ev.news Briefly: Semi Factory, China In USA, EV Registrations & more

TESLA OPENS NEVADA SEMI FACTORY WITH 50,000-A-YEAR PLAN

Tesla has opened its first high-volume Semi factory in Nevada, targeting eventual production of 50,000 electric trucks a year as customers including ZET SCALE and Einride wait for thousands of vehicles. Tesla claims up to 500 miles of range and 98% fleet uptime, but the production ramp, dedicated service network and promised autonomous driving capability are still works in progress.

TRUMP OPEN TO CHINESE CAR FACTORIES IN THE US

President Donald Trump says he would accept Chinese carmakers building vehicles in the US if they employ American workers, potentially offering manufacturers a route around tariffs that effectively exclude direct Chinese imports. US automakers and lawmakers are pushing in the opposite direction, arguing that Chinese manufacturers should be blocked from domestic production as their growing European market share demonstrates the competitive pressure they could bring.

EV REGISTRATIONS RISE IN 47 US STATES

EV registrations increased in 47 US states during the second quarter of 2026, with electric vehicles reaching 7.9% of national sales, although market share declined year-on-year in several leading EV states including California, Washington and Oregon. Rising petrol prices and continued state support provide favourable conditions for adoption, but the data does not establish what caused either the broader registration growth or the declining shares in those leading markets.

EMBER REPORT BACKS HOUSEHOLD ELECTRIFICATION

Ember argues that combining EVs, heat pumps, rooftop solar and home batteries can reduce UK household exposure to volatile fossil-fuel prices as clean electricity increasingly supplies the grid. Adoption of these technologies is accelerating, and Ember estimates rooftop solar can cut annual EV charging costs by more than £500 while batteries allow households to use more of their own generation.

INSTAVOLT COMMITS TO CHADEMO AT EVERY UK SITE

InstaVolt has committed to keeping at least one CHAdeMO connector at every existing and future UK charging site, protecting access for thousands of older EVs as other operators phase out the standard. The commitment is particularly important for used Nissan Leaf owners, showing how charging networks will need to support legacy vehicles long after manufacturers have moved to CCS.

LEPAS PREVIEWS L4 AND L6 ELECTRIC SUVS IN SPAIN

Lepas has previewed its L4 and L6 electric SUVs in Spain, both using 65 kWh LFP batteries with claimed WLTP range of up to 450 kilometres and maximum charging power of 120 kW. The models expand Lepas beyond its existing L8 and indicate a broader European EV and plug-in hybrid range, although the vehicles shown were static and some production specifications remain unconfirmed.

EVERYTHING ELECTRIC SYDNEY DRAWS RECORD 37,421 VISITORS

Everything Electric Sydney attracted a record 37,421 visitors and more than 5,300 EV test drives, with attendance around 20% higher than the previous Sydney event. Twelve major vehicle launches and a broader range of home-energy technology suggest growing Australian consumer interest not just in electric cars but in combining transport with cleaner household energy generation and storage.