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EV sales surge in key European markets
Sales of fully electric cars in key European markets surged in the first quarter of 2026, as drivers scramble for alternatives amid rising petrol prices caused by the war in Iran. New battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations, a proxy for sales, increased 29.4% year-over-year to nearly 560,000 in the quarter and rose 51.3% to over 240,000 in March across 15 European markets, according to data collected by the trade association E-Mobility Europe and the research firm New Automotive. Last year, those markets accounted for 94% of all BEV sales in the European Union and European Free Trade Association. These countries all align with EU laws regulating CO2 emissions, according to the Acea auto lobby. “March’s surge in electric car sales is one of Europe’s biggest recent gains in energy security, in a month when oil dependence has become a real vulnerability,” E-Mobility Europe secretary general Chris Heron said in a statement. According to a joint statement, the organisations said the half-million BEVs registered in the quarter were enough to reduce oil consumption by two million barrels per year. Europe's five largest EV markets, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland, have recorded growth of more than 40% in BEV s
Motoring
Geely launches i-HEV intelligent hybrid platform
China-based automaker Geely has launched a new intelligent hybrid vehicle platform, which it has said will boost energy efficiency and challenge juggernauts in the sector like Toyota. Its i-HEV system includes artificial intelligence-powered energy management, the company said, which will calibrate energy efficiency based on conditions such as temperature and altitude. “China’s manufacturing and China’s innovation are striving to reach the world’s pinnacle,” said Geely Auto Group CEO Jerry Gan when announcing the i-HEV system at an event in Hangzhou. “To achieve this goal, innovation is the only path forward, especially confronted with the era-defining challenges of energy security and global carbon emissions.” “It will comprehensively surpass the hybrid technology from the Japanese,” said Geely Group spokesperson Victor Yang. A Geely Emgrand sedan recorded fuel consumption of 2.22 litres per 100 kilometres in highway tests when equipped with the i-HEV system, Geely said. This set a new Guinness World Record, according to the company. The previous world record was set by Toyota’s Prius in 2024, at 2.53 litres per 100 km. The i-HEV platform will also integrate intelligent driving functions to offer a driving ex
Motoring
Lofty sales goals set by Mercedes US CEO
The United States and Canada CEO of Mercedes-Benz has set high goals for this year, despite global circumstances creating a difficult motoring market. Adam Chamberlain, who was appointed to the role in 2020, acknowledged that “the market environment is definitely a little tougher than we anticipated”, but the car maker still has big plans for 2026. Last week, it was announced that US$4 billion (A$5.821 billion) would be invested into the Alabama-based plant, through to 2030, to boost SUV production and help reach the ambitious target of a 28% increase in U.S. car sales. In 2025, the Mercedes group sold 2,160,000 cars, with over 300,000 over those in the States, and a goal of 400,000 by 2030. But with ongoing geopolitical tensions causing huge rises in petrol prices, higher interest rates on auto loans and changing tariffs, Chamberlain acknowledged the motoring market was trickier than anticipated this year. “If you look at the market in the first couple of months of the year, the market environment is definitely a little tougher than we anticipated,” Chamberlain said to CNBC last week at the Alabama plant. “I think there are lots of distractions out there, whether it’s geopolitics and everything else.”
Motoring
EVs reach record market share as sales double
Electric vehicles (EVs) achieved their highest share of the Australian vehicle market after sales surged in March, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI). FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said 15,839 battery EVs were sold in March, accounting for 14.6% of total sales, up from 7.5% in March 2025, according to VFACTS (Vehicle Facts) sales data. Weber said that although EV sales grew strongly, rising 94.7% between March 2025 and March 2026, this may reflect short-term influences. “It is too early to determine whether this represents a structural shift in the market,” he said in a media release. “More consumers are considering EVs due to the disruption to fuel supply caused by conflict in the Middle East, along with the review into the fringe benefits tax concession for EVs." Total vehicle sales fell 3.3% to 105,058 in March 2026 compared with March 2025. He said the automotive industry would welcome a sustained shift to EVs, given its substantial investment in bringing more than 100 EV models to the Australian market and the industry’s efforts to meet ambitious New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) targets. “A long-term shift to EVs will require Australian governments to sharpen their fo
Motoring
Tesla deliveries to grow slightly in Q1
Tesla deliveries are expected to rise slightly, despite another slip in sales and a difficult EV market. According to Bloomberg consensus, the EV maker is expected to deliver 364.645 vehicles globally in Q1, which is a 9% jump from last year year-over-year. This is despite the company’s total from last year being down due to the changeover to the new Model Y, which impacted sales. Tesla’s expected total for Q1 2026 is up only marginally compared to a poor quarter for the company. In addition, backlash a year ago against CEO Elon Musk’s role in the White House was at its highest, with protests at Tesla dealerships around the globe. This also comes as Tesla shows signs of rebounding in Europe, after vehicle registrations rose sharply in March in France and Denmark. In France, the company hit an all-time high with a 203.1% jump in registrations to 9,569. Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) stock rose 2.56% on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) to US$381.26.

Motoring
Volkswagen profit plunges amid tariffs, China rivalry
Germany’s Volkswagen has warned of another difficult year after reporting a steep fall in profits for 2025, with United States trade tariffs, intensifying competition in China, and a costly strategic shift at Porsche weighing on Europe’s largest carmaker. The German automotive group said operating profit fell to €8.9 billion in 2025, down 53% from the previous year, while net profit dropped 44% to €6.9 billion. Revenue remained largely flat at around €322 billion, compared with €324.7 billion in 2024, according to the company’s annual results published Tuesday by Volkswagen AG. Despite the weak result, Volkswagen shares rose in early trading in Frankfurt, supported by a broader rally in European equities. The company’s stock, however, remains more than 12% lower since the start of the year. Volkswagen cited U.S. import tariffs, weaker performance in China and restructuring costs linked to its electric vehicle (EV) strategy as key factors behind the decline. The automaker's chief financial officer, Arno Antlitz, described 2025 as “really challenging”, pointing to geopolitical tensions, new trade barriers and intensifying competition. In an interview with CNBC, Antlitz said the group had nevertheless managed
Motoring
BYD company slumps as China EV war intensifies
While BYD Company (HK:1211) remains a global player in the electric vehicle market, a significant downturn in early 2026 has more to do with ‘The China’ factor than a material slowdown in demand for EVs globally. Having been embroiled in a brutal domestic price war, BYD - the world’s largest electric car maker - recently lost its top car moniker in China to rival Geely Automobile Holdings (HK:0175) early in 2026, with the latter experiencing triple-digit growth in 2025. A tapering off of recent stimulus policies – notably purchase tax exemptions – at a time when raw material costs are surging has seen a cooling off in consumer confidence. This is weighing on demand, with buyers waiting for new model releases and further clarity on government trade-in initiatives before committing to purchases. While China’s consumers aren’t abandoning EVs entirely, what they are doing is favouring Geely's more budget-conscious EVs (like the Geome Xingyuan/EX2) that are more competitively priced against or slightly cheaper than BYD’s offerings in China. As a result, BYD’s vehicle sales dropped 41% in February and 30% in January. However, much of BYD’s total sales downturn appears to be confined to China – down 65% in February – w
Motoring
Ford to recall millions of vehicles in North America
Ford has recalled more than 600,000 vehicles in Canada and around 4.3 million in the United States due to a software glitch that may cause trailer brakes not to function and exterior lights to fail. The recall will affect certain models of Ford’s most popular vehicles, including some 2021-2026 F150s, 2022-2026 Super Duty Trucks, 2024-2026 Rangers and 2022-2026 Mavericks. Ford said it would issue an over-the-air software update for all affected vehicles. Customers will also be able to use the mobile service or visit a Ford dealer to get the update. The update will be available for all vehicles by the end of May. When pulling a trailer, the software issue can cause the trailer to stop communicating with the vehicle, causing the trailer's stop lamps and turn signals not to light up. In some cases, the trailer's braking function might also be lost. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford said a “Trailer Brake Module Fault” message will appear for drivers, and the turn signal indicator will flash rapidly if a vehicle does not experience the communication lo
Motoring
Stellantis swings to loss as it winds back EV plans
Automotive conglomerate Stellantis posted its first-ever annual loss last year as it scaled back its electric-vehicle plans. Revenue was down 2% to EU€153.51 billion. Its loss per share was €0.42, falling from earnings of €2.48 per share the prior year. “Our 2025 full year results reflect the cost of over-estimating the pace of the energy transition and of the need to reset our business around our customers’ freedom to choose from the full range of electric, hybrid and internal combustion technologies,” said CEO Antonio Filosa. “In the second half of the year we began to see initial, positive signs of progress with the early results of our drive to improve quality, strong execution of the launches of our new product wave and a return to top line growth. In 2026 our focus will be on continuing to close the execution gaps of the past, adding further momentum to our return to profitable growth.” The company said earlier this month that it would take €22.2 billion in charges from winding back its EV ambitions. Last year, it scrapped its goal to sell only fully electric cars in Europe by 2030. These charges also include plans to reduce its workforce in Europe. Shipments for all its brands, including Jeep, Peugeot, and