1 million

GM is targeting annual global EV sales of 1 million by 2025

20%

With its latest investment in Swedish battery company Northvolt AB, Volkswagen's stake in the company is at about 20%.

23.8%

The automotive sector is now one of the best performers in the world economy, with sectoral activity above pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2021, according to GlobalData. In Q1 2021, activity levels in the sector were 23.8% higher than they were at the end of 2019.

100,000

Kia aims to have sold more than 100,000 EVs to Uber drivers in Europe by 2025, around 50% of which are expected to operate in just seven European capital cities, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Madrid and Paris.

6

Volkswagen is aiming to commission a total of six gigafactories in Europe by 2030 to support its battery electric vehicle production ambitions.

Mercedes reveals flagship EQS for its EV range 

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the EQS, the first all-electric saloon on the EQ brand. It is described as a flagship luxury saloon for its EQ-dedicated EV range. The model will launch in the UK with a 333hp electric motor, paired with a 107.8kWh battery, which Mercedes says is expected to allow a range of up to 478 miles (770 km) on the WLTP cycle. Mercedes says this marks the launch of a new generation of its batteries with significantly higher energy density.  

BMW iX on track for November launch 

BMW says its flagship electric SUV – the BMW iX – is ready for series production and is on track for market launch from November 2021. The iX is described by BMW as a technology flagship that is based on a new toolkit for the future, with ‘vast potential for innovations in the areas of automated driving, operation, connectivity and digital services’ which translates into a ‘premium mobility experience unparalleled in this segment’. The BMW iX will be produced at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing. 

Ford reveals 563bhp electric F-150 

Ford has revealed the all-electric variant of its best selling pickup model – the F-150. The model will be built at a new high-tech facility at Ford’s Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan and Ford says it plans market launch in the spring of 2022. The electric F-150 will be called the ‘F-150 Lightning’ and will come with an electric powertrain – dual in-board motors – delivering up to 563 horsepower and 775 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any F-150 ever.