ev.news Briefly: ID. Buzz Cargo, Alpine A290, Audi A6 & more

VOLKSWAGEN OPENS ORDERS FOR LONGER ID. BUZZ CARGO

Volkswagen has opened German orders for the longer ID. Buzz Cargo, which increases load volume from 3.9 to 4.4 cubic metres, gains a wider side opening for a Euro pallet and uses an 86 kWh battery, with prices from €50,630 for the 250 kW AWD version and €48,490 for the forthcoming 210 kW RWD model. Quoted ranges are 430–460 km for AWD and 450–490 km for RWD, with 200 kW DC charging, 11 kW AC charging, one-pedal driving and 3.0 kW continuous vehicle-to-load power.

ALPINE ADDS COLLECTION PACKAGE TO ELECTRIC A290

Alpine has introduced a more restrained Collection styling package for the A290 GT, GT Performance and GTS, adding body-colour wheelarches, a black steering wheel, silver brake calipers, exclusive matte grey-blue or metallic white paint, a gloss-black roof and diamond-cut Snowflake wheels. GT and GT Performance also receive blue-and-white fabric and faux-leather interiors, while GTS retains leather; UK timing and pricing remain unconfirmed, although a small premium over the roughly £30,000 existing range is expected.

AUDI A6 E-TRON CLAIMS 831-MILE SINGLE-CHARGE RECORD

Rally driver Miko Marczyk drove an Audi A6 Sportback e-tron Performance 1,338 km, or more than 831 miles, on one charge over 45 hours, exceeding a previous claimed Lucid Air record of 749 miles and travelling more than 360 miles beyond the Audi’s official 468-mile maximum. The 94.9 kWh car averaged 8.8 miles/kWh on a carefully selected Polish route with favourable terrain and energy-efficient Michelin tyres, making the conditions and exceptionally long journey important context for the claimed record.

DACIA HIPSTER PRODUCTION PLANNED FOR 2027 AT EXPECTED £9,500

Dacia is reportedly planning 2027 production of the Hipster, potentially giving Britain an electric city car costing around £9,500, although the project has not yet received final production approval. Sources indicate a 15 kWh battery and production at Shiyan in China using some previous-generation Spring components, while Dacia is still deciding between four-seat L7e and two-seat L6 configurations as it seeks a profitable sub-£10,000 starting price.

EU WILL NOT VOTE ON TESLA FSD ON 6 OCTOBER

Tesla’s attempt to secure EU-wide approval for Full Self-Driving Supervised will be discussed by the Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles on 6 October but will not be put to a vote, making December the earliest scheduled opportunity for a decision. Seven countries have authorised the driver-supervised system, but bloc-wide approval requires support from at least 15 member states representing 65% of the EU population, while concerns including speed-limit compliance remain and Tesla’s reported European safety figures have not been independently audited.

INDEPENDENT USED-CAR DEALERS GET FREE EV TRAINING

Independent used-car dealers can now access EV Retail Ready, a free online programme created by the BVRLA, Independent Motor Dealers Association and EVA England to improve staff knowledge of charging, running costs, ownership and the EV buying process. The four-module course takes up to two hours, includes access to Clearwatt’s vehicle-specific battery, charging and real-world range data, and requires all customer-facing staff to complete the training for dealership accreditation.

RENAULT PLANS €600 MILLION SPANISH FACTORY INVESTMENT

Renault plans to invest €600 million through 2030 in its Valladolid and Palencia factories in Spain, preparing them for five new models including two medium-sized EVs based on the electric-specific RGEV Medium 2.0 platform. The programme, combining Renault funding with national and regional public support, also includes a battery assembly line at Valladolid and is intended to help secure the future of more than 6,000 direct jobs.

US SENATORS DELAY BID FOR PERMANENT CHINESE VEHICLE BAN

US senators have delayed a fast-track attempt to make restrictions on Chinese vehicles permanent while discussions continue with Republican Senator Rand Paul, whose objection prevents the unanimous consent needed despite the bill having 51 supporters. The proposal would prevent presidential waivers for Chinese manufacturers and could also affect Mercedes-Benz because Chinese investors own nearly 20% of it, although Senator Bernie Moreno said the company would have until 2030 to comply and could potentially receive waivers.

SLOVENIA WILL END ELECTRIC-CAR PURCHASE SUBSIDIES

Slovenia’s new government will end electric-car purchase subsidies after existing funding was exhausted, shifting its electric-mobility policy towards charging infrastructure instead. Around €2.5 million is available for slower chargers and roughly €25 million is planned next year for charging infrastructure on and beyond the TEN-T network, with future support expected to rely more heavily on national rather than EU funding.

ROLLS-ROYCE ELECTRIC SUV PROTOTYPE SHOWS SPLIT BONNET SEAM

A photograph of Rolls-Royce’s forthcoming electric SUV prototype shows a centre bonnet seam resembling a split-opening mechanism described in a 2024 BMW patent, although neither the mechanism nor the possible storage space beneath it has been confirmed. The standalone electric SUV could enter production next year alongside the V12 Cullinan, but reports of BMW Group EV technology, an 800-volt electrical system, dual motors and all-wheel drive remain expectations rather than confirmed specifications.