European carmakers are reintroducing small electric cars, moving away from large SUVs. Improved battery tech and lower manufacturing costs enable models like the Renault Twingo E-Tech, aiming to navigate narrow city streets and compete with Chinese manufacturers.
The global electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with sales increasing tenfold in six years. China leads production and adoption, benefiting from falling battery costs and government support. While Europe also shows strong growth, the US market has stagnated.
UK government plans to lower electric car sales targets from 80% to 50% by 2030 have drawn strong criticism from the charging industry and EV brands. Critics argue this move, influenced by manufacturer and union lobbying, will harm investment, jobs, and the UK's automotive future, potentially benefiting Chinese manufacturers.
The UK government is reportedly planning to relax its 2030 electric vehicle sales targets, potentially lowering the mandate for pure EVs from 80% to 50% and allowing a larger share for hybrids. This move follows intense lobbying from the car industry and unions concerned about job security and manufacturing penalties.
Weakened UK electric car sales rules may increase CO2 emissions by 17m tonnes by 2030, driven by a 48% rise in plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales, which emit more than anticipated due to underuse of battery mode.
India's electric vehicle market is gaining momentum, driven by high fuel prices and upcoming regulations like CAFE-3. Despite a 25% market expansion and EVs crossing the 5% threshold, challenges in charging infrastructure and supply chain dependencies, particularly on China, persist.
Turkey's national football team departed for the World Cup from Istanbul in a festive convoy featuring Togg electric cars and enthusiastic fans, drawing international media attention.
Stellantis plans to launch a new range of affordable, compact electric cars, dubbed 'E-Cars', in Europe by 2028, aiming to revitalize the entry-level EV market with a target price of around €15,000. Production will begin in Italy, with the initiative expected to boost local manufacturing and EV adoption.
Thomas Edison, the famous American inventor, significantly impacted the 20th century with inventions like the light bulb and phonograph. He also pioneered early electric cars, developing a nickel-alkaline battery and owning a small electric car factory, though limitations in range and battery life hindered widespread adoption.
BNP Paribas lowers expectations for pure electric cars due to charging infrastructure gaps and high insurance costs, suggesting EVs and combustion engine vehicles will coexist longer. China and Europe lead in infrastructure readiness.
Stellantis announced plans to launch four new electric vehicles in 2027, leveraging Chinese technology from its joint venture with Dongfeng. The European carmaker will invest US$130 million of a combined US$1.18 billion budget for mass production, with some models slated for export.
Hong Kong’s retail sales jumped by 12.8 per cent in March, bringing first-quarter growth to 9.8 per cent, driven by a spurt in sales of electric cars ahead of the withdrawal of tax breaks. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday showed that retail sales reached HK$33.9 billion (US$4.32 billion) in March. The March increase was largely fuelled by car sales as buyers raced to make deals before the first registration tax concessions for electric cars ended...
Oil prices above $111/barrel have triggered a seismic shift in electric vehicle interest, with Renault UK reporting 42% more enquiries and EVs now comprising 50% of its sales. Meanwhile, UK house prices rose 0.4% in April despite economic gloom, NatWest reported £1.4bn Q1 profits but set aside £140m for geopolitical risk, AstraZeneca fell 1.9% after US regulators rejected its breast cancer drug, and Diageo rose 2% after Trump removed Scotch whisky tariffs.
Part of what has held back electric cars has been the cost. But an influx of used vehicles over the next three years could bring prices down dramatically. In 2025, just 123,000 leases on EVs expired. That is expected to more than double to 300,000 in 2026, and double again to 600,000 in 2027 and […]
Electric car sales in continental Europe soared 51% in March as rising petrol and diesel costs driven by the Iran war accelerated the shift to EVs. Some 224,000 new EVs were registered last month, with 500,000 sold in Q1 – a 33.5% increase year-on-year. Norway leads with 98% of new cars being electric, while Germany, France, Italy and Poland recorded 40% EV uptake. The switch has reduced annual oil demand by the equivalent of 2m barrels per year.
Agreements would aim to shield British industry from new steel tariffs and stricter rules on electric vehicles due in 2027Downing Street hopes to secure deals on steel and electric cars with the EU as it seeks to upgrade the post-Brexit economic relationship.Amid economic uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East and strains in relations with the US, Keir Starmer is seeking closer economic ties with the EU. Continue reading...
Is $20,000–$25,000 a sweet spot for secondhand electric cars? We think so.
France will nearly double EV support to €10bn annually through 2030, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced April 10, 2026. The plan includes incentives for electric cars and charging infrastructure, targeting two out of three new vehicles to be electric by 2030, plus a social leasing programme for 100,000 low-income EVs. BEV sales in the EU rose to 18.8% in early 2026, up from 13.6% in 2024.
European car buyers are showing a surge in interest for electric vehicles, driven by escalating petrol prices following the conflict in Iran. Online marketplaces across the UK, Germany, France, and Spain have reported significant increases in EV inquiries.
