It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 08 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

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HYUNDAI AND KIA PULL BACK US EV PLANS
Hyundai and Kia are scaling back their US EV ambitions due to slowing sales, affordability pressures, and tariff uncertainty, with Hyundai cutting the Ioniq 6 to only the high-performance N variant and Kia indefinitely delaying the EV6 GT and EV9 GT. South Korean-built vehicles face a 15% US tariff that could rise to 25%, while US-built models from Kia's Georgia plant continue unaffected.

MG TEASES MG 2 SMALL EV FOR 2027
MG will reveal a concept car at Goodwood Festival of Speed in July previewing the MG 2, a small EV expected to measure around four metres long and sit below the MG 4 Urban in price and size. Due at the end of 2027, the MG 2 will target rivals like the Renault 5 and BYD Dolphin Surf, using the E3 platform and potentially a semi-solid-state battery.

AMG SHOWS GT 4-DOOR PRODUCTION INTERIOR
Mercedes-AMG has revealed the production interior of the GT 4-Door electric car ahead of its full unveil, featuring a 10.2-inch driver display, a 14-inch central touchscreen, and a 14-inch passenger screen targeting Chinese market tastes. The car is built on AMG's new AMG.EA electric platform and delivers 1,360 hp, proven during an eight-day 300 km/h endurance run at Nardo.

FERRARI TEASES LUCE EV AHEAD OF DEBUT
Ferrari has released a brief nighttime teaser video of its upcoming Luce EV, which is set to debut next month and is expected to be a crossover slightly smaller than the Purosangue with a Jony Ive-designed interior. The Luce uses a bespoke in-house platform with a structural battery pack, four electric motors producing around 1,000 hp, and an anticipated range of over 310 miles.

IRELAND EXPANDS ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK AND BUS GRANTS
Ireland has expanded its ZEHDV grant scheme to include a second funding stream, offering companies up to €500,000 per year for zero-emission truck and bus purchases and up to €300,000 for depot and hub charging infrastructure. The expanded programme aims to close the price gap with diesel alternatives while building out the charging network needed to support fleet electrification.

UK HITS 1,000 ELECTRIC HGV MILESTONE
The UK reached 1,000 registered electric heavy goods vehicles in 2025, with eHGV registrations rising 171% year-on-year, though zero-emission trucks still represent just 1.4% of the total HGV market. GRIDSERVE's Electric Freightway programme supplied over a quarter of all new electric truck registrations and has opened the first publicly accessible eHGV charging hubs, with more sites planned through 2026.

MAN PUTS LION'S COACH 14 E THROUGH -30°C TEST
MAN Truck & Bus has completed winter testing of its first battery-electric coach, the Lion's Coach 14 E, in conditions as low as -30°C in northern Sweden and Turkey, focusing on battery performance, thermal management, and interior heating. The coach offers 320–480 kWh of usable energy and a range of up to 650 km under optimal conditions, seating up to 63 passengers with luggage capacity matching its diesel equivalent.

STELLANTIS WARNS UK SALES RETREAT OVER ZEV RULES
Stellantis has warned it may reduce its UK sales operations unless the government reforms the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, arguing the rules force manufacturers to lose money while giving Chinese importers a competitive advantage. Chinese brands now hold 14% of the total UK market and 17% of the UK EV segment, while Stellantis faces potential fines of £12,000 per car for missing its compliance targets.

VW STARTS ID. BUZZ AD PRE-SERIES BUILD
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has begun pre-series production of the autonomous ID. Buzz AD at its Hanover plant, with around 500 vehicles planned before the end of 2026 for deployment in European and US projects. Developed with subsidiary Moia and Israeli partner Mobileye, each vehicle receives a roof module with cameras, radar, and lidar after the main production line, with full series production set for 2027.

UK EMISSIONS HIT LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1872
UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 2.4% in 2025 to 364 MtCO2e, the lowest since 1872, driven largely by the closure of the last coal-fired power plant and a 56% drop in coal demand. The UK's nearly three million electrified vehicles now save over seven million tonnes of CO2 annually, with transport remaining the country's largest emitting sector and the primary focus for future cuts.