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JD POWER SAYS EV INTEREST IS HOLDING UP https://evne.ws/4txkP6F
HONDA SWINGS TO LOSS AS HYBRID STRATEGY HARDENS https://evne.ws/4dt4zxE
SLATE AUTO PLANS 392 MICHIGAN JOBS https://evne.ws/3PqNc8G
TOYOTA HILUX ADDS EV FOR 2026 https://evne.ws/4eOW2HB
VAUXHALL MATCHES EV AND DIESEL VAN PRICES https://evne.ws/4ujX838
TRATON RAISES €850 MILLION FOR EV DRIVE https://evne.ws/4dmsvCD
RENAULT CLAIMS EDGE OVER CHINESE RIVALS https://evne.ws/3RsaueV
BYD ATTO 2 DM-I PRICED FOR UK https://evne.ws/3RcIv2P
OMODA-JAECOO MAKES A FAST UK START https://evne.ws/4tBHNJY
POLESTAR SAYS FUEL SHOCK DRIVES EV DEMAND https://evne.ws/4uKA9hd

DAILY: EV Interest Holds Up, Honda Retreats To Hybrids and Slate Adds Jobs | 15 May 2026

It's EV News Briefly for Friday 15 May 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

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JD POWER SAYS EV INTEREST IS HOLDING UP
Consumer interest in EVs remained steady despite plateauing sales, with 26% of new-vehicle shoppers in April 2026 saying they were "very likely" to consider an EV — up 3 points month on month — partly driven by rising fuel costs. Charging availability remained the top barrier at 46%, though concerns around cost and charging time all eased year on year.
HONDA SWINGS TO LOSS AS HYBRID STRATEGY HARDENS
Honda posted its first operating loss since going public in 1957, recording a ¥414.3 billion ($2.6 billion) operating loss for the fiscal year ended March 2026, driven by ¥1.57 trillion in EV-related write-offs. CEO Toshihiro Mibe abandoned the 2040 combustion-free target and pivoted to 15 new hybrid models through 2030, with two prototypes — a fastback sedan and a red crossover — unveiled in Tokyo on May 14.
SLATE AUTO PLANS 392 MICHIGAN JOBS
Slate Auto plans to add 392 jobs and invest $10.4 million at its Troy, Michigan headquarters over five years, nearly doubling its Michigan workforce ahead of its low-cost electric pickup launch later in 2026. The Bezos-backed company, now led by CEO Peter Faricy following a leadership change in March, will focus new roles on engineering, design, and R&D, with positions starting at $43 per hour.
TOYOTA HILUX ADDS EV FOR 2026
Toyota will launch the ninth-generation Hilux in 2026 with both a fully electric and a diesel version, with the electric model reaching UK customers first in June in Icon (£52,845 after grant) and Invincible (£55,695 after grant) trims. Both electric variants qualify for the UK government's £5,000 plug-in van grant and come in a Double Cab body style, with a two-seat commercial conversion to follow later in 2026.
VAUXHALL MATCHES EV AND DIESEL VAN PRICES
Vauxhall has achieved finance and lease price parity between the electric and diesel versions of its Combo and Vivaro vans, with the Combo Electric available from £305 per month and the Vivaro Electric from £335 per month — both matching their diesel equivalents on 36-month, 10,000-mile terms. The parity has been extended to the Astra and Frontera passenger cars as part of a wider brand strategy to remove the cost barrier to electrification.
TRATON RAISES €850 MILLION FOR EV DRIVE
Volkswagen-majority-owned Traton Group has raised €850 million to accelerate battery-electric drivetrain development across MAN, Scania, International, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus. Battery-electric vehicle sales across the group grew to 1.4% of total sales in Q1 2026, up from 0.9% in Q1 2025, with MAN and Scania both expanding their electric lineups.
RENAULT CLAIMS EDGE OVER CHINESE RIVALS
Renault CEO François Provost claimed the group's European manufacturing efficiency surpasses Chinese rivals, while acknowledging it still uses Chinese supply chains and a China development centre to bring new models to market in under 24 months. With French and European plants running at 85% capacity and momentum from models like the electric Renault 5, Renault is deepening ties with Nissan — both holding 15% stakes in each other — while Nissan's CEO signalled desire for a closer partnership.
BYD ATTO 2 DM-I PRICED FOR UK
BYD has confirmed UK pricing for the Atto 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid SUV, with orders opening 2 June 2026 and first deliveries in August. The Active trim starts at £26,995 wit

BRIEFLY: EV Intent, Honda, Slate & more | 15 May 2026

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CHINESE EV MAKERS START RAISING PRICES https://evne.ws/4eTsusx
CHINESE BRANDS CUT BACK CANADA DEALER PLANS https://evne.ws/3RcYb67
STELLANTIS, DONGFENG BACK WUHAN NEV EXPANSION https://evne.ws/4dcI7Kk
XIAOMI SHOWS YU7 GT AHEAD OF MAY LAUNCH https://evne.ws/4uQPflr
NIO INSTALLS FIRST GEN-5 SWAP STATION https://evne.ws/3RdH302
FIREFLY ADDS SWAP PARKING AHEAD OF NIO UPGRADE https://evne.ws/4uRAv5T
XPENG G6 COVERS 1,000 KM IN UNDER 8.5 HOURS https://evne.ws/4eKw73T
BYD DOLPHIN G PHEV SPOTTED AHEAD OF EUROPE https://evne.ws/4dKGXFZ
CHINESE SUV MAKERS TURN SUSPENSION INTO A WEAPON https://evne.ws/48YpSG2

CHINA: EV Prices Rise As Cheap BEVs Fade, Chinese Brands Cautious In Canada and NIO Gen 5 Swap Stations | 15 May 2026

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GLOBAL EV SALES HIT 1.6 MILLION IN APRIL https://evne.ws/4twOvRm
ELECTRIC GOLF SLIPS TO DECADE'S END https://evne.ws/4tzEcfk
HOUSE BILL SEEKS PERMANENT BAN ON CHINESE CARS https://evne.ws/4ukYf2n
JAGUAR NAMES FIRST EV TYPE 01 https://evne.ws/4dpXBcK
FORD STARTS STATIONARY BATTERY BUSINESS https://evne.ws/43beanP
APTERA BUILDS FIVE VALIDATION VEHICLES https://evne.ws/4wuoEMw
FILOSA: CHINESE OEMS FACE US DELAY https://evne.ws/4dl1Sy2
ANDROID AUTO STRETCHES TO FIT ANY SCREEN https://evne.ws/4diE4fD
CATL ADDS 5 GWH MODULE LINE IN DEBRECEN https://evne.ws/4eLeGAi
JEEP AVENGER ELECTRIC JOINS UK GRANT SCHEME https://evne.ws/3R7gjhO
TESLA ADDS REMOTE METER FOR HOME CHARGING https://evne.ws/4dJ0C9a
PREMIER TAKES JCB ELECTRIC FLEET PAST 100 https://evne.ws/48YQLJO

DAILY: Global EV Sales Rise, Electric Golf Delayed and U.S. Seeks Permanent Ban On China EVs | 14 May 2026

It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 14 May 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

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GLOBAL EV SALES HIT 1.6 MILLION IN APRIL
Global EV sales reached 1.6 million units in April 2026 and 5.6 million year to date, with April up 6% year over year but down 9% from an unusually strong March. Europe led growth with 400,000 sales, up 27% year over year, driven by rising petrol prices and strong gains in Germany, France and Italy, while Chinese-built EVs grew their European market share from 19% in 2025 to 22% in 2026.
ELECTRIC GOLF SLIPS TO DECADE'S END
Volkswagen has pushed the electric Golf back to the end of the decade, later than the previously expected 2028 launch, due to delays with the SSP platform that will underpin it. SSP-based vehicles will now begin with Audi and Porsche from 2028, with Volkswagen following later, as the brand needs greater scale to achieve margin parity on the platform.
HOUSE BILL SEEKS PERMANENT BAN ON CHINESE CARS
A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers has introduced the Connected Vehicle Security Act, which would permanently ban Chinese-developed connected vehicles from US roads. The bill would codify and expand a Biden-era executive order, barring passenger vehicles from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran if they contain software or connectivity systems developed in those countries.
JAGUAR NAMES FIRST EV TYPE 01
Jaguar has confirmed its first all-electric production car will be called the Type 01, with the "0" representing zero tailpipe emissions and the "1" marking it as the first model of a new era. The full production reveal is planned for September 2026, with customer deliveries expected to begin in early 2027.
FORD STARTS STATIONARY BATTERY BUSINESS
Ford has launched Ford Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary, to compete in the stationary battery storage market, with its first product being the DC Block — a modular LFP battery container offering 5.45 MWh of storage and a 20-year service life. Built at a repurposed factory in Glendale, Kentucky, the DC Block will be sold in two- and four-hour discharge versions, with first customer deliveries due in early 2027 and planned annual output of 20 GWh.
APTERA BUILDS FIVE VALIDATION VEHICLES
Aptera Motors has completed five validation vehicles on a newly established 14-station low-volume assembly line at its Carlsbad, California facility, marking a significant step towards production readiness. The vehicles will now enter a comprehensive testing programme covering road performance, durability, safety, software integration and solar energy generation efficiency.
FILOSA: CHINESE OEMS FACE US DELAY
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa said Chinese OEMs will not enter the US market for at least a few years, citing the current tariff and regulatory climate. He left the door open to future partnerships, suggesting Chinese technology could still find common ground with US operations, even if direct car sales remain off the table in the near term.
ANDROID AUTO STRETCHES TO FIT ANY SCREEN
Google is giving Android Auto its first major display overhaul in 11 years, with a new version that adapts to fill any car screen shape and eliminates the black borders previously seen on round, trapezoidal and other non-standard displays. The update also introduces pinnable widgets that stay over the active map, alongside a redesigned Google Maps with 3D Immersive Navigation showing buildings, lane markings, traffic lights and stop signs.
CATL ADDS 5 GWH MODULE LINE IN DEBRECEN
CATL has opened a new 5 GWh batt

BRIEFLY: Global EV Sales, Electric Golf, China Ban & More | 14 May 2026

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OIL SHOCK LIFTS CHINESE EV EXPORTS https://evne.ws/4tDD4rl
MG4 HITS 100,000 AS MG DOUBLES DOWN https://evne.ws/438DY40
AUDI E7X PRESALES OPEN IN CHENGDU https://evne.ws/4wzhHKu
BYD APRIL EXPORTS TOP TESLA MONTH ESTIMATE https://evne.ws/4diBg0E
BYD AND CORVUS SIGN MARINE BATTERY DEAL https://evne.ws/4tDcA9k
BYD SHARK PICKUP SET FOR CHINA https://evne.ws/49xDlEN
COURT REJECTS XIAOMI SU7 HOOD FRAUD CLAIM https://evne.ws/4u8WiG1
LI AUTO NAMES BENELUX BOSS FOR EUROPE https://evne.ws/4wqGmR4
XPENG SETS MONA EUROPE DEBUT FOR JULY https://evne.ws/48YQRBa
XPENG WEIGHS VOLKSWAGEN PLANTS IN EUROPE https://evne.ws/4tvl16j

CHINA: Oil Shock Lifts EV Exports, Audi E7X Presales Open and MG4 Continues Domestic Run | 14 May 2026

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