Germany has announced a new €3 billion EV subsidy program that, unlike previous schemes, will be fully open to all automakers, including Chinese brands. The move marks a strategic shift aimed at reviving EV sales after demand slumped when earlier incentives were abruptly withdrawn in late 2023. The government emphasized that it will not impose origin-based restrictions, arguing that the German market is strong enough to handle international competition and that fears of a major influx of Chinese EVs are unfounded. The renewed subsidy program, running through 2029, is expected to support the purchase of approximately 800,000 EVs. Incentives will range from €1,500 to €6,000 per vehicle, with amounts determined by household income, family size, and vehicle category. The policy is designed primarily to benefit low- and middle-income buyers while encouraging adoption of more affordable EV models entering the market from both European and international manufacturers. German brands such as Volkswagen and Stellantis stand to benefit as they expand their lower-cost offerings. However, the program also creates meaningful opportunities for Chinese companies such as BYD, which have been gaining ground in Europe through competitive pricing. The government hopes the subsidies will help stabilize Germany’s volatile EV market and accelerate progress toward national electrification goals.
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence has released EV data showing that global EV sales reached 20.7 million units in 2025, marking a 20% year-over-year increase driven by strong momentum across most major markets. China remained the largest EV market with 12.9 million sales, although growth slowed compared with previous years due to tougher year-over-year comparisons, intensifying domestic price competition, and reduced subsidies. Europe emerged as the fastest-growing major region, expanding 33%, supported by softened EU emissions targets and renewed or expanded consumer subsidies. Markets such as Germany and the UK saw significant gains, while France recovered later in the year after early weakness. North America experienced a notably turbulent year. The United States saw only 1% growth, constrained by the removal of federal tax credits and relaxed emissions regulations. Canada’s market contracted sharply following the withdrawal of incentives, while Mexico grew 29%, driven largely by imports of competitively priced Chinese EVs. The rest of the world posted the strongest relative increase at 48%, fueled by rising adoption in regions such as Southeast Asia and South America, where Chinese manufacturers gained substantial traction. Overall, 2025 highlighted the resilience of global EV demand despite divergent regional policies, regulatory uncertainty, and shifting manufacturer strategies.
The European Commission has announced it has approved a €200 million German financing package to support the import of Canadian-produced green hydrogen, forming part of a €400 million transatlantic initiative co-funded with Canada. Central to the scheme is Hintco, the investment arm of the H2Global mechanism, which will act as the intermediary responsible for purchasing green hydrogen from Canadian producers and reselling it within Europe. By absorbing the price difference between costlier green hydrogen and cheaper conventional alternatives, Hintco ensures early-stage green hydrogen production remains commercially viable while stimulating market demand. The funding will enable the development of up to 300 MW of electrolysis capacity in eastern Canada, where abundant renewable energy resources, particularly wind and hydro, allow for competitive low-carbon hydrogen production. Through a double-auction process, producers bid the lowest price they can supply at, while European buyers submit the highest price they are willing to pay. Hintco bridges the pricing gap, ensuring that only cost-efficient, fully compliant renewable hydrogen projects are supported. The project is expected to avoid approximately 2.47 million metric tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions, strengthening Europe’s efforts to diversify energy supply and accelerate decarbonization.
The British Business Bank has announced it has committed £25 million to Kraken Technologies, marking its largest direct investment to date and supporting the company’s demerger from Octopus Energy. The funding forms part of a broader $1 billion equity round that will allow Kraken to operate as an independent global software platform. Kraken, which provides AI-driven technology for energy utilities, now serves more than 70 million customer accounts worldwide and processes billions of data points daily across billing, smart meter management, and system optimization. The investment reflects the Bank’s updated mandate to take larger, higher-risk stakes in strategically important UK scale-ups, following reforms that expanded its direct investment capabilities. Government officials emphasized that backing Kraken is part of a broader effort to ensure high-growth UK firms scale domestically rather than seeking overseas markets. Kraken is also viewed as a strong IPO candidate, with a potential future listing in London or the US, as it continues rapid international expansion.
China‑Canada trade authorities have announced a tariff-cutting agreement that positions Tesla and Volvo as the first major automakers likely to benefit from reduced import costs on Chinese-made EVs. Under the deal, Canada will allow up to 49,000 EVs from China annually at a reduced tariff of 6.1%, replacing the previous 100% duty. The change is intended to encourage long-term investment from Chinese automakers, but in the near term, companies already certified for North American markets, particularly Tesla, Volvo, and Polestar, stand to benefit the most. Tesla previously imported more than 44,000 vehicles into Canada before the tariff increase in 2024 and is expected to resume shipments quickly. The agreement also accelerates certification timelines, with Transport Canada set to approve new Chinese EV models within eight weeks. The policy shift marks a significant divergence from US trade strategy under President Trump, whose administration has maintained strict tariffs and resisted Chinese EV expansion. The move could reshape North America’s automotive landscape by allowing Chinese brands to establish a foothold in Canada. High-end EV manufacturers such as Geely-owned Lotus also expect substantial price reductions under the new tariff structure.
California has announced it has allocated $202 million to support 143 clean transportation projects across the state, aiming to reduce emissions, improve mobility, and expand access to sustainable transit options. Administered through the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program, the funding prioritizes communities most affected by air pollution and seeks to accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation. The investment will support a wide range of initiatives, including expanded bus and rail services, the purchase of zero-emission buses, the installation of electric charging infrastructure, and fare subsidy programs to improve transit affordability. Notable local projects include upgrades to bus stops in Lake County, low-income fare assistance in Nevada County, and continued support for San Francisco’s Free Muni program for seniors, youth, and people with disabilities. Larger urban transit systems will also benefit, with San Diego using part of the funding to purchase up to 23 battery-electric buses, while other agencies invest in solar-powered smart grid systems and hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure. Overall, the initiative forms part of California’s broader climate strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen public health, and modernize public transportation statewide.
North Northamptonshire Council has announced a major expansion of its EV charging network, with plans to install more than 1,500 new charging points across the region. The rollout, set to take place over the next three to five years, will significantly expand the existing network of approximately 525 public charging points. A total of 320 new sites have been identified, covering all 12 towns as well as more than 20 villages and at least 20 council-owned parking facilities. The initiative is being delivered in partnership with charge point operator Connected Kerb and supported by £2.9 million in government funding through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund. The expansion aims to improve access to EV charging for residents, particularly the 30% of households without private driveways. Smart charging technology will allow users to benefit from lower off-peak electricity prices, supporting cost-effective and sustainable charging. By 2030, the number of charging sockets in the area is expected to reach at least 2,000. The project is intended to boost confidence in EV adoption and ensure reliable, convenient charging for residents, businesses, and visitors.
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Deals
L-Charge, a US-based EV charging solutions provider, has secured a $10 million funding round led by Ultra Capital to accelerate deployment of its off-grid EV charging solutions across the United States. The funding addresses one of the biggest bottlenecks in fleet electrification: limited access to reliable grid power. With utilities struggling to keep pace with demand and permitting delays slowing traditional charging installations, L-Charge’s modular, power-independent systems enable fleets to deploy charging infrastructure rapidly without major site upgrades. Delivered through Charging-as-a-Service and Power-as-a-Service models, the systems allow commercial customers, including rideshare operators, last-mile delivery companies, municipal fleets, and logistics providers, to adopt EVs with zero upfront capital expenditure. Units can be deployed within weeks, bypassing long utility interconnection timelines. The new funding will support nationwide expansion, team growth, and strengthened long-term service capabilities.
NEOintralogistics, a German Robotics-as-a-Service startup, has raised €3 million in seed funding co-led by the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund and Cetus Holding to accelerate adoption of flexible warehouse automation. The company offers a pay-per-pick model that shifts automation from a capital expense to an operating expense, removing traditional barriers such as high upfront costs and lengthy installation timelines. Its robotic picking systems can be deployed in existing and new warehouses within weeks, integrating directly into standard shelving without structural changes. The funding will support customer acquisition, product development, team expansion, and international growth. The company says its system can reduce manual labor by up to 70% while improving efficiency and scalability amid labor shortages and rising fulfillment pressures.
Fleetzero, a Houston-based marine technology startup, has secured $43 million in Series A funding to accelerate electrification of the maritime sector. The round was led by Obvious Ventures, with participation from Maersk Growth, 8090 Industries, and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. The investment will support expansion of its Houston manufacturing and R&D facility, including production lines for marine energy storage systems, a robotics and autonomy lab, and a propulsion development center. Annual production capacity is expected to scale from 300 MWh to 3 GWh within five years. Fleetzero’s flagship Leviathan propulsion system, designed for new builds and retrofits, offers hybrid and fully electric configurations aimed at reducing fuel consumption, lowering maintenance costs, and improving vessel efficiency. The company emphasizes that electrification is becoming increasingly cost-effective and is a critical step toward cleaner, safer shipping.