TARIFFS CAUSE PAUSE
Two automakers state tariffs as reason for having to delay or pause production on new electric vehicles.
JLR Delays Range Rover
The Guardian reports that Jaguar Land Rover is delaying the release of its highly anticipated Range Rover electric SUV.
Production was set to commence in Q4 2025, but customers have been informed that production of the new EV will be pushed back into next year. Also expected to start production next year is the all-electric Range Rover Velar.
The cause of the delay is directly related to tariffs imposed by the U.S. causing a 15.1% drop in sales for the automaker after it temporarily paused exports to the U.S.
Source: The Guardian
Volvo Presses Pause
Tarrifs of 27.5 % on imported cars manufactured in Europe and more than 100% on those arriving from China have impacted Volvo sales to the point that some models will force the automaker to pause sales of some gas and electric powered sedans and SUVs.
In the U.S., Volvo plans a brief sales pause on the EX40. Tariffs have also cut into sales of the brands most anticipated model, the EX30. Even the U.S. manufactured EX90, a luxury SUV built in South Carolina, is indirectly penalized as it’s comprised of parts manufactured in Europe. These parts are subject to a 25% tariff.
Source: Reuters
SHOWDOWN AT THE DTC CORRAL
State franchise laws prevent automakers from selling direct to consumer. These laws being called into question by an automotive trade group and an automaker who has yet to launch a single vehicle.
As reported by Wards Auto, The Alliance for Automotive Innovation is seeking to have the U.S. Department of Justice determine if franchise dealers laws stifle competition. Scout Motors, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group is seeking to have the D.O.J. eliminate state franchise law. The National Auto Dealer Association (NADA), a national lobbing groups representing some of the largest auto dealer networks in the U.S., considers the inquiries to be, quote: “a direct attack on franchise law.”
Like Tesla before it, Scout Motors plans to sell their trucks and SUVs using a direct to consumer business model. Also like Tesla, dealer franchise laws prevents this in many U.S. states.
According to Wards, Scout Motors submitted their letter to the D.O.J. Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force.
Source: AutoNews Daily (YouTube)
UNCHARTED SUBARU
On Thursday Subaru announced the reveal of its latest EV model, the 2026 Subaru Uncharted EV.
The Uncharted will soon join the recently announced Trailseeker EV and the refreshed Solterra EV. With the Uncharted, Subaru is directly targeting Hyundai and Kia with this model as the Hyundai Kona EV and Kia Niro EV are called out in the press release by name.
Based Toyota’s recently revealed CH-R, the Uncharted takes the platform up a notch giving it off-road chops starting with 137 more horsepower and 40 more miles of range than the Korean siblings. The Uncharted bests the Kona/Niro EVs with its 338 horsepower and 290 miles of range in Sport or GT trim. Even the entry level Premium FWD trim beats Kona/Niro with 221 horses and 300 miles of range.
Energy is stored in a 74.7 kWh battery capable of being charged at up to 150 kW at any CCS or NACS DC fast charger using a NACS connector or CCS to NACS adapter. Expect to get from 10-80% in roughly 30 minutes.
The new 2026 Uncharted will get a raft of features in all trim levels including Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance suite, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, heated seats and mirrors, power liftgate, and interior ambient lighting.
The Uncharted Sport trim t adds X-MODE® Dual-Mode with Grip Control, heated steering wheel, panoramic view monitor, and more.
And stepping up to the Uncharted GT will get you a panoramic moonroof with motorized shade, 20-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, Harman Kardon® premium audio system, smart rearview mirror, and more.
Pricing for the 2026 Subaru Uncharted has not been set.
Source: Subaru
ID.4 Redo
Europe’s Autocar reports that VW is about to fully redesign the ID.4. The goal is to directly associate to the Tiguan. So much so that according to the report, Volkswagen’s internal naming for the car is ‘electric Tiguan’.
Expect the new ID.4 to take on many design queues of the ID.2 ALL concept revealed back in December 2023.
Autocar notes that VW CEO Thomas Schäfer has stated how extensive the new design is, saying quote: “We'll re-do the ID 4 completely inside and out. It will be a completely different car - a huge step up.” Also mentioning the upcoming ID.4 will be “really beautiful”.
Source: Autocar
DC FC UPDATE
Walter Schultz is a self-professed data nerd. He’s taken his SQL skills to drill into the Alternative Fuels Database for the data and presents it in a human digestible form.
With his channel, Walter tracks where new DC fast chargers have been installed, connector counts, whether or not the site has a canopy, and what facilities, if any, are available at a few of the locations.
Here are Walter’s numbers for the week:
Total DC FCs Install Count:
69,087
Quantity of DC FCs Installed Last Week By Vendor:
IONNA: 2
Red-E: 6
bp pulse: 4
Tesla: 3
Electrify America: 3
ChargePoint: 21
EVgo: 2
Rivian Adventure Network: 1
Francis Energy: 2
Jule: 46 (mostly in Ontario)
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