EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs Jan 27, 2026

BRIEFLY: BMW, Volvo, Micro EVs & more | 22 Jan 2026

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Term

EV factory

An EV factory is a place where electric cars are made. These factories build the special parts that electric cars need to run.

Brand

BMW

BMW is a well-known car brand from Germany that makes luxury cars. They are now also making electric cars.

Term

battery cell factory

A battery cell factory makes the small parts that go into the batteries of electric cars. These parts help the cars run and determine how far they can go.

Concept

Neuerklasse

Neuerklasse is a new line of electric cars that BMW is creating. It's part of their effort to make more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Car

BMW IX-5

The BMW IX-5 is a new electric SUV that BMW is planning to release soon. It's part of their line of electric cars.

Car

BMW IX-7

The BMW IX-7 is a larger electric SUV that BMW is also planning to release. It's designed to be more luxurious than the IX-5.

Term

over-the-air update

An over-the-air update means that car companies can send software updates to your car through the internet, so you don't have to go to a shop to get them.

Car

Volvo Xc40 Recharge

The Volvo XC40 Recharge is an electric version of Volvo's XC40 SUV. It's designed to be eco-friendly and has modern technology.

Car

Volvo EX90

The Volvo EX90 is a new electric SUV that Volvo is introducing, featuring the latest technology and safety features.

Term

M1E subcategory

The M1E subcategory is a way to group smaller cars that are less than 4.2 meters long. It can help car makers save money and get tax benefits when they build these smaller vehicles.

Brand

Renault

Renault is a car company from France that makes many types of vehicles, including smaller cars and SUVs. They are well-known in Europe.

Brand

Stellantis

Stellantis is a large car company that was created by merging two other companies. It owns many different car brands, like Jeep and Peugeot.

Term

local content rules

Local content rules are laws that say a certain amount of parts in a product must come from the area where it's made. This can affect how much it costs to build cars.

Term

European parts

European parts are car parts that are made in Europe. Using these parts can help car companies follow local laws and support the economy there.

Term

Dacia

Dacia is a car brand from Romania that makes budget-friendly cars. They focus on keeping costs low while still providing reliable vehicles.

Car

Hyundai i30 N

The Hyundai i30 N is a sportier version of the regular i30 car, made for people who enjoy driving fast and want a more exciting experience.

Term

simulated gear shift

A simulated gear shift lets you change gears in a car that usually does it automatically, making it feel more like a race car when you drive.

Term

gear ratios

Gear ratios are like the settings in a car that help it speed up or go faster. Shorter ratios help the car go faster off the line but might not let it go as fast overall.

Concept

N brand

The N brand is Hyundai's line of cars that are made to be faster and more fun to drive than their regular cars.

Term

wider stance

A wider stance means the car is built to be wider, which helps it stay steady and balanced when turning or going fast.

Car

Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is an electric SUV made by Tesla. It's known for being high-tech and having a long driving range on a single charge.

Car

BYD Dolphin

The BYD Dolphin is a budget-friendly electric car made by BYD, a Chinese company. It's designed to be an affordable option for people looking to drive electric.

Car

The Ford F-150 Lightning is an electric version of the F-150, a well-known pickup truck. It's designed to be powerful and useful for work or everyday driving, with the added benefit of being environmentally friendly.

Car

Rivian R1T

The Rivian R1T is a new type of truck that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. It's designed for people who love the outdoors and want a vehicle that’s good for the environment, making it a popular choice among those looking for a modern pickup.

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It's EV news briefly for the 22nd of January,

everything EV in less than five minutes.

If you haven't got time for the full podcast, fear not.

Let's get you up to speed in a jiffy.

BMW is pressing ahead with its US EV factory plans.

They were due to get sales from AESC,

but they paused work on a $1.6 billion battery cell factory

in South Carolina that was meant to feed BMW's

Neuerklasse vehicles.

Meanwhile, BMW tooled up Spartanburg to make those vehicles.

BMW built a dedicated assembly plant in nearby Woodruff,

but the sales weren't forthcoming.

AESC will ship those sales from other locations.

So things like the IX-5 coming by the end of the year,

IX-7, or will be US made by BMW.

Volvo say they're about to roll out

the single biggest over-the-air update history

in automotive.

So anything from its 2020 and the XC40 recharge

that runs on Android is going to get an update over the air.

And that's going to bring those cars up to the basically

the same spec as if you walked in and bought

a new 100 grand EX90.

Now, the screen is smaller.

The chips are slower.

But essentially, that then opens the door

to rolling out Google's Gemini natural language voice

assistant AI in your car in a further update.

2.5 million vehicles will be a huge over-the-air update.

And your six-year-old car will maybe feel a little bit newer.

The European Union small EV plan has won some support,

but certain rules, the fine print

are worrying the car makers.

This new M1E subcategory for cars under 4.2 meters

is a great idea.

There's all sorts of tax benefits you could have with it.

And it could cost the car makers less to make those cars.

However, some of the car makers like Renault and Stellantis

are just starting to lobby on some of the local content rules.

And so you have to make those cars, if it all comes to pass,

in the EU with European parts.

And they're saying, well, let's phase it in,

because we've got some Chinese bits in our cheap dachias

or something.

And so we'll see where that one goes.

Hyundai have rolled out the N version of the Arnex 6.

They've improved the Arnex 5N, that simulated gear shift

with the paddles.

They've shortened the gear ratios on that.

And they've just generally improved.

I mean, the N brand is so interesting.

They re-engineer the vehicles.

They're physically wider.

They've got the big spoiler, really cool wheels

and tires on these.

And that is now out.

Kia is slashing EV prices back at home, though.

Tesla started this.

They dropped 10 million won off the Model Y.

And so that's now 60 million won.

And then BYD at the bottom end are coming in with cars

like the Dolphin at US$13,000 equivalent.

And so Kia, kind of being caught a bit cut in the middle,

caught in the middle there, reducing their prices

and trying to be more aggressive to stay.

Number one at home.

Scotland is putting 85 million pounds into its EV,

charging push part of its new budget.

EV interest is outpacing sales at the moment.

British car buyers spent more time searching for EVs

on the internet last year than they did buy.

But that's a good sign that people

are doing their own research.

The intent is there.

There's electric buses coming to the Arriva network

in the Netherlands.

These new buses will run all day

and then charge overnight in the depot.

Rivian is reaching out to say,

if you wanted to buy a Ford F-150 Lightning for your fleet

and Ford has scrapped it, come and buy a Rivian R1-T.

We've also got the electric delivery van

from the Rivian Vans that we will happily sell you.

And finally, at the beginning of this month,

a new all-electric car ferry in the northern area of Norway

where it's minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit,

minus 25 degrees Celsius,

took its first voyage.

It's an all-electric car and passenger ferry

in the harshest of conditions

where diesel is normally the design choice,

but following the cars, now the Varies are going all electric.

The number one resolution for people last year

was to save more money,

but nearly half gave up by February.

Don't let that be you.

Download RocketMoney to reach your financial goals this year.

Track your spending, cut waste,

and automate savings in one simple app.

RocketMoney shows you all your expenses

and categorizes them so you know exactly where your money's going

and where you're overspending.

From there, the app cuts waste

by canceling your unused subscriptions and lowering your bills.

No customer service needed.

With that money freed up,

the app will automatically set some cash aside for your goals,

whether it's an emergency fund, paying off debt,

or saving for vacation.

RocketMoney's got you covered.

Users love the app with over 186,000 five-star ratings.

And on average, users can save up to $740 a year

when using all of the app's premium features.

Make saving money a priority this year.

Go to rocketmoney.com slash cancel to get started.

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About this episode

BMW is advancing its US EV factory plans despite delays in battery production, while Volvo prepares for a massive over-the-air update for 2.5 million vehicles, enhancing older models with new tech. The European Union's small EV initiative garners mixed reactions from automakers due to local content rules. Hyundai launches the N version of the Arnex 6, and Kia responds to competitive pricing pressures by reducing EV prices. Additionally, Scotland invests significantly in EV charging infrastructure, and Rivian offers alternatives for fleet buyers after Ford's F-150 Lightning cancellation.

BMW Dacia gear ratios over the air update Renault Stellantis

Byd Dolphin Ford F-150 Lightning Hyundai i30 Rivian R1T Tesla Model Y Volvo C40 Recharge Volvo EX90 Volvo XC40

Original notes

BRIEFLY: BMW, Volvo, Micro EVs & more | 22 Jan 2026

It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 22 January 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDaily

BMW PRESSES AHEAD WITH US EV BUILD PLANS https://evne.ws/4a0tFCd
VOLVO TO REBOOT 2.5M CARS OVER THE AIR https://evne.ws/4a0tFCd
EU SMALL-EV PLAN WINS SUPPORT, BUT RULES WORRY CARMAKERS https://evne.ws/3YWduRt
HYUNDAI IONIQ 6 N CHASES EV THRILL-SEEKERS https://evne.ws/4pXiUq4
KIA SLASHES EV PRICES AS KOREAN PRICE WAR ESCALATES https://evne.ws/49DQsoz
SCOTLAND PUTS £85M INTO EV CHARGING PUSH https://evne.ws/4bRpDOY
EV INTEREST OUTPACES SALES AS MANDATE LOOMS https://evne.ws/4sMq2Zj
IRIZAR LANDS 39-BUS ARRIVA ORDER IN DUTCH BRT PUSH https://evne.ws/4k0m4Iw
RIVIAN MOVES TO FILL FORD F-150 LIGHTNING VOID https://evne.ws/4k0m4Iw

EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs

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