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USED EV SUPPLY SET TO JUMP https://evne.ws/4b9e45c

GLOBAL EV SALES FALL AS CHINA CORRECTS, EUROPE MOVES FORWARD https://evne.ws/41aQ1Nb

PROLOGUE STUMLBES ON AS HONDA RETREATS FROM EVS https://evne.ws/4rCjaMj

BYD SETS PARIS DEBUT FOR FLASH CHARGING https://evne.ws/3P6aeBi

GERMAN MOTORWAY CHARGING OPENS TO COMPETITION https://evne.ws/4bJbjrs

UK POWER NETWORKS STARTS UK-FIRST V2G TRIAL https://evne.ws/3N3bpRp

GOVERNMENT HOLDS LINE ON ZEV REVIEW https://evne.ws/4seuhw0

ZERO SELLS XB AND XE DIRECT https://evne.ws/4ux6HMw

BMW TEASES 2027 7 SERIES REFRESH https://evne.ws/3NyNQA1

NISSAN TO END LEAF REMOTE APP ACCESS https://evne.ws/4rsgXmp

It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 15 March 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

USED EV SUPPLY SET TO JUMP
Over 300,000 EVs are expected to come off lease in 2026, driven by a post-2022 surge in EV leasing fuelled by a federal tax credit loophole under the Inflation Reduction Act. Used EVs are already selling faster than petrol cars, making the incoming supply wave a significant affordability opportunity for buyers.
GLOBAL EV SALES FALL AS CHINA CORRECTS, EUROPE MOVES FORWARD
Global EV sales hit 1.1 million units in February 2026, down 11% year-over-year, with year-to-date totals of 2.2 million units, down 8% versus 2025. Europe was the standout performer, up 21% year-to-date, with Italy posting a record February thanks to subsidies of up to €20,000, while North America fell 36% and China dropped 26% though Chinese EV exports surpassed 500,000 units.
PROLOGUE STUMBLES ON AS HONDA RETREATS FROM EVS
Honda has cancelled three planned US EVs — the 0 Series SUV, 0 Series Saloon, and Acura RSX — citing declining EV demand and the rollback of US EV incentives under the Trump administration. Honda is pivoting back to hybrids, and reports suggest the Prologue will also end production in December, though Honda has called that speculation.
BYD SETS PARIS DEBUT FOR FLASH CHARGING
BYD will unveil its Flash Charging technology and the Denza Z9 GT in Paris on 8 April, showcasing a second-generation Blade Battery that charges from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. The Flash Chargers can deliver up to 1,500 kW using two cables simultaneously, though BYD has not confirmed European cable standards or peak output for that market.
GERMAN MOTORWAY CHARGING OPENS TO COMPETITION
A Düsseldorf court ruled on 6 March that Germany's motorway EV charging market must open to full competition, ending Tank & Rast's de-facto monopoly over fast charging at around 360 motorway service areas. The decision, brought by Fastned, requires open tenders for charging installations later in 2026 and could set a Europe-wide precedent for breaking up incumbent charging monopolies.
UK POWER NETWORKS STARTS UK-FIRST V2G TRIAL
UK Power Networks and Octopus Energy have launched a vehicle-to-grid trial in Amersham, Worthing, and Enfield, allowing EV owners to feed power back to the grid during peak demand. The initiative includes automatic approval of V2G charger connections — a UK first — with UK Power Networks approving 80% of requests compared to the national average of just 11%.
GOVERNMENT HOLDS LINE ON ZEV REVIEW
The UK government has rejected industry calls to bring forward the ZEV mandate review, maintaining a 2026 review with findings due in early 2027. Ministers say the timetable will properly identify pressure points, though the car industry's lobby group SMMT argues the transition was built on assumptions that have since proved incorrect.
ZERO SELLS XB AND XE DIRECT
Zero Motorcycles will sell its XB and XE electric dirt bikes directly to consumers online, shipping them in a crate for home assembly of key components like the battery and front fork. Dealers will continue to sell and service both models, with the direct channel aimed at streamlining fulfilment and better competing with electric off-road rivals.
BMW TEASES 2027 7 SERIES REFRESH
BMW has teased the updated 2027 7 Series ahead of its world premiere next month, with the mid-cycle refresh retaining the kidney grille rather than adopting Neue Klasse styling. The i7 electric variant is expected to receive a larger battery, silicon carbide inverters for better efficiency, and the full-width Panoramic Vision display from the iX3.
NISSAN TO END LEAF REMOTE APP ACCESS
Nissan will shut down the NissanConnect EV app on 30 March, stripping remote charging, pre-heating, and battery monitoring from older Leaf models and e-NV200 vans. The move has drawn criticism from owners who note EVs often remain in use for over 12 years, highlighting a broader industry problem where digital features can become obsolete long before the vehicle itself does.

On 5 March 2026, BYD held a landmark technology event unveiling the second-generation Blade Battery, a 1,500 kW megawatt Flash Charging network, eleven new or updated vehicle models, a next-generation LiDAR sensor from Robosense and an upgraded Gods Eye 5.0 ADAS suite.

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LUCID SHOWS COSMOS AHEAD OF 2026 LAUNCH https://evne.ws/4d6MtDd

LUCID SHOWS LUNAR ROBOTAXI CONCEPT https://evne.ws/47tj9mw

UBER NEARS SECOND LUCID ROBOTAXI DEAL https://evne.ws/47CqK23

RIVIAN R2 TIMELINE TIGHTENS https://evne.ws/4lrcbUK

POLESTAR 3 ADDS 800V TECH FOR AUSTRALIA https://evne.ws/4bs9oX0

STELLANTIS HOLDS TALKS WITH XIAOMI AND XPENG https://evne.ws/4boaXVR

VOLKSWAGEN MISSES EU CO2 TARGET, AVOIDS FINES https://evne.ws/4lr5Jx4

LEAPMOTOR B10 OTA ADDS ONE-PEDAL DRIVING https://evne.ws/4brwVao

GM BACKS RARE EV1 RESTORATION https://evne.ws/4sIhHVv

t's EV News Briefly for Saturday 14 March 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

LUCID SHOWS COSMOS AHEAD OF 2026 LAUNCH
Lucid Motors revealed the Cosmos, a midsize SUV targeting "upscale nurturers," with production planned by end of 2026 but meaningful sales not expected until 2027. The cab-forward SUV rides on an 800V architecture with Atlas drive unit motors, a J3400 charging port, and a new centralised electrical architecture designed to cut wiring costs and lower insurance expenses.
LUCID SHOWS LUNAR ROBOTAXI CONCEPT
Lucid unveiled the Lunar, a two-seat robotaxi concept with steer-by-wire, no steering wheel or pedals, and a large central display, built on the same 800V midsize platform as the Cosmos. It targets an impressive 5.5–6 miles per kWh efficiency and DC fast-charging performance of 200+ miles of range in 15 minutes, achieved through aggressive aerodynamic tuning that allows a smaller battery pack.
UBER NEARS SECOND LUCID ROBOTAXI DEAL
Uber is finalising a deal with Lucid to deploy its midsize platform as a robotaxi at volumes comparable to the existing 20,000-unit Gravity SUV contract. If confirmed at similar scale, the combined Lucid-Uber robotaxi programme would total roughly 40,000 vehicles across two platforms.
RIVIAN R2 TIMELINE TIGHTENS
Rivian has unveiled the R2 Performance starting at $57,990, but buyers cannot yet configure the car online and reservation holders won't learn their estimated order time until June. This puts Rivian's previously stated Spring delivery window in serious doubt, as orders won't enter production until June at the earliest.
POLESTAR 3 ADDS 800V TECH FOR AUSTRALIA
Polestar has updated the Polestar 3 with 800V architecture enabling up to 350kW DC fast charging and a 10–80% charge time of just 22 minutes, alongside a new NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin processor replacing the older Xavier chip. The range now spans three trims with battery packs of 92kWh or 106kWh, and existing owners will receive a complimentary hardware retrofit for the upgraded computing platform.
STELLANTIS HOLDS TALKS WITH XIAOMI AND XPENG
Stellantis is in talks with Xiaomi and Xpeng about deals that could include Chinese carmakers taking stakes in Stellantis brands like Maserati and accessing European manufacturing facilities. In return, Stellantis hopes to gain EV and software technology it has struggled to develop competitively, and is also exploring a deeper tie-up with Leapmotor for affordable EVs in Europe.
VOLKSWAGEN MISSES EU CO2 TARGET, AVOIDS FINES
Volkswagen missed its 2025 EU fleet CO2 target, finishing at 100g/km against its 95g/km limit, despite BEV deliveries rising 32% to nearly 1 million units. The EU's three-year compliance mechanism means no immediate fines, but the group must now meet fleet limits in 2026 and 2027, primarily through an accelerated BEV push built around its Electric Urban Car Family rollout.
LEAPMOTOR B10 OTA ADDS ONE-PEDAL DRIVING
Leapmotor pushed a major OTA update to the B10 six months after launch, adding one-pedal driving, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, split-screen navigation, and a Quick Start mode — all without requiring a dealer visit. The update also brings customisable steering wheel shortcut buttons and more natural adaptive cruise control behaviour in bends, with the B10 priced from €33,300.
GM BACKS RARE EV1 RESTORATION
GM is actively supporting the restoration of V212, one of the few surviving EV1s, after the car sold at auction for over $100,000 following its discovery in a Georgia impound lot. GM President Mark Reuss invited the restoration team to GM's Global Technical Center, supplying parts and technical documentation, with the goal of completing the project before the EV1's 30th anniversary in November 2026.

Rivian has spent four years and billions of dollars building electric vehicles that most people cannot afford. The R2 — a mid-size SUV that starts at $45,000 and tops out at $57,990 — is the company's answer to that problem. Full pricing and trim details dropped today, 12 March 2026, and deliveries of the first Performance variant begin this spring. If it works, Rivian becomes a proper carmaker. If it does not, the maths gets ugly fast.
From Concept to Concrete
The R2 platform was first announced in 2022, with production originally pencilled in for 2025 at a planned factory in Georgia. That changed in March 2024, when RJ Scaringe, Rivian's founder and chief executive, unveiled the production-ready R2 alongside the smaller R3 and R3X crossovers at a packed event at the Rivian Theater in Laguna Beach, California. Mr Scaringe also confirmed he was scrapping the Georgia plan — at least for now — and would build the R2 at the existing Normal, Illinois plant instead. That decision saved more than $2.25 billion in capital expenditure and, crucially, pulled the launch date forward.
Within 24 hours of its unveiling, Rivian had taken more than 68,000 reservations at $100 apiece. By July 2024, the company's VP of manufacturing Tim Fallon said reservations had surpassed 100,000 and were still climbing. Rivian has not updated that figure publicly since.
Production began in January 2026. Validation vehicles rolled off the Normal line first, and the factory is now ramping toward a target capacity of 155,000 R2 units per year — alongside the R1 models it already builds there. Each R2 takes roughly 15 hours to assemble, down from 18 hours for an R1.
Why the R2 Matters More Than Any Vehicle Rivian Has Built
The R1T pickup and R1S SUV earned Rivian a devoted following and the top spot in Consumer Reports owner satisfaction surveys. They also bled money. Rivian posted a net loss of $3.65 billion in 2025, on top of a $4.75 billion loss in 2024. The R1S starts near $75,000 (around £59,000) — a price that limits the addressable market to a sliver of American buyers.
"R2 is really instrumental for driving the business to positive cash flow and overall profitability," Mr Scaringe told CNBC in February. He was not exaggerating. The bill of materials for the R2 is roughly half that of the R1. Rivian slashed the number of computing units from over 60 in a traditional vehicle to seven, and cut wiring length by about two miles (3.2 km). The result is what Mr Scaringe called "a dramatic reduction in the cost structure to build it."
Rivian did scrape together a positive gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2025 — a milestone, though the margin was wafer-thin at around 2%, compared with Tesla's 17%. 
The R2, with its leaner architecture and lower price, is meant to close that gap at volume. Analysts expect around 15,000 R2 deliveries in 2026, though some believe Rivian could exceed that figure. By 2027, with three full shifts running, the Normal plant could produce roughly 155,000 R2s annually.
Today's Pricing: What You Get
The lineup spans four trims, all sharing an 87.9 kWh usable battery and a $1,495 destination charge. Here is how they break down:
The Performance trim arrives first, this spring, at $57,990 (around £46,000) including the Launch Package. It runs dual-motor all-wheel drive with 656 horsepower, 609 lb-ft (826 Nm) of torque and a 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) time of 3.6 seconds. Highway overtaking is savage: 50–70 mph (80–113 km/h) in 1.55 seconds. EPA-estimated range sits at up to 330 miles (531 km). The Launch Package bundles lifetime Autonomy+ access, a tow package rated at 4,400 lbs (1,996 kg) and an exclusive Launch Green paint option.
The Premium trim follows in late 2026 at $53,990 (around £43,000). It shares the 330-mile range and dual-motor AWD layout but dials the power back to 450 hp and 537 lb-ft. Zero to 60 takes 4.6 seconds — hardly slow.
The Standard RWD Long Range arrives in the first half of 2027 at $48,490 (around £38,500). A single rear motor delivers 350 hp and 355 lb-ft, reaching 60 in 5.9 seconds. Rivian estimates range at up to 345 miles (555 km) — the longest in the lineup, because rear-wheel drive is more efficient.
Finally, the Standard RWD variant lands in late 2027 at approximately $45,000 (around £35,700). It uses a smaller battery pack and offers 275+ miles (443+ km) of estimated range. Rivian has shared few other details so far.
All trims charge from 10% to 80% in 29 minutes via a native NACS port, which grants access to the Tesla Supercharger network. CCS adapters are supported too.
Built Lighter, Built Tougher
The R2 rides on an entirely new mid-size unibody platform — a departure from the R1's body-on-frame architecture. The result is a vehicle that weighs nearly 2,000 lbs (907 kg) less than its bigger sibling while sitting on a 115.6-inch (2,936 mm) wheelbase. At 185.9 inches (4,722 mm) long and 75 inches (1,905 mm) wide, it is squarely in Tesla Model Y territory.
The weight savings translate directly into agility, but Rivian has kept the off-road DNA intact. Ground clearance of 9.6 inches (244 mm) is best in class — nearly three inches more than a Model Y. Approach and departure angles of 25° and 26° respectively, plus a wading depth of 19.7 inches (500 mm), mean the R2 can do more than look adventurous in a car park. The Performance trim gets semi-active suspension, eight drive modes including Rally and Soft Sand, and a low centre of gravity courtesy of the structural battery pack.
Inside, the cabin seats five adults with 40.4 inches (1,026 mm) of rear legroom and headroom — enough, Rivian says, for occupants over six feet (1.83 m) tall. Total enclosed storage is 90.1 cubic feet (2,551 litres), with a front trunk that swallows a carry-on suitcase and a backpack, fold-flat rear seats that create a level loading surface, and dual gloveboxes. The rear drop glass — a powered window that lowers completely into the liftgate — is a genuine talking point, allowing surfboards and other long cargo to slide in or a breeze to sweep through. It is included on Performance and Premium trims.
Materials lean sustainable: upcycled Birch wood accents, a headliner made from recycled ocean plastics and Rivian's second-generation Adventex material, which is designed to withstand muddy boots and wet dogs in equal measure.
The Technology Play
Rivian calls the R2 a "software-defined vehicle," and the specification sheet backs that up. The perception stack comprises 11 HDR cameras with a combined 65 megapixels and a five-radar system — hardware that comes standard on every trim.
Rivian Autonomy+, the company's Level 2+ hands-free driver-assist system, covers 3.5 million miles (5.6 million km) of roads across the United States and Canada. It costs $49.99 per month or $2,500 as a one-off purchase. The Launch Package includes it for the lifetime of the vehicle. Every R2 gets a 60-day trial.
On-board AI compute runs to 200 TOPS, dedicated to the in-cabin experience. This powers the forthcoming Rivian Assistant — a voice-controlled system that processes complex requests locally, even when offline. The 5G-connected architecture ensures updates arrive over the air, while the offline capability means the vehicle is not hobbled in areas without signal.
At the steering wheel, Rivian's in-house Haptic Halo dials replace conventional switchgear. These context-aware controls scroll, push, pull and tilt with distinct tactile feedback for different functions — an attempt to bridge the gap between touchscreen convenience and physical control that many rivals have abandoned entirely. Two digital displays complete the cockpit: one behind the wheel for driving data, and one in the centre for everything else.
The Elephant in the Room: Tesla
The R2 lands in the most contested segment of the electric vehicle market. The Tesla Model Y — the best-selling EV on the planet and briefly the best-selling car of any kind in 2023 — starts at $44,000 in the United States and delivers up to 357 miles (575 km) of range. It has a vast Supercharger network, a mature software ecosystem and years of manufacturing refinement behind it.
The R2 fights back with 3 inches (7.6 cm) more ground clearance, genuine off-road hardware, a richer interior (Model Y's cabin has always divided opinion) and that distinctive outdoor-adventure identity that Rivian has cultivated since its founding. Whether that is enough to prise buyers away from Tesla — or from the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Chevrolet Equinox EV — remains the central question.
Why Failure Is Not an Option
Rivian burned roughly $3 billion in the first nine months of 2025 alone. It ended 2024 with about $5.3 billion in cash, a figure being steadily eroded by capital expenditure and operating losses. The Volkswagen joint venture — worth up to $5.8 billion in total — provides a lifeline, as does the potential for Department of Energy loan access. But lifelines do not last for ever.
The company's stock tells its own story. Rivian went public in November 2021 at $78 a share, briefly touched $170 and now trades around $15. A 90% decline from the peak concentrates the mind wonderfully.
The R2 must do three things at once: attract a materially larger customer base than the R1 ever could, generate a positive gross margin per vehicle and ramp to volumes that spread fixed costs across enough units to bend the loss curve downward. At a planned capacity of 155,000 units per year from Normal alone — with a second factory in Georgia eventually to follow — Rivian has the industrial ambition. The Volkswagen partnership supplies software licensing revenue and engineering credibility.
Mr Scaringe has described the R2 as "the most important thing that we've developed as a company." On the evidence of today's specification sheet, it is also the most complete. The range is competitive, the technology is ambitious, the price is within reach of mainstream buyers and the off-road capability gives it a personality that few electric SUVs can match.
None of which will matter if Rivian cannot build it at scale, on time and at a cost that leaves room for profit. The company that once dazzled Wall Street with a $170 share price now needs to dazzle customers with a $45,000 truck. That is the harder trick — and the one on which everything depends.

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RIVIAN REVEALS R2 PRICING https://evne.ws/4cDy3Kq

FORD CUTS EXPLORER ENTRY PRICE WITH LFP BATTERY https://evne.ws/4cDy3Kq

LUCID NAMES MIDSIZE SUVS COSMOS AND EARTH https://evne.ws/3Pa2XQQ

LUCID GRAVITY ADDS CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO https://evne.ws/47tVOB6

JAECOO 8 UK SALES START IN MAY https://evne.ws/416J9QV

EU EV PRICES FALL AS SMALL CARS RETURN https://evne.ws/4sapcEY

HONDA AXES THREE US EVS https://evne.ws/3P9W16g

VOLKSWAGEN SETS ID. POLO FROM €25,000 https://evne.ws/416Un80

ENEL COMPLETES 3,730 CHARGING STATIONS https://evne.ws/4bDDSq5

ELECTREON COMPLETES INDUCTEV ACQUISITION https://evne.ws/4urNdJ7

SCANDLINES STARTS BALTIC WHALE SERVICE https://evne.ws/4baI1BO

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RENAULT MEGANE TO ADD RANGE-EXTENDER OPTION https://evne.ws/4s06eAN

ALPINE SETS OUT ITS ELECTRIC A110 PLAN https://evne.ws/47nO97q

MICRA 52KWH GETS FULL UK EV GRANT https://evne.ws/4sBybP7

VOLKSWAGEN REBRANDS ID.3 SUCCESSOR AS ID.3 NEO https://evne.ws/4urnfWc

VOLKSWAGEN TARGETS 50,000 JOB CUTS BY 2030 https://evne.ws/3P49pcb

KIA ENDS NIRO EV WITH HYBRID REFRESH https://evne.ws/4s6GmU0

MG OPENS UK ORDERS FOR S9 PHEV https://evne.ws/4b6yvQf

MG 4X BRINGS SEMI-SOLID BATTERY TO SUV https://evne.ws/4bn7PK0

BYD WEIGHS F1 AND LE MANS MOVE https://evne.ws/4dcb1uk

It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 12 March 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

RENAULT SETS 2030 EV PLAN WITH 800V AND 466 MILE RANGE
Renault Group's futuREady strategy targets 36 new models worldwide by 2030, with 16 fully electric European launches and 100% electrified European sales. A new RGEV medium 2.0 platform with 800V architecture enables up to 466 miles of range, or 869 miles with an optional range extender.
RENAULT MEGANE TO ADD RANGE-EXTENDER OPTION
The next-generation Renault Mégane will be offered as both a fully electric and a range-extender model, with the EREV version targeting an 870-mile total range. The new platform cuts production costs by around 40% versus current EVs, and the cabin will feature a Google-co-developed software system with future AI integration for safety and driver assistance.
ALPINE SETS OUT ITS ELECTRIC A110 PLAN
The next-generation Alpine A110 will launch as a battery-electric model on the Alpine Performance Platform, using an 800V architecture, dual rear motors, and targeting over 500 bhp, a sub-1.5-tonne kerbweight, and up to 373 miles of range. Alpine is aiming for a lightweight, driver-focused character closer to the current A110 than a performance EV like the Taycan, with torque vectoring recalibrating every 10 milliseconds.
MICRA 52KWH GETS FULL UK EV GRANT
The Nissan Micra 52kWh now qualifies for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant following a switch to a Europe-sourced battery, bringing its entry price to £23,245. The entry-level 40kWh variant retains the lower £1,500 grant, with Micra pricing starting from £21,495, and first UK deliveries scheduled for April.
VOLKSWAGEN REBRANDS ID.3 SUCCESSOR AS ID.3 NEO
Volkswagen will rename the ID.3 successor the ID.3 Neo, with a world premiere set for mid-April, bringing the brand's latest software including One Pedal Driving, enhanced Travel Assist with traffic light detection, and Vehicle-to-Load capability. The same software platform will extend to upcoming smaller EVs including the ID. Polo, ID. Polo GTI, and ID. Cross.
VOLKSWAGEN TARGETS 50,000 JOB CUTS BY 2030
Volkswagen Group plans to cut 50,000 jobs by 2030, 43% more than previously disclosed, as profits hit their lowest point since the 2016 diesel scandal due to weak China demand and US tariffs. After spending roughly €12 billion on its in-house software unit CARIAD, VW has scaled back and turned to outside partners including Rivian, committing $5.8 billion to use Rivian's software stack in future EVs starting with the ID.1 in 2027.
KIA ENDS NIRO EV WITH HYBRID REFRESH
Kia has discontinued the Niro EV with the model's latest refresh, which launches only as a hybrid in South Korea. Kia CEO Jung Won-Jung confirmed the decision, stating the company now focuses its EV efforts on the dedicated EV3-through-EV9 lineup.
MG OPENS UK ORDERS FOR S9 PHEV
MG has opened UK orders for the S9 PHEV, a seven-seat SUV priced from £34,205 that offers 62 miles of electric-only range and sits in the 9% benefit-in-kind tax band. It uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a 24.7kWh battery supporting 7kW AC charging, undercutting the rival Chery Tiggo 9 by nearly £9,000.
MG 4X BRINGS SEMI-SOLID BATTERY TO SUV
SAIC has unveiled the MG 4X, an electric SUV based on the MG4 platform that features a semi-solid-state battery as standard across all trims. The battery uses manganese-based lithium-ion chemistry, reduces liquid electrolyte content to 5% for improved safety and longevity, and the MG 4X targets a CLTC range from 510 km (317 miles).
BYD WEIGHS F1 AND LE MANS MOVE
BYD is considering entering Formula 1 and the Le Mans World Endurance Championship, either by building its own team or acquiring an existing one, though no decision has been made. The move would complement BYD's performance brand Yangwang, whose U9 Xtreme recently set a production car speed record of 496.22 km/h at a German test track.

It's EV News Briefly for Friday 13 March 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

RIVIAN REVEALS R2 PRICING
The Rivian R2 launches in four trims, all sharing an 87.9 kWh usable battery, ranging from the $57,990 Performance AWD (656 hp, 330 miles) arriving this Spring to a ~$45,000 base RWD variant in late 2027 with 275+ miles of range. All trims charge 10–80% in 29 minutes via a native NACS port, with a $1,495 destination charge across the board.
FORD CUTS EXPLORER ENTRY PRICE WITH LFP BATTERY
Ford has revised its European Explorer EV with a new LFP battery pack, growing usable capacity from 52 kWh to 58 kWh and boosting WLTP range 17% to 444 km (276 miles), while a stronger APP350 motor lifts output to 140 kW and cuts the 0–100 km/h time to 8.0 seconds. The updated model starts at €39,990 in Germany and adds vehicle-to-load charging, refreshed infotainment, expanded driver assistance features, and standard one-pedal driving, though peak DC charging drops from 145 kW to 110 kW.
LUCID NAMES MIDSIZE SUVS COSMOS AND EARTH
Lucid revealed at Investor Day 2026 that its two upcoming midsize electric SUVs will be called Cosmos and Earth, targeting a ~$50,000 starting price and production before end of 2026. Both will use 800V architecture, bidirectional charging, the new in-house Atlas drive unit (23% lighter, 30% fewer parts), and Lucid claims just 69 kWh would be sufficient for 300 miles of range thanks to a 0.22 drag coefficient.
LUCID GRAVITY ADDS CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO
Lucid has rolled out an OTA update (UX 3.5) bringing wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the Gravity SUV for North American owners now, with Europe and the Middle East to follow in late March. Both systems display on the Gravity's 6K Clearview Cockpit screen, addressing one of the most requested features from Lucid customers.
JAECOO 8 UK SALES START IN MAY
The Jaecoo 8, a three-row flagship SUV, goes on sale in the UK in May priced from £45,500, using Chery's Super Hybrid System pairing a 1.5-litre turbo petrol with a three-speed auto for 422 bhp, 83 miles of electric-only range, and over 700 miles of combined range. Two trims are offered — Luxury (seven seats, £45,500) and Executive (six Nappa leather captain's chairs, £47,500) — with DC fast charging up to 40 kW for a 30–80% charge in about 20 minutes.
EU EV PRICES FALL AS SMALL CARS RETURN
Average EU electric car prices dropped €1,800 to €42,700 in 2025 — the first decline since 2020 — driven by a surge in affordable B-segment BEVs like the Citroën ë-C3 and Renault 5, whose average segment prices fell 13%. T&E expects further price pressure in 2026 as Volkswagen Group prepares a small-car family including the ID. Polo, Cupra Raval, and Skoda Epiq, all targeting around €25,000.
HONDA AXES THREE US EVS
Honda has cancelled the 0 Series SUV, 0 Series Saloon, and Acura RSX for U.S. production, warning of losses up to ¥2.5 trillion ($15.8 billion) as it reverses its EV strategy amid rollbacks of U.S. fossil fuel regulations and removal of EV incentives. CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the priority is to "stop the bleeding," with operating losses now expected up to ¥1.12 trillion in the current fiscal year; the Sony-Honda Afeela brand is unaffected.
VOLKSWAGEN SETS ID. POLO FROM €25,000
Volkswagen will world-premiere the entry-level ID. Polo next month, starting at €25,000 and marking the first ID model to carry an established VW brand name. The range spans 37 kWh LFP and 52 kWh NMC battery options with outputs from 85 kW to 166 kW, and includes an R-Line (~€35,000, ~211 hp) and a GTI variant, with up to 450 km (280 miles) of WLTP range from the larger pack.
ENEL COMPLETES 3,730 CHARGING STATIONS
Enel has finished installing 3,730 EV charging stations across five Italian regions under the first tender of Italy's PNRR recovery plan, with each station offering two points capable of up to 90 kW each. The network is accessible via Enel's app or card and integrates with around 160 mobility service providers, with a further 1,200 stations already contracted under subsequent tenders.
ELECTREON COMPLETES INDUCTEV ACQUISITION
Electreon has finalized its acquisition of U.S.-based InductEV, combining dynamic in-road wireless charging with InductEV's high-power stationary wireless charging for heavy-duty transit and freight. The merged portfolio now covers highway and urban corridor charging (LINE), burst charging at stops (DASH), depot charging (DOT), and heavy-duty freight charging (Ultra DOT).
SCANDLINES STARTS BALTIC WHALE SERVICE
Scandlines launched the Baltic Whale on 10 March 2026, claiming it as the world's largest electric freight ferry in operation at 147 metres, running the 18.5 km Rødby–Puttgarden route carrying 66 freight units. Its 10 MWh battery can fully recharge in just 12 minutes via a dedicated 50 kV / 25 MW cable, with an automated docking tower connecting in 15 seconds, while a hybrid diesel mode reduces crossing time from one hour to 45 minutes.