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The e-commerce giant has joined the European E-Mobility E Logistics Hub initiative, a coalition of manufacturers, energy companies and public decision-makers working to promote the electrification of heavy goods vehicles on the Old Continent. The stated aim is to accelerate the electrification of urban and inter-urban logistics, by bringing together public and private players.

A collective dynamic

Until now, each player has generally acted separately, making deployment slow and costly. Now, with this hub, the objective is clear: to speed up the introduction of zero-emission HGVs and the appropriate charging points. The idea is to bring together manufacturers, hauliers and logistics operators around the same table. Amazon is joining this circle to put its economic weight behind large-scale electrification.

The importance of electrifying logistics transport

When we talk about electric mobility, we think mainly of cars, and it’s true that in this area, electric vehicles are gaining ground on private cars. But logistics is still lagging behind: it is difficult to decarbonise. And that’s a cause for concern when you consider that lorries still account for almost a quarter of European road transport emissions. Without massive electrification, the EU’s climate targets will not be met. By joining this hub, Amazon is sending out a strong signal: its deliveries, often singled out for their carbon footprint, will have to become cleaner.

A solid foundation

Amazon is no novice when it comes to the ecological transition in transport. The world leader in e-commerce already operates several thousand electric vans for its urban deliveries in Europe. Its commitment to the E-Mobility E-Logistics Hub proves that it has no intention of stopping there, taking the electrification of HGVs one step further.

What are the hopes for this project?

The success of this project will depend on the speed of deployment of ultra-fast charging stations capable of handling trucks and vans. Without this, electrification will remain limited. But the arrival of a player like Amazon shows that the sector is ready to change scale.

While the issue of batteries for electric cars remains central, Stellantis unveiled its new battery prototype in September, a technology called IBIS (Intelligent Battery Integrated System). The aim is to make tomorrow’s cars simpler, lighter and, of course, more efficient.

A simplified, more efficient battery

Designed in partnership with Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, this innovation is currently being tested on a prototype Peugeot e-3008. Unlike conventional batteries, where the inverter and charger are independent components of the battery, the IBIS prototype integrates them directly into the battery pack. This combination delivers a 10% gain in energy efficiency, reduces the vehicle’s weight by 40 kg and frees up 17 litres of extra space. Based on initial results, the Stellantis Group has announced that recharging times could also be reduced by around 15%, i.e. one hour less than a standard AC recharge.

Challenges to solve

While this project looks convincing on paper, there are still some questions to be answered. With so many components in the same block, there is the question of how to manage the heat generated. Another challenge is to move from prototype to industrial production, a costly and complex stage, even if the Group can rely on its European battery production partners to support them in this probable ramp-up.

A future yet to be written

While Stellantis plans to test these batteries in a demonstration fleet as early as 2026, we will have to wait until the end of the decade to see them developed in series.

With IBIS, Stellantis hopes to catch up with Asian giants BYD and CATL, who still largely dominate the sector.

More than a year after the success of the 2024 social leasing scheme, this aid scheme is making a comeback on 30 September. The government’s stated aim is to widen access to electric cars for the poorest households, but with a stricter framework and rethought financing.

A project not funded by the State.

Until now, it was the State that put its hand in the pocket. From 30 September 2025, the scheme will come under the CEE (Certificats d’Économie d’Énergie) umbrella. To put it simply, from now on it will be the energy suppliers who finance it, for a total budget of €370 million over 2025-2030, with maximum support per vehicle estimated at €7,000 (compared with €13,000 previously).

Stricter eligibility conditions.

The conditions remain tight: you need to have a reference tax income per unit of less than €16,300, be over 18, live in France, and prove that your car is used for a journey of at least 15 km between home and work, or at least 8,000 per year for business reasons.

Another rule is that this aid cannot be combined with the ecological bonus or the conversion premium. To compensate for this, and to remain true to its promise of accessibility, the scheme ensures that rental prices will remain controlled: maximum €200/month, and each supplier will have to offer at least one product at €140/month or less.

Eligible vehicles.

This year, eligible vehicles will have to meet certain criteria: they must be 100% electric, cost less than €47,000 and weigh less than 2.4 tonnes. The possibilities are therefore limited, and certain models such as the electric Citroën C3, the Renault 5 E-Tech and the Fiat e500 are expected to qualify.

An almost obvious success.

Following on from the success of its predecessor in 2024, social leasing 2025 is likely to be a runaway success, with Stellantis claiming to have already received more than 120,000 applications, and Renault, tens of thousands. The government is making 50,000 vehicles available under this social leasing scheme, and this quota is likely to be reached quickly.

With this new framework, social leasing aims to remain a gateway to electricity for low-income households, while reducing the public bill. The new scheme is more structured, less generous and, above all, designed to last.

Mercedes-Benz has just obtained a long-awaited authorisation to build its own wind farm, the blades of which are due to start turning in 2027.

In 2022, a piece of news slipped under the radar. Mercedes-Benz announced that it wanted to add a large wind farm to its legendary Papenburg test track in northern Germany. This will not only enable the company to meet its carbon neutrality targets, but also reduce its dependence on energy suppliers. This internalisation of energy production is about to become a reality, as the German authorities have given the go-ahead for work to begin.

Aiming for carbon neutrality

It will be a 140 MW wind farm, corresponding to around twenty 165 m high wind turbines, capable of powering almost 30,000 homes and, above all, covering 20% of Mercedes’ electricity needs across the Rhine. The group’s aim is to inaugurate its wind farm in 2027, as part of its plan to achieve the sacrosanct goal of carbon neutrality. Mercedes-Benz has pledged to achieve a 70% share of renewable energy in its consumption, and even intends to reach 100% by 2039.

Of course, wind power is not the automotive group’s speciality. So it has joined forces with UKA, an operator specialising in the construction and management of wind farms, to sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the supply of electricity. A partnership signed for the next 25 years! Enough to ensure low-cost renewable energy for a long time to come.

With this announcement, the Mercedes-Benz Group is grasping the nettle by the horns, avoiding not only the stress of ambitious carbon neutrality targets, but also the much less manageable stress of highly volatile energy prices. By taking advantage in this way of an area that already belongs to the group, and by teaming up with a market specialist, we would like the German group to serve as a model for its competitors. And the closer you look at the Mercedes logo, the more it resembles a wind turbine… Now that’s foreshadowing !

The BYD Group has scored a major coup by breaking two speed records in quick succession with its Yangwang U9 Xtreme, the most important of which is that of the world’s fastest production car.

Back in April, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra dethroned Porsche on its home turf, beating the sportiest version of the Taycan in the electric category at the legendary Nürburgring. This autumn, it’s another electric hypercar that is shaking up the historic giants of sports cars with an even more impressive record. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme has become the fastest production car in the world on the ATP (Automotive Testing Papenburg) circuit in Germany. And that’s just for starters.

3000 bhp and 496 km/h for the Yangwang U9

The ‘production’ version of the Yangwang U9 is a supercar to be presented in 2023 by this sports division of the BYD Group. The basic model already boasts 1,300bhp and a 0-100kph time of two seconds, making it one of the best in its class. But its Xtreme variant, as the name suggests, pushes the envelope even further, with over 3,000bhp!

It was with these strong arguments that the Yangwang U9 Xtreme arrived on the ATP scene and smashed the speed record previously held by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. In fact, the Chinese racer managed the feat of clocking up 496.22 km/h on the speedometer. That’s insane. What’s more, assuming that the ATP is a shorter test track than Ehra Lessien, where Bugatti set its record, BYD reckons that its hypercar could have reached or even exceeded 500 km/h…

Impressive on the Nürburgring too

But as the world speed record didn’t seem to be enough, BYD sent its Yangwang U9 Xtreme to take on… Xiaomi! As we mentioned in the introduction, the lap record for an electric car was beaten last April by the SU7 Ultra in 7 minutes and 04 seconds. Well, the U9 Xtreme has achieved the feat of doing so in 6 minutes and 59 seconds. Admittedly, that’s not much of a gap, but it says a lot about the BYD group’s ambitions to not only extinguish the European competition, but also its compatriots!

It remains to be seen whether this Xtreme version will be available to the general public. Well, ‘general public’ is a bit of an exaggeration, but the brand had to produce it, at least in small series, in order to homologate its record as the fastest production car in the world. This will certainly be the case, with a limited edition of around thirty units, which should not have too much trouble selling despite the prohibitive price… Beating Bugatti, Porsche and Xiaomi within a few days of each other is a hell of a publicity stunt!

Cadillac took advantage of the Lyon Motor Show to unveil, for the first time to the French public, its new VISTIQ large electric SUV, for which orders are already open in Europe.

If the Cadillac stand catches the eye at the Lyon Motor Show, it’s not because of the number of models on display. No, if you can spot the American brand from afar, it’s because it took the opportunity to unveil its imposing VISTIQ electric SUV to the French public for the first time. We’re already familiar with the LYRIQ, an SUV coupé/breakback that’s already quite substantial, but now we’ll have to get used to its new companion, which is 5.22 m long, 1.80 m high and 2 m wide. That’s what we call, on the Old Continent at least, a beautiful beast.

A family limousine

But it’s not just its dimensions that impress. VISTIQ is also a success in terms of design. It exudes luxury and tranquillity: discreet lines, gentle curves and a harmonious whole. A special mention goes to the radiator grille, which is very elegant and not flashy, with a modernised light signature that is nonetheless faithful to the iconic Cadillac front end. Inside, once again, premium reigns supreme. Wood panelling, aluminium, a curved screen – our favourite! – and an augmented reality head-up display. The AKG Dolby Atmos audio system with its 23 speakers is of the highest quality, as are the massaging/heating/ventilated seats.

There are 6 seats, with the option of adding a third seat in the second row. Enough to take the whole family on a road trip along Route Nationale 7, the French equivalent of Route 66. And the good thing about such an imposing vehicle is that there’s plenty of room in the boot, even with six passengers: 431 litres! That figure rises to 2,271 litres with the seats folded down.

From 0 to 100 in 4 seconds for VISTIQ

And what about performance? Here again, it’s out of all proportion! With an unladen weight of 2.9 tonnes, you might expect it to drag itself along, but that’s not the case. With 623bhp and 881Nm of torque, its two engines and all-wheel drive allow it to accelerate from 0 to 60mph (96kph) in 3.7 seconds. That’s a hell of a time! In terms of range, it’s pretty respectable for a vehicle of this size and specification, coming close to 490 km, with the promise of a rapid 190 kW recharge that will regain 130 km in ten minutes.

With a price starting at around €100,000, the Cadillac VISTIQ is almost alone in its segment. But with the growing popularity of models such as the less expensive G9 from Xpeng, the Detroit-based brand has no choice but to distinguish itself through quality materials, performance and looks. Having seen the beast in action at the Lyon Motor Show, ECO MOTORS NEWS can confirm that it has succeeded!

ECO MOTORS NEWS had the opportunity to walk the aisles of the Lyon 2025 Motor Show, and among the most eagerly-awaited exhibitors was Alpine, with the first public showing of the Alpine A390 electric SUV.

Alpine’s presence at the Lyon Motor Show was a fitting way for the manufacturer to celebrate its 70th anniversary. Several versions of the A110 saloon car were on show, including a special anniversary version, but above all – and this is what interests us most at ECO MOTORS NEWS – the Dieppe-based manufacturer highlighted its ‘Dream Garage’, in other words its dream line-up of 100% electric cars. The A290 city car, based on the Renault 5 E-Tech, was on show, as was the season’s big news, the much-anticipated A390 SUV coupé.

A390, a real Alpine?

When the A390 was unveiled at Dieppe at the end of May 2025, journalists were only allowed to see photos of the aircraft, and while its simple, effective design was universally acclaimed, it did not arouse the crowds. Well, it turned out to be a pleasant surprise! Indeed, the ‘wow’ factor was certainly there when we saw the beast in the flesh, or rather in metal and watts. At 4.6 metres long and 1.90 metres wide, the fastback silhouette of this relatively massive SUV, with its plunging roof, is a real success. Its design is much more racy and aggressive under the lights of the showroom, with lines that seem to melt into the bodywork. It’s rather elegant, and while the front end is a far cry from the Alpine style, it does have one thing in common: sportiness.

This sportiness can also be found ‘under the bonnet’. The Alpine A390 is equipped with three Cléon electric motors made in Normandy, all-wheel drive and a system called Active Torque Vectoring, which the manufacturer promises will give the SUV an “agility worthy of the brand’s reputation“. It delivers the equivalent of 400bhp in GT form and 470bhp in GTS form, enough to easily (and happily) push its two tonnes or so without worrying about either power or driving pleasure, with a 0-100kph time of less than four seconds. But to find out for sure, you’ll have to take it for a test drive!

555 km range and a mission

While Alpine’s DNA is all about sportiness, the A390 is nonetheless an SUV, and SUVs mean high sales expectations. Its mission, therefore, is not only to win over Alpine aficionados, but also to attract new customers. To do that, it offers a decent level of comfort, even if a plunging roof makes it difficult, but the typical architecture of an electric car means that not too much space is lost in exchange. Above all, the brand is promising a range of up to 555 kilometres, which puts it a hair below the Porsche Macan 4S. As for recharging, we’re promised 20 minutes to go from 15 to 80%, again within the market average.

These are strong arguments, not to mention the fact that the car is made in France, in Dieppe. The price is not yet official, but we have been told that the GT version could be offered for around €65,000, and the GTS version for around €75,000. One thing is certain: after 70 years of a rich history, Alpine has no intention of giving up. On the contrary, the emblematic Norman manufacturer seems to be taking the electric route with a masterful SUV which, while it may have raised a few eyebrows at the time of its presentation, could well end up putting everyone on the same wavelength.

It’s when you stop expecting them that the nice surprises come! That was the case when we discovered the new look of the 6ᵉ generation Honda Prelude in the bays of the Lyon 2025 Motor Show. More than twenty years after it ceased production, the Japanese sports car that marked an entire generation is making its grand return to Europe.

A successful blend of heritage and modernity

At first glance, it’s obvious: the Prelude of 2026 is not the car of yesteryear. Like its ancestors, it retains its sporty silhouette, low lines and dynamic profile – in short, the codes that made it such a success. There’s a sharp front end and a distinctive light signature. The modern touch, meanwhile, is reflected in its compact appearance, aerodynamic details and unmistakable refinement, confirming Honda’s desire to make a sports coupé that is as seductive as it is efficient.

Powertrains and performance: hybrid as a matter of course

The powertrain has been confirmed: the Honda Prelude will be equipped with an e:HEV hybrid powertrain, combining a combustion engine and two electric motors. The chassis is strongly inspired by that of the Honda Civic Type R, a guarantee of sportiness, and the brand is introducing a new S+ clutch mode, which simulates automatic gear changes for a more engaging driving experience. All the more reason to take full advantage of the 200bhp developed by this sports car.

In Lyon, the new Honda Prelude was presented as a model steeped in history, with a modernised silhouette and a hybrid powertrain, a sign that Honda wants to combine heritage and energy transition. It remains to be hoped that this version, which is due to arrive in Europe in early 2026, will be able to stand on its own two feet and not remain in the shadow of its predecessors.

The star of the Peugeot stand at the Lyon 2025 Motor Show is undoubtedly the E-208 GTi show car, which combines desirable design, great performance and passion, all in 100% electric form.

Presented at Le Mans last June, the Peugeot E-208 GTi had not yet reached the general public. Now it has, in the form of a show car – a car that is very close to the production model, but not yet 100% – at the Lyon Motor Show, which runs until September 28 in the capital of France. The red livery is a real eye-catcher, attracting journalists and visitors alike. ECO MOTORS NEWS was no exception to the rule, and was mesmerised…

Firstly, there’s the design. This E-208 GTi respects the codes of the more classic version. But some details seem to be infused with sportiness. 18-inch wheels in XXL wheel arches, spectacular diffusers at the rear, wider wings and a lowered chassis are rather subtle, but this was also the case with the 205 GTi, for example. There are plenty of references to the latter, particularly inside, with the return of the red carpet, 205-inspired seats and aluminium pedals.

The technical specifications of the Peugeot E-208 GTi are mouth-watering

It now remains to be seen whether this E-208 GTi will be able to stand up to the comparison with its illustrious ancestor. Designed entirely by Peugeot Sport, it promises 280 bhp, a 0 to 100 kph time of 5.7 seconds and a torque of 345 Nm – which is immediately accessible, as is also the advantage of electric over petrol engines. In other words, the 205 GTi’s signature ‘kick in the pants’ should also be found behind the wheel of this E-208 GTi. Peugeot has also announced a range of 350 km, which is rather respectable, even if, on a model of this type, this seems rather secondary…

Still at the show car stage, Peugeot’s electrically-powered compact should, of course, go into series production. There’s no exact date on the stand yet, but spring 2026 seems an achievable target…