The UK government is expected to reinforce its commitment to EV adoption with a combined strategy of extending subsidies and injecting £1.3bn into the Electric Car Grant, alongside £200m for charging infrastructure. Announced ahead of the Budget, these measures aim to make EVs more affordable and improve charging access, particularly for households without driveways. Since its launch in July, the grant has supported 35,000 drivers, offering discounts of up to £3,750 based on sustainability criteria. The upcoming Budget will also extend EV subsidies to counterbalance new motoring tax increases, such as higher vehicle excise duties and road taxes, which could risk slowing EV uptake. Chancellor Reeves emphasised that these policies are crucial for meeting the UK’s 2035 zero-emission mandate while sustaining the automotive industry during economic uncertainty. Additional plans include consulting on streamlined planning rules for on-street chargers and reviewing public charging costs, with findings expected next autumn. Industry groups and motoring organisations have welcomed the initiatives, citing their importance in stabilising demand and accelerating the transition to cleaner transport. However, concerns persist over potential taxation, which could undermine progress. The AA praised the funding boost but called for clarity on future motoring taxes to avoid discouraging drivers during this critical transition.
Transport for London (TfL) has announced it has allocated up to £30m, through its Better Bus Partnerships programme, to improve bus services in 3 London boroughs: Haringey, Lewisham, and Southwark. Each borough will receive up to £10m over 4 years, with funding released in stages based on KPIs. This initiative aims to boost bus speeds by up to 30%, making services more attractive and reducing reliance on cars. Planned investments include new bus priority measures, better management of roadworks, upgraded bus stops, and street improvements to enhance safety and accessibility for pedestrians. The funding follows a competitive process launched in July 2024, which saw 18 boroughs express interest and 8 shortlisted. TfL will collaborate with the selected boroughs on design and planning throughout 2026, with implementation expected to begin in 2027. Officials describe the programme as a game-changer for sustainable transport, supporting cleaner, greener travel and improved connectivity across London.
IONNA has announced a $250m investment to expand California’s EV charging infrastructure over the next 3 years. Consequently, this marks the company’s largest state-level commitment to date. The initiative includes more than 1,000 contracted charging bays across California, with kick-off ceremonies held in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, and Westminster, the latter of which hosts IONNA’s 1st Rechargery Beacon flagship station. Nationwide, IONNA has over 1,100 bays operational or under construction and approximately 4,000 bays contracted, aiming for 30,000 charging points across America by 2030. The California expansion shifts focus from contracting sites to activating infrastructure, supported by an EV education program in partnership with local dealerships and advocacy groups. IONNA’s network integrates Plug & Charge functionality with 7 automakers: BMW, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, and Ford, with Honda, Stellantis, and Toyota expected to join by 2026. Ford’s integration occurs through the BlueOval Charge Network. This strategic expansion underscores IONNA’s commitment to accelerating EV adoption nationwide.
The UK government has confirmed that the new (Sunderland-built) Nissan LEAF will qualify for a £3,750 discount under the Electric Car Grant (ECG), thus boosting North East manufacturing and EV adoption. Set to launch H1 26, the LEAF becomes the 4th manufacturer to offer the full discount, priced at £32,249 including the grant. Built by a 6,000-strong workforce at Nissan’s Sunderland plant, this move supports jobs and growth in the region while expanding the list of eligible ECG models to 39, including brands such as Ford, Citroën, and Vauxhall. Since the ECG launched in July, over 35,000 drivers have benefited, helping EV ownership reach record levels, now accounting for around 1 in 4 new car sales. The LEAF offers up to 386 miles of range and advanced technology, reinforcing Nissan’s 15 years of EV expertise. Alongside affordability, the government is investing in charging infrastructure, with 100,000 charge points planned and initiatives to make home charging easier for renters and those without driveways.
The US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced over $2bn in new grants to support transit bus improvements nationwide. The funding will be distributed across 48 states, focusing on replacing ageing buses, expanding fleets, building infrastructure (especially for CNG), and transitioning to low-emission vehicles. This investment aims to modernise public transportation, reduce emissions, and improve reliability for millions of riders. The program also includes workforce development initiatives to train mechanics and operators for advanced vehicle technologies. These grants are part of the IIJA, which allocates historic levels of funding to sustainable transit solutions. By prioritising clean energy and accessibility, the FTA seeks to enhance mobility options while supporting climate goals and economic growth through job creation in manufacturing and maintenance sectors.
Autonomy has announced it is expanding its EV portfolio, with a $25m financing deal to add around 1,250 vehicles from Volvo, Polestar, and Tesla. The funding, secured from Finacity Corporation through SR Alternative Credit, supports fleet growth across 7 USA states: California, Texas, Florida, Washington, Arizona, North Carolina, and New York. This marks Autonomy’s 1st multi-brand strategy, introducing Polestar 2 alongside updated Tesla Model 3 Highland and Model Y Juniper, with additional Volvo models planned. The expansion includes recent model-year and certified pre-owned vehicles at various price points to improve accessibility. Autonomy’s subscription model offers flexible terms starting at 30 days, with month-to-month options, credit card payments, and next-day delivery in select markets. Customers can manage their subscriptions via a mobile app without incurring any credit impact. Interestingly, in LA, Autonomy partnered with Galpin Motors for Polestar distribution and Deloitte for digital experience enhancements.
Deals
Sortera, an Indiana-based recycling startup, has raised $45m, led by T. Rowe Price Associates and VXI Capital, in equity and debt to build a 2nd facility in Tennessee, which is expected to open in spring 2026. The startup focuses on tackling the challenge of recycling mixed aluminium scrap. This is a problem that has limited recycling rates to about one-third of the aluminium used in the country. The company has developed an AI-powered system capable of sorting aluminium grades with over 95% accuracy, using data from lasers, X-ray fluorescence, and high-speed cameras. Each aluminium fragment, roughly the size of a potato chip, is classified in milliseconds, then redirected by air jets into the correct bin. This advancement eliminates the need to melt aluminium before identifying alloys, thus significantly increasing its value and profitability. This technology could unlock billions in untapped recycling potential and support automotive manufacturers seeking lightweight materials for fuel efficiency.
Pionix, a German e-mobility startup, has raised over €8m in a Seed round, led by Ascend Capital Partners. Investors such as Pale Blue Dot, Vireo Ventures and Axeleo Ventures also participated. The raised capital will be used to advance its mission of unifying global EV charging through open-source technology. The startup develops software solutions that enable interoperability among different charging systems, addressing one of the biggest challenges in the EV ecosystem: fragmented standards and proprietary platforms. Interestingly, by leveraging open-source protocols, Pionix aims to create a universal framework that simplifies integration for manufacturers, operators, and developers, thus ultimately improving user experience and accelerating EV adoption worldwide. This funding round will support product development, global expansion, and partnerships with automakers and charging network providers.
Flux Marine, a Rhode Island-based electric propulsion startup, has secured $15m in funding to scale production of its electric outboard motors and modular powertrain technology. The startup, which leads North American deliveries of high-voltage electric outboards, has now raised over $30 million since 2020. Its flagship product, a 115HP electric outboard paired with a modular battery pack, is marketed as the only high-voltage outboard designed from scratch currently in North American production. It partners with boat builders such as Scout Boats, Highfield, Flagship Pontoons, Hyfoil, and Zodiac, enabling integration of electric propulsion across diverse hull types. The company also offers a proprietary Fleet Telematics Platform for real-time monitoring, remote diagnostics, and over-the-air updates. Future plans include expanding technology applications to uncrewed platforms and the aerospace sectors.
Point One Navigation, a San Francisco-based location tracking startup, has raised $35m in a Series C round, thus bringing its valuation to $230m. The startup focuses on ultra-precise location technology capable of determining positions within 1 centimetre under optimal conditions. Its solution combines an augmented global navigation satellite system, computer vision, and sensor fusion into an API, typically deployed as software for vehicles equipped with the necessary hardware. For applications lacking such hardware, it provides a chipset. The technology serves a broad array of sectors, such as AVs, drones, robotics, agriculture, and wearable devices. The capital raised will be used to accelerate adoption across industries, supporting advanced driver assistance systems and next-generation mobility solutions.