Volkswagen CEO does not see Chinese EV makers as a threat as prices double overseas
According to Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume, European manufacturers have an advantage over Chinese EV makers. VW leader said that the Chinese offer their vehicles “at twice the price they pay in China” of that in Europe.
VW is not threatened by Chinese EV makers, CEO says
Although Blume did acknowledge that “The Chinese have learned how to build cars over the last few decades” at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, he believes VW still holds an edge.
“We have the vehicle know-how, we have the level of quality. And we have a brand legacy. The newcomers don’t have that. So we see ourselves as well positioned,” Blume stated, according to German newspaper Automobilwoche.
Despite the share of EVs shipped to Germany from China more than tripling (28.2% vs. 7.8% last year) in the first quarter of the year, Blume is standing by his word.
The VW Group and Porsche CEO said Chinese EV makers can build cars for around 20% less in China. However, they will “not be able to offer the level of costs they offer in China in Europe,” he explained.
Due to the high costs associated with adapting vehicles to European requirements and establishing a sales network, “We can see on the market that the Chinese offer their vehicles to us at twice the price they pay in China.”
Competition is still heating up
Blume admitted the new competition was still dialing up the heat in the auto industry. “Competition is always a good thing. It forces us to become better.”
Volkswagen will need to position itself better to maintain competitiveness. “We will have to work hard on the cost side,” Blume explained.
One of the biggest areas of focus is the battery, which is the primary cost of an EV. With its new unified cell, Volkswagen aims to reduce costs by 50%, enabling cheaper EVs.
In March, Volkswagen teased its affordable ID 2all electric vehicle concept, starting under $27,000 (€25,000) with up to 279 miles range (450 km).
Blume also sees having ICE vehicles in its lineup as its transition to electric as an advantage over all-EV brands like NIO and BYD. He expects ICE sales to finance VW’s transition, whereas all-EV brands need to find alternative funding sources.
Electrek’s Take
The comments from Blume are interesting, given Volkswagen is outsourcing technology in China. VW revealed a $700 million investment in Chinese EV maker XPeng for a nearly 5% stake in July.
Furthermore, Audi and Chinese state-owned automaker SAIC Motor are collaborating to develop new electric models in the region. Outside of China, VW placed a large-scale order with Hyundai’s supplier, Hyundai Mobis, for Battery Systems Assemblies.
Blume is speaking about the European market, but those are bold comments for a company already outsourcing tech in the region.
Several new Chinese EV brands are expanding their presence in Europe, including BYD, NIO, and XPeng, to name a few.
BYD brought several EVs out at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, including the Han, SEAL, DOLPHIN, and upcoming SEAL U (D-segment SUV), arriving in the first half of next year. It will start at 42,990 euros ($46,100) in Germany.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s ID.5 is priced at 47,595 euros ($51,050), while the new flagship ID.7 will be in the mid-50,000 euro ($53,600) range.
BYD sold 2,492 vehicles in Europe through July, up from 1,170 last year. The Atto 3 accounted for 1,977 of those, according to info from Dataforce (via Automotive News Europe).
Michael Shu, managing director of BYD Europe, said,
We have made significant progress in entering new markets in Europe. Just twelve months ago, we introduced our brand to Europe and in less than a year, we created a presence for our brand in 15 European countries and opened over 140 stores. We are working in conjunction with the very best dealer partners to create a network that delivers premium customer services and retail experiences.
We’ll see how the story plays out over the next few months.
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Burlingame, California-based Peak Energy just scored a huge win for sodium-ion batteries. The company announced a multi-year deal with utility-scale battery storage developer Jupiter Power to supply up to 4.75 GWh of sodium-ion battery systems between 2027 and 2030.
Under the agreement, Peak will deliver 720 MWh of storage in 2027 – the largest single sodium-ion battery deployment announced so far. The deal also includes an option for an additional 4 GWh of capacity through 2030, bringing the total contract value to more than $500 million.
Sodium-ion vs. lithium-ion
Peak Energy says its sodium-ion batteries degrade less over time and have lower operations and maintenance costs than lithium-ion systems. Because the batteries don’t degrade as quickly, operators don’t need to add more capacity later in a project’s life to maintain performance. They also use a fully passive cooling system that eliminates pumps, fans, and other components used in lithium-ion setups, reducing maintenance and safety risks.
The company claims its grid-scale sodium-ion system uses up to 97% less auxiliary power, offers about 30% better cell degradation performance over 20 years, and comes with a lower total cost of ownership.
Why this deal matters
The agreement marks a significant step forward for the emerging sodium-ion sector, which has been gaining momentum as a safer and lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion for long-duration and grid-scale energy storage. It also underscores the growing effort to build a domestic sodium-ion battery supply chain in the US.
“From day one, we’ve believed sodium-ion will be the winning technology for grid-scale storage, which is essential to meet rising demand from hyperscalers and AI,” said Landon Mossburg, Peak Energy’s CEO and cofounder. “Deploying the world’s largest sodium-ion energy storage system with one of the nation’s top independent power producers proves that sodium is ready for today and will dominate the future.”
Mike Geier, CTO at Jupiter Power, said the company is “excited to support domestic battery energy storage manufacturing as we continue to increase the deployment of firm, dispatchable energy when and where it’s most needed,” and called Peak’s approach to sodium-ion “a potential game changer for the industry.”
Read more: The US’s first grid-scale sodium-ion battery is now online
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![The new 2026 Lexus ES is an upgrade in just about every way [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/new-2026-Lexus-ES-EV.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lexus claims the new ES “takes sedan styling, luxury, and refinement to a higher level” with a complete redesign. With the 2026 ES arriving soon, Lexus offered a closer look at the upgrades inside and out.
The new 2026 Lexus ES debuts in EV and hybrid forms
The eighth-gen ES is bringing more than a sharp new style. Lexus overhauled its flagship sedan from the ground up for the 2026 model year, which will include battery electric (BEV) and hybrid (HEV) powertrain options.
Inspired by the radical LF-ZC show car, the 2026 ES has been fully redesigned with what Lexus calls the “Experience Elegance and Electrified Sedan” concept, aimed at further refining the driving experience.
The new design centers on a redesigned “spindle body” that extends from the hood to the bumper. It also features a redesigned grille, replacing the signature Lexus spindle grille as the brand looks for a new identity in the electric era.
Inside, the new 2026 ES features the latest version of the Lexus Interface multimedia system. The setup includes a 14″ touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12.3″ driver display cluster.
Based on the redesigned TNGA GA-K platform, the new ES will be available in battery electric (BEV) and hybrid (HEV) powertrains for the first time.
The 2026 Lexus ES lineup consists of two models: the ES 350e, a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model, and the ES 500e, an all-wheel-drive (AWD) model.
Lexus expects the ES 350e to have a driving range of 300 miles when fitted with 19″ wheels, while the ES 500e has an estimated driving range of 250 miles.
Both the ES 350e and 500e feature a built-in NACS port to recharge at Tesla Superchargers. Using DC fast charging, it can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes under “ideal conditions,” according to Lexus.
With its debut just around the corner, Lexus offered a closer look at the new 2026 ES inside and out in a new video.
Lexus has yet to announce prices, but the redesigned ES is expected to start at about $45,000 to $50,000, or slightly more than the outgoing model.
After launching the upgraded RZ earlier this month, Lexus said the ES would be next. It’s expected to go on sale in Spring 2026.
What do you think of the redesigned 2026 ES? Do you like the new Lexus design? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Tesla has launched a new version of the Model Y in China, and it’s achieving an impressive new range rating – thanks to a new battery cell from South Korea’s LG.
The new variant, a five-seat, rear-wheel drive long-range model, has been released with an 821-km range based on China’s CLTC standard.
While the CLTC rating is known to be optimistic, 821 km (about 510 miles) is an impressive number and the longest range Tesla has offered in its Model Y lineup to date, which is going to help it be more competitive in the Chinese market.
This new extended range Model Y version is made possible by using the 78.4-kWh ternary lithium-ion battery pack from LG Energy Solution, the same pack found in the also recently launched 830-km range Model 3 variant.
The new long-range RWD Model Y starts at RMB 288,500, which translates to just over $40,500 USD.
The launch comes at a critical time for Tesla in China, which has seen its sales slump in recent months. The automaker recorded its lowest monthly sales in October since November 2022, falling out of the top 10 list for new energy vehicle (NEV) sales.
That’s despite a continued surge in electric vehicle sales in China. Tesla is not benefiting from it amid strong competition.
According to local Chinese media reports, the new 821-km Model Y is already gaining traction with some anecdotal reports of enthusiasm at Tesla stores.
The reports are partly supported by Tesla quickly extending delivery timelines from 2-4 weeks to 4-6 weeks just hours after launch.
Electrek’s Take
I think this is going to be suitable for a decent short-term bump in demand, but it’s still on the expensive side for the Chinese market.
For example, now the Model Y beats the Xpeng G6’s max range of 755 km, but the G6 with this range costs 234,900 RMB (approximately $32,900 USD), which is significantly cheaper.
Every 10,000 RMB tranche lower means a lot more demand in China.
Tesla needs to launch its new “standard” versions to start making a difference with demand long term in China.
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