[ARCHIVE] ev.news Briefly: Rivian, GM, Electric Trucks & more | 15 Sep 2026
Oct 05, 07:06 AM
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➤ RIVIAN DEMO DRIVES PASS 150,000 AFTER R2 LAUNCH
➤ MARY BARRA SAYS EVS REMAIN GM'S END GAME
➤ ELECTRIC TRUCKS LEAD IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026
➤ GEELY GALAXY CRUISER 700 COULD BE BUILT AT FORD'S VALENCIA PLANT
➤ MG5 IS AUGUST'S FASTEST-SELLING USED CAR
➤ RENAULT LAUNCHES REMANUFACTURED EV MOTORS AT AROUND 30% LESS
➤ VOLVO LAUNCHES ELECTRIC TRUCK FOR UP TO 80 TONNES
➤ U.S. BUYERS AND DEALERS DIVIDE OVER CHINESE CARS
RIVIAN DEMO DRIVES PASS 150,000 AFTER R2 LAUNCH
Rivian completed more than 150,000 demo drives through August, with activity accelerating sharply after R2 drives began on 9 June, while CEO RJ Scaringe says Launch Edition orders converted from reservations better than expected and the company is preparing a second production shift in Illinois. However, Rivian’s figures cover its entire range and marketing events, and without disclosed R2 production, deliveries or test-drive conversion rates, demo drives remain evidence of interest rather than confirmed sales demand.
Rivian completed more than 150,000 demo drives through August, with activity accelerating sharply after R2 drives began on 9 June, while CEO RJ Scaringe says Launch Edition orders converted from reservations better than expected and the company is preparing a second production shift in Illinois. However, Rivian’s figures cover its entire range and marketing events, and without disclosed R2 production, deliveries or test-drive conversion rates, demo drives remain evidence of interest rather than confirmed sales demand.
MARY BARRA SAYS EVS REMAIN GM'S END GAME
GM CEO Mary Barra says EVs remain the company’s “end game” and “north star” despite cancelled electric-truck plans and weaker US EV sales, with electric vehicles still projected to represent roughly 40–50% of GM sales by 2030. GM is continuing to invest in batteries, software and charging while using combustion-vehicle profits to fund a transition Barra now expects to take decades rather than follow a fixed near-term deadline.
GM CEO Mary Barra says EVs remain the company’s “end game” and “north star” despite cancelled electric-truck plans and weaker US EV sales, with electric vehicles still projected to represent roughly 40–50% of GM sales by 2030. GM is continuing to invest in batteries, software and charging while using combustion-vehicle profits to fund a transition Barra now expects to take decades rather than follow a fixed near-term deadline.
ELECTRIC TRUCKS LEAD IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026
IAA Transportation 2026 shows battery-electric trucks moving from demonstration projects towards mainstream freight, with new Volvo models, MAN trucks claiming up to 720 km of range and Mercedes eActros 600 customer vehicles already accumulating more than 160 million kilometres. The wider focus on megawatt charging, depot infrastructure and energy management shows that grid capacity and charging operations are increasingly as important to electric trucking as the vehicles themselves.
IAA Transportation 2026 shows battery-electric trucks moving from demonstration projects towards mainstream freight, with new Volvo models, MAN trucks claiming up to 720 km of range and Mercedes eActros 600 customer vehicles already accumulating more than 160 million kilometres. The wider focus on megawatt charging, depot infrastructure and energy management shows that grid capacity and charging operations are increasingly as important to electric trucking as the vehicles themselves.
GEELY GALAXY CRUISER 700 COULD BE BUILT AT FORD'S VALENCIA PLANT
Geely is considering building its new Galaxy Cruiser 700 SUV at Ford’s Valencia factory from 2028 through their 66%-Ford, 34%-Geely joint venture, potentially reducing tariffs, logistics costs and reliance on importing complete vehicles from China. With Geely’s EX5 also expected to be produced there and the plant potentially capable of 500,000 vehicles annually, Valencia could become a major European manufacturing base for the Chinese carmaker.
Geely is considering building its new Galaxy Cruiser 700 SUV at Ford’s Valencia factory from 2028 through their 66%-Ford, 34%-Geely joint venture, potentially reducing tariffs, logistics costs and reliance on importing complete vehicles from China. With Geely’s EX5 also expected to be produced there and the plant potentially capable of 500,000 vehicles annually, Valencia could become a major European manufacturing base for the Chinese carmaker.
MG5 IS AUGUST'S FASTEST-SELLING USED CAR
Electric cars occupied nine of the UK’s 10 fastest-selling used-car positions in August, led by the MG5 at just 20.6 days on dealer forecourts, ahead of models including the Mercedes EQA, Polestar 2, Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.4. The figures show strong demand and rapid turnover for particular used EVs, although combustion cars still dominate overall used-car sales volumes, with the Vauxhall Corsa remaining Britain’s best-selling used model.
Electric cars occupied nine of the UK’s 10 fastest-selling used-car positions in August, led by the MG5 at just 20.6 days on dealer forecourts, ahead of models including the Mercedes EQA, Polestar 2, Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.4. The figures show strong demand and rapid turnover for particular used EVs, although combustion cars still dominate overall used-car sales volumes, with the Vauxhall Corsa remaining Britain’s best-selling used model.
RENAULT LAUNCHES REMANUFACTURED EV MOTORS AT AROUND 30% LESS
Renault is offering remanufactured 6AM electric traction motors in Europe for the Megane E-Tech, Scenic E-Tech and Master E-Tech at around 30% less than equivalent new motors, with The Remakers claiming equivalent performance, reliability and an “as good as new” guarantee. Lower-cost replacement motors could materially improve the economics of keeping older EVs on the road after warranty expiry, although Renault has not yet confirmed the programme for the UK.
Renault is offering remanufactured 6AM electric traction motors in Europe for the Megane E-Tech, Scenic E-Tech and Master E-Tech at around 30% less than equivalent new motors, with The Remakers claiming equivalent performance, reliability and an “as good as new” guarantee. Lower-cost replacement motors could materially improve the economics of keeping older EVs on the road after warranty expiry, although Renault has not yet confirmed the programme for the UK.
VOLVO LAUNCHES ELECTRIC TRUCK FOR UP TO 80 TONNES
Volvo Trucks has developed a new battery-electric truck for combinations weighing up to 80 tonnes, using 640 kWh of usable battery capacity and offering quoted ranges of 450 km at 64 tonnes and 420 km at 76 tonnes. Megawatt charging can take the battery from 20–80% in around 36 minutes, pushing battery-electric trucks into demanding applications such as long-haul freight, timber transport and refrigerated operations when European sales begin in early 2027.
Volvo Trucks has developed a new battery-electric truck for combinations weighing up to 80 tonnes, using 640 kWh of usable battery capacity and offering quoted ranges of 450 km at 64 tonnes and 420 km at 76 tonnes. Megawatt charging can take the battery from 20–80% in around 36 minutes, pushing battery-electric trucks into demanding applications such as long-haul freight, timber transport and refrigerated operations when European sales begin in early 2027.
U.S. BUYERS AND DEALERS DIVIDE OVER CHINESE CARS
Around half of surveyed US car buyers say they would consider a Chinese vehicle, attracted partly by prices substantially below America’s roughly $50,000 average new-car transaction price, while many US dealers remain opposed to Chinese manufacturers entering the market. High tariffs and forthcoming restrictions on Chinese vehicle software and hardware currently leave those brands without a viable US sales route, despite evidence that both consumers and some dealer groups could ultimately be willing to sell them.
Around half of surveyed US car buyers say they would consider a Chinese vehicle, attracted partly by prices substantially below America’s roughly $50,000 average new-car transaction price, while many US dealers remain opposed to Chinese manufacturers entering the market. High tariffs and forthcoming restrictions on Chinese vehicle software and hardware currently leave those brands without a viable US sales route, despite evidence that both consumers and some dealer groups could ultimately be willing to sell them.