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timeThe following article is excerpted from The Independent Driving Intelligent Communication. To get the latest automotive insights from Electric Vehicle Editor Steve Fowler delivered straight to your inbox, simply enter your email address in the box above.
Each edition delivers clear, expert guidance on the rapidly evolving world of electric vehicles and modern automotive, from trusted commentary and practical tips to the week’s biggest industry news.
If you thought last year was a busy one for the power industry car Launch, you haven’t seen anything yet. 2026 will bring more new electric cars and plug-in hybrids, including a wave of new brands you may not have heard of yet.
Let’s start with the first new brand to hit the UK: Aion. The Chinese brand, which is part of another multi-brand car giant, Guangzhou Automobile Group, is now setting up shop in the UK and has an established management team, which is always a good sign.
Expect two reasonably priced models Aion 2026: AION UT (a small hatchback with a claimed range of 268 miles) and AION V (a boxy midsize car) SUV Promised range is 317 miles. All AION models will also be covered by Kia’s seven-year warranty by a full year.
BYD’s luxury brand Denza, on the other hand, is set to launch in the UK this summer, starting with Denza Z9 GT. This Porsche Taycan rival certainly looks the part and will be a showcase for BYD’s technology, including ultra-fast charging. big Denza B5 plug-in hybrid SUV Also due to arrive, targeting Land Rover.
BYD will continue to expand into the UK this year, starting with the Sealion 5 DM-i plug-in hybrid, with more models to follow later in the year.
Back to Land Rover, we should finally see its first all-electric model with Land Rover Range Rover Electric Vehicle. I’ve experienced it in pre-production drives, and it’s everything you’d expect: luxurious, quiet, powerful and still capable off-road.
On the other side of the Jaguar Land Rover fence, the long-awaited new Jaguar GT (should it be called the Type 01, Continuation of Type 00 concept? ). i have Have seen the car Set to be unveiled this summer, there’s even a ride inside. I think the car itself will be good enough to rival other luxury brands in the UK – whether the Jaguar brand will be another matter.
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Bentley isn’t standing still when it comes to electrification, either. It already offers a strong plug-in hybrid lineup, but its first fully electric vehicle – Known as a “luxury city SUV” – will also break cover this year.
It’s not all luxury, though. There will be a slew of more affordable electric cars, led by Volkswagen Group. Its range of small cars was previewed at last year’s Munich Motor Show, and the first to emerge from the woods in 2026 could be laval copper. new Volkswagen ID.Polo – heralding the brand’s new naming strategy – will also follow Skoda Epiqa small SUV that conveys the spirit of the much-missed Skoda Yeti.
a new one Nissan Mikra Also set to go on sale, another UK-made Nissan electric car – the new Nissan Qashqai – will likely be revealed before the end of the year. The Micra has a lot in common with Renault, which will launch its excellent all-electric 5 and 4 models this year, as well as a new Renault Wingowhich I previewed last year.
Renault’s sports high-end brand and F1 team Alpine will own Alpine A390 There are family models in the showrooms too, and the all-electric successor to the A110 sports car is likely to be one of the highlights of this year’s Paris Motor Show.
It’s been almost a year since I first drove Glory fiat pandabut it’s finally about to arrive in UK Fiat showrooms. Meanwhile, the Italian brand Cut prices on other electric cars500e and 600e.
Given Kia’s recent success – it won the last two World Car Awards Electric car 3 and Electric car 9 – People’s expectations are high Electric car 5coming soon, followed by smaller Electric car 2. At the same time, Hyundai will take a sportier approach and launch excellent Ionic 6 NI had so much fun driving it last year.
Peugeot to launch its own fun car 208 GTiwhile Omoda is expected to launch smaller, cheaper electric cars Omoda 4 and from Geely Geely EX2. Following Deepal S07, Changan will also launch a new model Deepal S05it was designed in the UK.
We’ll also see longer ranges become the norm, with the benchmark being 500 miles BMW iX3. It won’t be the only all-electric BMW launching this year; Mercedes-Benz GLB Will try to challenge iX and best-selling Tesla Model Y (now on sale at a reduced price) Y type standard form.
Polestar continues to grow into a serious competitor to Tesla and will launch its flagship product Polestar 5 This year – another model to benefit from British engineering expertise. Sister brand Volvo to follow up impressive EX90 water and ES60 sedan The EX60, an electric version of its best-selling XC60.
Finally, among the many plug-in hybrids launched this year, a familiar name has returned to British shores. The original Mitsubishi Outlander effectively launched the PHEV market back in 2014, before the brand exited the UK in 2021. Now Mitsubishi is back and launching All-new Outlander PHEV Arriving this summer.
This is truly just the tip of the iceberg as far as newcomers go. Expect more new cars and brands, especially from China, often with little warning.
What we do know is that the government’s Electric vehicle grant This is likely to remain unchanged throughout the year, with discounts of £1,500 or £3,750 available on eligible models and further reductions in costs. talk Electric cars penny per mile road charging It’s unlikely to become a reality for at least the next two years, but who knows what other incentives or curveballs may arise – after all, few expect the grant program to return in 2025.
Of course, if you run any electric vehicle, I would always recommend switching to a suitable low-rate electricity charger. If you don’t have on-street parking, it’s also worth subscribing to one or more public charging apps to help keep costs down.
One thing you can count on is that I’ll be here to bring you the latest news, reviews and advice. So please stay tuned Intelligent driving weekly communication and Independent electric vehicle channel Throughout 2026 – Don’t forget to send in any questions you may have using the link at the back of this newsletter.
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