BRIEFLY: EU, Ford/Geely, Mercedes-Benz & more | 25 Jul 2026
Jul 28, 01:26 PM
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➤ EU EV TARGETS COULD SAVE €12 BILLION
➤ FORD AND GEELY PLAN VALENCIA JOINT VENTURE
➤ SENATE BILL COULD BAR MERCEDES FROM US
➤ RIVIAN CUTS BATTERY COST WITH STRUCTURAL PACK
➤ TESLA SHEDS $214.5 BILLION AFTER EARNINGS
➤ TESLA PUSHES BACK 2026 PRODUCTION GOALS
➤ DENZA Z9 GT OPENS UK ORDERS
➤ CARMAKERS PRESS UK TO REOPEN 2035 BAN
➤ BMW IX1 AND IX2 WIN FULL UK GRANT
➤ NHTSA OPENS RULE ON CAR DOOR ESCAPE
It's EV News Briefly for Saturday 25 July 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
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EU EV TARGETS COULD SAVE €12 BILLION
Meeting the EU's 2030 EV targets covering 35 million battery EVs, 3 million electric vans and 200,000 electric trucks could cut oil imports by about 190 million barrels a year, worth roughly €12 billion, according to E-Mobility Europe and Ember. In 2025 alone, battery EVs already displaced 57 million barrels of oil and kept about €4 billion in European wealth inside the bloc, with the report urging faster electrification alongside a stronger industrial base and energy resilience.
Meeting the EU's 2030 EV targets covering 35 million battery EVs, 3 million electric vans and 200,000 electric trucks could cut oil imports by about 190 million barrels a year, worth roughly €12 billion, according to E-Mobility Europe and Ember. In 2025 alone, battery EVs already displaced 57 million barrels of oil and kept about €4 billion in European wealth inside the bloc, with the report urging faster electrification alongside a stronger industrial base and energy resilience.
FORD AND GEELY PLAN VALENCIA JOINT VENTURE
Ford and Geely Auto are forming a Europe-focused joint venture at Ford's Valencia plant in Spain, with Ford owning 66% and Geely 34%, aiming to start operations in early 2027 and begin production in 2028. The venture will build a new compact Bronco, a jointly developed multi-energy crossover, and two Geely-branded electric SUVs, while Kuga production continues uninterrupted during the transition.
Ford and Geely Auto are forming a Europe-focused joint venture at Ford's Valencia plant in Spain, with Ford owning 66% and Geely 34%, aiming to start operations in early 2027 and begin production in 2028. The venture will build a new compact Bronco, a jointly developed multi-energy crossover, and two Geely-branded electric SUVs, while Kuga production continues uninterrupted during the transition.
SENATE BILL COULD BAR MERCEDES FROM US
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced bipartisan legislation barring automakers with more than 15% Chinese ownership from selling cars in the US, a threshold Mercedes-Benz would exceed due to nearly 20% Chinese investor ownership. Committee chair Ted Cruz said the bill would effectively ban Mercedes, though the company would have until 2030 to comply or seek a waiver, with the measure still needing full Senate and House approval plus a presidential signature.
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced bipartisan legislation barring automakers with more than 15% Chinese ownership from selling cars in the US, a threshold Mercedes-Benz would exceed due to nearly 20% Chinese investor ownership. Committee chair Ted Cruz said the bill would effectively ban Mercedes, though the company would have until 2030 to comply or seek a waiver, with the measure still needing full Senate and House approval plus a presidential signature.
RIVIAN CUTS BATTERY COST WITH STRUCTURAL PACK
Rivian slashed R2 battery-pack cost by switching to large-format 4695 cells, cutting cell count from 7,776 to 776, and making the pack structural to the vehicle floor, saving about 7mm of space used for extra protection and venting. The company made the pack non-serviceable at the cell level to simplify validation, instead consolidating serviceable electronics into a rear-seat "powerhouse" that cut high-voltage cabling by roughly 70% versus R1.
Rivian slashed R2 battery-pack cost by switching to large-format 4695 cells, cutting cell count from 7,776 to 776, and making the pack structural to the vehicle floor, saving about 7mm of space used for extra protection and venting. The company made the pack non-serviceable at the cell level to simplify validation, instead consolidating serviceable electronics into a rear-seat "powerhouse" that cut high-voltage cabling by roughly 70% versus R1.
TESLA SHEDS $214.5 BILLION AFTER EARNINGS
Tesla shares fell 14.5% to $319.69 after disappointing Q2 earnings, wiping $214.5 billion off its market value in the largest one-day loss in company history. The drop followed missed expectations, a more cautious timeline for Cybercab, Semi and Megapack 3, and Tesla's first negative free cash flow in two years amid $5.8 billion in quarterly capital spending.
Tesla shares fell 14.5% to $319.69 after disappointing Q2 earnings, wiping $214.5 billion off its market value in the largest one-day loss in company history. The drop followed missed expectations, a more cautious timeline for Cybercab, Semi and Megapack 3, and Tesla's first negative free cash flow in two years amid $5.8 billion in quarterly capital spending.
TESLA PUSHES BACK 2026 PRODUCTION GOALS
Tesla no longer expects volume production of the Cybercab, Semi, Megapack 3 or Optimus in 2026, blaming the need to scale 4680 battery output, even as quarterly revenue rose 26% to $28.2 billion on stronger deliveries. Despite the sales rebound, net income fell 5% to $1.1 billion, free cash flow turned negative $1 billion, and 2026 capital expenditure is now expected to reach $25 billion.
Tesla no longer expects volume production of the Cybercab, Semi, Megapack 3 or Optimus in 2026, blaming the need to scale 4680 battery output, even as quarterly revenue rose 26% to $28.2 billion on stronger deliveries. Despite the sales rebound, net income fell 5% to $1.1 billion, free cash flow turned negative $1 billion, and 2026 capital expenditure is now expected to reach $25 billion.
DENZA Z9 GT OPENS UK ORDERS
BYD's luxury brand Denza has opened UK orders for the Z9 GT shooting brake, starting at £105,000 for the EV and £95,000 for the plug-in hybrid, more than triple its Chinese starting price. The EV offers up to 599 km WLTP range, a 122.49 kWh Blade Battery 2.0 pack, tri-motor output of about 1,140 hp, and Flash Charging claiming 10-70% in roughly 5 minutes, as BYD tests premium pricing with a Daniel Craig/James Bond campaign.
BYD's luxury brand Denza has opened UK orders for the Z9 GT shooting brake, starting at £105,000 for the EV and £95,000 for the plug-in hybrid, more than triple its Chinese starting price. The EV offers up to 599 km WLTP range, a 122.49 kWh Blade Battery 2.0 pack, tri-motor output of about 1,140 hp, and Flash Charging claiming 10-70% in roughly 5 minutes, as BYD tests premium pricing with a Daniel Craig/James Bond campaign.
CARMAKERS PRESS UK TO REOPEN 2035 BAN
BMW, Ford, Nissan, Toyota and Bosch privately urged UK ministers in April to keep combustion, hybrid and range-extender vehicles on sale beyond 2035, citing the EU's softened 90% target and customer demand concerns. The Department for Transport insisted the 2035 phase-out is not being renegotiated, while critics including Polestar's UK boss and thinktank ECIU warned that delay risks jobs and climate goals despite the manufacturers employing about 30,000 people in the UK.
BMW, Ford, Nissan, Toyota and Bosch privately urged UK ministers in April to keep combustion, hybrid and range-extender vehicles on sale beyond 2035, citing the EU's softened 90% target and customer demand concerns. The Department for Transport insisted the 2035 phase-out is not being renegotiated, while critics including Polestar's UK boss and thinktank ECIU warned that delay risks jobs and climate goals despite the manufacturers employing about 30,000 people in the UK.
BMW IX1 AND IX2 WIN FULL UK GRANT
BMW secured the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant for the iX1 and iX2 in the UK, tied to its Science Based Targets commitment and the Regensburg plant's renewable energy use, making the iX1 eDrive20 Sport start at £33,315, cheaper than its petrol X1 equivalent. BMW also added a new, more affordable iX2 eDrive20 Sport variant at the same £33,315 starting price, alongside other grant-eligible trims.
BMW secured the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant for the iX1 and iX2 in the UK, tied to its Science Based Targets commitment and the Regensburg plant's renewable energy use, making the iX1 eDrive20 Sport start at £33,315, cheaper than its petrol X1 equivalent. BMW also added a new, more affordable iX2 eDrive20 Sport variant at the same £33,315 starting price, alongside other grant-eligible trims.
NHTSA OPENS RULE ON CAR DOOR ESCAPE
NHTSA has opened formal rulemaking on requiring reliable manual door-escape systems in new US cars, responding to a petition citing incidents where flush, electronic door handles—used notably by Tesla—trapped occupants after crashes or power loss. Bloomberg reported at least 15 deaths linked to such failures, and any final rule could force manufacturers to add mechanical backups and revise crash-test protocols, though the process is expected to take months to years.
NHTSA has opened formal rulemaking on requiring reliable manual door-escape systems in new US cars, responding to a petition citing incidents where flush, electronic door handles—used notably by Tesla—trapped occupants after crashes or power loss. Bloomberg reported at least 15 deaths linked to such failures, and any final rule could force manufacturers to add mechanical backups and revise crash-test protocols, though the process is expected to take months to years.