Tag Archives: EVs

News

Volvo Plots Its Electric Future — With Scandinavian Calm and Geely Muscle

Volvo, that most Swedish of carmakers — all calm tones, high safety, and minimalist furniture chic — just rolled out a business plan that sounds, well, almost aggressive. At an investor event in Stockholm, the brand outlined how it plans to make serious money out of going electric. Not just survive it — profit from it. The number they’ve set their sights on? A tidy EBIT margin north of 8 per cent. That’s boardroom code for “we’re going to make proper cash again, thank you very much.”

And at the heart of this grand Scandinavian scheme is a car with the charisma to make Tesla sweat and BMW’s accountants nervous — the Volvo EX60. Due to be revealed in January 2026, this mid-size SUV will sit squarely in the most hotly contested segment on Earth. It’s built on Volvo’s new SPA3 architecture, a flexible, future-proof base that’ll underpin the brand’s next wave of electric machines. Volvo says it’ll be a game-changer for price, performance, and cost. Bold words — but then again, this is Volvo 2.0: calm on the outside, quietly ruthless underneath.

“Electrification is an opportunity for us and the main driver for growth,” said CEO Håkan Samuelsson, doing his best to sound like a man who doesn’t secretly own a petrol V90 for fun. And he has a point. Volvo’s relationship with its parent company Geely — once considered an odd couple — is now paying off in spades. Joint hardware sourcing, shared tech, and a regionalised manufacturing strategy mean the Swedes can make electric cars faster and cheaper than ever before, without compromising that crisp, ethical image.

Fredrik Hansson, the CFO, threw around the sort of words that usually make investors nod sagely — “variable cost reductions,” “hardware synergies,” and “structurally lower investments.” Translated: Volvo’s tightening its belt, sharing its toys, and making sure every krona does more work. The brand’s SEK 18 billion cost-and-cash action plan (that’s billions with a B) is all part of a push to bring spending down to “an affordable level.” Which is finance-speak for “we’ve spent enough on fancy factories for now.”

But there’s a clever twist here. Volvo isn’t just trimming costs; it’s doubling down on brains. By expanding its in-house software platform across all models — even hybrids — it’s aiming to create one seamless digital experience. Your car updates, adapts, and maybe even apologises when it gets something wrong. It’s all part of the company’s drive to make its cars not only electrified but intelligent.

On the commercial side, Volvo’s shaking up how it sells cars, too. Think fewer middlemen, more online direct sales, and marketing that’s actually designed to pull new customers in without setting money on fire. A more customer-centric sales model means better prices for buyers and better margins for Volvo — a rare win-win in the automotive jungle.

So, what’s the takeaway from all this corporate theatre? Volvo’s quietly building momentum. It’s laying the groundwork for an electric future that’s not just sustainable, but properly profitable. The EX60 will be the first big test — the car that proves whether Volvo can take on the likes of Audi’s Q6 e-tron and BMW’s iX3 on merit and margin.

If it drives as cleanly as the spreadsheets promise, it might just be the most important Volvo since the XC90 turned the brand into a global player two decades ago.

Because in a world obsessed with shouting about horsepower and range, Volvo’s playing the long game — and doing it with typical Scandinavian poise. Calm. Quiet. And possibly about to make a fortune.

Source: Volvo

News

Charged for Charging: The EV Tax That Could Stall the Revolution

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. The Government’s finally realised that as Britain’s roads fill with silent, battery-powered chariots, the Treasury’s piggy bank is sounding suspiciously empty. No petrol, no diesel, no fuel duty. And so, in a move that feels equal parts inevitable and ill-timed, ministers are sharpening their pencils and scribbling a new entry into your motoring expenses: a 3p-per-mile tax on electric vehicles.

Yes, you read that right. The same EVs we’ve been urged to buy to save the planet are now getting their own version of the fuel duty sting. Because apparently, saving the world doesn’t exempt you from paying for it.

According to The Telegraph, BBC, and Financial Times, this new “VED-plus” charge is pencilled in for 2028, pending a consultation. It’ll sit neatly beside the £195 annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) that EV owners will already be paying by then. Do the maths: if you cover 8,000 miles a year in your whisper-quiet hatchback, that’s about £435 a year in road charges. Congratulations — you’ve just electrified your fuel bill.

The Treasury reckons it could raise a tidy £1.8 billion a year by the early 2030s — which, funnily enough, is just about what’s missing from the government’s revenue as more drivers swap petrol pumps for plug sockets.

The Industry’s Response: “Are You Mad?”

Predictably, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) isn’t impressed. They’ve called the proposed move “entirely the wrong measure at the wrong time.” Their argument? It’ll scare off would-be EV buyers just when the UK needs them most to meet its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets.

They’ve got a point. EV adoption is still fragile — 1.3 million electric cars on the road sounds impressive until you remember there are roughly 33 million cars in the UK. The market’s barely out of nappies, and now the government wants to tax the baby formula.

SMMT chief exec Mike Hawes (and the entire automotive industry, quietly) is basically shouting: “Don’t tax what you’re trying to sell.” Introducing a complex, costly new tax system before the EV transition has fully taken root risks sending buyers straight back to petrol forecourts — and investors straight to Germany or the US.

Enforcement: The Mileage Guessing Game

The plan, as reported, is for EV drivers to estimate their annual mileage when paying VED. If you drive more than you guessed, you pay extra. Drive less? You get credit next year.

So… honesty boxes for motorists, then. That’s going to end well.

No one seems to know how the government plans to verify mileage. Annual MOT readings? Mandatory tracking apps? A charming HMRC inspector checking your odometer over tea? The details are as fuzzy as a first-generation reversing camera.

The AA and Industry Voices: Proceed With Caution

Even the AA’s usually diplomatic president, Edmund King, has urged the government to “tread carefully.” Meanwhile, James Court from Octopus Electric Vehicles called the idea “self-defeating,” warning that “now would be far too soon.”

And they’re right — the EV market is growing, but it’s not yet robust enough to shrug off this kind of hit. Buyers are already wary of high upfront costs, patchy charging infrastructure, and residual value anxiety. Add a pay-per-mile tax on top and you’ve got a recipe for range anxiety of the fiscal variety.

Let’s be clear: road taxation does need reform. EVs shouldn’t be permanently tax-free; roads don’t repair themselves. But this feels like a knee-jerk policy dressed up as fairness. Instead of a smart, progressive system based on emissions, efficiency, or actual road wear, we’re getting a glorified electricity meter strapped to your number plate.

If the government really wants to plug its revenue gap without short-circuiting the EV revolution, it needs to work with the industry — not against it. Create a clear, fair, and future-proof system that doesn’t punish early adopters for doing the right thing.

Because right now, the message from Westminster seems to be: “Thanks for going green. That’ll be £435, please.”

Source: SMMT

NEW CARS

2026 Renault Twingo: The Funky French EV Comes Back Swinging

Images of Renault’s all-new Twingo have slipped out ahead of its official November 6 debut, and the internet’s already buzzing. What we’re seeing is a retro-cool electric city car that wants to remind everyone just how fun small cars can be — and do it for less than £17,000.

That’s not a typo. The Twingo will be Renault’s cheapest EV when it hits the streets in 2026, undercutting the Renault 5 and 4 in the company’s rapidly expanding electric family. Its mission? Take on the upcoming Volkswagen ID.1 and prove that affordable electric mobility doesn’t have to look (or feel) like an appliance.

Retro Charm, Updated for 2026

If the leaked photos are anything to go by, the fourth-generation Twingo doesn’t stray far from the 2023 concept that wowed showgoers. The production car keeps the concept’s playful, bubble-like shape and the semi-circular light signatures front and rear — clear nods to the original 1990s Twingo that made Renault’s design language famous for its cheeky confidence.

Some of the wilder details have been tamed for production, of course. The concept’s flush, Mk1-style door pulls have been replaced by traditional handles, and the ride height has been lifted a touch — sensible moves for urban reality. Still, the vibe remains unmistakably “Twingo”: simple, joyful, and just a little bit weird in the best way.

Inside: Simple, Bright, and Clever

The cabin shows Renault’s new approach to small EV interiors: minimal but not minimalistic. Unlike the Renault 5 and 4, which blend their infotainment and instrument displays into one wide screen, the Twingo splits them up. Expect a standalone 7-inch display — likely borrowed from Dacia — and good old-fashioned physical dials for climate control.

Oval vents and body-colored dash inserts make sure the retro cues keep coming, echoing the first-gen car’s youthful energy. Renault describes the interior as “airy, cylindrical, and suspended” — which is PR-speak for “you’ll actually enjoy sitting in traffic.”

Power, Range, and Efficiency

Renault’s keeping mum on exact specs for now, but the Twingo rides on the same AmpR Small platform as the Renault 5. The 5’s base version delivers 118 horsepower and 190 miles of range from a 40kWh battery. The Twingo will probably go smaller and lighter — think Dacia Spring territory — with a 25kWh pack and around 140 miles of range.

Renault originally promised an impressive 6.2 miles per kWh efficiency figure, which could make the Twingo one of the most energy-efficient EVs on sale. That’s key for keeping costs down — both at purchase and plug-in time.

Built Fast, Priced Right

Beyond the car itself, what’s remarkable is how Renault got here. From green light to production, the Twingo’s development will take just 21 months — less than half the time it took to bring the Clio to life.

This speed is part of CEO François Provost’s new obsession with “competitiveness.” He’s made the Twingo a poster child for how Renault plans to fight back against low-cost Chinese EVs: faster development cycles, leaner production, and smarter software.

The result is a car that reportedly costs 50% less to build than a typical C-segment SUV, thanks to simplified materials and Ampere’s software-focused engineering. Ampere, Renault’s new EV subsidiary, is also driving down production costs to reach price parity between EVs and ICE cars — a milestone that could make or break Europe’s electric transition.

Sustainability Meets Accessibility

Renault says the new Twingo will produce 75% fewer CO₂ emissions over its lifetime than the average European gasoline car sold in 2023. Combine that with its sub-£17,000 price tag, and it’s easy to see why Renault calls it a “fit-for-purpose urban vehicle with no compromise.”

The car also marks a comeback for UK buyers. After the third-generation Twingo Electric never made it across the Channel, Renault initially hesitated to commit to a right-hand-drive version. But strong enthusiasm for the Renault 5 has convinced executives that Britain deserves the little French charmer once again.

The Comeback Kid

It’s been seven years since the petrol-powered Twingo quietly disappeared from UK showrooms — but this all-new, all-electric version feels like the right kind of comeback. Playful, practical, and purpose-built for the city, it’s a reminder that small cars can still be fun, affordable, and forward-looking.

And if Renault really does deliver that £17,000 price tag? The 2026 Twingo might just become the people’s EV we’ve all been waiting for.

Source: Renault