Renault's Winning Streak, Nissan's Tesla Hail Mary, Stellantis' Great EV Backpedal, Absent Lawmakers Delay French ICE Ban

?? This Week In The Mobility World

?? Micromobility

• According to Bertrand Fleurose, on LinkedIn, Zeway, a company specializing in e-scooter rentals with a battery exchange system, is facing significant financial difficulties and has entered into collective proceedings. This turn of events is unexpected, particularly as the company had recently announced a substantial fundraising round. Zeway's business model, inspired by the successful Taiwanese model of Gogoro, allows users to rent electric scooters and quickly swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones at dedicated stations.

?? Factories/Manufacturing/Recalls

• Despite massive EU subsidies, €900M in Hungary and Poland alone, Chinese-European battery partnerships lack enforceable technology transfer requirements, leaving Europe increasingly dependent on Asian manufacturers. A new study for T&E reveals that while these projects were pitched as knowledge-sharing ventures, they largely serve immediate battery demand, with no long-term skill development. Meanwhile, plants in Hungary and Poland have violated EU air pollution laws, raising further concerns over lax environmental oversight. With over 90% of EU batteries produced by Asian firms and nearly half of new gigafactories controlled by Chinese or South Korean companies, Europe risks becoming a mere assembly hub. T&E urges the EU to impose stricter conditions on foreign investment, mandate local technology transfer, and enforce higher environmental and labor standards to prevent a race to the bottom. A comprehensive battery strategy is expected on March 5th as part of the EU’s broader automotive sector plan.
• Faced with the inconvenient truth that EV adoption isn’t living up to its expectations, Stellantis is making a sharp U-turn, back to diesel. In a move that seems almost rebellious, the group is not only extending diesel engine production until 2030 but also tweaking them to meet Euro 7 standards and even developing new, smaller variants. At the same time, Stellantis is doubling down on hybrids, pouring investments into Italian production lines. Meanwhile, with leadership in flux and a strategic flirtation with China’s Leapmotor, Stellantis finds itself in a delicate balancing act, juggling emissions regulations, consumer demand, and the inconvenient fact that, for all the EV rhetoric, good old combustion engines are still paying its bills.
• Renault Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Geely to introduce electric vehicles in the Brazilian market, with the collaboration set to be realized both industrially and commercially through Renault's Brazilian subsidiary, Renault do Brasil. Geely will become a minority shareholder in this operation, enhancing the partnership’s industrial reach, particularly in Paraná, where Renault’s Ayrton Senna manufacturing plant is located. This deal builds on their previous successful ventures, including a JV in Korea and leadership in engine and transmission technology.

• CATL and Volkswagen have signed a MOU to deepen their collaboration on lithium battery R&D for NEV, as well as new materials and parts development. The partnership will focus on creating cost-effective, advanced battery solutions and explore areas like battery recycling and V2G technology.

• Valeo has confirmed the complete closure of its La Suze-sur-Sarthe plant, effective April 25, 2025, as part of a broader strategy to address the slowdown in the European automotive market, which includes the elimination of 868 positions across eight French sites.
• Northvolt has sold its industrial battery pack business, one of its few profitable units, to Scania as part of its ongoing restructuring. The sale follows previous divestments to Norsk Hydro and Volvo Cars, as the struggling battery maker focuses on its core plant in northern Sweden. Northvolt, which filed for US Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November, has been racing to offload assets to stay afloat. Scania, already a major customer and lender, sees the acquisition as a strategic boost to its power solutions division. The deal, impacting around 300 employees, awaits regulatory approval.

???Tech

• Stellantis has launched STLA AutoDrive 1.0, its in-house automated driving system with SAE Level 3 Hands-Free and Eyes-Off capabilities. Designed for urban stop-and-go traffic, it allows drivers to perform non-driving tasks at speeds up to 60km/h (37mph). The system uses advanced sensors and includes automated sensor-cleaning for reliable performance in various conditions. It will be available across Stellantis' global lineup, with future updates potentially expanding its capabilities, including higher-speed hands-free driving and off-road automation. However, no real announcement as to when any model will embed the system.

• Cars with Google built-in are getting a bunch of new apps to entertain you while you're parked. Thanks to Google’s car-ready app program, developers can now easily roll out their big-screen-friendly apps to your car’s display. Starting with select Volvo and Polestar models, more cars and apps are coming soon.

???New Car Reveals

• A new Dacia model is on the horizon, positioned in the increasingly competitive A-segment, smaller than current offerings but larger than the Spring, with an entry price under €18k. Confirmed by CEO Denis Le Vot, the car promises a compact, zero-emission powertrain and will be entirely manufactured in Europe and will leverage the same platform than the Renault Twingo EV.

• Alpine will unveil the A390, its upcoming sport fastback, on 27 May 2025 in Dieppe, France, the brand’s birthplace and future production site. The presentation will mark the second model in the Alpine Dream Garage, ahead of the brand's 70th anniversary celebration from 30 May to 1 June. Let’s just hope it doesn’t end up looking too kitschy or resembling a DS, though the first image shared does raise a few eyebrows.

• Volvo’s upcoming ES90, an electric sedan aimed at competing with the BMW i7 and Mercedes EQE, will be produced in China and features a focus on advanced electronics and AI, driven by software. While the vehicle embraces a centralized architecture and enhanced safety features, Volvo lags behind Geely’s brands with older Nvidia chips. The full reveal is on March 5, but it remains unclear if a station wagon variant, the EV90, will follow.

• Kia has unveiled its new PV5 electric van, a mid-size model that marks the first in a series of purpose-built electric vans aimed at competing with the Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Ford E-Transit. Built on Kia’s dedicated PBV platform, the PV5 features a modern, futuristic design with large windows and a rugged lower body, offering both passenger and cargo configurations. Further details, including powertrain specs and seating configurations, will be shared during Kia’s EV Day on February 24th.

?? EVs

• In 2024 in France, only a quarter of companies subject to the "LOM" law met the fleet electrification requirements. T&E's 2025 report highlights a sharp decline in compliance, with only 25% of companies meeting the 20% low-emission vehicle quota, down from 40% in 2023. The law mandates that fleets with over 100 vehicles gradually transition to electric or plug-in hybrid models. T&E points to a divide between "leaders" like La Poste, which achieved 69% electric vehicles, and "laggards" like SNCF, with only 5% electric vehicles. T&E advocates for stricter enforcement, including sanctions and excluding plug-in hybrids from the quota.

• Volkswagen's upcoming ID.1 electric city car will not have a counterpart in other brands within the group, as Skoda has opted out of developing a similar model due to profitability concerns. The ID.1, set to debut in 2027 with a starting price below €20k, will replace the Up and compete with the new Renault Twingo. Skoda's focus will shift to the Epiq, a small SUV expected in 2026, while continuing to offer the Fabia for budget-conscious consumers.
• Talking about Volkswagen, its ID.7 electric sedan saw a dramatic 99.6% drop in sales in China, selling just 9 units in January 2025. Overall, its EV sales in the country fell 71% compared to last year. Despite strong brand recognition, the ID.7 struggles in a competitive market dominated by local EV startups and rivals offering more tech-savvy features. Volkswagen’s attempt to cater to younger, tech-focused consumers has yet to succeed, raising doubts about its ability to regain traction in China.
• BMW is set to revolutionize its electric lineup with the upcoming Gen6 eDrive technology, debuting in the Neue Klasse cars, starting with the iX3 later this year. The Gen6 system, which includes 800V charging and a new battery made from cylindrical cells, offers a 30% increase in charging speed and range, with some models exceeding 500 miles. The new design integrates the battery as a structural component, reducing weight and improving strength, and will be applied across BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce models. Production begins this September, with five global manufacturing sites ensuring a robust supply chain.

• A study from the University of Birmingham, analyzing 300 million UK vehicles, shows EVs are as reliable as gas and diesel cars, with an average lifespan of 18.4 years and 199k kms, surpassing gas cars at 187k kms. EVs are 12% less likely to fail annually, compared to 6.7% for petrol and 1.9% for diesel vehicles.

?? EV Infrastructure Updates

• LAZ Parking and Epic Charging have teamed up in a major deal to roll out Level 2 EV charging solutions across LAZ’s national parking network in the US. The goal is to electrify 50k parking spaces over the next five years, integrating Epic’s advanced Charging Station Management System into a variety of locations, from hotels to airports. Epic’s system will optimize charging, improve parking revenue, and provide real-time data and maintenance. LAZ’s CEO, Alan Lazowski, sees this as just the beginning, marking a broader transformation in how parking integrates into the electric vehicle ecosystem.
• IONNA has partnered with Hubject to simplify EV charging in North America. By integrating Hubject's Plug&Charge ecosystem, IONNA offers a secure, seamless charging experience using ISO 15118 standards. This collaboration enables vehicle-based authentication for compatible EVs, eliminating manual steps and enhancing IONNA's network of public charging stations.

???Investment/Financial/Legal

• In a stunning display of democratic enthusiasm, a grand total of 64 out of 577 French lawmakers bothered to vote on aligning the country’s combustion vehicle ban with the EU’s 2035 deadline. Thanks to this half-empty room, the far-right Rassemblement National managed to block the measure, keeping the 2040 target intact. Their reasoning? EVs are too expensive, the industry isn’t ready, and, presumably, the apocalypse can wait five more years. Meanwhile, the government insists 2035 is inevitable, the auto industry just wants fewer fines, and Brussels is still pretending everyone’s on the same page. With a formal review set for 2026, there’s plenty of time left for more legislative no-shows.
• Renault has truly outdone itself in 2024, surpassing analysts’ expectations with a 7.4% revenue boost, fueled by a string of successful vehicle launches, including the electric R5. Though net income took a hit from the sale of Nissan shares, the company is far from slowing down. Looking ahead to 2025, Renault is gearing up to tackle tougher EU CO2 regulations with a slight 1% margin impact but is confident in its strategy to ramp up electric vehicle sales and adjust thermal vehicle volumes. CEO Luca de Meo is ready for Renault’s next chapter (Futurama), aiming for more tech investments and keeping the brand in the automotive "Champions League"!
• Well, it finally happened, Nikola Corp., the once-glittering star of the EV world, has filed for bankruptcy protection. After years of scandals, broken promises, and a founder whose claims about the company’s technology were more fiction than fact, it’s almost surprising it took this long. With a grand total of $47M in cash to fund its Chapter 11 process, Nikola plans to auction off its assets, assuming anyone still wants them. CEO Steve Girsky, who took over after the debacle of founder Trevor Milton, admitted the company was overwhelmed by "market and macroeconomic factors", as if that wasn’t an understatement. From being worth $30B to a footnote in the EV race, Nikola's fall has been as slow as its trucks, with production defects costing them millions and the company scraping by on dwindling funds.
• Ford is cutting stock bonuses for about half of its middle managers, around 1,650 employees, as part of CEO Jim Farley’s push to streamline costs. The automaker says the change is performance-based, aiming to reward top talent and improve results. However, some employees see it as a quiet way to thin the ranks, with some already considering job moves. The decision comes as Ford struggles with inefficiencies and lags behind GM in profitability.
• Renault and Plug’s hydrogen JV, Hyvia, has been placed in judicial liquidation following the Versailles tribunal's ruling. Despite efforts to find a buyer, no credible offer emerged, sealing its fate after months of judicial recovery. The company cites slow hydrogen ecosystem development and high innovation costs as key challenges. Employees will be supported or reassigned, while Renault and Plug remain silent on the matter.
• Just weeks after its launch, Manhattan's congestion pricing faces a challenge from President Trump, who aims to halt the tolling scheme. Despite this, Governor Hochul and transit advocates are determined to defend the program, which has already eased traffic and boosted public transit. The toll is crucial for funding subway and bus upgrades, and MTA officials remain confident in its legal resilience.
• Japan's exports rose for the fourth consecutive month in January, bolstered by a 8.1% increase in shipments to the US, despite looming tariff threats from President Trump. However, exports to China dropped 6.2%, and total imports surged 16.7%, resulting in a trade deficit of 2.76 trillion yen. The strong US performance contrasts with broader concerns over the potential impact of tariffs, particularly on the auto sector, which remains a critical component of Japan’s exports.
• But in the meanwhile, Japan is scrambling to rescue one of its automotive giants, with high-ranking officials reportedly courting Tesla as a potential investor in Nissan. According to the Financial Times, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and other senior figures have outlined a plan to entice Elon Musk’s company into acquiring Nissan’s US factories, following failed talks with Honda. The news sent Nissan’s stock soaring 11% on Friday. Meanwhile, Moody’s has downgraded Nissan’s credit rating to Ba1, citing declining profitability and weak cash flow due to an aging model lineup and sluggish demand. With Foxconn, Tesla, and even Apple floated as potential partners, Nissan is in dire need of a financial lifeline, and time is running out.
• Spyne, a visual merchandising platform for the automotive sector, has secured $16M in a Series A funding round. The funds will be used to expand globally, targeting markets in the US, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Spyne plans to enhance its AI platform and grow its dealer network from 1,500 to over 20,000 locations.

?? Bonus: Road-rage is actually a real sport

A few weeks ago, while watching the music video "In The Modern World" by Fontaines DC for the first time, I discovered a new form of combat, practiced... inside a car. A creative stunt for the video?

Well, no: the NYPost has now introduced me to the existence of carjitsu, a martial art... of a new kind.

At the starting signal of simultaneously unbuckling their seatbelts, the two opponents face off, even able to exit the vehicle as long as they don't touch the ground. Note: no air conditioning, of course, that would be too easy, so maybe a better sport to practice in winter.

Once again, it's worth noting the advantage of EVs over ICE vehicles as a carjitsu ring, with their flat floor and, most importantly... the absence of a gear lever. Yeah it may not be worth noting actually.

See you next Monday!