{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"BRIEFLY: Leapmotor, SK On, Rivian, Renault 4 and more | 17 Sep 2025","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/briefly-leapmotor-sk-on-rivian-renault-4-and-more-17-sep-2025","audioUrl":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/audioboom.com/posts/8778241.mp3?modified=1758407273&sid=5051980&source=rss","description":"It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 17 September 2025, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.\n\nPatreon 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\n\n\nLEAPMOTOR TO BUILD CARS IN SPAIN https://evne.ws/4mgfwEX\n\n\nSK ON OPENS SOLID-STATE BATTERY PILOT PLANT https://evne.ws/4poDxws\n\n\nRIVIAN BREAKS GROUND ON GEORGIA PLANT https://evne.ws/3VWurJG\n\n\nRENAULT 4 EV GETS A CARGO VAN VARIANT https://evne.ws/4nDkCwo\n\n\nUK GEELY EX5 CUSTOMERS GET FREE ANDERSEN A3 HOME CHARGER INSTALLED https://evne.ws/47G1wRs\n\n\nGAC AION V APPROVED FOR AUSTRALIA https://evne.ws/465ShsA\n\n\nTESLA MELBOURNE FSD TEST WAS NOT APPROVED  https://evne.ws/4nrNoQc\n\n\nTESLA ADDS 7‑YEAR WARRANTY TO SOME PARTS https://evne.ws/3IgdcQE\n\n\nNHTSA OPENS PROBE INTO 2021 TESLA MODEL Y DOORS https://evne.ws/465VwjM\n\n\nSUZUKI LAUNCHES E VITARA EV IN JAPAN IN JANUARY https://evne.ws/4prFSqo\n\n\nID. TOUAREG COULD BE THE FIRST SSP MODEL https://evne.ws/3VkOLo4\n\n\nVOLKSWAGEN DROPS FLUSH DOOR HANDLES FOR FUNCTION https://evne.ws/4gs1T4t\n\n\nNISSAN CUTS NEW LEAF OUTPUT OVER BATTERY SHORTAGE https://evne.ws/3VlzNya\n\n\n\nLEAPMOTOR TO BUILD CARS IN SPAIN\nStellantis will enable Chinese automaker Leapmotor to assemble vehicles at a Spanish plant to bypass steep EU import tariffs, likely beginning with the B10 electric SUV next year. The €1.5 billion joint venture includes major investment in battery production at Zaragoza, positioning Leapmotor for broader European expansion under Stellantis’s international partnership.\n\nSK ON OPENS SOLID-STATE BATTERY PILOT PLANT\nSK On has opened a Daejeon, South Korea pilot facility focused on sulphide- and polymer-oxide solid-state battery development, aiming for commercialization of sulphide-based cells in 2029—one year ahead of schedule. Backed by Solid Power’s tech, the facility will produce prototype batteries featuring advanced lithium-metal and silicon anodes with targets up to 1,000 Wh/l energy density.\n\nRIVIAN BREAKS GROUND ON GEORGIA PLANT\nRivian has started building a $5 billion EV plant in Georgia, aiming for 200,000 vehicles yearly by 2028, unaffected by the discontinuation of federal EV tax credits. The facility will support scale and lower costs for new models like the R2, following Tesla’s profitability playbook as Rivian moves into higher-volume, lower-priced vehicles.\n\nRENAULT 4 EV GETS A CARGO VAN VARIANT\nRenault's new electric 4 is now offered as a cargo van with a load capacity of 1,045 litres and up to 254 miles of range, priced in France from €29,300 before VAT. The conversion is managed in-house by Renault at its Maubeuge plant, with multiple battery and power options for commercial customers.\n\nUK GEELY EX5 CUSTOMERS GET FREE ANDERSEN A3 HOME CHARGER INSTALLED\nGeely will provide buyers of the all-electric EX5 a free Andersen A3 home charger, featuring unique design and smart charging integration, for orders placed before October 23, 2025. The charger, which includes full installation and a seven-year warranty, is compatible with solar power and smart charging tariffs.\n\nGAC AION V APPROVED FOR AUSTRALIA\nChinese automaker GAC’s Aion V electric SUV has been cleared for sale in Australia, featuring a 75 kWh LFP battery for up to 374 miles of range and fast charging from 30% to 80% in 16 minutes. Pricing will start below $45,000 AUD, with deliveries and detailed specs announced closer to launch.\n\nTESLA MELBOURNE FSD TEST WAS NOT APPROVED\nVictorian authorities confirmed Tesla was not authorized to test \"Full Self-Driving\" on Melbourne’s public roads after a viral video showed a Model Y performing an autonomous hook turn in the city center. Tesla says FSD is driver-supervised and not yet legal for autonomous use in Australia, where regulatory permits are required for such trials.\n\nTESLA ADDS 7‑YEAR WARRANTY TO SOME PARTS\nTesla’s 2026 model year vehicles in the US and Canada now carry a “High-Priced Propulsion-Related Part Warranty,” giving seven years’ coverage for key electrical components like the power conversion system and high-voltage parts. This new warranty is separate from existing battery and drive unit terms, aimed at lowering costly repair risk for buyers.\n\nNHTSA OPENS PROBE INTO 2021 TESLA MODEL Y DOORS\nU.S. safety regulators have launched a probe into 174,000 Model Y vehicles from 2021 after reports the electronic door handles could fail, potentially trapping children inside. Preliminary findings suggest the issue is linked to low-voltage battery problems, and several parents broke windows to access their children during incidents.\n\nSUZUKI LAUNCHES E VITARA EV IN JAPAN IN JANUARY\nSuzuki’s first battery-electric car, the e Vitara SUV, will go on sale in Japan in January 2026, produced in India for export and offering 267 miles per charge at around $27,000. It represents Suzuki’s major push into global EVs with significant investments and ambitions for high-volume exports.\n\nID. TOUAREG COULD BE THE FIRST SSP MODEL\nVolkswagen may transform its Touareg into the first fully electric SSP platform model, with combustion production ending in 2026 and SSP assembly possibly starting in Bratislava by 2029. The SSP platform promises cost savings and fast charging, with VW’s wider rollout across brands and models to follow.\n\nVOLKSWAGEN DROPS FLUSH DOOR HANDLES FOR FUNCTION\nVolkswagen will move away from flush-mounted door handles in favor of traditional grab handles in response to customer frustration, as outlined by the brand’s CEO at IAA Mobility. The company’s next-gen ID. models will prioritize practicality to appeal to mainstream buyers over early adopters.\n\nNISSAN CUTS NEW LEAF OUTPUT OVER BATTERY SHORTAGE\nNissan has halved production plans for its new Leaf due to shortfalls in battery supply, with revised output at the Tochigi plant being several thousand lower per month. The cutback delays a key launch for Nissan, which is betting on the new Leaf to reinvigorate its lagging EV business.\n"},"annotations":[{"startTime":240.7,"endTime":244.7,"type":"car","title":"Renaults 4","url":"/cars/renault/4-cv","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Renault_4_CV%2C_Bj._1960_%282014-09-13_7060%29.JPG","quote":"This is key to that. Renault's 4 is now available as a cargo van. I love it when these small cars get a van version.","canonicalId":"car:renault:4 cv","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Lothar Spurzem (CC BY-SA 2.0 de)"}},{"startTime":288.7,"endTime":294.7,"type":"car","title":"Galaxy Geely Ex5","url":"/cars/geely/galaxy-ex5","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Geely_EX5_EM-i_1.5_Max_PHEV_2026_%283%29.jpg","quote":"...o that's a little bonus for those that go for the Geely EX5 before the end of October. Chinese maker GAC, the...","canonicalId":"car:galaxy:ex5","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Captainmorlypogi1959 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":294.7,"endTime":302.7,"type":"car","title":"Aion V","url":"/cars/gac/aion-v","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Aion_V_001.jpg","quote":"...e end of October. Chinese maker GAC, their ION or AION V model, is now cleared for sale in Australia, feat...","canonicalId":"car:aion:v","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Jengtingchen (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":364.7,"endTime":370.7,"type":"car","title":"Tesla Model Y","url":"/cars/tesla/model-y","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Tesla_Model_Y_%282025%29_MYLE_Festival_2025_DSC_9565.jpg","quote":"... are now launching an official investigation into Model Ys from 2021 over some reports, multiple reports, th...","canonicalId":"car:tesla:model y","priority":0.3,"confidence":0.9333333333333332,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":395.7,"endTime":402.7,"type":"car","title":"Evitara","url":"/cars/suzuki/e-vitara","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/2025_Suzuki_e_Vitara_front_view.jpg","quote":"...d end up in a full recall. Suzuki will launch the Evitara in Japan next January at around $27,000 equivalen...","canonicalId":"car:e:vitara","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"La Revue Automobile (CC BY 3.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Martyn Lee","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/briefly-leapmotor-sk-on-rivian-renault-4-and-more-17-sep-2025/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}