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On EV News China today we’re talking about: Xiaomi Sets Distance Record, Chery Bets On Solid State and NIO Wins Case Against Influencers
VOLVO EX60 LEAKS AHEAD OF JANUARY REVEAL
Volvo will show its electric EX60 on Wednesday, 21 January 2026. The car has already appeared online. Images leaked on Reddit reveal a mid-size electric SUV aimed squarely at the XC60-sized sweet spot.
The outline looks familiar. The EX60 keeps XC60-like proportions, but with EX90-like surfacing and a mostly closed nose. Up front it keeps key Volvo signatures, including Thor’s Hammer headlights. Inside, the cabin seems to follow the brand’s current interior theme rather than mark a clean break.
That restraint may be the point. Volvo’s task is less to dazzle onlookers than to stop existing customers drifting away as the line-up turns electric. The EX60 does not just enter a crowded EV field; it shadows the firm’s own star performer. The XC60 is Volvo’s best-selling model and its best-seller of all time.
The numbers show the scale of the risk. In 2025 Volvo shifted more than 230,000 XC60s. Any misstep as it introduces the EX60 would threaten a cash cow that underpins much of the firm’s volume. The newcomer must persuade XC60 loyalists that an electric mid-size SUV can feel like the car they know, only updated, not replaced.
ŠKODA’S SURGE INTO EUROPE’S EV TOP TIER
Škoda closed 2025 with 1,043,900 vehicle deliveries worldwide, up 12.7% year on year, its strongest sales run in six years. Long a second-tier European brand, it now looks harder to ignore.
Deliveries in the EU 27+4 rose 9.9% to 836,200, pushing Škoda into third place in its core region for the first time. The ranking matters less than what shifted it: electrified models now make up a quarter of its European sales.
BEV deliveries more than doubled to 174,900 (+119.8%) and plug-in hybrids climbed to 43,800 (+108.6%), for 218,700 plug-in vehicles in total (+117.5%). In Europe, plug-in models reached 25.7% of Škoda deliveries, so roughly one in four new Škodas left the showroom with a charging cable.
The firm is also moving up the EV league table. Strong Enyaq and Elroq demand lifted Škoda to fourth place among Europe’s EV makers, with a 6.8% BEV market share. On BEVs, Germany led with 51,000 deliveries (+106.6%), while Denmark (16,700; +191%) and the Netherlands (15,100; +300%) posted the steepest growth.
The Elroq became a breakout model, finishing second overall in regional EV sales and topping charts in several smaller markets. The Enyaq held a top-10 slot, giving Škoda two solid volume entries in a segment that punishes weak products fast.
Can they keep up the pace? In 2026 Škoda plans two new all-electric models, the urban crossover Epiq and the seven-seat family SUV Peaq, moves that it says will double its all-electric portfolio and test how far downmarket its new EV clout can reach.
IRELAND’S FAST-CHARGING NETWORK SURGES AS EV SALES TAKE OFF
Ireland’s EV market is entering 2026 with charging and sales rising together. Early January figures show EV registrations up over 50% year on year, with some brands up over 1,000%, as the key 261-registration period gets underway.
A joint update from Nevo.ie and the Irish Electric Vehicle Association, drawing on the IEVA 2025 Full Year Review, links this momentum to a 43% rise in high-power CCS infrastructure. CCS connectors increased from 1,039 to 1,487 in 12 months, and two-thirds of the network now delivers 100kW or more.
Regional build-out is broad, with Limerick and Sligo leading growth, such as Limerick’s fast-charging capacity up 120%. The pipeline is also growing, with 160+ new connectors already under construction for 2026 and hundreds more expected via government schemes and business investment, including hotels, supermarkets, sports clubs and shopping centres.
Nevo’s consumer insights suggest Ireland is moving beyond early adopters: lower total cost of ownership, more affordable models and the visibility of charging hubs at retail parks and forecourts are helping first-time buyers choose the EV that fits their lives.
Derek Reilly, from Nevo.ie, said: “The conversation in showrooms and online has shifted. It’s no longer ‘Does it have enough range?’ but ‘Which EV fits my life?’ The infrastructure growth highlighted by the IEVA is the final piece of the puzzle for many Irish families this year.”
TESLA PUTS EXPIRY DATE ON FREE FSD TRANSFERS
Tesla has at last put a date on the death of free Full Self-Driving transfers: March 31st 2026. Customers who want to carry an existing FSD licence to a new car must place an order by then.
The shift turns a rolling, opaque incentive into a clear, final window. Buyers now secure the free transfer at the point of order, not delivery. That breaks with past quarters, when Tesla tied eligibility to cars handed over before quarter-end, and suggests this is not just another end-period push to juice first-quarter sales.
Tesla is also moving FSD to a subscription-only product. Today, drivers can still buy it for $8,000, or subscribe at $99 per month or $999 per year. Tesla says subscriptions will cut upfront costs for buyers and smooth revenue for itself. The option to buy outright will end soon, in line with the shift.
Meanwhile FSD itself is changing fast. Tesla is testing an “unsupervised” version on its Robotaxi fleet, while public releases gain features, including functions that let drivers text while driving under specific conditions. A permanently tied, non-transferable licence looks much more valuable, to Tesla at least, if the software keeps improving.
https://evne.ws/4qDmkji
TESLA CANADA DELAYS POINT TO SHANGHAI SUPPLY SHIFT
Canadian buyers of Tesla’s Model Y Performance who expected February deliveries now face dates slipping into late spring or summer. The delay lands just as tariffs on Chinese-built EVs fall from 100% to 6.1%, a change that could reshape how Tesla supplies the country.
Tesla has already switched Canadian Model Y sourcing once, moving to its Berlin plant after the United States imposed 25% tariffs on vehicles built at Fremont. That shift reportedly let Tesla cut Canadian prices by about C$20,000 (about $14,400). Canada’s new deal with China now adds another option: up to 49,000 Chinese EV imports a year at 6.1% tariffs, rising to 70,000 within five years. By 2030, half of that quota must cost C$35,000 or less (about $25,100).
Shanghai gives Tesla a ready route. The plant, credited with completing roughly one vehicle every 30 seconds and sourcing more than 95% of parts locally, already accounts for nearly half of Tesla’s global deliveries. Re‑routing Canadian supply from China would match the new tariff regime and build on Tesla’s existing presence in the country, where it runs 39 retail and service locations.
CANADIAN AUTO INDUSTRY SOUNDS ALARM OVER CHINA EVS
Canada will admit up to 49,000 China-built electric vehicles a year at a 6.1% tariff. Prime Minister Mark Carney frames it as a return to pre-friction norms, saying the arrangement brings conditions closer to those that prevailed before the latest round of tariff escalation.
Industry is not so sure. Global Automakers of Canada, which speaks for 16 foreign brands, offers only cautious support. It warns that a tariff carve-out of this sort may distort competition even if it trims sticker prices in the short run. It also argues the quota adds yet another moving part to a sector already juggling the federal EV mandate, overlapping tariffs and countervailing duties, and a rising regulatory burden.
The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, which represents the Detroit Three, calls the decision deeply disappointing and sees risk as much in geopolitics as in commerce. More Chinese EVs on Canadian roads, it argues, could strain Canada’s far more important auto relationship with the United States.
Donald Trump, however, has signalled Washington will not object, saying Canada should make a deal with China if it can. That leaves cybersecurity as the main unresolved worry: critics say Ottawa has put lower prices for connected cars ahead of the security risks tied to China-built systems.
SMART’S NEW EUROPE CHIEF FACES TARIFFS AND A SALES SLUMP
Smart’s new European boss inherits a shrinking business and a higher tariff bill. From March 1st Wolfgang Ufer, now head of Smart Germany, will replace Dirk Adelmann as chief of Smart Europe, with a blunt mandate: return the brand to growth.
Dataforce figures show Smart sold 13,100 cars in Europe in 2025, down 47% from 2024. The collapse comes just as costs rise. Since late 2024, China-built battery-electric vehicles have faced an 18.8% EU tariff on top of the bloc’s 10% import duty. The 28.8% combined hit bites harder at Smart than at most rivals, because it builds every car it sells in Europe in China.
Smart says Mr Ufer will work more closely with Mercedes-Benz and the European retail network to cut duplication across markets and sell more cars. The firm hints at leaner operations rather than a change of strategy. Rival China-linked brands have tried to soften the tariff blow by leaning on plug-in hybrids or setting up European production, but Smart has not announced a similar shift.
Mr Adelmann, Smart’s founding Europe CEO, moves to run Mercedes-Benz Switzerland. Under his watch Smart completed its move to a BEV-only line-up and stretched beyond minicars with the #1 small SUV, the #3 compact coupe-style SUV and the #5 midsize SUV. In 2025 the #1 led Smart’s European tally with 5,414 units, followed by the #3 with 4,033 and the #5 with 3,452, according to Dataforce.
Smart plans to return to the minicar segment this year with the #2, though it has shared few details. Mr Ufer must now turn that product plan and closer Mercedes ties into volume, while carrying a tariff burden that others have already worked harder to dodge.
POSTAUTO MAKES BIG SOLARIS BET FOR SWISS E-BUS PUSH
PostAuto has signed a deal with Solaris Bus & Coach for up to 115 battery‑electric buses, a large single‑supplier bet as Swiss cities press on with zero‑emission fleets.
The agreement runs until the end of 2026 and lets PostAuto order vehicles in batches, with deliveries scheduled through to the end of 2027. It follows separate tenders in which Solaris won both the 12‑metre and 18‑metre categories, edging out rivals in one of Europe’s more demanding bus markets.
The contract also shows how quickly Swiss operators now move from trials to scaled procurement. As cities seek to meet decarbonisation targets, they favour known platforms and existing supplier ties.
https://evne.ws/49wy9lc
MG4 GETS POSHER CABIN, KEEPS HARDWARE FOR 2026
MG will not touch the MG4’s fundamentals before 2026, but the cabin will look as if it belongs to a pricier car. An updated MG4 has already appeared in Brazil; a UK version should follow later in 2026 as the firm braces for tougher competition from the Renault 4, Volkswagen ID.3 and Kia EV3.
The biggest change sits inside. MG plans a thorough rethink of the cabin, drawing heavily on the newer and more expensive MG S5 EV. The dashboard gains redesigned air vents, new door handles and a three-spoke steering wheel in place of today’s two-spoke item. The current open-centre layout gives way to a more conventional console with cup-holders, a rotary gear selector and a wireless phone charger. MG also fits new, sportier-looking seats.
Screens grow in size. The existing seven-inch driver display and 10.25-inch central screen make room for a 10.25-inch driver screen and a 12.8-inch central touchscreen, mirroring the MG S5 EV’s set-up. That brings the MG4’s user interface into line with newer MG models, even if final UK trim and technology details may yet shift.
Under the skin, MG looks set to change little. The car should stay on the firm’s MSP (Modular Scalable Platform). Its battery line-up, a key part of the MG4’s appeal, is expected to continue: three packs at 49kWh, 64kWh and 77kWh, with the Extended Range still quoted at up to 329 miles (about 529km). But MG is likely to drop the smallest, cheapest MG4 variant to make space for the forthcoming MG4 Urban.
https://evne.ws/4a49ynK
BYD SEALION 8 TARGETS FAMILY SEGMENT WITH PHEV SEVEN-SEATER
BYD has picked Australia to launch its first seven-seat model, the 2026 Sealion 8 SUV, priced from $56,990 before on-road costs. That places it in the large family segment against the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.
The Sealion 8 undercuts those rivals while offering plug-in tech that only the cheaper Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV.
All three versions use BYD’s dual mode Super Hybrid plug-in system. The FWD pairs a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor for 205kW. AWD variants lift output to 359kW and up to 152km of electric-only range.
Charging caps DC rates at 40kW for FWD and 74kW for AWD, with 11kW AC and vehicle-to-load.
Cabin kit includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital cluster, tri-zone climate control, nine airbags and a 360-degree camera. The Premium adds massaging seats and upgraded audio.
ACER DRIVES PREDATOR BRAND INTO ELECTRIC SCOOTERS
The Predator ES Storm Pro is the firm’s latest e‑mobility bet: a higher‑performance electric scooter built for longer, rougher urban commutes, not weekend dawdles.
The hardware pushes it into serious commuter territory. A 500 W rear hub motor, peaking at up to 1200 W on a 48 V system, offers multiple riding modes so riders can trade sharp response for range. Regional limits are baked in: 20 km/h (12.4 mph) in selected EU regions, 25 km/h (15.5 mph) for the EU version in Spain and 32 km/h (19.9 mph) for the United States. A maximum payload of 120 kg (265 lb) targets adult riders rather than teenagers.
Acer leans on control and comfort as much as speed. Traction control and 10‑inch tubeless tyres aim to keep grip. Front and rear suspension try to keep the scooter composed on broken streets. A rear disc brake with eABS is meant to make stop‑start traffic and poor conditions less fraught. Regenerative braking (KERS) works with eABS to feed some deceleration energy back into the 48 V, 12.8 Ah (614 Wh) battery.
Acer plans to launch the scooter in EMEA in the first quarter of 2026, from EUR 629 (about USD 739).
BROTHERS CRITICALLY INJURED IN 56KM/H E-SCOOTER CRASH
Two Australian brothers, aged 22 and 17, suffered life-altering injuries in a high-speed e-scooter crash at Cape Paterson on Sunday, 18 January 2026. Police say the pair rode together on a single, unregistered e-scooter before hitting the rear of a stationary car. The impact wrote off the parked vehicle. Officers called the injuries too graphic to describe and warned that the consequences will be permanent.
The crash exposes a widening gap between the promise of light electric vehicles and the way some riders use them. Initial police inspections suggest the e-scooter travelled at about 56 km/h (35 mph) at impact, almost three times Victoria’s legal e-scooter speed cap of 20 km/h (12 mph). Investigators also found that the device had the engineering capacity to reach about 99 km/h (62 mph), placing it in a class of hardware that leaves almost no margin for error on public roads.
None of the basic safeguards blocked this chain of risk. The e-scooter was unregistered. Neither rider wore a helmet or protective clothing. The younger brother fell below the minimum legal rider age of 16. Victoria’s rules are clear: legal e-scooter use includes a 20 km/h (12 mph) limit, no passengers and a minimum rider age of 16. Devices that exceed those specifications, or are capable of extreme speeds, can be treated as unregistered motor vehicles, exposing riders to major fines as well as far worse outcomes than a penalty notice.
For now, police and regulators urge prospective buyers to stick to reputable local retailers and legal-spec machines: the commonly cited 250 W limit and the 20 km/h cap, rather than high-power imports that trade a small gain in speed for a steep rise in risk.
https://evne.ws/4jONOzH
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