BRIEFLY: EU Local Rules, Jim Farley, Volvo & more | 18 Feb 2026
About this episode
The episode covers key EV industry updates including the EU's new rules requiring 70% of EV components to be sourced or assembled locally for subsidies, Ford CEO Jim Farley's proposal for a US-China joint venture, and Volvo's major software update for vehicles back to 2020. It also touches on UK nuclear power debates, India's battery leasing model for EVs, the UK's leadership in electric bus sales, and efforts to standardize EV charging signage. Additional news includes Canada's quota system impacting Volvo and Maserati's large US EV discounts.
It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 18 February 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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EU PLANS 70% LOCAL CONTENT RULE FOR EV AID https://evne.ws/4tHvjle
FARLEY PITCHES US–CHINA EV JVS TO TRUMP https://evne.ws/4ayRLpn
VOLVO ROLLS OUT VOLVO CAR UX UPDATE https://evne.ws/4qK0RUM
UK POWER PUSHES NUCLEAR, SOLAR AND GRIDS https://evne.ws/4tJHs9p
MARUTI SUZUKI LAUNCHES E VITARA WITH BATTERY LEASE https://evne.ws/4s1OhRX
UK LEADS EUROPE ON ZERO EMISSION BUS SALES https://evne.ws/46inqJ0
TESLA ADDS FIVE AUSTIN ROBOTAXI CRASH REPORTS https://evne.ws/4qOcBWq
OZEV ASKS INDUSTRY ABOUT NATIONAL EV CHARGING SIGNS https://evne.ws/4qNXZXg
CANADA’S CHINA EV QUOTA TEMPTS VOLVO https://evne.ws/3MOccp0
MAN RUNS MEGAWATT CHARGING TEST IN SWEDISH WINTER https://evne.ws/3ZLf2Os
MASERATI QUIETLY SLASHES US FOLGORE EV PRICES https://evne.ws/4aBg3xy
minimum content rules
"The European Union plans some minimum content rules. If they want to access some of the funds and subsidies,"
These rules mean that to get government help, most parts of a car have to come from nearby, not far away.
Minimum content rules are regulations that require a certain percentage of a product's components to be sourced or manufactured within a specific region to qualify for subsidies or trade benefits.
state support
"so almost three-quarters of components of EVs, must come from the European Union or be fully assembled there if they want to qualify for state support."
This is money or help from the government to encourage people or companies to make or buy certain cars.
State support refers to financial aid, subsidies, or incentives provided by governments to encourage certain industries or technologies, such as electric vehicles.
batteries
"70% of components excluding batteries, so almost three-quarters of components of EVs, must come from the European Union or be fully assembled there if they want to qualify for state support. What about batteries? Well, the carmakers themselves say they rely far too much on China"
Batteries are like big rechargeable power packs that give electric cars the energy to move.
Batteries in electric vehicles store electrical energy that powers the electric motor. They are a critical and often expensive component of EVs.
EVs
"so almost three-quarters of components of EVs, must come from the European Union or be fully assembled there"
EVs are cars that run on electricity instead of gas or diesel.
EVs stands for electric vehicles, which are cars powered entirely or primarily by electric motors and batteries instead of internal combustion engines.
Ford
"Jim Farley, who is the Ford CEO, has proposed a joint US-China venture to Trump officials, allowing Chinese automakers to make vehicles in the United States under the domestic brands, the likes of Ford."
Ford is a big car company from America that makes many types of vehicles like trucks and cars. It's been around for a long time and is very well known.
Ford is a major American automotive manufacturer known for producing a wide range of vehicles including trucks, SUVs, and cars. It is one of the largest and most historic car companies in the United States.
Android Automotive
"that run anything Android automotive,"
Android Automotive is a special version of Android made to work inside car screens, so you can use apps and features without your phone.
Android Automotive is a version of Google's Android operating system designed to run directly on a car's infotainment system, allowing for integrated apps and services without needing a connected smartphone.
software updates for cars
"And that's going to bring even six-year-old cars completely up to date. If you walked in and brought a brand-new EX-90 top of the range now, your six-year-old Volvo is going to look the same. Now, this is a huge undertaking for an established carmaker like Volvo."
Car companies can send new software to your car to make it work better or add new features, just like updating apps on your phone.
Modern carmakers like Volvo use software updates to keep older cars up to date with new features and improvements, similar to how smartphones receive updates.
Volvo EX90
"If you walked in and brought a brand-new EX-90 top of the range now, your six-year-old Volvo is going to look the same."
The Volvo EX90 is a new electric SUV, which means it runs on electricity instead of gas and is one of Volvo's best and newest models.
The Volvo EX90 is a top-of-the-range electric SUV from Volvo, representing their latest technology and design in electric vehicles.
Maruti Suzuki
"In India, Maruti Suzuki, their largest carmaker,"
Maruti Suzuki is a big car company in India that makes many popular cars that people buy because they are affordable.
Maruti Suzuki is the largest car manufacturer in India, known for producing affordable and popular vehicles primarily for the Indian market.
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara
"has launched and begun delivering the E-Vitara using battery as a service to lease or rent the battery"
The E-Vitara is an electric car made by Maruti Suzuki in India. Instead of buying the battery with the car, you can rent it to make the car cheaper to buy.
The Maruti Suzuki E-Vitara is an electric vehicle launched in India that uses a battery leasing model to reduce the upfront cost of ownership.
battery as a service
"using battery as a service to lease or rent the battery to bring down the initial cost of the vehicle."
Battery as a service means you don't buy the car's battery when you get the car. Instead, you rent the battery, which makes the car cheaper to buy and easier to fix if the battery has problems.
Battery as a service is a business model where the vehicle's battery is leased or rented separately from the car, lowering the initial purchase price and allowing battery upgrades or replacements.
zero emission vehicles
"The UK is leading Europe on zero emission bus sales. The UK is the number one place to sell your electric buses. Our office of zero emission vehicles is currently surveying stakeholders."
Zero emission vehicles are cars or buses that don't make dirty smoke or gases when they drive, which helps keep the air clean.
Zero emission vehicles are vehicles that produce no tailpipe emissions, typically electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, helping reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases.
fast EV charging
"we put signs up telling people where fast EV charging is located on our, to begin with, motorway network."
Fast EV charging means charging an electric car's battery quickly, so you don't have to wait a long time to keep driving.
Fast EV charging refers to electric vehicle charging stations that can replenish a vehicle's battery much quicker than standard chargers, typically using higher power outputs to reduce charging time significantly.
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