ev.news Briefly: BEV Share, Lucid, Xpeng & More
Sep 24, 12:10 AM
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➤ BEVS REACH 30.5% SHARE ACROSS 16 EUROPEAN MARKETS IN AUGUST
➤ LUCID AND BOLT PLAN AT LEAST 25,000 ROBOTAXIS IN EUROPE
➤ U.S. NEW EV PREMIUM FALLS TO 9.4 PERCENT
➤ XPENG PLANS TO OFFER TECHNOLOGY BEYOND VOLKSWAGEN
➤ VAUXHALL PLANS ASTRA GSE PREVIEW AT 2026 PARIS MOTOR SHOW
➤ NEW AUTOMOTIVE ESTIMATES MORE THAN £7BN COMMITTED TO BATTERY PROJECTS
➤ BMW REGENSBURG BUILDS 9,000,000TH VEHICLE
➤ 22% OF DRIVERS UNAWARE ELECTRIC CARS CAN BE LEASED
BEVS REACH 30.5% SHARE ACROSS 16 EUROPEAN MARKETS IN AUGUST
Battery-electric registrations across 16 European markets rose 54.2% year on year to 202,833 in August, giving BEVs a 30.5% share, while the eight-month total exceeded 1.67 million, up 33.1%. Germany registered 68,980 BEVs for a 32.5% share and France 36,159 for 38.3%, while Norway led at 98.7% and Denmark reached 85.9%.
Battery-electric registrations across 16 European markets rose 54.2% year on year to 202,833 in August, giving BEVs a 30.5% share, while the eight-month total exceeded 1.67 million, up 33.1%. Germany registered 68,980 BEVs for a 32.5% share and France 36,159 for 38.3%, while Norway led at 98.7% and Denmark reached 85.9%.
LUCID AND BOLT PLAN AT LEAST 25,000 ROBOTAXIS IN EUROPE
Lucid and Bolt have signed an MOU targeting a European fleet of at least 25,000 autonomous vehicles based on Lucid’s upcoming Midsize platform, with Bolt owning and operating the vehicles and an initial deployment targeted as early as 2028. The Level 4-ready vehicles are expected to use Nvidia’s Hyperion platform, but no firm order, investment terms or delivery schedule have been disclosed, and the project is separate from Lucid’s existing robotaxi agreement with Uber.
Lucid and Bolt have signed an MOU targeting a European fleet of at least 25,000 autonomous vehicles based on Lucid’s upcoming Midsize platform, with Bolt owning and operating the vehicles and an initial deployment targeted as early as 2028. The Level 4-ready vehicles are expected to use Nvidia’s Hyperion platform, but no firm order, investment terms or delivery schedule have been disclosed, and the project is separate from Lucid’s existing robotaxi agreement with Uber.
U.S. NEW EV PREMIUM FALLS TO 9.4 PERCENT
Kelley Blue Book says the average U.S. new-EV transaction price fell to $54,813 in August, around 9.4% above the overall new-vehicle average of $50,089, down from a premium of more than 16% a year earlier. Cox Automotive separately measured a 9.7% premium, while energy-cost comparisons continue to show EVs substantially cheaper to fuel than comparable combustion cars even though purchase-price parity has not yet been reached in many segments.
Kelley Blue Book says the average U.S. new-EV transaction price fell to $54,813 in August, around 9.4% above the overall new-vehicle average of $50,089, down from a premium of more than 16% a year earlier. Cox Automotive separately measured a 9.7% premium, while energy-cost comparisons continue to show EVs substantially cheaper to fuel than comparable combustion cars even though purchase-price parity has not yet been reached in many segments.
XPENG PLANS TO OFFER TECHNOLOGY BEYOND VOLKSWAGEN
Xpeng is exploring technology deals with overseas automakers beyond Volkswagen, potentially offering its electrical architecture, cockpit systems, Turing AI chips and driver-assistance software, according to Reuters. The move could create a higher-margin revenue stream for the loss-making company, which is also considering licensing and customised technology for robotaxis, robotics and other physical-AI applications, although no new customer agreements have been announced.
Xpeng is exploring technology deals with overseas automakers beyond Volkswagen, potentially offering its electrical architecture, cockpit systems, Turing AI chips and driver-assistance software, according to Reuters. The move could create a higher-margin revenue stream for the loss-making company, which is also considering licensing and customised technology for robotaxis, robotics and other physical-AI applications, although no new customer agreements have been announced.
VAUXHALL PLANS ASTRA GSE PREVIEW AT 2026 PARIS MOTOR SHOW
Vauxhall will preview a 277bhp all-electric Astra GSE at the 2026 Paris Motor Show ahead of a formal debut in the second half of 2027, making it the third model in its electric GSE performance range after the Mokka and Corsa. Most technical details remain undisclosed, although the Astra is expected to share hardware with those models, while a separate Astra GSE Line will retain the regular 154bhp motor and 54kWh battery while adding GSE styling.
Vauxhall will preview a 277bhp all-electric Astra GSE at the 2026 Paris Motor Show ahead of a formal debut in the second half of 2027, making it the third model in its electric GSE performance range after the Mokka and Corsa. Most technical details remain undisclosed, although the Astra is expected to share hardware with those models, while a separate Astra GSE Line will retain the regular 154bhp motor and 54kWh battery while adding GSE styling.
NEW AUTOMOTIVE ESTIMATES MORE THAN £7BN COMMITTED TO BATTERY PROJECTS
New AutoMotive estimates more than £7bn is associated with over 14 UK commercial battery projects, with the wider battery supply chain generating £4.2bn in annual turnover and supporting more than 10,000 direct jobs. Existing and planned projects include AESC’s 15.8GWh Sunderland plant, Agratas’s planned 40GWh Somerset factory and the proposed 60GWh GreenPower Park in Coventry, but the group says the UK could still need another two or three gigafactories to meet projected demand of around 115GWh a year by 2035.
New AutoMotive estimates more than £7bn is associated with over 14 UK commercial battery projects, with the wider battery supply chain generating £4.2bn in annual turnover and supporting more than 10,000 direct jobs. Existing and planned projects include AESC’s 15.8GWh Sunderland plant, Agratas’s planned 40GWh Somerset factory and the proposed 60GWh GreenPower Park in Coventry, but the group says the UK could still need another two or three gigafactories to meet projected demand of around 115GWh a year by 2035.
BMW REGENSBURG BUILDS 9,000,000TH VEHICLE
BMW’s Regensburg factory produced its nine-millionth vehicle on 16 September, a fully electric BMW iX1 destined for a customer in Sweden, as the plant marks 40 years since beginning production with the E30 3 Series in 1986. Regensburg now builds X1 and X2 models with combustion, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric powertrains on the same line, producing more than 356,000 vehicles in 2025 and operating at roughly one completed vehicle every 57 seconds.
BMW’s Regensburg factory produced its nine-millionth vehicle on 16 September, a fully electric BMW iX1 destined for a customer in Sweden, as the plant marks 40 years since beginning production with the E30 3 Series in 1986. Regensburg now builds X1 and X2 models with combustion, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric powertrains on the same line, producing more than 356,000 vehicles in 2025 and operating at roughly one completed vehicle every 57 seconds.
22% OF DRIVERS UNAWARE ELECTRIC CARS CAN BE LEASED
A YouGov survey commissioned by Gateway2Lease found that 22% of more than 2,000 surveyed drivers without an EV did not know electric cars could be leased, while 28% assumed leasing would require an initial outlay similar to buying. Gateway2Lease argues leasing can lower the barrier to EV adoption through fixed monthly payments and avoiding a large purchase price, although the survey did not include a like-for-like cost comparison or measure whether leasing awareness would actually persuade drivers to switch.
A YouGov survey commissioned by Gateway2Lease found that 22% of more than 2,000 surveyed drivers without an EV did not know electric cars could be leased, while 28% assumed leasing would require an initial outlay similar to buying. Gateway2Lease argues leasing can lower the barrier to EV adoption through fixed monthly payments and avoiding a large purchase price, although the survey did not include a like-for-like cost comparison or measure whether leasing awareness would actually persuade drivers to switch.