EV News

The zippy 2026 Zeekr 001 has hit the market in China as a rival to the Tesla Model S.

The Volkswagen Group’s long-awaited response to cheap electric vehicles (EVs) from China is shaping up to be one of next year’s most important global debutantes.

Porsche’s move into hybrid technology for its most iconic model is paying dividends, according to a key executive.

KGM Australia (formerly SsangYong Australia) has received a tick of approval from the Federal Government for the local appearance of a pure-electric version of its Musso dual cab ute.

If you’re in a market for a new Hyundai Ioniq 5, then act quickly, because the highly-acclaimed and ground-breaking electric vehicle (EV) is about to become $6400 more expensive to access, thanks to the deletion of the base Standard Range battery grade.Why? It is understood that Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) is making room for the coming Elexio/EO expected here sometime next year.This is the fresh mid-sized SUV EV fraternal twin to the popular Kia EV5, co-developed and built in China through the brand’s Beijing Hyundai joint-venture program with BAIC Motor.The number of Ioniq 5 grades for 2026 has been slashed, from 11 to just four, including the N flagship that now costs around $4600 more than before. The Dynamiq and Epiq variant names are also disappearing – perhaps due the Volkswagen Group’s coming Skoda Epiq EV SUV.“We have nothing to say about future product and nothing has been confirmed at this stage,” HMCA General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Bill Thomas, told CarsGuide.According to a dealer source, the slow-selling, entry-level 125kW single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) 63kWh Standard Range (SR) battery grade, starting from $69,800 (all prices are before on-road costs) is about to be dropped for the 2026 model year.This comes barely 15 months after the Ioniq 5 RWD 63kWh SR was announced, as part of a wholesale mid-cycle facelift in July, 2024.Stepping in its place will be the continuing, more-powerful 168kW RWD 84kWh Extended Range (ER) version, that is now $400 more expensive than before from $76,200, followed by the fresh Elite 168kW RWD 84kWh ER from $81,200, which usurps the previous Dynamiq 168kWh RWD 84kWh ER from $80,800.The upside of the ER is usefully more WLTP range compared to the SR (up from 440km to 570km in its most efficient specification wearing 19-inch wheels), as well as stronger performance, though – as before – torque remains the same in both motors, at 350Nm.Buyers will need to fork out an additional $6400 for a 2026 Ioniq 5 with the rousing 239kW/605Nm twin-motor and all-wheel drive (AWD) ER powertrain.This is because the current mid-spec Dynamiq 84kWh ER AWD from $85,300, its sportier Dynamiq N-Line 84kWh ER AWD from $87,800, up-spec Epiq 84kWh ER AWD from $88,800 and sport/luxury Epic N-Line 84kWh ER AWD from $91,300 will also soon be gone for 2026.All but the latter will be wiped out, to simplify a complex model-walk structure, and replaced by the newly-minted N-Line Premium 84kWh ER AWD grade from $91,700.While all the AWD versions also use the 84kWh ER battery, the added weight of the second motor plus other items means that its WLTP range drops compared to the RWD equivalents, from 570km to about 500km.Additionally, for 2026, all versions adopt the so-called Digital Key 2.0, enabling owners and users to operate their vehicle with a compatible smartphone, rather than having the experience the inconvenience of carrying a regular key fob.Meanwhile, the previously-optional Vision Roof – a fixed panoramic glass roof with an electric sunshade – is now standard equipment in the Ioniq 5 N, accounting for its circa-$4600 price hike. Whether that affects its 3.4-second (on boost) sprint-time to 100km/h from standstill is not yet known.Finally, the highly-controversial digital side mirror that forced drivers to rely on even more screens instead of an intuitive exterior-mirror glance has been discontinued.We understand that Australian production for the 2026 Ioniq 5 range kicks off next month, with cars reaching dealers possibly before Christmas.Stay tuned to find out more.

Jeep has cancelled the plug-in hybrid version of its Gladiator off-road pick-up truck before it even went on sale.

CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited), the biggest supplier of EV batteries in the world, has confirmed details of a potentially game-changing sodium-ion battery chemistry that’s headed for high-volume production in 2026.

How this Korean brand plans to out-hybrid Chinese off-roaders

How this Japanese company is innovating on current battery technology to bring more range to EVs sooner.

Although it’s only just arrived in Australia, Nissan will axe the Ariya electric SUV in the US.As reported by Automotive News, the Japanese carmaker will pause US-bound production of its Tesla Model Y rival for the 2026 model year.“This decision enables the company to reallocate resources and optimize its EV portfolio as the automotive landscape continues to evolve,” said Nissan in a statement to Automotive News.An unnamed person with knowledge of the decision told Automotive News the Trump administration’s 15 per cent import tariff has hurt the profitability of this Japanese-made electric vehicle (EV) in the US.Federal $7500 EV tax credits are also set to expire in the US at the end of September, with EV demand anticipated to fall after this.It hasn’t helped that US sales of the Ariya have been slow ever since its introduction in 2022. There have been plenty of price discounts and incentives to get buyers over the line.Nissan Senior Director for EV strategy and transformation Trisha Jung told Automotive News the US market is currently undergoing a shift.“When you look at what’s going on between incentives and the value that the vehicle is bringing brandwise, and economically long term, the fact is has a different valuation today than it did before,” said Jung to Automotive News.“We have a major shift in the demand curve, so we’ve got to understand what that means in terms of customer demand, volume, price point.“We just need to make sure we have a setup that’s sustainable for the company, the dealers and the consumer.”At this stage it’s unclear whether the Ariya will ever return to the US market.However, Nissan could reportedly be pausing Ariya sales to redirect resources for the launch of the forthcoming, new-generation Leaf electric crossover. It’s due to launch in the US later this year.Battery shortages could limit supply of the new, Japanese-made Leaf for the US. An unnamed person told Automotive News that initial allocation for the US will be limited to 500 units per month.As noted above, the Nissan Ariya is only launching in Australia now despite being offered in other markets for three years. It was originally revealed in 2020.There are four variants on offer with pricing starting from $55,840 before on-roads and extending to $71,840 before on-roads.At this stage the new-generation Leaf is set to launch locally in the Japanese 2026 financial year (April 2026 to March 2027).