[ARCHIVE] ev.news Briefly: Genesis, AUDI, EV Charging & more | 20 Aug 2026
Sep 05, 08:45 AM
Share
Subscribe
➤ GENESIS GV90 DROPS THE B-PILLAR
➤ CHINESE AUDI EVS REACH EUROPE THROUGH IMPORTER
➤ EV OWNERS FLAG CHARGING GAP
➤ VOLVO PLANTS MAY BUILD GEELY MODELS
➤ CHERY SETS OUT BRITISH R&D PLAN
➤ CHERY PREPARES GERMAN LAUNCH FROM FRANKFURT
➤ HYUNDAI AND GENESIS GET IONNA CHARGING DISCOUNTS
➤ HYUNDAI AND KIA LINK WITH KALUZA
➤ UNIVÉ LIMITS COVER FOR FOURTEEN BRANDS
It's ev.news Briefly for Thursday 20 August 2026, only todays headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the ev.news Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/evnews
GENESIS UNVEILS 648BHP GV90 ELECTRIC SUV
Genesis has revealed the GV90, a production version of the Neolun concept and its largest, most luxurious model yet, measuring almost 5.3m long with a 123.5kWh battery, up to 311 miles of range, 800V charging at 350kW and a 648bhp dual-motor setup with limited-slip differentials on each axle. It goes on sale in South Korea next month and reaches Europe in the first half of 2027, with UK orders expected to open above £100,000.
Genesis has revealed the GV90, a production version of the Neolun concept and its largest, most luxurious model yet, measuring almost 5.3m long with a 123.5kWh battery, up to 311 miles of range, 800V charging at 350kW and a 648bhp dual-motor setup with limited-slip differentials on each axle. It goes on sale in South Korea next month and reaches Europe in the first half of 2027, with UK orders expected to open above £100,000.
IMPORTER BRINGS CHINESE-MARKET AUDI EVS TO EUROPE
Auto China is importing, homologating and registering Chinese-market AUDI E5 Sportback and E7X electric cars for European sale, undercutting Audi's own models — the 776hp E5 costs €28,000 less than the 543hp S6 Sportback e-tron — with a charging adapter and a two-year warranty through independent repairers. The risks include unclear parts supply, workshops unfamiliar with the cars, driver-assistance tuned for Chinese roads, and the precedent of Volkswagen suing over imported ID.6s in 2023, after which those cars were destroyed.
Auto China is importing, homologating and registering Chinese-market AUDI E5 Sportback and E7X electric cars for European sale, undercutting Audi's own models — the 776hp E5 costs €28,000 less than the 543hp S6 Sportback e-tron — with a charging adapter and a two-year warranty through independent repairers. The risks include unclear parts supply, workshops unfamiliar with the cars, driver-assistance tuned for Chinese roads, and the precedent of Volkswagen suing over imported ID.6s in 2023, after which those cars were destroyed.
68% OF AUSTRALIAN EV OWNERS FLAG CHARGING GAP IN NRMA SURVEY
An NRMA survey of 42,472 members, including 1,730 EV owners, found 68% of EV owners concerned about a lack of charging infrastructure, while purchase price and range anxiety are fading and EVs near cost parity with petrol cars over a vehicle's life. Fuel costs were the top worry for combustion drivers at 75%, and electrified vehicles took 49.16% of Australia's new-car market in Q2, including 69,414 battery electric vehicles.
An NRMA survey of 42,472 members, including 1,730 EV owners, found 68% of EV owners concerned about a lack of charging infrastructure, while purchase price and range anxiety are fading and EVs near cost parity with petrol cars over a vehicle's life. Fuel costs were the top worry for combustion drivers at 75%, and electrified vehicles took 49.16% of Australia's new-car market in Q2, including 69,414 battery electric vehicles.
VOLVO'S EUROPEAN PLANTS TO BUILD GEELY BRANDS FROM 2028
Geely Auto Group's new chief An Conghui says Volvo's European factories are expected to build luxury models for sibling brands such as Zeekr and Lynk & Co from 2028, with the 61-year-old Ghent plant in Belgium a likely candidate following an upgrade deal with the Belgian and Flemish governments. Building in Europe would sidestep the EU's 18.8% tariff on Geely's Chinese-built EVs and support the group's target of 1.5 million annual sales outside China.
Geely Auto Group's new chief An Conghui says Volvo's European factories are expected to build luxury models for sibling brands such as Zeekr and Lynk & Co from 2028, with the 61-year-old Ghent plant in Belgium a likely candidate following an upgrade deal with the Belgian and Flemish governments. Building in Europe would sidestep the EU's 18.8% tariff on Geely's Chinese-built EVs and support the group's target of 1.5 million annual sales outside China.
CHERY TO OPEN UK R&D CENTRE AT MILLBROOK IN LATE 2026
Chery will open a research and development centre at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire in late autumn 2026, starting with chassis and driver-assistance tuning for British roads before extending into autonomous driving and AI, alongside a pact with Nissan to explore building its UK cars at Sunderland. Chinese brands took about 16% of UK registrations in the first half, with the Jaecoo 7 the third best-selling vehicle overall at 23,840 units, up 184%.
Chery will open a research and development centre at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire in late autumn 2026, starting with chassis and driver-assistance tuning for British roads before extending into autonomous driving and AI, alongside a pact with Nissan to explore building its UK cars at Sunderland. Chinese brands took about 16% of UK registrations in the first half, with the Jaecoo 7 the third best-selling vehicle overall at 23,840 units, up 184%.
CHERY TO LAUNCH IN GERMANY IN 2027 WITHOUT AN EV
Chery is establishing its German headquarters at Frankfurt's Gateway Gardens and will launch the Chery brand in the first half of 2027 with four Tiggo SUVs, all hybrids or plug-in hybrids and no battery-electric model, despite EVs being Germany's fastest-growing powertrain. An electric Chery Q, compared with the Renault 5 E-Tech, will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October, as the group targets 30 dealers at launch and 100 by the end of 2027.
Chery is establishing its German headquarters at Frankfurt's Gateway Gardens and will launch the Chery brand in the first half of 2027 with four Tiggo SUVs, all hybrids or plug-in hybrids and no battery-electric model, despite EVs being Germany's fastest-growing powertrain. An electric Chery Q, compared with the Renault 5 E-Tech, will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October, as the group targets 30 dealers at launch and 100 by the end of 2027.
HYUNDAI AND GENESIS DRIVERS GET IONNA CHARGING AT $0.31/KWH
From 20 August, Hyundai and Genesis EV owners in the US can stack two 10% discounts on Ionna's $0.39/kWh base rate, cutting it to $0.31/kWh, with one discount expiring 30 September and the other continuing indefinitely. Sessions must be started through the car maker's app or Plug & Charge rather than the on-site card reader, and eligible models include the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9, Kona Electric, GV60 and Electrified GV70, but not the recently discontinued Ioniq 6.
From 20 August, Hyundai and Genesis EV owners in the US can stack two 10% discounts on Ionna's $0.39/kWh base rate, cutting it to $0.31/kWh, with one discount expiring 30 September and the other continuing indefinitely. Sessions must be started through the car maker's app or Plug & Charge rather than the on-site card reader, and eligible models include the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9, Kona Electric, GV60 and Electrified GV70, but not the recently discontinued Ioniq 6.
HYUNDAI AND KIA PARTNER WITH KALUZA ON SMART CHARGING
Hyundai Motor Group has partnered with Kaluza to build smart charging into Hyundai and Kia EVs from August 2026, integrating with the Kia and myHyundai apps so drivers can set a ready-by time and charge on cheaper, cleaner power, launching in the UK first and then Australia. Vehicle-to-grid services are due from 2027, adding to Kaluza's existing work with Stellantis, Volvo, Volkswagen, Porsche and Mitsubishi Motors.
Hyundai Motor Group has partnered with Kaluza to build smart charging into Hyundai and Kia EVs from August 2026, integrating with the Kia and myHyundai apps so drivers can set a ready-by time and charge on cheaper, cleaner power, launching in the UK first and then Australia. Vehicle-to-grid services are due from 2027, adding to Kaluza's existing work with Stellantis, Volvo, Volkswagen, Porsche and Mitsubishi Motors.
DUTCH INSURER UNIVÉ RESTRICTS COVER FOR 14 CAR BRANDS
Univé, a Dutch insurer with over 1.8 million members, has restricted or excluded 14 car brands based on parts availability, repair information and access to qualified workshops, limiting Dongfeng, Lucid, Firefly, Nio and Zeekr to third-party liability and fully excluding Hongqi, Changan, Voyah, KGM, Leapmotor, VinFast, Jaecoo, MHero and Omoda. The brands took 3.6% of July's Dutch registrations, up from 1.0% a year earlier, and dealers call the warning heavily overblown, with Chery saying it holds more than 30,000 parts at Schiphol-Rijk.
Univé, a Dutch insurer with over 1.8 million members, has restricted or excluded 14 car brands based on parts availability, repair information and access to qualified workshops, limiting Dongfeng, Lucid, Firefly, Nio and Zeekr to third-party liability and fully excluding Hongqi, Changan, Voyah, KGM, Leapmotor, VinFast, Jaecoo, MHero and Omoda. The brands took 3.6% of July's Dutch registrations, up from 1.0% a year earlier, and dealers call the warning heavily overblown, with Chery saying it holds more than 30,000 parts at Schiphol-Rijk.