Will Roberts

Stellantis used its Investor Day on 21st May in Auburn Hills Michigan to unveil FaSTLAne 2030, a €60 billion (~$70 billion) strategic plan that attempts to be all things to all markets. Strategies are now clearly realigned by region with a return to muscle in the US, and a multi-energy product offensive with a distinctive battery electric vehicle (BEV) spin in Europe. “FaSTLAne 2030 is a much-needed reorganisation of a firm that has been itching for a reset since the Tavares era,” said Will Roberts, Benchmark’s automotive research lead. “Creating separate pathways for North America and Europe is a clear win in the near term, where the product roadmaps look well suited for both. However, the diversification may further fragment a group of brands which have not always been pulling in the same direction, especially in the context of longer-term electrification.”

Higher petrol prices and the threat of supply disruption have made consumers think twice about buying new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and instead consider buying a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Early data releases covering battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales around the world for March 2026 show a clear uptick in interest due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Almost every market with released data has so far shown a greater year-on-year increase after the start of the war in Iran (based on March registrations) than before the war began (based on January and February registrations).

BYD may be using lithium iron manganese phosphate (LMFP) cells for its new Blade 2.0 battery platform, unveiled earlier in March, though it has yet to officially declare which chemistry will be used.  A key advantage of the new platform is support for “flash charging” which BYD claims can charge the battery from 10% to 70% in just five minutes when connected to its new 1,500kW charging system.  BYD’s patent activity related to manganese-doped phosphate systems alongside reported improvements in energy density, and reference to a 3.8V operating voltage all point towards BYD using LMFP in the platform.  If BYD does use LMFP for Blade 2.0, Benchmark calculates that this could increase 2026 battery-grade manganese demand by 7%.

The new generation of BYD’s Blade battery has come later than expected with the improvement in energy density falling short compared to some rival technologies. The design instead targets faster charging as a differentiator to win over consumers.

The EU Commission's proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) introduces new “Made in EU” stipulations for electric vehicles as part of a range of measures aimed at increasing the manufacturing sector’s share of the bloc’s GDP to 20% by 2035, up from 14.3% in 2024. The act was proposed on Wednesday 4 March after delays and renegotiations pushed its publication to the wire. Further negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament are required before the IAA can be adopted and enter into force. The “Made in EU” rules add tough requirements for automakers looking to benefit from incentive schemes, financial support for corporate vehicles, or public procurement, though there are exceptions for the “small cars” segment.

Following ongoing negotiations between the EU and China, the EU is preparing to introduce minimum pricing mechanisms for Chinese‑made BEVs imported into the bloc. This move follows the EU’s final ruling on tariffs in October 2024. What are the tariffs? Since 2024, Chinese OEMs have been subject to countervailing duties ranging from 7.8% to 35.3%, […]