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Electric Vehicles — briefly, then briefly again · tbb.ceo
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#002 ·19 JUN 2026 ·FRIDAY ·4 MIN READ ·10 STORIES + 10 EXTRAS

63 Percent and Counting

The week the combustion engine became a minority product in the world's largest car market. China's plugin share crossed 63% in May while ICE sales cratered 39%, BYD committed $2.4 billion to five-minute charging across Europe, and global monthly EV deliveries hit 1.8 million — a pace that will comfortably beat 2025's record. The bottom line: the question is no longer whether EVs will dominate, but how quickly the rest of the world follows China's structural shift, and which brands survive the compression.

01 / The Ten

The week, ranked

10

China: plugins hit 63% share, ICE sales crash 39%

China's May auto sales showed plugin vehicles capturing a record 63% market share while combustion-only models saw deliveries fall 39% year-on-year — the most dramatic monthly ICE contraction yet recorded in the world's largest car market.

Why it matters63% is not a growth metric, it is a structural majority. The combustion car business in China is now in structural decline, with downstream effects on global supply chains, residual values, and oil demand.
01 cleantechnica.com↗

BYD commits $2.4B to five-minute flash charging across Europe

BYD announced a $2.4 billion investment in European megawatt-class flash-charging infrastructure capable of adding 250 miles in under five minutes, and stated its intention to become the world's largest automaker by volume within five years.

Why it mattersBuilding the charging network yourself removes the last credible objection to selling more of your own cars — BYD is not waiting for host nations to do it.
02 thedriven.io↗

Global EV sales: 1.8 million in May, 7.5 million year-to-date

Global plugin vehicle sales reached 1.8 million units in May, with Europe posting the fastest year-on-year acceleration. The five-month cumulative total of 7.5 million puts the market on pace to exceed 2025's annual record.

Why it mattersThe demand story is no longer about whether people will buy EVs — it is about which brands and regions capture the growth.
03 electrek.co↗

Ford reveals $30K electric pickup for 2027

Ford released design sketches of an electric pickup priced under $30,000, positioned below the F-150 Lightning and targeting first-time EV buyers and small-business operators.

Why it mattersSub-$30K electric trucks have been the stated price point at which pickup EVs reach mass-market viability; Ford is first to commit to a date.
04 insideevs.com↗

Tesla Cybercab EPA filing: 48 kWh battery, ~293-mile range

EPA documents reveal Tesla's Cybercab carries a 48 kWh battery, 219 hp motor, and 3,113 lb curb weight with roughly 293 miles adjusted range — calibrated for urban cycling frequency.

Why it mattersThe filing is the final regulatory checkpoint before US commercial deployment and the first hard number for fleet economics modelling.
05 electrek.co↗

US EV sales hit monthly high since federal credits expired

May 2026 US EV sales reached their highest monthly total since the $7,500 federal tax credit ended, driven by manufacturer price cuts, expanded leasing, and state-level incentives.

Why it mattersThe rebound suggests demand is more elastic to price than to subsidy structure, with automakers and states absorbing the federal gap.
06 electrek.co↗

Hyundai closing in on Chevy for US #2 EV spot

Hyundai Group's US EV sales are at a record pace, narrowing the gap on Chevrolet for the second-largest brand position behind Tesla. The Ioniq 5 and EV6 do the heavy lifting while GM's Equinox EV ramps slowly.

Why it mattersA Korean brand displacing an American one for the number-two slot is a supply-and-product-quality story legacy OEMs will spend years explaining.
07 electrek.co↗

US public EV charging crosses 250,000 ports

America's public charging infrastructure reached 250,000 active ports, reflecting rapid build-out from NEVI highway funding and Tesla's network opening to other brands.

Why it matters250,000 removes the public-charging excuse for urban and suburban buyers; the outstanding problem is the last 20% of geography and the first 50% of charger reliability.
08 insideevs.com↗

BYD's Denza Z delivers 1,180 kW — targeting Ferrari from below

BYD's Denza sub-brand revealed the Denza Z with a triple-motor 1,180 kW powertrain, placing it in direct performance competition with Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Why it mattersA company that started making affordable EVs in China is now targeting Ferrari. The speed of that trajectory is what makes the competitive implications alarming.
09 cleantechnica.com↗

All 16 top-selling cars in China in May were electric

Every vehicle in China's top-16 best-seller list for May 2026 was battery electric, including models from BYD, Li Auto, NIO, and Xiaomi — a first.

Why it mattersChina's top-16 sweep is the clearest market-structure signal yet that EV dominance there is complete rather than transitional.
10 electrek.co↗
02 / Also

Worth knowing

10
Toyota Hilux BEV: first body-on-frame electric pickup under $60K
Toyota's first fully electric body-on-frame pickup targets towing and off-road capability rather than urban commuting.
electrek.co ↗
BMW reveals electric M3 design direction
Near-production concept shows quad-motor setup and dramatically restyled proportions on the Neue Klasse platform.
electrek.co ↗
Rivian R2 deliveries begin at $47K
First-drive reports confirm a competitive package with adequate range and adventure credentials, alongside a few caveats for the ramp.
electrek.co ↗
UK reportedly softening EV mandate from 80% to 50–70%
The mandate has been the structural anchor of UK EV supply chain investment; weakening it introduces uncertainty across the value chain.
thedriven.io ↗
Australia hits 20% EV market share
The highest monthly share on record, achieved without sustained federal purchase subsidies or ZEV mandates.
thedriven.io ↗
Used EV prices fall 30–50% across US and Europe
Falling prices from new-inventory expansion create a meaningful secondary market for first-time EV buyers.
evtech.news ↗
Sweden asks EU to block Tesla FSD unless it stops speeding
A continent-wide precedent for ADAS approval may hang on whether regulators accept a system that exceeds posted limits.
electrek.co ↗
Volvo EX90 enables Plug and Charge — no app needed
Plug into Tesla Superchargers or IONNA fast chargers and walk away without touching a phone or card.
electrek.co ↗
Toyota EV registrations jumped 225% in April
Three new fully electric SUVs propelled a year-on-year surge from the brand that spent years sceptical of battery EVs.
electrek.co ↗
BMW opens i3 orders early after demand surprise
Customer interest exceeded internal forecasts, prompting BMW to move up the order window for the electric 3 Series.
insideevs.com ↗
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#008The Surge, the Exit, and the Robot in London#007The Combustion Engine's Worst Week#006Prices Down, Margins Down, Honda Out#005Two million in a month#004BYD pulls away, legacy retreats#003The week the floor dropped and the ceiling rose#00263 Percent and Counting#001BYD vs Everyone, Again
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