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.
