ev.news Briefly: BMW iX3 M60, Norway, MG & more

BMW iX3 M60 ADDS 450 kW POWER WITH 468-MILE RANGE

BMW has introduced the iX3 M60 xDrive with 450 kW of power, a 108.7 kWh battery, 468 miles of WLTP range and 400 kW DC charging, allowing up to 211 miles of range to be added in ten minutes. The performance model accelerates to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds, sacrifices just 29 miles of range compared with the iX3 50, and will open for orders in early 2027, with its powertrain also destined for the new iX4.

NORWAY HITS 98.8% EV SALES AS TESLA TAKES A QUARTER

Battery-electric vehicles accounted for a record 98.8% of Norway's 18,733 new-car registrations in September 2026, with Tesla capturing 26.3% of the market, almost entirely through the Model Y. Although EVs represented 97.9% of new registrations across the first nine months, they account for just 35.3% of Norway's existing passenger-car fleet, demonstrating how much longer the transition of vehicles already on the road will take.

EU EV SALES RISE 45% AS CHEAPER MODELS ARRIVE

EU battery-electric sales increased 45% to 1.64 million vehicles between January and August 2026, reaching a 22% market share as manufacturers expanded their electric ranges and the number of models priced below €25,000 was expected to double. Transport & Environment attributes much of this growth to EU fleet-emissions regulations, arguing that weakening future targets could undermine the expansion of affordable electric vehicles.

MG SETS UK SALES RECORD WITH 91.6% ELECTRIFIED

MG achieved its biggest UK sales month in September, registering 18,026 vehicles, up 23.7% year-on-year, and becoming Britain's fourth-largest car brand for the month, with electrified models accounting for 91.6% of sales, including conventional hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Its battery-electric registrations grew 65.2% during the first nine months of 2026, more than twice the wider UK EV market's 30.3% growth, demonstrating how MG is gaining ground through both fully electric and hybrid vehicles.

CUPRA LOWERS TAVASCAN ENTRY PRICE TO £39,995

CUPRA has introduced a cheaper Tavascan Origin in the UK, priced from £39,995 with a 58 kWh battery, 140 kW motor, 273 miles of WLTP range and 105 kW DC charging capable of replenishing the battery from 10–80% in 26 minutes. The company has also reduced prices across its existing 77 kWh range, giving customers a lower-cost entry point while retaining longer-range and higher-performance alternatives.

TESLA DROPS FULL SELF-DRIVING NAME IN EUROPE

Tesla has renamed Full Self-Driving to Tesla Assisted Driving across its European websites following German objections that the original name misrepresented the driver's responsibility, with Germany indicating support for approval if the system also limits speeding to no more than 10% above posted limits. The software remains a supervised driver-assistance system, currently accepted in eight EU countries, while EU-wide approval requires support from at least 15 member states representing 65% of the population, with no vote expected before December.

FRANCE AND GERMANY SEEK TO WEAKEN EU 2035 CAR RULES

France and Germany have reportedly agreed to support weaker EU vehicle-emissions targets, potentially reducing the required CO₂ cut for new cars in 2035 from the current 100% to 80%, allowing more combustion-engine and hybrid vehicles to remain on sale. In exchange, Germany would support tougher European manufacturing requirements, while both countries favour more flexible emissions accounting, although any changes still require legislative approval.

EU-CHINA DEAL COULD HALVE PROJECTED HYBRID EXPORTS

The EU and China have reached an agreement that could halve projected Chinese hybrid exports to Europe over four years, potentially restricting the alternative route Chinese manufacturers developed after additional European tariffs on battery-electric vehicles in 2024. However, the reduction is measured against undisclosed future forecasts rather than current sales, and without published export limits, vehicle classifications or enforcement mechanisms, the agreement's actual impact remains impossible to determine.

ELECTRA PASSES 800 ULTRA-FAST CHARGING SITES

European charging operator Electra has expanded beyond 800 ultra-fast charging stations and 4,738 charging points across ten markets, up from just over 500 stations a year earlier, with equipment capable of delivering up to 600 kW. The company claims 99% network uptime and is targeting 1,000 stations next, with a longer-term ambition of 2,200 stations and 15,000 charging points by 2030, emphasising reliability alongside network expansion.

RENAULT AND EDF PLAN A NEW HOME-CHARGING OFFER

Renault and French energy company EDF are developing an integrated electric-car, home-charging and energy-management package for French households, scheduled for summer 2027, combining Renault dealership sales with EDF charger installation and smart-charging services. The scheme aims to support vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid functionality on compatible models including the Renault 5, Twingo and Dacia Spring, potentially reducing electricity bills by using vehicle batteries to supply homes or return energy to the grid.