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Electric Vehicles — briefly, then briefly again · tbb.ceo
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#008 ·31 JUL 2026 ·FRIDAY ·5 MIN READ ·10 STORIES + 10 EXTRAS

The Surge, the Exit, and the Robot in London

Global EV sales snapped back 35% in Q2, setting records in 50 countries and silencing the structural-reversal narrative. Meanwhile, Tesla reportedly weighed selling its entire China business for a SpaceX merger, Zoox won the first US federal approval for paid driverless robotaxi service, and BYD revealed a $44,000 sedan with 626 miles of range. The bottom line: the EV market is bifurcating between regions where demand is accelerating and the US where it stalled after the tax credit expired — and the companies that positioned for the surge are pulling away.

01 / The Ten

The week, ranked

10

IEA: Global EV Sales Jumped 35% in Q2, 50 Countries Set Records

The International Energy Agency reported global EV sales recovered sharply in Q2, rising 35% after a weak Q1. Fifty individual countries set quarterly records, driven by Europe, China, and emerging markets including India and Brazil.

Why it mattersThe Q1 slowdown was widely interpreted as a structural reversal; the Q2 rebound reframes it as a seasonal dip and restores the long-run adoption trajectory.
01 electrek.co↗

Tesla Weighs Selling China Operations for SpaceX Merger

Tesla is reportedly evaluating a sale of its Chinese manufacturing and sales operations as a condition for clearing regulatory hurdles on a potential Tesla-SpaceX merger.

Why it mattersChina is Tesla second-largest market; divesting it would be a structural shift significant enough to redefine what the merged entity actually is.
02 electrek.co↗

Zoox Cleared for Paid US Robotaxi Rides — No Controls

NHTSA granted Zoox the first US regulatory approval to operate paid robotaxi service in vehicles with no human steering or pedal controls, initially authorizing up to 2,500 pods per year.

Why it mattersFully driverless paid robotaxi approval from NHTSA is the federal regulatory threshold the industry has been working toward.
03 insideevs.com↗

BYD Da Han: $44,000 Price, 626 Miles of Real-World Range

BYD formally unveiled the Da Han flagship sedan with approximately 626 miles of range and a $44,000 starting price in China. The vehicle is longer than a Mercedes S-Class.

Why it mattersA confirmed price converts the Da Han from marketing to competitive data — $44,000 for 626 miles makes the case for Chinese EV pricing power in the premium segment harder to dismiss.
04 thedriven.io↗

US BEV Sales Fell 25% in H1 While Hybrids Set Records

Battery EV sales in the US declined 24.7% year-on-year in H1 2026 while hybrids grew 19.4% to a record 16% market share, following the federal EV tax credit expiry.

Why it mattersThe bifurcation into hybrid growth and EV stagnation will directly affect battery demand forecasts, charging infrastructure investment, and pure-play EV financial models.
05 insideevs.com↗

IIHS: Waymo Crashes 68% Less Than Human Drivers

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety published its first comprehensive Waymo safety analysis covering 56 million miles. Crash rate is 68% below the human-driver baseline, narrowing to 41% at pedestrian-rich intersections.

Why it mattersAn independent safety body confirming a two-thirds crash reduction across 56 million miles moves the autonomous vehicle safety argument from anecdote to actuarial data.
06 electrek.co↗

Hyundai IONIQ 3 at $30,000: More Interest Than Any Car in Company History

Hyundai revealed the IONIQ 3 compact electric SUV priced from $30,000 with over 300 miles of range. The company says it has attracted more enquiries than any vehicle it has ever made.

Why it mattersThe IONIQ 3 is positioned as the first mainstream sub-$35K EV with 300-mile range from a volume brand — the price point at which adoption historically accelerates.
07 electrek.co↗

Baidu Apollo Go Begins London Robotaxi Testing With Uber and Lyft

Baidu Apollo Go autonomous taxi service began public road testing in London in partnership with Uber and Lyft — the first Chinese AV operator to run on UK public roads commercially.

Why it mattersA Chinese robotaxi operator entering one of Europe most scrutinised regulatory environments changes the competitive landscape for international AV programmes.
08 electrek.co↗

Volvo Drops Lidar Permanently, Pays Owners $1,900

Volvo will not include lidar on the EX90 and ES90 after originally promising it as a key safety differentiator. Norwegian customers receive approximately $1,900 compensation. Vision-only strategy going forward.

Why it mattersLidar was Volvo stated basis for a higher safety standard; abandoning it signals the sensor-versus-vision debate in production vehicles is shifting toward cameras-only.
09 electrek.co↗

Rivian Q2: Revenue +27%, Record Gross Profit

Rivian reported Q2 revenue of $1.658 billion (up 27% YoY) and record gross profit of $179 million — the company strongest quarter, signalling its cost structure is finally inflecting.

Why it mattersSustainable gross profit at scale separates EV survivors from the ones that keep diluting shareholders to fund operations.
10 electrek.co↗
02 / Also

Worth knowing

10
Honda cancels US EV line, tells Prologue owners to buy gas cars
Honda discontinued the Prologue and advised existing owners to consider its petrol and hybrid range when leases expire.
electrek.co ↗
BMW iX3: 400 kW charging and 412 miles confirmed; orders near 100,000
Road test confirmed both headline figures. BMW has built 50,000 units with orders approaching double current production.
insideevs.com ↗
Kia posts 88% EV sales growth in Q2 — 110,000 units globally
PV5 commercial van led volumes for the second consecutive quarter, with growth attributed to pricing discipline and improved battery supply.
electrek.co ↗
Tesla self-driving manager describes rolling hazards in robotaxi testing
Court filings include testimony describing dangerous vehicle behaviour during internal testing — conditions termed rolling hazards.
electrek.co ↗
Ford confirms EV crossover with Geely plus a compact electric Bronco
An affordable crossover on a shared Geely platform targeting sub-$30,000, plus a compact electric Bronco.
electrek.co ↗
BYD matched Tesla European EV market share in H1 2026 despite tariffs
BYD achieved roughly equal market share to Tesla in Europe through vertical integration and early local manufacturing partnerships.
theverge.com ↗
Ferrari Luce EV sells out 2026 run — ~500 units, ~$320M revenue
Every $640,000 Luce planned for 2026 has been sold, validating ultra-premium EV demand from heritage brands.
electrek.co ↗
Dongfeng unveils 1.5 MW EV charger — 3x current ultra-fast units
An in-house charger capable of 1,000 volts, designed for backwards compatibility across battery voltages.
insideevs.com ↗
Hongqi charges 10-70% in 4 minutes 22 seconds
Part of a broader Chinese shift where ultra-fast charging is measured in seconds rather than minutes.
electrek.co ↗
VW demands higher EU tariffs after Chinese PHEVs outsell its top model
Current EU tariff policy does not target PHEVs as aggressively as BEVs — a gap VW wants closed.
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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