Peter Sigal

Ample says its proprietary modular batteries can be exchanged in five minutes, offering flexibility for EV drivers. The partnership with Stellantis will start with Fiat New 500 EVs.

The retro-style small hatchback will offer either a 40- or 52-kilowatt-hour battery, with a maximum range of 400 km.

The overall market will increase just 2.5 percent next year, still well below pre-pandemic levels, but BEV market share is forecast to grow to about 20 percent.

Thanks to cheaper battery technology, Renault, Citroen and Fiat are launching low-cost EVs to counter Chinese rivals. VW, Hyundai and Tesla are expected to follow suit.

The Chinese automaker's Ora Funky Cat EV becomes the GWM Ora 03, and the Wey Coffee 01 plug-in hybrid will be called the GWM Wey 05. The changes are meant to make Great Wall's lineup easier to understand.

The fourth-generation Master large van will offer two EV drivetrains with up to 420 km range and a new wind-cheating "Aerovan" design.

The retro-styled Renault 5 will have up to 400 km of range and will feature an infotainment avatar called Reno powered by AI.

Renault said the new Twingo EV will cost less than 20,000 euros and will have 'best-in-class' energy consumption.

Renault's Ampere detailed how it plans to be faster to market than VW, Stellantis, Tesla and new Chinese entrants with EVs that have advanced software functions and will cost the same as combustion engine cars.

Renault Group has named a team of executives to lead the EV spinoff, which is planned to go public in 2024. Here are some of them.

Toyota Europe is ahead of its sales and profit targets, COO Matthew Harrison says, but challenges lie ahead, including tougher EU CO2 limits and new entrants from China.

Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo will lead Ampere, which plans a stock market listing next year. 

The second-generation Toyota C-HR gains a plug-in powertrain with a battery assembled in Europe, as well as higher sales targets. 

Purchase incentives only for new cars, fast-changing technology and the cost of batteries mean that EVs are less attractive on the used car market. That could lead to higher prices and lower margins for automakers.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has given PSA veteran Gregoire Olivier and former Fiat Chrysler executive Doug Ostermann the task of making the automaker's partnership with China's Leapmotors successful.