ev.news Briefly: Citroën 2CV, VW 'Small 4', Bidirectional CCS & more | 07 Oct 2026

It's ev.news Briefly for Monday 12 October 2026, only todays headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

CITROËN REVIVES 2CV WITH €15,000 ELECTRIC PLAN

Citroën has unveiled an electric 2CV concept at the Paris Motor Show, targeting European production in 2028 and a starting price of around €15,000, potentially undercutting the Renault Twingo and Dacia Spring. The lightweight city car aims to recreate the original's affordable, practical appeal, although its battery, range and charging specifications remain unconfirmed, and the target price may depend on proposed EU rules for small EVs.

VW’S FOUR SMALL EVS ATTRACT NEARLY 150,000 ORDERS

Volkswagen Group says its four new affordable electric cars — the ID. Polo, ID. Cross, CUPRA Raval and Škoda Epiq — have attracted almost 150,000 orders ahead of deliveries, demonstrating early demand for smaller European-built EVs. All four share the front-wheel-drive MEB+ platform, with over 80% common components, and will be manufactured in Spain as part of a €10 billion electrification programme designed to reduce costs through economies of scale.

EU PROJECT TESTS CCS BIDIRECTIONAL CHARGING

The four-year EV4EU European research project has successfully demonstrated bidirectional CCS DC charging, allowing electric vehicles to return electricity to homes and energy networks, with Portuguese trials reporting an average 8.6% reduction in household charging costs and up to 21.9% greater renewable-energy integration. Trials across four countries also explored virtual power plants and grid balancing, but widespread adoption still depends on compatible hardware, supportive regulations and financial incentives for vehicle owners.

ROAM OFFERS CASH TO REPLACE OLD UK EV CHARGERS

UK charging operator Roam is offering businesses £500 for replacing single-socket EV chargers and £1,000 for dual-socket units, providing modern replacement equipment and standard installation without upfront hardware costs. Targeting workplaces, hotels and residential developments, the scheme aims to improve charging reliability and interoperability, although participating businesses must enter long-term agreements with Roam rather than receiving unconditional grants.

XPENG CONFIRMS MONA L05 SUV FOR EUROPE IN 2027

XPeng will bring its larger Mona L05 SUV to Europe in early 2027, with Chinese specifications including a 71.1 kWh battery delivering up to 660 km of CLTC range, alongside a range-extender version offering up to 253 km of electric-only range. European pricing, production location and powertrain availability remain unconfirmed, with those decisions particularly important because Chinese-built battery EVs face an additional 20.7% EU import duty beyond the standard 10% tariff.

GEELY EXPANDS TO 100 DEALERS IN AUSTRALIA

Geely has expanded its Australian dealership network from 22 outlets in March 2025 to 100, establishing a presence across every state and territory while targeting further growth in regional areas. Having sold more than 15,000 EX5 electric SUVs, the company is combining wider distribution with promotional financing on its EX5 and EX2 models to strengthen its position in Australia's EV market.

SMART REVEALS TWO-SEAT #2 WITH 290 KM RANGE GOAL

Smart has unveiled its new two-seat #2 electric city car in Paris, returning to its original ultra-compact format with a 35.8 kWh LFP battery, a targeted 290 km WLTP range and 65 kW DC charging capable of 10–80% in a claimed 20 minutes. Measuring just 2.75 metres long, the rear-wheel-drive EV combines exceptional manoeuvrability with a versatile split tailgate, although European pricing and availability have yet to be announced.

VW CHIEF SEEKS EU HELP FOR GERMAN FACTORY OVERHAUL

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume is calling for European policy support as the manufacturer undertakes its largest restructuring programme, potentially closing up to four German factories while cutting jobs to improve competitiveness against Chinese manufacturers. Blume supports Made in Europe policies favouring regional production, but VW faces the difficult task of reducing its German manufacturing footprint while investing in affordable EVs and better software to restore profitability.

MACRON WANTS EV SUBSIDIES LINKED TO EU PRODUCTION

French President Emmanuel Macron wants European EV subsidies tied to substantial EU-based manufacturing of vehicles, batteries and components, rather than rewarding imported cars receiving only final assembly in Europe. With just 26% of EVs purchased in France during 2025 manufactured domestically, Paris is pushing stronger local-content requirements, although Germany remains concerned about Chinese retaliation and reports of a compromise involving weaker 2035 emissions targets have been denied by the Élysée.