DAILY: Mercedes-Benz Grow EV Sales, Scottish EV Success and Standard Trim Teslas For Europe | 09 Oct 2025

Welcome back to the podcast. Today, Mercedes-Benz grows EV sales, Scottish EV success, and

standard trim Tesla's FIME Europe, plus stay tuned later in the show. I'll tell you which

non-automotive type product BMW is now offering. When Mercedes-Benz kick us off, they return

to growth for EVs in Q3 this year after six consecutive quarters of declines. It's a rebound

the company puts down partly to the new CLA, which is a fantastic vehicle. Between July

and September, Mercedes-Benz has a group sold 51,200 BEVs, that's up 9% on the same quarter

last year, and up 22% on Q2 of this year. Year-to-date BEV sales are 138,000. Still 7% below a year

earlier, it was a week or first half of the year. Across all powertrains, the group's

sales are falling at Mercedes-Benz, so good news that EVs amongst that share are increasing.

In terms of vans, well, their total third quarter sales were down as well. Electric van sales were

up, so this is all good news for electric vehicles at Mercedes-Benz. Year-to-date

BEV sales in terms of vans, over 20,000 now. Mercedes expects further EV volume support

next year. We have the electric GLC and the CLA shooting brake version with additional SUV variants

too. Now, we don't talk a lot about Scottish electric vehicles. In fairness, there's not much

to talk about, but this is great news. EV production in Scotland, let's change the narrative on that,

because Munro EV. Now, Munro is nothing to do with the other Munro that we talk about,

the company that tears EVs down in America. No, Munro EV is a Scottish company. They're

expanding in Glasgow to scale their M series vehicles, 300 new manufacturing jobs for their

commercial all-terrain EV. Munro vehicles is a Scottish electric vehicle manufacturer based

in Glasgow, specialising in rugged, high-performance, all-electric 4x4s designed for demanding off-road

work in industries like mining, forestry, defence and construction. They have 280 kW of power,

they'll tow 3.5 tonnes and do about 170 miles on a charge. The company just secured multi-million

pound funding from existing investors, Elbow Beach and other parties and have orders for the

M series worth almost 20 million pounds. Munro targets capacity of 5,000 vehicles a year within

six years and the M series is priced from £63,000 offering utility, truck and chassis versions as

well with over a thousand kilograms of payload. Founded in 2019 by Russell Peterson and Ross

Anderson, Munro began deliveries earlier this year and plans to use a £2 million investment

to expand production lines as well and grow their sales and service.

Now look, Scotland's car production history is actually really interesting. It began in the late

19th century pioneers like Arrol Johnston, Albion and Argyle, all famous names in Scotland. A golden

age of craft scale manufacturing before World War I, struggled against mass production competition

by the 1930s and pretty much ended car manufacturing by the 1980s. The last mass

manufactured car in Scotland was the Hillman Imp produced at the old Linwood plant in Renfrewshire

until its closure in 1981. And EVs bringing car making back to

beautiful Scotland. What an interesting story. Now let's move on and talk Tesla. They announced

the new standard trim package in the US of the Model 3 Model Y and it may come to the UK. This

targets higher efficiency and lower entry pricing for the US market, EPA at 321 miles which would

be WLTP'd around 365. The new standard versions of Model 3 and Model Y and launching first in the

United States. But I told you yesterday on the podcast about this vehicle. We thought it was

US only after the official announcement. Now official and industry sources have both confirmed

that they will soon be available in Europe including the UK right hand drive. Production for

European cars is set to begin at Tesla's Berlin Gigafactory and a Shanghai built version is considered

unlikely due to EU tariffs on Chinese made cars. But of course we don't have those tariffs on Chinese

made cars. So perhaps the right hand drive versions would come from Gigashanghai. Obviously

right hand drive markets like Australia would be applicable as well as the UK. Exact pricing and

a firm European date weren't announced though. Gigaburlin plant manager Andre Tierig announced

on ex formerly Twitter and in internal meetings the production of the Model Y standard begins at

Berlin factory within weeks. In public remarks on ex he posted specifically that the Model Y

standard would be 10% less expensive than previous versions. The Model Y standard would likely replace

the current entry level rear wheel drive Model Y in the UK. That is 0 to 60 in 6.8 seconds slower

than any UK Model Y variant. Exterior updates with the new front and rear bumpers look good. While

the cabin follows the updated Model Y layout with the big central touchscreen, the soft seat

materials and the large storage in the front a bit like the Cybertruck. Tesla not confirming

UK sales either but standard they say according to AutoCar magazine looks around summer 2026.

All right moving on. Nissan is in talks to supply an electrified model based on its

rogue to multiple automakers including Ford's Delantis and others. General Motors is not

part of the discussions though. Talks extend to broader electric vehicle operation and include

Foxconn. The compact crossover would use Nissan's e-power system where the battery powered electric

motor drives the wheels but there is a generator gas engine which recharges the battery. I sat next

to one the other day in Southampton with the windows open on a nice day and it was ever so odd to be

sitting at a traffic light a red traffic light and and to have a Nissan going eeeeeeeeeee next to me

I was like what's that oh it's the e-power not really an EV because it hasn't got a plug socket

on the side of it they advertise it as electric because they use electrons to drive motors which

drive the wheels but you can't add electricity to it you have to burn stuff and you know constantly

go to the petrol station so not really an EV if you ask me in fact not an EV according to the

definition of an electric vehicle. Without a partner Nissan projects annual EV production for the

e-power range of 112 and a half thousand vehicles by the end of March 2033 but with partners would

make another 50,000 of those e-power vehicles. LG the venture capital arm of LG Group investing

in weave grid to accelerate development of grid interactive vehicle solutions what's that well

it's all about optimizing batteries and energy storage and charging efficiency weave grids

AI based EV management system enables utilities and car makers to manage the vehicle to grid

integration that's needed to coordinate smart charging stabilize the grid and even make you

some money the partnership pairs weave grid software with LG's battery technology and

it helps utilities to meet energy demand and increase operational efficiency. LG tech ventures

joins existing investors in weave grid including Hyundai and Kia as well as EV production accelerates

and utilities face more pressure to integrate EVs into the grid platforms like this how it

will be coordinated and that is that work that needs to be done as soon as possible now Volvo

is next in the news Volvo's US Q3 results show EV deliveries are rising but overall deliveries

for Volvo were down total deliveries fell 9% in Q3 but there's always a positive silver lining

electric vehicles what saved the day 32.6% of sales in Q3 were electric fully electric cars

up 71% at Volvo in Q3 year to date be EVs around 10% of the entire business there there's obviously

the compact ex 30 which is new ex 90 is their new flagship beautiful vehicles among combustion and

hybrid though the ex c 60 is still far and away the big winner at Volvo which is why when that

goes electric and we'll see that in January the ex 60 you'll get it to reveal that's a really

important vehicle next a new JD power e vision intelligence report finds that concerns about

a sharp downturn in EV sales after the federal tax credit expired a week or so ago are overstated

the report notes that electric vehicles are at the moment 11.2% of all new vehicle sales that was

August data so the September data is higher consumer intent remains steady 23.6% of new vehicle

shoppers say that they are very likely to consider buying or leasing an EV in the next year on top of

that 23.6% who are very likely 35% are somewhat likely to consider an EV the report indicates

that even without the federal subsidies sustained consumer intent suggests EV adoption could be

moving to a more durable phase driven by things like product quality better charging access and

more affordable models exactly what the CEO of Rivian RJ Scarrange has been saying you take away

the subsidies and any market manipulation for one of a better word he didn't use that word

and that the product quality stands on its own JD power also reviews international markets that

cut subsidies and saw similar patents initial sales decline then it's followed by a recovery as

consumer familiarity with the new pricing increases in Germany for example it was a brutal

instant cut of their subsidies and there was a 22% fall of EV sales that's all recovered though

and Germany's having a great 2025 so far let's talk leap motor they will launch the B10 in the UK

that's a mid-size electric crossover it's launching here in November it'll be just under 30,000

pounds of retail buyers there's also they call it the leap grant because they don't get the

government money because it's Chinese and the carbon impact is too high so they put their own

money in on that leap motor has registered 1,535 UK cars hold an order bank they say 4,000 they

expect the B10 to expand their footprint next year there's 53 Stellantis dealers dotted around the

UK where you can get leap motors and not everywhere but if your local Stellantis showroom where you

see you know nice Citrus and Persia who's parked up doesn't have a leap motor in you don't have

to drive too far to get to one B10 is a single trim 67 kilowatt hour battery charges a right

168 kilowatts and has 270 miles of range standard kit big sunroof the old pano roof heated and

ventilated seats 360 camera 14.6 inch touchscreen ambient lighting electric boot lid wireless phone

charging all the toys for not too much money that bit of the market so this is less than 30,000

pounds they say yeah I think the B10 is going to be a lot less than 30,000 pounds I think you

know this report was being again AutoCar magazine here being a little bit pessimistic on this this

is Skoda Lrock sized crossovers this is smaller than their big SUV which is the C10 well that

sits at the low 30s and then the T3 which is the tiny city car is 14 or 13 14,000 pounds with

with offers and discounts and so I think if they put this halfway between I think 30,000 pounds or

even nearer it is going to be too near their C10 their big SUV and so I think this vehicle

is you know it's not B-segment sized it's not Renault 5 size it's going to be a little bit

above that it is bigger so this is you know Keary V4 Peugeot E308 Volkswagen ID3 I think by the time

this goes on sale in November we need to be seeing price around 24,000 pounds for this

that would I think get lots of attention it would sit nicely in their their product lineup

as well in their product mix. Germany's green leader is criticising the EV policy there.

Katharina Droge sorry German speakers if that's not how I said parliamentary group leader for

the opposition greens denounced the Chancellor's stance on electric vehicles as backward looking

and criticised his call for the EU to abandon its ban on pure petrol and diesel by 2035

Droge said Mertz is slowing down the German car industry and warned the resulting uncertainty

is harming the sector ahead of a major automotive industry summit later this week

and a chancellery meeting today I believe politicians car makers and trade unions in Germany

are getting together to discuss things like bans and cut off dates contrast Germany with China

she said in China millions of e-cars are rolling off production lines here in Germany manufacturers

in danger of being left behind she urged clear guidelines social leasing programs to make

e-cars available to lower income families and an expansion of the charging infrastructure

network all right we'll take a quick break when we come back we'll talk about some charging improvements

and what's happening in Northern Ireland I'll let you know stick around back in a moment

welcome back to the podcast now thank you for bearing with me this week my walking talking

germ machine children brought home something particularly nasty last week and it took me

down for a couple of days I've been catching up on the podcast but hey sorry still feel

still feel under the weather still sound pretty terrible as well but you know short of getting

AI to voice this what can we do now the UK based charging company Instavolt is upgrading their

older charges with higher power units the first installation at Chinham business park near basing

stoke which is where they're based actually it's taking out 50 kilowatt charges and putting in

120s so you know not blowing anyone socks off with 120 kilowatt units but I didn't write the

check to pay for it so I'm not going to criticize upgraded charges now have contactless payments

via you tap your phone apple pay android pay etc Chinham is the first of multiple upgrades for

Instavolt here in the UK that's you know important work to be done once hardware's in the ground

not to be forgotten about an online application is now open in Northern Ireland for residents who

lack a driveway to request cross pavement charging channels the channels allow charging from a

domestic supply for about three quid a charge compared to 25 quid if you are charging on a

public charger so home charging is really important but if you haven't got a driveway

these little channels that the cable goes in are you know very important not to be a trip hazard

visually impaired people vulnerable in terms of people parking on pavements people just put

their vans skips on pavements and stuff like that don't think about how other people are getting

around on foot so these channels are really important for it to be safe Northern Ireland

differs from England Scotland and Wales because the Department for Infrastructure DFI is responsible

for public footways and have the ability to approve installations and region wide things like this

without separate local authority permissions Kerbo charge is partnering with a local installer

to provide an all-in-one package that includes Kerbo installation the charger a cable it's about

seven half meters long and the DFI license fee as well they're already going in the ground

residents insert the cable and a specially designed lid closes behind almost like a zip

keeping the pavements free of trip hazards the scheme makes practical lower cost home charging

available to more people that is really important all the attention gets put on ultra-fast DC

charging and that is incredibly important but EVs should be charged when you're not using them

and doing that at home if you haven't got a driveway we need solutions this is one of them

now Renault's EV subsidiary Ampere reiterated yesterday its targets to cut EV costs by 40%

they want to reach financial break even the CEO of Ampere say that we are working on it we haven't

given up on our cost reductions hitting targets with lower vehicle costs and strengthening Renault's

EV push and finally BMW famous obviously for cars and motorbikes and more not so much

for paddleboards is getting into a different business BMW and superboards is a self-inflating

SUP I see it all around I'm gonna live by the beach so I see people out on paddleboards and

kayaks and what have you but I'm no expert in that BMW and the Slovenian maker superboards

introducing a quiet propulsion system using batteries and digital controls using a silent

300 watt motor that reaches four knots and runs on a removable battery module this paddleboard

ships with a 90 watt hour module for up to three and a half hours of travel and then next year they

can upgrade that as well control comes with a Bluetooth remote built into the paddle and a

mode that adds some lighting and some haptic feedback as well they say as you can control the

paddle board available now from BMW lifestyle online stores for 4000 euros so a nice toy but

not cheap but that's your podcast for today thanks to our premium partners Porsche of the

village in Cincinnati Audi of Cincinnati East and Volvo cars of Cincinnati East national car

charging on the US mainland and the low-high charge in Hawaii an octopus electroverse global

public charging make simple with one app and one nap have a good and sit amour and remember

there's no such thing as a self-charging hybrid

DAILY: Mercedes-Benz Grow EV Sales, Scottish EV Success and Standard Trim Teslas For Europe | 09 Oct 2025

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