Everything that happened in EVs on 27 September 2026

Denza says its Z Racing electric supercar lapped the Nürburgring in 6:50.964, putting it near Porsche territory, although key evidence is still needed before the time can be treated as a credible record. Meanwhile, BYD has opened its 2,000th highway charging park in China, with chargers delivering up to 1,500 kW and access available to other brands, while its Thailand factory has produced its 100,000th vehicle just 26 months after opening.

Volvo plans to introduce 13 models by the end of 2030, betting on 800-volt EVs in Europe and a separate range for China as it aims to double its market share. Polestar is also expanding the 4 lineup with a more practical SUV, restoring a rear window and conventional tailgate while offering up to 630 km of range, though its 400-volt charging system tops out at 200 kW.

Volkswagen is adding a five-meter range-extended SUV to its Chinese lineup, with the ID. Era 8X expected to deliver up to 400 km of electric range from a 65.2 kWh battery. Back in Germany, VW is shifting production toward EV demand, canceling planned combustion-car shifts in Wolfsburg while electric-car plants in Emden and Zwickau ramp up despite a weak European market.

CATL has begun test cell production at its Debrecen battery plant on two lines, although more work is required before series production can supply customers including Mercedes and BMW. In charging news, an electric Porsche 718 Boxster prototype has been spotted using a Tesla Supercharger in California, revealing a direct NACS connection but little about the future European version.

Automated driving continues to advance on several fronts. Mercedes plans to bring Wayve AI to supervised point-to-point driving within two years, alongside its Nvidia work and separately from Drive Pilot. Czechia has recognized provisional approval for Tesla FSD (Supervised), taking the system’s permitted European footprint to seven countries ahead of an EU-wide decision, while a proposed regulatory change could extend Smart Summon’s European range to 15 meters.

Tesla’s latest software changes make the car more attentive to routines, as automatic navigation can now learn driving habits and suggest likely destinations. For owners managing the rollout, our Tesla update guide explains Wi-Fi requirements, installation and common fixes. Volkswagen is adding a different kind of software feature, with AirConsole gaming coming to selected US models, though it only works while parked and requires a paid connectivity subscription.

A Canadian Tesla Model S taxi has retired after reaching one million kilometers in almost a decade, an impressive longevity milestone tempered by the absence of a detailed maintenance history. Separately, six EVs safely handled short circuits and overloads in a V2L test, though their usability, weather protection, error reporting and energy consumption varied significantly.