As the industry moves into the last month of the year, attention now turns to plans for updates into early 2024 and beyond.

At the end of November, an EV show at London’s ExCel exhibition centre showcased new initiatives and demonstrated the changing face of vehicle charging and technologies.

London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, announced a number of new strategies that the city has plans to implement. In addition to the launch of the ULEZ expansion, Dance explained that the capital now has over 18,000 charge points on its roads, with plans to increase to 60,000. The expansion will include the building of five new ‘ultra rapid’ hubs, with 150 kW chargers (the construction of which is currently out to tender) and there are plans to build 20 more sites over the next seven years. This aims to meet both demand and net zero emissions target for 2030.

The target is fuelled by London’s already successful reduction in the number of diesel sales, which are down from sales totalling 40% of vehicles in 2016 to less than 5% last year. EV sales are also now outpacing the rest of the UK, with nearly 25% of new vehicle sales being electric in 2022, compared to just 1% in London in 2018.

Aoife O’Grady, Head of Office at Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) also spoke at the same event on a number of schemes and initiatives being discussed across the country. These included a roll-out of ‘Community Charging Hubs’, shared apartment charging facilities, national ‘en-route’ EV charging network plans, substantial vehicle grants for passenger cars, zero emission HDVs, taxis and light commercial vehicles, as well as a shared charging pilot scheme launching in 2024.

The Austrian market will see its updated NoVa tax introduced in January next year as well as Chinese brand BYD’s launch in the country.

In Switzerland, the Government confirmed at beginning of November it will implement a tax on BEVs (4% of the retail price), as of January 2024. VAT is also expected to go up at the same time (from 7.7% to 8.1%).

The Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, has announced a proposal to reduce pollution centrally by placing a ban on private passenger cars. If the motion gets the green light, the measure will come into force in one of Italy’s busiest cities from December 2024.

Tesla has seen workforce in the Swedish market go on strike over the refusal to meet the demands of a collective bargaining agreement (which offers protection to more than 90% of workers in Sweden) from more than 100 mechanics at their service centres. This is the first time this has occurred anywhere for the US car brand. There are threats that similar action may spill into other areas of Europe.

In Norway, tax changes are expected to be implemented in January, coinciding with the removal of a discount offering on plug-in hybrid models from next month.

Xiaomi, best known as an Android smartphone manufacturer in China, has unveiled the HyperOS (aka SurgeOS), its latest operating system designed to connect personal devices, cars and smart home devices to Xiaomi’s smart ecosystem. The HyperOS is based on Linux and Xiaomi’s own Vela platform for IoT (internet of things) devices. This coincides with the launch of its new Xiaomi SU7, featuring two powertrain options: RWD with a 220kW motor, and an AWD system with a 275kW + 220kW motor setup.

Stellantis is set to become a strategic shareholder of Leapmotor with a EUR 1.5 billion investment that will bolster Leapmotor’s Global Electric Vehicle Business. The move will see Stellantis acquire 20% of the Chinese company, making them a significant shareholder. The deal also outlines the formation of ‘Leapmotor International’ a joint venture that is expected to begin manufacturing and shipping products by the second half of 2024 in China and abroad.

Thailand has introduced its new EV subsidy program called ‘EV3.5’, running from 2024 through to 2027. EV3.5 is the successor to the EV3.0 subsidy program which is due to expire at the end of this year. In essence, there will be a change in cash subsidy from THB 150,000 as seen in EV3.0, to THB 100,000 for EV3.5. Excise tax reduction from 8% to 2% remains the same. This is in line with Thailand’s administration policy to promote Thailand as an EV production hub by 2030, with 30% of vehicle sales being BEV. Thanks to these initiatives, BEV sales increased from approximately 10% in January 2023 to 22% as of September 2023.

In further news from the market, Thailand’s Industrial Ministry is due to enforce a Euro 5 emissions standard from 1 January 2024 onwards for:

1) diesel-powered passenger vehicles and small commercial utes (currently Euro 4)

2) large commercial vehicles in both petrol and diesel (currently Euro 3)

In addition, petrol-powered passenger vehicles and small commercial utes, currently Euro 4, will skip to Euro 6 from 1 January 2025 onwards. Lastly, all types of vehicles will need to be Euro 6 complaint by 1 January 2026. The regulation is aimed at Thailand enhancing its competitiveness and attracting FDI in advanced technology and clean energy.

Changan will also officially launch its Deepal sub-brand in Thailand, by showing its model range at the Motor Expo later this month.

Stellantis will establish a new national sales company (NSC) in Malaysia in the first quarter of 2024, the automotive group directly managing sales and distribution of its brands in the market. Its arrival means the taking over of sales and distribution of Peugeot vehicles in Malaysia, though current distributor Bermaz will continue to work with Stellantis for vehicle sales through its own network, Stellantis said in its statement.

It was announced earlier this month that electric and hybrid cars in Brazil will now pay an import tax, starting in January 2024. Previously, this was set at 0% for EVs, including hybrids. The rate initially charged will be 12% for hybrids (light, full or plug-ins) and 10% for electric vehicles. It will gradually rise to 35% in July 2026, which will be the same tax paid for combustion vehicles.

To mitigate this, the Government will release import quotas during this transition period. In the first period, between January and July 2024, a quota of USD 284 million will be made available for pure EVs, USD 226 million for Plug-Ins and USD 130 million for mild hybrids.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Auto Show took place, with it showcasing a number of new crossover models. Kia launched its updated Sorento compact crossover, and sister brand Hyundai also displaying its new-generation Santa Fe midsize model. Additionally, Lucid presented its second model in the range, the Gravity crossover with its three-row seating configuration and both Subaru and Toyota offered their latest Forester and Crown Signia crossover models respectively.