FOLLOW UP: TESLA SWEDISH STRIKE ENDS
We first mentioned how Swedish Tesla workers had gone on strike, back on 21 November 2023. The dispute has come to an end after Tesla paid off all the workers who remained on strike, with severance packages. That’s one way to ‘win’. To read more, click this electrive article link here.
UK GOVERNMENT BEGINS ZEV MANDATE CONSULTATION
Following months of lobbying, the UK Government has finally started to review the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. They have opened a consultation that will close on the 23 October 2026. This is a tricky matter for the Government because whilst the targets are only being hit by huge discounts, other parts of the ecosystem have made plans based on these same targets. If you wish to learn more, click this Motor Trader article link here.
PORSCHE LEAVES VW GROUP EU CO2 POOL
Porsche has left the Volkswagen Group’s CO2 pool, for the EU, and joined Xpeng’s in order to meet the annual requirements of 92g/km. The VW Group is currently sitting at 8% over the target set for it. Click this Autocar article link here to read more.
CHINA’S BATTERY HEALTH RULES COME INTO FORCE
In December 2025 China announced new rules for batteries, specifically the health of them as they age. A key component is the State of Available Energy (SOCE), which is judged against that when new. Part of this is also the minimum requirements of what a battery must be at after set ages, for example after five years there must be at least 82% available energy. To read more, click this electrive article link here.
WEVC TO BUILD EVS IN QATAR
Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC), based in Cornwall, has reached an agreement with Qatar based investment company, to build EVs in the Middle East country. The first two models will be a passenger car and a medium sized van. The expectation is for production to begin in early 2028. If you want to find out more, click this Autocar article link here.
FRANCE OFFERS FINANCIAL AID FOR USED EVS
The French Government will be introducing a grant for the purchase of used EVs from September 2026. The amount is quite low though, at €337, unless you are a health worker. Critics have complained that the amount is insufficient and needs to be increased. The money is coming from energy and fuel suppliers, thanks to ‘polluter-pays’ rules. Click this electrive article link here, to read more.
WORLD RECORD FOR JCB
JCB has smashed the world land speed record for a hydrogen powered vehicle as their vehicle, the Hydromax, averaged 406.320mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Andy Green was the driver, making that his third record. To read more, click this Autocar article link here.
NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM IN FIGHT WITH LANDLORD
The National Motor Museum, which is currently housed at Beaulieu, has stated that it is actively looking for a new home as its lease comes to an end. Beaulieu Enterprises Limited, who run the site, issued a statement to state even if the museum does move they will have their own motor museum on site to replace it. According to reports, there is no new lease on offer and the gate receipts for the site only give a small fraction of the entry fee to the museum. If you want to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.
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NEW NEW CAR NEWS -
Leapmotor B03
Leapmotor will be bringing the B03 to the UK in 2027. This car is aimed at the likes of the Renault 5 and is expected to cost somewhere in the low £20,000s. When launched the car will have a 53kWh battery which WLTP maximum range is expected to be 242 miles. Click this EV Powered article link, to read more.
Denza D9
Denza are the latest to bring a luxury MPV to the UK, following the likes of Xpeng and Lexus. Prices start at £75,000 which is nearly £23,000 less than the Lexus LM. Click this Autocar article link here, for more.
Audi Q9
Audi think the Q9 is now the range topping vehicle they make. It is large, very large at 5.3m long and 2.2m wide. Externally there are more than a few wiffs of the last generation Hyundai Santa Fe but inside they have followed the recent trend of making it look as cheap and tacky as possible. There are screens across the width of the dashboard, there is led lighting everywhere. Prices are yet to be announced but do expect them to be beyond £100,000 just for the ‘entry-level’ version. Click this Autocar article link here, to find out more.
LUNCHTIME READs: BERLINGO BERLINGO (I’M IN LOVE)
The Berlingo will hit 30 years old in October. Ahead of that Driven to Write has a lovely article which covers some of the history of the car plus bristowfuller’s path to owning one. Click this link here to enjoy this week’s read.
LIST OF THE WEEK: THESE ARE THE 50 GREATEST ITALIAN CARS OF ALL TIME
We bring you a Top Gear list, all about Italian cars which never gets old. Do you agree with the choices made? What would you pick? Click this link here to see what your options are.
AND FINALLY: STATIONARY MUSEUM CAR GETS SPEEDING TICKET
The Volo Museum, near Chicago, received a speeding ticket and photographic evidence that the Pontiac Trans Am from the TV show Knight Rider was speeding in New York. Thing is, it hasn’t moved in years and quite how the police managed to track down the museum when they have not registered the car for the road, is another mystery. Click this Yahoo!News article link here to read more.
