BRIEFLY: EV Prices, Ford, Uber & more | 26 Feb 2026
About this episode
The episode covers recent EV market updates including MG's upcoming MG2 subcompact EV launching in 2027 and the MG S9 plug-in hybrid 7-seater expected by year's end. It highlights impressive zero-emission bus adoption in European countries and Australia's EV sales reaching 12% in late 2025. The competitive small EV segment is noted with mentions of models like Renault 5 and VW ID Polo. There are also brief nods to Ford's legacy and Uber, wrapped in a lighthearted personal anecdote about moving in together.
It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 26 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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EV LIST PRICES FALL AS GAS GUZZLER PRICES RISE
New EV list prices (excluding Tesla) dropped 2.3%, or roughly $1,500, from an average of $63,327 in September 2025 to $61,860 in January 2026, while average new gas-powered vehicle prices rose 2.5% to $47,427 over the same period. The sharpest cuts came after the federal EV tax credit expired, with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 leading the slide at a 13.8% drop of over $7,000, followed by the Chevrolet Equinox EV at nearly $4,000 off — six models in total posted drops above 5%.
FORD TEASES EUROPE CAR RETURN AFTER FIESTA, FOCUS
Ford CEO Jim Farley used the Q4 2025 earnings call to signal "exciting plans" for passenger cars in Europe, framing the comeback as a selective, profitable return to specific segments rather than a volume land grab. Two new EVs built on Renault's Ampere platform are expected in the subcompact segment from the Ford–Renault partnership, with new passenger cars set to start arriving in 2027 under a new dedicated Europe passenger-car leadership role.
UBER EXPANDS EV RIDES ACROSS EIGHT UK CITIES
Uber has rolled out its EV ride option to eight more UK cities — Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Belfast and Merseyside — at standard UberX prices, after falling short of its pledge to run an all-electric London fleet by end-2025. Only 40% of London miles are now covered by EVs, with UK General Manager Andrew Brem citing charging access as "the biggest barrier," prompting Uber to announce driver support measures including discounted home and public charging in partnership with Pod Point.
BMW TALKS PRICE FLOOR TO DODGE EU MINI DUTY
BMW and the European Commission are in advanced talks to replace the EU's 20.7% countervailing duty on China-made Mini BEVs with a minimum import price agreement, according to Handelsblatt — covering the Mini Cooper Electric and Mini Aceman, both built at BMW's Zhangjiagang joint venture with Great Wall Motor. The approach would mirror the "price undertaking" the EU accepted from Volkswagen Anhui in early February, which freed the Cupra Tavascan from countervailing duties in exchange for a confidential price floor, volume cap and EU investment commitments.
EU CITY BUS SALES HIT 60% ZERO-EMISSION
Six in ten new city buses registered across the EU in 2025 were zero-emission — 56% battery-electric and 4% fuel cell — a dramatic jump from just 12% when the Clean Vehicles Directive was adopted in 2019. Five member states hit 100% zero-emission city bus sales in 2025 (Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia), and Transport & Environment says a fully zero-emission EU city bus market is achievable as early as 2028.
MG2 SET FOR 2027 UK LAUNCH AT £20,000
MG will enter the electric supermini segment in 2027 with the all-new MG2, targeting a starting price of around £20,000 (~$25,200), to take on rivals including the Renault 5, Citroën e-C3, Fiat Grande Panda and the incoming VW ID. Polo. The car will use the newer E3 architecture from the MG4 Urban, run front-wheel drive with a torsion-beam rear axle for cost efficiency, and feature a 12.8-inch touchscreen with physical climate controls — a reveal is expected in the second half of 2026.
MG CONFIRMS MGS9 PHEV SEVEN-SEATER FOR UK
MG will launch the MGS9 plug-in hybrid SUV in the UK later in 2026 as its new flagship, offering three full adult-sized rows and targeting rivals such as the Peugeot 5008, Kia Sorento and Skoda Kodiaq at a value-led price point. The model already holds a five-star Euro NCAP rating and could reach UK showrooms as early as summer 2026, extending MG's line-up to 11 models.
AUSTRALIA NVES DATA SHOWS HYBRIDS DO THE HEAVY LIFT
Australia's National Vehicle Emissions Standard published its first half-year performance data (July–December 2025), showing EVs made up roughly 12% of new vehicles supplied, with about two-thirds of manufacturers — including BYD and Polestar — meeting their fleet-wide emissions targets. Petrol- and hybrid-focused brands such as Mazda and Hyundai fell short and face penalties if they don't improve, while the data reveals that near-term emissions gains are leaning more on efficient hybrids than on full EVs.
LECTRON ADAPTERS WIN UL 2252 SAFETY CERTIFICATION
Lectron has earned UL 2252 safety certification across its full range of EV charging adapters — covering J3400, CCS1 and J1772 in both AC and DC variants — with its two DC adapters handling up to 500 amps at 1,000 volts for peak power of 500 kW, and built-in thermal sensors that trigger derating if heat rises during fast charging. The certification comes as the North American charging landscape remains split between NACS and CCS1 on DC networks and J1772 on AC infrastructure, making a certified bridging adapter an increasingly essential tool for EV drivers navigating the transition.
MG2
"MG are getting ready to unveil the MG2. We should see it this summer on sale and then delivered early 2027. MG2 is that sub-20,000 pound, or $25,000, sub-compact, super mini-class,"
The MG2 is a small electric car that will be sold at a low price starting in 2026 or 2027. It is made by the car company MG and is good for city driving.
The MG2 is an upcoming sub-compact or super mini-class electric car from MG, expected to be priced under 20,000 pounds or $25,000. It is anticipated to be available for sale in summer 2026 and delivered in early 2027.
Fiat 500
"Renault 5, Fiat Panda, loved the little Fiat 500, love Citroen EC3, and many more as well."
The Fiat 500 is a tiny car that looks old-fashioned but is modern inside. It's good for driving in tight city spaces.
The Fiat 500 is a small city car known for its retro styling and compact size, popular in Europe and available in both combustion and electric versions.
Renault 5
"Renault 5, Fiat Panda, loved the little Fiat 500, love Citroen EC3, and many more as well."
The Renault 5 is a small car made by Renault. It was popular a long time ago and now there is a new electric version.
The Renault 5 is a small hatchback produced by Renault, originally popular in the 1970s and 1980s, with a modern electric version recently introduced to the market.
Fiat Panda
"Renault 5, Fiat Panda, loved the little Fiat 500, love Citroen EC3, and many more as well."
The Fiat Panda is a small car made by Fiat. It's easy to drive in cities and is not expensive.
The Fiat Panda is a compact city car produced by Fiat, known for its practicality and affordability, with several generations since its launch in the 1980s.
Citroën ë-C3
"Renault 5, Fiat Panda, loved the little Fiat 500, love Citroen EC3, and many more as well."
The Citroën ëC3 is a small electric car made for city driving. It doesn't use petrol or diesel, so it's better for the environment.
The Citroën ëC3 is an electric version of the Citroën C3 supermini, designed for urban use with a focus on efficiency and affordability.
Volkswagen ID. Polo
"VW ID Polo, Cooper Revell, Kia Revi 2."
The Volkswagen ID. Polo is a small electric car that is coming soon. It runs on batteries instead of petrol.
The Volkswagen ID. Polo is an upcoming electric version of the popular Polo hatchback, part of Volkswagen's ID family of electric vehicles.
Mg4 Urban
"...ting in on the action using the platform from the MG4 Urban. MG also confirming the MG S9."
The MG4 is a small electric car that runs on batteries instead of gas. It's designed to be easy to drive in the city and doesn't cost as much as some other electric cars. People talk about it because it's a newer, more affordable option for electric driving.
The MG4 is an electric hatchback from MG, known for its affordable price and competitive range in the EV market. It uses a modern electric platform that offers practical urban mobility with a focus on efficiency and technology. The MG4 is significant as it represents MG's commitment to expanding its electric vehicle lineup.
MG S9
"MG also confirming the MG S9. The MG S9 is going to be a full-size, three-row, plug-in hybrid 7-seater for the UK."
The MG S9 is a big SUV that can carry seven people. It uses both a petrol engine and electric batteries to move.
The MG S9 is an upcoming full-size, three-row, plug-in hybrid SUV designed to seat seven passengers, targeting markets like the UK with a combination of electric and combustion power.
plug-in hybrid
"The MG S9 is going to be a full-size, three-row, plug-in hybrid 7-seater for the UK."
A plug-in hybrid is a car that uses both petrol and electricity. You can charge its battery by plugging it in, so it can drive some distance using only electricity.
A plug-in hybrid vehicle combines a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor and battery that can be recharged by plugging into an external power source, allowing for some all-electric driving range.
new vehicle sales percentage
"And Australia confirming that it is now at 12% new vehicle sold in the second half of last year,"
This means how many new cars were sold compared to all cars sold in a certain time. It helps understand what kinds of cars people are buying.
This refers to the proportion of new cars sold in a market over a specific period, indicating trends in consumer preferences and market growth.
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