ev.news Briefly: BMW, Ford, BYD & more
Sep 24, 01:03 PM
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➤ EUROPE’S BATTERY-ELECTRIC CAR REGISTRATIONS RISE 52% IN AUGUST
➤ FORD BEGINS CHINA PRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC TRANSIT CITY FOR EUROPE
➤ ABC TEST ACCESSES BYD SHARK 6 LIGHTS, LOCKS AND MICROPHONE
➤ BYD CUTS DOLPHIN ESSENTIAL TO A$28,888 DRIVE-AWAY
➤ GWM HI4-T FROM $47,990 FOR ELIGIBLE ABN BUYERS
➤ US DIESEL STOCKS TIGHTEN AS STATION OUTAGES REMAIN LOCAL
BMW ADDS THIRD SHIFT TO MEET iX3 DEMAND
BMW has added a third shift at its Debrecen factory in Hungary, taking iX3 production to 24 hours a day after European orders reached 100,000 and the plant built its 50,000th car by late July. More than 5,000 employees have supported what BMW calls its fastest-ever ramp-up at a new plant, which will add a second, as-yet-unnamed Neue Klasse EV in autumn 2026.
BMW has added a third shift at its Debrecen factory in Hungary, taking iX3 production to 24 hours a day after European orders reached 100,000 and the plant built its 50,000th car by late July. More than 5,000 employees have supported what BMW calls its fastest-ever ramp-up at a new plant, which will add a second, as-yet-unnamed Neue Klasse EV in autumn 2026.
EUROPE’S BATTERY-ELECTRIC CAR REGISTRATIONS RISE 52% IN AUGUST
European battery-electric car registrations rose 52% year on year to 245,120 in August 2026, giving BEVs a 29% market share as the wider new-car market grew 4.6%. Chinese brands more than doubled registrations to a record 11.7% share, led by BYD, Chery and SAIC, while petrol registrations fell 14% and diesel 20%.
European battery-electric car registrations rose 52% year on year to 245,120 in August 2026, giving BEVs a 29% market share as the wider new-car market grew 4.6%. Chinese brands more than doubled registrations to a record 11.7% share, led by BYD, Chery and SAIC, while petrol registrations fell 14% and diesel 20%.
FORD BEGINS CHINA PRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC TRANSIT CITY FOR EUROPE
Ford has begun production of the battery-electric Transit City at JMC’s Xiaolan plant in China, with an initial batch of about 1,000 vans destined for Europe and other developed markets before the end of 2026. The van uses a 56 kWh usable LFP battery and 110 kW motor, targets up to 254 km WLTP range, and offers up to 8.5 m³ of cargo space or 1,600 kg payload in chassis-cab form.
Ford has begun production of the battery-electric Transit City at JMC’s Xiaolan plant in China, with an initial batch of about 1,000 vans destined for Europe and other developed markets before the end of 2026. The van uses a 56 kWh usable LFP battery and 110 kW motor, targets up to 254 km WLTP range, and offers up to 8.5 m³ of cargo space or 1,600 kg payload in chassis-cab form.
ABC TEST ACCESSES BYD SHARK 6 LIGHTS, LOCKS AND MICROPHONE
An ABC Four Corners investigation found that a cybersecurity specialist could access selected functions on one BYD Shark 6 without a password, including its locks, lights, infotainment, location and microphone, although he could not access the brakes or cameras. BYD says Australian vehicle data is stored domestically and has denied transferring it to Chinese authorities, while a revised privacy policy permits overseas transfers where allowed by law without establishing that such transfers have occurred.
An ABC Four Corners investigation found that a cybersecurity specialist could access selected functions on one BYD Shark 6 without a password, including its locks, lights, infotainment, location and microphone, although he could not access the brakes or cameras. BYD says Australian vehicle data is stored domestically and has denied transferring it to Chinese authorities, while a revised privacy policy permits overseas transfers where allowed by law without establishing that such transfers have occurred.
BYD CUTS DOLPHIN ESSENTIAL TO A$28,888 DRIVE-AWAY
BYD has cut the Australian Dolphin Essential to A$28,888 drive-away for eligible orders placed by 15 December 2026, down from A$29,990 before on-road costs and following a similar discount for the Atto 1 Essential. The Dolphin Essential retains its 70 kW motor, 44.9 kWh LFP battery and 340 km WLTP range, with BYD giving no Australian launch date for the updated version already sold in China.
BYD has cut the Australian Dolphin Essential to A$28,888 drive-away for eligible orders placed by 15 December 2026, down from A$29,990 before on-road costs and following a similar discount for the Atto 1 Essential. The Dolphin Essential retains its 70 kW motor, 44.9 kWh LFP battery and 340 km WLTP range, with BYD giving no Australian launch date for the updated version already sold in China.
CHINA’S OPERATING AND PLANNED SODIUM-ION CAPACITY TOPS 400 GWH
China has more than 400 GWh of operating and planned sodium-ion battery factory capacity compared with just 11 GWh outside the country, according to CRU data reported by the Financial Times. Sodium-ion offers abundant raw materials and strong claimed cold-weather performance but lower energy density than lithium-ion, while Western projects have struggled to scale and GM-backed Peak Energy currently expects to rely initially on imported Asian cells.
China has more than 400 GWh of operating and planned sodium-ion battery factory capacity compared with just 11 GWh outside the country, according to CRU data reported by the Financial Times. Sodium-ion offers abundant raw materials and strong claimed cold-weather performance but lower energy density than lithium-ion, while Western projects have struggled to scale and GM-backed Peak Energy currently expects to rely initially on imported Asian cells.
GWM HI4-T FROM $47,990 FOR ELIGIBLE ABN BUYERS
GWM has opened Australian orders for the Cannon Hi4-T plug-in hybrid ute at a temporary A$47,990 drive-away price for eligible ABN buyers, combining a 2.0-litre turbo engine and electric motor for 310 kW and 750 Nm. Its 33.1 kWh battery provides a claimed 115 km NEDC electric range, while 110 kW DC charging, mechanical four-wheel drive with low range, 3,500 kg towing capacity and 6 kW vehicle-to-load distinguish it from rivals such as the BYD Shark 6.
GWM has opened Australian orders for the Cannon Hi4-T plug-in hybrid ute at a temporary A$47,990 drive-away price for eligible ABN buyers, combining a 2.0-litre turbo engine and electric motor for 310 kW and 750 Nm. Its 33.1 kWh battery provides a claimed 115 km NEDC electric range, while 110 kW DC charging, mechanical four-wheel drive with low range, 3,500 kg towing capacity and 6 kW vehicle-to-load distinguish it from rivals such as the BYD Shark 6.
US DIESEL STOCKS TIGHTEN AS STATION OUTAGES REMAIN LOCAL
Photos of individual US filling stations running out of diesel reflect genuine local outages, but GasBuddy says its data show no widespread national shortage despite exceptionally high prices. US distillate inventories are unusually low, refineries are running near capacity and international demand for US diesel is strong, leaving little supply buffer and pushing refining margins to record levels without evidence that the country is running out of diesel.
Photos of individual US filling stations running out of diesel reflect genuine local outages, but GasBuddy says its data show no widespread national shortage despite exceptionally high prices. US distillate inventories are unusually low, refineries are running near capacity and international demand for US diesel is strong, leaving little supply buffer and pushing refining margins to record levels without evidence that the country is running out of diesel.