BRIEFLY: Renault’s EV Plan, Nissan, ID.3 Neo & more | 12 Mar 2026
EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs
BRIEFLY: Renault’s EV Plan, Nissan, ID.3 Neo & more | 12 Mar 2026
Annotations will appear as you listen
0:00
4:16
Car
Alpine A110
Car
Nissan Micra
Car
5 Renault 5
Car
Alpine A290
Car
Volkswagen Id3
Car
Volkswagen Gti
LIVE
Amazing deals on package holidays. Pay now.
I've got tickets to that sold out show. Message now.
Your subscription's been suspended. Update your payment details.
Final warning. To receive your package, pay the fee immediately.
Mum, I've had an accident. Please send money.
There's been suspicious activity on your bank account
and I need a few personal details.
Amazing deals on package holidays. Pay now.
I've got tickets to that sold out show. Message now.
Your subscription's been suspended. Update your payment details.
Final warning. To receive your package, pay the fee immediately.
Mum, I've had an accident. Please send money.
There's been suspicious activity on your bank account
and I need a few personal details.
It's EV news briefly for Thursday, 12th of March.
Everything EV in less than five minutes.
If you haven't got time for the full podcast, let's get you up to speed.
Renault sets the 2030 EV plan with 800 volts
and 466 miles of range on the horizon.
36 new models worldwide by 2030.
16 fully electric European launches
and 100% electrified European sales by 2030.
The new Renault platform with 800 volt architecture
enabling that 466 miles of range
or they say an e-rev version of some of their cars
with 869 miles of range using a small petrol engine
as purely an electricity generator.
Have they been looking at what's happening in China?
Moving on. The next generation Renault Magan
was talked about as part of Renault's plan.
That'll be offered in a fully electric and e-rev version as well.
The new platform cuts production costs by 40%
to keep the Renault Magan cost competitive.
Comes with Google, software and AI integration.
Also at the top end, the sporty end of Renault.
That'll be Alpine and it's A110.
Until now that's been a petrol sports car.
The next generation will be a Bev battery electric vehicle
using their own Alpine performance platform.
800 volt architecture again.
Dual rear motors over 500 horsepower.
A one and a half ton curb weight almost 400 miles of range
and the way they've designed it is to not give you a very big boot
not give you a frunk and that's where the batteries are going to go.
Up front and behind not the skateboard design.
It means they can get the driver right down on the deck
and deliver that typical Alpine sports car performance
so that you're not lifted up off the ground.
And obviously weight is a really big deal with Alpines.
Staying with the Renault Nissan Alliance, Nissan's Micra.
The big battery 52 kilowatt hours now gets the full UK government grant
of almost 4,000 pounds.
They had to switch the battery supplier to a European sourced battery
to bring down CO2 levels and therefore the entry price now is 23,000 pounds.
The entry level 40 kilowatt hour variant doesn't get the full grant
and so that's 21 and a half.
Well you've only got a spring a little bit more
and you get the big 52 kilowatt hour pack.
I'd do that.
The Micra, so cute.
Oh and the Renault 5 on which it's based, so cute.
Oh and the Alpine A290 which is the sporty version of those cars.
So cute.
Let's move on.
Volkswagen are going to rename the ID3.
They're going to call it the ID3 Neo World Premiere is coming in April.
We know nothing apart from the new software, one pedal driving, traffic lights,
detection travel assist, vehicle to load is coming.
Same software, they're going to roll out on ID Polo, ID Polo GTI and ID Cross.
Volkswagen Group will cut 50,000 jobs by 2030,
43% more than previously disclosed as profits hit their lowest point
since the 2016 dieselgate scandal.
Kia has discontinued the Nero EV.
Vehicle that many of you guys in the audience listening may have even owned
the latest model of refresh hybrid only.
But Kia say that's all right.
We've got the Kia 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.
So we'll miss the Nero but we have plenty of others.
Now MG is opening orders for a new plug-in hybrid.
It's the S9 and it's a three row.
If you need a seven seat plug-in hybrid,
you're not exactly spoiled for choice.
It's going to cost 34,000 pounds and have 62 miles of electric range.
Also MG are going to bring the 4X.
That's a crossover SUV body shape to the MG4 platform and a semi-solid state battery.
And BYD weighing up entering motorsport like Formula One or Le Mans
to widen their brand appeal.
That's briefly.
Amazing deals on package holidays. Pay now.
I've got tickets to that sold out show. Message now.
Your subscription's been suspended.
Update your payment details.
Final warning. To receive your package, pay the fee immediately.
Mum, I've had an accident. Please send money.
There's been suspicious activity on your bank account
and I need a few personal details.
Fraud is getting more sophisticated.
Always stop, think and check.
About this episode
Renault reveals an ambitious 2030 EV plan featuring 36 new models, a new 800-volt platform with up to 466 miles range, and an innovative e-rev hybrid option. The next-gen Renault Megane and Alpine A110 go fully electric with sporty performance and AI integration. Nissan's Micra EV now qualifies for full UK government grants thanks to a European battery supplier. Volkswagen plans to rename the ID.3 with new software features, while Kia discontinues the Nero EV. MG launches a 7-seat plug-in hybrid and a new crossover with semi-solid state batteries. BYD considers motorsport to boost brand appeal.
Original notes
It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 12 March 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
RENAULT SETS 2030 EV PLAN WITH 800V AND 466 MILE RANGE
Renault Group's futuREady strategy targets 36 new models worldwide by 2030, with 16 fully electric European launches and 100% electrified European sales. A new RGEV medium 2.0 platform with 800V architecture enables up to 466 miles of range, or 869 miles with an optional range extender.
RENAULT MEGANE TO ADD RANGE-EXTENDER OPTION
The next-generation Renault Mégane will be offered as both a fully electric and a range-extender model, with the EREV version targeting an 870-mile total range. The new platform cuts production costs by around 40% versus current EVs, and the cabin will feature a Google-co-developed software system with future AI integration for safety and driver assistance.
ALPINE SETS OUT ITS ELECTRIC A110 PLAN
The next-generation Alpine A110 will launch as a battery-electric model on the Alpine Performance Platform, using an 800V architecture, dual rear motors, and targeting over 500 bhp, a sub-1.5-tonne kerbweight, and up to 373 miles of range. Alpine is aiming for a lightweight, driver-focused character closer to the current A110 than a performance EV like the Taycan, with torque vectoring recalibrating every 10 milliseconds.
MICRA 52KWH GETS FULL UK EV GRANT
The Nissan Micra 52kWh now qualifies for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant following a switch to a Europe-sourced battery, bringing its entry price to £23,245. The entry-level 40kWh variant retains the lower £1,500 grant, with Micra pricing starting from £21,495, and first UK deliveries scheduled for April.
VOLKSWAGEN REBRANDS ID.3 SUCCESSOR AS ID.3 NEO
Volkswagen will rename the ID.3 successor the ID.3 Neo, with a world premiere set for mid-April, bringing the brand's latest software including One Pedal Driving, enhanced Travel Assist with traffic light detection, and Vehicle-to-Load capability. The same software platform will extend to upcoming smaller EVs including the ID. Polo, ID. Polo GTI, and ID. Cross.
VOLKSWAGEN TARGETS 50,000 JOB CUTS BY 2030
Volkswagen Group plans to cut 50,000 jobs by 2030, 43% more than previously disclosed, as profits hit their lowest point since the 2016 diesel scandal due to weak China demand and US tariffs. After spending roughly €12 billion on its in-house software unit CARIAD, VW has scaled back and turned to outside partners including Rivian, committing $5.8 billion to use Rivian's software stack in future EVs starting with the ID.1 in 2027.
KIA ENDS NIRO EV WITH HYBRID REFRESH
Kia has discontinued the Niro EV with the model's latest refresh, which launches only as a hybrid in South Korea. Kia CEO Jung Won-Jung confirmed the decision, stating the company now focuses its EV efforts on the dedicated EV3-through-EV9 lineup.
MG OPENS UK ORDERS FOR S9 PHEV
MG has opened UK orders for the S9 PHEV, a seven-seat SUV priced from £34,205 that offers 62 miles of electric-only range and sits in the 9% benefit-in-kind tax band. It uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a 24.7kWh battery supporting 7kW AC charging, undercutting the rival Chery Tiggo 9 by nearly £9,000.
MG 4X BRINGS SEMI-SOLID BATTERY TO SUV
SAIC has unveiled the MG 4X, an electric SUV based on the MG4 platform that features a semi-solid-state battery as standard across all trims. The battery uses manganese-based lithium-ion chemistry, reduces liquid electrolyte content to 5% for improved safety and longevity, and the MG 4X targets a CLTC range from 510 km (317 miles).
BYD WEIGHS F1 AND LE MANS MOVE
BYD is considering entering Formula 1 and the Le Mans World Endurance Championship, either by building its own team or acquiring an existing one, though no decision has been made. The move would complement BYD's performance brand Yangwang, whose U9 Xtreme recently set a production car speed record of 496.22 km/h at a German test track.
0:00
4:16