2.22 L/100 km highway test to Guinness, has reported 48.41% engine thermal efficiency and has planned system rollout across several models.


Toyota and CATL to Produce Hybrid Batteries in Indonesia
Toyota has partnered with CATL to produce hybrid battery cells and modules in Indonesia and has announced that exports of complete packs and components have been scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.


ABB launches modular OM M-Series EV charging system
ABB has introduced the OM M-Series, a modular, air‑cooled split EV charging system that has separated power generation from dispensing, has enabled expansion in 400 kW increments and has been designed to optimise delivered power across varied site typologies.


Exeed presents EX9 full-size SUV direction
Exeed has presented the EX9 as a full-size SUV direction, alongside the EX Vision concept and EX7 production model, and Chery has reported development of 400 Wh/kg-class batteries and extended-range hybrid systems for future Exeed vehicles.


Li Auto expands into Middle East, plans European push
Li Auto has signed dealer agreements in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, has announced launches in Cambodia, Laos, Macau and Myanmar, and has confirmed attendance at the 2026 Paris Motor Show as part of a phased overseas expansion.



