Drive types, fuels and emissions

(dpa) Charging instead of fueling: Electric cars are becoming more popular. Worldwide, new registrations even hit a record - despite stagnation in the largest market China.

Two electric motors, up to 285 hp and room for large travel groups: With the E-Tourneo Custom AWD, Ford makes its electric large-capacity van fit for snow, inclines and commercial passenger transport. We were on a test drive in the Salzburg region.

The Hyundai Staria has attracted attention since its premiere, particularly due to its striking design. The new electric version in particular is likely to be an ideal choice for shuttle services and large families, because the Staria is swift on the road, charges quickly, and offers abundant comfort for fellow travelers.

68 percent of electric car drivers support a general speed limit on German motorways. Among internal-combustion engine drivers, approval is lower. An ACV survey also shows differences between women and men – and why the personal sense of safety does not necessarily match accident statistics.

Volkswagen wanted to bring MOIA's autonomous ride service to the cities. But high investments, technical delays, and the difficult search for partners put the plan in doubt. While U.S. providers expand their services, Germany risks losing ground in a future technology.

(dpa/jr) For years Elon Musk had promised a rocket car - and the Tesla Roadster now shown can fly a little thanks to cold-gas thrusters. One can't help but wonder: what's the point?

Elon Musk doesn't think much of restraint when it comes to the future of Tesla. For years, he has emphasized that autonomous driving is the key to the success of the electric car manufacturer. Now the controversial e-car pioneer has applied for a ride-hailing license.

The retrofit specialist Adler adds the seven-seat Xpeng X9 to its program. The first Taxi-X9 makes a stop at the taxi trade fair - and then goes to a customer from Munich.

More than one in three new cars in Germany is now fully electric. While Tesla and Chinese manufacturers are making strong gains, many established brands are under pressure. The shift to electromobility is changing the automotive market faster than expected.

The electrification of vehicle fleets is seen as the key to the transport transition. At the Urban Charge Conference in Cologne, however, it became clear: For the taxi and rental car industry, not only new technologies determine success, but above all reliable policy framework conditions and a nationwide charging infrastructure.

The new Lexus ES arrives in 2026 with two faces: as a traditional full hybrid and, for the first time, also as a battery-electric sedan. Both are priced the same; both target company car drivers and taxi operators. But on the road it quickly becomes clear that the Japanese, precisely with the electric drive, have found their more convincing answer to the German business class.

92 countries, almost 100,000 kilometers and not a single technical defect: With a production-spec VW ID. Buzz, the record-setting driver Rainer Zietlow has circumnavigated the world. The tour provides an unusually pragmatic argument in a debate about electric mobility that is often ideologically driven.

The London black cab is entering the next round. The manufacturer LEVC has announced that in 2027 it will bring a completely new taxi model to market. Geely is therefore continuing to rely on LEVC to deliver accessible, purpose-built vehicles for professional passenger transport.

(dpa) Fuel prices are reaching new record highs: gasoline is as expensive as ever, diesel is approaching its previous peak. The coalition now wants to act quickly to counteract – but there is still disagreement about the concrete measures.

Taxi-, rental-car-, patient-transport- and emergency medical service providers could hardly pass on higher costs in the short term. The industry association VSPV therefore demands an automatic relief mechanism.

At the IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, not only parcel delivery services and trades businesses are in focus. Many of the new vans could soon also operate as accessible and multi-passenger taxis. Faster charging technology, longer ranges, and flexible interior concepts are changing the outlook for electrically powered passenger transport.

For taxi companies that rely on Tesla electric vehicles, the taxi conversion will become easier in the future. The Austrian taximeter manufacturer HALE has presented a technical solution that is intended to speed up installation, reduce costs, and render additional hardware unnecessary.

The electric fastback sedan complements the G6 in the conversion specialist's portfolio. It offers up to 350 kilowatts of charging power, 573 liters of luggage space, and various battery variants.

On a long-distance drive from Eisenach to Lake Eibsee, the electric SUV goes the distance without a charging stop. At the destination, the display shows five percent battery remaining.

Anyone currently driving through Vienna, Graz, or Linz might encounter them: 15 taxis that not only transport passengers but also carry a message. On their bodies they advertise the campaign "No More E-Fears!", with which the Austrian Ministry of Mobility aims to reduce reservations about electric mobility.

The accelerated transition to electric mobility is injecting more activity into the vehicle market of the taxi and rental-car industry. Retrofit specialist Adler is now expanding its existing program with two additional models: alongside the already presented Xpeng G6, the Xpeng P7+ sedan and the G6 SUV in pale ivory will now also be available.

More than 500 kilometres of range, hybrid powertrains and 800-volt technology: The planned vehicles meet the different requirements of taxi and rental-car operators.

Up to 510 kilometers of range, 220 kW charging power, and additional storage space under the front hood: The electric SUV is now also available for taxi and rental car operators.

The fifth generation combines 223 hp system power with a high electric range. Limitations are evident in interior space, visibility, and charging performance.

The manufacturer is expanding its offering for commercial fleets and combines electrified vehicles with a nationwide network for taxi conversions as well as vehicles available on short notice.

Toyota announces in a recent press release that it intends to intensify its partnership with Uber. The offering is targeted at central European markets and builds on the high popularity of Toyota models in the European ride-hailing segment, according to the automaker. It's a pity that Toyota's engagement in taxis, however, seems to be waning – so far the Japanese have not booked a stand at this year's taxi trade fair in Cologne!

The SMART/LAB Innovationsgesellschaft mbH (Smartlab) offers BVTM members an exclusive charging card offer. This makes it easier for Smartlab to enter electromobility and at the same time enables access to a Europe-wide charging network.

(dpa) While the real list prices of comparable electric vehicles have fallen significantly since 2020, internal-combustion cars have become more expensive. Researchers see several reasons why this development could continue.

(dpa/tk) The demand for electric cars is picking up again. That gives the carmaker Tesla a tailwind for its production plans. Now the complete value chain – from the battery to the finished vehicle – is to be consolidated in Grünheide.

While European transport policy is mainly geared towards electrification, some industrial companies are trying to answer another question with data instead of fundamental debates: How much climate protection can be achieved with the vehicles that are already on the roads?

With the GB 38031–2025 standard, China is setting the facts on the ground that reshape the safety debate around electric cars. How this makes electric cars even safer - and why taxi operators are affected by it.

(dpa) After a significant jump, fuel is for the first time since mid-May again above the psychologically important threshold. Gasoline is also on the rise.

(dpa) Preliminary analyses indicate an incomplete pass-through of the tax relief. At the same time, new procedures are intended to create greater transparency regarding price formation and costs.

(dpa) Already by the morning after the end of the tax relief, fuel prices are noticeably above the previous day's level. Further price movements throughout the day are possible.

Whoever books a company car at Tesla in Grünheide can apparently experience much more than just the trip from A to B. According to the person responsible for the internal company car program, more than 100 tickets are issued every month at the electric car manufacturer – incurred by employees who use the vehicles.

Even though Elon Musk is now reaching for the stars with SpaceX, he wants to make money with his cars. That is enough reason to put the current Model 3 under the magnifying glass to find out how Tesla is faring in the increasingly tougher competition.

The fully electric minibus is now available to order in Germany with up to seven seats. New equipment details and additional charging options are expected to further increase everyday practicality.

(dpa) Fuel prices continue to fall. New ADAC data show how close diesel is already to pre-war prices and why further reductions could be possible.

When you order a taxi in Germany's major cities, you are increasingly getting into an electric car. In Hamburg, since the beginning of 2025, even only emissions-free taxis may be newly registered. In the countryside, the situation looks different. There, economic realities count more than political directives.

A factsheet demonstrates the everyday practicality of electromobility. Transparent charging prices are demanded and a stronger used-car market is needed to further accelerate the transition.

Analyses of driving and charging data debunk widespread concerns about range, battery life, and costs. In particular, rising diesel prices significantly tilt the cost-benefit calculation in favor of electric drives.

Around 3,000 vehicles are to be converted in the long term. Project partners and the administration will explain on 1 July in Hamburg how subsidies, charging options and policy framework conditions interact.

With the PV5 WAV, Kia expands its electric van family with a wheelchair-accessible variant. The vehicle will be presented at the trade fair “Motability Scheme Live” in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Production start is planned for mid-July; the market launch will follow later.

Mercedes had touted the S-Class facelift – in reality, the changes are rather modest. However, something is happening with the internal combustion engines. The plug-in hybrid powertrain has also been optimized and performed well on the test drive.

Almost two-thirds of all vehicle inquiries in Germany now account for electric and hybrid models. However, the gap between interest and actual purchase remains large.

Analyses show smaller price discounts than had been announced. The taxi and rental car association warns of existential consequences and calls for immediate political intervention.

Attractive terms from Hamburg's "Future Taxi" initiative are now valid nationwide. The range of benefits also expands significantly for car washing and refueling.

(dpa/lno) The share of electric taxis has steadily increased in recent years. The city provides financial support for the switch.

In Amberg, regulation is currently being used as a short-term crisis intervention. As the first municipality in Bavaria, the city has introduced a diesel price surcharge for taxi traffic by emergency ordinance – an instrument that stands out less for its magnitude than for its ease of implementation.

Doubt often accompanies it. Whoever speaks about electromobility in the taxi trade quickly lands on the question of the battery's durability. Especially in continuous operation, with many charging cycles and high mileage, it is regarded as a bottleneck. Now figures from DEKRA and from Munich taxi operations provide a differentiated picture.

Australia goes electric. The fifth continent, known for kangaroos, endless outback, venomous snakes and the gigantic Ayers Rock, will be surprisingly electric. A tour with the Mini Aceman is meant to show why many Australians are switching – at least in the big cities.

The Xpeng G6 hasn't been on German roads for long yet, but in the taxi business it is already being regarded as a serious option. After Intax recently presented its Xpeng taxi, there are now two Xpeng G6s from the retrofit specialist Adler at Auto Grill in Ebersberg, available for interested taxi operators to test.

The automotive industry knows no breathing space. Not even for a manufacturer like Tesla, which for a long time was regarded as the pace-setter of electric mobility. In Grünheide near Berlin, it is currently becoming evident how strongly the usual market mechanisms also take hold there—and how differently they are communicated.

With the conversion of the Kia PV5 Passenger into a taxi, the Oldenburg-based specialist presents another model from Kia. The PV5 from Intax is electric, spacious, and designed for flexible use. And - it can also be fully retrofitted if needed.

The Hansa-Taxi cooperative makes its support for the Olympic bid publicly visible and points to emission-free and accessible offerings in its own fleet.

With an investment in HysetCo, the platform operator secures vehicles and refueling infrastructure. The aim is to significantly increase the share of fuel cell vehicles in the capital.

Mercedes recently showed the way with the S-Class and the EQS — now BMW is also presenting its revised flagship: the duo of the 7 Series and the all-electric i7. Visually, there has been a lot of change at the front of the noble flagship, because the new generation is driving ahead more confidently than ever before.

The Kia EV5 as a taxi - the South Korean automaker, which has so far been positioned mainly as a family vehicle, is set to also establish a foothold in taxi and rental-car operations. The conversion will be carried out by the taxi specialist Intax.

Mercedes-Benz pushes the boundaries of a familiar segment. With the sales launch of the Mercedes-Benz VLE, Mercedes-Benz is aiming to do exactly that: redefine the classic minivan — as a kind of electric limousine in XXL format.

Germany's Taxi and Rental Car Association welcomes the energy tax cut, but warns of insufficient impact and calls for additional steps in the event of persistently high prices.