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For several years, Lotus Cars seemed determined to turn the page on combustion engines once and for all. In 2023, the British manufacturer still claimed that the sporty Lotus Emira would be its “last internal combustion car”, as part of a strategy to become a 100% electric brand by the end of the decade. Three years on, the brand has revised its ambitions. With the arrival of the Lotus Eletre X, the British manufacturer is introducing a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time in its history.

A revelation from China

We’ve known it since 5 December 2025, when the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Technology published an approval file for a vehicle called “Eletre For Me”. Behind this name lies the future plug-in hybrid version of the 100% electric SUV launched by Lotus in 2023.

Confirmed by Lotus Cars at the beginning of 2026, the timetable is now clear: the first deliveries are expected in China at the end of March 2026, before a European launch scheduled for June. The French market should be served a few months later, by the end of the year.

This development comes at a particular time for the manufacturer. Although the brand’s electric models, in particular the Lotus Eletre and the Lotus Emeya saloon, have enabled Lotus Cars to achieve a record 12,134 worldwide deliveries in 2024, their volumes are still below the manufacturer’s initial ambitions, which were initially aimed at more than 25,000 annual sales in the medium term.

An even more powerful hyper-SUV

In technical terms, the Lotus Eletre X not only adds a combustion engine to the existing electric SUV, it also becomes the most powerful version in the range. The hybrid system develops a total output of 952 bhp, compared with ‘just’ 918 bhp for the all-electric version. The performance is equally impressive, with a 0-100kph time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 230kph.

The most striking change is in terms of range. Lotus has adopted a more compact battery supplied by CATL. Its capacity has been reduced from 112 kWh on the electric version to 70 kWh on this plug-in hybrid variant. Despite this reduction, range in electric mode remains particularly high for a PHEV: 420 km according to the CLTC cycle, which corresponds to around 350 km on the European cycle (WLTP). With the internal combustion engine, total range then exceeds 1,200 kilometres.

Ultra-fast charging for a plug-in hybrid

The other major innovation concerns recharging. The Lotus Eletre X is based on a 900-volt electrical architecture capable of handling up to 430 kW of power.

Thanks to this technology, the battery can go from 20% to 80% charge in just nine minutes. An unprecedented figure for a plug-in hybrid vehicle. This is far more efficient than some of its rivals, such as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid or the Range Rover Sport P550e.

A sign of a change in strategy

Above all, the arrival of this hybrid version illustrates a change in strategy for Lotus. When the Chinese group Geely relaunched the British brand in 2017, the stated aim was to transform Lotus into an all-electric premium manufacturer.

But the dynamics of the car market have evolved more slowly than expected. In China, plug-in hybrids now account for almost 40% of new car sales, compared with around 15% for 100% electric models.

The Lotus Eletre X could thus become the first representative of a new generation of Lotus hybrid models. According to industry indications, the Lotus Emeya saloon could adopt similar technology around 2027, while the sporty Lotus Emira could follow in 2028.

This scenario would mark the end of the “all-electric” strategy announced a few years ago.

For many years, recharging time has been one of the major obstacles to the adoption of gentler mobility. Now, the promise of recharging as quickly as a full tank of petrol is becoming a reality. And the reason? A technological advance unveiled by BYD that could mark a turning point for electromobility: the Blade 2.0 battery and Flash Charging technology. At the heart of this announcement is an architecture capable of achieving 1,500 kW of charging power, a level never before seen in the automotive industry. Under the best conditions, BYD claims that it would be possible to recover 400 to 500 kilometres of range in just five minutes.

A new generation of batteries to break new ground

After the arrival on the market in 2020 of the Blade Battery, a battery made in BYD, it is now the turn of its second version to see the light of day. The press release confirms that it retains the LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry that made the reputation of the first generation for its safety and durability. But it has evolved significantly on a number of technical points:

• improved energy density,
• much higher load capacity,
• better thermal management,
• structural architecture integrated into the vehicle using Cell-to-Body technology.

The results are spectacular: some 100% electric models equipped with this new generation battery can now exceed a range of 1,000 km according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. This is particularly true of the top-of-the-range Yangwang U7 saloon, capable of a range of 1,006 km, and the sporty Denza Z9 GT, which would exceed 1,030 km with this technology.

Unfortunately, BYD did not provide any information on energy density, apart from the following figure: “+5%”.

So yes, these staggering range figures are based on the Chinese cycle, which is generally more optimistic than Europe’s WLTP. Nevertheless, they testify to the technological leap made by the world leader in battery technology.

Recharging almost as fast as a full tank of petrol

If the batteries haven’t convinced you, wait until you see what the Flash Charging stations are all about. The manufacturer promises a recharge that will take the battery from 10% to 70% in around 5 minutes. Another value: connecting to a Flash Charging point with a vehicle equipped with the Blade 2.0 battery will increase the level from 10% to 97% in less than 9 minutes.

For drivers living in extremely cold areas, don’t worry: BYD has thought of everything, and it’s amazing. The Blade 2.0 takes the battery from 20% to 97% in approximately 11 minutes at -20°C and a few seconds more at -30°C.

To achieve this performance, BYD is relying on a dedicated infrastructure capable of delivering up to 1,500 kW of power, several times the power of current rapid charging stations in Europe.

And as well as being efficient, they are also designed to make the charging experience more pleasant. You may have wondered why the station is T-shaped? Well, it’s to allow the cable to be suspended with a ‘zero gravity’ system, so that it doesn’t drag along the ground and the customer doesn’t have to bear its weight.

But is this infrastructure accessible now? The answer is yes, but only on Chinese roads. BYD has already installed 4,239 Flash Charging stations across China and plans to operate 20,000 by the end of the year. The brand promises that the whole world will be able to benefit from these infrastructures, even if no date or strategy has yet been communicated.

A clear message: electrics just got easier

The aim behind this technological demonstration is obvious: to do away with what manufacturers call “charging anxiety”. For years, range and charging time have been the two main arguments put forward by sceptics of electric cars.

From now on, with a range of over 1,000 kilometres and a recharge time of just a few minutes, BYD wants to show that these obstacles are about to become a thing of the past. It remains to be seen whether this performance will be confirmed in mass-market models in China and abroad.

This is the big winner of the Best Cars 2026 competition held in Germany. Volkswagen Group has just achieved an unprecedented performance at the 2026 edition of “Best Cars”, winning ten of the twenty-five categories and taking 28 of the 75 places on the podium. A record in the history of the competition. For the Wolfsburg-based group, these trophies symbolise the public validation of its strategy.

“Best Cars: a genuine European barometer

The ‘Best Cars’ awards are organised by the German motoring magazine auto motor und sport, Europe’s leading motoring magazine. Created in 1976, this readers’ vote is now considered to be the continent’s biggest automobile consultation. For this 50th edition, almost 95,000 readers voted for 480 models in 13 categories.

The principle is simple:

• an overall ranking for all brands;
• an “import” classification, where German brands are not eligible.

In other words, we’re not talking about a select jury or a prize awarded by experts alone, but a massive vote by customers and enthusiasts. In short, a true indicator of desirability and image.

Ten victories across all brands

In detail, the German group comes out on top with :

• Three wins for Volkswagen (including one for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles)
• Two for Porsche
• One for Audi
• Three for Škoda in the import rankings
• One for Bentley

This diversity illustrates a central point: success is not just based on the top of the range or traditional combustion engines. It cuts across all segments, from city cars to SUVs, not forgetting electric models.

A massive product offensive in the background

This record comes after two years of intense renewal of the Group’s portfolio. Around 60 new models have been launched, and more than 20 more are expected this year, including several 100% electric vehicles. The strategy is clear: cover all segments, all engines, all markets. And it’s working.

In addition to the arrival of a large number of new vehicles, each Volkswagen Group brand is pursuing ambitious energy transition targets:

• Volkswagen: accelerating towards a predominantly electric range in Europe by 2030, with the ID family gaining considerable momentum.
• Audi: announced end of development of new internal combustion engines and 100% electric premium positioning in the medium term.
• Porsche: target of a majority of electrified sales (plug-in hybrids and electric cars) within a decade.
• Škoda: democratisation of electric vehicles with more accessible models and rapid expansion of its BEV range.
• Bentley: gradual switch to all-electric power in the luxury segment.

In other words, even brands that have embarked on a far-reaching transformation, with massive investment in electromobility, continue to win prestigious awards. A strong signal for a sector that is often disparaged by the public.

Electromobility attracts, it’s a reality

The fact that electrified models such as the ID. Buzz are among the winners confirms a fundamental trend: electromobility is no longer a gamble, but a market expectation. Consumers are voting. And they are also voting for electric or hybrid vehicles.

For the Volkswagen Group, this record at “Best Cars 2026” is not just symbolic. It validates a strategic trajectory: that of a group that wants to remain a world leader while accelerating towards more sustainable mobility.

The Renault Group will unveil its new strategic plan, futuREady, at 9am on Tuesday 10 March 2026. In the words of the press release issued on 3 March 2026, this announcement is intended to be much more than just a roadmap: it is a visionary framework designed to respond to the profound challenges of an industry in the throes of change. One day after this announcement, Renault has already begun to lay the foundations for this new era, notably with the unveiling of the new Renault Bridger Concept show car, a symbol of the brand’s strategy of going on the offensive internationally.

A strategic plan to structure growth

This famous plan, which promises to be an upheaval for the French brand, was presented in a press release on 3 March 2026. Its ambition is to transform what has until now been a success story into a genuine success system, in other words, a sustainable model for creating value, innovation and competitiveness.

According to François Provost, CEO of Renault Group, this plan is based on three major axes:

• Consolidate our product advantage by offering ever more ‘winning’, and therefore competitive, electric and hybrid ranges that are also tailored to customer expectations.
• Strengthening technological innovation by anticipating market needs, whether in embedded software, mobility services or battery technologies.
• Improving operational excellence, to optimise processes, accelerate development cycles and support a resilient growth model.

The plan is due to be officially unveiled on 10 March 2026 at 9am, live from the Renault Group’s events platform, with a press release available from 7am and versions for each of the brands (Renault, Dacia, Alpine) scheduled for later in the morning.

A concrete preview: Bridger Concept, symbol of the international offensive

Even before the plan was presented, Renault chose to send out a strong signal with a new show car: the Bridger Concept, whose name and first images were revealed in a very, very limited way.

This vehicle is presented as a bold urban SUV, compact (less than 4 metres) yet surprisingly spacious inside. Its silhouette and design are not just aesthetically pleasing: they embody a renewed vision of the urban vehicle, designed to meet the changing lifestyles of the growing number of families living in the city.

In the press release, Sylvia dos Santos, Head of Renault Naming Strategy, explains: “With Bridger, we are adding to our family of names derived from English words. Constructed from the word ‘bridge’, to which the identifying final ‘ER’ has been added, the Renault Bridger name is in line with the Renault Duster name. A powerful, robust and versatile name, perfect to embody our new urban SUV show car and open a new page in our international offensive!

But while we might expect a production vehicle that could benefit everyone, that’s not really the case. In fact, it is intended for India, a market that Renault has identified as strategic for its global development. This isn’t the first vehicle that the brand has designed to be sold outside Europe: Luca de Meo has already relied on this export strategy. This has already been the case with the Kardian, the Filante and also the Boreal.

Pending the full presentation, Renault Group has announced that Dacia will unveil the name of its new crossover on 5 March at 8am.

An international strategy based on solid fundamentals

The announcement of the Bridger Concept is nevertheless consistent with the way in which Renault has structured its international growth in recent years. In particular, the group has consolidated its presence in India by becoming the sole owner of its Chennai plant and developing an international engineering and design centre there.

These moves are part of a broader drive to make better use of high-growth regions, while adapting products to local needs and strengthening Renault’s industrial autonomy on a global scale.

Challenges and prospects

On 10 March, Renault will unveil its full vision for the next decade, and we’ll be able to measure whether the strategy is up to scratch.

At the previous presentation of the Group’s strategic plan, the return of the Renault 5 was announced. As well as sparking a great deal of interest, the announcement also had many enthusiasts on the edge of their seats. So we’re expecting an announcement that’s just as appetising.

At the beginning of March, Alfa Romeo published its sales results for 2025. The results? The Italian brand has recorded worldwide growth of over 20% compared to 2024, with more than 73,000 vehicles sold internationally. In a car market that is still uneven and under pressure, this growth shows that the Italian brand is back, but above all that it is moving forward in a thoughtful way with the energy transition.

Solid momentum in Europe and beyond

According to the press release issued by the Stellantis Group on Tuesday 3 March 2025, Europe remains the main growth driver for the Italian brand, with sales up by more than 31%. The United Kingdom (+80.1%), France (+41.9%), Italy (+20.7%), Germany (+20.5%) and Spain (+15.1%) posted particularly strong increases, symbolising the relevance of Alfa Romeo’s product repositioning, particularly in the compact premium segment.

Important figures for Europe, but that’s not all. Alfa Romeo also recorded significant growth in other key markets. In the Middle East & Africa region, growth reached 16.3%. In Morocco, the brand ranked second in the premium market in terms of growth, with an impressive 65% increase in registrations, while in Turkey it posted growth of 38.7%.

But it is in Asia that the dynamic is even more marked, with +43.8% compared to 2024. Japan stands out with exceptional growth of +71.4% over the year. Alfa Romeo announced that it had relaunched its presence in Taiwan and Malaysia. These results speak for themselves: the brand is enjoying international success, particularly in these dynamic emerging markets.

Electrification at a gentle pace

Alfa Romeo is adopting a strategy of gradual electrification, moving slowly towards the energy transition rather than rushing its customers. The brand is combining combustion, hybrid and 100% electric powertrains, in order to retain the sporty, premium DNA for which it is renowned. For the time being, the Junior remains the only 100% electric model actually available, illustrating this cautious approach: of the 60,000 vehicles distributed in 41 markets by 2025, this zero-emission variant represents a minority share of deliveries, showing that electromobility is making progress, but at a measured pace, far from immediate mass adoption.

Santo Ficili, CEO of Alfa Romeo, sums up this approach perfectly:

• “Exceeding 20% growth worldwide, with Europe at +31%, means one thing is very clear: Alfa Romeo is back in the race. But what matters most is the quality of this trajectory. Junior has broadened our customer base while remaining true to the brand’s sporting DNA. Tonale is now entering its first full year with the new model and is a strategic pillar for 2026.

While the initial target was an all-electric range by 2027, the brand is now adopting a more pragmatic approach, incorporating light hybrids and plug-in hybrids into this objective. The idea is to adapt the range to the realities of different markets, where the level of infrastructure, public incentives and demand vary greatly.

It’s a questionable strategy, however, because while it limits the risk of destabilising current customers, it could also penalise Alfa Romeo in the face of competitors who are speeding up their transition to electric vehicles.

“BEST CARS 2026”: Alfa Romeo Giulia and Tonale are the winners

As success never comes on its own, these commercial achievements have been accompanied by international recognition. Just recently in Germany, the Giulia and Tonale were honoured in the “Best Cars 2026” competition.

These awards help to reinforce the perceived value of the vehicles which, it should be remembered, are both available in hybrid versions and therefore support the transition strategy. They show that it is possible to electrify a range while retaining the sportiness and design for which Alfa Romeo is renowned.

A pivotal year before acceleration

The 2025 financial year, which recently came to a close, represents an intermediate but structuring stage. With the figures published, which concern not only Europe but also the rest of the world, Alfa Romeo is demonstrating that it is possible to achieve significant growth while initiating a smooth energy transition. It remains to be seen whether the launch of other models in the BEV segment will find their customers.

On 1 March 2026, via an official press release and an internal memo from He Xiaopeng dated 24 February, XPeng Motors announced that global delivery of its second-generation intelligent driving system, VLA 2.0, will begin in 2027. In this global roll-out, Volkswagen is confirmed as the first launch partner in the Chinese market.

A change in architecture: from sequential pipeline to end-to-end AI

The big news behind this announcement, apart from the fact that worldwide deliveries of its intelligent driving system will begin in 2027, is that VLA 2.0 (Vision-Language-Action) marks a major conceptual break with traditional in-vehicle systems. Traditionally, automated driving architectures operate according to a three-stage logic:

• Perception (Vision)
• Translation into intermediate language
• Decision/Action

The problem with the so-called ‘traditional’ model is that it creates latency, like a translator between the eye and the foot on the brake pedal.

With version 2.0, XPENG breaks this pattern: the vision goes directly to the action, without passing through an intermediate language stage. The system creates what some describe as “implicit tokens”: a computer language internal to the AI that enables faster, smoother interpretation of driving situations.

This approach is expected to offer a number of operational advantages:

• Drastic reduction in processing times
• More real and more human reactions
• Ability to manage complex scenarios without detailed HD maps
• Dynamic recognition of road signs, gestures or changes in context

Public road tests and “drive anywhere” capabilities

The first vehicles equipped with VLA 2.0 have begun testing on open roads in China, with public trials scheduled for later in 2026. According to various statements by the Chinese brand, the system is now capable of handling difficult environments:

• heavy urban traffic
• narrow lanes
• irregular or unmapped roads
• standstill starts and complex interactions

Based on early test data, XPENG claims that VLA 2.0 delivers a ~23% improvement in driving efficiency, with peak hour performance in Guangzhou comparable to that of experienced human drivers, and significantly better than traditional Level 2 systems.

Hardware power: the Turing chip, the heart of the reactor

To operate and be so promising, the VLA 2.0 relies on the Turing AI chip designed in-house by XPENG, capable of delivering up to 2,250 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) per unit in the most powerful versions.
This massive computing power means that very large AI models can be run directly in the vehicle, without relying on the cloud. It is this on-board power that guarantees ultra-fast reactions – essential when you need to anticipate an unpredictable cyclist or a pothole in a fraction of a second.

Volkswagen, a strategic and now historic partner

The announcement that Volkswagen is now the first launch partner for VLA 2.0 on the Chinese market sends out a strong signal.
Firstly, it is a symbolic milestone: it is the first time that a major historic Western manufacturer has adopted an advanced autonomous driving platform developed by a Chinese manufacturer to equip its own vehicles.

Secondly, the agreement is not limited to simple software integration. Volkswagen will also be adopting the proprietary Turing AI chip developed by XPeng Motors, the computing heart of the VLA 2.0. In other words, the system’s hardware and software architecture will be based directly on the XPENG technology ecosystem.

And it’s worth remembering that this partnership didn’t come out of nowhere. In 2023, Volkswagen invested around $700 million to acquire a 4.99% stake in XPENG, as part of a wider agreement to jointly develop electric vehicles for the Chinese market. This stake means that the German manufacturer already has a direct interest in the industrial and technological success of its partner.

Objective: total autonomy within 1-3 years

He Xiaopeng, Managing Director of XPeng, confirmed: “XPENG’s VLA 2.0 is the first version designed to achieve fully autonomous driving and will evolve at an unprecedented rate. We expect full autonomy to arrive within one to three years, making autonomous driving a natural part of people’s daily journeys.”

This ambition is part of XPENG’s wider “Physical AI” strategy, in which the same AI model could eventually power other platforms operating in real environments:

• humanoid robots
• modular flying vehicles
• autonomous mobility services

A turning point for automotive AI

With a plan for global deployment in 2027 and a major Western carmaker already committed to the technology in China, XPENG is entering a new phase of expansion. The alliance with Volkswagen could become a textbook case in the industry: a traditional carmaker boosted by Chinese on-board intelligence technology.

It remains to be seen whether the VLA 2.0 will really be able to compete with the autonomous systems promised by Tesla, Waymo and other technology players.

For the electromobility sector, February 2026 will go down in the annals: 32,370 electric cars registered (passenger cars + light commercial vehicles), up 27.8% on February 2025. This represents a market share approaching 27%, an all-time record for February. Over the first two months of the year, the cumulative total reached 62,677 EVs, up 21% on 2025. According to AAA Data, the trend is clear: despite a declining overall market, electric vehicles are continuing to establish themselves as the engine of the future.

Market context

To say the least, the French vehicle market is not in the best of health. In fact, 120,764 personal vehicles were sold in February 2026, down 14.7% on the previous year.

The main factor is that diesel sales collapsed again this month, reaching just 2.6% of the market. By comparison, sales of cars running on LPG represent 2.3%, while plug-in hybrids are up slightly at 5.5%.

Electrics are now the leading energy source on the market, ahead of non-rechargeable hybrids. In short, while the overall market is shrinking, electric cars are gaining ground month by month.

Top electric models

One of the big news is that the Tesla Model Y is back in first place in February with 3,034 units, a position it has not held since last September. It is closely followed by its rival, the Renault 5, with 2,639 units sold, and by the Renault Scénic, with 2,127 units.

This is a real rebound for Tesla, which had a difficult January, with a total of 3,715 vehicles (Model Y + Model 3). For Renault, the cumulative total for February was 6,492 EVs, or 20% of the electric market, confirming the brand’s dominance of the mass-market segment.

In addition to the top 3, other models stand out: the Citroën ë-C3 (1,337), the Peugeot e-208 (1,150) and the Volkswagen ID.4 (1,003).

Renault in the lead, the big manufacturers in ambush

What really interests the market is who sells what at the end of the month. In this area, Renault remains the undisputed leader, with 6,492 electric vehicles registered in February and a market share of 20%. This position has been consolidated since September 2025, boosted by the Renault 5 and the Scénic E-Tech.

As already mentioned, Tesla was more convincing than in the previous month, with 3,715 electric vehicles sold in February. The figures show that the American manufacturer remains a major player, even though Renault still dominates the consumer segment.

At Stellantis, sales oscillate: Peugeot follows with 3,896 EVs, with Citroën and Volkswagen rounding out the top 5. The data confirms a clear trend: the French EV market is now concentrated around a few leading players.

A falling market, but not for everyone

Yes, February 2026 was a record month for electric cars, but it must be stressed once again that the overall market continues to shrink. With 120,764 cars sold in February 2026, that’s 14.7% fewer than last year, and 6.55% fewer than in January 2026.

So why is the market falling? Well, first of all, the tax system is taking its toll: weight-related penalties affect almost 70% of passenger cars. A family SUV weighing over 1.6 tonnes can cost between €10,000 and €30,000 in tax, and CO₂ charges can push up the bill from €10,000 for 50 g/km to €40,000 for 130 g/km. As a result, family models are becoming virtually inaccessible to many buyers.

Business fleets are also under pressure: down 13.9% in February (34,178 cars), held back by the wait-and-see attitude of the tax authorities and the weight penalty, which is holding up renewal. When it comes to internal combustion engines, the situation is almost the same: diesel at 2.6% (-54%), petrol -48%, LPG -52%, non-rechargeable hybrids -7%. In short, overall demand is weak, volumes are falling, and the economic situation is weighing on purchasing decisions.

And yet, despite this context, electric cars shine. This paradox can be explained by four specific factors:

• Social leasing 2025 deliveries: orders placed last year were converted into deliveries in January and February 2026, totalling 27,000 units, an artificial dynamic that inflates sales before they run out in mid-February.
• Revalued ecological bonus: the doubling of the EEC (€2,000-4,000) led to a surge in orders following the revaluation.
• Obligations for B2B fleets: decree requiring a minimum of 25% EVs in fleets of more than 100 cars/year.
• Renault bestsellers: Renault 5 E-Tech (2,639 units) and Scénic (2,127) benefit from local production, which enables rapid deliveries and supports volumes.

According to the Plateforme Française de l’Automobile (PFA), the trade federation representing vehicle manufacturers and importers in France, this level of sales “is the result of a range that is now very wide, the obligation to make fleets greener, and a social leasing effect. While the first two factors will continue to drive the market over the coming months, the positive impact of social leasing will fade.