EV demand diverges as Europe surges and China faces an October decline

EU battery-electric registrations rose 72.9% in September, while China’s October NEV sales were forecast to fall 16.5%. Meanwhile, BYD brought five-minute charging to a $9,810 car, and Volkswagen’s battery recall imposed an 80% charging limit on affected vehicles.

Key developments

Europe’s electric share overtakes petrol

EU battery-electric registrations reached 290,117 in September, up 72.9%, accounting for 29.9% of the market. Through September, nearly 1.93 million registrations gave battery-electric cars a 22.7% share, ahead of petrol.

Electric cars now account for more EU registrations than petrol cars over the year to September.

Oct 22 · electrive · Electric Cars Report

China’s peak-season demand weakens

The CPCA forecasts October NEV retail sales of 1.07 million in China, down 16.5% year on year. Sales for October 1–18 were already down 13% at 520,000, despite NEVs reaching 65.9% of passenger-car sales.

Automakers competing in China face a shrinking NEV sales pool during the traditional peak selling season.

Oct 21–23 · CnEVPost · CnEVPost

Five-minute charging reaches the Seagull

BYD launched its larger second-generation Seagull starting at $9,810. Three variants with a 420-km range support charging from 10% to 70% in five minutes.

Entry-level EV buyers gain access to charging speeds previously associated with more expensive vehicles.

Oct 20 · CnEVPost · Electrek

Volkswagen recall limits charging

Volkswagen is recalling about 72,700 EVs worldwide over faulty batteries, including roughly 10,000 in Germany. Affected vehicles will be limited to 80% charging until a remedy is available.

Affected owners lose usable driving range while they await a fix.

Oct 21 · electrive · Electrek

CATL growth meets profit pressure

CATL’s third-quarter revenue rose 58.58%, but net profit grew 14.54% to 21.246 billion yuan ($3.16 billion). Profit fell 5.77% from the preceding quarter, with tax changes adding pressure, and its Hong Kong shares dropped more than 10% to their lowest level since July 2025.

Revenue growth is translating into much slower profit growth at the battery maker.

Oct 20–21 · CnEVPost · CnEVPost · marketscreener.com

Tesla trims spending outlook

Tesla reported rebounding third-quarter margins but lower profit. Its 10-Q also reduced expected 2026 capital expenditure to above $20 billion, from the more than $25 billion guided since April.

The revised outlook lowers Tesla’s planned investment and cash requirements for 2026.

Oct 21–22 · Tesla Investor Relations · Electrek · Electrek

Tesla explores a SpaceX merger

Tesla and SpaceX formed special board committees to explore a possible merger, according to Elon Musk.

A transaction could change Tesla shareholders’ exposure from an automotive-led business to a combined business including SpaceX.

Oct 21 · Electrek

CATL swapping gains vehicle partners

Huawei’s smart-car business joined CATL’s Choco battery-swap ecosystem, which has 2,520 stations, focusing on vehicles using Huawei Qiankun solutions. BAIC also agreed to connect models across multiple brands and open its dealer network to station construction, targeting a million-vehicle ecosystem.

More compatible models and dealer sites give CATL’s swapping network a broader potential customer base.

Oct 19–22 · CnEVPost · CnEVPost · Electrek

GM links its next platform to LMR cells

GM disclosed a fourth-generation EV platform using 30% less wiring and 20% less battery, with lithium manganese rich cells. Ultium Cells plans to produce LMR prismatic cells at its Spring Hill, Tennessee plant for future GM EVs.

The platform targets lower material requirements, with a production location identified for its new battery chemistry and format.

Oct 20–21 · InsideEVs · Electric Vehicles Archives · InsideEVs

Mach-E gets more battery at the base price

Ford opened orders for the 2027 Mustang Mach-E with an extended-range battery standard across the lineup at no extra cost and a starting price below $40,000. A new Trail trim adds lifted suspension.

Entry-level Mach-E buyers get more battery capacity without paying an upgrade charge.

Oct 22 · Electrek · InsideEVs

Also this week

Vehicle launches

• Volkswagen opened orders for the €27,995 ID. Cross with a 37-kWh battery, up to 324 km of range and a choice of 85-kW or 99-kW motors. Volkswagen Newsroom · Electrek · Electric Vehicles Archives

• A regulatory filing revealed BYD’s five-seat Tang EV with dual motors producing a combined 690 horsepower and two 30-inch screens. Electrek

• Volkswagen Anhui launched the Xpeng-powered ID. UNYX 09 electric sedan in China at $27,000. CnEVPost · Electric Vehicles Archives

• Volkswagen’s Chinese-market Jetta M6 electric sedan offers 285 miles of CLTC-rated range for less than $12,000. Electrek

• Lexus announced US and European pricing for its first fully electric three-row SUV, the 2027 TZ, with US sales due later this year and Europe following in early 2027. Electrek

• Ferrari set the starting price of its first electric car, the Luce, at $560,800. InsideEVs

Future lineups

• Toyota will produce an electric Corolla in China from 2028 alongside hybrid and gasoline versions. Electrek

• Subaru will phase out combustion-engine vehicles in Europe by the end of 2027, with the first model scheduled to leave showrooms this year. electrive · Electrek

• Volkswagen plans a smaller EV below the ID. Polo for 2027, starting at around €20,000. Electrek

• Tesla says Cybercab customer deliveries will begin by year-end, while Elon Musk said Tesla itself will own the vast majority of the vehicles. InsideEVs

• Volvo plans a smaller, more affordable EV for 2027 as its second SPA3-platform vehicle after the EX60. Electrek

• BYD plans to take its new flagship electric sedan overseas, featuring coach doors in its largest and most luxurious electric sedan. Electrek

• Subaru unveiled a 510-horsepower EV platform demonstrator with lighter batteries, in-house electronics and over-the-air updates, targeting production technology from 2029. InsideEVs · Electric Cars Report

Production and business

• Stellantis and Leapmotor began B10 series production in Zaragoza, Spain, with the B05, B03X and B03 set to follow next year. electrive · InsideEVs · Electric Cars Report

• Foxconn is buying 50% of Mitsubishi Electric Mobility for ¥115 billion ($727 million), adding conventional automotive components, radar sensors and a smaller electric-powertrain business. Electrek

• GM is closing its Detroit EV battery facility, which made Cadillac Celestiq batteries and Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray drive units. InsideEVs

• Rivian became the second-best-selling US EV brand in the third quarter, up from tenth last year and replacing GM, though still far behind Tesla. Electrek · InsideEVs

• Volvo’s EX60 exceeded 50,000 European orders while the company struggled to ramp up production. Electrek

• Tesla cancelled Cybertruck orders in Australia and New Zealand and told reservation holders their deposits would be refunded after nearly seven years of accepting reservations. Electrek · InsideEVs

• Mercedes-Benz reported six-month delivery waits for its electric CLA and GLC, while its Kamenz battery plant has operated three shifts, six days a week, since June. electrive

• Rivian acquired 15-person UK startup Third Dimension to turn roads captured by customer vehicles into 3D simulation environments for self-driving development. Electrek

• Volkswagen’s Xpeng-developed ID. Unyx 08 is struggling to sell more than 250 vehicles per month. InsideEVs

Charging and fleets

• CATL unveiled a heavy-duty truck system combining a swappable main battery with a 77-kWh range-extension battery, with launch coverage reporting signings for 13,000 units. CnEVPost · The EV Report · Briefs Finance

• BMW demonstrated the new iX5 charging at up to 460 kW, with the vehicle able to add up to 170 miles of range in 10 minutes. Electrek

• EVgo previewed a charging system capable of up to 750 kW, with design, development and testing underway. Charged EVs

• Chery unveiled a passenger-EV charging system with 1.44-MW peak output, claiming it can add 500 km of range in five minutes. CarNewsChina.com · electrive · Electrek

• Milence opened its 39th charging hub in Temse, Belgium, with four points offering up to 1,500 kW and four CCS points offering up to 400 kW. electrive

• Kia India is adding access to more than 23,500 public charging points through Jio-bp integration in MyKia, while opening its dealership fast chargers through Jio-bp’s platform. electrive

• XCMG unveiled the cabless SDA411 electric terminal-truck concept with Level 4 autonomy for unmanned logistics operations. Electrek

Batteries and testing

• Nio Firefly introduced a CATL Qilin 60-kWh battery with 560 km of stated CLTC range, available to new and existing owners, with a permanent upgrade costing 17,000 yuan ($2,530) for outright vehicle owners. CnEVPost · CnEVPost

• Film cells with silicon-rich anodes retained at least 80% capacity beyond 1,000 laboratory cycles. electrive

• Li Auto’s i6 achieved 811 km of range and consumption of 11.8 kWh/100 km in a reported test. CarNewsChina.com

• GM partnered with Peak Energy on sodium-ion cells for grid-scale storage, with GM Ventures making a strategic investment. Electrek

• An early drive of Slate’s unfinished electric-truck prototype found surprising comfort and performance alongside rough edges. InsideEVs

What to watch

• Watch whether Tesla begins Cybercab customer deliveries by the end of 2026, its stated deadline.

• Watch for the Lexus TZ’s US sales launch later this year, followed by its European arrival in early 2027.

• Watch which combustion-engine model Subaru first removes from European showrooms this year as its phaseout begins.

• Watch for Volkswagen’s battery-recall remedy and the lifting of affected vehicles’ 80% charging limit; timing has not been announced.