Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily, your trusted source of EV information. It’s Sunday 16 March, I’m Martyn Lee and I go through every EV story so you don’t have to.
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FORD EUROPE STARTS DELIVERING THREE NEW EV MODELS
Ford’s European division is expanding its electric vehicle lineup in 2025. This week, they began mass production and customer deliveries of three new electric models.
The new models are the Ford Puma Gen-E for passenger cars, and the E-Tourneo Courier and E-Transit Courier for vans. With these additions, Ford now offers nine electric models in Europe, including both cars and vans.
The Puma Gen-E, previewed last year, is a key model for Ford. It starts at £29,995 (€35,000), making it the most affordable electric Ford. It sits below the Explorer, Capri, and Mustang Mach-E in Ford’s electric car range.
In the van category, the E-Tourneo Courier is a small electric passenger van described as a ‘multi-activity vehicle’. The E-Transit Courier is similar but designed for commercial use and can carry two Euro-sized pallets. It competes with vans like the Renault Kangoo E-Tech.
All three new vehicles are made at Ford’s Otosan plant in Romania. Their electric drivetrains come from Ford’s Halewood facility in the UK.
https://evne.ws/42baOS9
STELLANTIS TO SUPPLY IVECO WITH ELECTRIC VANS
Stellantis and Iveco have agreed for Stellantis to provide two all-electric van models to Iveco, helping expand its electric van lineup in Europe.
Sales of the Iveco-branded vans will start by mid-2026 under a ten-year supply contract. The companies did not share the financial details.
The new vans will be built on Stellantis’ midsize and large electric van platforms at facilities in Atessa, Italy; Gliwice, Poland; and Hordain, France. Iveco will distribute them across Europe, including the UK, using its existing channels.
These two vans aim to boost Iveco’s battery electric offerings in Europe and add electric options in the lighter weight segment.
This partnership follows a similar agreement last year between Iveco and Hyundai Motor, where Hyundai agreed to supply a midsize electric van in the 2.5-3.5 ton range.
Iveco Group is owned by Exor, the investment firm of Italy’s Agnelli family, which is also Stellantis’ largest shareholder.
https://evne.ws/4hCbtAB
CADILLAC CUTS OPTIQ EV LEASE PRICES BY 20%
Cadillac has lowered lease payments for its Optiq electric SUV, making it the brand’s most affordable electric vehicle. Launched in January with lease rates starting at $489) per month, the Optiq now offers a lease of $399 per month for 24 months, with a $4,929 upfront payment. This change is nearly a 20% decrease in monthly costs.
With a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $54,390 the 2025 Cadillac Optiq AWD Luxury 1 is more competitive against Cadillac’s other electric models.
The current lease promotion runs until March 31 and includes a $2,000 loyalty or conquest incentive. To qualify, lessees must have been leasing a non-General Motors (GM) vehicle from the 2010 model year or newer for at least 30 days. This eligibility includes electric vehicles from competitors like Tesla and Ford.
The Optiq features an 85 kWh battery pack that provides a driving range of up to 302 miles (486 kilometers) on one charge. Its 150 kW DC fast charging allows for about 79 miles (127 kilometers) of range in around 10 minutes.
https://evne.ws/4iac4e7
MARQUES BROWNLEE CRITICIZES CHARGER DAYTONA EV
In a 14-minute review on his Auto Focus channel, Marques Brownlee called the Dodge Charger Daytona EV a “Fratzonic Flop.” He praised the vehicle’s design, size, and ‘Fratzonic exhaust’ system, which mimics the sounds of a traditional HEMI V8 engine. This system can be adjusted through the car’s software to change the sound intensity.
Brownlee said, “If you go to track mode, it’s actually at its loudest. The rumble is way stronger. I can actually—I am not joking—I can feel the car rumbling like there was an engine behind me, it’s kind of crazy,” and added, “It’s just as obnoxiously loud as a gas car.”
However, he questioned the Charger’s $86,000 price tag compared to other electric vehicles. The Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack he reviewed has 670 horsepower and 627 pound-feet (848 Newton-meters) of torque and goes from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96.6 km/h) in 3.3 seconds. Brownlee noted that this price is high compared to other high-performance EVs.
He mentioned, “[…] but for $86,000, if that’s really what you’re after is straight line performance, a Tesla Model 3 Performance kind of smokes this. Actually, even a Kia EV6 GT beats this,” and added that a Tesla Model Y Performance is similar in performance but costs less. For around $80,000, you could get a used Tesla Model S Plaid if you want straight-line speed.
Brownlee also found the artificial exhaust system annoying, comparing it to a leaf blower where more acceleration leads to louder noise. He concluded that the Charger does not promote aggressive driving and described its handling as boat-like while calling it a “comfortable cruiser,” which contrasts with Dodge’s “hardcore muscle car” image.
https://evne.ws/4iBbnKO
TESLA STRUGGLES AMID RISING CHINESE COMPETITION
Despite a run of weaker Chinese EV makers going under, the market is now very competitive, with local brands challenging Tesla. Many consumers who once preferred Tesla are choosing local brands that offer advanced technology at prices up to 50% lower.
BYD, Tesla’s main competitor, sold 481,318 cars in the first two months of this year, a 75% increase from last year. In comparison, Tesla sold 60,480 vehicles during the same period, a 14% decline from the previous year.
A property crisis and a slowing economy have reduced demand for new vehicles across all brands. This has led the government to introduce subsidies for trading in old cars. Recently, these incentives were increased. Both domestic companies and Tesla have benefited from these subsidies.
https://evne.ws/4bzd3Sw
TESLA’S GERMAN DATA CAUSE FORCONCERN AMID PUBLIC BACKLASH
A recent survey by T-Online, with over 100,000 German respondents, found that 94% have no plans to buy a Tesla. Only 3% are open to purchasing from the electric vehicle maker. This shows a sharp decline in Tesla’s popularity in Germany.
In 2024, Tesla’s sales in Germany fell by 41% compared to the previous year, while overall electric vehicle sales rose by 27%. The decline continued into early 2025, with Tesla’s sales dropping by 70% compared to 2024.
Elon Musk’s actions have complicated Tesla’s image in Europe. He is under investigation for alleged political interference and has faced backlash for controversial actions, like performing Seig Heil salutes at Donald Trump’s inauguration and sharing posts that seemed to support fascist ideologies. These incidents have hurt public perception.
The decline affects all models; sales of the Model 3 have also dropped significantly. With only 20% of voters backing the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Tesla can’t count on this group as a major customer base.
The ongoing drop in sales and negative public perception indicate a tough future for Tesla in Germany.
https://evne.ws/4ksCwkF
TESLA’S IMAGE DECLINE IMPACTS SALES AND RESALE
Tesla is facing serious challenges with its brand image. Once admired by eco-conscious buyers, the company had hundreds of thousands of fans placing deposits for a Model 3, waiting up to two years to buy one. Some even paid high markups to get in line. Tesla CEO Elon Musk was seen as a leader in fighting climate change, but his recent actions suggest a shift away from these values.
This change has caused a sharp drop in Tesla’s new car sales, especially in Europe. In China, sales are down due to strong competition from local brands and a limited model range, not just Musk’s political actions. The company’s share price has also fallen back to levels seen six months ago. Additionally, used Tesla vehicles in the U.S. are losing value faster.
Owning a Tesla is now linked with negative feelings. Some owners report facing hostility; one told The New York Times, “Two weeks ago, I was called a Nazi in the parking lot at Kroger.” This negativity has led some owners to sell their cars, but selling often involves financial challenges that many can’t easily handle as used Tesla values keep dropping.
Data from CarGurus shows that used Tesla prices have fallen by 3.7 percent over the past 90 days, compared to a 1.5 percent decline in the overall car market.
Yearly, used Teslas have dropped by 7.5 percent while the overall market decreased by 2.8 percent. These declines follow earlier price cuts on new cars and rental companies selling off their Tesla fleets. For instance, the average price of a 2017 Model 3 is now just under $20,000, and a 2022 Model 3 is valued around $25,000. The Model Y has seen even greater drops of 16 to 21 percent year over year.
iSeeCars data supports these trends with a reported 13.6 percent yearly decline in used Tesla prices. The Model 3, Model Y, and Model S rank among the top four electric vehicles with the highest depreciation rates; the Porsche Taycan has experienced the largest drop in value.
https://evne.ws/3FApaTs
POLESTAR LAUNCHES $15K INCENTIVE FOR CANADIAN TESLA OWNERS
Polestar is offering a major incentive for Tesla owners in Canada, providing discounts of up to 15,000 CAD on new Polestar 2 or Polestar 3 models until March 31, 2025. This includes a 5,000 CAD Conquest Bonus for current Tesla owners and an extra 10,000 CAD Alternative Cash Offer for those who pay in cash or arrange their own financing.
To qualify for the Conquest Bonus, Tesla owners must show proof of ownership with Canadian registration or insurance documents. Household members can also join the offer if they verify their residence. The Alternative Cash Offer applies only to purchases not financed through Polestar Financial Services.
Buyers must complete their purchase and delivery by March 31. The discount does not apply to taxes, leases, or used vehicles and cannot be combined with other loyalty offers. The basic rear-wheel-drive Polestar 2 starts at 56,550 CAD without extras
https://evne.ws/3FuO32H
CHANGAN TO LAUNCH S07 ELECTRIC SUV IN EUROPE
Changan Automobile, China’s fourth-largest automaker, will enter the European market with its Deepal S07 electric SUV later this year. The official launch is set for March 21st, where Changan will also present other models planned for the region.
The launch will start in Norway, Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. Changan has partnered with local dealerships in these countries. Norway, which leads Europe in electric vehicle adoption, will be the first to receive Changan EVs, followed by other nations throughout the year. In the UK, orders for the Deepal S07 will start in June.
To support its operations in Europe, Changan is setting up a spare parts hub in the Netherlands to ensure strong aftercare services from day one. This strategy is similar to what other new entrants like Leapmotor have done.
The Deepal S07 is priced at €45,000 (about £37,900) and offers a WLTP combined range of 475 kilometers (295 miles). It includes various driver assistance systems. At this price point, it competes with models like the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4 as well as Chinese vehicles like the Leapmotor C10. Changan aims to achieve similar success in Europe as other Chinese manufacturers like BYD.
https://evne.ws/4hdkG2h
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