News

Tesla plans to raise output at its Gruenheide plant near Berlin to up to 7,500 cars a week, around 375,000 a year, during the 2026 financial year, citing recovering demand and improving profits. The site, which builds the Model Y exclusively and supplies more than 30 markets, made about 202,000 cars in 2025. Tesla wants to add 3,500 jobs to the roughly 11,000 already there and integrate the full value chain, from battery cells to finished cars.

The Flemish and federal governments have agreed a package worth up to 119 million euro to secure the future of Volvo Car Gent, covering training, green transition and research support. The money is conditional and only paid once Volvo delivers its promised investments. Volvo has signalled the plant could also assemble other Geely brands such as Polestar, Lynk & Co and Zeekr. Around 6,500 people work at the site.

BYD has revealed the 8 Series Tang, a large electric SUV claiming more than 800 km of range. A permanent-magnet motor peaks at 402 hp, with a 250 km/h top speed and a second-generation Blade LFP battery. It measures 5,045 mm long on a 2,950 mm wheelbase, with five and seven-seat versions filed, and launches in China in the second half of 2026. Pricing is not announced and Europe is not confirmed.

Ford Racing has launched the FP800S Bronze Package, an official upgrade kit that takes the 2024 to 2026 Mustang GT to 810 hp and around 834 Nm using a Gen 6 3.0-litre Whipple supercharger. The kit costs 18,500 dollars, with dealer fitting adding roughly 5,000 dollars, and it keeps a three-year Ford Racing warranty when installed by an approved technician. It is sold through the US Ford Performance network.

BYD's premium Denza brand has revealed the Z9S, an all-electric fastback sedan joining the Z9 and Z9 GT. A tri-motor version makes 1,194 hp with 780 km of CLTC range, while single-motor rear-drive versions of around 429 hp and 496 hp stretch to 920 km from a 102.3 kWh Blade battery. It is 5,090 mm long and packs LiDAR-based driver assistance and air suspension. Chinese pricing is not announced, and Europe is not confirmed.

Broad Arrow is offering 40 Mercedes-Benz youngtimers from The Patina Collective in the first North American edition of its Global Icons online series, running 10 to 21 August 2026, with every car sold without reserve. Highlights include a 1993 500 E AMG 6.0 estimated at 150,000 to 180,000 dollars and a 1993 500 E Limited prototype built for the Frankfurt show. Some cars wear genuine patina and will need recommissioning.

Mercedes-AMG's customer racing programme has taken its 1,000th victory, claimed by Team KRT's Vincent Iogna from pole in an AMG GT3 Evo at the Ultimate GT Sprint Cup at Mugello on 11 July 2026. Launched in 2010, the programme now spans 34 countries, six continents, more than 100 teams and over 400 drivers, with the AMG GT3 alone accounting for 612 wins.

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason is selling his 1996 McLaren F1 GTR, chassis 10R, at RM Sotheby's Monterey sale with an estimate above 35 million dollars, which would make it the most expensive McLaren ever sold. It is the first F1 GTR built to 1996 specification, one of only two short-tail prototypes, and the only one wearing a factory pop-art livery. Mason has owned it since 1999, when McLaren converted it for the road.

Mercedes-Benz has opened its expanded Kecskemet plant in Hungary and started production of the new electric C-Class. Around 1 billion euro grew the site from 200 to 440 hectares, making it Hungary's largest car factory with over 5,000 workers, building the electric C-Class, electric GLB and the compact G-Class exclusively. It arrives as Mercedes asks German staff to move from a 35 to a 40-hour week without matching pay, with German labour costing roughly three times more than Hungarian.

BYD Group has become the Official Automotive Partner of Paris Saint-Germain in a three-year global deal running from 16 July 2026 through June 2029. It covers both the BYD and DENZA brands, with a vehicle fleet supporting the club's daily operations, branding at the Parc des Princes, and worldwide campaigns featuring the men's and women's teams. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Opel has opened orders for the Mokka YES, a special edition sold exclusively in the Netherlands. It comes in Koral Orange with orange interior accents, a black roof and black 17-inch wheels, and is offered with a 136 hp petrol, a 145 hp hybrid or a 156 hp electric powertrain with a 54 kWh battery. Prices start at 35,999 euro including VAT and registration tax.

BYD will send the Yangwang U9 Xtreme after the 500 km/h barrier in November 2026, returning to Germany's Automotive Testing Papenburg where the car set a 496.22 km/h production car record last year. BYD vice president Stella Li made the announcement at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, revealing that the car still had usable throttle left when the first run ended.